This place is terrible, it's that simple. I'm pretty forgiving, but lines have been crossed.
The atmosphere is nice, and the staff is friendly, I can't fault them for anything. For what it is the prices are alright as well.
The food is mediocre at best. It's the worst I've eaten at in Virginia Beach, but there are a lot of little hole in the wall places I've never tried. It's greasy and fatty, even for Asian, and they skimp on the seasoning, badly.
The sanitation is what's really an atrocity. The fact that the health department hasn't shut them down can only be attributed to incompetence or bribery.
The floors were so dirty that there piles of filth built up around the benches and the hibachi. The counters and tables were so sticky that the one time I touched one it left my hand sticky and I had to go wash before I ate.
I am not confident that the plates had been washed with actual soap, I think they may have just been wiped off with a damp cloth. I actually watched our chef shove one of his utensils into the garbage chute to pack down overflowing food garbage from at least the past several days, and then put the same utensil back into my food. I would have walked out at that point if it wouldn't have offended the people who invited us.
This is the second time I've visited Shogun, having been invited by friends of the family, and these conditions have not changed since last time.
The first time we visited, to top off an evening that really gave me the willies, there was vomit on the bathroom floor and the drain in the floor was clogged. On this second visit, it was urine instead.
In short, I will not be going back. If you want Hibachi and an entertaining show as your food is prepared, go to Otani's.
May you find what you seek,
Landra
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