Matsuri Japanese Restaurant
1105 S Charles St, Baltimore, MD, 21230
Matsuri Japanese Restaurant Menu
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Appetizers
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Soup & Salad
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Kitchen Entrees
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Don Buri
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Dessert
Healthy Meal suggestions for Matsuri Japanese Restaurant
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Appetizers
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Soup & Salad
-
Kitchen Entrees
-
Don Buri
-
Dessert
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Address :
1105 S Charles St
Baltimore, MD, 21230 - Phone (410) 752-8561
- Website https://www.matsuri.us/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Randy G.
I could probably eat a large, scratch that, a tub of that salad as long as it has that ginger dressing. I love that dressing, but it's a good thing they don't give me a tub, otherwise I wouldn't have room for the other two delicious items I tried. Here's a creative and outstanding flavor dish to try. It wasn't on the menu, but you can still order it, the Beef Negamaki. Basically it's similar to a sushi roll concept, but instead of seaweed as the wrap, it's a grilled steak. The steak is thinly cut and grilled with a great charred flavor. The char along with the sauce, you get crispy, tangy, smokey, sweet. What a combination! Get it if you can. I'm starting to slow down and realize I'm be taking some home. However, that doesn't stop me. I dive into the Chicken and Calamari Bento Box. The chicken is cooked excellent, grilled just enough for that extra flavor, tender, and still juicy. Add the sauce and you unconsciously have a smile on your face. You move to the calamari, the smile gets bigger. The breading is crunchy and delicious, calamari is tender, and the sauce makes you go mmmmmm. Not that I had any room, but I have to try the dumplings right? Crunch, great crispy shell, excellent filling, then once again the sauce, oh boy. I was very happy for lunch and since I couldn't eat it all, I was very happy for a snack later, and dinner.
(5)Brianna C.
Stumbled upon Matsuri on Yelp and decided to give it a shot based on great reviews. We came in during lunch and the restaurant was pretty empty, but we soon realized how busy they were based on the takeout orders that were being placed every other minute! They have an excellent lunch menu with combos and options that will leave your wallet and appetite happy. The combos range from sushi to kitchen entrees to bento boxes combining pretty much the entire menu. The bento boxes are $12 and come with a lot of food - this will definitely be my choice anytime I get lunch from Matsuri. You get to choose two entrees (this can include kitchen entrees, sushi, tempura, etc.) and then the box comes with steamed rice, a miso soup, and an order of goyza dumplings. I tried the lunch portion of chicken teryaki which came with a bowl of white rice and a miso soup for $8. It was delicious! The sauce was fresh and the portion was very big. We also ordered the steamed shumai which were delicious and very fresh! The staff was attentive, friendly, and quick with the order, so you could definitely come to Matsuri on a lunch break and make it back to work in time. I will definitely be back in the future!
(4)Alan G.
I have had the seaweed salad, bento box, and chirashi bowl here. The seaweed salad is small, but a delicious appetizer. The bento box is a great deal for lunch, and the chirashi is pretty good too. It comes in square bowl with sashimi, sometimes roe, and sometimes egg on top of sushi rice. It also comes with a bowl of miso soup. The service is good and there is surprisingly ample seating (2 floors)!
(4)Maisie L.
It is american Japanese style, but tastes okay. Fried gyoza is deep fried in oil instead of frying the bottom only. tempura udon has too many things in it, and udon is not chewy. Unagi don is not bad!
(3)Rachel L.
Recently, a friend and I were meeting for dinner and wanted to try someplace new. This was a particularly rainy and cold night and neither of us felt like traveling too far for dinner. I had remembered hearing that Matsuri in Federal Hill had great Japanese options other than sushi so we decided to give it a try. I started the meal with a miso soup. There was nothing special about this dish but it was pretty good. My friend started with the house salad. This was topped with the ginger dressing. Again, it was nothing special but the dressing was really flavorful. We decided to share the Fried Goyza which was a veggie dumpling. They were good, the exterior had a nice crunch while the veggies inside were cooked well and flavorful. My dinner date ordered the Chicken Katsu. His thoughts on it: "IT WAS DELICIOUS, the chicken was very flavorful and well cooked, not dry at all, the teryaki drizzle could be a little less sweet." For my meal, I ordered a bowl of Chicken Ramen Soup. This MASSIVE bowl of soup came with chicken, veggies, broth and a ton of noodles. I was really excited for this dish because I've heard how crazy people go for a bowl of authentic ramen soup. However I think this fell short. Overall the soup was lacking in flavor and looked nothing like pictures I had seen online. But this won't deter me from coming back and trying their Sushi or other menu offerings. The Japanese options from the kitchen is great for anyone who doesn't eat Sushi, but on my next visit I will definitely try the sushi.
(3)Emily K.
This is the best sushi place in the federal hill neighborhood. They have good food. The place itself is very tiny and you might have to wait a bit to get a table. However, the place is pretty authentic and almost feels like being transported to japan :)
(4)Rob N.
Matsuri's a bump above the usual downtown sushi joint. Good service, good food. The dining room's a bit on the cozy side, considering it's tucked into a corner rowhouse, but it's no biggie unless you're trying to cram in with the drinking crowd. We ordered up chirashi-don and a bento combo for a light dinner, and both were put together well with fresh fish and other tasty tidbits. We also has some ika-yaki (grilled squid) which was tender and nicely charred, although it would have been nice if it were grilled with some of the teriyaki sauce instead of just being served with it drizzled over. I missed the carmelized sugar along with the grill char. The only thing I can really say I was disappointed with was the fact that you're apparently only allowed one teabag. I tend to drink a lot of green tea with my sushi, so while it was appreciated that they kept offering more hot water, having refills of fresh tea instead would have been appreciated. Matsuri's definitely another entry on the list of serviceable Japanese-style restaurants in my rotation. That they're smack in the middle of Fed-Hill Brotown makes it even more remarkable.
(4)Tanya L.
I loved this place! So small and cozy. The food was good, fresh and delicious. The bathroom was clean, and the service was fast. I will be back
(5)Xiaoshi Y.
the place is nice. I ordered ramen and my boyfriend ordered black dragon roll. Both are good
(4)Heather F.
My experience here was a 3.5. This place was pretty awesome. I liked the style it was set in but the service was a little slow. I bought the Katsudon and it was delicious. I've also had the gyodon here but it wasn't really done in a traditional style and it didn't taste as good as some other places that make it. Overall, it was a nice experience but nothing stuck out for me. I am not sure if I will return here when there are other Japanese restaurants I like better.
(3)Brian C.
Shrimp and vegetable tempura is AWESOME!!! Definitely worth the visit. Didn't get to try sushi but will most certainly get it next time.
(5)Whitney H.
3.5 stars...... I have been eating here since I lived in Federal Hill, 5 years ago. I have always enjoyed the location, service and food. Yesterday, after a late flight I was craving some sushi. The staff was kind enough to accommodate___even though they were closing soon. I had a spicy crunch tuna roll and some type of dragon-- friend shrimp, chopped tuna on top, a slice of jalepeno....( I asked for no mango). I order on salmon and it was just that.....I little piece over rice. As far as the meals went....it went well. The rice was a bit overcook....probably b/c of our late night stop in. Yes, I will be be back but I can't say I will fly to Baltimore to get there either. The staff is very friends and the do gave a nice selection of various types of sake.
(3)Tunaidi A.
The Fed Hill area has a few big name sushi places, Matsuri being one of them. However, I'm sure that it's not my favorite. The sushi here is decent; the sashimi is smaller than at other places. There's also a good amount of kitchen items to choose from, most of which are average at best. But the speed at which your order comes... is either at turtle speed or a rabbit taking a nap. This happens even when there aren't many customers present.
(2)Hannah H.
I was in town visiting some family and we came to Matsuri for dinner. I had the small House Salad with ginger dressing, and it was good. For appetizers, we started off with 3 different types of maki: Crispy Spicy Tuna Roll, Soft Shell Crab Tempura Roll, and Yam Tempura Roll. The Crispy Spicy Tuna Roll had panko bread crumbs sprinkled on top and was not that spicy. The Soft Shell Crab Tempura Roll was actually pretty good, and it had a good balance between the tartar sauce and the rice. The Yam Tempura was sweet and interesting, and it was a nice surprise in being in maki form. I also tried the Matsuri Yaki Udon that comes with stir fried udon noodles mixed with vegetables, shrimp, beef, and chicken. The sauce itself was not creamy, but semi-thick enough to cover all the noodles. It had a udon broth-like flavor. The vegetables were cooked al dente, so they all had a good bite to them. It was a generous portion and it was satisfying. Overall, the service was great, and the place is clean. Be sure to get a seat upstairs in which you can take off your shoes and seat at a table in which you can place your feet in the space provided underneath the table. Very nice! We were the only ones seated upstairs, and it was quiet and pretty intimate! +Soft Shell Crab Tempura Roll +Yam Tempura +floor seating
(4)Kristen H.
GREAT SUSHI!! I have heard so many great things about this place so my boyfriend and I had to try it. We were very satisfied! Definitely going to stop here again soon!
(5)Kris L.
Ambience: small with a large sushi counter, just the way i like it. :) Menu: typical japanese apps, cooked food, and sushi. *Must haves: they have a happy hour 5-7 most weekdays that's off the hizzle! Ranging from $2 fatty tuna sashimi to $3 Gyoza to $5 specialty rolls! Love it! Service: proper, helpful, patient. My go-to sushi in locust point/fed hill. Will be back frequently and soon!
(4)Nina H.
Great sushi spot! It has a hole-in-the-wall atmosphere and the staff is among the friendliest I have ever encountered. There is a wide variety of sushi rolls; the Fed hill roll was one of my favorites. The ika yaki was also delish. Definitely coming back for another visit!
(5)Mary M.
I am a die-hard ramen fan - I spent 1.5 years living in Japan and became obsessed. I was happy to have ramen at Matsuri but it didn't taste authentic, although it was very good! I'd go back, but probably not just for the ramen.
(3)Rory P.
I strongly recommend the Ramen at this venue. The broth was out of this world good. If you love soup as much as I do. Then look no further if your in the Baltimore area. The sushi was also good not the best but not bad. The one thing I didn't care for was the fried gyoza. I would most certainly come back.
(4)Samantha C.
Baltimore lacks places that serve truly fresh sushi. It's not going to poison you, but it's not what you would get in DC or Miami, where I lived for many years. That being Matsuri was decent. I had a sushi plate and of the 5 or 6 kinds of fish, 3 were truly fresh and one was mackerel so it was very fishy, not my speed but the way it's supposed to be.
(3)Lily S.
I've been to Matsuri three times in the past year, two of those over the course of this summer and each time I've had truly fantastic meals. I'd recommend starting with the yakitori, it is probably the best chicken I've ever had and is cooked in a sweet yet complex sauce that I haven't found elsewhere. All of the sushi I've had here has been amazing but in particular the spicy yellowtail and tuna rolls were incredibly flavorful. All of the ingredients (including the most important one: the fish) are very fresh and perfectly prepared. You simply cannot go wrong with anything on their menu. Finally, for me tea is an important factor in determining the caliber a restaurant and I was not surprised by the excellent taste and quality of the green tea I asked for. The service is always on point as well and the ambience is perfect for a date, quiet and intimate (though the dress is casual). If you're looking for the best sushi in Baltimore, this is the place to go!
(5)Jessica R.
Great customer service and the sushi is mouth watering. I tried the Caribbean sushi roll! What a great experience! I will go again!
(5)Lina J.
Came here for lunch with a friend. They have pretty good lunch specials, $12 for miso, a side salad, gyoza (dumplings), and two proteins of your choice (e.g. chicken teriyaki). I ended up getting just salmon teriyaki ($10), which came with a bowl of rice, miso soup and grilled veggies. It's in a nice area of Federal Hill, right across the street from Cross Street Market on Charles street. Easy to get to via the circulator. And it had really cute decor. It was nothing super special, but it was still tasty. Great service too, our waitress was really friendly. I'll be back if I'm in the area!
(4)Benjamin P.
Baltimore sushi hall of shame runner up. The bento is a solid average lunch for around ten bucks. Tell them to go light on the sauces as they are vaguely reminiscent of cat vomit. Don't get anything to drink unless you like the taste of the inside of a dishwasher.
(2)Sara K.
Would not go back again, good for a quick bite but not worth the hassle of parking, the crowd or the service.
(3)Brooke K.
A great restaurant in a great location! Upon entering, the restaurant looks very small, but they actually have more rooms upstairs that are more private. My recommendation is the mango sushi roll!
(5)Ali W.
Just went here and the ramen was AWESOME. Very flavourful. The service was really quick and attentive. The place has a very nice aesthetic to it. My friend got the chicken teriyaki and she said it was the best she's ever had. Great place.
(5)Nile C.
Pretty good! I wasn't expecting much and the sushi was great! Small location, nice servers, no complaints!
(4)JoAnna D.
Who knew that an impromptu late lunch here at Matsuri would turn out to be my favorite meal in Baltimore?* After working up an appetite on a walking tour of Federal Hill, my boyfriend & I stopped into this cute little Japanese restaurant as per the advice of my Yelp app. It was around 1:30pm, so we missed the lunchtime rush. Only one other couple was eating inside. We were seated at the booth in the front window, next to the adorable fish tank.** Even the menus are shaped like multicolored koi! I was giddy with cuteness by the time we ordered our sodas & bento boxes. The miso soup was ehh. I don't like soup to begin with, and this, unfortunately, was no exception. I quickly pushed it aside and attacked my salad with sesame dressing! A medical condition frowns on my eating salad, but I couldn't resist. The dressing was amazinggg. I've never tasted anything like it, and just thinking about it makes me miss Matsuri. Within a few minutes, our Lunch Bento Boxes arrived. OMG. Huge! So much food. I chose the Chicken Teriyaki & Tempura, while my boyfriend had the Chicken & Steak Teriyaki (original, right?). The chicken was juicy & delicious, and the tangy teriyaki sauce was perfect. The tempura was crunchy & flavorful, thoroughly fried but not greasy or burnt. The bento box also came with white rice, Gyoza (fried little dumplings), & orange slices. So good - and so satisfying! We both loved our meals. Delicious! This could easily have been the best Bento Box I've ever had. If you find yourself in Federal Hill, I highly recommend that you stop in for a meal. You won't regret it! _______ * Not counting the bacon-on-a-stick from Camden Yards. But is that even classified as a meal? ** Restaurant owners, know this: if you seat me by the fish tank, I will likely think favorably of your establishment. It's that easy. Unless it's a piranha tank or something. Or eels - eww. But why would you even have those displayed in a restaurant? No one wants to see that ... but I digress.
(4)Halie B.
My boyfriend and I stopped in here Monday night for the happy hour. We arrived around 6 so the downstairs was pretty full and it looked like we were going to have to cozy up to the pretty small sushi bar. Luckily, they opened up the upstairs dining room just for us! We ordered three rolls of sushi, edamame and steamed dumplings. Everything was very tasty- even more so considering the priciest roll we got was only $6! I would stay away from the house wine- not the best I've ever had. All in all a wonderful place to grab a cheap but good sushi dinner. 6 plates, two drinks for $30- can't beat that!
(4)Stephen B.
Excellent sushi. A little pricy but what sushi place isn't? The monster roll was fantastic and the teriyaki squid was a nice appetizer.
(5)Sarah C.
Matsuri is consistently great! The also have an amazing happy hour menu Monday - Friday. Can't beat it! Fish is fresh and the roll combos are delicious! Love their use of mango! This is now the only sushi place I frequent in Baltimore as no other stands in comparison.
(5)Ashley H.
My favorites are the crabstick salad and their specialty rolls (the Orioles roll is delicious!) They have outdoor seating on the perfect corner for people-watching. No full bar, but they do have beer and wine. Go for happy hour ($3-7 rolls and apps)! Their lunch combos are a good deal too! They validate parking for the garage on the next block, too!
(5)Alexandra G.
I love the soup here. I went with a friend the other night and we ordered the seafood soup and also got fried shumai (the shumai were comp'ed!). They also have great lunch specials if you like non-fancy rolls. Love this place and love the employees here.
(5)Jason F.
Delicious....absolutely delicious....I live in the NY area and this by far sits up there with the best sushi I have had in NY and NJ!
(5)Vida O.
I would have given the place four stars if it wasn't for the gastrointestinal strife that it gave us afterwards. The sushi presentation as well as ambiance was cute but my goodness, we were so sick when we got home. We barely made it to the john. lol. Maybe it was because we ate there after the power outage? But come on. No excuses.
(1)WK W.
Unajyu tastes good. Recommend Maryland Roll.
(5)Kanika P.
Hands down the best sushi I've had in a while. My lobster roll was prepared fresh with my steamed shumai. They have a special formula for fried rice and it is mmmm mmm good. The place is very small and a tad on the chilly side. The waiter did not smile once. I've never been to Japan but perhaps this is customary? I've had sushi many places and have been treated much warmer. This is my only downside if any. Other than that, it's a must try!
(4)Brad M.
Mmmmm, a decent japanese (not just sushi) restaurant in Baltimore... I can finally quench my hunger for udon noodles, sushi, and Japanese beer! First, let me mention that there is a Happy Hour at this restaurant that is not listed on the website (or on the outside menu, for that matter). The Thursday we went, the HR lasted until 7pm, however the days of the week that it was available were unclear so you might want to call. $4 california rolls and $3 beer (plus many other options)! The restaurant is a little small (10 tables total + sushi bar?) so I can imagine it might get crowded on a peak night of the week, but the service was great! Our water glasses were never empty and the food was served promptly (but not too promptly...that would make me suspicious). The sushi rice was cooked just right (just the right stickiness) and the pieces were larger than average! The seafood Udon was packed full of seafood and noodles (but mostly seafood). The Soba with vegetables had the same story. Overall, we were very content with the food (including the food we couldn't finish and had to take home). Next time I'm planning to try a bento-box. The prices could have been better (although the happy hour prices were spot on), but I think that's to be expected for a Japanese place in Baltimore. I was a little surprised that the prices (and some dishes) on the website and even on the menu outside the door to the restaurant are outdated (aka, prices are actually higher once you sit down). I felt a little bait-and-swtiched, but it wasn't worth fussing over. If you're in the mood for some good [real] Japanese food and don't mind the $15 dollar per person price tag for it, then this is somewhere you should definitely check out! I won't be going back too soon (student budget and all), but I will go back when I have to answer the little voice in my head telling me to get some Japanese grub.
(4)Vicky D.
Pretty standard sushi, but their happy hour is a great deal. Service is also great; they give you a hot hand towel! Menu includes non-raw/non-sushi items for those who aren't into it.
(3)Jenny H.
I loce this place for two main reasons- 1) their sesame salad dressing (which I have not found elsewhere), it's creamy and flavorful and SO good and 2) their spicy crunchy tuna roll which is a chopped up tuna mixed with a spicy sauce, with crunchy crushed tempura on the outside- it doesn't taste oily or too saucy, but delicious! Their beef teriyaki where they use a large cut of thinly sliced ribeye, grilled to medium-medium rare is really good too and so are their other sushi rolls.
(4)John D.
Very good sushi, really fresh-tasting fish, as good as I've seen in Maryland. Good service, seems like a lot of sushi places feel crowded and this is no exception.. Haven't tried any of their cooked food, but have been back at least a half dozen times for the sushi.
(4)Lan H.
We were totally unaware of what was beyond the commercial areas surrounding and including the National Aquarium. But then we were super hungry for lunch and agreed to go here. We had no idea that the area surrounding it was an area that captured our imagination : ooo that looks like my future home...and THIS AREA is the area I envision starting a family life. D'aww :-D Yummy food all around. I had the Age Dashi tofu bento box (available on weekends). Can't say that I had the best rolls ever here, but they are contenders ;-)
(4)Samantha G.
I've been to Matsuri dozens of times and was never really moved one way or another. Not great or horrible enough to make me run home and write a review. The sushi was always decent and take-out tended to take a little too long. Tonight was different though! Maybe they got a new fish supplier and/or chef? The roll pieces were huge and the texture of the fish was top quality. In my salmon avocado roll, the salmon was so buttery that it practically melted in my mouth right along side the avocado. Definitely some of the best sushi I've had in Baltimore. And, it was ready in a jiffy! My only downside from tonight was that my miso soup was lacking. It had good flavor but just one measly little scrap of seaweed and two teeny tofu cubes. I like my miso chock-full of treasures.
(4)Adam P.
I read another review that said" I would have given a 4 if it weren't for the the gastrointestinal pains." I would agree with that but still not a 4. Tsunami in Annapolis tastes much better; and I didn't end up in the bathroom for most of the night afterwards. Proceed with caution!! I had a simple meal of Spicy Tuna and Volcano Roll and it did not end well at all.
(1)Jeff O.
Being new to Federal Hill and living so many years in Hawaii I wasn't sure what to expect. But this is the real deal! The sushi is fresh, the cuts are generous and the staff is very friendly. Jerry is the best sushi chef and always has a smile on his face. I love this place!!
(5)Tara N.
I walked in for a late lunch and was told to go sit by the window. When I was presented with the menu, the manager/owner told me I needed to order right away because it was last call and they close for the afternoon. No big deal, I offered to get my order to go. I paid and pretipped on my order, waited less than 10 minutes for it to be ready and left. I didn't think I would need to double check my order since I was the only person in the restaurant and the chefs could hear me when I ordered. I get home and my order is wrong. I call to let them know and the lady said I must've ordered the wrong thing, as she laughed at me. I told her I would be leaving a review on here and again she laughed as she said "sorry" and hung up. There are a ton of sushi choices in Baltimore with better quality sushi and much better customer service. I have eaten here a few other times and everything was alright but nothing that made me rave about them. I just happened to be in the area today. Next time I will go somewhere where my business is appreciated and not seen as an inconvenience.
(1)hannah n.
LOVE Matsuri. Usually get take out and eat at home but we decided to go in tonight and eat in to benefit from their happy hour prices. 5-7 every night (maybe not saturday) about 8 of the rolls are discounted to 4 or 5 dollars each, and select appetizers and main dishes are discounted too. Have never had a main dish but their sushi is great (nothing mind blowing but for the price I think it is very good). Fresh ingredients, quick service and an overall great meal. Sushi Hana in Towson has more of a selection and better specials, but for a local sushi place this hits the spot and I will continue to go back! Have to try the tempura Yam roll and the pepper tuna appetizer. Yum
(4)Eric K.
Coach E wishes he can give this 3 1/2 stars but he will settle for 3. Coach E came here with a friend on a Tuesday night for restaurant week. Coach E did not see the parking spot so had to parallel park about 1/2 mile away. The first things you notice are the run-down building and 2 outdoor tables. It seems more like a building that you would find in Old Ellicott City, especially when you contrast it to the fancy buildings of other restaurants participating in restaurant week. There are very limited seats in the downstairs area, so Coach E and his friend were seated upstairs where there were more tables. However, the tables are extremely close to each other, and it is hard to tune out the conversations of other tables to concentrate on your own. This is especially egregious when the neighboring table is a group of 8, all of whom were drunk, loud, extremely funny (well at least in their own eyes). Anyways, we were seated quickly and water was given right away. However, they rarely came to refill the water during the meal (we were there for little more than an hour and a half). Now the food part. For appetizers, Coach E got the calamari while friend (Assistant A) got the tuna nori salad, a seaweed like dish surrounded by fine tuna and drenched in a wasabi-vinagrette sauce. Coach E had a bite and thought it was okay while assistant A said it was good, but left too much of a burn in her nose. It was a little spicy and vinagery, but was decent overall. Coach E's fried calamari was more batter than actual squid, but the quality was pretty good. The spicy mayo sauce also complimented the calamari well. The 4 sushi rolls that chose between the two of us were the Volcano roll, Lobster King roll, Mermaid roll, and crispy spicy tuna roll. The Volcano roll was excellent. You could taste the tuna and salmon melt in your mouth, and the sauce was the perfect compliment to the salmon which had a dry rub taste to it. The lobster king roll was also great, in addition to being a humongous size. Coach E was surprised how large the roll was, and assistant A could barely fit it in her mouth. The lobster was the dominant taste, which is what you want in the lobster king roll. While these two rolls were excellent, the mermaid roll and spicy tuna were not so good. The mango in the mermaid roll did not blend well with the tuna. Instead of the flavors being blended, you could distinguish them quite easily. The mango sauce was also a little too sweet. The spicy tuna roll had absolutely no kick to it, and the flavor was not entirely there. All in all, when trying new sushi rolls, you win some and you lose some. Now for dessert, Coach E and Assistant A both got the fried cheesecake. This was very good, albeit just a tad too sweet. The tempura was not too crisp, but actually tasted like it belonged with the cheesecakes. Another gripe that Coach E had was that they brought us the cheesecakes about 3 minutes after we received our entrees, which made it feel like we were being rushed. We also could not flag down our waitress for the check, as nobody came to check up on us after we received the entree. Coach E was not a fan of the service, but the food was pretty good, so Coach E settled on 3 1/2 to 3 stars.
(3)Lauren S.
I've been to this place countless times over the years. It's a rather standard sushi place. Good food, good service, good prices.
(4)Jen M.
Well-prepared sushi no doubt.Quite fresh, and the menu is full of all the traditional fare one would expect. It's a solid spot that will consistently deliver a quality product. Nothing jumps out to distinguish this spot from a multitude of other sushi bars across the city though. The service away from the bar is okay, but sitting on the second floor can make you feel like you've been abandoned on the set of a 50's beach movie. There's just a good deal of ground for the servers to clear, so there can be a wait. Which, when considering we're talking about raw fish and room temperature, can be a bit off putting. All things equal, it's not a bad spot. However it doesn't have the character of Nick's at Cross Street (next door), or the specialty like the soft shell crab roll at MaGerks (two doors down). But if it's after 6pm and Cross Street is closed or if MaGerks is getting loud, this serves as a fine substitute.
(3)CocoDoc A.
Federal hill roll is amazing!
(5)Jessica A.
Such a great neighborhood restaurant - and their bento lunch special is a fantastic deal! The bagel roll with fresh salmon and cream cheese is fantastic, and I also recommend their Arizona roll for a piping hot fat shrimp tempura rolled with cold avocado and seaweed wrap - it's a really nice blend of texture and temperature!
(5)Cindy M.
Expensive but delicious. Would definitely recommend and visit again. The rolls were modifiable and they give you sriracha to go!! Restaurant always packed which to me is a good sign. Friendly staff. Rewards program! I'd definitely go again.
(5)Asam S.
perfect for lunch--gets you in and out in no time. Fish tastes fresh, wait service is friendly and attentive, and the prices are reasonable. I have been here a few times and never have been disappointed by anything I have ordered. Will absolutely come back.
(5)Elizabeth G.
Fabulous sushi with very high-quality fish and superior service. I've tried many of their specialty rolls and have not been let down. Highly recommended!
(5)Mike M.
7th and final Baltimore Sushi Tour stop. Matsuri has grown on me over the months I've been going with my roommates, as it is their personal favorite. My favorite item to order is the Chirashi - sushi rice over which a variety of sashimi is presented. Often quite good and inexpensive. Needless to say, the 6 remaining participants were stuffed, but we perserved and ordered our final combination chef's choice. What we could eat, we enjoyed. Not much to add, as I've previously reviewed Matsuri, though it has gained a Yelp star in my opinion. Besides the point, there is always lots of cute eye candy here, representing both sides of the fence (so to speak). ;)
(4)Julie H.
We used to be regulars at Matsuri until about a year ago. At that time, the sushi was excellent. However, we went last night, ordered the same thing, and did not find it as good. We ordered Agadashi tofu, which was as delicious as always. Some tempura, which was also good. Miso soup, which is miso soup. So we had such high hopes for our sashimi. We asked for the usual- sashimi yokusuna (assortment)- no mackrel. What we got was sashimi yokusuna with mackrel. The cuts of fish varied from decent to meh, which led me to wonder whether they pre-cut the portions for the yokusuna. The cooked stuff- the octopus and the surf clam were not sweet as they'd been before. The salmon was good. The white tuna didn't taste fresh. The regular tuna was fine. The yellowtail was also meh. We left a good deal behind. When our additional order of sushi/sashimi came-- sea urchin and additional salmon, the salmon was cut so thickly, I can't imagine anyone wanting to eat it. I've never left a piece of salmon sashimi behind but I did this time due to the sheer size and the awkwardness of the knifework. Sashimi should melt in the mouth like butter, not sit on your tongue like pork butt. Do I need to find a new sushi bar? Sigh....What went wrong? Sushi chefs, please. I know Americans are supposed to like big portions, but that does not mean we want huge hunks of sashimi. Please, cut our fish as you would want a sushi chef to cut yours!
(3)Ellen T.
Cute place--great udon. Seating is very limited. I have always passed this place and never gone in, but pretty glad I did one day. The spicy tuna roll is done just right!
(4)Chosei K.
In Japanese omatsuri means "festival." Their udon is quite delicious and their yellow-tail sushi is the best I've ever tasted. We reserved their Japanese-style table on the second floor for a group of 12 of us for a birthday dinner last fall and everyone enjoyed their food and service. This place ties with Nanami as my favorite sushi places in Baltimore.
(5)Matt H.
Three of us went for dinner on a Sat evening. Had not been here in many years. We were disappointed. The downstairs area was full so we were put upstairs and were the only customers upstairs. Besides our entrees, my husband ordered sushi, I ordered a drink and my mother ordered tea. Our entrees came fairly quickly, but the waitress forgot my husbands sushi, the tea and my drink. It seems they forgot about us as no one really checked on us. The food was ok. We ordered a bento box, Gyoza and udon noodles. When we told the waitress about the things she forgot, she was apologetic and so brought my mother a complementary cup of tea. She tried to be friendlier because she knew we were not happy. We will look elsewhere for Japanese food.
(2)Yishin S.
This is my favorite sushi place, and my favorite restaurant, in Baltimore. My favorite dish is the shrimp and vegetable tempera. They make the most delicious and creative rolls, and all of the udon soups taste so good. The price is unbeatable during the happy hours (Monday-Friday, 5pm-7pm) and lunch hours. I wish I live nearby there so that I can go there everyday....
(5)Rebecca H.
Love, love, love! When I walked out of Matsuri I felt like I had the most satisfying and tasty meal that I'd had in a long time. My boyfriend and I started off with a seaweed salad and edamame salad and ordered about 5 sushi rolls. He got a spicy roll combo (Salmon, Tuna, and Yellow fish) and I got an Eel Roll and a vegetable tempura roll. The edamame salad was something I'd never had before and it was sooo good, being similar to a seaweed salad with the dressing. And the vegetable roll had sweet potatoes in it, which I'd also never seen or had before in sushi, and it was amazing! The Eel roll was probably my favorite but everything we had was good. However, the spicy rolls weren't at all spicy but were still delicious. The service was very quick and friendly and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Clint S.
This is my favorite sushi place in the area. Their grilled tuna roll is awesome. Their chicken teriyaki meal is by far the best chicken teriyaki I've ever had. The DonBuri bowls are also awesome and very filling. The only thing you have to watch out for here is to make sure they bring all the sushi out that you ordered. I've had to remind the waiter a couple times that they've forgotten something.
(5)A. C.
(12/08/2012) Stopped in for a late nosh to tide us over before dinner. Have been to Matsuri a few times over the years, it's not in my usual rotation, but always do enjoy coming here. Had a few robata (grilled items), who doesn't like meat on a stick? Tried the Yakitori (smoky, tender), Saba Yaki (moist, flaky, oily fish great cut with fresh lemon juice), Beef Negimaki (the pungent scallions a great foil to the savory, thinly sliced and grilled beef and salty teriyaki). Tried the beautiful Sunomono (lightly acidic, not very sweet rice wine vinaigrette with chilled, mixed seafood) over a bed of cucumbers, seaweed and shaved white onion. Soft Shell Crab Tempura was extra light and crispy, piping hot, chopped crab segments, really one of the best soft shell preparations I've seen in a long time; simply served with some tart ponzu. Wasabi Dumplings had a chunky, "homemade" mix of shrimp and pork with bits of water chestnuts; wasabi wrappers had a good sinus sear to them. Matsuri Eel Roll had an overly sweet eel sauce and was very creamy with the combination of cream cheese and avocado. They've got great cooked foods with more variety than most places much larger (place is microscopic); grilled foods are smoky, salty, umami. Maki tend towards excessive lots of mayo and deep frying; popular with the general populous, but purists may balk.
(4)dave r.
I love the sushi and chicken teriyaki
(4)CJ W.
Reliably good sushi and soups. A cozy corner spot that has intimate (ok... maybe cramped) seating, with a larger room upstairs. The cuts are nice for the price and the service is good even when they're busy. I'm happy with some unagi and a big bowl of udon or soba with tempura. The menu is friendly even to your fish-phobic friends, but i wouldn't bring a large group. may not win over the sushi connoisseur, but sure to please if you're in the mood for a tuna roll.
(4)John R.
After reading the many promising reviews regarding this restaurant I decided to have lunch and I was thoroughly disappointed. I have lived in Japan for three years so perhaps my expectations were high, but I don't believe so. I first ordered green tea and I instead received a rice tea. I then ordered a soba dish and I was given some version of a ramen dish. While I would have preferred soba noodles in the traditional tsuyu soup base I enjoy ramen. The ramen soup base was awful! Usually ramen soup base is a rich flavor and during my visit is was a weak soup base with no flavor. If it were not for the abundance of fresh vegetables in my dish, my meal would have been an expensive disaster. We also ordered fried rice and I was sure the fried rice would turn out well. I was wrong yet again. Perhaps I should have stuck with the sushi as the many reviews are favorable. I will find another Japanese restaurant for my business.
(1)Desi Y.
Best american japanese in fed hill! if only they had teppanyaki, I would move in...
(4)Megan F.
Yummy yummy yummy. Always fresh and delicious.
(5)Amy P.
What a great sushi place. The staff was so nice, the sushi chefs proficient in their art and the prices were very reasonable. I will be going again and again.
(4)Elizabeth B.
I spotted this place when I was down in Federal Hill with friends a couple weeks ago. It's a tiny little corner joint, but it looked interesting, so I checked in here to find out the general consensus on it. Other than a few pretentious folks (really there guy? No good sushi in Baltimore? This is a seafood town, yo), reviews seemed positive, so when making plans for last night with a friend from out of town, I suggested it. I'm glad I did. We walked in at about eight. The restaurant was busy, but not over-crowded. We were seated right away, given a choice of a corner table by the door, or at the bar. We chose the table. I was on the outside, so I was right next to the door. Seating is, shall we say, cozy. But not offensively so. I got bumped into once by someone coming in the door. The sushi was great. It was fresh, generous, and lovely in presentation. I ordered the Sushi Sekiwake (which I will probably never be able to pronounce), and my friend ordered the Maki combo. Neither seemed overly expensive to me, especially considering the generous portions. I wasn't able to finish my order; I am sad that I didn't get to try the mackeral, but everything I did eat was fabulous. Great tuna roll. It was all fresh and yummy and I really love the texture of the fish in combination with the rice. Service was very quick and friendly. Perhaps the best part was the two folks who sat next to us. The gentleman knew the owners of the restaurant (or at least one of them). They'd bought him a Christmas present, people. Now that's my kind of place--clearly the owners care about their customers and make friends with the regulars. I don't know about you, but that says something to me. I really like the vibe of Matsuri. It's very comfortable and friendly. Perhaps my only complaint is that I paid a dollar fifty for a damn can of diet coke. And no free refills. So next time I'll order beer or sake. Or stick with water. If you're looking for a comfy neighborhood sushi bar with good food and friendly staff, I recommend. But good luck with parking.
(4)Maria A.
I first bumped into Matsuri's sushi at an event at the Hilton in Baltimore (NAFT). I fell in love and I had to have it again. The lady serving at the time, thought I had gone crazy, I even gave her a hug and said the best sushi I have tried outside of Japan!! I am not kidding!! Other than the freshness of the fish, the number one important ingredient is rice and Matsuri's rice is phenomenal. So I finally made it back to Matsuri, located in a very happening area of Baltimore (Federal Hill). Tons to do within walking distance. The place reminds you of a little sushi bar in Tokyo, the tv playing Japanese cooking shows, all they need is Kareoke right there and there! The service is delighfull and if you sit at the bar, as I often do (just to admire the art of sushi making) the chefs are super friendly. The food super fresh just like a high end sushi bar in Japan and possibly even better (yes I just said that). They have cooked food as well, like teriyaki and even soups, their menu can fulfill almost any appetite, including non sushi lovers. Bill Tien, (owner) is really a phenomenal guy! I am kinda glad they do not have Kareoke, because if they did they would have to kick me out every night.
(5)Jeremy S.
My favorite sushi place in Baltimore...more like 4.5 stars but I've rounded up to 5. I lived in Baltimore in nearby Locust Point for nearly two years during which time I must have eaten at or gotten carry out from Matsuri nearly 30-40 times. It was easily the best sushi in Baltimore and whenever I'd try somewhere new be it Edo Sushi at the Inner Harbor (pure trash), Chiu's in Harbor East (good but not as good), or I'd feel that none of them compared to Matsuri. I generally stuck to the sushi, but did try the chicken teriyaki once since my girlfriend got it. It was good. As far as the sushi goes, I usually stuck to the classics; spicy tuna (wonderful), california roll (ok, would be better if they mashed up the imitation crab with mayo), salmon (great), eel (good), etc. One let down was the spider roll which is a weirdly battered and fried compared to other spider roll's I've had. Miso soup is among the best I've ever had. However what has me coming back to Matsuri like an addict to his dealer is the Oriole Roll. THAT ROLL IS AMAZING!!! So simple (spicy tuna with salmon on top) yet so addicting and good. If only the Orioles were as amazing.... The service is always very good and the hostess is always very friendly and efficient. I only wished they were open for lunch on the weekends. Also know that parking is free for up to one hour in the nearby Federal Hill garage which is convenient for carry out pickup. Next time I'm in Baltimore I'll surely be back to get my fix.
(5)Marc H.
I'm convinced there's no GOOD sushi in Baltimore. There are some average and slightly above average spots (Minato comes to mind) but overall the sushi scene here is just seriously lacking. One look at the menu and you know you're in for just another run of the mill sushi experience; it's roll-centric. The uni is very average, the yellowtail is average, the unagi is actually above average, and the rolls just don't do it for me (but to be honest, I'm not a big roll person in the first place). There's no Natto on the menu, they rarely have toro, and you can forget about needlefish, aji, zukemaguro, hirame, amaebi, or any other more "rare" cuts of fish. This isnt a real sushi place, it's a place that serves rolls (decent rolls though) to the masses. They were serving a Pittsburgh Steelers roll when I went in last night... it had Pumpkin in it. 'nuff said.
(2)Chris G.
Stopped into Matsuri on the way to M&T to watch the Ravens beat the Jets last Sunday. I had not been in a long time but I remember it being good. I was glad that it is still VERY good. The atmosphere is nice and very city like (which I really like). The sushi was really fresh and tasty. I usually stick to the standard sushi fare such as spicy tuna, salmon and some of their specialty rolls. All was very good. The friend I was with also enjoyed all of his sushi. We sat at the sushi bar by the front door and watched some odd Jananese show on the TV. It was actually quite entertaining. The only negative was that it's a little pricey but I don't think it was too much more than any other place. You get what you pay for!
(5)Hank P.
Very yummy and good price. Had the bento box with veggie sushi and chicken teryaki and other stuff I can't remember, but I liked it very much! I didn't love the veggie dumplings though...a little boring. Ambiance is fun. I felt like I was in San Fran, not Baltimore.
(4)Cristan F.
The sushi is well-priced and pretty good. The spicy scallop roll is quite good, and the black pepper tuna appetizer is great. I've never had a problem getting seating--the first floor looks very cramped, but there is an upstairs and outside tables when it's nice out. It's not Japan, it's Baltimore. Matsuri has good rolls, many of them Americanized, and they are relatively inexpensive. Definitely worth a trip!
(4)Bella F.
Love sushi, I ordered one of the "chef picks your sushi" boxes, and they let me substitute things I don't like. It was yummy and not overpriced. Hubby had a teryaki combo, his steak was excellent!!! Plum wine was delish and had a little green sweet-pickled plum floating. Service was friendly.
(4)Matthew L.
Good for Baltimore, but not in general. The sashimi is good, but the cuts are on the smaller side. The place while having ample seating is narrow which can give a clostrophobic experience. I would say that it is a typical Baltimore sushi house......sushi for beginners.
(3)Charley C.
The quality of their food and service were good and fairly consistent the few times I was there (for dinner). Of course sometime it depends on what day they got their fish shipped in but most nigiri I order are very fresh and delicious. I like it slightly better than Minato because of how they prepare their sushi rice, which is quite important for the overall taste of nigiri. The interior is very homey with lots of traditional Japanese decoration and there's a cute tatami room on the second floor. Staff are friendly as well. If you're looking for a trendy sushi place for drinks and modern decor though, Minato might be a better bet.
(4)R T.
Matsuri's has a special place in my heart. It's the first place I ever had sushi. It's still one of my favorites after about 6 years and many different sushi restaurants across America.
(5)Linh P.
Some friends and I were in Baltimore for a convention. We decided on Matsuri for a sushi dinner after receiving enthusiastic recommendations and doing some of our own research. Apparently, it's been written somewhere that sushi fans pay pilgrimage to this place. I had to cross check the address and reviews after dinner. Did we go to the right Matsuri? Was the fish market closed? Has the water been contaminated? Are the usual chefs out sick today? Are my sushi standards too high for Baltimore? Someone... anyone... please help me understand! This is a prime case of a stellar recommendation gone bad. I'm disappointed to report that Matsuri served me some of the worst and chewiest sushi I've ever had. Oh, and I don't know if they also intended to serve yakitori in the raw spirit of sushi, but the chicken was undercooked. Perhaps we were just unlucky and came on an off night. If this place is usually good, it's not consistent.
(1)J H.
I've eaten here at least 12 times. I think the sushi is consistently good, with some misses here and there and some really stellar cuts of fish. It's probably worth finding out when their sushi is the freshest, because the worst pieces of sushi I have had here were tough and fishy- but it seems to be a rarity. nothing has made me sick and nothing has been offensive. I really enjoy the huge pieces of tuna, salmon and yellowtail rolls with scallion. The tempura is light and not too greasy. Decent service. The weirdest thing is being seated right by the door in the winter.. RECOMMENDED!
(4)William M.
5 stars on a Baltimore scale, it's the best sushi in town. Kawasaki has a nicer setting than Matsuri, but Matsuri has the better sushi. Their Miso is superior, make sure you try it. I've eaten there at least two dozen times, and never noticed the service, which is excellent.
(5)Roger M.
Let me start off by saying I was once (in a galaxy far, far away...) a professional sushi chef. So as you may imagine, I am super critical when it comes to my maki and nigiri. Matsuri is where I go again and again! Here's a little tutorial: When you go into a sushi bar and see all the raw fish laid out in the glass case, take a close look at the Ahi. It should be a deep, deep red, almost purple color. If it's bright pink? Walk out. Seriously, it's an inferior product and if the scrimp on the Ahi, they cut corners everywhere. The fish here is very, very fresh and the skill in which the create the rolls is as good as any I have seen. Lot's of yummy stuff INSIDE, not a lot of rice outside. You're paying for the ingredients, not rice! The rolls are all outstanding (love the Princess, Oriole, and Dragon)as are the apps(Shumi!). Happy Hour is a great deal and make sure you get the sweet potato roll. Sounds simple and blah, but very good. This place is a little small, so don't be surprised if it's a long wait to get in. But once you're there, the service is very good and really quite fast. If you love good, high quality sushi, you will love Matsuri. Best in the city!
(5)George H.
The Matsuri lunch special...ahhh. Is is good? Possibly, but not sure.
(3)Noah W.
This place is really great. It has great atmosphere, friendly help, and amazing fish. The chefs are Chinese, but it's all good. Take a beautiful woman with you to complete the experience :)
(4)Andrew K.
I used to like this place a few years ago but the quality of the sushi and rolls here have definitely gone down. The last 2 times I've come here, I would say I did not have a good experience. I ordered a sushi boat and shared it with my friend and I would say that half of the sushi we tried were just ok. My favorite is the salmon sushi and it was good but not great yet they charge pretty much the same prices as other sushi places I've been to in MD. If I have to spend that much money on sushi, I'd rather take my money to a place where I know I will love. It's also really hard to find parking here b/c it's located in Fed Hill. Some of the good things I can say is the service has always been good here and I still like the tekka don which is sashimi tuna served over rice, seaweed and ginger. I also like their donkatsu don which is the fried pork cutlet and egg over rice. The lunch specials are also reasonably priced and I would still come for the teriyaki or rice bowls but I don't think the sushi is worth it.
(3)matthew l.
Perennial Best of Baltimore, I don't think it has missed a year since its inception in 1996, is the best Japanese restaurant in the city. Beautiful old building in not quite as nasty as Fells Point, I mean that in a good way, Federal Hill. Sitting at one of the tiny tables on the tiny side patio in summer delightful as there seems to be a domestic version of the italian passeggiata, or evening stroll, going on in Federal Hill every fair weekend. With endless shops and restaurants, it would make sense. But inside or out, the food is marvelous. Tuna tatate, octopus nuta tako, great eel several ways and the pristine sashimi. As for sushi, Baltimore has more sushi joints both Oriental and not than any city I know, and Matsuri wins here also. Don't miss their hamachi cheek if they have it, it wont be on the menu.
(4)Emily C.
If your plans for the night are taking to fed hill, and you're craving sushi, Matsuri is the place to go. Matsuri offers an excellent array of options, and is great for groups. It may look small, but they have a second floor that seats a good number of people. In terms of the food, I really like that they have a lot of different sushi/sashimi combo options. The spicy roll combo is great. The sashimi is fresh, and it is sliced pretty thick. And if you're not a sushi person, they also have noodle soups and dinner bento boxes. About average prices for sushi in Baltimore, so it won't do a number on your wallet. A word of advice: if you're planning to split the check among several in your party, let the server know ahead of time. For some reason they claim they can't split the check once they've put in the order.
(3)Kathryn E.
Excellent sushi - always fresh and beautifully presented. Great soba as well. Parking, as everywhere in Federal Hill, is a challenge.
(5)Laura B.
I'm not a sushi expert but eat it often enough to know what I like and I like Matsuri sushi. It's very good although a little on the pricey side in my opinion. However, I recently went with a group of about 10 and got a great spot on the second floor. Great atmosphere and nice service. All in all it was a really fun night. I'd definitely recommend to my friends.
(4)Jess P.
My friend and I were looking for good sushi in Charm City and yelp led me here. When we arrived, the decor and ambiance threw me off. To be honest, I judged a book by it's cover - I wasn't expecting much. But our sushi was absolutely delicious. A twist on the California Roll made with real Maryland lump crab was awesome. I'm not a California roll fan normally, but boy do I love fresh crab!
(4)Andrew P.
Eh. It was okay sushi. The company (my sister) happened to be excellent. The sushi? Eh.
(3)Bill H.
I live in Federal Hill and I have eaten at Matsuri on multiple occasions. I am not sure what I am missing. This sushi is VERY sub par. Anyone that rates this place more than 3 stars must have never eaten really good sushi. I would recommend Kawasaki, Geisha, Chiu's, Edo, and Minato over Matsuri any day.
(2)Marek D.
I really love this place. As the others have said, the restaurant is puny, but I've had the best Japanese food in Baltimore here -- both sushi and non-sushi. It's authentic with solid service, and, unlike *some* sushi restaurants (cough, Kawasaki), they haven't been closed down for hiring illegal immigrants then stealing their tips!
(5)Brian M.
When people complain there are no good sushi restaurants in the town they live I sometimes wonder what they consider as good. Having been to my share of sushi places around the country Baltimore should be thankful to have a place where they can get the freshest and most unique sushi these lips have past in a long time. If you believe crab is spelled with a K then this sushi is not for you! We arrived there at about 7 p.m. and the downstairs although small was hoppin' we were seated immediately upstairs and are server took our drink order. The upstairs room is a nicely decorated room that is a completely different atmosphere than downstairs where the bar is at. Since a few in our party did not no what to expect from the raw menu we stuck with a variety of rolls. We ordered 12 different rolls and none of them dissappointed. A couple highlights lobster kng roll (tempura lobster, jumbo lump crabmeat, eel and avocado. Soft shell crab roll, volcano roll, and the hurricane roll. Another great find In Baltimore. And for my parting words all I have to say is FRESH CRABS ROCKS!!!!
(5)Gunnar V.
Pretty good sushi, good service, cool place. It *is* small so pick a good time to hit them up. The menu is decent, and has a good number of non-sushi items. Also a lot of solid vegetarian choices on the menu (if you're into that). I got tempura don, which was okay. The stuff was fried with scrambled egg or something, which took away the crispness of the tempura. Next time I will probably try the skewers (which looked good) and focus on the sushi. Mark my words, Matsuri, I will return.
(4)R I.
Although Baltimore does not really have a great selection of sushi places this is one of the best sushi place in Baltimore. Fresh fish, huge pieces, I love the spicy salmon and spicy tuna rolls.
(5)Paul S.
This place is decent... I was a little disappointed after hearing a lot of rave reviews about how great it was... but I'm a New Yorker and I expect a little more when you say "Best Sushi around." Still, the food was decent and the service was good. I would go back if in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way. If you're looking for good sushi in the Baltimore area I would recommend a place in Anne Arundel County called Tokyo Sushi... it's like 20 or 30 minutes drive from Baltimore, but if you think Matsuri's sushi is "great" you will think you have died and gone to heaven there.
(2)Patrick H.
Matsuri has the best sushi I've found in Baltimore. I generally don't do rolls and instead stick with nigiri. The pieces of fish served are generous and the fish is always fresh and flavorful. The service is prompt and friendly. Its not world class sushi, but its my favorite place to take care of a sushi craving in Baltimore.
(4)Josiah L.
the only place in bawlmer that has a good selection of kushiyaki (grilled skewers). their sushi special is pretty good too. doesn't have toro(fatty tuna) and uni(sea urchin) all the time though (two of my fav sushi). good service, friendly staff, but if you want to go there during the weekend, you may have to wait for a while, that place is small and people in the neighbourhood KNOWS where to get good sushi
(4)Jaros K.
Food was very good. I had seafood yaki soba. It was delicious 5 stars. Recommend. They are adding service fee, so pay attention.
(5)Annabelle L.
Came here last night with a group of 4 at a friend's recommendation. Matsuri did not disappoint! The bf and I split a chirashi bowl, which was a large square box of sushi rice with a variety of delicious sashimi on top. It was a bit pricy ($16.50ish) but well worth the price every once in a while. Everything was super fresh and it came with a bowl of miso soup too! I've been craving eel, so we also split the Matsuri eel roll which had huge chunks of eel. The decor is really cute and service was good. I will definitely be back!
(4)Patti N.
A gem in Federal Hill with kind and fast service and terrific sushi, sashimi and noodle/ tempura dishes. Love this place for carry out or eat in, lunch or dinner!
(5)Erin L.
Dinner for one this evening :) Got the Bento box. The tempura shrimp and veggies were very good and the spicy tuna was average. The amount of food was good, however i didn't think my whole bill was a bit on the pricey side. I enjoyed my Lychee saki-tini as well. I would say I would come here again if I were in the area again for work.
(3)Deepa K.
Cute place in Federal Hill. Excellent happy hour with a huge menu including dessert. I had baked sushi for the first time, which was a first for me.Seating is cozy but cute.
(4)Rahim H.
Consistency is king in the world of sushi and I can honestly say that this place has been consistently delicious! Lots baked sushi goodness! I don't normally like te spicy mayo but the way they make it is incredible! Try the volcano, dynamic and veggie dynamite rolls...all 3 are awesome! I know what you're thinking veggie roll!? Get real. No, trust me...that's what I thought too, but it is worth it, your palate will thank you. The best time to go is happy hour: Monday-Friday 4:30-7:00 - same great sushi but for half the price!!! Best sushi in Baltimore.
(5)In Y.
I've had lunch in this restaurant for the first time. After reading such great reviews from yelp and opentable, I was excited to visit. Ordered restaurant week $15 three-course menu. Miso soup, Salad Chicken Katsu Curry, 2 rolls Fried banana and mochi ice cream. Wait time was a bit long. Food was served at the same time as other table who came about 10m later.Their food is plenty. We left some rolls and much of rice. And... I don't think i will go back for one reason. Food is too SALTY for my taste.
(2)James J.
They put us on the 2nd floor and server didnt even bother to take an order. After waiting for 15+ min, we had to make a phone call for them to come up.. Our server was very rude, it wasnt even busy and she took our order real quick and never came back to check back on us. Food was overall great. I ordered seafood ramen and some rolls, they were good. My girlfriend ordered restaurant week special stuff and they were good also. I dont normally leave reviews here but i had to do it this time so you guys dont have to go through what we went through today. Just stay away from the female server with glasses and you should be good. Oh, the server's name was Ying
(1)Shreya M.
I discovered this place on yelp after looking for some reasonably priced sushi to celebrate my birthday. They are definitely good for groups and were able to easily accommodate our party of 5 upstairs on the second floor (P.S. automatic gratuity was added to our bill). All of us that got sushi agreed the fish tasted really fresh. I ordered one of the specials, the Crazy Girl Roll, which looked delicious because it had jalapeño and a spicy sauce. Since I don't like soy paper, I requested it be wrapped with rice on the outside, which the server happily agreed to put that request in for the chef. Unfortunately, I'm assuming because I made this special request somehow in the process jalapeño got left out of my roll,which was pretty disappointing because it was the whole reason I was interested. Nevertheless, the roll was still fresh and tasty with its lacking of heat. One of friends isn't a fan of sushi and was able to get the chicken teriyaki with fried rice, which I tried and it was quite delicious. She liked it a lot too. However, it was a steep $17- way overpriced in my opinion. Several of my friends also got the Thai iced tea, an odd offering at a Japanese restaurant, but it tasted great. All in all, I'd probably only go back for happy hour, since it's slightly out of the way for me.
(4)Jessica R.
I'm pretty loyal to another sushi spot not too far from here, but Matsuri's was a nice change of pace for when I want to try several different rolls during happy hour. My two friends and I came on a weekday night for happy hour and were really happy with the large selection of rolls, drinks and appetizers that they had on special ranging from $2-$7. We started off with drinks. I had the lycheetini and it was really good! It even came with a lychee inside. We then ordered fried gyoza and an assortment of rolls - the Orioles roll, tempura yam, ocean breeze roll, etc. The gyoza were fried perfectly and tasted great. The Orioles roll was my favorite! It was a spicy tuna roll with avocado and topped with salmon and spicy tuna. It's normally $12 on the regular menu but during HH it's only $7. Even though our food tasted delicious, customer service wasn't all that great. Our waiter seemed annoyed every time we tried to order something. Also, when I asked him to bring waters for our table he only brought one. As far parking, Matsuri offers the first hour free at the West Street Garage.
(4)Monica B.
It was a while ago that I went for Restaurant Week. My boyfriend and I both paid $30 for their special menu. For appetizers we got the salmon sashimi salad and fried Calamari, probably the best part of the meal. The restaurant week options were mostly cooked or fried sushi items. Having one or two pieces is more than enough; the rolls were good, but heavy, creamy, fried and salty. Even though some fried sushi is okay, I think they over-did it. Their only dessert options were fried cheesecake and mochi. We tried both and they were okay. In general I would say the food wasn't great, but the place is in a nice location and the decor is nice as well. Service was a bit slow. I would try this place again to see if the food is any different in their regular menu.
(3)Claire L.
Good sushi. Prices are a little higher than others in the area.
(3)Lauren B.
Phenomenal food! Excellent service! Wonderful atmosphere! Absolutely recommend the bento box option!
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