Tucked away inside a strip mall off of Hesperian Boulevard, owner Andy Cho takes a chance on opening a Japanese Restaurant in San Leandro. “I just felt like there weren’t that many Japanese restaurants in this city and I wanted to offer quality food with fresh ingredients,” Cho said.
The opening of Ichi Japanese Restaurant aims to satisfy cravings for sushi and Japanese food. Competition is scarce since it is the only Japanese restaurant within an 8-mile radius. Yet, despite the advantage, Andy Cho is particular about service and food quality. “We have our produce and ingredients delivered to us numerous times during the week, to ensure freshness,” Cho said.
Cho, who used to be a mentor for troubled teenagers at Sunset Youth Services, is accustomed to teaching kids to try new things. Now, he is relentlessly inventing ways to introduce Japanese cuisine to everyone. He remembers when he would only eat Chicken Teriyaki and balk at anything raw; so his sympathy towards new takers led him to create, “Invent a Roll.”
Any customer, especially younger ones, can suggest what they want in a sushi rolls and the chef will oblige. “If you want a Beef Teriyaki Roll, we’ll make it – fill it with all types of veggies, we’ll make it!”
Cho does not guarantee that the roll will be a culinary delight and always warns clients to be mindful about their inventions.
Confident about his establishment, Cho refuses to have his friends and contacts write “Yelp” reviews, a trick that many restaurants use to gain business — instead, he prefers the old school “word of mouth” way.
“If I can satisfy a client and they like the food, they will come back and tell their friends,” Cho says.
Outside, the storefront is unassuming but inside, the décor is sleek and modern. The walls are adorned with Japanese tatami screens and there is a board listing the daily specials. The space is well organized with plenty of tables, catering to regular diners rather than the classic “Omakase”(Chef’s Choice) or die-hard sushi bar types, but there is a sushi bar with six seats.
Here are some items worth trying:
Ichi Roll – A hyped up spicy tuna roll with red chili flakes and crisp cucumber to offset the heat. Wrapped around with smoky flavored Nori and sushi rice that is lightly seasoned with sweet rice vinegar then topped with slices of avocado and mango.
Fresh Oysters – (Depending on the supply and origin) Mid- size oysters served with Ponzu, a tangy, citrus soy sauce, finely minced daikon and a pinch of green onions.
Ikayaki – Squid that is grilled to perfection, lightly salted with a hint of smoke. Sliced and served with two dipping sauces; Ponzu and House Made dressing.
Inspire Roll – A tribute to Cho’s friend, this roll is a made with a crispy, lightly battered shrimp tempura and a refreshing strip of cucumber. The roll is topped with slices of tuna sashimi, spicy mayo, tobiko and drizzled in teriyaki sauce.
