Happy Sumo

While I can appreciate an institution that makes relatively creative and tasty sushi rolls, Sumo's service is the reason I will never return. As someone who enjoys great food, I'll admit that I wasn't too disappointed with Sumo's quality and selection. The only problem was, we have to go into the back several times to get a person to take our order. Each of the three times I've been here with a friend or two, we've been ignored from the time we sat down to getting our check. One incident that has been burned into my mind, was when I asked the waitress to split our check - she refused and then went into the back and came back with a calculator. Then she threw the calculator on our table and said, you can do the math yourself. As a young-looking Asian-American consumer, I felt that maybe we were being discriminated against in this situation or that she was having a bad day. No apologies were offered. Of course I went into the restaurant looking for a manager, only to be told, the manager was running an errand. That was the last time I ever ate at Sumo and I do not ever plan to return. more

I had lunch there on a weekday, visiting salt lake and was happy with the service, but the quality of sushi was awful. the rice was over cooked, and the quill eggs, not fresh. more

We have found there is surprisingly decent sushi in Salt Lake but none like the Happy Sumo at the Gateway Mall downtown. It is excellent fresh sushi with many options of rolls to choose from. We had some sort of chocolate mousse dessert after our meal that was fantastic as well, my wife was very pleased! We will be back often. Pros: Great Sushi! Nice ambiance. Friendly Staff more

My friend & I went into Happy Sumo for some lunch. My friend isn't a big eatter so she ordered something off the kids menu although it read ""12 and under"" the waitress let it slide. When the bill came she charged us for an adult meal. We called the manager and instead of helping us he told us off saying she wasnt allowed to order off the kids menu.. He went on for a good 5 minutes. Told us NEVER to order off the kids menu again! Jeez didn't know I was getting lunch w/ my father! And their ""adult"" lunch menu BLOWS! 2 rolls for 10.00 The rolls are not impressive at the least and taste like grocery store sushi! more

Oh my god there is like a new place for sushi cropping up every day around here, but the sumo remains my fav. Alot of the other places are such hype and their food is horrible! Happy sumos menu never fails me, not only do I love all my 'regular' items like the playboy, rock shrimp roll, but they keep adding new awesome stuff. Last night I had some new rolls, appetizer, oh and my fav crab and cheese wontons. Heaven. Usually I get dessert to go since I am so full, but I LOVE both their choc cakes. I could eat here everyday. Seriously this is the best and takashi is a close second, but don't waste your time on any of the other lame ones around here! Pros: Best sushi anywhere, great service, cool atmosphere more

the worst sushi in town, they should change the managerment, and lower the price to keep them in business , there is a lot of new sushi coming up in slc , and i eat sushi 3 times a week , i try over 20 sushi place in town, you paid what you get , but happy sumo is over price and frozen sushi from yesterday, nothing fresh , and each roll cost 13,14, i never go back again , sorry suno Pros: worst sushi in slc Cons: never ever go back more

So.... I usually like going to Happy Sumo, but this time was pretty bad... bad enough to write a review about it.... It was on a Thursday I think and me and some friends wanted to eat dinner and watch a movie after. So we had decided to go to Happy Sumo! Our movie starts around 8ish-9 and we met up at 7 to eat. OMG.... the waitress took nearly 30 minutes to bring us out our waters/drinks and they took like over an hour before our food was brought out! The thing that upsets me the most was other people that came after us got their food first! But I wasn't so mad after getting our food because the food was good. But my good mood changed again because the waitress didn't give us our checks until we had asked her to. Then she gave us a cocky attitude and said something like ""Well, we're pretty busy too you know"" and all we asked for was our checks. Seriously, if that girl had personal problems, then don't take it out on us.... We ended up missing about 10-20 minutes of our movie (it was transformers, the new one).... and that was so not cool. I was very upset. Pros: Good Food Cons: Cocky, bad, LONG service on a regular base more

I usually LOVE going to the Happy Sumo at the Gateway. I have brought many first time sushi eaters to Happy Sumo and have always had a good experience. Unfortunately, I just took my family (for some of them it was their first time trying sushi) last night and the service was HORRIBLE. I am truly disappointed and embarrassed for having raved to my family about how awesome Happy Sumo is. We had a party of 9-the largest table in the restaurant and it was hardly busy (a Tuesday night). We were sat before it even picked up. Despite this we were there for at least 25 minutes before the server even came and took our orders and then after taking our order (14+ rolls) she tells us it will take at least 25-30 minutes to make our food! Not to mention we had a 2 year old with us- who we ordered for right away before the 14 rolls- and we had to go up and ask where his food was. In addition, our server completely ignored us, the largest table/party in the restaurant. She would make rounds to near by tables, refill water, bring checks, but never check in with us, ask us how we are doing, or keep us posted on the status of our food. When I pulled her over (30 minutes later) to ask when our food was coming she was VERY snotty and said that she put the order in and that's all she can do. Eventually we had to ask for a manager because we were so unhappy with the service. The manager was receptive and apologetic and agreed to take off the auto-gratuity but only based on our request to do so. In the end this only amounted to about $13 off on a $200 bill. The manager didn't even offer to comp a roll- I mean we ordered a lot of food and beverages- I would've expected something more. She did change our server right after we got our food but in the end the damage was done. In all we had been at the restaurant for just under two hours with horrible service and an overpriced bill. I am sorry to say that will be my last visit to the Happy Sumo- and I will never be referring friends or family there again. Also, in my experience at other sushi restaurants, when I bring in a large party and order that much food most of the time the restaurant/manager are extremely over-attentive and sometimes comp something on our menu just because they appreciate our business. Happy Sumo treats the customer like they don't need their business- so from now on they won't be getting mine. more

we've been in slc for the long weekend and finished up last night with a sushi night out. we liked this place alot, but it was inconsistent food. We had a group of 10 and had three rounds of ordering...it was strange because it was like the chef who did the tempura had no idea what he was doing, but everything was excellent. our waitress actually said she's had a couple of ""send backs"" that night, and she thought it was the same chef...everything else was great though, we still recommend. more

I went to the Happy Sumo expecting the best, and was not disappointed! The service was awesome, the sushi to die for, and the atmosphere was cool enough for me to have a good time. The only downer was the hostess. She was short and rude (and what was up with the hair, anyway?) Besides that, it was wonderful, and I will definitely be back. Thank you Happy Sumo!! Pros: Great service, awesome sushi! Cons: Grumpy hostess more

Went there over the weekend and enjoyed a nice spot on the patio. Our waitress was so nice and helpful and was really attentive to us during our whole meal. We asked for a recommendation and tried the Rock Shrimp Roll and we loved it! The whole meal was great, we will be returning again soon. more

The food was very tasty, sushi chefs were great, very helpful,friendly and accommodating. I would definitely go back, prices were fair, atmosphere was hip. My biggest disappointment was the hostess- snobbish would be a compliment to her. If you can limit your time @ the hostess stand you will really enjoy this place. Pros: great food and value Cons: Hostess, Hostess, Hostess more

I eat sushi out about 2x/wk. Happy Sumo has the best nigiri tuna in town and possibly the best rolls. Overall the #1 sushi place in salt lake area. \r The outdoor seating area is great on warm days and evenings - along with the overall atmosphere of gateway. If you set inside it is nice as well with large booths, sushi bar and open tables (no too close together). \r They have the best cucumber wrapped rolls in town - closest place I have found to compete with these is in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. \r The one thing I wish they had was a happy hour or special sometime....but I guess with food this good - they don't need to.\r Simply put - you will not find a better overall sushi restaurant in Salt Lake!!! Pros: Best sushi it town, parking easier than most downtown sushi places due to gateway - valet as well Cons: wish they had a happy hour - thats about all more

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! The Happy Sumo is now something I Iook forward to every weekend. It has become a ritual between me and my friends. The service couldn't be better, the atmosphere is hip and exciting and the sushi is better than any other overpriced sushi bar you will find in salt lake. It gets super busy so make sure to arrive early, and the best part....you are bound to see a Jazz player in there eating as well. If you want to spend your time and MONEY well, go to the Sumo, it is worth every penny...and every bite :). Pros: SERVICE!!!!! Hot servers. Yummy Sushi. Cons: can't complain about a thing. more

I hate this Restaurant! The atmosphere is so Trendy and fake. And i didn't have bad expectations going in. But i went with a friend and we were seated at the bar. We put in an order and half an hour later we were still not served, but a couple who came in after we did, seated at the bar, had their food in little time at all. My friend and i were so upset we just left. This to me was terrible service. Additionally i wrote an e-mail to the manager, who took a week to reply back to me, and gave a half assed condolence, asking for me to please reconsider, with hardly an effort to try and really convince me. I would definately not recommend this place. I frequent a lot of the Sushi bars; this place is by far overrated! more

Everyone has always raved to me about the Happy sumo. Well, I finally went in this week, and believe me it truly lives up to the hype. Not only was there an icredible and diverse menu, but there was good music, good service, and a warm romantic ambiance that could win over anyones heart. I tried many of the inventive rolls along with some sashimi, and it was FABULOUS. Not to mention really fresh. I will definatley be back, and will be passing along the hype as many of my friends have.\r Pros: Fresh Fish, Good Service, Great atmosphere Cons: long wait to be seated, no reservations more

good sushi, bad service. Pros: BEST sushi Cons: braindead hostesses more

This is hands down my favorite restaurant ever. The atmosphere is very cool, the service is attentive and our waitress was just delightful. However, the food is what was the most memorable, it was OUTSTANDING! Every bite was delicious. We sampled 5 or 6 sushi items and the dragon scales. We can't even decide on what was our favorite, but the sashimi melted like butter in our mouths! We ended our meal with the Tempura Banana Split and Mount Fuji! We cannot wait to go back and I hope they open up more locations. Pros: Great food, service, and environment Cons: Nothing!!! more

My partner and I visited the Happy Sumo on a late saturday afternoon. The place was busy (a good sign) and I loved the decor, very modern and clean. I had the Pro Sumo Combo (Sunset roll, 2 inari, 3 nigiri ) and my partner had chicken teriyaki (again....always with the chicken teriyaki). Although nice inside, the place seemed a little scene-y to me....like it's a hot spot or whatever (and I'm sure it is). This may be a draw for some people, but it's not my thing. Since the place was busy service was a bit slow, but the waitress was very nice. The food was good...everything fresh and tasty. The presentation was lovely. And the cost....around $45 including tip, so not bad. However, I have to say that it's sort of hyped as ""the best sushi in SLC"", and I thought that Nagoya was just as good, and definately less of an ""it"" place, which I like. Pros: fresh sushi, good service, cool interior Cons: it's super hyped, and it's really not THAT awesome more

I used to love this place and the americanized spicy sushi rolls. my husband enjoyed the teriyaki bowl. it's always been slow but worth it. Recently I went in for lunch with my friend and our daughters; our husbands were meeting us from work. We were sat at a tiny table with no room for the kids, and the hostess was rude about my daughter who wears oxygen and is disabled. After they dragged other tables around to make bigger tables for guests who looked ""professional"" we felt so uncomfortable we left. My husband went back after a great meal at Z Tejas to complain and they apologized. I went back a few weeks later and the waitress remembered my daughter and was extremely short with us and inattentive. lots of sighs and eye rolls. No drinks. Never checked back with us. No thank you. Forgot to bring a parking validation and acted like I had asked for her first born when I reminded her. I wrote a letter to point out the situation and never got a response. I will miss this place but can't go back after how they treated my daughter and I. Our rude little hostess/waitress has a ridiculous tattoo across her chest she will be regretting when she grows up. \r Pros: good americanized spicy food Cons: terrible snobby rude staff, especially Hostesses more