Sakura Sushi and Grill — Restaurant in Chesapeake

⚠️ Food Poisoning Alert ⚠️

I’m visiting my hometown for the holidays and decided to grab something quick and easy to eat late at night. While I grew up in this area, I know the food scene isn’t the best, so I was skeptical about trying a local sushi spot. Despite my reservations, I ordered two rolls—the Angel Roll and Blackjack Roll—from this restaurant, which oddly boasts a 4.7-star rating. Unfortunately, my instincts were right, and it was a decision I deeply regret.

After finishing the sushi, I began feeling extremely tired and queasy. It didn’t take long before things took a turn for the worse. My stomach started churning, and I ended up vomiting. I tried to rest, but within 4-6 hours, I was running to the restroom repeatedly with severe diarrhea—six times in total. The situation escalated to violent puking down to bile, stomach cramps, chills, and feeling completely drained. This was one of the worst bouts of food poisoning I’ve ever experienced.

Concerned about what I might have consumed, I contacted the restaurant. I asked to speak with the owner or manager, but the person who answered was rude and dismissive, claiming no owner was available. When I pressed the issue, she hung up on me. Frustrated, I went to the restaurant in person to demand answers.

It was at this point I discovered the truth—the same person who claimed there was no owner was, in fact, the owner herself. She blatantly lied to me. She continued to brush me off, refusing to take responsibility until I raised my voice, explaining how sick their food made me and insisting on a refund. Only then, likely because other customers overheard the conversation, did she finally give me my money back. The lack of accountability and dishonesty was beyond unprofessional.

This isn’t just about bad service—this is about public health and safety. Their food made me violently ill, and their dishonesty in handling the situation was alarming. I urge everyone to think twice before eating here. This restaurant has 4.7 stars, but don’t let the rating fool you—it’s not worth risking your health.

This place needs to either drastically improve its food safety standards or shut down entirely. Avoid this place at all costs....

Most of a rating for a restaurant is the quality of food. Sakura is not lacking in their quality of food at all. All food came in a timely manner and was the appropriate temperature. They have beautifully stylized plates with tea lights and flowers. The decorations for the food are great. Feels like a high class restaurant. We were even given free pineapple smoothies by the manager.

I have two issues, one is the prices are higher than I typically spend for sushi with my daughter. Quite literally 3 times the price. Typically it's $17+tip where we go and that place is amazing. Here we spent $53+tip. To be fair my daughter is free at the other restaurant. While I understand Sunday evening may not be the busiest of times for sushi, my second issue was that the staff was not the most attentive. After my daughter finished 2 salmon rolls it took an additional 10 minutes to actually have someone check on us so she could order a 3rd roll. The speed that it came was fine, but not a glance in our direction for over 10 minutes when it isn't too busy was frustrating. My 5 year old actually yelled at one after she grew impatient. Finally when trying to get the check, it was again difficult to find someone, and once I asked for it, it took 15 minutes to come to the table. I saw the waitress I asked come out 6 times and service a table near us with a party of 4. Ultimately another waitress brought it to me.

Now I want to stress that the food was top notch! But the service, which is part of the experience was not where it needs to be. My daughter did say she really liked the food here and wants to come again. Especially considering the other restaurant is quite a bit further away...

This little spot is a gem, sushi is good and a good portion as well, staff is incredibly friendly and hospitable, they will give you free food like every time you come into this place ong. They definitely know how to treat customers right, I am not sure if she is the owner but there is this nice asian lady I see nearly every time I go into this restaurant and she recognizes me at this point and I feel like I am treated like royalty just for being a repeat customer. The last time I came here with a group of friends they gave 4x pineapple smoothies, 2x spring rolls, 1x dynamite roll, 1x mochi ice cream, & 2 other things I cant recall ALL FOR FREE. We did not even order that much food, I almost told them to stop because I felt bad for accepting so much generosity. The service is quick and the presentation is gorgeous, I do not have any pictures to show but there are some on other reviews, but every plate they bring you will have little light up trinkets on them, the lighting is also very romantic if you get my drift, you might fall in love with your homeboy when the light hits a twinkle in his eyes. They always have j-pop music playing (i think?) but it really matches the aesthetic of the restaurant well, its always an experience eating here. I will say the bathrooms can be a little scary, sometimes they are fine, other times not so much but sometimes you gotta thug it out yk, I am not taking that into consideration on this review as I am not phased but I feel obligated to inform.

10/10 have been going here for years now one of my favorite restaurants, I have NEVER been even slightly disappointed, will continue...