Sushi Factory: The Husband-and-Wife Duo Bringing French Sushi Craft to Virginia
See how a husband-and-wife duo turned Sushi Factory into a Blacksburg go-to with generous sushi, real tea, and loyal fans.
If you’ve ever had sushi that just tastes... better — rice that’s still warm, fish that feels like it came straight off the boat — you’ve probably stumbled across a place like Sushi Factory & Bubble Tea in Blacksburg, Virginia. Owned by Tsering Pal and her husband Paul, this cozy spot inside University Mall has been quietly building a loyal following for the past two years. And it’s not by accident.
Paul, a trained sushi chef who spent six years mastering his craft in France, handles the sushi. Tsering — whose family ran restaurants before this — runs the front and makes sure everything stays smooth, fresh, and, as she puts it, “full of love.”
“We put a lot of effort into making everything nice and fresh,” she says. “When customers are happy with the food, that’s what makes us happy too.”
Why Their Sushi Tastes Different (In the Best Way)
At Sushi Factory, nothing sits in a cooler waiting to be served. Every roll is made to order — and yes, the rice is still warm when it hits your table. That’s a small detail most spots skip, but it makes a big difference. Customers have noticed.
“People come in and tell us all the time, ‘Wow, your sushi is so fresh,’” says Tsering. “The rice, the fish — everything. That’s something we really focus on.”
And it’s not just about freshness — it’s about generosity. When you order a salmon roll, you get plenty of salmon. Everything is portioned with care, and that “wow” factor keeps regulars coming back again and again.
The Rolls That Locals Rave About
If you’re wondering what to try first, take Tsering’s advice and go for Menu 6 — a $20 combo with soup, salad, and 21 pieces of sushi stacked with tuna, salmon, and more. “That one’s my favorite,” she says. “It has a lot of fish, and people love the amount.”
Also worth your attention:
Big Belly Roll – True to its name, it’s packed big with fish and flavor.
Angry Dragon Roll – A shrimp tempura roll topped with imitation crab, crunchy onion, and spicy mayo. Tsering says customers often tell her it’s “the biggest sushi roll they’ve ever had.”
And yes, they’ve got poke bowls too — loaded up and full of texture.
Bubble Tea That’s Actually Brewed (Not Just Flavored Water)
One more thing they don’t cut corners on? Bubble tea. A lot of places mix powders or use water instead of real tea. Not here. “We brew our tea,” Tsering says. “It all comes from Taiwan — the real ingredients. That makes a big difference in taste.”
Their bubble tea punch card (buy 7, get 1 free) has been a hit with students and regulars alike. And even though they don’t have a loyalty program for sushi just yet, their prices are already kept low — another reason customers keep coming back.
What’s Next for Sushi Factory?
Right now, the space is small — about 15 tables inside the mall — and mostly geared toward takeout. But Tsering and Paul are dreaming bigger.
“We want to expand and open another location in the future,” she says. “Right now, we’ll see what happens, but we’d love to grow.”