sushi aka — Restaurant in Suffolk

After moving to Suffolk, I came across countless positive reviews for Sushi Aka, and I'll admit that my skepticism kept me from visiting sooner as I doubted how such a great sushi restaurant could be hidden away among the unassuming shops in the downtown area.

After enjoying one of their sushi burritos at a pop-up event they did with Brick & Mortar (now Nansemond Brewing Station), I decided to stop by during the Suffolk Restaurant week. I was immediately greeted by the friendly staff, and cozy ambiance. We ordered the gyoza and seaweed salad to start, and chicken teriyaki, sashimi, and a tuna roll for the main course. The gyoza was much better than most I've had at any restaurant, and the seaweed salad was as expected. The chicken teriyaki sauce had a lovely balance of sweet and savory - unlike the mass-produced, overly sweetened versions you'd find at other establishments. The rice was also perfectly cooked, and as a Japanese/Korean who grew up eating it everyday, that's saying something. Now, onto the star of the show - the sashimi plate. For the lunch portion, their was a selection of four different types of generously sliced fish. It was obvious that the fish was fresh, and that Chef Michael took the time to prepare a beautiful plate. Although I don't remember the fish that was served, I do remember that all four were equally delicious, and I would've happily eaten more. The tuna roll, although simple, also had the ideal balance of fish to rice. For dessert, we shared the Yuzu Tart and the Wonton Napoleon. I appreciated the fact that both weren't heavy or overly sweet. Between the two though, the Napoleon was definitely the best. The perfectly crisp wonton paired well with the slightly tart, macerated strawberries and creamy ice cream. By the end of the meal, I was already planning my next visit. Since then, I've been back more often than I'd like to admit, and they've yet to disappoint. Although I haven't tried everything on the menu, the 239 roll has been a favorite as well as the green tea creme brûlée. All of the staff there (Marita, Annie, Julie, and Summer) are always a joy to be around, and Chef Michael Hart is definitely more than adequate at his craft. I can now see why Sushi Aka has such a dedicated following. Even if it's a drive, I assure you, it's well worth it. They truly care about providing a great experience, and you won't find the same level of attention to detail and unique selections anywhere else...

My experience at Sushi Aka can only be described as Sublime.

The sushi chef is humble about his talent, but he may be one of the best sushi chefs the world has ever seen. He meticulously searches for and hand picks only the best fish and ingredients, spends countless hours before the restaurant opens prepping, and has an attention to detail that is unmatched. You can taste this in his sushi and other dishes. Also, this man can cut green onions impressively thin. I was very impressed by this. No one wants to take a bite of a chunk of green onion.

The first bite I took of his sushi rocketed me from my seat and transported me to another dimension. In this new dimension I was greeted by omnipotent and omniscient sushi beings. These sushi beings taught me the meaning of life and with them I spent thousands of years learning the intricacies of the universe itself. When I was ready, I plummeted back into my earthly body and found myself sitting in Sushi Aka. Was I in heaven? I’m not sure, but that out of body experience I had lived through taught me the meaning of life: Perfect Sushi. The other bites were good too.

The staff is also wonderful. They go above and beyond and provide excellent service. The whole experience was on par with how great the food was. I’m surprised this place doesn’t have national / international attention.

I would describe myself as someone who really enjoys trying new restaurants, and well traveled. Out of every place in the U.S. or Europe I have ever eaten, this is by far the best food and experience I...

THE ABSOLUTE KING of SUSHI!! I have never been a fan of sushi....the one (and only one) experience I had with this food that everybody seems love, let’s just say didn’t “set” well with me. After that, I never once wanted to ever try sushi again...despite how much I was begged! Fast forward to a couple of days ago, being the loving sister I am, decided I would go and try this sushi (even though deep down I knew I was probably going to have a puking fiasco). I let my sister pick the goods for me and just held my breath waiting for the entree. Once presented, the presentation was beautifully displayed...almost to the point I didn’t want to touch it and mess it up. Trying to remember how to hold chopsticks, I finally dusted off my skills and was able to hold the delectable slice of sushi in between the 2 tiny posts and dip it into the soy sauce that is cutely served in a white pot almost seemingly made for tea. At this point, I’m almost freaking out because I’m not sure how this is about to go, but once in my mouth, it just melted away. This is by far the sushi I wish I had experienced my very first go at it! You can tell it is made with passion and precision. The details in everything are phenomenal and the atmosphere and (of course) the staff make the experience ten times better! I will revisit every time I’m in town visiting my sister (whether she’s at work or not)! Bravo...