Sushi Nami & Ichiban Steak & Sushi, Alpharetta GA

Lately, we've been hitting new places to supplement our regular sushi spot: Circle Sushi.  We have recently tried Sushi Nami off of Windward Pkwy in Alpharetta-two visits, actually.  Its located in a small restaurant center that Calvin and I have dubbed Asian Square- there is Thai, Chinese, and two Japanese restaurants.  Walking in Sushi Nami, the place seemed busy; it was very loud, perhaps the first sushi restaurant I've been in that was filled with families. The decor was not any different than most other sushi restaurants.  The bar where we sat for both visits was very deep, which is nice when there are a lot of plates to share.  One thing to note is that there are at least five sushi chefs behind the counter at any given time, but this doesn't mean the food was prepared quickly or accurately.  We could see everything the 'chefs' were doing, and at times I wanted to ask them to please quit playing with our food.  The guy making the nigiri would grab some rice, play with it for awhile, then pick up a slice of fish.  He then folded the fish around the rice multiple times until he decided to start over and get fresh rice.  Sometimes this would happen two or three times before the piece was placed on a plate next to the rest of the order.  There were two guys making rolls, which seemed to move along somewhat better than the nigiri side.  There was a take-out container sitting on the bar with itty bitty baby crabs in it crawling all over each other trying to get out of the hole on the top.  Turned out, they were for eating so we orderd some.  It was a little sad when they took the box to the back and returned it with a few less crabs inside.  But not sad enough for us to not eaet them.  Calvin tried first, and said I would like them.  It only took about 10 minutes for me to actually crunch into one.  I almost had it on the first try but when that little leg hit thw roof of my mouth I had to take it out real fast like.  But I did eat one finally.  They weren't battered or anything, just dropped in the oil and fried then tossed in salt.  Not bad, actually.  BUt not good enough to order repeatedly, for us anyway. On our second visit, I didn't get one of my orders, and it was still on the bill.  The server wasn't paying enough attention to us to notice that we hadn't gotten our complete order, and I thought perhaps he hadn't keyed that last roll in the computer, so I didn't say anything until we received the check.  Of course, it was taken off without any problems.  After two visits to any restaurant where we are still not impressed, we are just not going to waste any more of our money there.  I cannot recommend eating at Sushi Nami.

However, I will definitely recommend eating at Ichiban Steak and Sushi located on the other side of the parking lot from Sushi Nami.  We wouldn't have tried eating there but an autocross friend of mine recommended it when I told him we had tried Sushi Nami and were disappointed.  So last night when Calvin wanted sushi, that's where we went. From the outside it doesn't look like anything special.  But the decor on the inside is very original and creative.  Lots of those cute waving kitties everywhere, which I loved of course.  We sat at the bar, with a clear view of what was going on behind the counter.  There were only two chefs but we received our order very quickly and it was correct.  The sushi list was pretty interesting, lots of different things that I would try.  I ordered the Pink Lady (crab and sweet potato tempura), Hollywood (spicy tuna, avocado, cucumber, and 4 flavors of tobiko- regular, black, jalapeno, and citrus), and a Lava Roll (sort of a  veggie Volcano Roll with no shrimp- crab instead).  They were all really good. The multi-flavors on the Hollywood was so cool- it was so pretty I didn't want to eat it.  But I was really hungry, so I did. Calvin ordered an Empress Roll, and several nigiri.  His roll was pretty yummy, but a little spicy.  We got there late, so didn't get to place a second order before they cleaned up.  I definitely see us going back.  soon. 

Comments

[Kelly]

Thanks for the reviews! Bob and I LOVE sushi and are looking for a new place closer to where we live now (Alpharetta). We will definitely try Ichiban Steak and Sushi.

[JumpUpMy]

I absolutely love sushi. I really think I could eat it for the rest of my life. If I were ever trapped on a deserted island...that's right I would make sushi my nourishment of choice. However, nothing is worse than mediocre sushi. The fact that I love it so much and that my sushi addiction can get very pricy makes it just that much more disappointing when one gets a pathetic excuse for sushi. My husband and I moved from Western Tennessee to Eastern Tennessee and into the sushi black hole. I am so desperate for quality sushi that I am willingly to travel to Atlanta to find it. If you ever, ever find yourself in Memphis TN please go to Sakura Japenese Restaurant at Saddle Creek to get an Alfredo Roll. It is quite possibly the most perfect food ever made. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. Knoxville is not too far if the food is great.

Thanks,
JumpUpMy

[Dacey Smith]

I'm going to argue with you on your post on sushi nami. I recently went there, and i have to imply that this resturant is my favorite sushi bar in Georgia. you must be crazy NOT to love this place.
Sushi nami is a whole lot better then Ichiban Steak & Sushi, the sushi there is not fresh, and the last time i went there, it wasn't the best..
so i disagree with you on your view on sushi nami and sushi nami is THE SHIT.
go there!

[AK]

Sushi Nami is fine, but it doesn't beat Tanaka on Highway 9. Authentic, fresh, delicious. Best sushi on the Northside, IMHO!

[Tonya McKinney]

I also have to disagree. Sushi Nami is the place to go if you really love classic sushi and can't get to Japan or San Fran. Since Soto's shut down, Scott is the only local sushi chef trying to do anything near classic sushi. Sure he has some of those silly Americanized rolls to please the green-horn, but he has enough really great high-quality, fresh seafood to compensate for more experienced sushi diners. Ichiban...if you like a little cream cheese, some deep fried batter, some mayonnaise...this is the place to go.

[SweetDaisy]

Please note that this review is two years old, and either place could and probably is, completely different than when we were there.

In response to Ichiban being American-ized sushi, that is what we were expecting, but that is not what we found when we went two years ago. We haven't been to either location in some time.

[AK]

I don't know about Sushi Nami, but Tanaka on Highway 9 is still the best on the Northside. Just ate lunch there this week and it was packed. Mr. Tanaka has hit upon a great combination of excellent, fresh food and cozy ambiance. I'll take Tanaka over Sushi Nami or Sushi Zotto anyday.

[Joel]

I'm going to have to disagree with you. Ichiban Steak and Sushi was horrendous and a complete waste of time and money. The rolls I ordered tasted as if they were a few days old. The wait for my food was extremely heinous, and the food might I add wasn't worth it. I don't know how you can compare Sushi Nami with the Ichiban S & S? you are completely insane. I walked in Sushi Nami, and might I add the atmosphere is truly extraordinary! The sushi was great and fresh! and the servers treat you phenomenal! I recommend Sushi Nami for anybody in town for a great night out. Ichiban Steak and Sushi? not so sure.

[Sushi_Lover]

DEFINITE disagree! My husband and I frequent Sushi Nami and it has always been FABULOUS! At the bar and at the tables the staff is always friendly and attentive. It is a popular restaurant but if errors occur they are always quickly corrected. The fish is always fresh and prepared when ordered.
Sushi Nami is superior to any suchi chain such as Ichiban. We love sushi and have tried sushi restaurants all over Atlanta and Sushi Nami is BY FAR the best!
And furthermore, the atmosphere of Sushi Nami is great! Very contemporary and classy, the perfect setting for sushi. No comparision to Ichiban at all. They are nothing alike.

[AllyM]

I've only eaten at Sushi Nami once, but I did NOT like it. Guess I'm in the minority here. Maybe I just went on an off night or something?

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