The Happy Sumo (Provo Location)

Good sushi is one of the few foods that can be as healthy as it is delicious. Those who know Joe and I know that we love sushi. I am enamored of the food not just because it’s tasty, but also because of how it looks and how it makes my body feel. Sushi really is an art form. Well prepared sushi is a beautiful thing to behold, and it pleases the eye whilst pleasing the palate.

Because I am such a fan of sushi, I have eaten in many, many sushi restaurants. One of the restaurants I frequent is The Happy Sumo at the Riverwoods in Provo (there is also a Salt Lake location in the Gateway). The reason I go back to this place is because it is much closer to my office than either Yapona or Tsunami, and because it is occasionally very good. Usually, however, it is mediocre.

The service at The Happy Sumo is usually fairly ambivalent towards the customers, but there are a few waitresses that are very friendly and helpful. In particular, my waitress this evening, Jessica, was very nice. She has waited on me before, and I always appreciate her friendly smile and careful attention.

So, why do I say that the food is often mediocre? Well, let’s take tonight’s meal as an example. I ordered some tuna and salmon nigiri and a “Marz Roll” for my entree. The tuna was very stringy. This isn’t something that you want in sushi. The salmon was good though. All of the rice I ate this evening was pretty mushy. Sometimes, the Marz roll has a very bright flavor, and a nice variety of textures. Tonight, it didn’t really have either. It was fairly bland, with all of the textures (mushy rice, un-crispy tempura shrimp, crab salad, tuna sashimi) blending toghether. The last time I was here though, my roll was terrific. I also ordered some Hokkigai (surf clams), which were beautifully presented, but they were tough and dry around the edges and seemed to be freezer burnt.

Tonight, I also ordered a dessert — the “Mount Fuji”. This was a “chocolate lava cake” served with ice cream and whipped cream. When my dessert came, it was served on a heavily chipped and cracked plate (the NSF and health departments have rules against serving foods on cracked or chipped porcelain, as they can harbor microorganisms, even through washing). The cake had good flavor, but the texture was rather course. The ice cream that came with it was freezer burned and grainy. All in all, it was a disappointing dessert, although it had great potential.

So, what’s my overall take on The Happy Sumo? Although I am often disappointed when comparing it to the likes of Tsunami or Yapona, it is a fairly decent place to grab a bite to eat.

–Jason