Norie Uematsu is a corporate pastry chef known for her imaginative approach to Japanese cuisine. She oversees pastry operations for multiple acclaimed restaurants, including Momoya SoHo, Kappo Sono, and The Happy...
The Happy Tuna specializes in fresh, healthy sushi with alternative rice options, offering both a casual dine-in experience and convenient takeout/delivery. It boasts multiple locations across New York City, including Grand Central, Hudson Yards, Soho, UWS, and Park Slope. The restaurant is known for its charming ambiance, friendly service, and a popular happy hour featuring sushi and beer deals.
Customers generally praise The Happy Tuna for its fresh food, particularly the crispy rice, fried chicken kareage, and onigiri, which is noted for its unique crispy seaweed packaging. Service is often highlighted as friendly and attentive. While many appreciate the convenient locations and pleasant atmosphere, some reviews suggest the food can be perceived as average or slightly overpriced, especially for takeout, compared to dining in.
Additional Details
The Happy Tuna is known for its thoughtful packaging, particularly for its onigiri, which is designed to keep the seaweed separate from the rice until unwrapped, ensuring maximum crispiness. They also offer a selection of sauces like Garlic Ponzu, Yuzu Pepper, and Eel sauce to complement their dishes. The establishment serves cocktails.
Vegetarian options are available, including steamed vegetable dumplings.Offers alternative rice options, catering to various preferences.Can accommodate vegan requests with suitable menu items.
Best Times to Visit
Weekday lunch, as the place tends to fill up quickly. Happy Hour, available Monday through Friday from 3 PM to 7 PM, is ideal for sushi and beer specials.
5
I came in on a cold Feb and find the place charming, clean with nice decor. The food is surprisingly good and fresh. I just wanted something warm so I ordered the fried chicken kareage and it’s the best I had. The Japanese rice was warm and well seasoned. The waiter Luisa is the nicest and explained everything on the menu well. It was empty when I came in and the place filled up by lunch time quickly. I would totally just come back and eat the fried chicken box again. Then I had the onigiri 🍙 to take home and they are so good as well. I loved that they do it exactly like what I had in Japan where the wrapping prevents the seaweed from touching the rice so they stay crispy when you unwrap it. What an awesome discovery! I would skip the takeout and just grab a sit and order from the menu. They also serve cocktails. It’s not quite a restaurant and not quite a takeout place. Kinda in between, maybe I would say a nice cafe n casual dine-in place.
What you’re paying for here is the convenience of being near Grand Central, because the food is rather mediocre. This may explain why this place was somewhat empty for a weekday lunch service. The “Roll With Us” set ($32 plus tax) seems overpriced, with a noticeably chewy nori used for the rolls. The steamed vegetable dumplings ($9 for 6) at least tastes better and is a better value.
I heard good things about their crispy rice, so wanted to try it.
Got their Nigiri box with Crispy Scallops and seaweed salad.
The spicy crispy scallops were outstanding. Crispy rice, which I am not used to, is such a cool concept.
The packaging for my take out was... cute. Including the cute bottles for soy sauces.
Got the Garlic Ponzu Sauce and Yuzu Pepper Sauce and Eel sauce along with it. Garlic Ponzu went really with my combo.
Miso soup was done just right.
They have a happy hour of sushi + beers. For a meet near Grand Central, that sounds like a capital idea. For next time.
Nice place. Nice staff.
I got this for take out but the atmosphere when I was there was good. Went here with a few friends after a long week. It was alright. I mean if I were in the restaurant instead of take out I’m sure it would have been better. It seemed in between fresh in a restaurant and convenience store sushi. The nigiri was good, rolls were good, miso soup good. I’m a big fan of sushi and it was good. To be honest, pretty average but I think it’s really because I got it to go in a box and not fresh in the restaurant. My Beli gave it around a seven and a half which is accurate. Feel bad giving it lower because I was not in the restaurant. Great location.
My second time in this beautiful place. Food is always fresh and tasty. I love the atmosphere and the location is very convenient. Stop by for some delicious sushi and bowls.
