YamaChen's Sushi — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

Tonight I enjoyed what I can honestly say is the most pleasurable dining experience I've ever had! We didn't know about Yama before tonight, but my husband got a gift certificate from a client as a tip. Our food arrived with an extra roll (a fancy one!), which they said was on the house. Everything was delicious! They had several combo options that came with Miso soup (best I've had!) and a salad, and the rolls were bigger than at most sushi places, but the prices didn't seem to be any higher. The ingredients seemed to be of excellent quality. When we tried to order a cheesecake slice the waiter informed us he already had one on the way - on the house! Then, when he dropped off our bill he said he had a gift for us and gave us a framed picture! It was one of those 3D/holographic sorts of pictures, with three different scenes of adorable dogs frolicking amongst flowers. We don't know what inspired such generosity; our 6 month old -teething- son even broke one of their soy sauce plates! All we can think is that they were smitten with him, despite our little mishap. But who knows, maybe they're just exceedingly generous people! Everyone else in the restaurant seemed to be having a great time, too. There were two birthday parties, which got a slice of cheesecake with a candle and a song. The singing was pleasantly understated, jovial but not raucous. The service was excellent (thanks David!), the food arrived promptly but not so soon we felt we were being rushed, and the atmosphere was chic, yet welcoming. We went in nice casual clothes, but got a better dining experience than if we had gone somewhere with a dress code! I HIGHLY recommend Yama the next time you're...

I've been going here since 2014 when this was the only location they had at the time, I believe. This place used to be filled with guests, especially during lunch time. However, with the new opening of other sushi restaurants around town and the variety we have now, this place started to dwindle down. The service is still the same. I've seen familiar faces in the restaurant. They used to also give out free sushi to the table depending on how much you've ordered. Nowadays, you only get a free cheesecake or vegetable spring roll but I also blame the rising cost of ingredients for their adjustment. Eitherway, I am still getting something free just for dining in (or even doing a delivery order) so it's still a bonus. The quality of the food seem generic in which I feel like I could eat somewhere else with the same quality or even better. But the amount they serve is still the same but it is plentiful. For an average person that eats very little, one order of a special roll should be enough. Unless you are an avid eater like me, I usually order 2 special rolls depending on how empty my stomach is and how hungry I am.

Overall, this is your typical sushi place. The ambience is warm and intimate. The theme suits the menu. If you're craving sushi out of the blue, and want to overcome that craving, this could also...

When we got in, you could tell immediately that the experience was going to be good. The restaurant isn't too large, but there are many seats plus (amazing) decorations without making it look crowded. We were almost immediately seated and given menues. There's something for everyone, from sushi to chicken. The prices are reasonable to high, but it was definitely worth it. The wait was not too long considering how much we got (it wasn't a busy day so it may be different on a busy one). Even by looking at the food, you could tell how much effort was put into the dishes. The food was perfectly seasoned. The customer service was one of the best parts. Our waitress was very nice, checking in on us once in a while, and we even had a nice conversation with her. The other staff (even though we didn't get to talk to them much) gave us friendly smiles and waves when we saw them. The experience and food was nothing less than perfect, and I would give them more than five...