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    Sakura Express

    4.2 (9 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    Dennis C.

    Sakura Teriyaki & Sushi Express launched its Grand Opening in the heart of Ghent's Colley Avenue on August 2nd of this year. Stationed to the immediate left of the historic Naro Theater, it took over the spot formerly occupied by Fruitive, a plant based health food restaurant that still has a location in Virginia Beach. This is the first restaurant I have tried bearing the Sakura name. There are several others in our area, and their cashier told me this one is solely owned and independent of the others. Its name has been shortened to Sakura Express on their Yelp page. Their employees have been wearing caps etched with the Sakura Express name. A Sakura Express location is also listed for Suffolk that has a much larger menu. The current menu here is very limited with no sashimi, nigiri, or desserts offered at this time, and which are available at their Suffolk location. When I asked the cashier if their menu will later be expanded, his reply was "I'm not sure." This is a no frills operation, and their offerings are served in disposable containers. There is a counter space at the right as you enter with plastic utensils and sauces wrapped in plastic. Most of their business is take-out. For those who want to dine in, there are three two-top tables in front and three four-top tables in the back with a few additional bench seats provided. They were offering a 20% discount during their Grand Opening period through to August 20th. After four dine-in visits, I have tried the following: SHU MAI SHRIMP DUMPLINGS: Ordered from their list of Appetizers, a total of 5 dumplings was cited, but I received an extra one to make it 6. I was craving some tender steamed Shu Mai dumplings with some of the pink from the shrimp showing through. These were served with a fried crusty texture with the shrimp being completely ground with no visible pink. Their shrimp flavor only barely came through. My Rating: 3 Stars. TUNA ROLL: This one was ordered from their list of Classical Rolls and came in 8 pieces. They were prepared in traditional hosomaki style with the seaweed on the outside in small bite sized pieces, which is always my preference. The ratio of rice to tuna and the warmth of the rice were just right. The seaweed came apart on some of the pieces, revealing a need for tighter construction. The wasabi displayed a bright neon green tone and delivered a nice kick. Overall, this roll provided a very pleasant taste experience. My Rating; 4.5 Stars. SALMON ROLL: This one was also ordered from their list of Classical Rolls and also came in 8 traditional hosomaki style pieces. The ratio of rice to salmon, and the warmth of the rice, were both on target again. Unfortunately, the pieces emitted a fishy odor, which killed their overall taste experience for me. My Rating: 2 Stars. VOLCANO ROLL: Deep Fried Crispy Roll, Tuna, Crab Meat, Salmon, and Avocado with Spicy Mayo and Eel Sauce on top. This one was ordered entirely by my mistake from their list of Specialty Rolls. I do not like any kind of sushi roll that comes fried and includes mayo. It came in 6 pieces, and I ate two of them. As expected, they didn't agree with me. I boxed up the rest and laid them atop one of the trash barrels outside, in case a homeless person might find them. No Rating. Again, this one was my mistake. RAINBOW ROLL: This was a California Roll with Tuna, Salmon, Avocado, and White Fish on top, which was Red Snapper. This was another entry from their Specialty Rolls and came with 6 pieces. The California Roll was the first Uramaki style "inside-out" roll invented in the United States with the seaweed on the inside instead of on the outside. The Rainbow Roll is an enhancement of the California Roll. I ordered this one for its attractive presentation and rainbow like colors. The Avocado was a bit mushy for my tastes, but the flavors of the other ingredients same through well. My Rating: 4.5 Stars. CHICKEN TERIYAKI: Listed under their Teriyaki offerings, I ordered mine with noodles instead of rice at a one dollar upcharge. A few mixed veggies, mainly broccoli and cabbage, were included A generous portion size was provided. The flavors from the chicken and noodles came through nicely at first but diminished rapidly. The teriyaki sauce settled at the bottom of the container was too watery for my liking and left an aftertaste. My Rating: 3 Stars. My average food rating came out to 3.4 stars, which I rounded down to my final 3-star rating and will stand for now. My rating is about equivalent to a grade of C-Plus at this time. Their staff members are young, friendly, and very conscientious about doing a good job. Hopefully, quality and consistency will improve over time. They are also facing stiff competition, as Ghent has two excellent and well established full service sushi spots nearby on 21st Street. With lots of busy foot traffic along Colley Avenue, I wish them the best of future success at this location.

    Salmon avocado roll
    Ray C.

    I have a say Angel Roll is my favorite, crunchy shrimp on the inside and citrusy sauce on the outside Yum!!!

    Alaska

    cided to check out this place with my bf in Ghent after walking past it a couple times. There were no reviews so we didn't know what to expect but it looked similar to other sushi restaurants in the city. When you walk in, you order at the counter and seat yourself which is different and there was enough seating for it being a smaller store which is nice. As for the menu, it has all the basic rolls which is what I tend to go for anyways, didn't really care much for the other items. We ordered the Alaska roll, Tuna, salmon avo, tuna avo, and spicy tuna. Overall, it was decent it did the job for the price. The fish was kind of fishy for some pieces but it wasn't necessarily bad. This place wouldn't be the go to sushi spot but it does the job for the price and if you're in the area.

    Part of the inside.

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    2 years ago

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    Photo of Amy D.
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    2 years ago

    Bento boxes were fantastic value and everything tasted great. The sushi was really good and fresh. Very clean and quick.

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    Kotobuki

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    (327 reviews)
    0.2 mi
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    Always a fun experience going to Kotobuki! The sushi is great, the tables are unique and the…read moreservers and staff are always very friendly and helpful. Ambiance is always nice and calm when we come for dinner. I'm sure we'll be back again next time we're in town!

    SKIP Kotobuki in Norfolk - Worst Sushi Experience EVER…read more Kotobuki in Ghent is a disaster. I gave this long-running spot a second chance, after a poor first experience, and it was a mistake. A friend insisted we return, and the service was shockingly bad, the sushi was subpar and the overall experience was the worst. From the moment you walk in, Kotobuki screams neglect: dead plants, servers dressed like they're doing yard work and a pervasive smell of old fry oil. We had reservations for the "traditional Japanese" sunken-table room, where we removed our shoes and climbed into our seats. One dirty pair of slippers sat at our table, while a random pair of construction boots lay abandoned nearby. The "ambiance" was completed by 70s soft rock -- Lionel Richie instead of "traditional Japanese" music. Our server took my order for a dirty Stoli martini, then disappeared for an absurd amount of time only to return and say they couldn't make it -- with no explanation. We hunted through the limited menu while our server vanished completely. The owner eventually stopped by, and I had to specifically request a sushi list. Tired of sitting cross-legged, I briefly put my feet into the pit under the table. Rather than place my bare feet on the filthy floor, I slipped my shoes back on for a moment. That's when the owner's daughter stormed over and aggressively accused me of saying, "Screw you and screw Kotobuki -- I'm not following the rules!" She launched into a rude, insulting lecture about "Japanese custom" while I sat there stunned. I immediately took my shoes off again, just to de-escalate, but the evening was ruined. No customer should be verbally assaulted over something as basic as not wanting bare feet on an obviously dirty floor. In an awkward position, not wanting to ruin the evening, I ordered my food. The sake was watery and flavorless, the house salad was sad, wilted iceberg lettuce drowning in bottled ginger dressing, and the sushi arrived lukewarm with questionable rice that called for a palate blinding amount of wasabi. It was boring, poorly prepared, and far below average. This was one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. Hand to God! Had this not been a special evening with a dear friend, I would have walked out the second the owner's daughter chastised me at the table. Management at Kotobuki clearly doesn't care about customer service or basic standards -- especially when family members are allowed to treat patrons this way. "Japanese tradition" doesn't excuse poor hygiene, rude staff or substandard food. In America, we have health codes for a reason. If you want decent sushi in Norfolk, go literally anywhere else. Kotobuki is just a lazy dive. There's nothing special on the menu, very little sushi selection and nobody seems to care. If you choose to ignore this warning, lower your expectations folks, you are about to be disappointed. The only thing good about this restaurant, is the opportunity to tell you how much it sucked.

    Photos
    This table was a that table she told me it's not clean, maybe this table too expensive for me
    This table was a that table she told me it's not clean, maybe this table too expensive for me
    Kotobuki
    Assorted rolls and nigiri

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    Assorted rolls and nigiri
    Sai Gai Traditional Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar

    Sai Gai Traditional Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar

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    I've been looking for a hibachi restaurant for so long and I'm glad I found Sai Gai. This place is…read morereally intimate. You would drive by it if you go to fast. It's across the street from Harris Teeter in Wards Corner and next door to Walgreens. It's is a super cute and sooo good! I ordered the shrimp & chicken. The boyfriend ordered shrimp , steak, and chicken. The portions are large that we had enough to take to lunch the next day. The dinner entrees are served with soup, salad, and rice. As the sushi lover I am, I ordered a side shrimp tempura. It came out smelling really fishy, but it was still great. The service was great. They kept the drinks (water, sprite , and hot tea) flowing. We will be returning ! 1000/10 recommend.

    I hate to be that girl but this place was ok. I stumbled upon this place while looking for some…read moreplace to eat on my lunch break around noon. Upon first opening the door the place smelled like they mopped with dirty mop water. I was hungry and I was pressed for time so I went in, I was greeted by 2 people. They were nice. I tell them I wanted to to place a to go order, and they gave me a menu. I ordered the hibachi shrimp and soup. The prices were reasonable, it was $11.95 plus tax. No customers came while I was there. I was the only customer in the building which is rare for lunchtime. The food took about 20 minutes. The food was ok. My shrimp were over cooked. The fried rice had no flavor. I don't think I will be returning.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Filet Mignon, chicken and shrimp.
    Filet Mignon, chicken and shrimp.
    Shrimp tempura roll

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    Shrimp tempura roll
    Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas

    Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas

    4.2
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    Chef Ty is amazing. He's blending flavors across cultures that are so flavor packed. He's bringing…read morethe umami!!! If you are ever nearby, you should come out and support!

    We stopped in to see this place after the First Friday Sip & Stroll in downtown Portsmouth. We…read moreheard this was a cool little hidden gem, in a building that's been around for a couple hundred years and is partially underground and very "speakeasy like". Super glad we stopped in, the vibe is incredibly comfortable and cool and envelops your soul. Ambience: super cool, comfortable, a little dark, exposed brick walls with plaster patches, hardwood floors, heavy wood and leather furniture, incredible bar that is more like two bars in an L-shape with an unbelievable selection of anything you could ever want. This place is very solid feeling, you just feel safe and tucked in. Service: was fantastic, we met the executive chef named Ty who greeted us before we even sat down, just saw us sitting in the foyer bar and came over to say hello, very cool. We were greeted and seated by an absolute sweetheart upfront named Jackson and our server couldn't have been nicer, her name was Casey. Food: the food is all served tapas style, smaller plates, but well curated with interesting and innovative ingredients with beautiful presentation. Unfortunately, they were out-of four things that my wife wanted, she didn't want all of them simultaneously, she wanted one and they were out, and that happened three more times. Apparently, they often order in smaller batches and buy locally so sometimes they don't have as much as someplace buying in bulk, that's as much a positive as a negative, not a bad thing, just a bit of a bummer that she didn't get her first few choices. She ended up with the duck tacos which were good. We started with the brussels sprouts, which were also good and had nice presentation. We also started with bacon wrapped tots, the dish came with four of them and chili ketchup, beautifully presented, and rich, creamy, crunchy and yummy. I ordered the braised beef and fry bread and it was my favorite thing, very beefy flavored, warm and rich on soft pillowy fry bread with some cool crunch and crispy, thin plantain slices, very good. We started with a Chocolate Cherry Old Fashioned that was delicious. Overall the food was very good and the value was decent at around $12-$16 per plate. Overall: this was a really good experience and I'd go back to try some of the things they were out of and enjoy the incredible bar and stellar, considerate, thoughtful service. Definitely recommend!

    Photos
    Amazing bar
    Amazing bar
    Mussels fra diavola... good but not spicy
    Mussels fra diavola... good but not spicy
    Bread pudding

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    Sushi King

    Sushi King

    2.9
    (340 reviews)
    1.3 mi
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    I am writing to express my disappointment regarding the customer service I received on May 22,…read more2026, around 12:45 PM. My party consisted of 11 guests, and unfortunately the service provided by the young woman assigned to our table was extremely unprofessional. Throughout our visit, she appeared overwhelmed and was noticeably disrespectful in her interactions with our group. Her attitude made the dining experience uncomfortable and unpleasant. While I understand that busy shifts can be stressful, customers should still be treated with courtesy and professionalism. A table of our size should not have been made to feel like an inconvenience. We expected respectful service and left very disappointed by the experience. I hope this matter is addressed appropriately to prevent future customers from having a similar experience. Our celebration for a service member was a horrible experience. We will never dine here again. The food was mediocre.

    We have tried every Sushi King in the area. First of all, the prices on the website are not up to…read moredate. Dinner is not 18.99, it is 24.99. Also, they say that the give 10% military discount but this location DOES NOT honor it. In fact, they treat you as if you are stealing. Each time the staff brought out our order, it was wrong. Not only that, the food was not nearly as good as other locations. We have much better sushi in the area. The soup was cold, it was late and not even good. Sushi itself, it is better at our local Kroger. When we were leaving, I took the check to the front desk to ask about the military discount and the owner or manager followed us (family of 4) and treated us as if we were going to walk out and not pay. Due to the low quality food, poor service, and not only not honoring the discount that they post but treating us as if we were stealing by following us, we won't be back. Ever.

    Photos
    The bar area
    The bar area
    Teriyaki steak
    Teriyaki steak
    Pretty ambiance

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    Pretty ambiance

    Sakura Express - sushi - Updated August 2026

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