Ichiban Boshi (Esplanade)

Get the cooked stuff, not the raw fish

Ichiban Boshi is owned by the same people who run the Kuriya group of restaurants so you're assured of a certain standard in the quality of their food. Ichiban Boshi is similar to Sushi Tei in terms of price points and customer base. However, Sushi Tei's traditional sushi is better in terms of quality and they generally serve fresher sashimi (raw fish). Whereas Ichiban Boshi shines in modern and unusual takes on sushi (they use pork floss and turkey bacon in their sushi), and cooked food.Just stay away from the raw fish here.

We ordered:

1) Crispy Spicy Tuna Mayo ($2.10), the sushi version of a tuna sandwich. One of my faves.

2) Aburi Maguro ($2.10), with seared tuna, garlic mayo, sesame seed, spring onion and chili powder. This was a big mistake, the tuna was stale, bland and sinewy.

3) Fried Salmon Skin ($2.10) Ichiban Boshi's version is better than Sushi Tei, mostly because it's crispier and skinnier.

4) Mini Chasoba ($2.10), green tea buckwheat noodles served chilled, which was already dunked into the dashi sauce. This was refreshing enough but a little limp. Still, the small portion made it palatable.

5) Ten Don ($13.90), Japanese rice bowl with assorted tempura carrots, lotus root and prawns. This was satisfyingly good. The rice was nicely drizzled with just enough sweet teriyaki sauce, the tempura was crispy and plentiful.

6) Enoki Kinoko Yanagawa ($7.90), assorted mushrooms with egg in dashi stock. I love mushrooms, so obviously I had to get this. This was really really yummy. Shitake, enoki, shimeiji and oyster mushrooms in a light soy-based stock, topped with scrambled egg, this was luscious and heavenly.

7) Bacon Maki ($2.10), with cereal turkey bacon, egg crepe and shrimp roe. We asked them to hold off the mayo. This is an example of how Ichiban Boshi's sushi stands out with their unconventional fillings. It was served fresh and hot, and really yummy as well.

8) Unagi Shiitake Maki ($2.10), with chili padi, eel, shiitake and teriyaki sauce. This was also a winner.

Read more abt it at http://thehungrybunnie.blogspot.com/2010/03/ichiban-boshi-japanese-restaurant.html