Sushi-ya Matsu

Sad to see this place go.
Sushi is one of my most favorite things to eat, not joking, I eat it once a week. I’ve eaten sushi in Japan, Nobu, Sugarfish and even Ralph’s. No, I’m not saying this sushi compares to that but the fish is FRESH. One time I ordered two items with masago so he gave me really generous scoops of it, he’s never stingy on the portions. Whenever all my friends and family stop by he’s always really polite.
If you want sushi drenched in sauce, deep fried and covered in glitter go to Fusion sushi. If you want cheap sushi go to Ralph’s and lay off this little mom and pop shop.

It looks like this place is closed, maybe permanently – counter is gone, signs are off the windows, interior looks to be under construction. If you’re looking for sushi, don’t look here. (I never had a problem with the chef/​owner/​cashier guy, but this is walking distance from my house, so the convenience overrode all other considerations.)

I’m worried about the little old Japanese guy — this place has been closed for weeks. Does anyone know what happened?

This place is horrible! I placed an order for pickup based on the menu that is provided on their website that’s linked to Unilocal.When I went to pick it up the total for my order was about $ 20 more than what I was expecting. I told him that the prices are different on their web and he said that those prices on the web are 10 years old and not accurate anymore and he won’t honor what’s listen on the web! Then he told me I am wasting his time. What a guy!

I just went here and the owner denied me service because he didn’t” feel like” making sushi. He said «I’m in the mood. I refuse service good bye.» Sign says open. What a jerk.

The owner was so nice, but…
We got 3 rolls and 2 sushi and the price was almost $ 45– which was expensive even for good sushi. Then we received the food and we were very disappointed– one roll was so iffy that we didn’t eat it. Sorry, but either the price needs to be a lot lower or the rolls need to be better. The fish on the sushi tasted fresh…

Rude, surly, bad service and food that comes with strict instructions on how to eat it. thumbs down.
The food was good but the service was appalling. I spent $ 25 on my meal and I was the only one in there, and the guy running the place made me walk to the counter to get it.
He then instructed me while I was eating to not dip my rolls in soy sauce because its not proper and that I shouldn’t sip my Coke after the Dragon roll because «that’s common sense.»

Good quality but expensive for small portions. I remember when this place opened up I was so excited and thought id be there every day because of it’s proximity to my house but I’ve had to venture out.

This place is a few blocks from my house so I have been here a couple of times. I usually call to place my order but sometimes the phone gets answered and sometimes it just rings. The owner/​solo worker is semi-​friendly.
The sushi is pretty good, nothing fancy but it tastes good and fresh.

This place does not even deserve one star!!! The owner was so rude and greeted my husband and 10 year old daughter (who had been craving sushi), by telling them that the juice place next door was already closed and that he only served sushi! Really??? You see people of a certain color and you assume that they walked in by mistake, or was it his not so subtle obnoxious way of refusing them service? With such a warm greeting they took their business to «fusion Sushi» in Hermosa Beach instead.

This place is our favorite togo sushi place. Definitely 5 stars for traditional authentic sushi. The older Japanese man who runs the place takes lots of pride in his sushi. His customer service skills are not the best but hands down the best sushi. His sushi rice is an art in itself in texture and flavor. The menu is very simple and he is a one man show so he may not have everything but everything he does have, is fresh and the best quality. All rolls are Japanese style with the rice on the outside which taste so much better! The rice isn’t compressed like a paste inside the nori, lol. Menu is very simple and not americanized so if you’re up for it give the place a try! It’s awesome!

I read the other reviews before trying, so I had a feel for the eccentric owner/​chef that would be working there. Thanks Unilocal!I actually like that the owner is the one working there. I got the feeling he really cared about his creations!
We live close and the sushi is great! We have been about three times now (carryout) and will continue going back. We will just make sure not to ask for separate boxes of extra soy sauce or anything like that ;)

If anyone have this place more than a star. It has to be a lie. The owner is the cook, cashier and dishwasher. The food is tasteless and overpriced. It is obviously a bad restaurant since there is absolutely no one here.
I asked The damn old man for chili pepper and he told me this wasn’t a Mexican restaurant. WTF!!! Japanese chili pepper !!! Is Japanese
If you have bad food and bad customer service. Pfft! I honestly never felt so uncomfortable at a restaurant In my life.
I ordered chicken teriyaki combo. They do not have tempura. How are you going to have a Japanese restaurant without tempura !
I will never come back to this place. I advise anyone to never come to this place.
It should close the fuck down and let a restaurant who actually wants business open up.

A friend and I came here just to order a quick snack. We both ordered a spicy tuna roll (and to make it more apparent 1 was for me and the other for her) — she asked for hers extra spicy and I asked for mine normal. When the order was ready I realized the older guy making the sushi had put both our orders in the same container. I politely asked for an extra box and he told me no!
I thought maybe he was joking, so I asked him «Seriously? Because 1 of the orders is for me, and 1 is for her» He started scoffing, shaking his head and mumbling under his breath! He was so angry that I wanted an extra box! I wasn’t asking for extra ginger or wasabi or anything else. Just a dang box!
On top of that I had tipped him and I felt like I was so ripped off that he acted like that to me after I had already put money in his tip jar. Rude. Rude. Rude.

Matsu is one of a kind. I’ve been eating here for the past 5 – 6 years now. He keeps surprising me with how great the fish is here and at these prices, you cannot beat it anywhere in the South Bay.
His sense of humor is quirky but he is a sushi god in my eyes! He does everything here from taking orders to cleaning up the place to opening and closing the restaurant.
If you have the opportunity to taste his spicy tuna, you will crave it again and again and again…
Keep it up Matsu, you’re absolutely AWESOME!!!

A couple of blocks from the house, and our first visit, walked in and the place was empty except for the owner, we were greeted promptly and picked a chicken teriyaki and spicy tuna combo, Sushi comes first, then the combo plate with salad followed by the Miso soup.
Everything was fresh and tasty, owner was very nice and proud of his creations and checked on us to make sure everything was to our liking. Price was reasonable for what we got and the quality of the food, there are cheaper places out there but there are also places that will cost you more, nice middle of the road as far as price, a very friendly owner and good food what more can you ask for.

Sushi is reasonably priced… But they are cheap on the soy sauce. I ordered three types of sushi, a total of 21 pieces and asked for third packet of soy sauce and was told that would be too much! Seriously?! I know how much I use and like to use with my sushi. It’s not like I’m asking for 3 packets for one order of 8 pieces, but rather for 3 orders!
If you’re skimping out on an extra packet then I definitely won’t be coming back here again.

I go to the boba place next door every once in a while and decided to try this sushi place. I got the dragon roll and the Philadelphia roll. Both pretty good, nothing to rave about. The owner was nice and he seems to be the only one who works here. It was empty and we got our food fairly quickly. I enjoyed it.

I’ve been living down the street from Matsu’s for a year and a half now.
Over that time, Matsu has become my go-​to-​restaurant. That’s right, not just my go-​to-​sushi spot, but the place that I have eaten at more times than any other place in the last year.
Why?
Well first impressions make a big impact, and I initially perceived this place as quick, cheap, strip mall sushi. It wasn’t hard given that it’s in a strip mall, and that Matsu hasn’t done much to jazz up the décor or general presentation of the food.
Matsu himself tends to be eccentric, and is mentioned in several reviews for his restaurant. He’s got quirky Japanese humor, and insists on running the place completely on his own — that’s right, cooking, cleaning, taking orders, opening, closing — he does it all.
And this is where I began to understand Matsu. He is relentless on the things that matter — fish quality, flavor, value. And he trusts them in absolutely, exactly zero, other people’s hands.
When I first came in, I would order bento combos, and bowls, and all the cheap stuff, thinking «hey, it’s a strip mall place.»
When I finally tried a nigiri sushi, chef’s selection combo, I realized I had it completely backwards. The high end quality is all there, hidden behind layers of strip mall atmosphere.
The fish is superb, and the prices are strip mall prices! I can’t fault Matsu for his non-​existent staff and flat décor — none of that matters to him, and it costs money. He keeps costs at their absolute floor without relenting on raw fish quality.
In addition, all of his preparations are fantastic — they pop with flavor. Order anything «spicy» and you’ll get his special blend of savory, spicy kick — and while this doesn’t scream authentic, it’s phenomenal. He has ruined spicy tuna at every other sushi place for me.
He has also ruined sushi rice at other place for him — his sushi rice is so full of flavor with that wonderful rice-​vinegar tanginess, and the rice is almost always a perfect consistency.
So yeah, his rolls look sort of sloppy, his place hasn’t been remodeled since probably the 90s, and he’s a quirky guy, but man, I will eat his sushi on a pretty much daily basis as long as he keeps making it.
Excuse me, I need to head to Matsu’s now.

Fast, relatively fresh fish, cheap, convenient and super friendly owner.
And extra spicy tuna rolls so spicy that your butthole willl curse you the next morning.
Ask for it extra spicy… just don’t say I didn’t warn you.