Sushi Yokozuna

I was looking for a place to eat some sushi recently while in Virginia, and boy did I get lucky. I have been eating sushi for 25 years and the sushi dining experience I had at Yokozuna was as good as any I have had. I have to confess, my first impression of Yokozuna was not overly inspiring; the restaurant is located in a shopping center and is not overly large. The layout of the restaurant and the decor are rather plain and the sushi bar did not strike me as being anything special when I first sat down (believe me, in 25 years I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of sushi bars). The sushi chef, Choi, appeared from the adjacent kitchen and this is the point were everything changed. What I first thought was going to be an average sushi experience turned into a real culinary delight. Choi is a true master of his craft. I really appreciate a sushi chef that doesn't just crank out sushi like it is being placed on a conveyor belt, but actively involves himself in guiding the customer's choices. Choi is this kind of chef, and I really enjoyed collaborating with him on this meal. The fish was top notch with an extremely wide selection, everything from your basic rolls to some of my personal favorites like uni and amaebi. Choi introduced me to Albacore which he lightly seared and served sashimi style with a little Sriracha on the side, very tasty. The salmon was particularly fresh this evening, so I requested a second order of salmon nigiri style. Choi suggested I try his Cajun spice rubbed salmon, which was outstanding. If you live in the Ashland area, or are passing through, then I highly recommend that you stop at this place for sushi, it is a real gem!

I have been going here for weeks now, and I have loved everything about the menu. The owner (Choi) and his family are very friendly and make the place feel welcoming. You can sit at a table or at the bar and watch the sushi being made--Choi is great about explaining how its done and answering all "those silly questions" (I've asked a load of them, lol).



The baked rolls here are AMAZING (my favorite is the Orange Ring roll and the Dynamite roll) though the classics like Shrimp Tempura are great too!



This is a great place to hang out and eat sushi/sashimi with friends, or call in an order to go! I've eaten at almost all the other sushi places in Richmond, and none have the flavor and atmosphere of Yokozuna. The food makes the drive up to Ashland VERY worth it.