Hampton Roads, VAJapanese

Zushi Japanese Bistro works a modern angle at Town Center in Virginia Beach, and Coastal Virginia Magazine's Global Eats roundup pointed to chef Kevin Chang's omakase. The kitchen balances contemporary plates with clean sushi. Order the multi-course omakase if you want the chef to lead, or a set of specialty rolls with nigiri, and sit at the bar for the full show. A polished choice in the Beach's downtown.

Hayashi Sushi & Grill pairs hibachi with a full Japanese menu in Newport News, and Coastal Virginia Magazine's Global Eats roundup called out its rolls. Between the grill and the sushi bar, it covers a table with mixed appetites. Order the Delta Force roll and a spread of nigiri, and add a hibachi plate for anyone who wants the grill. A dependable Peninsula-side Japanese stop.

Mizuno Japanese Restaurant keeps a small Laskin Road room in Virginia Beach, and Coastal Virginia Magazine's Global Eats roundup named its inventive plates. The kitchen runs beyond standard sushi into dishes like a hamachi ceviche. Order the hamachi ceviche to start, then a mix of nigiri and a specialty roll, and let the chef steer if the bar is quiet. A lower-key Beach spot for careful sushi.

Daikichi Sushi Bistro sets a calm, zen-styled room on North Battlefield Boulevard in Chesapeake, and Coastal Virginia Magazine's Global Eats roundup pointed to Chef Hiro's specialties. Past the standard rolls the menu runs into cooked Japanese plates. Order the una-ju for eel over rice plus a few specialty rolls, and let the quiet room stretch the meal out. A steady Chesapeake choice.

Kyushu has run its sushi bar from a Newtown Road strip mall in Virginia Beach since 1990, a family operation Coastal Virginia Magazine has named for both its Global Eats appeal and its staying power. The Ebigasako family works the counter, and off-duty chefs are among the regulars. Order at the bar and let the day's fish guide you, or pair nigiri with the katsudon. An unpretentious standby that has outlasted the trends.