Episode three-week one/Niban

mmm-yoso is on vacation.  The part usually played by Kirk will be played by Cathy in the interim.

Niban-fast, inexpensive, fresh, un-fancy, second best (?)Japanese and sushi.

So I don't know much about the Japanese language except the Numbers one, two and three: ichi, ni, san...and so I use the Google Japanese translator and ichiban means "first", niban means "second" and sanban means "third".  Then again, if you merely Google "niban" well, that is a brand name of a boric acid based granular bait used for pest control...I know I have seen restaurants named Ichiban...so to name yourself Niban, well, that takes ...guts... on so many levels.

So yes, of course we eat here, regularly.

Its a simple system. You walk in, pay, then sit down.  (If you are doing a "to go" order, you can sit at one of the chairs lining the front window).  One of the people who works there takes your receipt, asks what you would like to drink (hot tea is free) (if you have paid for soda or beer, they ask you what kind you want) and they bring it to you and soon your order arrives.

The menu is simple:

and there are daily lunch specials written on a chalk board on the wall in front of you when you walk in, and other specials written on a chalkboard to the far right of the cash register (but also displayed in a glass case to your right as you walk in the door-you can see it from the front window right underneath this GIANT menu taped to the window.) Also, there is a monthly special, printed on a colored sheet of paper taped to the front window, a glass case straight ahead when you walk in the door and on the counter when you order.  For October it is katsu curry-either chicken or shrimp, with salad and beverage for $5.50..regular $6.25 without beverage.

The specials are usually 75¢ to $1 off the regular price.  There is a sushi bar with 7 (seven) seats total to the right and to the back of the cash register.  If you want only that, you can walk in and sit down...paying when you leave. No photo; the people eating didn't want to be in a picture.

But I like this display of plastic sushi and mirrors in the front window anyhow....

This is what we had in the last two visits:

The calamari appetizer- 5 pieces of squid steak breaded and fried.  That sauce that looks like thousand island dressing..it isn't...it has jalapeño in it...

The chicken katsu salad (regularly $3.50, sale price $2.75).  I can eat this as a meal. Lettuce, chilled rice noodle, sliced carrots, sliced cucumbers and a ginger-garlic dressing served on the side.  One whole piece of katsu chicken.

We got the sushi combo one night: 6 pieces nigiri and 2 hand rolls:$10.95

The hand rolls are regularly $3.50 each and are quite large. One was with crab meat and the other spicy tuna. All the fish was very fresh, tender, sliced thick enough and served on proper rice. Nothing outstanding, nothing bad, either.  Below in this photo are the gyoza, served steamed or fried. ($2.95) Five handmade, thin skinned and filled with mostly pork with good ginger flavor as well as some water chestnut crunch.  Very good.

On this visit, one of the daily specials was this bento box of chicken teriyaki, fried croquette (potato cake), salad, pickled bean sprouts, cold rice noodle and rice, served with miso soup. ($5.95 regular $6.75)

The chicken was mostly dark meat, the teriyaki sauce is good, not too thick or sweet.  The croquette was excellent: crispy on the outside, and good mashed potato on the inside.

The October special, katsu curry.

We tried it with shrimp-you get three.  If you get the chicken, you get 2 patties.

The curry tonight was not as thick as usual, but still tasty, with a nice "bite"..beef based, Japanese flavored, some chunks of beef (we have had more beef in it previously), potatoes, carrots and, according to the Mister, an inordinate amount of onions.

There is a TV on each side of the restaurant, none on the outside patio- but Players Bar and Grill is across the sidewalk and they have 4 television sets playing outside, for the smokers.

...and..my most favorite piece of decor:

The sushi clock!

All in all, Niban is good, fast and inexpensive...and has some sort of issues going on with self esteem, near as I can tell. Someday I'll ask why they chose this name.

Niban 7081 Clairmont Mesa Blvd San Diego (858) 268-0465

Lunch Mon-Sat 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Dinner Sun-Thurs 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri and Sat 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

Comments

[Nguyen]

Ichiban is located in PB(same owner as niban).

There is another Ichiban located in Hillcrest, different owners by the way(I use to work there). My friend's dad owns the Ichiban in Hillcrest and also Surfside in PB if you've ever eaten there.

The owner of Niban and my friend's dad use to be business partners, but something happened. I guess that's why there are 2 Ichiban. Wow such rivalry! Support Surfside and Ichiban Hillcrest by the way!

[Victoria]

Ichiban means number 1, and niban means #2. Niban and Ichiban are great places to eat when you're on a limited budget in college, but the food quality and cleanliness is definately severely debatable.

[cathy]

Hi Nguyen-Thanks for letting me know. I am in PB every Saturday (www.EDSBS.com) and always need a good reason for 'doing research', as Kirk and I like to call it. {Love your site, BTW}

Hi Victoria- I do have a friend who is a retired food inspector for Food and Drug and kind of know what to look for in terms of cleanliness. I don't go into any "B" or "C" rated places and always check for that "A" rating. Niban has always had one. I don't think any of the food there is bad, just none is particularly outstanding. Thanks for dropping by.

[Joseph E]

Captain Jack reviewed Surfside recently: http://sandiegorestaurants.typepad.com/san_diego_restaurant_revi/2006/09/surfside_sushi.html

Surfside is definitely a cut above Ichiban (Hillcrest).

However, sometimes you just want pretty good sushi, quick and on the cheap. Ichiban and Niban are good for that.

[Denver]

Ah, good 'ole Niban. I love that place. Great sushi, good prices. I usually get the soft-shell crab, rainbow, and caterpillar rolls.

[sawyer]

Dear cathy, i think you are doing a wonderful job so far. i like to go to niban because the prices are nice, and the food is good. i always end up getting whatever the chicken special is of the day, and i like all of them. i am a college student and am quite hungry throughout the day, so i always like to read this website and check it frequently, so thanks to kirk as well...this site is one of my favorites!

[Liz]

Ahh...Niban. Always a great default when on a budget and can't decide where to go. Like the review!

[cathy]

Hi Joseph- I know I still have to get to Surfside when there is some sort of parking nearby. Football Saturdays don't seem to be the right time.

Denver- thanks for the rec's. We have had the soft shell crab roll and it is very good. Pretty much anything fried is good, you know...

Hi sawyer-Oh, the Mister and I met in college and so we are pretty much used to going out together on that kind of budget. Its kind of a game we play, to find good quality food without paying someone else's rent. Remember, its not how much money you make, its how you spend-and save- it.

Oh, Liz, thank you for such kind words. Blogging is not as easy as it looks...or as Kirk makes it look.

[Captain Jack]

Hi Cathy,

Wow, the photographs are great! In case anyone does not know, click on the thumbnails to see the dishes in fantastic detail. I can almost taste them. Good work, and please keep it up :)

[brandon]

you know the really tasty hot sauce that comes with the calamari? (in in the picture)does anyone know how to make it cus id really like to have some at home with sushi and other things

[kevin]

i also would like to know how to make that red, spicy sauce that comes with the calamari, if anyone knows, plese tell me, thanks!

[Cathy]

They buy it in a gallon jar, kevin...but my duplication is with Kewpie and Sriracha. It is close and has the heat I want.