Ichiban Sushi & Ramen

Winner winner Ramen dinner! This is a restaurant worth a special trip to Shirlington, even if you don’t have theater tickets.
First time here, almost ordered sushi but the waiter urged me to try the ramen, specifically the pork ramen in spicy miso base. It was umami heaven — among the best I’ve had and certainly better than the bowl at Daikaya that gets so much attention.
The miso base is rich with flavor and wasn’t too spicy. It just had a mild little extra kick. The noodles were fresh and chewy, the egg was properly marinated in soy, and the generous fan of pork belly slices were seared black on the edges to take the whole umami feast to the next level. It was really outstanding.
We tried some sushi as well and it was fine — even good — but not as memorable as the ramen. If you like «specialty» rolls with lots of fried ingredients, the menu has a whole section of those. I like to call those the profit rolls. Not my cup of tea.

The boy is a huge ramen fan and myself not so much so we find ourselves constantly fighting back and forth on our favorite places to eat dinner… until we found Ichiban!
The restaurant is very large and modern which was surprising since I’m used to eating in Japanese restaurants where my left elbow almost always ends up in the eye of another patron. Service was absolutely gracious and they did not skip a beat the entire time we were eating (which was a long time because we ordered a ton!).
+ Pork Belly Buns: One of their top rated dishes, we had to try it for ourselves! I was hoping the pork belly would be a bit more on the crispier side but it was super delicious and flavorful just the same.
+ Salmon Teriyaki: I was hoping to get some omega-​3s in for the week and this dish totally did the job! With rice and veggies it was a complete meal and I was surprised that it came with two filets so I had lunch the next day as well. It’s a simple dish but they did it really well.
+ Spicy Miso Ramen: Beautiful presentation and none of the extra charges to add an egg or pork. This bowl was stocked to the brim with everything to make the perfect bowl. The boy raved about how this would be his new favorite spot.
+ Spider Roll: No complaints and came in an extra large size!
I’ll definitely be back and so glad that the boy and I have a spot nearby where we can enjoy together!

We dined here last night for our date night as we had a hankering for quality Ramen. The décor is simple and tasteful, the service was relaxed, unrushed, playful, and and our server knowledgeable. His recomendations were spot on (from the extra egg to mine being spicey, pork instead of beef or chicken, etc). I tried to recruit the sever to my restaurant in DC — I’m not sure if I was successful.
Go here. The Ramen is fantastic and arguably the best in. thw DMV.
Side note: we also had the sushi appetizer (x4 Nigiri) and the Gyoza and both were fantastic.
Two large Ramen orders, sushi app, Gyoza came. out to about $ 50. For the quality, overall experience, location, parking (free in garage) and… it’s worth the somewhat inflated cost. We’ll be back for sure.

Omg, I went to this place w/​my mother and daughter for lunch. We are from Okinawa and we were craving soba soup. We got that and more. The sushi was great and the food was amazing. The prices are also very reasonably.

Yo this place is crazy good. I went for the first time with my boyfriend during happy hour which was awesome. Originally we were just going to get ramen and call it a day. Oh No, we also got the 4 $ sushi rolls and the 5 $ drinks too on top of our ramen order. I would definitely go again for more cause I can’t get enough!

We just stumbled on Ichiban the other day, and I couldn’t be happier. The sushi is as good as it gets, but my real favorite is the ramen. I’ve eaten ramen all over the world (including in Japan), and Ichiban is the REAL DEAL. Other than raving about their righteous ramen, I should also mention the service. Friendly, relaxed, totally competent, and always there exactly when you need them. Good job, Ichiban … I will be back many, many times.
Oh, and one other thing: It’s directly across the street from the movie theater in Shirlington, so you can’t find a more convenient place to stop and eat either before or after your movie (or maybe both … now there’s a thought!).

My BF and I have been here twice now. The first time was during dinner and they had only been open for about a month or so. They have a great selection of sushi and the fish is super fresh and delicious. The second time we came for lunch on the weekend to try out their ramen. We tried the Beef with Spicy Miso and it was very tasty… Great broth.
The reason that I am only giving them three stars is because the service is incredibly slow, even when they are slow. The first time was understandable because it was dinner and it was new business, but the second time there was only one other table and it took 10 minutes just to receive water. When the orders were taken, the food always came out in a timely manner however the drinks took forever (I only got wine or beer). I decided to quit ordering them because I wasn’t sure if I would get it during my meal.
The food is great but the service might deter me from dining in.

My bf took me here because he has been here with his friends the past few Tuesday’s. I took off this Tuesday and he couldn’t wait for us to go there. The saki was strong and does the job just right. The service was very nice as well.
After drinking a few cups, I needed to order some food. I got 2 rolls of spicy tuna which comes with a miso soup and salad under the lunch special (11am-​3pm). We sat at the bar and got a nice show of the guys prepping the food. They are intricate with those knives, we were impressed.
We’ll definitely be back because my bf would have it no other way.
Enjoy :)

After the dinner rush is a great time to come! Restaurant was not too full, the server was very attentive and kind, and it just happened to be 50% off all appetizers… SCORE!
We ordered the sashimi (6 pieces) and pork buns 2 (pieces). Both were delicious. The sashimi was fresh and the pork buns were filled with lots of meat. Not the best I ever had, but definitely good.
I had the Pork Katsu Don, which had a different touch with the egg above the katsu and rice. This was very filling! Katsu is one of my favorite things to eat and this one is pretty decent. The egg can make the katsu a little soggy and I like mine nice and crispy. All that rice was a bit of overkill with the amount of katsu to egg ratio.
My bestfriend had the spicy miso pork ramen. The pork comes out in fat chunks and they definitely did not skimp on the pork! YES! For a spicy miso ramen, this definitely wasn’t spicy, which the waiter did tell me. It came with a small piece of bok choy and one whole egg (2 halves). I think it was good, but not the best ramen in the area.
Mom had the shrimp tempura, which she highly enjoyed. The breading was good and the sauce was delicious.
I would come here again so I can try the sushi.

This is a solid spot for Americanized sushi in shirking and a great replacement for the seafood restaurant that was here before it. The food is of a good quality and they do have some good alcohol choices including my favorite, Chu-​Hi!
The only irritation is the service. The lady there who seems to be the owner is on it, but some of the male servers just end up walking on by or making themselves scarce after your food arrives.
Otherwise, I’ve found its great for take out.

So glad I was able to try this place out. Definitely got my sushi/​sashimi fix. Came here with family and friends. Lets just say we were pleased.
The establishment is fairly new. I believe it hasn’t been a year yet so expect some ups and down. The owner is very open to suggestions and positive criticism. As for the ambiance it was intimate. Had low lighting, modern and tranquil look of style and open floor space. There’s also an outdoor seating option. Pets are welcomed.
My boyfriend and I were there early for happy hour while we waited for our friends and family. We sat at the bar (which is self-​seated) and was attended right away by the bartender, Sarah. She’s super sweet and well experienced (10+ years). However, the bar is not yet fully established to create premium cocktails. Although, their beer specials are great!
My boyfriend decided to order some dumpling which to me tasted average. Once our party arrived and was seated, the fun dinner began. For a fair price, compare to other places we’ve tried, the boat for 2 was a great choice ($ 65). Along with few other sushi rolls because we were just that hungry.
The sashimi tasted fresh and the quality was great. I was never a fan of yellowtail because it was very chewy but Ichiban changed my mind. It was not chewy at all. It was soft and no rubber taste.
Sushi platter:
–Crunchy Salmon: Fairly smaller than average size. Spicy salmon with crumbs on the ends.
–Unakyu: Average size roll. Traditional Eel Roll with sauce. Personally not my fave.
Shrimp Tempura: Average size. Well seasoned tempura, crunchy, cucumber topped with eel sauce.
–Dragon Roll: Bit bigger in size. Sliced avocado over eel and cream cheese roll.
–Philly Roll: Smoke salmon and Cream, drizzled with eel sauce. Average size… average roll. Recommend not getting it.
–Ichicban Roll: Group fave. Average size but so filling. Tempura shrimp, cucumber inside, topped with snow crab meat and kani.
— Volcano Roll: Another filler, average size roll. Crunchy spicy yellowtail roll, topped with tuna, salmon and spicy sauce.
Sashimi /​Sushi Boat:
Tuna: Soft and fatty
White Tuna: Fatty and buttery texture
Salmon: Soft and Fatty
Red Snapper: Soft
Yellow Tail: Soft and fatty
Albacore Tuna: Soft with slight chew
Squid: Chewy
Mackerel: Soft
Flounder: Chewy
Came with large spicy tuna roll and yami roll. The boat does include miso soup and salad. I do think the additional head price for the boat is a bit ridiculous. However, we were not charge because of our huge order.
Overall, my guest and I really enjoyed the dishes and drinks. I haven’t tried the ramen but seems popular. Maybe next time. If you’re looking for something around the Shirlington area, give this place a try. Go early.

Naturally I tried the Ramen, since there’s a lot of talk about it on here. YES, it was very good!
Had the green tea cocktail $ 10 bucks, yikes! But it was also very good. Perfect amount of everything.
My friend and I shared a shrimp appetizer like a dumpling of some sort. They weren’t HOT hot, which made me think, sitting out? Microwaved? Not entirely freshly made? They weren’t bad, but I’m also pretty sure you can find something very similar in the frozen section at Trader Joes.
Our waitress was the sweetest, and didn’t seem to mind that it took us awhile to order since my friend and I were doing some serious catching up!
Nice friendly atmosphere. I would come back. :)

What a great sushi and ramen spot in Shirlington! Their sushi and ramen is worth trying and they also have a great sake selection. My friends ordered sushi and I opted for ramen (of course). The ramen was pretty good and they were generous with the pork and it came with toppings such as the soft shell egg for no additional charge. The spicy miso broth and the ramen noodles were great but I didn’t like the taste of the pork/​chashu. I’ve had better ramen in DC so I wouldn’t make the trip back to this specific place for the food.
However, if you’re a local and looking to quench your ramen and sushi craving, I would recommend you give this place a shot. The restaurant is pretty spacious and they play 90s music which is always a plus. The manager really tries to make sure you have a wonderful experience and will walk over at the end of your meal to chat (greatly appreciated). A solid 3.5 stars for this place!

Their ramen broth is a salt-​shocker; I had the spicy miso ramen with chicken. It made me feel unhealthy. There was a scant single bokchoy; the noodles were plentiful but didn’t taste freshly made in-​house. The chicken was covered in crumbs and perfectly fried, and redeemed the dish as much as nicely prepared chicken could.
I can’t say this offering compares favorably to another Arlington ramen bastion, the Gaijin Ramen Shop on Lee Highway in North Arlington, which prepares a mellow, deep ramen broth along with made in-​house noodles. I certainly wouldn’t return here for ramen. Unless you are in the fix for some jacked-​up, salt-​powered, high-​octane Asian-​style soup, this would not be a healthy move. It’ll also hit your wallet, a bowl with no additional toppings starts at $ 14.
The service was friendly but slightly distracted. I’ll hit the numerous hole-​in-​the-​wall Phở shops all over Alexandria over this fine spot… any cold night.

Great weekday lunch specials and they have kids menu (limited, but still better than nothing). So I’m giving them 4 stars for that. I plan on coming back to try some special rolls at dinner but seems they put cream cheese in a lot of their special rolls, which is a big no no for me.
The restaurant is right next to Busboys and opposite Harris Teether. Inside is pretty big and has both nice tables and booth. Nice trendy atmosphere. A bit on the dark side with the lighting.
For lunch we started with edamame and its steamed with a touch of salt. I had the three rolls for $ 13.95 special which is awesome. I picked spicy tuna (one of the best I’ve had, although not very spicy), salmon avacado and shrimp tempura. All excellent and great value for the lunch special price. As salad and soup included too.
My friends pork miso ramen looked pretty good but is not authentic by any means. If you’ve had ramen in NY (Ippudo) or in Japan, then don’t bother. This is not that kind of ramen, might look like it, but not even close. But it’s not bad either, if you just want something hot and carby, this is a fine option.
I also got kids chicken teriyaki for my 2 yr old. It’s a big portion and I ended up packing it home for dinner for myself as he was too distracted to eat. I tasted it, tasted like what I expect.
Overall it’s a great addition to Shirlington and a great lunch option for me. I prefer the sushi more than the ramen personally.

I got excited when Ichiban Sushi & Ramen opened and of course I tried everything in the restaurant name!
Started with the pork buns which were alright. I wish the pork was more soft and savory. For sushi I had the Yami Yami roll and Dragon roll which was the highlight of my meal! These specialty rolls are delicious at a very reasonable price ($ 10.25 and $ 12 for big pieces). Lastly the ramen; I had the Spicy Miso Pork which came out to a whopping $ 14.95 with no add-​ons. It tasted like your average Spicy Miso. My main critique would be the small amount of broth they give you. It turns all mushy because there’s not enough broth.
In summary I’d say pass on the pork buns. The ramen is too pricy for my taste. But the sushi is EXCELLENT!

This place just recently opened up next to Busboys and Poets in Shirlington. I was looking forward to coming here after my experiences with other ramen places in Arlington have been disappointing (Yona and Gaijin Ramen).
The inside is really nice, and staff is polite. I ordered Tonkatsu, my husband miso ramen, and my friend salmon teriyaki. I also ordered sushi and notated it on the paper, but the server thought the form was blank and never submitted it… it happens though.
My husband’s ramen was very good. I was disappointed in my tonkatsu though. For starters, it was oyakodon, not tonkatsu. I noticed the dish had egg and lacked tonkatsu sauce, but the server said that’s how the restaurant makes their tonkatsu. But… that’s like ordering a hamburger, getting a hot dog, and being told that’s just how the restaurant makes hamburgers…
I think I would still return to try it again, because of how close it is to my home, but would stick to the ramen.

Decent sushi and ramen place! My fiancé and I recently visited for a weekend lunch and were pleasantly surprised. The restaurant is located in Shirlington Village, right across from the Harris Teeter, and in the old location of the old Blue Sea restaurant.
They serve up some great ramen and sushi! I opted for the spicy miso ramen with chicken and really enjoyed my meal! It was a hearty broth and quite filling. My fiancé ordered 2 types of sushi and also really enjoyed it.
There are plenty of places to dine in Shirlington (and we’ve been to almost all of them now). Ichiban is a solid spot and we would certainly return in the future. My only complaint is the service and the fact they brought out our food very staggered.

Great food
…best Ramen in area (outside of H street)
–Creative and delusions sushi
–unfiltered sake options
–great service
A lil pricey though…

I had a spicy miso ramen. It’s probably the best I have had in nova area but not better than some ramen spots in DC like Toki underground. I love the broth but the noodle tastes like store bought. The egg is really good too.

The spicy pork ramen was superb. I lived in southern Japan for 3 years and have searched for quality ramen since I left. The eggs were perfect, the broth was divine and the pork was tasty. The spoon was different from what I’m used to, traditionally they’re small and made of ceramic or plastic, but this long, wooden spoon was pretty cool. It’s a little pricier than expected, but it was good enough that I’ll return!

I had the kimchi ramen, I was not flavorful at all! I hear great things about this place may give it one more shot.

Thanks for coming to our neighborhood, best ramen and bento box, so so good, fresh and authentic
Congrats and welcome to The Village

About a 3.5: Ichiban Sushi & Ramen is a newer restaurant in the Shirlington area, taking place of the former Blue Sea Seafood and Bar. The menu is pretty extensive, offering appetizers (sunomono, tuna tataki, edamame, gyoza, etc.), soups, salads, sushi (maki, nigiris, and specialty rolls), ramen, daily lunch bento specials, kid options, and even catering services. We started off with a couple of Spicy Tuna Rolls (these were literally one of the best spicy tuna rolls I’ve had! It definitely had a kick to it, and the tuna was fresh and had more of a pronounced sesame oil taste to it (which I love!); we first ordered 1, but because I really enjoyed these, we ordered another roll!), and an order of the Pork Buns (we were a little apprehensive, as the price on the menu stated it was $ 10.50; however, it seemed as if the price was lowered to $ 7.95 (as shown on the receipt); in any case, the hubs and I were just not fans of these, as the pork belly used were char siu-​style — I’m not a fan of Chinese BBQ, so with this taste in addition to hoisin sauce just made it not appetizing; I usually like my pork buns just blow-​torched with some salt, and have the sweetness come from the hoisin sauce). For the main entrée, the hubs and I shared a Spicy Miso Pork Ramen (all with the tonkotsu broth as its base) — I was actually pleasantly surprised, as the broth had good flavor to it, being slightly creamy with a nice little kick; the ramen noodles were thinner, but they were perfectly cooked al dente. Baby bok choy, a whole soy-​poached egg, a roasted seaweed, and some fresh scallions are automatic toppings, and while we opted for the pork, you can choose between chicken, beef, or even fish (like snapper!). The pork, while a generous amount and with the perfect amount of fattiness, was again the same char siu-​style — I felt as if this ruined the broth slightly with its taste, and these as well as the baby bok choy, I picked them out. I will probably get the Spicy Miso again, but without any of the meats! Our server was Ms. Tsegi, and she was super sweet and super kind; Ms. Grace, the manager, came around to make sure that everything was satisfactory — you can tell that she really listens to the feedback/​comments of her customers, and cares that her patrons have a great dining experience! The restaurant itself is really chic, with beautiful lights and décor, with tons of lights. I’d love to come back and try out their other maki rolls, their specialty rolls, as well as try their ramen out (either with a different meat or a vegetarian-​style)! Ichiban is definitely a great addition to the Shirlington area, so check them out! :D
+Spicy Tuna Rolls: D
+tonkotsu-​based ramen
+daily lunch specials
+avoid the pork! T_​_​_​_​T
+ask for Ms. Grace: D
+limited street parking on Campbell

Always on the lookout for good ramen (Santouka– come to DC puh-​lease)… I was looking forward to trying out Ichiban (especially with new friends! Hi P!)
If you can’t find a coveted parking position right in front– never fear– the parking structure is right next door and the 2^nd and 3^rd floors are all free.
I had made a reservation (wasn’t sure how busy they are) but it was more than fine to show up on Sunday (party of 4) without a reservation (at least for now!)
For appetizers we ordered:
1. Spring rolls — our guests ordered these. I normally am not a big fan of spring rolls that aren’t Vietnamese spring rolls– so I can’t speak to these but I didn’t hear any complaints.
2. Seaweed salad– good flavor
3. Pork buns– $ 10.50 I really wanted to like these and I think they have a good foundation going. It’s your basic steamed white bun with two pieces of pork belly in it with a smidge of hoisin sauce. I added some sriracha for more flavor. My suggestion to them would be to lower the price point a dollar or two (you can get 2 pork buns at Ippudo in NYC for $ 9) and add a slaw (i.e. kimchi slaw) and more of a caramelized spicy sauce– I think this would pull everything all together. Also make sure the buns are warm (they were at room temperature when we got them).
4. Gyoza– we didn’t order them but after the server realized his «mistake,» we were given a free appetizer. :) They were good with the right amount of crisp on the edge with a juicy inside.
For our meals we ordered:
1. Chicken katsu curry– they had a different type of sauce (not your traditional curry sauce but a sweeter one– they said they will update the menu).
2. Spicy Miso Pork Ramen, Spicy Miso Chicken Ramen and Kimchi based Pork Ramen— again, I think they have a good foundation but can tweak their menu a little bit. I would suggest under-​cooking the ramen noodles a bit more (they were soggy and most people prefer it al dente with a bit of crunch) and adding a bit more depth and flavor (maybe more fat?) to the broth. I liked the spice but there was something missing (especially since I had just eaten ramen at Chaplin’s on Tuesday). Though I definitely appreciated that it wasn’t overly salted.
Service was superb with the owner/​manager coming by various times to check in on us, ask us for critical feedback and also to offer us a complimentary dish from the sushi chef– a type of «sushi pizza» — basically crispy rice in the shape of a mini pizza (cut into 4) with a layer of guacamole, tuna and onions. It was yum and much appreciated– will have to try more of the sushi next time.
Overall, I like this place and their attention to detail. I think they have a good foundation going and since they are open to feedback (owner reported they consistently revamp their menu based on feedback from customers), I think they can really grow into something good. I look forward to coming back to try other items and see if the ramen has improved.

I’m so glad I found this place… The manager, sushi chefs, and hostesses, were incredibly helpful and friendly. My friend and I stopped in for lunch before heading to the airport after New Years. We sat at the sushi bar and told the manager who was helping us that we were in a hurry. Our food came out timely and was incredible! The lunch deal includes miso soup, salad, and two rolls for just $ 12. And these rolls are the real deal with lots of fish and just a small amount of rice. We had the salmon avocado and shrimp tempura which were both a step above any typical sushi restaurant. We also ordered the salmon belly and asked for a light sear… Highly recommended! I will definitely return for happy hour or dinner next time… Maybe get a seat in front of the fireplace!

I’ve been on a bit of a ramen bender this last week. After nomming my way through Yona, a friend recommended Max and I try Ichiban in Shirlington for our next date night. It was peak traffics it was a little frustrating getting there, and finding parking in Shirlington is always a buzzkill but we were excited none the less.
We kicked off the night with vegetable tempura, which did not disappoint. I rarely get to eat a good tempura so this little plate went down pretty quickly. The batter was perfectly seasoned but not as crunchy as I expected.
Ichiban is known for their sushi and ramen, so I hopped right back on the ramen train and ordered a beef ramen with the kimchi base. Max ordered pork with the traditional both. I regret not getting the traditional base because it tasted much better. The might suggest avoiding the kimchi ramen because it is not made with kimchi, it is made using a a mix. The flavor was pretty much identical to the kimchi ramen bowls you can buy at Lotte, definitely a disappointment.
The ramen here had all the classic components: poached egg, boo chop, onion, and a bone marrow broth. The eggs were perfection, and tasted quite god with the kimchi broth. Tasting Max’s ramen I became instantly jealous that I did not order his.
If you’re looking for an affordable night out in the hustle and bustle of it all, or authentic Japanese sushi and bento boxes, I would definitely check out Ichiban Sushi in Shirlington.

Super friendly staff and great service.
*Unagi rolls — it tastes like the usual eel sushi. I can’t review much about their other types of sushi. Just ordered this as a starter.
*Spicy miso w/​pork — pork was tender, ramen was cooked perfectly, however… the broth didn’t do it for me! I didn’t get the bold «spicy miso» in the broth like other places. I do like the bok choy in ramen!
*Soy ramen w/​pork — the boyfriend said it was one of his favorite soy ramen he’s ever had. So, coming from him who solely eats the soy ramen type — that means it was quite decent.
Wouldn’t mind coming back here because it’s nearby but I hope the spicy miso broth tastes better next visit.

I came here to try their ramen and got a couple rolls from the happy hour menu.
4 stars for the sushi and ambience of the restaurant. The rolls had a good rice ratio (i know, this is something weird to take notice of). They didn’t pile of the rice to the point where you barely tasted anything else, so I really appreciated that!
3 stars for the ramen. The noodles were too soggy for my liking. I’ve had ramen at a lot of different places and this was my first time having soggy noodles. I got their spicy miso and that was pretty good. It could use a little more miso, the broth came off a little too light for me.
Overall I’d probably come back here again for the rolls and happy hour.

Great Ramen!
I went here and had an amazing bowl of ramen. The spicy pork was so delicious — it was flavored so well with a authentic taste to it. The spicy broth was mouth watering — left me grabbing at the water. It was great. I will definitely be back to eat here again. Nice staff, friendly, quick and smiling. This place leaves you happy, full and wanting to return. Loved it!

I wish I could give this place more than 3 stars because the service was great (besides messing up my order); however, the food was pretty lackluster. I’ll give it another shot for sure and try out some of their sushi dishes, so hopefully I’ll be able to bump the rating up a bit!
I arrived here for a solo lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The place is extremely spacious and there were only a few patrons there already. I already knew what I wanted to order — the ramen — so I didn’t really get a good look at the rest of the menu. I ordered the kimchi stew ramen with pork. When the waitress arrived with my bowl of ramen, I noticed the broth was white with just a few dabs of red spice oil. I was confused since I ordered the kimchi broth, but thought maybe there was kimchi on the bottom that had to be mixed in. Nope. They had mistakenly given me the wrong broth. Also, instead of pork they gave me beef. So I basically received an entirely different dish than what I had ordered. I’m not a picky eater at all and I hate sending food back, so I decided to just stay quiet and see how I would like the bowl (miso w/​beef).
The ramen comes standard with bok choy, nori, and soft boiled egg. I thought the egg was cooked perfectly and well marinated in soy sauce. The bok choy was a nice addition and added a good texture and freshness. The broth was OK — definitely lighter in flavor. Pretty standard miso. The noodles were a little too soft — I prefer ramen noodles al dente. The beef brisket was tender and good, but definitely different than what I’m used to. I usually associate ramen with pork.
Overall, the ramen experience here was average. I’d like to come back and try the kimchi broth though!

This place has what it takes to make it big in Arlington VA. For ramen, it beats Yona hands down. Quality of service is impeccable for soft launch and the manager Grace and her staff knows how to build great relationship with locals to generate word of mouth in NoVA. Even the house sake (cold) was a quality Junmai. Overall, I was impressed with the experience after coming 30 mins before closing because I was hungry and craving ramen and sushi. Kudos to the team there and looking forward to returning.

Review for Ramen only:
I ordered the spicy miso pork ramen for lunch. My thoughts:
–Expensive for portion size
–Pork was 80% fat — which I personally do not like
–Broth was not spicy in the slightest
This was a total bust for me. I hope to come back to try the sushi, but I can’t recommend for ramen.

My roommates and I literally live across the street and have all been here 4 – 5 times since it opened about 3 weeks ago.
Definitely a great replacement for Bonsai, which was the mediocre-​to-​bad Japanese restaurant that was here before.
The first time we went, almost everyone got the ramen. Grace, the manager, is very nice and perceptive. She made sure to go around to every table to see how things were going. The egg in the broth was more hard-​boiled than poached, the pork was a little thin although delicious, and the service was pretty slow.
Between then and now, we’ve gone for lunch and also dinner a few more times. The bento boxes are definitely a great deal and a lot of food. I have to say that now, the eggs are poached, the pork is thicker but still delicious (pork is really the only way to go if you’re getting ramen), and the service/​speed has also improved. The katsu is also great and a good portion.
And another thing I love (though some may not) is how random their music selection is. We literally sat through one meal and listened to Ed Sheeran, country, Christmas music, Rihanna’s Bitch Betta Have My Money, and a traditional Vietnamese song.
I think I would give this place a 4.5 based on taste/​price/​etc. But we’ve always had very nice servers, and Grace’s attentiveness is very appreciated! I’ve only tried one roll there so far but am looking forward to many more since there are so many options! I think if we had anymore suggestions it would be that the ginger sauce on the salad could be a little better, I think the salad could be better served/​more easily eaten in a bowl, and I would recommend losing the crocodile décor above the bar and perhaps having the menu proofread so that it flows better/​is a little more professional. But it is clear that the restaurant values customer feedback and is striving to be the best it can be!

Update: came back for lunch and had their sushi sashimi special. I was impressed! It came with my favorite sashimi yellowtail, so I may be biased there. The fish tasted great and fresh. I am really happy with this new addition here at Shirlington. I will be back soon! Great place for ramen and sushi! What a combo.
Service was much better this time around, great job!

Finding a good ramen spot close to home has been a lot of trial and error… will I still head out to Fairfax or DC for majority of my ramen fixes? Absolutely! However this one is only three miles away and better than another neighboring one. The pork they serve is thin but juicy, the broth is is full of flavor, and all in all it’s convenient. Although they don’t have corn for the ramen, the staff is all really friendly.

Seriously the best ramen in the area. Broth and pork was to die for. Sashimi was fresh. Presentation was awesome. Great service. Must try!

Fresh sushi, phenomenal presentation, definitely coming back for Ramen noodles and working my way through Ichiban’s large sushi roll selection.
Great food and experience and it was only the soft opening…