The other day, I had some great-value sushi at a sushi restaurant operated by the Matsuya group, so I’d like to share my experience in this blog post.
This time, I visited “Sushi Matsu,” a restaurant in the Matsuya group. I had dined there once before and was very impressed, so I had been looking forward to going back. By the way, I also wrote a blog post about my first visit, so feel free to check that out as well.
On this occasion, I went specifically for their weekday-exclusive lunch menu. Although it's called a "lunch" menu, it's available from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, which is great for those who miss typical lunchtime hours. A large sign outside the restaurant proudly displays “Lunch Sushi,” and all the menu items offer excellent value for money, raising my expectations even more.
Looking through the tablet menu inside the restaurant, I found several tempting options, including a daily special seafood rice bowl. Everything looked so appealing that I had a hard time deciding, but in the end, I chose the “Jo-Nigiri” set, which was marked as “590 yen off!” You can choose whether or not to have wasabi, and this time I went with wasabi included.
The price is 1,089 yen (tax included)—just over 1,000 yen—but the set includes eight pieces of nigiri (including medium-fatty tuna), one hosomaki roll, and miso soup, making it a very generous portion. Considering the contents, it’s easy to see why it’s labeled “590 yen off.” On the flip side, it’s such a great deal that I’d probably hesitate to order it outside of the weekday lunch hours!
There was pickled ginger (gari) readily available on the table, which was a nice touch—you can help yourself as much as you like. I felt the same way during my previous visit, but this gari is surprisingly tasty and makes for a perfect palate cleanser between bites. It’s great to be able to enjoy it at your own pace, whenever you feel like refreshing your taste.
Then, my Jo-Nigiri set arrived via the conveyor belt, right in front of me. The presentation was gorgeous, and it looked just as good as the photo on the menu—I was thoroughly satisfied. The only small point I noticed was that although the menu said it included medium-fatty tuna (chutoro), the piece I received looked a bit more like lean tuna. Still, considering the set is normally valued at 1,580 yen, getting it for 1,089 yen (tax included) is more than satisfying.
The sushi featured all the classic toppings—tuna, salmon, ikura (salmon roe)—all fresh and generously sliced. The wasabi amount was just right, and the rice (shari) had a light and pleasant texture. I enjoyed every piece, occasionally cleansing my palate with the gari in between bites.
After finishing the meal, what really stood out was that this was far from a case of "cheap price, cheap quality." Given the quality and volume, I’d say it was a bargain. Plus, the restaurant has a casual, approachable atmosphere, unlike some sushi places that can feel intimidating to walk into.
Although Sushi Matsu has fewer locations compared to Matsuya, if you have one nearby, I highly recommend stopping by. The weekday lunch menu is absolutely worth trying!