Ichiban Japanese restaurant in Helsinki
Restaurant: Ichiban - Japanese Restaurant.Address: Mikonkatu 8, 2nd floor
Telephone: 09 672345
Internet: www.ichiban.fi
Prices: Small Lunch 7,50 Large Lunch 9,50. Outside lunch hour, sets are over 10 euro
Food: Simple sushi below average Helsinki quality
Service: You might get some, occasionally
LOCATION
Ichiban is located in the same office building block as the Helsinki World Trade Center. Although this might sound glamorous and expensive, you will notice that the surroundings of this small restaurant are almost dubious, since that side of the block is badly designed shopping center. Badly designed, in which way? Well, first of all, on your way to this second floor restaurant, you can choose from several different entries that take you to the bottom of the escalators that lead to the restaurant. If you spot the advertising signs that restaurant has on the street and other parts of the shopping center, don’t expect to have much directional guidance from those...
If you manage to find the escalators, and I am sure you will, don’t be stunned to find them out of order and decorated by graffiti. So, up you go and arrive you shall. Ignore the menu that is taped on the window - just walk right in.
INTERIOR
What will you see? You will see, a long and narrow room, with a big window on the back, counter and kitchen on the left and few tables on the right. Is the table by the window taken? If not, go and grab it! It is the best table in this restaurant.
On lunchtime, you order from the counter and pay at the same time, but as the rush hour vanes, you get real ordering service to the tables and the general feeling of eating out. Back to our lunchtime haze - after you have paid and taken necessary utensils, you can go to the table and wait for the delicious set of sushi.
Now we have some time to admire the setting of this small piece of Japan in Finland. Tell you what, I bet it were not skilled Japanese artisans who made the woodwork in this restaurant, every cozy (unfinished) little detail points to Finnish construction worker, I might be wrong of course, maybe it is all done by the owner.
FOOD
Oh, no time for more daydreaming, the set is already on table. Waitress shoves the portion in front of me and rushes away. No extra points for service, I tell you. Salmon-nigiri, Tuna paste-nigiri, Shrimp-nigiri, sort of a Chaking-sushi and Sushi rolls. Hah, this is what you get for not having a large and dynamic economy that would enable speedy raw material deliveries. At least the salmon is fresh, and truly tasty. Others will do as I think about the price I paid for them. Gulping down mouthfuls, some green tea, vinegar ginger... Hey! Where did my sushi go? I knew, I should have ordered that bigger set, next time I know what to do.
All good things must come to an end. I put on my coat and walk out, down the stairs as the escalator only runs up, somebody should fire the designer, ah, and probably they already did...
TAO OF LIFE
I feel almost adequate, as I should, I am working soon so I am not supposed to feel too good, right? Helsinki autumn gives me an extra surprise and turns on the shower. I forget where I came from and focus on getting into cover.
posted by Jarkko @ Monday, March 21, 2005
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