Wife and I went here to celebrate her promotion. This was our second visit. The first time we thought the food was delicious but expensive and the portions were small. This time we went and order Omakase (chefs choice.) for $37 you get a lot of sushi, sashimi, a roll and spicy tuna on a sort of tempura leaf. The fish is all super fresh. Ordered separately it probably would be over $50 worth of food. Its a lot for one person so the wife and I may order 1 and a specialty roll. Nothing better than walking away from a sushi place with a feeling of satisfaction. read more

Awesome chirashi bowl and great prices. During Christmas eve and other special occasions, they give a little bit more fish. The best part of the chirashi bowl was the uni and the the Toro fish. Salmon skin salad was amazing. I would probably ask for less dressing or on the side it was a little salty for me. Toro sushi melted in my mouth. I wanted some more after we finished it. Parking on green street can get a little tricky at times, but still worth the hassle for this hidden gem. read more

Not particularly noteworthy but we had a good experience here. The fish were fresh and good for the price. Cute decor on the inside and the service was friendly and quick. read more

Matsuri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is honestly one of my favorite places to visit. The food is always fresh and fast and the staff are always friendly.

This place never fails for tasty Japanese food! Always a stop for me & the fam when in town!

Sit at the bar and have a great time. Consistently my favorite Sushi in Pasadena. I'm sure that my sentiments are echoed by other reviewers but having a family owned place that obviously cares about repeat clientele is awesome. Amazing black cod appetizer! Fish is consistently good and I've met lots of interesting people at the bar. A real regulars place that you only have to go a couple times to add yourself to that list. I do feel strongly that you are best served sitting at the bar, not in the room. Service, while friendly can sometimes be lost in translation. read more

Was referred to this place by a co-worker......we usually hit it up on Wednesdays for the spicy tuna bowl special which is awesome food for a great price. The fish is the freshest you can get in San Gabriel Valley. All the food I had there has been great and I go on a weekly basis. This is definitely a good sushi place. The only thing that keeps it from being GREAT is the service.....I still go because I love the food, but the two ladies that work there are either apathetic or just over-worked. They don't refill your water, don't clear the table, have to keep asking for things, ask for the bill 4 times...... Anyway....go for the food....its worthwhile to put up with the sub-par wait staff..... read more

The food was pretty good. Not much selection for kids, however. If you don't want to snarf wasabi, don't sit close to the door, as they bang on some drums when people come in. It scares the wasabi put of me. I would come here again. read more

Ok, so I know i went here with a high expectations since it got great-good reviews here on Yelp and also from some friends, but I wish I liked it more. We went on a weeknight, so the place was pretty empty. There was a cozy couple sitting in the corner, a family with 2 small children in another, and the sushi bar was full with what looked like a large group that came into celebrate someone's birthday. It was fun and funny that when we walked in, the waiter played the traditional drum to welcome us! haha!! Since we had heard good things about the sushi, I decided to be daring and go omasake style and let the sushi chef decide what to give us. I was a little disappointed, except the toro was pretty spot on. There were some pieces of fish that I was disappointed by. Especially the Salmon! The salmon was salty, like it was the cut too close to the salted part (they salt the fish before freezing to keep it fresh, after they catch it). The hamachi (yellowtail), my FAVORITE, was a little... stale. I was sad that my favorite fish, which I always save for last didn't hit the spot. We also got some spicy scallop roll and spicy yellowtail roll. They were both pretty good. We love spicy, but it was a little overpowering. But the way they rolled the rolls was impressive. They didn't jam up all the rice, but each grain was nice and firm, but fully seasoned and cooked. The nori was still crispy and definitely gave a satisfying texture to the bite. Even though some of the fish were fresh and yummy, my complaint across the board was that the pieces were way too small. I'm used to large pieces of fish that drape over the ball of rice on sushi. Or big sashimi pieces that take at least 2 bites to finish. Would I go back again? Maybe for lunch to try out their bento boxes, but I wouldn't come back if i was trying to satisfy a deep sushi craving, which I OFTEN have!! read more

I decided on Matsuri just this past Friday night because well, I was craving sushi that wasn't in Old Town and wasn't Kabuki.. aka: easy parking. There's plenty of space along the street to park, freeeeee! It was around 7:30pm when I arrived in the vicinity, and was able to park just one block east. I walked in to a gigantic crowd of people waiting in a *very* tiny waiting area/entrance. It was like being in a closet, but mingling with your clothing and hearing an American guy try to say he knows what that Japanese sign says. And his girlfriend or wife saying, "oh yeahhhh". And even though I don't speak a lick of Japanese or know how to read it, I knew he was full of eeeet. I went alone, but it took them 25 minutes to seat me for a table for one. I noticed there was a lot of room in the back area, but I guess having only two waiters for the entire restaurant, inhibits seating to capacity? The restaurant itself doesn't have the greatest ambiance, but it isn't like a cafeteria or strip-mall type sushi place, either. Finally, I sit. The specials menu sounds great.. "spicy garlic albacore sashimi", which I almost got, but decided to go with their dinner combo of teriyaki salmon and sashimi. You can not choose what type of sashimi, but it comes with salmon, white tuna, albacore, and I think ahi? It comes with miso soup and rice, salad, potato salad, and a wedge of cantaloupe. Service was brisk and polite, but not super friendly.. which I think is cultural. Very to the point, precise, and cordial. Hey, no complaints here. Oh, and I also ordered the jalapeno bomb. A humongous jalapeno filled with cream cheese and spicy tuna and then fried like tempura, and then sliced to resemble "rolls".. all served over a mayo/sriracha sauce. I believe this was $6.95. The dinner gets to your table in a bento style.. very cute, neat. The salmon teriyaki was kind of wimpy in size (very flat), and slightly overcooked. It wasn't bad, but I've definitely had way better. The sashimi was good, but maybe not *as* fresh as it could have been. Some of the pieces were a tiny bit chewy. The salad was like cole slaw, but with their own dressing - good. The winner of the night was the jalapeno bomb! It's an appetizer, but they brought it out at the same time as the entree, but it was so good, they can do no wrong with its arrival time. It's exactly as described above.. with a good kick. It's not toooo spicy though, so if you can do a little bit of spicy, you'll be good. The dinner combo was a little pricey for what it was (very small/thin pieces of sashimi (2 of each) - except for the ahi.. that was good-sized).. and a flat piece of salmon with hardened edges.. I think $15. I'd come again.. hoping for more freshness.. and will increase the stars accordingly! :) Note: The sushi bar only seats about... um, I'd say 8 people. And it's right next to the waiting area, so be prepared to be stared at and listened in on. read more

Thee BEST Oysters I have ever tasted. I personally don't like oysters but because of this place I now have fallen in LOVE with JAPANESE OYSTERS. They are shipped from Japan and literally melt in your mouth. A MUST TRY!! As for the sushi, delicious!! The Crunchy Roll is what a Crunchy roll should be. I signed on to yelp just to review this Lovely hole in the wall place. This is a family run restaurant which only adds to the charm. My wife and I are a fan for life. read more

This place is good! Prices are reasonable and the fish is great. Good selection and great prices, I am confused why their rating is so low... Already planning another trip back to Matsuri! read more

It's cute how they greet everyone who comes in with the drum. I love their tempura! It kind of reminds me of Masa restaurant (on Colorado Blvd.) back in the 90s and early 2000's before they changed it all up. And they have chawan mushi (my spelling is totally off) !! But it's $7 for a small sized one. =( But I love that stuff! It's hard to find that these days at a Japanese restaurant. read more

This place is easy to find and wasn't too crowded for a party of 8 to celebrate New Year's Eve. Our waiter was so cute and super helpful. The food was really yummy. Shi So Hot (or whatever the proper name is) was a hit! Everyone loved it. The sashimi was really yummy too. And the tea was actual matcha which was really nice on a cold night. read more

I refer to this restaurant as the "bong-bong" place bc you walk in and they bong the drums to announce to other patrons that you've arrived! Better not have a bad hair day. Agedashi tofu is great. Salmon skin hand roll is okay. I wasn't crazy about their Spicy tuna though someone posted a pic of their spicy tuna and mine didn't look like the one in the pic. Might of been an off night. Chicken balls were okay. Vegetable croquettes were good.Yes, I am one of those that orders the classic beef teriyaki. What can I say, I love my beef!! I felt it was pretty good in comparison to other places. Tempura is fantastic. I definitely will be coming back and will try other dishes. Hopefully next time the spicy tuna will be better. This place is several notches up from Ichima. read more

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Great sushi -- super attentive service -- teriyaki is just a-ok. I used to live right down the street from these guys so I would frequent them about once a month. If you can score a seat at the sushi bar your in for a treat. The sushi chef's are phenomenal and can whip up some tasty treats for you. The dining room itself is kind of blah and yet funny because of the random signage about the weekly specials, complete with misspelled words. These guys are authentically Japanese and it shows in their attention to service and how they even beat the drums when you walk in. Give them a try for sushi if your in the area... read more

Love the variety at this place, which is good if you come with people who have different tastes. You can get your sushi, your untraditional rolls, your udon, teriyaki, etc...But you can also get items that I don't normally see in Japanese restaurants outside of Little Tokyo like katsu-don (my faaaavorite) or tako-yaki. Sushi has been nice, fresh and tasty every time I've gone. Service is friendly and attentive. I agree with the other posts that it has a very family atmosphere. It's a great place for large groups or kids; they even have a basket of toys for kids to take and be distracted with! Be sure you make reservations, though! read more

Had some apps and rolls, nothing fancy and they were all good. The albacore sashimi special was supposedly flavored with garlic, but I couldn't taste it. Quality of the fish was better than avearge. A nice corner location and traditional atmosphere a plus! read more

Lunch special is ridiculously cheap for a sashimi loaded menu! Our first time here, after driving passed it for hundreds of times and telling ourselves that we are going to try this one day. And today is the day I realized how much I've been missing out !!! Will definitely come back frequently since it's only a mile away from where I live. The broiled mackarel and the sushi combo was delish. Love the ambient and interior. Wooden tables and chairs, and the hot green tea was different than most places. read more

Extra star because the waitress was really nice. Came in right before they closed on a Friday night and they still served us. Sushi was very mediocre. Nothing special. read more

Unexpected great sushi. Stopped in for lunch while getting my car serviced. Had albacore, squid, spicy tuna crunchy roll. All were phenomenal. Squid had a minty aromatic herb atop that was delicious and beautiful. First time having albacore with a red garlic pepper paste texture. I will be back for it for sure. Reasonable prices and got complimentary fried octopus to try. Also delicious. Service was expedient and attentive. read more

Matsuri - Spicy Tuna Crunchy Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Wow I'm honestly speechless!! I have been to many many sushi spots and honestly was so surprised when I tried this.. everything was so fresh and clean and yummy!! I love this place it's very comfortable. And they are so nice and friendly but still professional!! I will be coming back soon ! read more

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Matsuri Bowl is without question the best ramen shop in town. I am relatively savvy when it comes to Japanese food - the umami is simply savory and superb. read more

So delicious. The menu has a great variety of entrees and combinations. The sushi rolls, sashimi, and chirashi are fantastic. Everyone who works here is super friendly. The service can get a bit slow when it's really busy, but the food is always great. This place has that Japanese "mom-and-pop" feel to it. My favorite thing is the cute lady who bangs on her little taiko drum whenever anyone walks in. LOVE IT. The lunch menu is especially a good deal if you order sushi. Definitely go here for the sushi!! read more

This place is great. I have been going here for several years now. The restaurant has a family feel and the Sushi chefs take the time to know their customers. They will remember the types of sushi you like and don't like. The fish is always fresh. There are the standard staples, but they also have a white board where they will let you know what is in season. Another important way to measure a sushi place is to measure their selection of sake. Matsuri has between 5 and 10 different types of Saki available. The list seems to change ever so often. So far this is my favorite sushi place. read more

Matsuri has the best and most authentic Japanese food in Pasadena. I've been eating here for the past 3 years and it still never fails me. The food is delicious and very authentic. Plus, the service on a non-busy day is very good! The ladies who work here are very sweet and attentive. However, on a busy day, you may have to wait a bit for a table and wait on your food. But, trust me, it's worth it. Try their Nabeyaki Udon on a cold day and their Tenzaru soba on a hot day! It's perfect food for the weather. The Seaweed salad is the best I've had so far and I've ordered this dish at so many other Japanese restaurants before. YUM YUM. Give it a try if you're craving some Japanese food. read more

Love this place! The "shiso hot" is my favorite! The spicy yellowtail is also great! The sushi chefs are friendly and everytime I go, there are regulars sitting at the bar. I love their black cod as well and their special with the black cod is amazing! It's a small place, but family owned and delicious authentic japanese food! read more

On the taste of food alone, this place would deserve 5 stars. I tried several sushi places in/near Pasadena, and I definitely liked sushi from Matsuri the best. I love to get vegetable tempura as well and my partner loves their udon. I kept going back here when I used to visit Pasadena often because I loved their sushi, but every time the service was just mediocre. When I asked extra lots of lemon for water one time because one wedge doesn't do it for me (I hate the chlorine taste/smell of tap water!), they asked me "with extra charge?" After my confused moment, I clarified that I was exaggerated and a couple of slices would do, I got very thin slices of lemon (not wedges). It was a funny experience that I still laugh about, but I had a couple other occasions that made me feel the server (who probably owns the place as well) was pretty stingy. But besides being stingy, they were as attentive as any non-super-Americanized-Asian-restaurant would get. The atmosphere itself is actually pretty nice and homey, and I heard some Japanese conversations here and there in the restaurant (nice to know that the place is approved by Japanese eaters!). I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for good food! read more

I read all the reviews. I was expecting something good. We had ordered something small initially (basic 9 pc of sushi, 1 roll) because I am scared silly of untried sushi places. I am glad we did not get more... we actually went somewhere else for the rest of our dinner!!! this Masturi place was mediocre, at best. The fish was somewhat fishy--- not fresh at all. The salmon, the tuna... all very dissappointing. And the uni? It also had an aftertaste. NOT COOL. Why this place is rated so highly is beyond me. The prices are a bit high given the quality (lack thereof). Just that afternoon I was at a sushi place in Manhattan Beach, and loved it SOO much I order two lunch sets. TWO. It was $50 for lunch for me, and I was eating up a storm. It was so worth it. I will write about this place shortly- it was delish. The uni was to die for. But Matsuri? Go somewhere else. read more

I really like Matsuri. I've only sat at the bar. The brothers are fun and always willing to just throw something together for you depending on your taste buds and preferences. My favorite is blue fin which is the first and only place I've ever found it!!! This is my go to place. It's cute when they play the drums when you walk in too. Decor 3.5 stars Sushi 5 stars Customer service 5 stars read more

The owners, two brothers work the sushi bar. Fair prices, good fish. I will return again read more

Matsuri - Amazing Japanese Red Snapper - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is my favorite Japanese restaurant. The customer service is excellent and the food is tasty. I ordered the Chicken Teriyaki with Tempura. The chicken was cooked to perfection. The tempura was nice and crispy. The Miso soup is tasty and not too salty. The rice is nice and fluffy. I'd come back here again and bring friends next time. read more

Matsuri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

We love Matsuri. This family owned business feels like you are in the house of the family. This is our favorite sushi restaurant in Pasadena. Just ask them what is fresh. They will tell you is fresh. The family loves to fish and they really know Sushi. The friendly family will make you feel welcome. If you are Pasadena this is the go to Sushi restaurant. read more

Came here for lunch and boy was I disappointed. First of all, my waitress was extremely rude. It took her forever to acknowledge me. She made it seem like i was a burdon. The miso soup was way too salty and the chicken teriyaki was over cooked. For the price, I'm shocked at how bland things were. I asked for spicy mayo and they said it would be an extra charge. Who charges extra for spicy mayo?! To top it off, they didn't even bring it even after I agreed. When i go to pay the gal says "minimum 20 dollars to use a card." What?!?! Are you serious? You wait until the end to tell ne this? Horrible experience and I will not return. read more

An amazing find in Pasadena! They do not advertise and people have found this gem by word of mouth. It may be pricey for some, but I felt everything was worth it. My favorite sushi has always been Uni and it is very hard to find some high quality Uni. Matsuri actually gave me a choice of Santa Barbara or Japan uni. Heck, I went with the Japan uni! The taste was amazing! So sweet. Perfect. I ordered their negi-toro set and it was delicious. If you want some authentic Japanese food, this is place place to go! read more

Good sushi... fresh and good portion.... try the spicy tuna firecracker, which is not on the menu. Tofu and grilled fish are not bad either....However the tempura shrimp is not good...too greasy... Price is reason read more

This place has a welcome! Sure, there's always some way you're welcomed into a Japanese restaurant, all the chefs yell a friendly welcome in Japanese, a bow, etc. This place gives you a drum roll! This is a great local place for lunch. The service is incredibly friendly, the food is reasonably priced, and good for the most part. I didn't give it a 5 because it is casual, as others have mentioned, and if you read my review for Noda Sushi, the salmon skin hand roll is how I judge a good Japanese restaurant. This place didn't have the crunch and freshness as others did. I found the daily lunch specials to be a good bargain. If you like eel, it comes on a bed of rice and sweet egg. The sashimi is also pretty fresh. read more

Being the sushi snob that I am, I can't give this place anything more than a three star based on their sushi. But I'm also the same guy who can't give Sushi Roku more than a three star on sushi, either. This is a nice mom and pop sushi joint with friendly service and overall good food. I think their price is fair for the food they serve. For a nice sushi dinner, I'd pick this place for the run of the mill family run sushi joint. Clean, nice, and fairly priced. read more

This is a family run restaurant with the parents working the tables and two brothers working behind the sushi bar. Customers are greeted by a drum roll as they enter through the doors. There is an L shaped sushi bar to the right that seats about 12 people, and a spacious dining area to the left. The sushi bar menu is standard and lists most popular items. I would suggest asking the sushi chef for recommendations as they change from day to day depending on what they were able to buy at the fish market. The quality of the fish fluctuates from day to day - on some days they have excellent fish that makes the prices seem like a bargain, but on other days it is the opposite. Again, the sushi chefs know what is good on that day, so asking for their suggestion is the best way to go. Offer them some beer or sake and they might even prepare something special. Besides the sushi, this place has some pretty good appetizers, so I would recommend trying a few of these as well. The Shiso-Hot is one of the more popular items, and I personally like the Jalapeno Bombers. Also, if you eat in the dining area, the hamburg steaks are fantastic! Considering the price, quality, and service, this is the best Japanese restaurant option in Pasadena. read more

Moved from West LA and was missing good sushi, but we were so happy to find this place! The salmon, mackerel, and rolls are well-made, fresh, and delicious. The sushi chefs are also very friendly. We tend to see a lot of regulars here who know the chefs, owners, and servers so it's got a loyal following (for good reason.) This place is family friendly, but also good for a casual date, in case that's important for you. Tip: You get quicker, better service at the sushi bar. As long as you're eating only sushi and appetizers, just sit down at the bar. read more