An all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner spot in the Western Branch area of Chesapeake allows diners to indulge in Japanese fare.
Fuji Sushi AYCE & Grill, which opened in March near the intersection of Taylor Road and Portsmouth Boulevard, offers more than 35 rolls, including the Philadelphia made with smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese; the Mermaid prepared with tuna and cucumber, topped with shrimp and avocado; and the Sea Angel created with spicy crab, spicy shrimp and spicy mayo.
Other menu items include appetizers, soups, salads and about six to 10 entrees, depending on time of day. The flat price also includes soft drinks, boba teas and a few desserts, including Hershey’s ice cream cups.
Customers can order as much as they want while dining in, but don’t let your eyes get bigger than your stomach. The restaurant might charge you for wasting food.
A look inside Chesapeake’s Fuji Sushi AYCE & Grill. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot)
Pace yourself and feast on the decor in between bites. The dining room has black textured accent walls, white and gray tile floors, and tables with gold trim surrounded by rust colored chairs. Cherry blossoms and white cap mountain murals liven up the space — more so than the restaurant’s hostess.
The service was still quick during my visit, and the sushi rolls had an inviting freshness.
The Alaska roll contains favorite ingredients: salmon, cucumber and avocado. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot)
The Alaska rolls arrived at the table wrapped in all my favorites: salmon, cucumber and avocado. Splash them with a little soy sauce. No complaints.
The Godzilla rolls had spicy tuna, jalapeno, cream cheese, and asparagus that were deep-fried and topped with spicy mayo and eel sauce. They had more flavor than the previous sushi, but they weren’t hot. Each one gave a nice mouthfeel of crunchiness and creaminess.
Whereas, a heaping of cucumber salad — from the salad bar — gave me a bright tang flavor that made me enjoy the vegetable more than usual.
The cucumber salad’s bright tang flavor stands out. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot)
The self-service desserts provided sweetness to my meal. They consisted of a mini cream puff, a palmier (French cookie) and a tiny cup of chocolate mousse. All delivered a familiar taste that satisfied my craving for something delectable.
The boba tea, however, let me down. Only one of the three was on tap. The passion fruit was more sweet than fruity. It needed something to move the needle from good to great, which summed up my overall dining experience.
Rekaya Gibson, 757-295-8809, rekaya.gibson@virginiamedia.com
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If you go
Where: 2413 Taylor Road, Chesapeake
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday
Prices: $19.99 lunch, $27.99 dinner
Details: fujisushiayce.com, 757-800-3935
AloJapan.com