Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Happy Express

    4.1 (213 reviews)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Happy Express Photos

    Business Info

    HAPPY EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Happy Express

    Recommended Reviews - Happy Express

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Special rolls sushi menu
    Jeanelle S.

    Dinner time!!! It seemed a little quiet because there were no one else is dining in but us . However, we noticed most people do take outs . I deducted one star because they were mopping near where we were eating and the smell of the chemical is pretty strong and we have a baby and a kid with us. It still burning through my nostrils even when we left and gave a slight headache. We had to put the kids inside the car , as soon as we were done eating. Although, the lady that helped us was pretty nice and helped us with our to go bag. Also, make sure to double check what you order before paying because, they ended up adding up another sushi order that I didn't want they probably misheard but other than that I just hope they won't start mopping when there is still customer nearby, because the place isn't the biggest so the smell can be trapped in for awhile.

    Shishi W.

    It's an interesting restaurant with a wide variety of food on the menu. I specifically came here for the sushi but I was sadly disappointed, the rice to protein ratio was horrible. The rice was plain and tasteless. They didn't even put any rice vinegar or seasoning to the rice and the protein was very little to barely taste and top it all off, even after ordering almost eight different types of sushis, they only gave me two packs of soy sauce with no chopsticks or cutlery. I don't know about any other thing on the menu, but I would not recommend the sushi here

    I think this was a 10" diameter bowl of "Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup"
    Scott B.

    I stopped in for lunch, wanted to try something different, something Korean, maybe a "soon" (tofu soup). It was a hunch - they feature Chinese and Japanese (but not Korean). But I believe the new owners (as of 2 years ago) are Korean... so I asked. They didn't have "soon", but they have "Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup" for $16.95. I gambled and WON - the best kimchee based soup I've had in a long time, and twice the size of any "soon" I've ever had. It was served with the typical Chinese plastic spoon and chop sticks. The waitress immediately apologized and offered a fork - recognizing most Americans can't use chop sticks, and especially with noodles! I fooled her, "no fork!", I said. After 10-15 spoonfuls of soup, and many pieces of cabbage, the seafood and noodles appeared - oyster, octopus, shrimp, imitation crab (which is fish), and a huge mussel. And beneath, a generous bed of stringed noodles! Oh My God was this a delicious meal! (see the pics below). I reviewed the previous owners and this was an equal 5-Star experience. Try the soup if you have any Korean food memories on your palate!

    Barely any teriyaki sauce. Rice was very dry and salad container only filled half way. New standards I guess.
    V A.

    Happy Express: This use to be a good spot for teriyaki. But the last two times I've gotten the chicken teriyaki it was so bland and not good. There was no sauce on the chicken except at the bottom of the container. Normally the chicken is glazed with sauce. The rice was dry and salad container was half full. The prices have gone up which is fine, but to skimp out on quality and normal portioning is not good for business. Anyways, I forgot to take a picture right away since I thought my meal would be fine. It definitely wasn't. I wish the business luck as I don't want anyone to fail. But, I will be going to other teriyaki spots in south Auburn. The prices are higher, but the food and quantity is excellent. EDIT: Pic of my teriyaki wit barely any sauce on it. Only ate some of it. I've never seen such lack of sauce. In some cases they give you a small container of extra sauce.

    a person holding a plate of food
    Lauren S.

    We love an update!! Happy to report that Happy Express is still doing a phenomenal job of providing fresh, delicious food. I ordered via Yelp today and went with an Ahi Tuna Poké Bowl rather than sushi rolls. So. Satisfied. My order was delivered quickly and easily, can't complain there. You're given the option of greens or rice as the bed of the bowl - I went with rice. Greens, avocado, cucumber, shoyu, and ahi tuna complete the bowl, and then I asked for a side of their spicy mayo to put on top. I can't resist the stuff. Delicious. The whole bowl tasted fresh and was the perfect lunch for a warm Friday afternoon. Run, don't walk, to try out Happy Express! Can't speak highly enough about their delicious food.

    Under new management, new menu (4/14/23)
    Monica S.

    As of 4/14/23, it is under new management with a drastically changed menu. They no longer offer sushi (in fact the sushi bar is completely gone) and they have no more beef, only lamb. You can see two business trucks parked outside that show you what the new owners previously specialized in. Prices have also changed.

    William L.

    I came by here for a quick lunch in the Auburn area and we ordered two of their teriyaki specials - teriyaki chicken & chicken katsu and teriyaki chicken & Mongolian beef. The chicken katsu was very crispy and juicy and was better than their teriyaki chicken, which was a little dry. The Mongolian beef was good but on the sweeter side. At first I was a little upset that even though we were dining in, they served our food in takeout containers and disposable utensils, but it was really convenient when we packed the leftovers to go. We didn't notice their extensive selection of sushi options until after we ordered and noticed an entire separate menu for Japanese options, so we might come back to try those a different time.

    Butter Chicken and Garlic Chicken

    The service was quick, food was full of flavor, the location is low key and was not busy, very clean! Leave satisfied EVERY SINGLE TIME

    Fried Crab Rangoon - 4pcs
    Fran T.

    Called twice to order and no answer believe it or not they called me back to take my order they initially said they couldn't deliver due to the icy weather. So I decided to pick up and placed my order. When I went to leave I couldn't get out due to the ice in the parking lot of the apartment where I was staying, I called them back and told them that I wasn't able to get out and had slipped up on the ice. They then volunteered to bring it to me since I was unable to get out. That in an of itself earns 5 stars. The food as you can see from the pictures is quite a lot of food and it was very tasty. The sesame chicken was flavorful and the fried rice had a good taste, not salty. The steamed broccoli was perfectly steamed. Would definitely recommend this establishment the food was great and the customer service exceptional.

    Sauced beef short rib mmm good
    Rich S.

    Had to knock it down the 3 stars for completely removing beef from the menu and replacing it with lamb. Very odd for a Teriyaki spot. Indian cuisine sure, but the beef short ribs were why I came here often.

    Honey garlic chicken. Used to be amazing, now it's overcooked, not crispy, and underwhelming flavored. A waste of money.

    My family used to love this place, however under new management the food has changed. Our favorite dish was honey garlic chicken, it was tender with a crispy outer coating and a sticky sweet honey garlic sauce. Now it is over cooked, not crispy, not sweet and underwhelming flavored. When i told the new owner, he said it was because the previous owner was using dark meat. I told him that i never had it with darkmeat amd he told me that I could believe it or not. He did not offer to remake it, return my money or do anything to "fix" it. So I paid $16 for a dish the was left on the table with only one bite missing. We will NEVER be back. That doesn't even cover the mediocre teriyaki and egg drop soup. Don't waste your money, there are much better choices in Auburn.

    Chicken Teriyaki Chicken
    Yana S.

    Service was great and place was clean. Food was mediocre though, ordered chicken teriyaki, spicy chicken teriyaki and a California roll. Spent quite a bit for the quality of the food.

    White tuna & salmon nigiri in the front. Yellowtail and sweet shrimp in the back.

    See all

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of V A.
    23
    77
    90

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 1
    Love this 13
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Great place!! Love going here with the family. Food is always excellent and fresh!! Highly recommended

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Fran T.
    40
    135
    236

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rich S.
    0
    50
    53

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yana S.
    0
    11
    17

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of D W.
    0
    18
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    they didn't let us dine in and the chef wasn't there so we could only order off of half of the menu, also isn't very nice.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sam Y.
    9
    29
    49

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ria O.
    37
    8
    17

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tyler F.
    19
    10
    13

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Donjie C.
    330
    146
    461

    4 years ago

    The food is good, the people are great, what else can I San. I would definitely recommend them

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vita M.
    0
    24
    33

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Justin M.
    60
    31
    10

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Happy Express

    Is this business open for limited dine in services?

    We've only ordered takeout. When we were there awhile ago they didn't have any dine in option. You… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Nori Sushi

    Nori Sushi

    4.6
    (188 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    If you want sushi and udon noodles then this hit the spot!!…read more The location is near the salon and 7/11 so it kinda looks like it's Hiding in between. Once you find the spot there's no turning back lol. The inside of the place has an amazing atmosphere, the guys that usually make the sushi are friendly and will answer any questions you have. My cousin and I would always come here when we're craving for sushi or whenever we just want to treat ourselves with good food once in a while.

    I (45 year old Black woman) had dinner with my date (54 year old White man). The moment we sat…read moredown, the server seemed annoyed. She kept looking at me in a judgmental manner, and seemed annoyed whenever I asked her a question. When it was time to order drinks, she sarcastically asked me 'would you like an apple juice?' Yes, as a beautiful Black woman, | look much younger than my 45 years! However, I did not go out to a dining experience to be judged. POOR SERVICE!! I (45 year old Black woman) had dinner with my date (54 year old White man). The moment we sat down, the server seemed annoyed. She kept looking at me in a judgmental manner, and seemed annoyed whenever I asked her a question. When it was time to order drinks, she sarcastically asked me 'would you like an apple juice?' Yes, as a beautiful Black woman, I look much younger than my 45 years! However, I did not go out to a dining experience to be judged. POOR SERVICE!! UPDATE: I received a response from someone who identified themselves as the owner/manager. This person took no accountability for the poor behavior of their staff. I was told (among other dissatisfied responses) that they spoke with the server. Not once did they ask where we were seated, so how could you know where we were seated, to know whom exactly of your staff to have that talk with? Very poor encounter from management, and I see why their employees are no different!!

    Photos
    Nori Sushi
    Small Sushi Boat
    Small Sushi Boat
    Special Order

O-Toro HandRoll
Maguro / Bluefin Tuna HandRoll

    See all

    Special Order O-Toro HandRoll Maguro / Bluefin Tuna HandRoll
    Sushi Kaunta

    Sushi Kaunta

    4.8
    (211 reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $$$

    I almost don't want to leave a review, space is already limited. :)…read more The fish is so fresh, the chef tells you exactly where everything is from, and freshly grated wasabi. I always just get sashimi, so I can't speak to anything else. Since it is a one man operation it is reservation only and no take out. Very much worth it to take the effort and make a reservation. You will need to preorder with your reservation so he has exactly the right amount of product, I do like that aspect of it.

    We finally tried this place and it didn't disappoint! It's reservations only and it seems like they…read morebook out daily. You do have to put a $40/person deposit but it gets refunded once you pay for your meal. There is street parking available. The place is very small which makes sense since he only serve 1 group at a time. This might be my personal opinion but Because it's only one group, I hoped it would have been a little more interactive, like the chef could have explained his technique and skills while we were waiting or at least let us see what he was doing. We sat at the bar table but it was blocked by a counter so we couldn't see anything and he didn't talk and we had to wait around 15 minutes for our first dish. Foodwise: 10 piece nigiri --- love the different fishes that was available and all of them has their own distinct texture and flavor. My husband who loves nigiri said it was a fun experience. Scallop inari - scallop was cream and soft and smooth, I think the sweetness was a little overpowering though. Seabass crudo --- for how little there was of the fish itself, there was a lot of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. After finishing the fish, I was hoping to have some bread to eat more of the oil. Special maguro don--- I love this dish - the fish melts in your mouth, the rice went well with the fish and the wasabi was delicious. Price was also very reasonable for the quality of fish. Overall, it was a good experience, I definitely would recommend

    Photos
    Main counter (8/17/24)
    Main counter (8/17/24)
    Chef's Choice Nigiri Set $45 for 12 pcs
    Chef's Choice Nigiri Set $45 for 12 pcs
    Sashimi Donburi - Premium Kaison Don half serving

    See all

    Sashimi Donburi - Premium Kaison Don half serving
    Sushi Daruma Ya

    Sushi Daruma Ya

    4.4
    (48 reviews)
    9.1 mi
    $$

    After my stint with Mia & More Viet Street Food restaurant, I decided to pay a visit here for a…read moreroll of sushi. This place was empty when I paid a visit because it was on a Monday, so I don't know how they are on a weekend. Anyway, the one lone chef behind the counter greeted me and asked what I'd like for my order. I decided to settle down for a Red Dragon Roll. It took quite a bit to wait for the roll because the chef made it fresh! Additionally, note that this restaurant is small and very casual. There are couple tables out there for people, who want to sit outside of the restaurant.

    Please take my review with a grain of salt as this was the only sushi place open in all of Kent on…read moreThanksgiving Day, which is the date I went to visit. I had placed a pickup order through GrubHub, and was quoted 30 minutes. It's located inside the Great Wall shopping mall, so parking was relatively easy to find and I was able to stay dry while waiting since the little store was indoors. Upon my arrival, they did not have my order and I waited another 15 minutes for my order to be ready. The poor staff was running around and rushed. It's also a very, very tiny place, with a narrow 4 person counter behind the line, and only 2 tables inside. They had placed some tables outside as well for patrons. I love menus that allow me to order varied items but also basic items like sashimi, and this place had both. They make a lot of different hand rolls that are packaged individually, as well as what's called a sushi donut (sashimi layered over donut shaped rice ball. It was such a fun and different way to eat sashimi. The food was fresh and really satisfying. The prices are pretty good too.

    Photos
    Sushi Daruma Ya
    Rainbow roll.
    Rainbow roll.
    Daruma Platter (Small - 30 pc)

    See all

    Daruma Platter (Small - 30 pc)
    8 Asian Restaurant

    8 Asian Restaurant

    3.5
    (118 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Everything we ordered was super delicious! Food came out hot and wait was decent. We ordered a lot…read moreof food and everything came out in a timely manner. Service was great and food wasn't too expensive. Restaurant was clean and not too noisy.

    My husband and I stopped in for lunch on a Saturday, and luckily it wasn't very busy, so we were…read moreseated pretty quickly. I've also been here on Saturday evenings when the wait has been 30 minutes to an hour, so I think we just picked a good time to visit. We started with the spicy cucumber salad (which I somehow forgot to take a picture of), and then my husband ordered the General Tso's chicken while I had the beef and broccoli. The server was very friendly, and all of the food came out fresh, hot, and tasted really good. I especially appreciated that everything was served nice and hot. The biggest downside for me was the price. I understand it's inside the casino, but it still felt expensive for what you're getting. My husband's General Tso's chicken with a small serving of rice was around $23, my beef and broccoli was $26, and even the small bowl of cucumber salad was $9 before tax. While my portion was definitely generous, it still felt like a pricey meal for Chinese food. Overall, the food was good and I'd eat here again if I was craving it, but it's definitely one of the more expensive dining options inside Muckleshoot. If you're planning to eat here, I'd expect to spend at least around $25 per person before drinks and tax.

    Photos
    Celebrating our friends s birthdays
    Celebrating our friends s birthdays
    Thai seafood soup with rice noodles
    Thai seafood soup with rice noodles
    Mountain roll, honey walnut prawn roll, spider roll, and Seattle roll

    See all

    Mountain roll, honey walnut prawn roll, spider roll, and Seattle roll
    Sushi Hiro

    Sushi Hiro

    4.3
    (157 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    One of our favorite sushi restaurant's in Federal Way…read more They are open for dinner and late night. Great menu with lots of options. Great happy hour. Every time we dine in, Jenny is always our server. She is very attentive and always makes sure we're ok and enjoying our food. Restaurant is large an split into 2 rooms - dining room and bar side with karaoke. We have only been in the dining room. Def recommend for late night eats

    From the outside, the restaurant doesn't look like much, but the interior was nicer than expected,…read morewith a good amount of seating and newer booths. For the sushi, the tropical roll had a nice addition of mango, but the sweet chili sauce was a little too sweet for my preference, especially for a sushi roll. The Pacific Garden roll had fresh-tasting yellowtail, salmon, and tuna, and I enjoyed the crunch from the asparagus. However, one of my pet peeves is when menus list crab or crab salad in a roll, but it ends up being imitation crab/krab. I really wish restaurants were more straightforward about what they're using, especially because I enjoy real crab, but am not a big fan of imitation crab in sushi rolls. This restaurant used the words crab salad and I thought it meant that they still used real crab in it. The rainbow roll and edamame were just alright. The gyoza was also disappointing because it wasn't crispy and didn't have much flavor. Presentation was another thing that fell a little short for me. I wasn't impressed with the plating, especially with the random pieces of greens on the plate. Overall, the sushi and sashimi had some fresh components(the highlight), but there were a few things that missed the mark for me. Service was just okay and nothing particularly stood out.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Salmon Skin Salad
    Salmon Skin Salad
    Spider Roll

    See all

    Spider Roll

    Happy Express - japanese - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...