**November 2025: Saturday Night Visit** My friend and I had been driving all day and were staying at the Hyatt Medford Hotel just down the street. The Medford/Boston area seemed to all have limited parking so we were looking for a dinner option that didn't require us to drive since we were sick of circling around. Matsuba Izakaya was just a 5 minute walk away from the hotel so we we braved the cold for some delicious food. When we arrived at the restaurant we were escorted toward the back of the restaurant which was very warm and inviting. I ordered the mini omakase for $55 and was super impressed with the presentation and variety of seafood. I was presented a box of 9 different seafood offerings: uni, toro, salmon belly, fish liver, raw shrimp & fried shrimp head tempura, scallops. yellowtail, and squid. The uni and toro were fantastic, and I enjoyed everything else except for the salmon belly. For some reason the salmon belly wasn't ultra creamy - maybe it wasn't thawed enough, which is a shame because I love salmon sashimi. Nevertheless, for the presentation and price I was really impressed with the variety. It also came with a miso soup which really warmed me up quickly. read more

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Matsuba Jzakaya is a Japanese restaurant located on 38 Riverside Ave, Medford, Ma. There is plenty of street parking in this area of Medford. Matsuba is probably one of two Japanese restaurants that is located in Medford. If I had to compare the two, I prefer Matsuba over its rival. Customer service and more importantly, quality of food is better at Matsuba over the neighboring Yoki Japanese Restaurant & Bar. Customer service was top notch when I visited for dinner with my family. The sushi was very fresh. I do regret not trying their yakitori since it is an izakaya. When we visited, we ordered monkfish liver, agadasi tofu, Naruto, katsu curry, broiled yellow tail collar, salmon ikura don, and fried tempura. See my pictures. read more

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We got ramen delivered and it was good. I got the Tonkatsu and while the broth wasn't my favorite, all the elements within were great, especially the egg which had a perfectly jammy yolk, I also like that they delivered the broth separate. We also got the unagi onigiri which was good if a bit fishy. The mochi, which was 2 pieces for ~$6 was pretty $$ but it was very yummy. Overall enjoyed this meal. read more

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Love this place for take out sushi! Their sushi salmon is fresh and I really like the size of that spicy salmon roll! The salmon tataki is also really refreshing. Not a fan of the sauce it came with though. read more

Matsuba Izakaya - Salmon avocado and spicy salmon maki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

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Boy were we surprised! Looked for a place to grab a bite on Saturday and my friend selected Matsuba. Quiet and unassuming restaurant in Medford Center. Service was awesome, got our drinks right away. Appetizers of miso soup and edamame were really perfect. The sushi was fresh and very tasty. All and all a lovely place for dinner. I'd recommend it for sure. Note -- parking is a challenge in Medford Sq. Be patient, and look for a spot. We parked three blocks away. b read more

Sorry I don't have any photos yet, I always start devouring my food so fast I forget to take them! This is the BEST sushi in greater Boston, perhaps even New England. Everything is so flavorful, well-rolled, creative, and amazing in every way. The fried mango and crab appetizer is essentially the elevated crab rangoon of my dreams...so amazing. All of the veggie rolls are top tier, as is the snow crab roll. I just can't get enough of this place! I want to eat here every day. read more

This place was AMAZING! Service was very friendly and very attentive. Restaurant wasn't too busy either so we didn't need to worry about waiting for seating. It was nice and cool, with the vibes just right. We quickly got seated and got some water. Got the spicy miso ramen and the toro don. Both were super delicious! The toro don was nice and fatty and addicting. The spicy miso ramen was super flavorful and filling. It left me so full, but worth every bite. Parking meters out front, but there should be plenty available up and down the street. Highly recommend! Get a roll or don and some ramen. read more

Tried the spicy miso on a cold day and it sated my ramen cravings. The chashu was tasty, had the right thickness and fat ratio, and I liked the bits of char on the edge. Broth and noodles were decent, it wasnt very spicy, but it was a touch too salty for me. Space was clean, casual and welcoming, and there was a decent beer list. We had some Sapporos to wash the meal down. Service was fast and attentive. The sushi menu looked good, would return to try other things on the menu. read more

Matsuba Izakaya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

We ordered takeout and were very happy overall. Vegetable Gyoza, Cucumber Maki and Shumai for starters. Main dishes were Spicy Miso Ramen and Stir Fried Ramen. For dessert, the Green tea Mochi. Everything was fresh and flavorful, decent size portions. Fast turnaround from order to pick up. I would definitely go back again. read more

Matsuba Izakaya - Green tea mochi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

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Ordered pickup Ramen on a cold night. Hit the spot, fast service and friendly faces! Didn't dine in so can't comment on that.

The food was okay with reasonable prices. There was only 1 waitress working there. She was so unfriendly and unprofessional. I could not bear with her attitude towards us the whole time. She took away our dishes without even asking whether we finished or not. Her behavior ruined my appetite. I won't dine in again if I see her, but I'd give it another shot for take-out. read more

Matsuba Izakaya - Mini omasake Squid Fried oysters Ankimo Takoyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

Food was fantastic! We went for brunch. Waitperson was very nice! Hard to find parking read more

Enjoyed my experience overall! The layout of the restaurant is a bit different than what you'd expect, not super spacious so I don't know how well they'd be able to accommodate larger party sizes. The workers were friendly but I think our server could have been a bit more attentive as it was hard to get her attention sometimes. I liked the food a lot and will probably go again to try other items! I was happy with the quality of the fish and loved the chicken karaage. Prices were reasonable. read more

Matsuba Izakaya - Chicken Karaage - Sushi Bars Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

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My friends and I passed by this new place in Medford Square and decided to give it a try. We went there on Monday around 6pm and it was fairly empty. The place seems small but there were ample seats. We ordered different makis and they were good; some of them better than the other. The spicy snow crab maki my friend ordered didn't seem like snow crab; in fact it was the imitation crab. We didn't order Yakitori because it seems a bit overpriced than the regular price range. A decent place in Medford Square but I wouldn't drive to Medford just for the place again. read more

Matsuba Izakaya - Spicy Salmon Maki Spicy Tuna Maki Louisiana Maki Spicy Snow Crab Maki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

While not a true izakaya (they rarely are), Matsuba has a diverse menu of yakitori, sushi, appetizers, ramens, etc. If you live in Medford, there's no reason why this shouldn't be a regular lunch or weekday dinner spot. We did karaage, hiyayakko tofu, shiitake soup, and split the mini omakase. All was great - particularly delighted with the presentation, quality and value of the omakase. Service was solid and dishes came out at a reasonable time. The main dining area is awkwardly shaped and feels a little empty, so not really a place to for a nice date night. Just casual. read more

Matsuba Izakaya - Mini Omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

Pretty average food, which was a bummer since the reviews are so good. My younger kid ordered the stir fried udon with beef. There was very little flavor and the beef was really tough, I wasn't able to tear it into smaller pieces for her to eat. Older kid was perfectly fine with the avocado rolls and ikura she usually orders from sushi places. I ordered the jalapeno tuna maki and the onion overpowered the rest of the flavors. The ambiance was kind of depressing as we were in an enclosed room with no sunlight. The service was very good. read more

Stopped in to grab some dinner. Fast service, friendly staff, extremely impressed with our sushi. Will definitely be going again soon!!!

My friend and I came here for dinner, heavily craving some ramen. I ordered the spicy miso ramen and she ordered the nabeyaki udon with chicken. Overall, we both enjoyed our ramen and our ramen cravings were satisfied. However, the noodles in my ramen weren't the best noodles I've had, and my friend's ramen lacked a bit of flavor. The eggs were adorable and tasty. I would love to come back here and try the sushi, as the sushi seems to be the real deal. read more

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love coming here for a weekly sushi craving! fish is always so fresh. some other favs are the beef teriyaki, katsu curry, and the bacon and enoki skewers. service is always so fast too! read more

Matsuba Izakaya - beef teriyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

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Absolutely one of the best sushi spots anywhere. Orders sushi boats And sashimi and all just perfect. A hidden gem.

Made a reservation here to try it for the first time. When we arrived there were no less than 10 people all piled up at the front. None of us were seated by the time we left 20 minutes after arriving. Absolutely no one was working the front - I don't understand how a place could be so short staffed they can't handle seating customers, handling takeout orders, or even answering the phone. No idea what the food was like - my time is too valuable to have a reservation blatantly ignored. Anyone else reading this might have better luck. read more

We had driven many hours and wanted a healthy late lunch before heading home into Boston. Matsuba was pretty much easy on and off the highway. We parked easily on the street. The restaurant is chill and casual. The staff were very efficient and polite. Service was flawless. Sushi was really good. Flavors were great. The house salad was a soggy miss; wilted greens and cukes. The price is great. read more

I ordered too much and still finished all my food. I recommend the toro and scallop sashimi, chicken skin and chicken thigh skewers and a couple of Sapporos. Reasonably priced too. Waitress was also very attentive. read more

Eaten at least half of the items on Matsuba's broad and deep menu of Japanese comfort food over my dozen visits in the last couple of years and virtually everything has been uniformly excellent. Very reasonable prices, too. A far better and more consistent experience at this humble suburban joint than I've had at many more upscale Japanese places. Waitstaff is skilled and friendly, chefs know their stuff, quality ingredients, just a winner all around. Right off 93, too, and near several bus lines. A must try. read more

Every visit to Matsuba Izakaya lifts the mood ever since we first tried it. It has the best overall food selection to satisfy Izakaya lovers, sashimi/sushi enthusiasts, or katsu fans. The people here are professional and very nice. We love their tea which pairs well with the food. read more

A modest, homey restaurant offering a range of very well prepared dishes. My group of four started with miso soup followed by appetizers of gyoza, agedashi tofu, and salmon and tuna maki. My chicken katzu entree was absolutely fantastic--a crispy, delicate coating over tender meat--which reminded me how very delicious this humble dish can be when well made (and how rarely that success is achieved!) The simple rice and steamed broccoli, asparagus, and green squash were perfect accompaniments. Other members of my party ordered unaju, cube don, and sake don. Rave reviews all around, thanks to the fresh ingredients and excellent preparation. The service was attentive and quick. My only criticism would be that as an izakaya, I had expected a wider selection of alcoholic beverages. Easy to make do with a can of bushido warrior sake, nevertheless! read more

Staff is very friendly we arrived an hour before closing and they still recieved us. They have a food variety of Yakitori, and you get 2 skewers per order which is really nice. The Spider Crab Karage is so nice and crispy! read more

Matsuba Izakaya - The Spider Karage - Sushi Bars Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

My friend and I dropped by on a very busy Saturday night. The wait staff were SLAMMED but still were friendly and provided the best service they could for only having two waitresses managing the front of house and serving folks. Kudos to them! We both enjoyed our generous portioned food. The vegetables were fresh and chicken cooked well. Our waittress was so kind as to expedite our bill because we were going to a show at the Chevalier. read more

When I first walked into this restaurant, my first thought was that it didn't appear clean, but i still sat down and ordered lunch which was below average at best. I have lived in Japan for several years so I know good Japanese food and this was not good. So run, don't walk out of this place. There are so many other better restaurants out there. I am so glad I did not get sick after eating here. read more

Recently visited family in Medford and stumbled into this newly opened Japanese restaurant, and wow was I pleasantly surprised. My family and I tried a variety of their dishes ranging from their vast menu. We ordered the Bacon and Enoki yakitori, Chicken thigh yakitori, Hamachi Karma, 2 orders of Toro Nigiri, a Miso ramen, and 2 special rolls - Crazy Toro Maki and Red Sox Maki. All of them were amazing. The servers were also really welcoming and pleasant so that made our dining experience even better. If you're looking for a new Japanese place to try in Medford, I would suggest you come to this place! read more

CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS SO BAD FROM THIS ONE WAITRESS THERE!! I went to dinner tonight at this restaurant with my partner based on the reviews. Reviews seemed really good however, I did not agree with the reviews after eating there. He ordered a house salad and shrimp tempura sushi. As a vegetarian, I ordered two veggie sushis. Everything was great until the house salad came. The house salad came as all leaves, barely any dressing, and on a small plate. After he ate, there were a few leaves on the table as the plate was too small compared to the size of the salad. The waitress comes and I realized the veggie sushi was mixed with the shrimp sushi my partner ordered. There were fish eggs on the veggie sushi I ordered. That wasn't even the disrespectful part...the waitress TAKES MY NAPKIN FROM MY HAND TO CLEAN UP some pieces of lettuce that was on the table. That was very crazy to me. read more

It is great to see that a REAL Japanese place replaced the shitty restaurants that preceded Matsuba, for many, many years. I had very little time to grab a quick lunch, and I told this to my waiter. Within literally minutes, my food arrived (the place was empty, but that in no way connotes this type of high-level service. I can't wait for my next opportunity to visit Matsuba. read more

Hit or miss . Got 4 to 1 ratio bad food.it's decent sushi food place that opens late. I will order here then late night Chinese.

This is the most amazing sushi that I have ever had. I had to put in a second order because I couldn't get enough. Spider roll and mango roll is what I got. Friend said ramen is 5/5. Highly recommend! read more

Matsuba Izakaya - Sushi Bars Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

This restaurant offers delicious food, good service. We tried different varieties of food and all of them were delicious. Their Gyudon is a must try. read more

food was not bad but my experience was ruined because they played the same 5 sabrina carpenter songs the entire time

We ordered the sushi boat for two and a specialty roll. Presentation was fine and the rolls were good. Some of the sashimi was not as fresh as it should be. Not a bad meal just sub par when it comes to freshness. read more

Sushi rolls are really delicious and interesting, and they have harder- to- find menu items like yakitori, wasabi octopus, and grilled squid, which they execute really well. Their dining room is comfortable, calm atmosphere, and attentive staff. I've been back several times since they've opened and brought various friends and family who enjoyed the food. I think they are a lovely addition to Medford Sq, love to support small, local businesses, and hope they stick around for a long, long time! read more

Everything tasted so fresh and yummy! Presentation was so cute with the added flower, ambiance was relaxing and service was great! Super kind staff :) loved our server read more

Matsuba Izakaya - Baked Salmon Maki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

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Sushi is much better than what you might expect. Friendly and competent people working hard. I recommend you give them a chance.