Ichi Izakaya (DARWIN)

Firstly, I would like to point out that the negative reviews for this venue are either old or of minor inconvenience. During my solo dining on a Friday night, the service was promptly, food was very good and any interactions with staff including checkout was swift and without hassle. Staffs were friendly, and able to assist with any inquiries you may have. Viewing menu and ordering can either be on your phone through QR or through the waiter. The atmosphere is well done, with music and decor presented to allow customers to enjoy their meal as if they were on Japanese soil. Ample distance between tables ensure that your conversation wouldn't be interrupted by other patrons. Food was presented promptly, and dish representation is of high standard. Taste, freshness and cooking standards are well done, every dish ordered was made with passion and experience. Highly recommend for those seeking authentic Japanese cuisine in Darwin CBD.

We came here for lunch. The place is spacious and clean, with friendly staff. They offer lunch sets at good prices, and the food is fresh and delicious.

I’ve been to over a hundred ramen shops in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan, and the ramen here is an absolute disaster—truly terrible. The soul of ramen is the soup, and just one sip of this soup makes it clear that it’s made from soup powder rather than simmered pork bones. It also leaves an extremely thirsty feeling after drinking, which suggests an excessive amount of MSG—already a bad sign. Next, the noodles—completely lacking the aroma of eggs, overly soft from soaking too long, and not chewy at all. It’s no different from cooking instant Nissin ramen from the supermarket at home. Then there’s the so-called “wagyu.” Seeing wagyu on the menu was initially exciting since most Japanese ramen comes with pork or chicken chashu. But this wagyu was a massive disappointment—tough, chewy, and lacking any beef aroma. It felt like a piece of boiled beef brisket that had just been taken out of a soup pot. After two bites, I couldn’t eat any more. The soft-boiled egg wasn’t runny, but at least it wasn’t fully cooked, so I guess that’s passable. I understand that this is Darwin, and I wouldn’t expect the ramen quality to match Japan’s, but when it’s worse than simply buying Nissin ramen and beef from the supermarket to cook at home, it’s really not worth the price.