Review Matsumoto Japanese Restaurant - Brunswick East

A cozy Japanese restaurant with extensive menu. I’m so glad I found this place as I’ve been craving for Takoyaki for years. The seafood were fresh and delicious. Everything that we ordered come out quick and live up to my expectations for Japanese food. The staff were friendly and helpful, they’re also quick on feet and polite service. We’re very happy with the service and overall experience. Will come again for my Takoyaki craving.

Really love this place, the service is amazing and the food was amazing ! HIghly recommend the miso eggplant !!!

beautiful place with beautiful food with beautiful souls. i enjoyed a lot with my mates. the food was delicious, well presented, and good price.

It was super busy and not the best Japanese I’ve had but the food was reasonable and the service friendly. $320 for 7 and that included a bottle of sake and plum wine.

I have been enjoying this restaurant for a very long time and was stun when we were refused to have the bill split 3 ways. All the years I've been going here it's never been a problem. I ask to meet with the manager/owner to understand the directive. The charming waiter tried his best to get the m/O to speak with us, but unfortunately they would only relay their directive through the waiter . So unprofessional. After some time trying to understand the reasoning, we were told if we insisted then they would accommodate. Go figure. The conclusion was, we were allowed to split the bill 3 ways, which their hand held device coped very well. So unfortunately all of this was unnecessary and has left me with a thought, do I want to go back when other restaurants are happy to split a bill evenly between the patronage. So easy, so customer focus, so normal. Matsumoto please please review your policies

Delicious and fresh food, adequate seating and good service. However, Matsumoto is extremely expensive. A weekend surcharge of 10% is excessive on already inflated prices, and then they have a card surcharge on top of that! It's too much. Just be honest and advertise the total costs.

Food are delicious and service is great. We had our business lunch today. Wide spacing between each table. Will definitely go again.

Very disappointed that I didn't have a great experience like the other reviewers. The plus point, service is great. Staff is friendly and cheerful. Food came out relatively fast. Price is on a average to cheap side for a Japanese restaurant. We ordered beef tataki, chicken skewers, ox tounge, kaki fry (deep fried crumbed oyster), curry rice, and chirashi sushi. Beef in the tataki is very pale and the meat flavour has gone. Yes there's seasoning but it's missing that flavour. Also it's more like yukke/yukhoe than tataki. The rice in the beef curry was dry that even the curry doesn't soften it. Most of the seafood in the chirashi weren't great tasting. It looked pretty though. The rest of the dishes were ok. Also this is not authentic Japanese restaurant or with Japanese staff, at least not when I visited. Maybe they are on a different rostered day.

Edible that’s all.

Superb! We’re addicted and order it every week. The menu and taste remind me of izakayas in Japan

My partner and I absolutely love the food here. We order almost once a week! <br/>The sashimi main is always fresh and delicious. So are the gyozas and the ika geso age. Definitely the best Japanese restaurant I’ve tried in Melbourne.

First dine-in meal out of lockdown! Woo! Not the freshest sushi I’ve ever had, but good enough. Although I have to say I was expecting much better.

My first time trying this restaurant is through ubereat delivery. Although the world situation is awful, this place and their dishes brought a little joy to my weekend 💕<br/><br/>Their sushi was fresh and tasty. The chicken katsu was crunchy and the curry sauce was very delicious. The unagi don (eel with rice) was flavorful as well. <br/><br/>I can’t wait to try their food in the actual restaurant after this situation gets better!

I have been going to this restaurant for over 10 years since living in Brunswick but for some reason recently the food has not be the same. Had some garlic prawn teriyaki not once but on two occasions and both were terrible. It did not taste great and fresh like the prawn was frozen then defrosted then frozen again and the sauce was vinegary. I think they must’ve changed management or definitely cooks/chiefs...I no longer see the old man making sushi and his right hand man who had been there for so long. I recall that all of front of house staff and the sushi chiefs use to all great every one that came in but last time I think half of them did it and the another time maybe less.<br/>So disappointing as we use to drive to Brunswick just to go to that restaurant since moving out of the area.

Portion size was good, overall enjoyed the food including the sashimi and salmon tataki but didn’t like the beef tataki or the vegetable tempura and it was a little too expensive.

This neighbourhood-style Japanese restaurant is really popular with the locals. They have a myriad of dishes catering from sushis, rice or noodles and some other main dishes. The udon was pretty good but the vegetable tempura was average and both are quite pricey too

The place is nice and homely, plenty of room and comfortable seating, there is a fair few wait staff too so never waiting for anything. We had okonomiyaki, yuzu Salmon Tataki, Nabeyaki Udon and another dish I just can’t remember. The Yuzu Salmon was very enjoyable although i think I have as that yuzu dressing somewhere before, very familiar.... The okonomiyaki the flour to shredded cabbage ratio was out, so it was very flat and floury. They gave us additional sauces for no extra charge. The broth in the nabiyaki udon was pretty plain and was a bit of a let down, I doubt it’s made in-house. The tempura which came with it was one of the smallest ones I’ve seen. The menu is pretty extensive, so it’s understandable they’ll take some short cuts to get the meals out without too much delay.

First of all the hot food was well done. But the deluxe sashimi wasn’t deluxe at all. It barely look like a piece of sashimi. Manager claimed it’s all fresh, but the taste couldnt lie. The dead-for-ages texture of the tuna killed my appetite. The scallop was tasteless. The salmon belly looked depressed. I don’t recommend this restaurant.

amazing fresh sashimi and sushi, homemade green tea ice cream was so good!! personal favourite was the unagi :)

Busy Japanese restaurant in Brunswick.<br/><br/>- grilled fish and steamed rice ☆☆☆<br/><br/>Fish taste was a bit too sweet for me but nicely flavoured. Steamed rice was surprisingly dry, I was expecting watery and sticky Japanese steamed rice.<br/>My friend had Bento box and she said it's tasty.<br/><br/>I would come back to try Bento Box next time.

Yummy seafood ramen, great broth. Portion is average only but overall the taste is perfect

I cant believe it’s been 8 years since I’ve visited Mastumoto Japanese restaurant in Brunswick 😊 It’s so nice to know that they’re still doing well after 17 years of being in business.<br/>We went for lunch on Saturday and decided to go for the Chef’s banquet with 7 courses plus coffee/tea. There were too many items on the menu we wanted to try so this was the best option for us and it was such good value at $58 per person.<br/> <br/>The banquet started off with miso soup which had so much tofu in it, followed by a tobiko salad who doesn’t have crab meat and kewpie mayo! Next up with a sushi and sashimi platter which included a grilled salmon sushi and also scallop sushi. We washed the first 3 courses of our banquet down with a premixed Koyomi High ball – Yuzi and Lime flavour perfect for a warm day and I’m going to get some for my Christmas party in a few weeks.<br/>Moving onto the next course which was fried oyster, even though I’m not usually a big fan of oysters that are cooked, this completely blew my boyfriends mind and was so creamy! There’s no stopping with the food, it’s then onto the Teppanyaki grilled prawns with bean shoots.<br/> <br/>There is then a short break while our lovely waiter cooks our beef sukiyaki in front of us, he was so patient and knew exactly how to cook everything to perfection. He recommended that the wagyu beef be cooked medium rare and dipped in the raw egg before we ate it. Best recommendation ever!<br/> <br/>Finally after all that food we only had 1 course left which was dessert! My favourite Green tea ice-cream with red bean paste and also a fruit platter.<br/> <br/>I just wished Mastumoto was a little closer to me, because I would come here all the time, it’s the perfect gem to have in a local area. Perfect for meals with families or a large group of friends 😊

Loved it .

This was a really great Japanese experience. After watching Jiro Dreams of Sushi in the morning, we had cravings and found Matsumoto on EatClub. The sashimi platter to begin was delicious. The sashimi was tender and tasty, although the pieces were of different thicknesses. Miso soup hit the mark. The prawn tempura mains included 8 prawns. Delicious, although they held a bit of oil. Mushrooms were sautéed in a garlic butter and the ox tongue was thinly sliced. For dessert we had the fried banana. All in all a fantastic meal and I’d definitely return.

Sushi and sashimi was delicious, very fresh. Food was mostly great, gyoza was a bit average though, still good but not great. Very busy place, some of the tables a bit close together! Service ok, they were busy. Try not to drive here esp if coming on Saturday night as near impossible to get a park (that's not 1/ 2 or 1 hour).

Overall 3.5/5 <br/><br/>Ambience: Simple decor but nothing outstanding, the ambience could be improved but comfort is not a problem! <br/><br/>Service: <br/>Service was diligent, staff could be slightly less serious and there was a bit of a wait on the mains <br/><br/>Food: <br/>Deluxe house special - very aesthetically pleasing and quite good value for money, it satisfies 2 people and the sushi is fresh however it isn’t outstanding and I would not have it again <br/>Beef nigiri - meat isn’t very soft or tender, definitely not top quality meet, would not recommend <br/>Beef tataki - yummy flavours that is refreshing from the sour flavours however it had slightly too much sauce which overpowered the meat and made it quite salty <br/>Tempura - one of my favourites, batter was light, prawn was cooked well and it wasn’t overly oily, would recommend! <br/>Unadon - also a highlight! Slightly salty however the fish was so soft and flavours were delicious, would recommend! <br/> <br/>Overall I would come back to try a few main dishes however the sushi isn’t top quality therefore I’m in no rush to return. Thank you for having me!

Came here and ordered the takoyaki, teriyaki beef and the sashimi (Main size). <br/><br/>We used zomato gold so the meal was great value but the teriyaki beef was more like a Chinese stir fry. There was also an underwhelming amount of octopus in the takoyaki however the flavours and texture was good. <br/><br/>The highlight was the sashimi which was tasty and fresh. Will be back to try other dishes!

So fresh and delicious!<br/>Went with a group of 5 girls and we ordered the large sushi boat, eggplant, seafood teppanyaki, soft shell crab karage and the gyoza. Everything very fairly priced.<br/>All the dishes we ordered were great, with the standouts being the soft and sweet eggplant and the fresh seafood on the sushi boat.<br/>The variety and beauty of the sushi boat was amazing and the sashimis were so fresh that it melted in your mouth.<br/><br/>

I live nearby and this place never lets me down, the soft shell crab sushi, the prawn tempura sushi, Katsu, and octopus are delicious. Highly recommend this place to all my friends.

I must admit I wasn't sure what to expect at Matsumoto. Japanese food always sound simple on paper, but to be able to execute it perfectly can sometimes be just a wishful thinking. Luckily at Matsumoto, any scepticism I had were put to rest after I started tucking into my meal.<br/><br/>For Japanese cusines to really excel, the most important thing is freshness of the ingredients and here at Matsumoto, they have nailed this. The sushi boat was brimming with fresh sashimi and seafood, and the skill was apparently when the sushi rice remained intact upon being picked up and manhandled by us. Fresh was also what best described the tuna tataki, and honestly, that's all it needs to be.<br/><br/>The chicken katsu curry was a simple but comforting dish - mellow flavours that complement the golden and crispy chicken katsu. With an abundance of potatoes and carrots, you'll be hard-pressed to not feel full after eating this.<br/><br/>The potato croquettes and takoyaki came highly recommended by our server, and we can understand why. The croquettes were crunchy on the outside, and filled with soft and fluffy potatoes on the inside. On the other hand, the takoyaki came packed full of flavours, and those slightly crisped yet soft balls were a delight to eat.<br/><br/>We, or rather I, insisted on ordering dessert and everyone was glad that they listened to me. The sweet and fluffy dorayaki with red bean filling is simple addictive, and the dessert moriawase comprised a delicious selection of agar jelly, Japanese rice cake and red bean paste.<br/><br/>I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here, and must thank the lovely crew for having us in.<br/><br/>

4.5. The restaurant is very spacious, bright and well decorated with japanese ornaments. It seemed to be a local favourite as we came here for a late dinner (9pm ish) on a weekday but there were customers around and still coming in.<br/><br/>We were pretty hungry so we ordered some entrees to share:<br/><br/>ABURI SALMON SUSHI - 3 pieces of flame-seared salmon belly sushi - This was amazing! The salmon belly is the best part! Slightly more fatty and the texture was just perfect after being flame-seared.<br/><br/>GYOZA - Pan fried pork and cabbage dumplings - These gyozas were more like dumplings as they were huge and have a slightly thicker skin than the usual ones.<br/><br/>MUSHROOM BUTTERYAKI - Fresh enoki, shitake mushroom sauteed in garlic butter - These were really nice and smelt so nice in the garlic butter.<br/><br/>NASU DENGAKU - Fried eggplant with sweet miso paste - The eggplant was melt in mouth and was slightly more salty with the miso paste. It wasn't what I'm used to, but my partner really liked it.<br/><br/>TUNA TATAKI - Lightly seared fresh tuna slices with garlic and wine sauce. This was very light and fresh. There was a generous portion of these yummy goodies on the plate.<br/><br/>CROQUETTE - Deep fried crumbed potato - This was very crunchy on the outside and fluffy and soft on the inside.<br/><br/>KAISO SALAD - Japanese seaweed salad - A standard side dish which my partner loved it very much.<br/><br/>For the mains we got:<br/><br/>BENTO - Served with chicken, tempura, sashimi, rice and other items such as takoyaki balls, spring rolls, salad, sushi etc. It was really filling and you get to try a bit of each which was awesome.<br/><br/>UNADON - Grilled eel on rice wth a thick and sweetened soya sauce. I got this one and the unagi was just so tender and flavoured really well. Loved this dish!<br/><br/>Overall, this place is great for a filling and nice Japanese meal. Thank you for having us.<br/><br/>

Sushi was inedible, the rice was gluggy and tasteless, was hard to get it down. Tempura was really heavy. Nothing is done in a very japanese way. I really dont understand the high review. Maybe it's a little cheaper than other places?

Loved the food would definitely try again!

The food was amazing, great seafood! The seafood boat was amazing, had many varieties of fishies, would love to try everything else on the menu<br/>

This beautiful restaurant in Brunswick has been serving up fabulous Japanese cuisine for years, and it's popularity suggests that the quality of food and service is outstanding. On a recent visit we discovered this to be true. As part of a big group, we got to try a number of fantastic dishes, and we couldn't fault either the food or service. Maksumoto has a lovely atmosphere with Japanese art and murals on the wall. Seating is comfortable and there is a large space with lots of natural light. We started with wine and Japanese beer, and then began the epic feast.<br/><br/>We had samples of several dishes, including sushi, gyoza, sushi cones, tempura, stir fried prawns, chicken katsu and a steaming pot of shobu shobu hot pot. The sushi was amazing and fresh, and the sashimi bowl had tender tuna and salmon that was simply amazing. The tempura seafood and vegetables were so delicious, with perfectly crispy batter but still keeping the flavour of the prawns, fish and vegetables. Chicken Katsu is one of my favourite dishes, and this version had crunchy but succulent chicken with an aromatic curry sauce that I could eat by the ladle full. Stir fried prawns filled the air with spicy aromas, and they were as delicious as they looked.<br/><br/>The shobu shobu was a steaming pot of gorgeous, flavoursome stock with plates of thinly sliced beef, Asian vegetables and tofu to dip in and cook quickly to our own personal liking. I love this concept as it is not only delicious, but it is extremely social as everyone sits around the pot cooking their own food. It really was extremely tasty and we all enjoyed it so much.<br/><br/>The highlight of our meal was when a huge sushi boat was brought to the table. What a spectacular sight... a complete showstopper. Overflowing with sushi, oysters and sashimi it was an absolute delight. The quality of the ingredients was so fresh and delightful, and it honestly tasted as great as it looked. I have never eaten so much sashimi and wasabi, and I literally rolled out the door.<br/><br/>With fabulous company, it really was a pleasure to dine at Matsumoto. Our hostess was so lovely and obliging, taking care of us throughout a busy lunch period. The restaurant was quite full, but the friendly staff were on top of their game, and really delivered quality service.<br/><br/>I'm a big fan of Japanese cuisine, and I'm so happy to have experienced it at this level. Matsumoto delivers fantastic, fresh food in a beautiful restaurant, with fabulous service and I couldn't possibly want more than that. It really was amazing.<br/><br/>Thank you for hosting us.

I visited this wonderful restaurant recently and what an experience it was.  The restaurant is cosy, nothing too over the top which I liked as I felt very relaxed and comfortable.  The staff here are very friendly and so helpful, top service - thank you. <br/><br/>I asked my dad to come along with me, it was his first time eating Japanese and I am so happy that he loved it! He even used chopsticks for the first time like a pro, so cute! Haha<br/><br/>We started off with the Takoyaki which were cooked perfectly, little balls of goodness that were not oily and had a beautiful taste.  The sushi boats here are off the charts!! WOW We shared the Deluxe House Special which has an out of this world selection of beautiful and fresh sushi and sashimi.  There was a very generous amount in the boat and the slices of the sashimi cut nice and thick.  I also loved the addition of the oysters too, everything was just excellent.   I love my Katsu curries so it was a no brainer to also try Katsu Chicken Don, the curry was thick with huge chunks of potato and carrot which gave the curry good texture.  The chicken schnitzel crumbed and cooked to perfection, it was just so delish.<br/><br/>A good selection of Japanese beers too which my dad and I enjoyed.  If you are thinking of visiting then I can highly recommend!  Thank you for the invite, this really was such a great experience.

Matsumoto bring fine Japanese cuisine without the high end prices. The venue brings a very casual and warm feeling but delivers on the amazing flavour and presentation of the food you get. I highly recommend getting the Deluxe Sushi Boat to share as it’s an experience not worth missing

Great service, decent food. Matsumoto was bustling on a Wednesday night. We got 3 of the rice and noodle dishes which was OK. Nothing to scream about but I do want to come back to try their sushi and bento boxes as many were having that.

Went there last Saturday for dinner. We were very satisfied with the food and their Sashimi was very fresh. Service was fantastic. Highly recommended. Will definately go back again.

We visited on Saturday noon using Zomato Gold. Restaurant was quite busy and with only two wait person on the floor, it was quite chaotic. <br/><br/>Took awhile for the waiter to get back to us after a few questions pertaining what we could order using our Zomato Gold membership. Was really confusing for me as we thought we could order anything as long as it was not banquet meals or set meals. We were told initially that we could only order from the Mains with the exclusion of Bento & Seafood Bento. I remarked that would be a really a small selection then that we could order from? It was then that the waiter ran back to the kitchen to check and told us that Bento & Seafood Bento was also included. <br/><br/>So we placed two orders for Seafood Bento and a kid’s bento that came with a soft drink and activity pack. When I was placing my order, I showed the waiter again my Zomato Gold membership and was waiting for him to activate my visit but was told that he knew that we were using Zomato Gold. That left me confused because it was written on the terms that we had to show the waiter prior to ordering and that it needed to be activated? Anyways, I requested then that he brought us the activity pack before the meal as our child was already getting restless. <br/><br/>When the activity pack did not come, we requested for it again from another waitress. We also requested for some water. They were that busy that we were not served any water after 15minutes in the establishment. <br/><br/>After ordering, I browsed through Zomato Gold & read some reviews. A lady who only visited yesterday using Zomato Gold too was allowed to order from the Rice & Noodle section. It felt that we were discriminated against then. <br/><br/>The kids bento came first which was great as children are not the most patient. My five year old was happy to see some fresh fruits, tempura prawn and sushi rolls on his bento. He loved the tempura prawns and had a second from my husband’s bento. Would not touch the dumplings - husband tried it and he did not like it too. Definitely was not gyoza - was big, doughy and tasted weird according to him. Chicken kaarage was alright. The remainder of the kids bento was alright.<br/><br/>Seafood Bento was mediocre at best. The only thing really that I enjoyed from my bento was the salmon sashimi and prawn tempura. I did find a bone though on my sashimi. Oyster was just dunked in soy and was just overly salty. Would have been better if they had just served it as it is with a slice of lemon. Stir fried seafood that came with it was overly salty and tasted heavily of soy sauce as well. The squid and mussels were overly cooked and rather chewy. Spring rolls and takoyaki was rather greasy and made you queasy after a few bites. The rice on the bento was also really dry. <br/><br/>We were rather disappointed with our meal overall. I would say that their tempura stuffs looks great as that was what we first noticed when we walked into the restaurant. Lots of tables ordered their tempura dish and it all came out looking good. Sushi looked a little unrefined as they were all rather big and clumpy looking. <br/><br/>Would we visit again? Probably not. If you’re after some good service when you dine out, then this wouldn’t be the right place for you either. This is not to say that our wait staff had been rude but rather they had been so busy that it becomes hard to notice when a table need their assistance. They really should have more wait person on the floor as the wait staffs certainly looked frazzled.

Went today with zomato gold. Flavour was okay though the unagi was kinda small.<br/><br/>Bill comes to $17, asked of there is surchange on paypass, and was assured that there was no surcharge. But somehow my bank was charged $17.20. Explanations????

Had a nice experience here. We ordered the sashimi boat, this was presented beautifully and was fun to eat our way around. Would come back for the novelty

I've just got Zomato Gold Membership and was excited to use it for the first time. Searching the zomato app, noticed that this restaurant has 4.2 rating which is quite high. Planning to order 2 sets of Sukiyaki with Wagyu beef but it's not included in 1+1 complimentary deal so we just ordered something simpler. Service from staff, I can't say that they are friendly but "professional"? Well, we order okonomiyaki as entre for sharing. It's not good. It's a bit too small, cold and very tough pancake. It should be warm, gooey and soft. Unadon for my husband. It's small but taste is acceptable. We had better ones before. Then my food came, it's Nabeudon. Looks wonderful but tasteless even after adding a tablespoon of soy sauce. Not much meat, full of vege and small portion. So food quality is a nay for me. Value for money? No but okay. It's affordable. Environment and drinks were great! Good place to have friends gathering. Will I come back again? Probably not.

Loved my experience here tonight! Food was delish and my fav would have to be the super fresh sashimi and Katsu Curry 🍛 Dayum the perfect dish for a cold wintry day like this! Would defs be back for more 😍

Super busy on a Saturday night, would recommend booking in advance. Good variett of sushi, sashimi and rolls. We got the sushi boat to share and among other small side dishes which was plenty. Takoyaki has only miniature pieces of octopus inside, maybe skip that.

Recently visit Matsumoto, the amazing Japanese eatery located on Lygon Street. It was packed on a Friday night and this is a good sign. <br/><br/>They had an extensive food and wine menu which is always good. We decided on sushi boat, tempura moriawase, Nasu Dengaku and Tuna Tataki.<br/><br/>Deluxe Sushi Boat – There was a very good variety as it came with fresh sashimi, maki rolls, fresh oysters, fresh scallops served on a traditional sushi boat. This is one of their popular specialty on the menu and we found that it was good value. The sashimi was very fresh and the sushi was done nicely.<br/><br/> Tempura Moriawase – The tempura platter had a bit of everything and it had a good mix. The prawn and fish tempura was good and we loved the idea of the eggplant and lotus tempura as well.<br/><br/>Nasu Dengaku – This is a Miso Glazed Eggplant and it was cooked perfectly. It has a sweet and savoury taste to it and had just the right amount of miso. The textures and flavours were spot on and we really loved it. <br/><br/>Tuna Tataki – This was yet another highlight dish, the tuna was seared very briefly over a hot flaming pan and the garlic and wine sauce went really well together. The tuna was really fresh and the texture was soft and silky.<br/><br/>We really enjoyed our meal at Matsumoto and the service was amazing as the staff were really friendly. Be sure to visit them for awesome Japanese food, might be a good idea to make bookings before as they do get busy.

What a lovely place! From the moment you walk in greeted by beautiful smiles. A lovely setting with heaps of great options on the menu. Specialising in Sushi the sushi was exceptional! Loved the fact they had table top cooking love the concept and Idea and behind it! Wagyu beef cooked in the broth was delicious. We didn't leave hungry thats for sure. ***Disclaimer: although the restaurant has generously invited me to their restaurant this review is still based on my genuine opinion.

Amazing food, incredible service! Staff are always super friendly and polite. Sushi selection is a must 😍 Can’t recommend this place highly enough!

We were kindly invited to dine at Matsumoto and we chose a Sunday night for dinner. When we arrived, the whole restaurant was full and diners were chatting away and enjoying their food.<br/>We ordered the chef’s selection banquet which came with toibiko salad, miso soup, sushi, sashimi, kaki fry, garlic prawn teppanyaki, wagyu beef sukiyaki and fresh fruits and jelly. <br/>The toibiko salad was fresh and balanced and the miso soup came with vegetables, mushrooms and tofu in it which was quite unique. A great start to the meal.<br/>The sushi and sashimi was beautifully presented and so fresh. The hilight was the beautiful fatty and sweet salmon belly nigiri lightly torched with a smokey flavour - it melted in the mouth. If I were to nitpick I thought the sushi roll with salmon in it had a lot of rice so the ratio of rice to filling was a little off balance and the rice was a little too vinegary but otherwise the dish was outstanding.<br/>The kaki fry (oysters coated in panko crumbs and deep fried) was delicious - thin crunchy layer on the outside and fresh and juicy on the inside served with tonkotsu sauce and mustard. <br/>The garlic prawns were bursty and succulent and had a lovely char on them from the teppanyaki.<br/>The wagyu beef sukiyaki was amazing - the waiter came and prepared the sukiyaki for us tableside. He first fried the vegetables and stewed it in the soup then dished it into bowls and cooked the beef to our liking (we asked for medium rare). Once he finished cooking the sukiyaki he also beat up eggs for us to dip the beef into the egg to eat. It was delicious! The beef was high quality wagyu beef which melted in our mouths and was so much richer dipped into the egg! It was like butter. I highly recommend this dish. <br/>We had fruits and almond jelly which was a refreshing way to end the meal.<br/>The staff who served us were all polite and friendly. Thank you Matsumoto for the lovely invite, we had a really enjoyable night.

Real rating: 4.5 <br/>Came in last night for the deluxe sushi boat that my best friend won via social media and it was such a delicious prize! A good selection of sashimi and they all tasted fresh, my favourite was the salmon, melt in your mouth. Only downside of the sushi boat was the sushi rolls did not taste fresh, the prawns and kingfish were dry and so was the rice.<br/>We also ordered a few side dishes to go with our meal. Agedashi tofu, fried oysters and mixed mushrooms. The fried oysters were a stand out! Beautifully crumbed and not oily at all. Wish we had ordered more! Both the tofu and mushrooms were a decent size entree and we were very full and satisfied after our entrees and mains but still wanted dessert. Dessert wasn’t anything to rave about but I always enjoy a good black sesame ice cream and the one here had a great balance of flavours!<br/><br/>

Located towards the quieter part of Lygon street this is definitely a Japanese restaurant worth trying. <br/><br/>We have been coming here for years and the food remain consistent. We were lucky enough to win their giveaway sushi boat which was filled with fresh seafood! We also added fried chicken as thats always a treat.

I came here to Matsumoto for the first time last week after a good friend said I had to try the food here. I used to frequent this classic Japanese restaurant at QV, however, it's not longer there. I miss this type of Japanese food. Picture a retro Japanese Dining, done with meticulous care, detail and high quality with reasonable prices. You don't get this at the newer Japanese restaurants these days, they try to be 'out-there' & very creative till some lose that magic. Here at Matsumoto, the magic is there. <br/>Now, about the food--> <br/>1. Sushi & Sashimi Boat : every ingredient is so fresh, I especially enjoyed the Calamari. The King Fish was buttery and melt in your mouth too!  <br/>2. Aburi Salmon Nigiri : Fresh, just the right amount of blowtorching to char the salmon belly's fat without giving too much of that butane gas aroma. Sushi rice perfectly cooked, al-dente<br/>3. Tuna tataki: Another extremely fresh loaf of tuna steak , torched slightly on the outside, and sliced into sumptous , dark red slices of iron rich tuna meat. The garnish of spring onions and homemade soya sauce mix balanced the flavours well. <br/>4. Crumbed deep fried oysters: this was a star dish! during my second visit I ordered it again! You have got to try this, it sounds very rich, but it was not too oily of heavy, the crumbing was light and crispy, with a hot and soft oyster inside. <br/>5. Katsu Chicken Curry: perfect thick sauce, not too sweet, and buttery enough without being too creamy. I like the balanced flavours. <br/>6. Slowgrilled Eggplant : this is another star dish you have got to try. I suggest ordering a bowl of steamed rice and just slowly pick at the eggplant , mixed with some grains of rice. Best for a cold day. <br/>7. Tempura Vegetables: Matsumoto really knows how to handle deep frying and making sure the batter is still light and crispy. You need to try this is you are up for vegetables but also tempted to be a little naughty having vegetables deep fried.  <br/>8. Dessert: Opt for the Japanese pancake with red bean filling or the mochi balls on a skewer stick with Green tea ice cream. I love the mochi balls! And the green tea ice cream was strong, with a yummy bitter yet balanced taste from the Matcha. <br/>Overall, I had 2 amazing Lunches one week after the other. Easy 1P or 2P free parking on the side street, and wonderful, warm and most importantly prompt service. There will be no buyer's remorse here at Matsumoto!

Went to try out this long established Japanese restaurant in Brunswick and wasn't disappointed! The edamame portion was generous and really fresh and delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed the Kaki fry (Fried oysters in panko served in its shell) which complements well with it's bbq sauce and mustard companion. The chicken curry katsudon was superb and tasted very authentic. Altogether wholly recommended for a hearty meal that is budget friendly

Matsumoto has an wide range of options on their menu - especially great sharing dishes and bento sets.<br/><br/>The deluxe house special (sushi & sashimi) we got for 2 people was served on the cutest traditional sushi boat. The portion was huge! Definitely something you could share for even 4 people so you can order other things on the menu. :)

I could totally have this banquet for two from Matsumoto *all-to-myself*🤗! Luckily the food at Matsumoto is amazing value for money🤑, the quality of food and quantity [Swipe to see for yourself]👌🏻is truly what makes this little restaurant a local's favourite❤️

The sushi is delicious. My tummy was very happy during this experience. It wasted fresh and yeah Ill definitely be back and the service was good too. I got 6 things from the sushi train and cost around $26. I was happy because of the food being so delicious and felt comfortable being there too.

Main Pros: A large vegetarian set menu , prompt service and reasonable prices!<br/>Main Cons: Seating was very squished and atmosphere too hectic <br/>Overall though I would definitely return as their bento boxes and sushi are delicious!

First time visiting Matsumoto located on the busier strip of Lygon st towards Brunswick. The Sashimi was great, good quality fish and quick to arrive. <br/>Ox tongue was a very interesting dish, it was cooked properly and super rich in flavour. <br/><br/>Service can be slow, but staff are still friendly even when they’re busy running around. <br/><br/>Will come back to try more of the menu because there’s a lot of good dishes!

Love this place... always a good idea to grab a quick bite at Matsumoto... all of their sushi is freshly hand prepared upon ordering and their menu is big enough that anyone you eat with can find something they like!

3.5 In amongst the great variety of restaurants on this section of Lygon St, you’ll find Matsumoto, a warm and friendly Japanese eatery. The sushi bar serves up delights like Aburi Salmon and Unagi Sushi, both cooked beautifully, with the Unagi boasting a tasty glaze. Also delicious is the Spicy Salmon Roll

Matsumoto is a popular local Japanese restaurant located at the quiet end of Lygon street, Brunswick. I ordered the vegetarian curry rice for a fantastic price of $12. The curry was temperature hot & delicious. The serving was so generous, I couldn’t finish it! Service was fast & friendly. Highly recommend coming here for great quality and affordable Japanese food.

Honestly have been craving Japanese food like crazy! The only thing is I find it’s not easy to find a decent priced Japanese’s restaurant, in Brunswick. <br/><br/>I enjoyed the food here, although I did find the food was okay it didn’t blow my mind. I have to say value for money is fair and the service was decent. <br/><br/>If I’m in the area and want a hit of sushi, I’d have to say this is where I’d go.

It is a busy place and food was quite good. This is my second time here as it’s the best Japanese in the area. The reason for 4 star is the lack of customer service. The chiefs are not Japanese but Chinese so it’s not your authentic Japanese food but the taste is still there. A bit pricey but overall worth trying.

4.5<br/><br/>15 years of operation is certainly quite an achievement and in that time Matsumoto appears to have gained quite a solid loyal following. This was evident is how packed out the venue on this cold Tuesday evening.<br/><br/>We were given the obligatory greeting which I never tire of and made to feel welcome. I am always willing to try new beers so tonight went for the Koshihikari Echigo while my dining buddy chose the cutest marble necked Japanese Lemonade.<br/><br/>A huge menu to chose from and we ordered with great gusto figuring a slow drip feed of dishes throughout the evening. Hats off to the kitchen staff however as out multi entree meal came out in rapid fire... almost as fast as my camera was taking photos.<br/><br/>We loved the Sashimi and Tataki plates which were both salmon based. The Tataki was just slightly seared and had a mild ponzu sauce. A really great meal starter. I couldn’t pick favourites between the seared Alburi Salmon Nigiri or the Wagyu Nirgiri as both were suitable impressive. <br/><br/>There’s often a dish that surprises and I’m learning that with Japanese food it’s often the eggplant which is something I generally have steered clear of in the past, but tonight’s miso eggplant was hands down a must have ... trust me. <br/><br/>The mixed tempura plate had a great variety and well coasted seafood and veggies but sadly only one prawn which my over eager dining buddy claimed as hers without any discussion. I have to take her word for it that this was good. The fish and crispy enoki mushrooms were also great.<br/><br/>Which brings me to the beef, or the sizzling wafu steak dish which was the dish I had been looking forward to the most and it didn’t disappoint with tender medium rare beef and a tasty sauce. <br/><br/>We wrapped up our visit with battered bananas and a sesame ice cream. A really enjoyable dining experience. With food this good I can see why the place was so packed out.<br/><br/>Thanks so much for inviting us in to try out your impressive menu.

I dined as a guest of Matsumoto last night and loved everything about it. A bit of an institution having been open for 15 years I was impressed to see the place buzzing with people of a Tuesday evening. I began the meal with a peach flavoured Japanese lemonade given I had not seen that on a menu before and it was rather tasty.<br/><br/>We stayed off with some yummy salmon sashimi and a couple of sushi plates, Aburi salmon and wagyu beef. These were both really delicious. It’s not often you find wagyu sushi available so when I do I make sure to order it and would definitely recommend you do too. <br/><br/>Miso eggplant, assorted tempura and yakitori were up next. I loved this eggplant so much I could have had ten of them! The tempura batter was perfectly light and the prawn really well cooked. We also had the salmon tataki which was presented beautifully and had a stellar ponzu sauce. <br/><br/>We finished with the sizzling wafu steak dish which was nice and tender. My dining companion also managed to try a desert, the fried banana which I sampled and that light batter excelled again. Overall nothing I could fault

Wafu beef was good. Juicy and tender, and the sauce was nice. Chicken katsu was also pretty good. Little bit pricy though. Oh yeah the tempura banana was soooo crispy and yum.

Matsumoto is a really nice Japanese restaurant in Brunswick. The quality of the food is really good, the portions are decent as well. Very reasonably priced. <br/><br/>We got to try their Chef's special banquet which includes Tobiko salad, miso soup, sushi bar specials, Kaki fry, Garlic prawn teppanyaki, Wagyu beef sukiyaki, fresh fruit platter and tempura banana. Everything is really nice, especially the sukiyaki. The server cooked the meal on our table, and the smell was really tempting, we were at the edge of our seats and were so keen to eat. <br/><br/>The waiters were really friendly and provided quick service.<br/>

Overall, dissapointing. The food was prepared very slow, despite the fact there were only 4 tables of customers in the restautant. The mushrooms in Sukiyaki have moulds. The waitress took away our unfinished food without asking, we had to ask for it to be returned to the table. The flavours were not too bad, fruits and icecreams were served to compensate the mouldy mushrooms.

Really nice ambience and food was mostly fresh<br/> but Avocado was grey in the California roll I had.<br/><br/>Hoping we get better luck next time to decide if we keep coming back

Loved the sashimi! Nice and fresh. Very friendly service too. <br/><br/>This restaurant delivers great food and service. Also great value for kids meal too! My daughter loves it. <br/><br/>

Love the sashimi, we also had oysters natural which were fantastic. The staff are just great and so welcoming. So great for kids too, we got given a little kids pack with crayons to keep.. Kids bento boxes are so reasonably priced!<br/>Will be back for sure.

Amazing food and fast service! Would definitely recommend the sushi boat for die hard sushi fans or people wanting to try a little bit of everything. Soft shell crab karaage deserves a mention too. All so delicious.. will definitely be coming back!

Found this gem on Zomato despite it being there for years!<br/>Glad I did! The food is soo good! <br/>Staff very friendly and polite. <br/>Have dined in a couple of times but usually get take-away.<br/>Must try: Chicken Katsu curry don - veg bento box

Very good prompt polite service. Good food and prices. Weird high chair that does not go close enough to table, and complicated straps. IKEA high chairs are great to consider for F&B establishments.

Very tasty! I’ve had two vegetarian meals here, both haven’t let me down and the price is very reasonable. The service is very quick for the amount of people in the shop!

Matsumoto is pretty much part of my staple diet when I am in need of urgent Japanese food. It’s been in Brunswick for as long as I can remember, and for excellent reason!<br/><br/>Doesn’t disappoint, great service, and delicious, well portioned food at decent prices! I’d get in for Lunch for the specials everyday if I could! <br/><br/>Most recently at here yesterday , and noticed the seafood bento box for the first time! Yummm! Sashimi, an oyster, tempura, pankocrumbed seafood, and sauteed calamari and mussels. <br/><br/>Cannot wait to be summoned here by my stomach again!

Been here a number of times now. Although the decor isn’t as good as some of the other Japanese restaurants I’ve been too. The quality of the food is extremely good. The wafu steak is a must.

Matsumoto serves good value Japanese food, especially the sushi boat. The sashimi was okay, but the rolls were definitely subpar. The seafood quality and amount is good for the price. Gyutan shioyaki could have been amazing but unfortunately it was cold, oily and bland (needed salt!), despite being perfectly cooked and thinly sliced.

Been eating at this place for years. Such a great local restaurant. My go to dishes include avocado ebi (prawn) rolls, Wafu steak, gyoza and the incredible sashimi and sushi platter presented on a wooden boat. It’s definitely a place I’ll keep coming back to.

Very sweet staff we ordered take away gyoza and Bento boxes - gyoza was good but the bento was a little hit and miss - miso was unbelievably salty, the tempura veg were nice, beef was very salty also - the rest was ok

Finally back to some Melbourne sushi since our holiday in Japan together! Being so highly rated, we decided to give Matsumoto a try with high hopes that it would give us the satisfaction that only good Sushi can provide.<br/><br/>Entering the busy establishment, we were greeted by very accommodating and friendly staff who seated us right away. We made no hesitation in ordering the usual suspects- Salmon Sashimi, spicy salmon rolls, aburi salmon and of course, the soft shell crab rolls. Let's start with the food and our thoughts. The Salmon Sashimi was delicious, tasty, however we felt they were abit too thin in comparison to other restaurants we have been to. The spicy salmon rolls were good, however like other reviews have mentioned, we felt it tasted a bit home made and too similar to ordinary hand rolls from say, food courts. The aburi salmon was juicy and chewy, but could have used a bit more charring to make it true aburi. The highlight of the meal was perhaps the soft shell crab which was soft, but oozing with delicate taste and flavour.<br/><br/>Overall we were satisfied with our meal and choices. This restaurant has good sushi, very satisfying, but there is a clear distinction between good and great sushi, by which this has just missed the mark. Still a very satisfying experience nonetheless! A perfect 3.5/5.<br/><br/>Food: 3.5/5<br/>Ambience: 3/5<br/>Service: 3.5/5<br/>Value: 3.5/5<br/><br/>Overall: 3.5/5

Will come back for:<br/>+ Deluxe Sashimi<br/>+ Tempura Moriawase<br/>+ Wafu steak<br/><br/>Matsumoto presents consistent and good value Japanese in the Brunswick area. We came in on a Sunday night without booking and the place was fully booked but they accommodated us anyways at the counter bench which suited us fine. We ordered the grilled ox tongue (this was on the tough side tonight), miso soup (tasty and packed with fresh ingredients), a main sashimi to share (this was fresh and generous in size), a plate of Aburi Salmon Sushi (this needed a bit more grilling to our taste), a plate of mixed tempura (again generous and nicely battered), and the wafu steak (juicy, tender and covered with sauce). Judging by the many “sushi boats” (which were presented impressively) that went out, this is clearly a local favourite and for good reasons. Prices are reasonable for what you get, service was friendly and quick (despite a full restaurant). A consistent and good local option for your Japanese food cravings.

Can't speak more highly of Matsumoto.<br/><br/>Staff are very friendly, attentive and professional. The food is delicious, very fresh and perfectly balanced with plenty of variety. The restaurant does get quite full but without feeling overcrowded.<br/><br/>A great little place, perfect for a casual Friday night feed or a date. Fantastic value for the level of service and quality. You'll be back.

I've been living close to this place for about 1 year and never been there until a couple of months ago. Not many wines on the list, but the In Dreams Chardonnay from Yarra Valley it's among my favourite so I was pretty happy. The sushi..oh my god. It's great. Not to mention the okonomyaki, takoyaki and the nasu eggplant. Only thing that wasn't amazing was the mixed tempura, but everything else was perfect. Came back another time by myself and still the sushi was perfect. Not too much rice on the nigiri which I appreciate! Prices are fair as well. Just an advice: be a little more welcoming and warm! 👌

Friendly staffs delivered great services , my little girls loves eating here. <br/>We came all the way from Doncaster.<br/>This place is highly recommended. <br/><br/>

very bad experience！the aperence was poor！<br/>the staff spilled soup on My white top！ <br/>And the cut of tuna is wild. I feel im eating A whole raw fish.

It was quite busy as you would expect on Valentine's Day...Came with the fam....decided to order a few entrees and a main each...the entrees included some spring rolls, tempura vegetables, chicken wings and the famous octopus balls...except for the wings, the rest were all good.the balls were crispy sweet with octogoodness on the inside, the tempuraband springs were crunchy. The wings were dissapointing...crunchy and no flavour! Maybe they forgot something?? The mains were a couple of Bento boxes and a couple of soups, one with Udon and the other Ramen. The broth s were heavenly and tasty and the fillings which were a mixture of seafood and meat with veg were competent! All were washed down by wine and some Jap beers. Prices are avg. All up a nice evening...would like to come by on a normal night again! 🇬🇷

Really nice sashimi. However the sushi chef seems to focus on the sashimi and someone less experience works on the rolls as these are never as good or professionally made. The sashimi is great, fresh and very well presented and it won't cost you and arm and a leg... Recommended sashimi place for the area.

If you're in the area and want cheap Japanese then Matsumoto is the place to go. The choice of the menu is your general standard fair so don't expect anything fancy. The sashimi is pretty good quality and seemed quite fresh. The deep fried squid we had was very chewy. Service was friendly if slow.

If I could give it zero stars I would.<br/><br/>Lack of sanitary practice and hygiene!!!! The waiter that served us SNEEZED IN HIS HANDS AND DIDN'T WASH THEM. It was either that or the lack of freshness in the sushi that got ....<br/><br/>My partner and I FOOD POISONING.<br/><br/>Will not be going back there again.

Good option if you are looking for a Japanese restaurant in Brunswick, Lygon area. Service was decent, Staff was lovely and polite. Food was good, sushi and sashimi was fresh and beautiful presentable. Price is average not cheap but not so expensive. Will come back again.

After passing here many times and always seeing a crowd, it was time to experiment here. From an extensive menu, we ordered Takoyaki (octopus balls) and the Deluxe Sushi / Sashimi Boat for two. <br/><br/> The delicious and tasty Takoyaki came out impressively fast despite the many diners in the restaurant. We devoured it with gusto. Soon after came the sushi & sashimi boat. Great presentation, generous serves. It missed that "crisp" feel of super fresh sushi but was still good with every bite. We demolished it and were satisfyingly full with no room to consider dessert.<br/><br/>Smiling, helpful and attentive staff, efficient service and ample seats, the high rating and ample diners are well justified.

North side of Lygon street in North Carlton, this spot has some of the freshest sashimi in Melbourne. The sashimi and sushi boat is great value. Priced slightly on the steeper side, but great quality sashimi. Worth it.

Really good place to come to for a special occasion. My family and I went for dinner here and ordered some things to share. One of my favourite things we got was the tempura. Nice place but quite pricey

I had drove and walked past this place almost 50 times before ordering takeaway sashimi one night and I was overly impressed!<br/><br/>I have since dined in quite a few times and I’m always happy with the service and quality in the sashimi and sushi. <br/><br/>I also got to mention the cute wooden boat your sushi and sashimi comes served on, perfect photo opportunity.

The lunchtime banquet was nice. The staff were very friendly. I especially enjoyed the dessert and the Japanese beer. Company was great.........

Decided to try out Matsumoto given it had high reviews. We ordered a sushi and sashimi boat for two, takoyaki and beef tataki which was a good amount for three people. The food was alright, but nothing really stood out. Personally, I wouldn't return but if you are after a cheap Japanese meal, give it a shot.

I’ve been here a few times and it’s always good. The okonomiyaki and takoyaki are two of my favourite entrees. The sushi and sashimi are always fresh and flavoursome.

Was really craving sushi when we went to Matsumoto but it really didn’t hit the mark. Sushi was average. Japanese curry was nice but a bit expensive for what it was. Not as good as others I’ve had.

The bento boxes are fantastic, the vegetarian one is really tasty.  The service is always professional and friendly.  Really love this place.

What can I say about Matsumoto that hasn’t been said already? Sufficient to say: it’s our favourite Japanese restaurant! Simple fresh food and good service from the friendly waiters, we are even on a first name basis with Angela! It’s well priced too and a very popular place to dine in East Brunswick! We love it here and highly recommend it to all Japanese food lovers! 😍

Decent Japanese food, no wait time, good service. The bento lunch specials had plenty of food and good variety as well. The additional fruit at the end was a nice touch.

The shop is in good shape. The price is also the people, not too exaggerated, the atmosphere of the shop is good, very suitable for this rest