Lunches at Ichiro

When I first started coming to San Diego over a dozen years ago for work, one of the first places recommended to me was Ichiro. I grew up eating in little mom and pop places like Ichiro. Speaking of "mom", my Mother's favorite restaurant was one of these places, called Wisteria Restaurant, which sadly at the end of 2004. It seems that these places I refer to as Japanese-American Diners are slowly disappearing. Recently, I was in the same strip mall as the restaurant, looked over at Ichiro, and felt a bit guilty. It had been a good number of years since I visited.

 

In some ways, perhaps the years haven't been very good to Ichiro.... and the sign near the front door speaks volumes.

 

About five years ago, I noticed changes at Ichiro, starting with the addition of "kozara" (small dishes) of standard Japanese bar food fare.

 

Still with places like Izakaya Sakura, Okan, and even Tajima to a certain extent; Ichiro is sometimes forgotten.

Being in the area a bit more often, I decided to have a few lunches at Ichiro, just to see what was going on. Things look about the same with regards to the dining area, and the service is the same..... friendly.

 

All lunches start with a small dish of Tsukemono.....

 

And come with miso soup (watery), and a pretty routine green salad.

 

A couple of months back, I was told to try the "Ponzu Chicken", which is what I had on my first visit.

 

Actually, this was fairly disappointing. The chicken was a basic salt rubbed, grilled chicken; like something I'd make at home. It was also on the dry side. The ponzu tasted bottled, and was not of good quality. In the end, it was just sustenance.

 

And yet, the two women working here were so very nice, I just didn't want to leave it at that. So a week later I returned and had something I'd eaten a few years back, and thought was pretty good. The menchi katsu, this time as Menchi Katsu Curry ($7.25).

 

Man, that was a load of curry....... not too bad, mild spice, but nothing but onions in them. The breaded meat patty was pretty good, a bit leaner, with less filler than I remembered. It didn't have the rich flavor of the version at Izakaya Sakura, and for some reason I like my mechi katsu to have more filler.

 

Still, this was nicely prepared, crunchy and moist.

During one of the recent 90 degree plus days, I wanted some Zaru Soba. Instead of heading to Izakaya Sakura, I decided to return to Ichiro for lunch one more time. This time I had the Zaru Soba Tororo ($8.50).

 

On the good side, Ichiro includes a quail egg for the tsuyu, on the bad, the tsuyu had a super salty artificial taste to it. The soba was also undercooked and was very hard.

 

I didn't expect soba like I-Naba, but this was like something I'd throw together at home.

After five plus years since my last visit to Ichiro, I found that the service here is still very nice and friendly. I see that Ichiro is taking steps to try and upgrade the menu. Also, Yasu, an old time Itamae favorite of mine is working there, though only on Fridays these days. On my visits I noticed that most of the customers were either older "Gaijin", and once two elderly Japanese women who were friends with the owner. I'm still up in the air as to whether I'll check out Ichiro during the evening, or for Happy Hour...... sadly, the food just seems s bit tired and dated(and I like old-style Japanese food) to me. Perhaps you'll find it more to your liking than I did.

Ichiro Japanese Restaurant
4344 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

Comments

[Chubbypanda]

It's always sad to see a restaurant you liked in decline. I had the same experience recently at a sushi bar I used to go to all the time.

[kat]

curry is like this in Japan also, just sauce nothing else in there. I think it is good you re-connected with them, I think it just shows how your tastebuds change too.

[Dennis]

Hi Kirk they seemed to be fairly busy during lunch when I visited a couple times recently. Anyhow I never cared for their curry here and the fact that they don't serve it with fukushinzuke pickles was always very upsetting to me (no joke it really upsets me, haha). I liked the menchi katsu though but thought it was on the smaller side. They have a few menu items from Umenoya now since the folks closed shop and are working here. I agree the servers are very nice and professional.

[twofoodiesonejourney]

I was hoping to see some quality from Umenoya coming over to Ichiro since they started working there. But the pictures don't remind me of Umenoya

[Kirk]

Hi CP - Yes, quite sad.... especially if the folks there are very nice.

Hi Kat - I may give them another shot....

Hi Dennis - For me, it was the use of bottled sauces that bothered me the most. I had heard the folks from come over here; but it's not very apparent, so maybe they don't work lunch.

Hi TFOJ - Maybe they don't work lunch? I did hear that they moved over here; but no one verified that for me. I'm hoping the menu & food changes for the better.... though Umenoya was never stellar, the food there was prepared decently, and the prices were good.

[Alan]

Hi Kirk: I love these kind of places. Too bad your post seems to indicate a little decline in quality. I like your description -- "Japanese American Diner". I think that describes these kinds of places accurately. And your liking of Wisteria brings back memories for me too. "Small kid time" my favorite place that my Mom and Dad used to take us to eat as a treat was the old Kuhio Grill in Moiliili. This was a typical but great Japanese American diner too. Across the street was another one that was good, but not as good as the Kuhio Grill - Paris Cafe, which turned into a bar after that and then drifted off and closed. Boy do I love these kind of places.

[kirbie]

Hmm, I've never been here. I don't think I even recall seeing it. Friendly service can make such a difference. I've had so many places where the food is so-so, but the service is so nice, that I want to go back.

[Faye]

I remember my grams and I taking a bus to come here when I was little. For some reason, I'll never forget that. But I haven't been there in AGES. Kinda sad b/c there just seems to be 'better' options in Convoy. I've been wanting to visit them since I heard the owners of Umenoya are now working here. Do they work here or are they part owners?

I'm picky about my Ponzu sauces as well. It's hard to find THE perfect one you know? I wonder if it's easy to make.

Nice post!

[Marlin]

Ichiro's is one of my favorite places on Convoy, you just have to be careful about what you order because some of their dishes are pretty bad. I never try to order anything too authentic there - I always stick with the americanized stuff like the Sesame Chicken, Tempura and Spicy Tuna Roll. The Sukiyaki Beef is pretty good as well although a little on the sweet side.

[yas]

Ichiro is run by his ex-wife, and Ichiro actually now owns Susuya (yakiniku restaurant)on Kearny Villa Rd next to Okan.

[Kirk]

Hi Alan - The food seemed a bit tired and old......

Hi Kirbie - The folks here are very nice and friendly.

Hi Faye - I don't quite know what the status of the folks from Umenoya are.

Hi Marlin - Actually, on my last visit five years ago I had the sesame chicken. And I recall it was pretty good. IMO I think the sukiyaki here is terrible though....

Hi Yes - If you read my post on Suzuya, I already went through that. That happened years ago. BTW, it's next to Oton, not Okan.