Ichika

Came here for our anniversary dinner and it was so well worth it. We booked our reservation using tock a bit out in advance as it was still in its soft opening phase. Parking would not be a problem as its located in a big strip mall with lots of available slots to park and well lit for dark evenings/nights. A very friendly hostess greeted us, verified our reservation details and sat us at the bar and it seemed quite a bit of an intimate setting though they did have a few tables alongside the bar that were occupied as well. With a warm welcome from the chef, started the onset of the dishes that as well sashayed the master's craft. He definitely took pride in his work and executed the cuts, slices , rolls et al to perfection and spent quite some time walking us through each of the item that was served. Great experience and I would definitely recommend it to those who like Sushi and an intimate omakase experience. Gochisousama deshita!!!

Ichika hits the spot for an omakase/fine dining experience. We came to celebrate a birthday and it did not disappoint. The menu was varied with delicious hot Japanese dishes, nigiri, and sashimi that left us feeling very full and satisfied. The service was on point and the interior decoration makes the space feel very intimate. Make sure to reserve online! Will definitely be coming back here as my south bay go-to.

I had a really great experience! The service was warm and the ambience relaxing and intimate. The food was beautiful, delicious, had great variety, and was well paced. About $150pp pre tax/tip and you'll leave feeling comfortably full and happy! The chawanmushi and sushi rice in the nigiri were my favorites 😋

Vy Nguyen

Ichika feels like a hidden gem in Milpitas. The decor is beautiful and inviting. My party and I all had the omakase. Every dish came out timely and so so delicious! Artfully presented and fresh clean ingredients. I highly recommend this place.

Monique Hulick

We have been here probably 10 times and it’s always such an interesting and delicious experience! The nigiri is always cut beautifully. The chawanmushi and desserts change seasonally. Sake options are great. We always sit at the bar and sometimes we get some special cuts or some experimental dishes from the chef which always makes our night so much more fun!

Opinion Worth a Thought

Impressed with the carefully and mindfully crafted menu. Great sake selection to pair with the food. Service was excellent. Every course was explained to us well. Ambience was great with non-intrusive music in the background We were there to celebrate mom's 81st birthday. They played a nice version of "Happy Birthday" on their audio system for her! Totally unexpected

Wei Huang

Great gem in the middle of a strip mall in Milpitas. The food was sophisticated and delicious, and the service was attentive. Very impressed

Phuong Uyen

A beautiful small space, cozy, zen and classy! We dined with our infant at the 5pm seating so they were quite accommodating in giving us a big table. Service was great. Our server was really attentive and explained the courses well. We loved their soy sauce made in-house by their chef! It felt special, top notch, and paired so well with their sashimi. All the courses were presented well and were paced appropriately. No dead-time between courses and we appreciated that since we had a small baby with us. The first course Sakizuke was a big wow for us! The scallops and monkfish liver were my favorite. All the courses following that were delightful, we loved the light and refreshing taste in most of them. My husband added the Supplement (uni, wagyu, otoro) to his serving, but we thought it was quite expensive since it came with one piece each and we didn’t know our Nigiri would come with uni and otoro already. The yakimono (grilled miso sea bass) were a bit too salty for our taste. Dessert was decent but not as impressive as the other courses. It was our first kaiseki experience and we were quite pleased overall. The price of $148 per person is reasonable at nice restaurants nowadays in my opinion. Good food, great space, a memorable meal to celebrate a special occasion.

Jun-An Ni

Transported into a beautiful and calming interior when you walk past the doors. The staff do their upmost to make you feel at home and valued for being there. The sushi chef at the bar was so much fun to talk and so experienced in explaining every cut of fish and the presentation behind it. All of the staff made tasting notes as they delivered the food. Truly a wonderful experience and wonderful staff to interact with. Everything was beautifully presented. We would come back often if we lived in the area (we’re from Boston).

Kaiya Zhang

Absolutely love this restaurant! The food is delicious, the atmosphere is lovely, and the service is great! All the dishes are selected by the chef and are seasonal, so each time you go, the dish set can be different. Toward the end we got another menu for us to order extra besides the dish set. To my understanding, you don't always get a chance to order extra dishes; it's probably all based on how busy the restaurant is and how the chef feels (my assumption). Yes, it's expensive, but it's sooo worth it!!! Highly recommended, especially if you have a special occasion! You won't regret it! THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND: - Because the dish set is selected by the chef, please remember to confirm with the restaurant before you go for those who may have a food allergy. - Maybe it's better to make a reservation because the restaurant space is quite limited. - The time limit is 2 hours. - For those fast eaters, you probably still need 2 hours to enjoy the food. It's not about how fast you eat; it's about how each course is brought to you one after another and how everything is at a relaxing pace.

Cherie C

Came here for a celebration. Service was great and the food was even better, they explain all the dishes well. The sea bass with yuzu sauce was one of the best pieces of fish I've ever eaten.

Sankha Hota

A great Japanese restaurant in the Milpitas area where you don't find many fine dining restaurants. Food was awesome and service was great. The chef is young but talented. Food is fresh and well presented. Worth visiting again.

Salim Ali Khan

Came here for our anniversary dinner and it was so well worth it. We booked our reservation using tock a bit out in advance as it was still in its soft opening phase. Parking would not be a problem as its located in a big strip mall with lots of available slots to park and well lit for dark evenings/nights. A very friendly hostess greeted us, verified our reservation details and sat us at the bar and it seemed quite a bit of an intimate setting though they did have a few tables alongside the bar that were occupied as well. With a warm welcome from the chef, started the onset of the dishes that as well sashayed the master's craft. He definitely took pride in his work and executed the cuts, slices , rolls et al to perfection and spent quite some time walking us through each of the item that was served. Great experience and I would definitely recommend it to those who like Sushi and an intimate omakase experience. Gochisousama deshita!!!

Steven Kou

Ichika hits the spot for an omakase/fine dining experience. We came to celebrate a birthday and it did not disappoint. The menu was varied with delicious hot Japanese dishes, nigiri, and sashimi that left us feeling very full and satisfied. The service was on point and the interior decoration makes the space feel very intimate. Make sure to reserve online! Will definitely be coming back here as my south bay go-to.

Athena Hu

I had a really great experience! The service was warm and the ambience relaxing and intimate. The food was beautiful, delicious, had great variety, and was well paced. About $150pp pre tax/tip and you'll leave feeling comfortably full and happy! The chawanmushi and sushi rice in the nigiri were my favorites 😋

Tim, Emily and Katina are amazing! Such an amazing experience! I can't wait to come back when their menu adjusts for the next season!!! For alcohol I recommend honmare black label and then just get w.e they recommend. So awesome!!

Emily, Katina, & Tim are the best!!! The food was amazing, beyond expectations with such care in presentation and taste! I love the creativity in the dishes, and it was such a joy to dine here again <3 it was my second time dining here for a friend’s birthday… and I’ll definitely be back for more special occasions :)

Dandy Doris

Emily, Katina, & Tim are the best!!! The food was amazing, beyond expectations with such care in presentation and taste! I love the creativity in the dishes, and it was such a joy to dine here again <3 it was my second time dining here for a friend’s birthday… and I’ll definitely be back for more special occasions :)

Edward Bright

Tim, Emily and Katina are amazing! Such an amazing experience! I can't wait to come back when their menu adjusts for the next season!!! For alcohol I recommend honmare black label and then just get w.e they recommend. So awesome!!

The service was very very good. Food was good as expected. We liked the uni/salmon roe nigiri, the special chawamushi, and grilled misi sea bass. We celebrated a family member birthday there; enjoyed much.

A warm retreat with a delicious delivery. Overall I had a great experience, the staff was very inviting and communicative from even before the dinner. The meal was pleasant and service on-point. Ambience set the mood and the dishes were always anticipated. Take Note This place only takes reservations which, we had to pay $35 per person online, and this fee was not deducted from the total bill. Service The staff here welcomed us and provided an attentive but not overly interruptive service. Hot teas were refilled often and our refreshments topped off whenever asked. The server was a little higher energy than expected in the environment, but had a very pleasant and charming attitude. We had emailed in advance to try to substitute beef where possible (and this was followed for the most part, minute one course) and that it was for a special occasion. It seemed the beef substitution made it through in communication but the special event did not as we were asked twice at the restaurant. Venue The restaurant features very warm and dark walls with modern fixtures. Careful touch was put into the design and presentation of the restaurant. The booths in the back allowed for a little more intimate scene, but they also had a couple of tables toward the front and a couple of settings at the sushi bar that wasn't in use. They ensured not to overfill the restaurant with guests and we felt perfectly comfortable even during the pandemic to be sat and enjoy a meal. The outside is unassuming, we had to double-check that we went to the right location to find this hidden gem. There is one restroom for guests that contains self-cleaning bidet and facilities were clean. Food The overall presentation of each piece was Instagram-worthy, they came out on a semi-even cadence, and most guests were served their courses around the same time. Some of the items were very one-note, but none of the pieces were anything less than delicious. The appetizer had an interesting choice of combination of textures with a raw fish and what tasted like rice balls, mangos, and avocado. They could've done without the rice balls as this added too much chewiness to the appetizer. The following courses featured other raw and cooked fish as well as American Wagyu Beef. As the menu changes, the experience will be differ, but this Prix fixe menu hosted 8 courses. One of the courses the Wagyu Beef couldn't be substituted and we were offered twice the ability to remove the item and recieve a discount off the final bill. However, we feel they could've just added a second otoro or uni, we still opted for keeping the item. The frothed soy sauce that they served for our raw fish enhanced the flavors but could be overbearing if you accidentally dipped too much, but I would say was a star of the meal as it was very tempting to just drink. I'm ok in admitting that! Final comments on the food was we felt that the amount of food was a little lacking for an experience such as this. Previous menus had offered 10 courses, and I feel they could've continued that or had at least one more course where an additional plate was offered before the soup and dessert. They did include a cake with a candle to celebrate the birthday at the end! Final Note This restaurant is one that you should experience if you're in East or South Bay. Get a reservation in advance to ensure you have a seat and, if you arrive a little early like we did, you'll get to choose where you'd like to sit. The final price was well over $135 per person and I would say it was worth it, though would've been nice if there was a 9th course, that would've given the experience a full 5 stars. I would still rate this as an experience you should have if you enjoy Japanese cuisine or sushi.

Phillip Cheng

The service was very very good. Food was good as expected. We liked the uni/salmon roe nigiri, the special chawamushi, and grilled misi sea bass. We celebrated a family member birthday there; enjoyed much.

Shawn Silverman

A warm retreat with a delicious delivery. Overall I had a great experience, the staff was very inviting and communicative from even before the dinner. The meal was pleasant and service on-point. Ambience set the mood and the dishes were always anticipated. Take Note This place only takes reservations which, we had to pay $35 per person online, and this fee was not deducted from the total bill. Service The staff here welcomed us and provided an attentive but not overly interruptive service. Hot teas were refilled often and our refreshments topped off whenever asked. The server was a little higher energy than expected in the environment, but had a very pleasant and charming attitude. We had emailed in advance to try to substitute beef where possible (and this was followed for the most part, minute one course) and that it was for a special occasion. It seemed the beef substitution made it through in communication but the special event did not as we were asked twice at the restaurant. Venue The restaurant features very warm and dark walls with modern fixtures. Careful touch was put into the design and presentation of the restaurant. The booths in the back allowed for a little more intimate scene, but they also had a couple of tables toward the front and a couple of settings at the sushi bar that wasn't in use. They ensured not to overfill the restaurant with guests and we felt perfectly comfortable even during the pandemic to be sat and enjoy a meal. The outside is unassuming, we had to double-check that we went to the right location to find this hidden gem. There is one restroom for guests that contains self-cleaning bidet and facilities were clean. Food The overall presentation of each piece was Instagram-worthy, they came out on a semi-even cadence, and most guests were served their courses around the same time. Some of the items were very one-note, but none of the pieces were anything less than delicious. The appetizer had an interesting choice of combination of textures with a raw fish and what tasted like rice balls, mangos, and avocado. They could've done without the rice balls as this added too much chewiness to the appetizer. The following courses featured other raw and cooked fish as well as American Wagyu Beef. As the menu changes, the experience will be differ, but this Prix fixe menu hosted 8 courses. One of the courses the Wagyu Beef couldn't be substituted and we were offered twice the ability to remove the item and recieve a discount off the final bill. However, we feel they could've just added a second otoro or uni, we still opted for keeping the item. The frothed soy sauce that they served for our raw fish enhanced the flavors but could be overbearing if you accidentally dipped too much, but I would say was a star of the meal as it was very tempting to just drink. I'm ok in admitting that! Final comments on the food was we felt that the amount of food was a little lacking for an experience such as this. Previous menus had offered 10 courses, and I feel they could've continued that or had at least one more course where an additional plate was offered before the soup and dessert. They did include a cake with a candle to celebrate the birthday at the end! Final Note This restaurant is one that you should experience if you're in East or South Bay. Get a reservation in advance to ensure you have a seat and, if you arrive a little early like we did, you'll get to choose where you'd like to sit. The final price was well over $135 per person and I would say it was worth it, though would've been nice if there was a 9th course, that would've given the experience a full 5 stars. I would still rate this as an experience you should have if you enjoy Japanese cuisine or sushi.

Ideally, I'd give Ichika a 3.5/5. Ichika in Milpitas offers a unique take on Kaiseki, a multi-course Japanese fine dining experience. The restaurant itself boasts a beautiful ambiance, with a mix of modern and traditional elements. Booths and sunken seating provide a great setting for groups, while natural materials and handcrafted furniture create a modern and sophisticated atmosphere. The service at Ichika was excellent. The staff was attentive and friendly, and the chef himself was happy to chat and answer questions. However, the omakase experience itself had some hits and misses. For a fixed price of $148 per person, the menu offers a seasonal selection of dishes. Our omakase experience included - Sakizuke: This was a solid start. It included 4 appetizers - 1. abalone 2. sweet shrimp, and hotate 3. gobo (burdock root) 4. seaweed and crab. All four appetizers, including the standout sweet shrimp and hotate (scallop), were fresh and delicious. Tsukuri (sashimi): The sashimi course featured four different types of fish, showcasing the quality of the ingredients. These 4 fishes were - 1. Kanpachi 2. Hotate 3. Kurodai 4. Akami (bluefin tuna) The hotate (sweet and delicious) and the bluefin tuna were the highlights of this course. Reisei Chawanmushi (cold steamed egg custard): Unfortunately, this dish fell flat. The custard itself lacked flavor, and while the foamy sauce helped a bit, it wasn't enough to save it. Nigiri (6 pieces of premium cuts): The first round of nigiri included 3 interesting pieces - 1. Hirame (flounder) with truffle salt was a unique twist 2. The Shima aji (stripejack) with ginger was a classic combination. 3. Iwana (Arctic char from Iceland) Hirame and Iwana were my favorites from this nigiri round. The second round of nigir also included 3 pieces of premium cuts of fish - 1. Kinmedai (golden eye snapper) 2. Soy cured fatty tuna 3. Hokkaido uni with slamon roe The fatty tuna was buttery and soft (melt-in-your-mouth texture), and the Hokkaido uni with salmon roe was a perfect combination of sweet and salty. These 2 nigiri pieces definitely offered the rich flavors you expect in a high-end omakase. However, a heads up for those sensitive to wasabi - all the nigiri came quite generous with it. You can definitely request the chef to go lighter on the wasabi. Agemono (tempura): Both the pickled tempura and sweet potato in this course were a bit bland. A sprinkle of salt or a more flavorful dipping sauce would have been a welcome improvement. Ankake (fish in broth): This savory dish with white fish in a dashi broth was a comforting addition to the meal. Monaka (caviar and otoro): Outside of the nigiri pieces, this dish was the star of the show! The combination of caviar and melt-in-your-mouth otoro (fatty tuna belly) on a crisp wafer was a delicious burst of salty and creamy. Suimono (soup): The shrimp ball, mochi (rice cake), and sakura (cherry blossom) in this 7soup were a nice way to cleanse the palate before dessert. Though, as with other dishes, this dish lacked salt, too. Dessert (hojicha ice cream): The hojicha ice cream itself was good, but it lacked sweetness on its own. The provided honey black syrup helped, but overall, the dessert felt a bit underwhelming. In conclusion, Ichika offers a beautiful ambiance, friendly service, and a good variety of dishes in their omakase menu. However, some courses could benefit from stronger flavors and more creative execution. For the price point, I would rate it a 3-star experience. I wish they included more nigiri pieces in their omakase experience.

ayush kalani

Ideally, I'd give Ichika a 3.5/5. Ichika in Milpitas offers a unique take on Kaiseki, a multi-course Japanese fine dining experience. The restaurant itself boasts a beautiful ambiance, with a mix of modern and traditional elements. Booths and sunken seating provide a great setting for groups, while natural materials and handcrafted furniture create a modern and sophisticated atmosphere. The service at Ichika was excellent. The staff was attentive and friendly, and the chef himself was happy to chat and answer questions. However, the omakase experience itself had some hits and misses. For a fixed price of $148 per person, the menu offers a seasonal selection of dishes. Our omakase experience included - Sakizuke: This was a solid start. It included 4 appetizers - 1. abalone 2. sweet shrimp, and hotate 3. gobo (burdock root) 4. seaweed and crab. All four appetizers, including the standout sweet shrimp and hotate (scallop), were fresh and delicious. Tsukuri (sashimi): The sashimi course featured four different types of fish, showcasing the quality of the ingredients. These 4 fishes were - 1. Kanpachi 2. Hotate 3. Kurodai 4. Akami (bluefin tuna) The hotate (sweet and delicious) and the bluefin tuna were the highlights of this course. Reisei Chawanmushi (cold steamed egg custard): Unfortunately, this dish fell flat. The custard itself lacked flavor, and while the foamy sauce helped a bit, it wasn't enough to save it. Nigiri (6 pieces of premium cuts): The first round of nigiri included 3 interesting pieces - 1. Hirame (flounder) with truffle salt was a unique twist 2. The Shima aji (stripejack) with ginger was a classic combination. 3. Iwana (Arctic char from Iceland) Hirame and Iwana were my favorites from this nigiri round. The second round of nigir also included 3 pieces of premium cuts of fish - 1. Kinmedai (golden eye snapper) 2. Soy cured fatty tuna 3. Hokkaido uni with slamon roe The fatty tuna was buttery and soft (melt-in-your-mouth texture), and the Hokkaido uni with salmon roe was a perfect combination of sweet and salty. These 2 nigiri pieces definitely offered the rich flavors you expect in a high-end omakase. However, a heads up for those sensitive to wasabi - all the nigiri came quite generous with it. You can definitely request the chef to go lighter on the wasabi. Agemono (tempura): Both the pickled tempura and sweet potato in this course were a bit bland. A sprinkle of salt or a more flavorful dipping sauce would have been a welcome improvement. Ankake (fish in broth): This savory dish with white fish in a dashi broth was a comforting addition to the meal. Monaka (caviar and otoro): Outside of the nigiri pieces, this dish was the star of the show! The combination of caviar and melt-in-your-mouth otoro (fatty tuna belly) on a crisp wafer was a delicious burst of salty and creamy. Suimono (soup): The shrimp ball, mochi (rice cake), and sakura (cherry blossom) in this 7soup were a nice way to cleanse the palate before dessert. Though, as with other dishes, this dish lacked salt, too. Dessert (hojicha ice cream): The hojicha ice cream itself was good, but it lacked sweetness on its own. The provided honey black syrup helped, but overall, the dessert felt a bit underwhelming. In conclusion, Ichika offers a beautiful ambiance, friendly service, and a good variety of dishes in their omakase menu. However, some courses could benefit from stronger flavors and more creative execution. For the price point, I would rate it a 3-star experience. I wish they included more nigiri pieces in their omakase experience.

If you’re looking for a traditional sushi experience, this is not the place. The chefs are not Japanese, and the style leans more toward fusion and creative presentation rather than authentic Edomae sushi. Personally, I found the food just okay — it didn’t live up to the price point. The balance between cost and quality simply isn’t there.

Olivia

If you’re looking for a traditional sushi experience, this is not the place. The chefs are not Japanese, and the style leans more toward fusion and creative presentation rather than authentic Edomae sushi. Personally, I found the food just okay — it didn’t live up to the price point. The balance between cost and quality simply isn’t there.

Leo

Celebrated my birthday at Ichika with four friends, and sadly, the experience fell short of expectations. On the positive side, the modern atmosphere aligns with the standard you'd anticipate from any omakase venue. Now, diving into the culinary aspect, the portions, regrettably, lean on the smaller side, prompting thoughts of better value at a conventional Japanese restaurant. To compound matters, a mosquito in the clam soup raised eyebrows. Although they offered a polite apology and a small bottle of sake, I couldn't help but feel that owning up to the oversight and a reduction in the meal would have been a more fitting resolution. While the nigiri rolls stole the show, the quantity left something to be desired with only three pieces. Adding to the considerations, the mandatory 20% tips requirement is worth noting. If you're seeking a satiating omakase experience, Ichika might not be the ideal choice. Unfortunately, I don't foresee a return visit in my near future.

Here’s the thing. Fine dining restaurants are a dime a down in the Bay Area. The guests during our dinner were loud beyond imaginable, especially for such a small space, we had to complain to our waitress about it. The staff here were unable to control their guests at all. If anything, they encouraged them further by sharing drinks with them. If you are looking for a more traditional fine dining experience, this is not the place to go. There are plenty of alternatives. The food were not particularly impressive compared to others in the same price range. Basically the only thing they have going for them is the decor of the restaurant, which was beautiful.

Steven Wu

Here’s the thing. Fine dining restaurants are a dime a down in the Bay Area. The guests during our dinner were loud beyond imaginable, especially for such a small space, we had to complain to our waitress about it. The staff here were unable to control their guests at all. If anything, they encouraged them further by sharing drinks with them. If you are looking for a more traditional fine dining experience, this is not the place to go. There are plenty of alternatives. The food were not particularly impressive compared to others in the same price range. Basically the only thing they have going for them is the decor of the restaurant, which was beautiful.