Haru Ichiban Japanese Rstrnt

10/28/09

Excellent Japanese Restaurant!!!!!

by antone2000 at Citysearch

Our family has been going to this restaurant for years! It is the best Japanese restaurant in Atlanta. This restaurant is owned by Japanese, so you know it's very authenic.

• Pros: Best Authenic Japanese Food in Atlanta

09/06/09

Out of many, few stand out

by monk avatar at Citysearch

My wife and I have been going here for about 7 years. Now, when Wantanabe san owned/worked there it was hands-down some of the best sushi you could get just about anywhere (I've eaten at a lot of places-including the Blue Ribbon in NY when it was considered "good").

They have gone through an ownership change a couple years back, but the same itames are still cutting and forming. So, the only thing that has suffered is the rice (which is still really good, but Watanabe made it mind-blowingly good-it actually had umami) and on occasion the fish isn't quite where it "should" be. But still very respectable sushi.

Their udon as well as many of their other traditional fare is always good. Don't go here thinking 'MF Sushi club night yo!". Go here thinking that your going to get the kind of Japanese home cooking quality that will make you one of the few non Japanese people eating there on any given night. Read that line again. Japanese folks have a LOW tolerance for poor quality food.

The service is okay, when you're "new". After you've been going there for a while and build a mutual respect, the service is outstanding.

For example: a couple years back Japfest had just closed up for the day and there was line 30 people deep to the door of Ichiban and the dining room was full. These people MADE US a place setting so that we may eat without waiting. You don't just "get" that kind of service by walking in and ordering a California roll once or twice.

Of course, like any other restaurant, they have off-nights. It happens to every place.

I give this place a 5 star rating, because even though their ownership change has brought them down a little, they still really care about their food and it shows.

• Pros: Excellent traditional sushi and Japanese food
• Cons: location, sometimes there's an "off" night

01/01/09

Terrible service

by baechucabbage at Citysearch

I think food is not bad, but service is terrible. They cannot remember the order correctly - sometimes they completely forget the order. Foods are served with so big time differences that some of the members of a group finish their dinner even before other members begin their food. I cannot enjoy tasting at this restaurant with seeing hungry friends waiting foods.