Soya Sushi Bar & Bistro — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

The food was good, but the service was HORRIBLE. My best friend was visiting from out of town, so I decided to treat her to a restaurant I had been wanting to go to for a while, but never had the chance to go to. However, my plans for a peaceful evening to catch up with a good friend got ruined thanks to the attitude of our server, Jasmine. She provided us with genuinely the worst server experience I have ever had at a restaurant. When we got to the restaurant around 5pm, there was only one other table eating. Upon ordering, I asked what kind of veggies come with the Chicken Teriyaki dinner. Before answering my question, she scowled at me and said that they aren’t able to separate any vegetables from the meal because they are all mixed together. Great, I literally didn’t ask that. But ok. After she takes our orders, she tells us that our meals come with salads and miso soup. I ask her “what kind of salad is it?”, to which she replies “it has lettuce and veggies and dressing”. I’m not sure if she didn’t understand my question, or if she enjoys being as unhelpful as possible, so I decide to drop it. Once my friend and I receive our salads, I catch her attention to ask for a fork. She rudely snatches the unopened chopsticks from the table, and says “sorry I didn't realize sooner” and walks away. You’re sorry you didn’t realize what? That I look like someone who doesn’t know how to use chopsticks? I’m sorry, but that was incredibly rude of her to do and to assume. There are many people who may not know how to use chopsticks, but there are also many people who are physically unable to use chopsticks due to a disability. I was incredibly offended. I know how to use chopsticks, and I was going to use them to eat my dinner with. I only asked for the fork so I could use it with my salad. But, due to her prejudice, she had taken away my chopsticks and I was honestly just scared to ask her for a new pair. But, as the night goes on, our dinner arrives and everything looks great. The food tastes good, and my friend and I are having a good time catching up with eachother. Our server walks by and asks if everything is good, and we respond with yes, it is. After she leaves, my friend says we should ask for the check. So, I see our server behind the bar filling up some glasses of water. I raise my hand to try to get her attention. I am also a server at a restaurant, and customers often will flag me down and say “the check, whenever you are ready”, so that is what I had intended to do in this scenario. She notices my raised hand, and she glares at me. She doesn’t ask me what I need help with; instead, she keeps glaring at me until I ask my question. I say “we are ready for the check” in a casual, kind tone. She scowls at me and, in the most passive aggressive voice, she says “you’re just going to have to wait because I am taking care of another table right now”. I am shocked. I have never had a server give me such attitude before, and I didn’t even do anything wrong! She had been rude to me from start to finish- this is no way to treat any customer, let alone a customer coming in to eat for their first time. As a server myself, I appreciate when my tables let me know they are ready for the check. I never intended for Jasmine to drop everything to give me my check, i just wanted to politely let her know we were ready whenever she had a moment. I really just cannot believe the experience I just had at this restaurant was real. As much as I loved the food, I would genuinely never want to come back for fear of having Jasmine as my server again. She does not know how to treat customers with care or respect. I really hope that Soya Sushi will learn about Jasmine’s behavior today and take action. My experience today was one that will make me NEVER return or recommend Soya Sushi to a friend. Jasmine’s behavior and actions today are something that should not be tolerated by an employer, and it truly makes me concerned to see someone like her...

Great Sushi!

I ordered a plate of salmon and tuna nigiri, and a philly roll. Simple nigiri is usually my go-to, since it's usually a telling item to gauge the quality of the fish, rice and proportions. I have to say, all of it was on point. The fish was absolutely buttery smooth and tender on the palate. The rice was well prepared, and properly proportioned in relation to the piece of fish. The philly roll was pretty basic, and didn't really stand out for any reason. But, it's just a philly roll, so to be expected to a certain degree. I didn't try any of the fried or specialty rolls, but some of the ones I saw coming out from the bar looked good and were presented well. For drinks, they have a full bar, with plenty of beer and wine options.

The restaurant itself was nice overall. Not anything super amazing, but it was clean and had ample seating at tables, to include two bar areas, one of which was the sushi bar itself. The ambiance was pretty basic, nothing really special. Regarding parking, there is a parking garage attached to the restaurant itself. I saw a sign saying patrons of the shopping center (which the sushi restaurant is a part of) can get their parking validated. I don't know if that's a sure thing, as I walked to the restaurant, but maybe something you could inquire about if you're trying to park.

The service was the only part I wasn't terribly excited about, and is the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. My waitress was very nice, but I stood at the door waiting to be seated for a few minutes before I was even acknowledged by anyone. I wasn't in a hurry, so I wasn't butt hurt about it, but given how dead the restaurant was inside, it left me wondering what was going on. It was after I got seated that I realized my server was dealing with (what seemed to be) an abundance of door dash and other takeout orders. I mean, I get it, but I felt like the majority of the time I was there, the customers in the restaurant came second to dealing with takeout orders. At one point, I was waiting on my server to get done dealing with multiple door dash drivers before I could get my check. Overall the service felt mediocre at best, although the server herself was very polite and welcoming.

Like many others, I used the Groupon to during my visit. I had zero issues when I tried redeeming the coupon (it has to be used for dine-in). With the Groupon, you really do get a good value for your money. The prices are pretty average for good sushi, and given the quality of the food, the Groupon is a awesome deal for sure.

This is a great sushi place overall. If they can put some more focus on their visiting customers and less on take out orders, this place is easily 5...

Re: Edgar Robredo' 1-Star review:

My wife and I were dining near their group's two tables. One of the women in their group was loudly complaining about the wait several times, getting up from the table to do so. This is a small family-run restaurant that admits (signs on the door) that they are short staffed, and kindly ask for patience.

The "clarification on the bill" comment was their group trying to get out of paying the automatic 20% gratuity for groups over 6. Their group was 10, split over two table with members of their party hopping back and forth the entire time.

The same woman complaining about the wait, went on to say she didn't know the other group, and shouldn't have to pay the auto-gratuity for large groups. I have to assume she was planning on stiffing the young waitress for having to wait. As both tables left (together, of course), this woman went out of here way to approach the chef (owner?) to tell him he needs to "learn how to speak to customers properly". Her tone was incredibly rude, to speak to another person like that, especially after they just made your meal.

The "tense environment" mentioned in their review is because another patron told this woman she was done and needed to leave. She had comments for him on her way out as well. Ask anyone dining there, we heard everything, and Soya staff were as respectful as they could be with this woman. More so than I would have been in their position.

We are locals, and this is one of our favorite sushi spots in Virginia Beach. Their "31 Ocean" roll is my favorite roll in all of the Hampton Roads region, and of all time. Seriously, I can't get enough of it. Staff is always so nice and attentive, even when there is a rush. We will be back, as we...