Utah Bites

MORE SOY TO ENJOY: A Visit to Holladay’s Mint Tapas and Sushi

For a number of years now I’ve been following one of my favorite Utah chefs – Batsaikhan “Soy” Ariunbold around, as he moved from restaurant to restaurant. I first fell in love with his cuisine at Rice Basil in Holladay, before he opened his namesake restaurant, Soy’s Sushi Bar & Grill in Murray, and then…

|


For a number of years now I’ve been following one of my favorite Utah chefs – Batsaikhan “Soy” Ariunbold around, as he moved from restaurant to restaurant. I first fell in love with his cuisine at Rice Basil in Holladay, before he opened his namesake restaurant, Soy’s Sushi Bar & Grill in Murray, and then Blue Marlin in Sandy, the name of which was changed last year to Mint Tapas and Sushi. And now, there is even more Soy to enjoy as he recently opened a second Mint location, signaling his return to Holladay. 

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. And although the Mint staff was masked up, almost none of the customers were. We chose to dine at the spacious sushi bar rather than elbow-to-elbow with strangers at one of the tables, which tend to be close together. 

Torched Wagyu Beef

The new Mint is very modern in terms of both decor and cuisine, with contemporary dishes like Chilean Sea Bass with tempura green beans and bell pepper puree; Pork Belly with dill gravy and pickled papaya; and torched Wagyu Beef with green onion puree, avocado, and pickled papaya. 

Sablefish

There are close to 30 small plate (tapas) options at Mint, so you could easily construct a meal just of those. One of my favorite Mint dishes is Jalapeño Hamachi ($12), which is sashimi-style yellowtail belly served with a luscious jalapeño vinaigrette. However, we wanted to branch out and try some new things and so we started with Sablefish ($11), which is torched black cod served with a delicious puree of green onion and garlic chile oil. 

Grilled Scallops

Next up was a small plate order of three Grilled Scallops ($11). The texture of the scallops was wonderful and I learned that Mint gets their scallops from Hokkaido in Japan. Hokkaido scallops from the Pacific Ocean are popular to use for sashimi since they are sweeter and more tender than Atlantic sea scallops. They are harvested and processed without any chemical additives. At Mint, those scrumptious scallops are lightly grilled, served with scallion puree and habanero sauce, topped with tempura crisps.

6-Piece Chef’s Choice Nigiri

The nigiri selection at Mint isn’t quite as robust as at many sushi restaurants, but we still enjoyed a Chef’s Choice 6-piece nigiri platter ($13) with two pieces each of yellowtail, salmon and big eye tuna. Other nigiri choices were tobiko, sablefish, eel and walu. We applauded the fact that our nigiri came with freshly grated wasabi alongside – the real deal, not the wasabi paste that most sushi eateries offer. 

Mint offers a selection of wine, sake, beer, cocktails, tea and soft drinks. The wine list is fairly limited, but there are some good options such as Whispering Angel Rosé from Provence and Meiomi Pinot Noir from Coastal California. 

Apollo Roll

Our favorite specialty roll at Mint is called a Halo roll ($11), which is white tuna and cucumber topped with avocado, jalapeño, tempura crisps and jalapeño vinaigrette. But again, we were trying new things and so we opted for an Apollo roll ($12). This was a melange of spicy tuna and shshito peppers topped with seared walu, tempura crisps, and sweet chile sauce. At each of Soy’s restaurants I’ve always been impressed by the management, servers, and kitchen teams he brings together. Staffers like Baki, Inor and Enk are true professionals and run a very tight ship.

Mahi Mahi

Following the Apollo roll we were still a bit peckish and so we returned to the small plates menu for another few bites. I’m not used to seeing tomatoes on most Asian menus and so we had to give the Mahi Mahi ($11) a try. I’m glad we did as it was quite interesting. It was honey-glazed mahi mahi with heirloom tomatoes and chunks of avocado, plus those ubiquitous tempura crisps – a sweet and salty flavor combination that was very unique. I don’t normally think of fish and tomatoes as going together, but I’m starting to. 

Noodle Tuna

We finished off the night at Mint with an oddly named dish called Noodle Tuna ($12). I asked if there were rice noodles or something like that in the dish. Nope. It’s called Noodle Tuna because it consists of raw sashimi-grade tuna that is called into long strands that look like noodles. It is essentially a very tasty version of tuna tartare – big eye tuna with avocado puree, tobiko and ponzu sauce, garnished with yummy microgreens. 

I can’t say that I’m surprised that Soy has done it again – created another hit restaurant with impeccable food and service. I’ve admired the work of him and his talented team for many years now and the new Holladay location of Mint Tapas and Sushi is a new gem of the Utah dining scene.       

Photos by Ted Scheffler

Culinary quote of the week:

“Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Unless he doesn’t like sushi, then you also have to teach him to cook.” — Auren Hoffman

FOR MORE RESTAURANT REVIEWS GO HERE.

THIS CONTENT IS FROM UTAH BITES NEWSLETTER.

Subscribe to get the latest Utah Bites news and reviews



Food writer Ted SchefflerOriginally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine & travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: click on their logos to visit their website

[nextcode_gallery id_gallery=”4″]

 

, ,


Join our newsletter.
Stay informed.


  • Le Depot Brasserie Brings Classic French Dining to Park City

    Tucked inside Park City’s historic train depot, Le Depot Brasserie revives the spirit of a true French brasserie—warm light, rich flavors, and a touch of Parisian charm. But behind the scenes? A grueling two-year battle with history itself. Every floorboard lifted revealed a new challenge, every fixture a bureaucratic hurdle. Yet, after relentless setbacks, the doors have finally opened. What awaits inside is nothing short of extraordinary—silky foie gras, golden steak frites, and a seafood tower fit for royalty. This is the French dining experience Utah has been waiting for.


  • March 2025: St. Paddy’s Feasts, Fine Wine, and Sugar House Eats

    March 2025 in Salt Lake City is packed with flavor and festivities: St. Patrick’s Day feasts at Feldman’s, a GALLICA wine dinner at Franck’s, and the grand opening of Sugar House Station, the city’s newest culinary hotspot.


  • Water Canyon Winery’s 2023 Petite Sirah: The Boldest Local Utah Wine Yet

    I thought it would be just another bottle of wine, until I opened it. One twist of the cap, and the deep, bold aroma of dark berries and spice filled the air, pulling me in. I had planned on margaritas, but this wine refused to be ignored. By the end of the night, the bottle was empty, the conversation still flowing, and I couldn’t help but wonder, had my husband just brought home Utah’s most remarkable red?


  • Epic Culinary Events in Utah: Garden Alchemy, Chef Takeovers & Wine Dinners

    Springtime in Utah means more than just blooming flowers—it’s a season of culinary magic. From garden feasts inspired by the four elements to chef takeovers that push the boundaries of fine dining, these unique experiences will make you see food in a whole new light. Get ready to be surprised, delighted, and completely captivated.