Planning
- Accepts reservations
oChef » Ichiban PB – San Diego
Ichiban PB - San Diego
Photo from Ichiban PB
Ichiban PB at a glance
San Diego Pacific Beach
- 🍣 Japanese Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 40 of the guests
#420 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#26 Japanese Restaurant out of 36 in San Diego
Good
7.2 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
335
Reviews
71.6%
Satisfaction
Often praised
Frequently criticized
The restaurant Ichiban PB, a popular Japanese restaurant in San Diego’s vibrant Pacific Beach neighborhood, offers a delightful culinary experience. You’ll discover a menu rich with healthy options, perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal.
This casual yet trendy spot provides a welcoming atmosphere where you can enjoy small plates, happy hour drinks, and delicious food. Whether you’re looking for lunch or dinner, Ichiban PB ensures a satisfying visit with its diverse offerings and inviting setting.
Overview: Introducting Ichiban PB
Good
7.2
out of 10
335
Reviews
71.6%
Satisfaction
75
negative
20
neutral
240
positive
What people like
What people don't like
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Verdict: Our expert take on Ichiban PB
Food (7.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 97% of the guests
When it comes to the food here, you're looking at a pretty solid experience! With a strong 7.4 score and 74.3% customer satisfaction, the majority of 139 positive opinions praise the delicious comfort food, fresh sushi, and great bento box lunch specials. Many find the freshness of sushi consistently impressive.
However, not all 38 negative comments are glowing. Some diners have noted concerns about the overall quality, particularly regarding fish portions and the rice texture. There are also opinions suggesting a decline in food quality compared to previous visits.
Food
187
Reviews
74%
Satisfaction
38
negative
10
neutral
139
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Fresh, tasty sushi
- Delicious comfort food
- Great bento boxes
What people don't like
- Disappointing food quality
- Small fish portions
- Fly in food
Often praised
- foodI’ve been a loyal customer at Ichiban for nearly 20 years, and it has consistently improved. The service has always been 5 stars, and the food tastes like magic to me! It's always fresh and very tasty.
- sushiMy experience at the restaurant was fantastic! I was impressed by the extremely fresh salmon and the slouch good sushi. The restaurant also offered very well priced options, including a great selection of fun rolls.
- bento boxesMy experience at this restaurant involved enjoying some nice sushi and great bento boxes. I opted for the mixed sushi, garlic edamame, and miso soup.
- garlic edamameMy experience at this restaurant involved enjoying some nice sushi and great bento boxes. I opted for the mixed sushi, garlic edamame, and miso soup. The establishment has an old style Japanese feel, but it definitely needs a face-lift.
- qualityconfirm the quality of this restaurant
- sushi rollsIt's one of my fave sushi places in San Diego. The prices are great for the delish sushi rolls. The service is top-notch, and the place is always swinging!
- chicken teriyakithe chicken teriyaki is as good as it ever was
- fried calamari rollThe FRIED CALAMARI ROLL was the ULTIMATE roll!!!
- mealnever had a bad meal or something that wasn't absolutely delicious.
- portionsThe portions were good for the price
Frequently criticized
- foodThe DoorDash order ended up being late, and I was blamed for their incompetence. The food was cold, and it was just a frustrating experience because it shouldn't take 20 minutes to pick up an already finished order.
- food qualityfood quality used to be much better
- qualityThe quality was disappointing.
- Crunch rollCrunch roll was advertised to have shrimp tempura inside but instead had fish of some sort.
- Japanese cuisineThe shrimp tempura was coated like a breadstick, the batter is thicker than the shrimp itself, and why did you serve it with tartar sauce? This is supposed to be Japanese cuisine, not British Fish N Chips! Avoid this place at all costs, there are so many good choices around.
- Spider RollThe spider roll was disappointing
- Teriyaki chickenTeriyaki chicken was boiled, cartilage and bone in meat.
- avocado allergyThe chef said that he could no longer do that!
- baked salmon bentoI ordered the baked salmon bento with chicken teriyaki while my friend ordered salmon with sashimi. The salmon was bland, seasoned with literally only salt, no pepper, no sauce, nothing at all. It looked so pale as if it just received a failed surgery.
- burritohe brought a burrito
If you're seeking fresh, tasty sushi and comforting Japanese dishes, this spot is definitely worth a try. Just be aware that some recent experiences mention inconsistencies in quality and portion sizes.
Service (7.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 62% of the guests
When it comes to service, this spot generally hits the mark with a solid score of 7.6 and a customer satisfaction rate of 74.3%. Many guests rave in their 52 positive remarks, highlighting the friendly service, personable staff, and how welcomed they felt. The amazing staff often goes above and beyond, making sure orders are perfect and guests are happy.
However, its not always smooth sailing, as evidenced by 15 negative remarks out of 70 total. Some experiences mention a rude cashier or slow order taken, leading to frustration. Issues like poor customer service and staff members' being inattentive, especially during pickup, have occasionally marred the experience for a few patrons.
Service
70
Reviews
74%
Satisfaction
15
negative
3
neutral
52
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Warm, welcoming service
- Personable interactions
What people don't like
- Rude cashier
- Slow service
- Pickup process issues
Often praised
- serviceMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! It's a unique burrito sushi place with nice, quiet seating and great service. The restaurant is generational owned and operated, and everything we ordered was great tasting.
- staffAll the staff are the most friendly, caring people you're ever going to meet.
- welcomedI felt welcomed especially because I was visiting
- ArianaAriana was fantastic
- MichelleShe was kind and helpful
- ServiceService:5
- best servicethe best service
- cashierThe cashier is very kind and caring
- chefschef are fantastic
- employees seem happythe employees seem happy
Frequently criticized
- DoorDash orderAfter another 10 minutes, about 8 staff members were huddled at the register, and I still couldn't get their attention, despite standing directly in front of them. The DoorDash order ended up being late, and I was blamed for their incompetence. The food was cold, and it was just a frustrating experience because it shouldn't take 20 minutes to pick up an already finished order.
- ServiceService:1
- cashierthe cashier is extremely rude
- customer name labellack of a customer name label on the bag further complicated things
- customer servicepoor customer service.
- encounterafter that encounter
- managermanager stated he would call back. No return call from anyone!
- meal come outI was here for dinner and found the service to be very average overall. It took some time for my order to be taken and for my meal to come out. The food itself was good.
- mobile order pickupit shouldnt take 20 minutes to pick up food
- order contentswithout letting me check the contents of the bag first
Overall, the service here is generally good, with many guests feeling welcomed and well-cared for. While most experiences are positive, be prepared for potential inconsistencies, especially concerning order pickup or occasional staff interactions. If you value friendly service, it's definitely worth a visit, but keep an eye out for those rare off moments.
Ambience (6.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 35% of the guests
When it comes to the vibe, many customers truly see this place as a PB gem or even a hidden gem, praising its cozy and chill environment with a unique atmosphere and great energy. With 19 positive observations out of 37 total, its clear many appreciate the overall feel. The score for ambience sits at an average 6.2, reflecting a generally pleasant, if not outstanding, experience, with customer satisfaction at a mixed 51.4%.
However, the ambience isnt without its challenges. Some guests noted issues like no ventilation and a bathroom not clean, while others found it could get crowded in the evening. A few even mentioned homeless people yelling outside, which unfortunately detracted from the overall atmosphere, leading to some feeling it was lackluster.
These 12 negative remarks suggest there's certainly room for improvement.
Ambience
37
Reviews
51%
Satisfaction
12
negative
6
neutral
19
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Cozy, chill environment
- Unique atmosphere
- Hidden gem vibe
What people don't like
- Poor ventilation
- Unclean bathroom
- Evening crowding
Often praised
- atmospherethe atmosphere is the place is cool
- placethe best place in San Diego to eat
- seatingThey also offer an affordable happy hour. While ordering can take a while when it's busy, this often means there's almost always seating available once you've placed your order. You can also call in orders for takeout.
- Christmas spiritGreat Christmas spirit here
- PB gemtruly a PB gem
- bathroomas too was the bathroom
- chill environmentin a chill environment
- cozyIf you love cozy
- great energyeveryone here has great energy
- hidden gemWhat a hidden gem
Frequently criticized
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:1
- barThe bar closed for some reason
- bathroom not cleanBathroom was not clean
- crowded in the eveningCan get crowded in the evening
- face-liftI opted for the mixed sushi, garlic edamame, and miso soup. The establishment has an old style Japanese feel, but it definitely needs a face-lift. Finding the place is tough, and the parking is worse, making it near impossible at peak times.
- homeless people yellingMy experience at the restaurant was a mixed bag. While the view was okay, the presence of multiple homeless people yelling outside was a significant detractor from the atmosphere. The hostess was very nice, and the bathroom was also good.
- lacklusterit is kind of lackluster
- locationthe location is tough
- no ventilationNo ventilation in the restaurant
- parkingparking is worse, near impossible at peak times
If youre seeking a generally cozy and energetic spot, this place might be worth a visit, especially if you appreciate a hidden gem' vibe. Just be mindful that potential crowding, ventilation issues, or external noise could impact your experience.
Value (6.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 43% of the guests
When it comes to value, this spot generally hits the mark! With a 6.9 score, indicating a good performance, and a 73.2% customer satisfaction, it seems many diners are happy with what they pay. A significant 30 positive remarks out of 41 total opinions highlight the affordable, reasonably priced, and great price for meals, often praising the good food at a great price and the overall excellent value.
However, its not without its snags. 10 negative comments point to some frustrations, particularly around pricey or expensive items. Some customers felt certain dishes were overpriced' or noted discrepancies between online and in-store pricing, which can be a bit of a surprise when the bill arrives.
Value
41
Reviews
73%
Satisfaction
10
negative
1
neutral
30
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Affordable sushi
- Great meal value
- Reasonably priced
What people don't like
- Online menu misleading
- Some items pricey
- Inconsistent pricing
Often praised
- priceWhile the Dragon Roll and other rolls were quite good, the Spider Roll was disappointing as it contained a lot of krab meat but lacked soft-shell crab. The portions were good for the price, which was a refreshing change given the area. The reviewer also noted a Caterpillar Roll as a recommended dish.
- pricesI absolutely loved eating here. The food was great and the prices were reasonably priced. Additionally, the servers were extremely friendly.
- affordableSo affordable yet the sushi is better
- reasonably pricedIt’s also very reasonably priced
- valueMy experience at Ichiban was a great value. It offers the best combination of low price and good sushi.
- PricesThe selection of imported Japanese drinks is great. Prices are quite reasonable as well. One of my favorite local places to go.
- Reasonably pricedReasonably priced delicious comfort food
- bargain priced Combination platesI strictly come for the bargain priced (daily Specials) Combination plates, not the sushi rolls. Their daily specials are offered for both lunch and dinner, which is rare for Japanese restaurants.
- billhappy to see the bill was really affordable
- good pricesMy experience at this restaurant was great. I enjoyed the good food, nice service, and good prices. While the furniture is a bit old school, overall, it was a fantastic experience.
Frequently criticized
- price50 cents xtra!!! I know everything out there is getting expensive but not for lemon or Rice!!!?
- EVERY itemThe same occurred on EVERY item in my order
- bento boxHow is the bento box on Postmates only $10.25 but if you go to the restaurant it's $14.50?
- expensivethat was expensive
- happy hourNo more happy hour
- online menuThe online menu on Google maps is a huge lie
- overpriced experiencea mediocre overpriced experience
- priceyquite pricey for that
- soft shell crab rollSoft shell crab roll on postmates is $6.25, but walk into the store and it's $8.95
If youre looking for a place that generally offers good food at a fair price, especially for sushi and daily specials, this spot is worth checking out. Just be mindful that some items might feel a bit pricey, and its wise to double-check current prices if you're relying on an online menu.
How are the prices at Ichiban PB?
You’re looking at roughly 24 per person – reported by 40 diners. That puts it in the $21–$30 category. For a Japanese Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Most guests spend in this $21–$30 range, though there are some slightly cheaper options available too.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 40 reviews.
See how this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing feels pretty fair for a Japanese restaurant in this range. Its a good spot if youre looking for quality without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Ichiban PB
Visit Type
- Solo Dining
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Great Experience with Friendly Service
I had an all-around great experience at this restaurant. My auntie gave me $50 for Christmas, so I treated myself to dinner. The waitress was nice, and the food was great.
The atmosphere was friendly, contributing to a very pleasant dining experience.
- waitress9
- food9
- atmosphere9
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
9
Excellent Sushi and Service!
We are ignorant zonies and we learned about sushi from Michelle. She was kind and helpful and the food was excellent. Watch out for the guacamole!
SmileyFaceHere
- sushi9
- Michelle10
- guacamole6
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Noise Level
- Quiet
8
Good Sushi, Generous Portions
My experience at the restaurant was positive. The sushi quality was good, and the portions were generous. While the rice could have used a bit more vinegar, it was still very tasty.
The service and atmosphere were rated a 4 out of 5.
- sushi quality8
- portions9
- rice6
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Noise Level
- Moderate
9
Miss This Place!
This place was my JAM when I lived in the area! The FRIED CALAMARI ROLL was the ULTIMATE roll! I’m on the East Coast now, but DANG do I miss this place!
- fried calamari roll10
Visit Type
- Special Occasion
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
10
Delicious Food, Welcoming Atmosphere!
I visited this restaurant for a treat-myself dinner on a Friday night. The staff was incredibly welcoming, and everyone there had great energy. They offer a lot of good specials!
I ordered the Kamikaze roll, the Hamachi Kama, and hot tea. I ate everything down to the last grain of rice; it was sooooo delicious. I love coming here for various occasions, and it never disappoints.
I'll be back soon! Arigatozaimasu!
- staff10
- great energy9
- good specials8
What Ichiban PB offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
- Tourists
- Groups
- College students
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Healthy options
- Happy hour drinks
- Quick bite
- Wine
- Beer
- Small plates
- Happy hour food
- Vegetarian options
- Alcohol
Dining options
- Table service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Parking
- Free street parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trendy
FAQs
Is Ichiban PB accessible for everyone?
Yes, Ichiban PB is committed to accessibility. You’ll find a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking lot, seating, and restroom, ensuring a comfortable experience for all guests.
What kind of dining experience and food options can you expect at Ichiban PB?
At Ichiban PB, you can enjoy a casual dining experience with table service for lunch, dinner, and dessert. The menu features healthy options, small plates, vegetarian options, along with happy hour food and drinks, wine, and beer.