The Best Sushi in Sandy Utah: How Chef Soy Built Utah's Most Innovative Tapas and Sushi Empire at Mint

The scent of fresh ginger and ponzu sauce drifts through the bustling dining room as servers weave between tables carrying plates that look more like art installations than dinner. At Mint Tapas and Sushi, "The Wagyu beef melted in your mouth. The scallops had just a kick of Jalapeno taste. It was mildly spicy but a great mixture of flavors," writes one delighted customer who discovered what locals have known for years—this isn't just the best sushi in Sandy Utah, it's where culinary boundaries disappear entirely. With five thriving locations across the Wasatch Front, Chef Batsaikhan "Soy" Ariunbold has quietly built one of Utah's most innovative restaurant empires, one galaxy-themed roll and sustainable scallop at a time.

From Las Vegas Dreams to Utah's Sushi Revolution

"Chef Soy, the creator and executive chef behind our menu, has always been fueled by a deep passion for food and a relentless desire to perfect his craft. His journey began in the bustling kitchens of Las Vegas, where he trained behind the scenes at some of the city's most renowned restaurants." But Utah called to Soy in a way that the glittering Strip never could. His first venture, Rice Basil in Holladay, became the foundation for what would evolve into Mint Tapas and Sushi—a concept that dared to merge Japanese precision with Spanish small plates tradition.

The name "Soy" fits him perfectly, not just as a shortened version of Batsaikhan, but because like the versatile ingredient that enhances every dish it touches, Chef Soy has a gift for amplifying flavors most Utah diners never knew they were missing. "From the beginning, Chef Soy wanted to expand the palettes of Utahns, which—no offense—he calls 'bland.' 'I wanted to bring in a new thing, so that's when I started doing tapas,'" he explains with the kind of directness that makes you trust him immediately.

When Rice Basil was demolished, most chefs would have found another space and replicated their success. Soy saw opportunity where others saw setback. He opened Soy's Sushi Bar & Grill in Murray, then Blue Marlin in Sandy, before ultimately rebranding as Mint Tapas and Sushi—a name that reflects both freshness and the fusion philosophy that makes these restaurants so distinctive.

The Mint Tapas and Sushi Utah Experience: Where Art Meets Appetite

Walking into any Mint location feels like discovering a secret that's been hiding in plain sight. The contemporary styling and bursts of color aren't just Instagram-worthy—they signal that something different is happening here. "The food we had here exceeded some of the best we have had at restaurants 4x the price," raves a customer who traveled from California's Napa Valley, and you start to understand why reservations at the Sandy location book up weeks in advance.

The menu reads like a love letter to both Japanese tradition and global inspiration. Take the Jalapeño Hamachi, "sashimi-style yellowtail belly served with a luscious jalapeño vinaigrette"—a dish that somehow captures the ocean's minerality while delivering a heat that builds slowly, perfectly. Or the Hokkaido scallops, sourced directly from Japan's Pacific waters, "harvested and processed without any chemical additives" and grilled to achieve that perfect caramelization while maintaining their sweet, tender interior.

But it's the wagyu sushi that really sets Mint apart in Utah's competitive sushi scene. "Try the tapas Wagyu beef, scallops Jalapeno, Shishito Peppers, every roll we had was unbelievable," writes one reviewer, capturing the exact moment when premium ingredients meet technique so precise it borders on alchemy. The beef literally melts against your palate, rich and buttery in a way that transforms the very idea of what sushi can be.

The galaxy-themed specialty rolls—Halo, Apollo, Vulcan—aren't just clever marketing. "I usually do not like cream cheese in my sushi rolls, but we had the Vulcan roll which was the right blend of cream cheese and topped with small scallops," admits one formerly skeptical customer. Each roll represents Chef Soy's ability to take familiar elements and recombine them into something completely unexpected yet somehow inevitable.

Sustainability Meets Innovation in Utah's Food Scene

What you can't see from your table—but taste in every bite—is Mint's commitment to sustainable sourcing that puts many larger restaurant groups to shame. "We prioritize sourcing locally and seasonally to support sustainable practices, reduce our carbon footprint, and offer the freshest, most flavorful dishes. We also minimize food waste by utilizing every part of our ingredients, ensuring that nothing goes to waste."

This isn't just feel-good marketing copy. When Chef Soy sources his salmon belly from sustainable fisheries or works with local Utah producers for seasonal ingredients, he's making choices that directly impact both flavor and environmental responsibility. Partner Ainur's "exceptional business insight, operational leadership, and commitment to sustainability helped transform their shared vision into reality"—turning what could have been just another sushi restaurant into a model for how modern dining can honor both tradition and future responsibility.

The weekly 10-course tasting menu at the Cottonwood Heights location ($70 per person) becomes a laboratory for this philosophy. "He changes the dishes every week, and the most successful small plates earn a permanent spot on the menu." It's here that you might encounter experimental combinations like walu ceviche with apple and green onion, or that signature ube ice cream made from purple yam that somehow tastes like vanilla and pistachio had a beautiful purple baby.

Five Locations, One Extraordinary Vision Across Utah

Sandy (8391 S 700 E): The flagship location where it all began, offering dinner service with outdoor seating and the full tapas experience. "It's the second Mint location (the first is 8400 s 700 e in Sandy) and family friendly but with a cool vibe, delicious food, and good prices," notes a longtime customer who's watched the empire grow.

Holladay Cottonwood Heights (3158 E 6200 S): Home to the famous weekly tasting menu, this location perfectly balances Chef Soy's return to his Utah roots with his most innovative culinary experiments.

Holladay Village Plaza (4640 S Holladay Blvd): The newest addition to the Holladay area, "bringing together the perfect blend of atmosphere, music, service, and, of course, unforgettable food."

Sugar House (2121 S McClelland Street): "Our customers are delighted by our restaurant's elegant and contemporary ambiance, which perfectly complements the high-quality food they savor throughout the evening."

Draper (519 E 12300 S): The latest expansion, bringing Mint's "signature fusion of bold flavors, artful sushi, and elevated cocktails" to Utah County.

Each location maintains the same exacting standards while adapting to its neighborhood's unique character. Whether you're grabbing lunch in Holladay or settling in for a leisurely dinner in Sandy, you're getting the full Mint experience: sustainable ingredients, innovative preparations, and service that treats every meal like a celebration.

Planning Your Visit to Mint Tapas and Sushi

Best times to visit: "Visiting Mint Tapas and Sushi last Saturday evening, you'd never know there was a pandemic going on. The place was bustling—packed full of enthusiastic diners." Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend dinner service.

What to order: Start with the Jalapeño Hamachi and those famous Hokkaido scallops. "Make sure to try the jalapeño hamachi and the scallops. Wow." For rolls, the Halo and Vulcan consistently earn raves. Don't skip the wagyu tapas if you're feeling indulgent.

Insider knowledge: "I just got to say have the Hamachi with Japenos save the sauce and pour it over the edamame. You will be so happy." Also, several locations offer lunch service with miso soup and steamed rice for $10-12—an incredible value for this quality.

Hours vary by location: Sandy is dinner-only (5pm-midnight weekdays, 5pm-9pm Sunday), while most other locations offer both lunch and dinner service.

Follow on Instagram: @mintsushiutah for seasonal menu updates and those irresistible food photos.

In a state known more for fry sauce than fresh fish, Chef Soy has quietly built something remarkable: a restaurant group that honors Japanese tradition while embracing innovation, serves some of the best sushi in Utah while maintaining fierce sustainability standards, and manages to feel both utterly contemporary and timelessly welcoming. "Hands down the best sushi place in SLC and less expensive than Tsunami also," writes one customer, and after experiencing the careful balance of flavors, textures, and artistry that defines every Mint meal, you'll understand why this Mongolian-born chef has become such an essential part of Utah's evolving food story.

Ready to experience Utah's most innovative sushi and tapas? Visit any Mint Tapas and Sushi location and discover why locals have been keeping this secret for themselves.