Ugly Tuna Sushi

I traveled with my team from Sarasota, Florida to Surprise, Arizona to participate in the USTA National Championships(🎾). I have celiac disease so I could not eat the box lunches USTA provided the players, or for that matter, where my teammates wanted to have dinner….. Olive Garden, Tivoli’s, Longhorns🤔….Sushi, however, is a celiac safe option for me, so I did my research and found The Ugly Tuna Sushi restaurant. I had lunch there after my first day of competition. From the moment I walked in everything was fabulous. Stef was the hostess and seated me at the bar as I requested. I immediately went to the restroom to wash my hands (having just played tennis) and the bathrooms were immaculate. I returned to the sushi bar and introduced myself to one of the three sushi chefs, whose name is BJ. I told him I had celiac disease and that I needed to be extremely strict with no cross-contamination of gluten. BJ helped me navigate the menu and I ordered his recommendations and my food was absolutely 100% delicious. I left a very happy camper. The second day, also after my tennis match, I went back to The Ugly Tuna. This time, Kennedy seated me at the sushi counter and BJ recognized me and welcomed me back. As I pondered the menu, he asked if I liked cucumber and I said absolutely! BJ made me the most delicious, fresh, crisp, cucumber salad that was gluten-free. I also had an order of edamame while I waited for my sushi to be prepared. Once again, my sushi was out of this world! Incredibly fresh and delicious. They provided me tamari, which is the gluten-free soy sauce. Their ginger is the best ginger I’ve had anywhere; fresh with a good tart bite and bright flavor. Stef came by (on my return visit she was not my server) to make sure I was enjoying everything! Then, BJ surprised me with a tuna belly sushi and I can’t begin to tell you how divine it was!!! OMG!!! When my server was bringing me my check, I noticed one of the other sushi chefs was bringing out the most gorgeous piece of fresh tuna and I just had to take a picture!!! This is no doubt the real deal! They have the most incredibly fresh fish, accompanied by a genuinely positive vibe and atmosphere!!! The Ugly Tuna Sushi is a locally owned and operated restaurant and I HIGHLY recommend it!!!

The ramen was decent, ordered both offerings tantan and tonkatsu. They were pretty much the same except the tantan came with boiled eggs. Nigiri was exceptional. I'd definitely come for the happy hour rolls, but the ramen flamed out. Good sake bomb deals on the happy hour

Sushi is one of my favorite foods, and Ugly Tuna Sushi does not disappoint! Their so syshi is always fresh...the rice is super soft and the fish is perfect. I like sitting at the bar area to see them make it in front of me. Staff is always friendly and efficient. It's a great vibe and I always like bringing family and friends here. 10 out of 10!

Best sushi in town! Quality, consistent and beautiful presentation. Also, these sushi chefs are fast, kind and dedicated. Great service, great atmosphere, every single time. We love coming here!!!

Food and service were great. They have a happy hour from 4:30-7pm with a huge selection of rolls starting at $4 and cheaper appetizers and some beers. Loved the tonkatsu ramen which was very flavorful. Other standouts included the spicy edamame, poke bowl, and tempura California roll. The shishito peppers were my favorite. Would definitely recommend if you’re craving Japanese food in the west valley. Employees were also extremely courteous and helpful.

Absolutely the BEST sushi and service in town. This is our regular spot and it never fails 💓 The waitress are so friendly and beautiful, we love this place.

Ugly Tuna has remained my favorite Sushi spot in Surprise. The rolls are delicious and the service is fast, efficient, and friendly. When they say spicy for a roll, they do mean it! The tempura combo is a great mix of vegetables and shrimp that are crisp and tasty. I only captured 2 of our 4 rolls but each was great in its own way.

Came here after hearing it mentioned by someone whose wife loves this Sushi restaurant. Thought I’d check them out tonight. Located in a strip mall with a corner location; parking was easy to find. The restaurant affords plenty of seating; especially at the bar where I sat. I started with ordering water and Sprite while perusing their menu. For an appetizer I had their tempura shrimp; and my entree was their dragon roll. The appetizer was good. Six pieces in a light crispy tempura batter, and a dipping sauce(?). A bit unusual, clear and like a broth, and very little flavor. The dragon roll came; served with wasabi and pickled ginger. Very enjoyable roll. Eight pieces with the shrimp tail on either end of the roll. I was hoping to try the yellowfin (2 pcs) and freshwater eel (2 pcs), but their kitchen shuts down at 8:45pm. Something to keep in mind the next time I come here. The restaurant is clean; as are the bathrooms. The menu’s list of sushi and sashimi are plenty, and yet I did not see rainbow trout. A pleasant experience, and better than my other experiences I’ve had in the Phoenix area. Definitely worth the try if you’re in the mood for sushi. My check came to $30.55 after tax.

The food is always fresh and the staff are wonderful. Jeremy and Anika are our regular servers. Your glass never gets empty, they remember our special requirements. They always remember Bella my wonderful service dog. We go with friends twice a month. The restaurant is plain and simple but the sushi is amazing. So simple ambiance is an easy trade off for the fantastic food and service. Strongly recommend this place if you are a sushi lover. If you're new to sushi get Jeremy or Anika to walk you thru your first experience. Great place.

Ok I have come to realize that this place has been a stomach disaster Every time we eat here we get DIARRHEA @4 am Teriyaki sauce needs to be investigated Another revelation is the size of sushi is always smaller when you're NOT at the sushi bar Portions are disproportionately annoying I consulted a friend who is a sushi chef and they shared you get bigger pieces at bar because you can see them and you give them bigger gratuity WRONG STRATEGY as of 2/2/26 we will travel to Scottsdale to get our sushi OMAKASE OUT

My team member suggested sushi, and upon googling on Yelp, we stumbled upon Ugly Tuna Sushi - because who wouldn't want to try a restaurant with a name that sounds like a dare? Luckily, it was close by, parking was a breeze, and the interior was, well, not exactly glamorous. We were seated faster than you can say 'sushi lover'. Our waitress was cute and friendly. We kicked things off with the soft-shell crab appetizer, and I went for the noodles with pork belly. The whole experience was a blast, and the service was spot on.

Saw this location through a search and tried it out. We went for lunch. Not to crowded on a weekday. We were seated right away. My wife got a bento box with pork. It was good. I got the Chirashi sushi. The sushi was fresh and I liked I liked it. Important to have fresh fish. I would come here again.

This is a tradition for the work team to come here when we are all in the surprise AZ area. The octopus salad here is always amazing and is a must try! Their make rolls are always delicious, but always check their specials. They create special rolls every week that pack a ton of flavor. They have alcoholic beverages, a great menu and delicious food. What more can you ask for?

Been wanting to check out this place over a year and never got around to it.. Hubby and i finally went to check it out and Wow so glad we did!!! Restaurant wasn't busy a few customers here and there, noticed quite a few To Go Orders though! We were quickly greeted with a friendly smile and seated right away. Establishment was clean and tables were not sticky. We ordered a few rolls and shared a bowl of Udon and everything tasted perfectly Prices were reasonable and food was fresh!!! Definitely will be returning. Keep up the amazing service guys

My son had a competition in the area so we decided to check this place out instead of eating at a chain fast food place. Right when you enter, the staff is friendly and seated us right away. Typical booth seating or sushi bar options. We had a variety of items by doing the platter option and all the food was delicious. My sashimi tasted very fresh and they serve thick slices and a huge portion with each piece. Our server was very attentive and checked on us often for drink refills. She was so hospitable and sweet. I listened to her explaining the menu to the table next to us and she was so patient with all their questions so they could find the right thing to order. Great job!

Fun sushi place with a cute name. There was a bit of a wait, but it was Friday evening at the dinner rush. Regardless, we were able to get seated pretty quickly. Every roll we had was delicious. Our server was very sweet and helpful with her recommendations...and we ran with all of them. No regrets and we can't wait to go back. The only unfortunate thing was I didn't snap any photos because I was too excited to dive in.

The best sushi in Surprise and the owner, Daniel and his entire team are awesome!! Such kind people!

First time at this restaurant and was thoroughly impressed. You can tell that the fish is fresh and the quality has not been compromised. We tried the special- Hokkaido Scallop, which was AMAZING! We have never tried anything like it. Another favorite was the Uni & the Tuna Tataki Roll. Our kids loved their kid's meal bento box! Came in a cute box with a cover. Service was amazing, food was even better, the ambiance was very hip & we will definitely be back.

There's a reason this place is so popular. I've been coming here for three years and it never disappoints. The rolls are always consistent, perfectly balanced with just the right amount of rice and a great portion of fish. The food is fresh, the service is great and nothing else in this area compares. I'll always keep coming back.

The tempura, sushi and chicken were all delicious! Service was reasonably quick. And fun to watch the sushi being made fresh! We'll be going there again very soon!

Tried for lunch while in town visiting family. The restaurant was clean and the waitress was super nice and accommodating. We got the garlic edamame for an appetizer which was very good in garlic flavor. Then we split a few rolls for the meal. Pricing was decent per roll. I would def come back if in town again.

This place is really good! It's always a great place for sushi! This time I had the bento box my favorite is the spicy California roll and their chicken teriyaki

I'm disappointed to update my review to one star. Over the past three years, I've eaten at or ordered from Ugly Tuna Sushi many times. It's been my go-to sushi restaurant. About a year ago, I noticed a decline in quality and quantity - smaller rolls, thinner slices of fish, inconsistent edamame doneness, less flavor - but it was still good. Last week, however, things took a turn that I can't ignore. I ordered takeout, including an Alaska roll. When I got home and opened the roll container, it had the distinct smell of bleach. I smelled the box, the bag, the other items I ordered to make sure I wasn't mistaken. I wasn't. It was the roll. To be sure I wasn't smelling things, I went online and read that if sushi is prepared on a surface that has recently been cleaned, but not rinsed or allowed to dry completely, the cleaner can transfer to the fish. I obviously couldn't eat it. I sent the restaurant an email through their website and received no response. I would have liked an acknowledgement of my email and, ideally, a refund. Unfortunately for them, they've lost a regular customer.

Ugly Tuna Sushi is my usual go to when I drive into AZ from San Diego as they usually are on point with customer service and food. Unfortunately, this time was not the case! I ordered the Salmon Teriyaki plate since it was something new for me to try. Like I mentioned, we frequent this place quite often when in town. Horrible mistake ordering the Teriyaki salmon! As soon as the plate hit the table, I can already see the salmon was dry and overcooked. I just figured ok, I will just dip the salmon in my soy sauce lemon concoction I made and that will help out the dryness. NOPE!!! On the skin side of the salmon, it was burnt to holy hell! So overly charred it left a very bitter taste that just wouldn't go away. So, I kindly asked the waitress to take the plate back to the kitchen and to please take the item off of my bill. She did so with no hesitation as I was explaining how horrible the salmon was and showing her the burnt side of the salmon. I get these days with inflation and all we all don't have the resources to be wasteful. But, don't serve inedible food to the public and expect them to pay for your mistakes. If the food is not cooked correctly, cook it over again! Don't send trash to a paying customer in hopes they will still eat it.

Love eating here. We've been going here from the soft opening. The staff is great and the sushi is too. Prices have gone up a bit but we are in Arizona and not near an ocean! We are always happy with the meal. The prices make this NOT a once a week visit....more of a once a month for us.

The best sushi in town. I always bring my family here, they make new sushi rolls from time to time. Also you have to try the peach margarita. Service is always excellent.

Great prices, great sushi, quick and friendly service, and good vibes- can't wait to come back!

A hole in the wall feel with high end sushi bar service and quality. My Bento box was delicious and a good value.

Food - 5 Service - 5 Ambiance - 4.5 We went there for lunch. I don't remember the exact rolls we got but they were all excellent. The cucumber salad is to die for, had a mix of cucumber plus seaweed salad, I can probably just get that plus one roll and I'll be very happy.. It is a very large portion as well, can probably eat it on its own and be full. Would definitely return.

Whenever I crave sushi, this conveniently right down the street. Unfortunately, I forgot that they don't open until 4:30, which meant I had to look for another option this time. When I do make it there, my son always orders the chicken katsu, and I love exploring my favorite sushi rolls. The staff is incredibly helpful with recommendations, and I've never been let down by their suggestions. I usually start my meal with a refreshing beer and finish with some hot tea, which perfectly rounds out the experience. The atmosphere is always welcoming, and I can't wait for my next visit to indulge in their delicious offerings. If you're in the area and in need of sushi, this place is definitely worth a stop!

Still hands down our favorite sushi spot - best prices & FRESH fish! Thank you, UGLY TUNA

My husband and I went in a few weeks ago to enjoy some sushi and sake. We have been going here for years and always had the best experience. Unfortunately, this day we were waited on by a server named Annika... or she could have lied about that; I'm not sure. She took our order, brought our drinks, and never came back. My husband ordered a water and a large sake, and I ordered a water as well. She brought one water and our sake, which was not an issue at all. I let her know we would need one more water. She left and didn't return. At this point it had been about fifteen minutes, and our food was brought out by a different server. They basically dropped the food and left. I waited another five minutes and then asked another server who was passing by if they could have our server come back. She came over a minute later with a huge attitude (again, not an issue). I let her know we still needed our water. She rolled her eyes and tried to walk away quickly before I could ask for anything else. I said I also needed a refill for the other water and some unagi sauce, please. She gave me a death stare and walked away. She brought the water and my sauce and didn't say a word. After this, she never came back again. We never got refills or were asked if we were even finished. Other servers brought our check and took our payment. We did see her check up on tables around us multiple times. This was such a terrible experience, and the manager expressed his disappointment in her and apologized, but the dinner was already ruined at that point. How did she know we were finished or didn't want anything else to drink or eat ? It was happy hour at this point... Hopefully she does better moving forward. I won't be going back.

Hands down the best sushi I've ever had and I live in San Diego. I just love coming here, the vibe is so good, the chefs at the bar are amazing, and the food is just beyond incredible. I'm very proud of this place. To the people of Surprise AZ, you have a real gem here!

I honestly really enjoy this restaurant in Surprise. It's one of the few Asian places that tastes legit enough I think? Service here has always been great, and I love that they open so late too. We dined indoors before with a larger party and also have done take out. Both experiences were positive. Their bento box is such a great deal - for around $20, you get really full! Overall, would come here again!

I've been coming to Ugly Tuna ever since it opened during the pandemic. I've been hooked ever since. Just thinking about the sashimi and my mouth waters. The sashimi melts in your mouth like butter. The owner gets his fish from the same restaurant supplier as other sushi restaurants but the way he stores it makes a huge difference. This restaurant is 45 min away from me, one way, but it's worth it. The quality of the sushi at this price point is unheard of. It's Scottsdale quality but Peoria priced. You won't get me to go somewhere else like a Nobu. I can guarantee you that Ugly Tuna is so much better. I always recommend this restaurant to friends who like sushi. One friend of mine came here for dinner twice within a 3 week period. My friends, who are snowbirds from Seattle, have decided this is their favorite restaurant. Hands down. We're all from Seattle originally and definitely know our seafood, Asian food, and are absolute foodies. I recommend that you get the restaurant when they open. Otherwise, you'll be waiting for a table. The owner has definitely used the space wisely to accommodate the crowds but it does fill up quickly. The restaurant closes after lunch for a few hours and then opens for the dinner rush.

Located in a plaza with plenty of parking. Walked in on a Monday evening and we were seated right away. Had a few TVs and different seating arrangements. Shishito peppers - to my surprise these were tempura peppers. I've normally had them cooked over coal/open flame. This was different but welcomed. They were served in a sauce with red onions and topped with Bonito flakes. Easily the best thing we had. Peppers were crunchy, some were spicy and some were not. The sauce was sweet and served as a perfect dipping sauce for the peppers 10/10 Bento with sashimi, Shrimp tempura and CA roll 6 piece nigiri combo with CA roll Fish was fresh and good portion. Shrimp tempura was crunchy. Salad was good and the dressing was really refreshing (compared to creamy based dressings). Only downside was that the bentos didn't come with miso soup. We came from the Bay Area where we have a tonnnn of options for good quality sushi and can say this place really surprised us. The quality was great, service was quick and friendly and the cost was reasonable. Would absolutely visit again next time we are in the area and definitely recommend.

The sushi is amazing, and I highly recommend it. The service is always friendly and attentive.

The Hamachi Roll and rainbow roll were very good. Everything definitely tasted fresh and well prepared. The shishito peppers were fantastic. Lightly coated and crispy, delicious. The edamame was perfectly salted. The Tiramisu Mousse Cake was perfect and a great dessert to end the meal. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was very welcoming. Excited to go back.

Came here on a Friday night. I got seated for two people. Service was okay. We kept asking for ginger and they forgot it twice. We got one speciality roll and the 8 piece Sashimi combo. The sashimi was very thick cut and a bit hard to eat. The roll was good. Our waitress only came around once and it was right when we got our food and we didn't even get to eat it yet. The place is nice inside though. I understand it was busy. I wouldn't be opposed to try this place again but could have been better.

My go to sushi restaurant for Surprise. So happy when I found this place. Delicious and the staff is great too.

Great food and great service. Can't wait to go back and try out more dishes! Has a great variety of rolls and appetizers.

Clean. The ambiance gives it date night vibes. Menu is simple and easy to order from. Ordered some sashimi and WOW! Huge cuts. Really impressed with quality considering the size of the cuts.

Happy Hour at Ugly Tuna is hard to beat! The shishito peppers are absolutely delicious! I get them every time we go. The service is excellent. Entertaining for most, as sports is always on the TVs. Family favorite!

Yummy, yummy, yummy! Super friendly service, tasty sushi every time. There is no consistency issues at all and if you are brave enough, go ahead and try something different from their menu I am just so happy we have this amazing sushi spot here in Surprise We always do a pick up order via phone call.

Best sushi in the area! Quality is always fresh and delicious. Servers are attentive and nice

Sushi was fresh and delicious. The tuna roll was a highlight. Service was quick. Cozy atmosphere. Will visit again.

Been here once before, it's a reliable place. Came in on a Monday night, was seated immediately, and the food came out super quick. The gyoza was crispy and the rolls turned out as expected. Ordered the Itsumi roll and Las Vegas roll. The salmon was great quality and I'm not usually a fan of deep fried rolls but theirs was good! About $40 for the two signature rolls and an app. Only thing I would say is that I wish they had more signature rolls with a filling other than crab mix.

Thalia was our server! Food is amazing as always and she was wonderful. This is one of my favorite places to go in Surprise. Best quality sushi and price. Ask for Thalia!

The food here is delicious I mostly get the beef yakasoba and it does not disappoint. The service is always great and friendly. Definitely would recommend this restaurant although I don't really eat sushi but looks delicious.

Still my favorite place!!! I'm in there at least 2-3 a month. Can't get enough!! Now they have Uni and it's delicious. A delicacy not for the faint of heart. Don't bother trying it. It's goes fast and I want it all to my self! Stick To California Rolls and Warm sake! lol

Love ugly tuna! Avocado roll and chicken and yakisoba are my favorites. We do love their prices as well Sometimes service could be better but we will still continue to go

Definitely will be back! Great vibe, service and dishes. Fish is fresh and sushi rolls were fantastic

Amazing fresh and delicious very tasty to the palate stands out to the rest recommend you try this one

Always Delicious and fresh. Great service! First come, first serve, they don't take reservations.

New to the area and we have already been here twice. Service is good. Sushi is fresh and cold! As it should be. Flavor combos are great. I was very impressed with the amount of scallops on the dynamite roll! But even more impressed how they weren't fishy and cooked perfectly. Huge fan of this place. Definitely our new go to sushi spot

Food and service excellent! We had bluefin sashimi and a few rolls. All fresh and delicious! We'll be back for sure! Our server was attentive and very friendly!

This is my favorite sushi restaurant and the best sushi chefs. Service is mostly controlled by the order volume. The Resturant is clean and the staff makes it very enjoyable even if the service is slow due to multiple orders. The place is relatively calm and any questions are answered with good information.