Matsuri-Japanese

One of the rare Japanese restaurants with authentic Japanese food and Japanese staff. There are plenty of good westernized or Korean-ized Japanese places out there, but for a meal that is delicious, fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and reminds me of home, Matsuri is the obvious choice in Pasadena. Japanese-run restaurants at this price point are a dying breed; please support this establishment!

Perfect service food drinks and atmosphere, will come again!

My first time at Matsuri was about 2.5 years ago sometime in 2022. I now am a regular there and visit them 1-3 times a month. A-Gee, Jun, and Hisashi are not only incredible sushi chefs, but they are incredible people as well. And A-Gee and Jun’s mom is a warm and welcoming owner and host. Matsuri has a sushi bar and a restaurant area which is more often than not filled with patrons - many of whom are regulars. But the real magic is at the sushi bar where you will find amazing conversation with the guys behind the cases as well as the other usuals that visit. Some people I’ve met have been going to Matsuri for over 20+ years. You will always be greeted by a smiling face here. I’ve never been to a sushi spot with so many repeat customers. — aside from the wonderful vibes, the food is incredible. Wonderful traditional and augmented Japanese dishes, excellently prepared nigiri and sashimi, and delicious rolls. My favorites are: oysters (dressed up), shiso hot, fried rock fish, fried life soft shell crab, toro, saba, red snapper, yellowtail, kampachi, uni AND i could go on. Give it a try. You’ll be hooked.

Absolutely some of the most authentic Japanese food you can get here in Pasadena. The taste rivals that of Japan's, and will make any other Japanese restaurant taste bland. Price is a bit on the higher side, but that's to be expected for quality food. Highly recommended if you want to experience food from Japan, but don't want to travel oversea for it.

Excellent sushi very Fresh! We always special order a lot of delicious items which is not on the menu. Love Mamason she have great energy always friendly & personable. All the staffs & Sushi chefs are friendly & personable. I love going to a sushi restaurant when you know everything is fresh. Lots of parking space on the side parking lot & back parking lot.

Great small restaurant, free parking in the back

Great place for Japanese food in general. We saw a few large parties while we were there including a birthday dinner. My wife ordered the sushi and I ordered a hamburger steak entree. Everything we had was delicious and not overpriced. Service was great and it seemed like there are a lot of regulars, they knew many customers by name. I would say this place is one of the better sushi/Japanese food places in Pasadena that isn't really gimmicky like Sugarfish. They also have a free parking lot in the back but the ramp leading to it is a bit precarious. It's a little on the narrow and steep side so if you have a huge SUV/truck or a really low car you might not be able to get in.

Ordered all the veggie/vegan options on the menu and enjoyed it. Reminded us of our visits in Japan. Pretty authentic, all that is needed is for people to remove their shoes upon arrival. Can't wait to go back

Sushi places live or die based on how the rice is prepared. The fish plays a secondary role to the rice itself. This place knows how to prepare sushi rice and I would think it is a closely guarded family secret. The ginger does not appear to be from a mass market supplier. It has faint green edges in some places. Wasabi is pungent almost hand ground. To be located in Pasadena of all places, what a surprise. Nice local place for credible sushi.

Favorite authentic Japanese restaurant. They have all the staples - natto, ume shiso, ama ebi, uni, and for the gluten intolerant they even have gluten free sky sauce. The fish and service are top notch and it's small and family owned so it's warm, welcoming, and not pretentious at all. Feels like coming home to eat dinner.

Went with my mom. We both ordered the chirashi bowl. Excellent. The hostess and chefs were friendly, gracious.

If you are into Japanese sushi, this hidden gem in Pasadena will bring you a smile because food here is so delicious! Service was 5 star service and will be back soon!

The quality of the sushi here is actually quite good. Personally not really a fan of chirashi bowls though, should have gotten something else. Update: I have gotten something else, and it was delicious. The lunch options are great and provide lots of variety for a fair price. Everything was delicious, nutritious, and filling.

High-quality lunch bento box coming with crispy tempura, grilled fish, tuna sashimi, salad. Sushi ordered separately also came in high standard at this price point. The sushi rice is a little warm, which IMO is how high-quality sushi should be presented. Glad they did it this way. Last but not the least, the service is great and delightful.

Traditional Japanese restaurant. Cozy environment. Attentive service. Amazing food.

The best sushi experience in Pasadena currently. Prices are reasonable, and the fish is top quality. They also are one of the ONLY places that serve, on menu, a vegetarian Udon. It is FANTASTIC. 100% recommend, and will be back likely this week again. I will always come back...

Matsuri has been a family favorite for years - a quality family-owned restaurant. The owners are from Japan, if that’s a useful heuristic for you. Their food is always delicious, and I find their tempura in particular, is wonderfully crispy and light. We ordered the Matsuri boat, and the variety (it includes teriyaki chicken, Tonkatsu, tempura, and sushi) as well as portions are generous. I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed their homemade croquettes as well. The service is attentive, warm and polite, which explains why there are so many regulars. I always look forward to visiting, and can’t wait to go again.

Unassuming from the outside, but a truly great Japanese restaurant. Great quality on the seafood. The basic chirashi was very good with a fantastic variety of sashimi. I will definitely go for the deluxe next time! Definitely a must order is the Matsuri Gozen. It’s a beautifully organized set meal and the flavors are spot on.

Nice cosy family-owned Japanese spot with many delicious offerings! Their bentos and sushi are top notch in quality and their staff is all Japanese which adds to the authentic atmosphere. Finally the organic matcha hot tea is the best I've had in a restaurant which pairs nicely with the food.

Family who runs this restaurant truly makes you feel welcome. They are the absolute sweetest. Fish is high quality! Tastes excellent! Atmosphere is very homey and family friendly. We will be back again.......and again.......and again......

Matsuri is more than just a sushi restaurant; it's an experience. 🍣🍚🍜 This family-owned establishment in Pasadena consistently delivers 100% authentic Japanese cuisine, and the sushi is simply out of this world. 🇯🇵⛩️ The chef brothers are incredibly skilled and passionate, especially about sourcing the best wild-caught fish. Their dedication to quality is evident in every bite. 🐟 What sets Matsuri apart is the genuine warmth and hospitality of the family who runs it. They make you feel like a regular from your very first visit. As a friend of the family, I can attest to their amazing character, which shines through in the restaurant's unique and inviting atmosphere. Located on beautiful Green Street with convenient parking in the back, Matsuri is a must-try (or must-revisit!) for anyone seeking truly exceptional and authentic Japanese food in Pasadena. It's my favorite for a reason! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Authentic Japanese food. Every time I want sushi this is the place to go. Best place in Pasadena, and the service is always the best. There’s plenty of parking. Really recommended for any occasion.

How kind and friendly! Everyone was so welcoming :) we got chirashi and lunch special (pork katsu with crab rolls). The price was reasonable and they were VERY filling! The thick-cut sashimi felt very fresh and the variety was good. So nice to have such a homey, mom and pop restaurant specializing in authentic Japanese food. Check out their delicious Japanese food! Gambate to the Matsuri people!

The best kept secret. We love their staff and the food!

Delicious Sashimi, Teriyaki, and fried Cod Amazing service Phenomenal experience Would definitely come back

Shawn Sheng

The quality of the sushi here is actually quite good. Personally not really a fan of chirashi bowls though, should have gotten something else. Update: I have gotten something else, and it was delicious. The lunch options are great and provide lots of variety for a fair price. Everything was delicious, nutritious, and filling.

Keanan Block

Unassuming from the outside, but a truly great Japanese restaurant. Great quality on the seafood. The basic chirashi was very good with a fantastic variety of sashimi. I will definitely go for the deluxe next time! Definitely a must order is the Matsuri Gozen. It’s a beautifully organized set meal and the flavors are spot on.

Shelley X

High-quality lunch bento box coming with crispy tempura, grilled fish, tuna sashimi, salad. Sushi ordered separately also came in high standard at this price point. The sushi rice is a little warm, which IMO is how high-quality sushi should be presented. Glad they did it this way. Last but not the least, the service is great and delightful.

ExoPlanet

Traditional Japanese restaurant. Cozy environment. Attentive service. Amazing food.

Ryan Hubert

The best sushi experience in Pasadena currently. Prices are reasonable, and the fish is top quality. They also are one of the ONLY places that serve, on menu, a vegetarian Udon. It is FANTASTIC. 100% recommend, and will be back likely this week again. I will always come back...

Rikio Inouye

Matsuri has been a family favorite for years - a quality family-owned restaurant. The owners are from Japan, if that’s a useful heuristic for you. Their food is always delicious, and I find their tempura in particular, is wonderfully crispy and light. We ordered the Matsuri boat, and the variety (it includes teriyaki chicken, Tonkatsu, tempura, and sushi) as well as portions are generous. I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed their homemade croquettes as well. The service is attentive, warm and polite, which explains why there are so many regulars. I always look forward to visiting, and can’t wait to go again.

Poly Gone

Nice cosy family-owned Japanese spot with many delicious offerings! Their bentos and sushi are top notch in quality and their staff is all Japanese which adds to the authentic atmosphere. Finally the organic matcha hot tea is the best I've had in a restaurant which pairs nicely with the food.

Reagan

Family who runs this restaurant truly makes you feel welcome. They are the absolute sweetest. Fish is high quality! Tastes excellent! Atmosphere is very homey and family friendly. We will be back again.......and again.......and again......

Tommy Lei Studio

The best kept secret. We love their staff and the food!

Bryan Dorsey

Matsuri is more than just a sushi restaurant; it's an experience. 🍣🍚🍜 This family-owned establishment in Pasadena consistently delivers 100% authentic Japanese cuisine, and the sushi is simply out of this world. 🇯🇵⛩️ The chef brothers are incredibly skilled and passionate, especially about sourcing the best wild-caught fish. Their dedication to quality is evident in every bite. 🐟 What sets Matsuri apart is the genuine warmth and hospitality of the family who runs it. They make you feel like a regular from your very first visit. As a friend of the family, I can attest to their amazing character, which shines through in the restaurant's unique and inviting atmosphere. Located on beautiful Green Street with convenient parking in the back, Matsuri is a must-try (or must-revisit!) for anyone seeking truly exceptional and authentic Japanese food in Pasadena. It's my favorite for a reason! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

MÖzil 99 (Mo)

Delicious Sashimi, Teriyaki, and fried Cod Amazing service Phenomenal experience Would definitely come back

Ariel Navarrete Spahn

Authentic Japanese food. Every time I want sushi this is the place to go. Best place in Pasadena, and the service is always the best. There’s plenty of parking. Really recommended for any occasion.

Jamie

How kind and friendly! Everyone was so welcoming :) we got chirashi and lunch special (pork katsu with crab rolls). The price was reasonable and they were VERY filling! The thick-cut sashimi felt very fresh and the variety was good. So nice to have such a homey, mom and pop restaurant specializing in authentic Japanese food. Check out their delicious Japanese food! Gambate to the Matsuri people!

Eddie Ouchi

If you are into Japanese sushi, this hidden gem in Pasadena will bring you a smile because food here is so delicious! Service was 5 star service and will be back soon!

Great local sushi spot for some udon and sushi. A bit over priced and it is about $8.50 for a California roll but the udon is fresh and tasty.

Great place. Felt rushed by the staff. But best japanese food I've had in a while. Going back soon. Everything was fresh and tasty. Definitely recommended

Very friendly staff, and great sushi prepared fresh at the sushi bar. The pricing, however, seemed high for the amount of food. Sushi ran about $6 on average for two pieces. My ticket came to about $23 and I didn't feel full at all. TLDR: great sushi, but come ready to drop some cash.

Kind of expensive for sushi, but the other dishes were flavorful and well presented. The restaurant has a nice, calm, and welcoming feel. Great for a date night or something.

It feels as though this restaurant has been around for quite some time: the atmosphere, the kind and welcoming staff, the quality, and energy are all sweet! and having their own parking behind the restaurant is great. Wish the sashimi had ginger to refresh between the different fish and flavors, but a small note compared to the overall experience.

Good service. Got parking is a plus. Sushi was ok. The chicken in the udon was dry and tough.

Amazingly fresh and yummy food! Some of the best sushi around and reasonably priced too. Service is friendly and efficient. Great neighborhood sushi restaurant.

Cute little neighborhood sushi spot. Had an enjoyable experience here. It's a little unassuming sushi restaurant on the corner of Green St. Atphomshere had a traditional Japanese feel. Sashimi was fresh! Price is comparable to other sushi places in Pasadena. Food wise, it's more fresh tasting and not as pretententious as some other spots in Pasadena.

Lillian Rhinehart

It feels as though this restaurant has been around for quite some time: the atmosphere, the kind and welcoming staff, the quality, and energy are all sweet! and having their own parking behind the restaurant is great. Wish the sashimi had ginger to refresh between the different fish and flavors, but a small note compared to the overall experience.

Pearline Lam

Good service. Got parking is a plus. Sushi was ok. The chicken in the udon was dry and tough.

Ene George

Amazingly fresh and yummy food! Some of the best sushi around and reasonably priced too. Service is friendly and efficient. Great neighborhood sushi restaurant.

Miss HD

Cute little neighborhood sushi spot. Had an enjoyable experience here. It's a little unassuming sushi restaurant on the corner of Green St. Atphomshere had a traditional Japanese feel. Sashimi was fresh! Price is comparable to other sushi places in Pasadena. Food wise, it's more fresh tasting and not as pretententious as some other spots in Pasadena.

Used to be good. For some reasons, after the COVID their quality decreased. In food and service. And lately, they close so many times. Food is good though, overall. Yet, don't get sushi here. It's not a sushi place. Get a dish.

It was ok. First-time customer. The food and service did meet my expectations for Pasadena. I was asked to move tables after we were already settled with drinks, which was odd because they had plenty of tables available and no customers waiting. We ordered Blue Fin Tuna, Albacore, Spider roll, California roll, edemame was cold, I had to request to be heated. The salad was great. Overall, it was ok. A bit over priced.

First time customer. Service was good. Food was tasty. Atmosphere was friendly. Recommendations for a better value... tempura udon would have been much better with 4 shrimp instead of 2 and a few more slices of vegetables. The sushi rolls should have less immitation crab filler with more and larger slices of fish. The menu should indicate how many pieces each roll has. This is simply a comparison and observation to other favorite sushi houses I go to. The AYCE sushi is not offered anymore. The food is not a good value for the money. Will not return!

Andy Hakopian

First time customer. Service was good. Food was tasty. Atmosphere was friendly. Recommendations for a better value... tempura udon would have been much better with 4 shrimp instead of 2 and a few more slices of vegetables. The sushi rolls should have less immitation crab filler with more and larger slices of fish. The menu should indicate how many pieces each roll has. This is simply a comparison and observation to other favorite sushi houses I go to. The AYCE sushi is not offered anymore. The food is not a good value for the money. Will not return!

I tried to go to this Japanese restaurant operated by Japaneses to get some real Japanese taste since I miss the Japanese home food. But it was a big disappointment. The staff was ultra slow. I was standing waiting to be seated for about 20 minutes in order to be seated at the table next to my waiting place. The senior waitress is more experienced in service and language while the younger waiter's service and English level are really disappointing. My Japanese is even better than his English, I bet. The Pork Shogayaki is completely not the same way I have been eating for years in Japan. I don't know which custom they are following for that. The most important ginger sauce is missing. Pork slices are over grilled that they are dry like pieces of woods. Salad is close to industrially made standard. The most annoying point is that the miso soup is served way before the main dish. So when I finished the dinner with the soup, the soup is already ice cold. I don't understand why they don't serve both items together. If I had a lot of money and if I didn't know how to spend, very probably I would come again.

Food was disgusting and when they brought the receipt , it didn't show itemized prices.

Totally disapointed. Ordered some nigiri pieces with california rolls. Some of the fish cuts were not fresh, they were soft. The soy sauce tasted way salty and strange. At the end 31$ for a dinner I better had avoided. Not recommended.

I had high hopes for Matsuri based on the ambiance and some early reviews, but unfortunately, the experience did not live up to expectations. First off, the service was unusually slow even though the restaurant was only half full. It took nearly 20 minutes just to get water, and even longer to place our order. When we finally did, the staff seemed rushed and inattentive, forgetting part of our order entirely. As for the food — it was underwhelming at best. The sushi rice was mushy and warm, and the fish didn’t taste particularly fresh. The “signature rolls” were drowning in sauces, likely to mask the lack of quality. We also ordered a hot dish that came out lukewarm and lacked seasoning. On top of that, the prices were way too high for the quality. I don’t mind paying premium for exceptional food, but this wasn’t it. The only saving grace was the interior — the space itself is beautifully designed, and the lighting gives it a nice vibe. But sadly, ambiance alone doesn’t justify a poor dining experience. I won’t be returning, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless the management makes serious improvements to food quality and staff training.

grace p

I had high hopes for Matsuri based on the ambiance and some early reviews, but unfortunately, the experience did not live up to expectations. First off, the service was unusually slow even though the restaurant was only half full. It took nearly 20 minutes just to get water, and even longer to place our order. When we finally did, the staff seemed rushed and inattentive, forgetting part of our order entirely. As for the food — it was underwhelming at best. The sushi rice was mushy and warm, and the fish didn’t taste particularly fresh. The “signature rolls” were drowning in sauces, likely to mask the lack of quality. We also ordered a hot dish that came out lukewarm and lacked seasoning. On top of that, the prices were way too high for the quality. I don’t mind paying premium for exceptional food, but this wasn’t it. The only saving grace was the interior — the space itself is beautifully designed, and the lighting gives it a nice vibe. But sadly, ambiance alone doesn’t justify a poor dining experience. I won’t be returning, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless the management makes serious improvements to food quality and staff training.