This Buy-Two-Get-One-Free Sushi Deal in Sunnyvale Is Easy Money

Let’s face it – sushi is great, but it’s not too gentle on the wallet. It’s a more manageable splurge for someone living on their own, but if you’ve got a whole family to feed, just forget it.

Growing up as the oldest of four, sushi was a birthday treat (if that) for my family, especially because there were little ones with undeveloped palates. But that all changed when Thai Square Sushi’s Sunnyvale location opened up around 10 years ago.

This place was a game-changer for us because its buy two, get one free deal on specialty rolls Monday through Thursday is nearly unbeatable, and it hasn’t gone anywhere. Three quality eight-piece rolls for around $40 after tax is a steal at a bad sushi spot, and the fact that everything is fresh has made this a staple for my family’s lunches ever since.

It is worth mentioning that while the food is outstanding, especially given the price, this location has had issues with being understaffed since the aftermath of COVID. Before we even got in the car, my parents warned me of the long wait times and lack of drink refills they’d experienced during their last few times there. Luckily, that wasn’t the case this time around.

We walked in for lunch on a Tuesday and received excellent service. Everything came out quickly, tasted great, and we did indeed get our drinks refilled. There were only three other parties dining, so maybe we just happened to pick the right time to show up.

After ordering, the coconut chicken soup and salad came out first as part of my mom’s teriyaki steak bento box. Admittedly, I shot her a questioning look when she opted for that over the dumpling soup, but it only took one taste for me to understand why; even the smallest sip is bursting with a robust, savory flavor highlighted by a hint of sweetness courtesy of the coconut. I’ve never been a fan of coconuts in any shape or form, but I’ll definitely be ordering this from now on whenever I see it on a menu.

Next came our appetizers: a plate of gyoza (pan-fried dumplings) and an order of fried soft-shell crab. The gyoza was solid, a generous blend of pork and chicken, but the soft-shell crab was the standout. It had that perfect fried fish taste: light, airy, and ironically, not too fishy.

The dim overhead lighting and colorful decor make for a relaxed, fun atmosphere fit for sushi enjoyment. There’s also a bar with cool hanging colored lights next to a section of a red clay tile roof that helps tie the theme of the room together.

It’s not unusual to hear a few K-R&B bangers or some throwback Japanese city pop in an Asian restaurant – I’ve certainly Shazam’d my fair share – but that’s not how Thai Square plays it. Typically, we’re fighting the urge to sing along to the dad rock anthems that fill the room. Think Creed’s “One Last Breath” or Staind’s “Right Here,” stuff you’d find in your uncle’s old CD case.

The bento box arrived before our rolls and came with steamed rice (another questionable choice from mom), two fried dumplings and a California roll. The steak was medium-cooked and very tender with a slightly smoky flavor. The teriyaki takes a backseat and acts as a nice undertone to the steak’s innate richness.

The dumplings were lightly fried for a nice crisp bite and stuffed full of chicken. The California rolls were about par for the course, nothing special.

As for sushi, we got the King Tuna Roll, the Lucky Roll and the Angry Dragon Roll. There are more than 20 specialty rolls to choose from, and by this point, we’ve worked our way through the list and have never been too upset with what we received.

The King Tuna Roll had spicy tuna, avocado and tempura flakes inside for a nice, balanced taste and texture, and a piece of seared tuna on top that had a satisfyingly smoky, fatty taste. The Lucky Roll had what I’d deem a tolerable amount of cream cheese (though both of my parents disagreed) that pairs nicely with its tempura salmon, crab and crawfish. Its Sriracha mayo and tangy green sauce helped make the cream cheese more palatable and enhanced the roll’s flavor.

Our favorite was the Angry Dragon Roll, which was no surprise because we order it just about every time we walk in. The shrimp tempura and avocado filling work well with the Sriracha mayo, eel sauce and lobster salad on top, while the tempura flakes add the perfect amount of crunch. Slap some wasabi on that sucker, and it’s ready to go.

My dad always gets their seafood soup, which I noticed was slightly viscous, but don’t let that scare you off. It has a mellow, relaxing flavor that’s nice to sip in between bites of sushi. Compared to everything else on the table, the broth wasn’t anything to write home about, but my dad loves the generous portion of crab, scallops, salmon, shrimp and red snapper, and always has plenty to take home after.

At some point during the meal, my mom actually complained that their rolls were too big. “Sushi should be manageable; you shouldn’t have to cover your mouth after you take a bite,” she says. I looked over to my father for his take, and he just shrugged and happily popped another one in his mouth.

It’s safe to say that if having too much food is your only complaint, the restaurant must not be half bad. Their non-sushi entrees, like the hibachi chicken or their Thai curry, are worth ordering as well, and their ramen has always been an easy option for younger mouths that aren’t quite ready for sushi yet.

Thai Square has been a reliable, easy go-to sushi spot for my family for several years now, and it’s likely to stay that way.

Thai Square 200 S. Collins Road, Sunnyvale. Monday – Thursdays 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 4:30-10 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 4:30-10:30 p.m.; Saturday 12 – 10:30 p.m.; Sunday Closed