Yelp’s Top 25 Places to Eat is a list unlike any other “best of” out there. Sure, you’ll see your obvious local favorites on the list, but it’s also chock full of hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path joints like Naci’s Corner Café tucked away in the Ghent neighborhood in Norfolk. From fine dining to a vegan café — find them all in Yelp’s Top 25 Places to Eat in Coastal Virginia.
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Topping this year’s best places to eat list is Blue Seafood & Spirits. They provide the best of the local catch in a casual, yet elegant dining experience. Based on their philosophy of “Buy fresh, buy local”, they source fresh produce, seafood and hormone free meats from small, local businesses when possible, featuring local wines, spirits and beers.
Pro tip: You’re going to want to make a note of these spots, so we made it easy for you. For great businesses at your fingertips, get the Top 25 to-go. Follow this collection on Yelp.
1. Blue Seafood & Spirits (Virginia Beach)
Cuisine: American
What they’re known for: seafood dishes and crab soup
Yelpers say: “The food is phenomenal, I had the Belle Haven, my friends had the crab cakes and Eastern Shore, and we all gave our compliments to the chef. Jenny was our server and she gave us exceptional service. You cannot go wrong with Blue Seafood & Spirits, even though I didn’t have any spirits…I’ll save that for next time. To finish the night off with the key lime pie and the chocolate bread pudding, was the proverbial icing on the cake. Thank you, Blue!” – Undra R.
2. Happy Cafe (Virginia Beach)
Cuisine: American
What they’re known for: sandwiches, hash browns and smoothies
Yelpers say: “The staff was friendly and seemed genuinely happy to see us. We both ordered breakfast sandwiches with hash browns and first of all, the hash browns were amazing and looked beautiful. The sandwich was equally as delicious and they did not hold back on the bacon *chef kiss*. We ended up eating outside and they continued to check on us. I HIGHLY recommend this cafe and we hope they stay forever!” – Summer M.
3. Maymar Poke and Grill (Norfolk)
Cuisine: Filipino
What they’re known for: poke, chicken adobo, pancit
Yelpers say: “The Filipino food is really good, and certain items change from day to day, but staples like Chicken Adobo are always there. It’s better than food I had in the Philippines. The real star of the show is the poke, which is AMAZING. I’ve had poke at a few places in HR, but this place is by far the best. The fish is always fresh, and their topping selection is always good.” – Leon S.
4. Mazari Kebab and More (Virginia Beach)
Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
What they’re known for: Kebab, gyros and baklava
Yelpers say: “OMG this place is amazing. The food was fresh and perfect. I got the platter and it was a lot of food. The meat was cooked to perfection and it just melts in your mouth. For my sides I got the chick peas and veggies. They put that amazing sauce on everything and it compliments very well.” – Matthew J.
5. 185 (Poquoson)
Cuisine: American
What they’re known for: brunch
Yelpers say: “The food was delicious! I had the shrimp and grits and it was just as good as the shrimp and grits I had in New Orleans! If I could just drink the delicious sauce I would! The hangover breakfast plate included one of the best sausage gravy over biscuits I have tried and I am picky about sausage gravy, with your choice of eggs and smash browns.” – Caroline J.
6. Rick’s Cheese Steak Shop (Williamsburg)
7. Sam’s Texas Sub Shop (Norfolk)
8. Sakana Sushi (Carrollton)
9. Kapers Catering and Eatery (Chesapeake)
10. Pa’l Carajo Arepa Lounge (Virginia Beach)
11. Gourmet Burger Bistro (Portsmouth)
12. Sushi Aka (Suffolk)
13. El Pico de Oro (Virginia Beach)
14. Heirloom (Virginia Beach)
15. Taqueria Maria Bonita (Williamsburg)
16. Dave’s BBQ (Virginia Beach)
17. La Brioche Bakery & Coffee (Norfolk)
18. Chartreuse Bistro (Norfolk)
19. Cilantro Bangladeshi Bistro (Norfolk)
20. LeGrand Kitchen (Norfolk)
21. Codex (Norfolk)
22. Sakamoto Sushi (Virginia Beach)
23. Naci’s Corner Cafe (Norfolk)
24. Misako (Virginia Beach)
25. CLTRE vgn jnt (Virginia Beach)
Methodology: This is an all-time list of the Top Places to Eat in Coastal Virginia according to Yelp. We identified businesses in the restaurant category on Yelp, then ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews. This list looked at businesses in and around the Coastal Virginia area. All businesses were marked open on Yelp as of June 27, 2022. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score as of June 27, 2022.
