A delicious omakase in San Diego! Shoutout to our cousin for taking us here!We had a reservation at 7:30PM for a Saturday evening meal. I believe we were sat on time and we got right into drinks and the course. Staff was friendly checking in on us and Chef TJ was fun, positive, and created a great omakase environment!I won't go into too much detail of each fish (as the menu can change with each service), but for the value, I thought it was an amazing meal!Parking is relatively easy to find in the plaza.I'm headed back to San Diego next week...so I'm going to have Matoi again :D twice in 2-3 weeks is my kind of vibe!
Mark Charlebois
The presentation and taste of the food was excellent! Had the omakasa and got to try many things I had never tried before.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
silvio vota
I have been here several times. The food and service are great!! Lots of different kind of fish flow in fresh from Japan. Always new selections! TJ and Masami are very nice and friendly people. I have been to all of the omakase restaurants in San Diego county and this place is way better then all of the others including the 1 star michelin restaurants!!Parking: Huge parking lot on convoy street. Very convenient!!
The omakase experience was amazing! The chef was humorous and professional which added to the fun overall experience. The nigiri pieces served were fresh and great. Would highly recommend for anyone in the SD area craving a great omakase experience.- Couple from NYC
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase Nigiri Course
Santi
Reservations only. I didn't see this in any of the top reviews before coming here and was turned away at the door despite there being multiple empty tables.
Service: 1
Peter Farsai
Unfortunately, this wasn’t a very pleasant experience or worth the cost by any means. 4 of us went and all felt the same way. Timing was extremely delayed in comparison. Conversations were very awkward and a bit out of line. I think most would consider quite immature and disrespectful, especially for the intended dining experience. (Multiple STD jokes, not wanting to be there, hating America and local people for example). The food wasn’t bad but not at the level you would expect for an Omakase experience. I’ve been to now 23 Omakase’s throughout the world so far, 5 of which in San Diego, and though those had a consistency among each other of price, quality, service, and atmosphere, this restaurant didn’t come close. Unfortunate, because we were all pretty excited. Save your time and $, Try Hidden Fish or Kinme instead.
An amazing experience all around. The chef was spectacular and the service was terrific. I ordered the Omakase, and the presentation of everything from the first dish to the ice cream at the end was nothing short of special. It was my 3rd Omakase but felt like the first real one I've been to. Would definitely recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
신요비
The chef was so rude.He told me “Go away”SHOW MORE CLASSES.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jon D.
From the first course of appetizers to the desert the Omakase by chef JT did not fail to impress. I came with my cousin and it being his first Omakase it was very fun to watch him be blown away by the different flavors and textures. The 90s rap music playing added a lot to the fun of the experience! It's very hard to pick a favorite but the Kawahagi and Toro were very high up there. Chefs knowledge and willingness to share was also very appreciated.
Jakyung K.
Most adorable and cute sushi chef around! white guys who speaks Japanese and listens to hip hop! What more else can you ask for!!! Matoi is a small very friendly spot. I loved the interaction and the selections!!! So delicious, melts in your mouth! Most of his fish and his rice is imported from Japan. So authentic! Way to go TJ!
All of my Japanese friends recommend this place as the BEST sushi restaurant! So I have been wanting to try this place for a while. Matoi indeed serves the BEST not only sushi but Omakase course. First time I tried, it was shocking how fresh all the food they serve! From appetizers, side dishes, and of course sushi!! They even taste better than most of the sushi restaurants I have been to in Japan. I enjoyed everything they served in Omakase, I had to go back the next week. I love how each dish is presented. All the traditional is kept in each dish, and everything is authentic!! This restaurant is a true gem! Service is great and I love the sense of home that they provide at this restaurant. I feel like I'm home in Japan.
Anthony Lobb
The absolute best authentic sushi in the city. The Omakasa is out of this world phenomenal. Chef TJ knows his craft.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi Combination, Green Tea Ice Cream, Scallops, Chawanmushi
Kyoung Eun L.
Where do I even start?My boyfriend and I were looking to try omakase while visiting SD and I think we might've experienced the best omakase in SD.My boyfriend and I were very excited for Matoi because of the unique dishes that they served; one that excited us the most was the raw octopus and it turned out to be our favorite dish of the night!The first dish that was served to us was such a great start. This is when I knew that this omakase will be nothing like I've ever tried. All of the dishes served were executed so well that I kept thinking "wow this is genius". The different concepts and flavors that you're introduced to is really one-of-a-kind. This omakase was so comfortable and casual but also felt so prestigious with all of the rare bites that were served.Chef TJ was so great! He walks you through all the dishes; what it is, how it's being prepared, how to enjoy it, etc.Might I also add that the portions are so generous. Not even halfway through the meal, I was getting slightly full so I requested less rice for my nigiri pieces (if you thought that the nigiri pieces were looking kinda skinny and small, this is why) If you like trying new, one-of-a-kind culinary delights, THIS IS THE SPOT!100% worth the price and will definitely be back!
Tony L.
I have known Chef TJ for some time, first enjoying his cuisine about 5 years ago. The man is an absolutely phenomenal genius of a sushi chef. Chef TJ continually challenges your palate with new and interesting fish. He always has whatever is fhe best, freshest fish at the time you enjoy his true Omakasa. Others have written out long list of what they were served or taken photos of the menu on the day that they got to enjoy the work of Chef TJ, I see no need to do that because each experience is different, each time you are lucky enough to dine with Chef TJ. What I ate will have no reflection on what you may be served. Now if you are lucky enough to have my very favorite cooked dish and I have added a photo of it below with a description attached as a caption. The restaurant itself is in a strip mall and inside as well as outside literally looks like a sushi bar in Japan. Also the best Uni and Scallops are from Hokkaido just like Chef TJ was reported to have said.
Jesse Brokken
Chef TJ is the one of, if not THE, best sushi experiences I have had outside of Daiwa Sushi in Japan. He provides incredibly rare tasting experiences and is hilarious to boot.
A delicious omakase in San Diego! Shoutout to our cousin for taking us here!We had a reservation at 7:30PM for a Saturday evening meal. I believe we were sat on time and we got right into drinks and the course. Staff was friendly checking in on us and Chef TJ was fun, positive, and created a great omakase environment!I won't go into too much detail of each fish (as the menu can change with each service), but for the value, I thought it was an amazing meal!Parking is relatively easy to find in the plaza.I'm headed back to San Diego next week...so I'm going to have Matoi again :D twice in 2-3 weeks is my kind of vibe!
The presentation and taste of the food was excellent! Had the omakasa and got to try many things I had never tried before.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have been here several times. The food and service are great!! Lots of different kind of fish flow in fresh from Japan. Always new selections! TJ and Masami are very nice and friendly people. I have been to all of the omakase restaurants in San Diego county and this place is way better then all of the others including the 1 star michelin restaurants!!Parking: Huge parking lot on convoy street. Very convenient!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi Combination, Omakase Nigiri Course
The omakase experience was amazing! The chef was humorous and professional which added to the fun overall experience. The nigiri pieces served were fresh and great. Would highly recommend for anyone in the SD area craving a great omakase experience.- Couple from NYC
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase Nigiri Course
Reservations only. I didn't see this in any of the top reviews before coming here and was turned away at the door despite there being multiple empty tables.
Service: 1
Unfortunately, this wasn’t a very pleasant experience or worth the cost by any means. 4 of us went and all felt the same way. Timing was extremely delayed in comparison. Conversations were very awkward and a bit out of line. I think most would consider quite immature and disrespectful, especially for the intended dining experience. (Multiple STD jokes, not wanting to be there, hating America and local people for example). The food wasn’t bad but not at the level you would expect for an Omakase experience. I’ve been to now 23 Omakase’s throughout the world so far, 5 of which in San Diego, and though those had a consistency among each other of price, quality, service, and atmosphere, this restaurant didn’t come close. Unfortunate, because we were all pretty excited. Save your time and $, Try Hidden Fish or Kinme instead.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Sashimi Combination, Omakase Nigiri Course
An amazing experience all around. The chef was spectacular and the service was terrific. I ordered the Omakase, and the presentation of everything from the first dish to the ice cream at the end was nothing short of special. It was my 3rd Omakase but felt like the first real one I've been to. Would definitely recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The chef was so rude.He told me “Go away”SHOW MORE CLASSES.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
From the first course of appetizers to the desert the Omakase by chef JT did not fail to impress. I came with my cousin and it being his first Omakase it was very fun to watch him be blown away by the different flavors and textures. The 90s rap music playing added a lot to the fun of the experience! It's very hard to pick a favorite but the Kawahagi and Toro were very high up there. Chefs knowledge and willingness to share was also very appreciated.
Most adorable and cute sushi chef around! white guys who speaks Japanese and listens to hip hop! What more else can you ask for!!! Matoi is a small very friendly spot. I loved the interaction and the selections!!! So delicious, melts in your mouth! Most of his fish and his rice is imported from Japan. So authentic! Way to go TJ!
Restaurantji Recommends
All of my Japanese friends recommend this place as the BEST sushi restaurant! So I have been wanting to try this place for a while. Matoi indeed serves the BEST not only sushi but Omakase course. First time I tried, it was shocking how fresh all the food they serve! From appetizers, side dishes, and of course sushi!! They even taste better than most of the sushi restaurants I have been to in Japan. I enjoyed everything they served in Omakase, I had to go back the next week. I love how each dish is presented. All the traditional is kept in each dish, and everything is authentic!! This restaurant is a true gem! Service is great and I love the sense of home that they provide at this restaurant. I feel like I'm home in Japan.
The absolute best authentic sushi in the city. The Omakasa is out of this world phenomenal. Chef TJ knows his craft.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi Combination, Green Tea Ice Cream, Scallops, Chawanmushi
Where do I even start?My boyfriend and I were looking to try omakase while visiting SD and I think we might've experienced the best omakase in SD.My boyfriend and I were very excited for Matoi because of the unique dishes that they served; one that excited us the most was the raw octopus and it turned out to be our favorite dish of the night!The first dish that was served to us was such a great start. This is when I knew that this omakase will be nothing like I've ever tried. All of the dishes served were executed so well that I kept thinking "wow this is genius". The different concepts and flavors that you're introduced to is really one-of-a-kind. This omakase was so comfortable and casual but also felt so prestigious with all of the rare bites that were served.Chef TJ was so great! He walks you through all the dishes; what it is, how it's being prepared, how to enjoy it, etc.Might I also add that the portions are so generous. Not even halfway through the meal, I was getting slightly full so I requested less rice for my nigiri pieces (if you thought that the nigiri pieces were looking kinda skinny and small, this is why) If you like trying new, one-of-a-kind culinary delights, THIS IS THE SPOT!100% worth the price and will definitely be back!
I have known Chef TJ for some time, first enjoying his cuisine about 5 years ago. The man is an absolutely phenomenal genius of a sushi chef. Chef TJ continually challenges your palate with new and interesting fish. He always has whatever is fhe best, freshest fish at the time you enjoy his true Omakasa. Others have written out long list of what they were served or taken photos of the menu on the day that they got to enjoy the work of Chef TJ, I see no need to do that because each experience is different, each time you are lucky enough to dine with Chef TJ. What I ate will have no reflection on what you may be served. Now if you are lucky enough to have my very favorite cooked dish and I have added a photo of it below with a description attached as a caption. The restaurant itself is in a strip mall and inside as well as outside literally looks like a sushi bar in Japan. Also the best Uni and Scallops are from Hokkaido just like Chef TJ was reported to have said.
Chef TJ is the one of, if not THE, best sushi experiences I have had outside of Daiwa Sushi in Japan. He provides incredibly rare tasting experiences and is hilarious to boot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5