Sapporo East — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

I drove by this place multiple times before stopping in. It's tucked into a small corner in the shopping center. The front of the building doesn't present really well. The sign is old and faded and the graphics on the mirrored windows aren't eye-catching. I honestly didn't have high hopes.

That being said, though, this is easily the best sushi restaurant I've eaten at in the Virginia Beach and Williamsburg area. I must somewhat recent California transplant and finding good sushi has been more difficult than I expected.

I find that restaurants in the area tend to go pretty heavy on the temporal roll options. As well as too much sauces or Mayo on the rolls. It's too much competition for the fish. I'm just guessing here but it feels like fried foods and heavy sauces are there to disguise poor quality fish or tiny helpings.

Sapporo East, has a ton of interesting role options. They don't go too heavy on sauces. There are plenty of rolls that aren't just mushed, spicy tuna or fake crab. Their selection is interesting and everyone should be able to find a couple different roles that suit their taste.

A few of the standout options were the pepper tuna shumai. I can't recommend this highly enough. The ocean roll and Las Vegas roll were also fantastic. Really, everything here is head and shoulders over the other 5 to 6 restaurants in the area that I've tried.

The own ers, or who I'm assuming are the owners, always seem to be here when I'm here. They're both very nice and reasonably accommodating. Which is something I appreciate. I've never sat at the bar so I'm not sure how that experience goes. I prefer a boisterous sushi chef that I can buy sake. I haven't actually sat at the bar here so I can't comment on it.

This place is great, and you should definitely give it a try. I can't say I've tried enough restaurants in the Virginia Beach area to say definitively, but I've tried enough to know that this is a place worth visiting if you're looking for...

Title: Fresh, Flavorful, and Fantastic!

I had an amazing experience at [Restaurant Name]! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, with a beautiful and clean presentation. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, making sure we had everything we needed.

The sushi was outstanding—fresh, expertly prepared, and beautifully presented. Every bite was packed with flavor, and you could truly taste the quality of the ingredients. The specialty rolls were creative and delicious, and the sashimi was melt-in-your-mouth perfection.

On top of that, the service was prompt, and the attention to detail was impressive. Whether you’re a sushi lover or trying it for the first time, this place is a must-visit. I’ll definitely be...

For reference I spent the last 13 years in Japan .

Food: I ordered an appetizer of Gyoza and Katsudon (pork cutlet) from the Don Buri Menu.

I knew something was wrong when the food arrived, the katsudon was not a don buri which is traditionally a large bowel of rice with the food on top, this dish was separated. The rice was dry and seemed like a cheap brand. The pork cutlets were only edible once I doused it in the sausage that came with it.

There was a lot of food, just not enjoyable.

The gyoza was OK, but the sauce was a little too sweet. I am use to a mix of soy sauce, Vinegar, and raiyu (I don’t know the English word)

Service: I was seated and water was brought to me. I can’t say it was service...