First Bite: Trapper's Sushi on Tacoma's 6th Avenue

By Adrienne Kuehl on July 8, 2013

Trapper's Sushi opened its sixth location on July 2 on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue in what was most recently Overtime Bar and Grill. The fairly small restaurant space lends itself nicely to a sushi bar, and the remodel is clean and modern, with metal accents and a long sushi bar with stools where the former bar once stood.

I stopped in for happy hour - one of the best times to come, daily 3 to 6 p.m. With the purchase of any drink, you receive $4, $5, $7 long rolls - different rolls depending on price - and appetizers less than $4, which are all deep discounts on their normal prices.

The food at Trapper's Sushi is best described as Americanized, with complex combinations and large portions.

The vegetable tempura ($3 happy hour, $6 regular) was a good-sized portion with a nice variety of vegetables, but the tempura coating was a little on the thick side. Their long rolls are larger, traditional sliced sushi rolls, and hand rolls are smaller and cone-shaped that you eat with your hands.  The asparagus roll ($6.50) had tempura asparagus and avocado, and is satisfying enough for a meal, and the spicy tuna long roll ($7) had a good kick to it. If you're looking for large rolls with all the bells and whistles, the Bonney Lake roll ($10.50) was tempura-fried and topped in spicy crab, and was a little too heavy for me. They have nigiri, too, and the yellowtail ($4.50) was fresh and a lighter option than some of the rolls.

It didn't feel like the restaurant had just opened, which is always a good sign. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. If you're looking for more good deals, they have an all-you-can-eat lunch for $15.95 every day except for Wednesday, all-you-can-eat dinner Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, kids eat free on Sunday, and on Wednesday, you can get any three rolls for $20.

TRAPPER'S SUSHI, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3118 Sixth Ave, Tacoma, 253.302.4025