Ichiban.

If you're a hardcore fan of the beloved sitcom "Friends", the word "ichiban" means nothing else, but this.

Anyway, this Ichiban is nothing related to Joey, Friends or lipstick. 

Not to sound like a complete and utter killjoy, but, within the past couple of years, we have witnessed food courts in Colombo fall into the depths of mediocre, not so hygienic food at prices that are high enough to get your mind whizzing. And somehow, almost every food court in Colombo has the same set of places serving the same set of Set Menus, sandwiches and saucy fried rice combos which, let's be honest, we're all pretty bored with. 

Ichiban joined the bandwagon a while back amidst heaps of quizzical looks and people wondering how a Japanese restaurant ended up in a corner of the Crescat Food Court

The Food 

Ichiban doesn't necessarily do a whole heap of different forms of Japanese dishes for you to absolutely feast on. And while they are cheaper than other Japanese restaurants in Colombo, they can't necessarily be considered as a budget stop to get your Japanese fix either. 

However, what they do is maybe 12-15 dishes that all circle around being either with Udon Noodles or Teriyaki and from what we gathered, they're not too shabby at it.

I love soupy noodles, maybe even a bit more than regular noodles. And given how most Japanese restaurants cater to this strange attraction, we had to, had to get this. And once again, I was not disappointed.

The Beef n Udon Noodles (Rs. 680) came as a steamy bowl of wiggly noodles topped with an assembly of seaweed, beef, leeks and a strange rice cracker kinda thing that we're not too sure about.

While the noodles themselves were a tad on the tougher side of things, the broth was a super light symphony of flavours that we thought was lovely. Essentially soy sauce boiled with beef, the broth was slightly oily and had strong kicks of beef coming through even after we had finished the bit of beef they serve with it.

Combined with that zing coming from the leeks, the saltiness of the seaweed and the rice crackers, we loved it. If what you're looking for is a steamy bowl of comfort food, we say go with this. 

The Oyako Don (Rs. 500) was pretty much a bowl of steamy sticky rice with a layer of chicken, watery egg mix, scallions and pickled ginger. 

Sweet with the egg mix powering through pretty strongly, the Oyako Don, too was quite nice. The sharpness of the ginger and the scallions combined with the creamy egg and chicken added up to be a tangle of flavours that was subtle but pretty enjoyable nonetheless. However, if you don't like the taste of semi-cooked egg, you might want to get something else because the egg can hit stronger than you'd imagine. 

Ambience 

The Crescat Food Court doesn't necessarily have the nicest ambience in Colombo. So we suggest getting your food to go. 

Conclusion

Ichiban is a welcome addition to the food court scene in Colombo. It's affordable, delicious, filling and quite value for money too. 

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

Colombo’s best kept secrets – Date night spots 2025

Colombo might be known for its trendy cafes and fancy rooftop spots, but who says

Kamu Yamu Guide

Where Sunday Carvings Meet Sophistication – Kings Steak Bar’s Famous Brunch Buffet

By Vimasha Weerawansha  Nestled in the heart of Colombo, Kings Steak Bar by The Kingsbury

Highlights Kamu

A Luxurious Seafood Experience at Fat Crab Colombo

Fat Crab Colombo offers a wonderful dining experience that combines luxury, live music, and an

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

Radisson Colombo’s Indian Night – Review

By Sahasni Gamage We recently had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful Indian Night at

Kamu Yamu Guide

Introducing Burger King’s New Premium Burger Range

by Jordain de Mel Burger King's Premium Range offers some of the most flavorful gourmet

Highlights Kamu

NH Collection’s Iftar Buffet: A Feast to Remember

A Warm Welcome: Exceptional Hospitality at NH Collection From the moment you enter NH Collection’s

Kamu

Trending.

Ministry of Crab opens in Melbourne

Sri Lanka’s award-winning crab restaurant, Ministry of Crab founded by chef-restaurateur Dharshan Munidasa together with

Trending

Radisson Blu Resort Galle Welcomes Kedar Dighe as New General Manager

Radisson Blu Resort Galle is pleased to announce the appointment of Kedar Dighe as its

Trending

Excel World Launches First-Ever Ramadan Kareem Iftar Buffet

Excel World Entertainment Park in Colombo recently celebrated the launch of its first-ever Ramadan Kareem

Trending

A Trio of Radisson Hotels Gears Up for Markdown Mania 2025 at The World Trade Center

Radisson Hotel Kandy Radisson Hotel Colombo Radisson Blu Resort Galle Kristofer Quadros – Cluster General

Trending

An Exquisite Iftar Buffet Experience at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo

By Sahasni Gamage  Ramadan is all about reflection, togetherness, and, of course, enjoying some amazing

Highlights Kamu Trending

Embark on a Culinary Journey with Chef Riza Bhatti at Cinnamon Lakeside’s Ithar Promotion

Cinnamon Grand Colombo is thrilled to welcome the celebrated Pakistani chef, Chef Riza Bhatti, for

Trending

Yamu Guide.

8 Gift Ideas to Celebrate Your Mom This Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a special time set aside to honor the amazing women who shape

Yamu Guide

Colombo’s best kept secrets – Date night spots 2025

Colombo might be known for its trendy cafes and fancy rooftop spots, but who says

Kamu Yamu Guide

A Luxurious Seafood Experience at Fat Crab Colombo

Fat Crab Colombo offers a wonderful dining experience that combines luxury, live music, and an

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

Radisson Colombo’s Indian Night – Review

By Sahasni Gamage We recently had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful Indian Night at

Kamu Yamu Guide

Iftar Deals for Great Value in 2025

By Fathima Rukaiya, Iftar doesn’t have to be expensive to be delicious! Whether you’re craving

Highlights Trending Yamu Guide

IFTAR Buffet List – 2025

by Fathima Rukaiya, As Ramadan 2025 approaches, food lovers and families are on the lookout

Highlights Trending Yamu Guide