There aren't many restaurants in Pittsburgh where you can participate in four birthdays and an anniversary during one meal time. But that's standard fare at Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse, which offers a party atmosphere seven days a week -- along with sushi, hibachi and a full-service bar.
Located in a Robinson Township strip-mall storefront -- next to Marshall's and across from IKEA -- Ichiban has been serving food and fun since its opening in 2007. Owner Joyce Zhang says what makes the restaurant unique is its family atmosphere and fresh food.
But Ichiban really stands out for its unique way of celebrating special occasions. Tell the server it's your birthday, and at the end of your meal you will receive ice cream and a sparkler, and overhead colored lights will spin around as a Japanese-accented rendition of "Happy Birthday" plays in the restaurant.
Ichiban's party mood centers on the hibachi tables -- where your meal is grilled in front of you, by a chef who will put on a show with daring acts of spatula throwing and erupting flames.
Both times my family ate at Ichiban, our hibachi chef came out pushing a stainless-steel cart loaded with all the goodies he needed to complete the hibachi meals. Wearing a nametag and a tall red toque, our cook began by cleaning the grill then seasoning it with oil. Our kids -- and two others with another family at our table -- delighted in the smiley-face designs he made of the oil. After reviewing everyone's order, he started by heating a large container of pre-cooked rice on the grill.
Next came the eggs, which each chef cracks in a tricky signature style.
Once the eggs were cooked and integrated into the fried rice, which is imbued with soy sauce and other sauces, each diner received a large dollop of it. Then, noodles were placed on the grill, seasoned, sauced and served next to the rice. Vegetables came next, mostly long slices of peeled squash and onion.
If the ingredients seemed familiar, the cooking method did not. The chef separated the onion into rings, stacked them up, poured oil into the center and ignited the pile as a volcano. As flames shot up in the air, our chef put out the blaze with his "firefighter" -- a small plastic squeeze bottle that looked like a boy and had a special squirter. Even a few young diners got wet.
Finally, the chef placed the protein on the grill and cooked it to each diner's liking. Hibachi dinners feature shrimp, salmon, tuna, scallops, calamari, lobster tail, sirloin steak, filet mignon or chicken, or a combination of those ingredients. Each comes with a clear soup, house salad, vegetables, rice, noodles and two dipping sauces -- a ginger sauce and a shrimp sauce.
The Filet Mignon and Shrimp Dinner ($25.95) is listed under the Emperor's Combo, and includes tender filet mignon cooked to your liking. The Chicken and Shrimp Combination Dinner ($19.95) is popular and juicy because of the "special teriyaki sauce," which Zhang says is made from her partner's recipe.
At lunch, diners can enjoy a smaller selection of hibachi meals, in smaller portions. Still, diners rarely go home hungry and often leave with leftovers. The Chicken and Shrimp Lunch Combination ($7.95) is tasty, as is the Scallop Lunch ($9.95), with perfectly cooked scallops in freshly squeezed lemons.
Ichiban also features a well-thought-out children's menu divided into hibachi dinners and dinner boxes that allow children to sample traditional Japanese flavors. The hibachi dinners range in price from $9.95 to $11.95, and include vegetables, rice, noodles and ice cream. My daughter devoured the Hibachi Chicken ($9.95); other choices include filet mignon, shrimp or steak.
The Kid's Dinner Boxes (each $9.95) come served in a traditional Japanese bento box -- a beautiful lacquered serving plate that divides a meal into little sections. The K2 is well portioned and includes gyoza, chicken tempura and steak teriyaki. The gyoza, or pork dumplings, were served with a sauce, and the tempura chicken and vegetables -- squash, sweet potato and broccoli -- were not greasy or wilting. The other two boxes come with a similar sample, except that one offers a California sushi roll.
To accompany the kids' meals, diners can choose from the large menu of appetizers, soups, salads and beverages.
Ichiban offers such a wide variety of appetizers that it's easy to feel overwhelmed. The Edammame ($3.95), fresh soybeans steamed and lightly salted, were cooked perfectly and were a popular choice with our children, ages 5 and 8. The Pork Gyoza ($4.95), pan-fried crispy pork dumplings accompanied by a dipping sauce, also were delicious. Our children also devoured the Seaweed Salad ($4.95), a bowl of Japanese-style seaweed that is sliced and served in a tasty sesame sauce with bursting sesame seeds.
The kids loved using their special chopsticks, with sticks connected together by a rubber band and a piece of paper. Ichiban's servers were so attentive that the kid-styled chopsticks were brought without asking.
Something special at Ichiban is a separate menu of imported Japanese sodas , each $2.75 and in a variety of flavors such as kiwi, orange, strawberry, lychee and peach. The sodas come in a glass bottle that makes a pop when opened and contains a permanent glass marble that entertains children.
For a quieter atmosphere, ask to be seated in the more sedate sushi dining room, where you can sit at the sushi bar and order freshly prepared rolls. The restaurant's two dining areas are separated with salmon-colored walls, rice-paper dividers framed in dark wood trim and several large glass etchings of traditional Japanese scenes.
"The sushi side is more popular with young people," says Zhang, who says she has worked in the restaurant business for many years.
The sushi menu is extensive and varied. Start with a California Roll ($4.25) or Tuna Roll ($4.95) as basic samplers or order a fancier roll. Our family tried the Dragon Roll ($9.95), a beautiful and fresh roll of cooked eel, cucumber and avocado, served on a long plate with wasabi and pickled ginger.
For those who cannot make up their minds between sushi and hibachi, it's not a faux pas to order sushi to the hibachi table: Our family did each time. Some people, Zhang says, even choose to sit in the sushi dining area and order a hibachi dinner. "They just want a quiet meal," she says.
The Sushi Dinner Deluxe ($19.95) came on an oversized white oval plate and included an ample amount of raw pieces, including yellowtail, salmon and tuna, as well as a California roll.
"Everything I order is fresh, not frozen," Zhang says.
At Ichiban, it's impossible not to get swept up with all the celebrating going on. With singing, light shows and flames every few minutes, no diner, especially children, could utter the words "I'm bored!"
Ticket restaurant reviewers visit restaurants anonymously. They pay in full for all food, wines and services. Interviews are done only after meals and services have been appraised.
Additional Information:Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse
Cuisine: Japanese hibachi and sushi
Entre price range: $10.95-$35.95
Notes: Reservations accepted. Full bar available.
Hours: Lunch, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; dinner, 4:30-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 4:30-11 p.m. Fridays, noon-11 p.m. Saturdays, noon-9 p.m. Sundays
Location: 1160 Park Manor Blvd., Robinson Town Centre
Details: 412-787-1999 or online
