May’s Place offers heaps of sushi & more at great discounts

In the heart of Little Japan, May’s Place offers quirky sushi rolls, friendly service, year-round Halloween decorations and daily deals on a six-page menu. A friend and I first stumbled on this place three years ago, during our freshman year at NYU.  We’ve been eating here ever since.

As regulars, the manager greets us by name and gives us our favorite table by the window. The attentive waiters are always willing to recommend specials or customize a dish. On evenings and weekends, we get free sake with our meal.

There’s a homey feeling at this eatery at 121 Second Ave. between Seventh and Eight streets. May’s has 24, four-person tables and churns out a steady stream of ‘90s pop hits over the sound system. Red lanterns and large photos of popular dishes hang from the ceiling, with mirrors lining the walls.

And of course, there’s the food. While teriyaki and tempura entrees are staples, the real star of the menu is the vast array of sushi rolls. If you order more than $15 of sushi, there is a daily 50 percent discount off your purchase.

In addition to everyday California and salmon rolls, “specialty” sushi rolls include Nancy Maki ($9), a startling combination of crunchy tempura, eel, and flying fish roe, and the Spider Roll, made of fried soft shell crab.

For bargain lovers, there’s also a “dollar special” on appetizers from Monday through Thursday. The $1 items include crispy fried shrimp with spicy mayo, Japanese octopus dumplings (takoyaki), and a selection of single-piece sashimi.

The regular dishes are good too. My favorite is the okonomiyaki,  a thick, steaming-hot pancake stuffed with shrimp, squid and shredded cabbage. Recent additions to the menu include soup-based ramen, including a take on the traditional Korean bibimbop ($8) that consists of a medley of a mushroom, egg, shredded lobster and a generous helping of chicken served cold over glass noodles.

But dinner specials are hit or miss. Starting at $15, every entrée comes with spring rolls, fried chicken, California rolls, and a (somewhat bland) potato salad. While the chicken teriyaki is stringy at best, the bulgogi (bbq beef marinated in sesame oil) is filling and tasty. The spring rolls are crispy and served with a sweet chili sauce but are very oily. Paired with the fried chicken chunks, they can leave an unpleasantly greasy aftertaste.

May’s gets very crowded on nights and weekends. A new customer’s best bet might be to go in a group and sample the various types of sushi and “dollar” appetizers. There’s always something new to try on the weekly specials – don’t be afraid to take a risk. May’s place is open daily from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.  and accepts all major credit cards.