I visited the restaurant during Obon and a typhoon, so there was no fish delivery at Tsukiji Market. My friend from Hokkaido wanted to eat sushi, so I called ahead and was told there wasn't much available. Despite that, we decided to go in. The restaurant was small with only a counter, but had a nice atmosphere. We ordered the chef's choice since there were limited options. The chef creatively prepared dishes with the available ingredients. We enjoyed our meal with some beer, chatting with my friend. It was a satisfying experience. Thank you for the meal.

"Sushi Matsutake" @Nakano ★☆☆Counter seats only, reservation possible, cash onlyOmakase (chef's choice) Japanese sake, etcApproximately 30,000 yen for two peopleCondition: Tired, hungryLocated on Nakano Renkasaka, this traditional sushi restaurant is small and filled with regular customers. While it may not have a strict policy against first-time visitors, it may require some courage to walk in for the first time. The lovely chef and waitress make this place special. The sushi and appetizers were delicious and made us feel happy. The variety of drinks is limited, so just enjoy drinking without worrying too much about it. We ate a lot and drank a lot on this day, so the bill was on the higher side, but it's not usually that expensive. It's a warm and delicious sushi restaurant. #Nakano #Sushi Matsutake #Sushi #gourmet #foodie #Nakano gourmet #Nakano izakaya #Nakano Renkasaka #Nakano drinking #Nakano food #Nakano sushi #Nakano sushi restaurant #Nakano sushi shop #sushi restaurant #sushi Instagram #sushi restaurant drink #sushi shop #sushi Instagram #sushi shop drink #Japan #Tokyo #Nakano"

When you go up the brick slope next to Marui at the south exit of Nakano Station, you will find Machi Sushi on your left. It has a bit of a dignified entrance, giving off an air of a long-established restaurant. Since you can't see inside, it may be a bit intimidating to walk in without knowing what to expect. The omakase course here is surprisingly affordable at 5,000 yen. They also offer a la carte options, but the chef recommends going for the course as it is definitely more cost-effective. The course includes medium fatty tuna, lean tuna, oyster appetizer, shrimp, horse mackerel, and various other dishes. Even after eating and drinking quite a bit, you'll still get change back from 10,000 yen, making it a great value for the quality. While it may not be as upscale as Ginza, the food is delicious and reasonably priced. The chef is also entertaining, making it a great spot to visit alone. This hidden gem comes highly recommended.

Nice to meet you, Matsutake Sushi! I didn't realize there was a sushi restaurant on Brick Hill. I wanted to eat sushi nearby that day, so I made a same-day reservation and went! The course was omakase for 5000 yen, with fresh sashimi, tamago cooked in front of us, isobe-yaki, seared tuna, and more. It was delicious! The chef runs the restaurant alone, and I heard that the restaurant has been around for 70 years, with the current chef being the 3rd generation! The sushi rice was slightly sweet and soft, maybe a Kansai-style rice? I personally liked the squid, aoyagi, and tekkamaki. I will definitely go back!

In the vicinity of Nakano Station, tonkatsu and sushi restaurants are scarce. However, there is a sushi restaurant near the south exit of Nakano Station where both regulars and first-time visitors can enjoy. It is a small restaurant with about 8 counter seats, so it can get crowded at times, but the kind and single owner runs the shop with love. While sipping on hot sake, he recommends the specials of the day. "Today, we have red clam, conger eel, and kohada," says the owner. We started with kohada as an appetizer, which paired perfectly with the delicious pickled baby sardines. As a kohada enthusiast, I was already delighted. Next, we had red clam rolled with wasabi and sesame seeds. It was so delicious. I ordered another round of hot sake. Lastly, we enjoyed conger eel sushi, prepared in two different ways - simmered in white sauce and grilled with salt. The fluffy conger eel was meticulously prepared and felt like a dessert in my stomach. Whether you eat heartily or lightly snack, it's a great restaurant. I had a delicious meal today. Thank you. I will visit again.

The other day, I had dinner with my partner at a new place near Nakano Station South Exit on the JR Chuo Line. It had been a while since I walked up the brick slope. We stumbled upon this place, seemingly by chance, and despite it being my first visit, the owner and the regular customers who were already there warmly welcomed us, making us feel right at home. The cozy interior had only about 8 seats at an L-shaped counter. There was no menu, so we ordered based on the owner's recommendations. As we enjoyed a bottle of beer, we were served dishes like conger eel, assorted sashimi, and grilled eel. We switched to hot water mixed with shochu for drinks and tried several dishes. The lightly boiled cod milt was outstanding. We also ordered a plate of nigiri sushi, which was carefully selected and prepared, showing the skills of a local sushi chef. The red clam nigiri, freshly prepared in front of us, was exceptional. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere created by the owner's hospitality and the pleasant interactions among customers made our experience very enjoyable. The flexibility in offering both omakase and a la carte options at reasonable prices was impressive. The total bill of around 9,000 yen per person felt like a great value for the quality of food and service provided. This local sushi restaurant, with its modest size and welcoming atmosphere, is a gem in Nakano. The current rating of 3.07 at the time of this review (21/10/30) seems underrated, considering the overall experience. I can't wait to visit again and create more unforgettable memories.

Cost performance, owner's personality, and quality of service.

I happened to pass by and decided to eat here. The food is delicious and affordable! Today, the Thai dishes are especially tasty!

"Matsutake Sushi" is located about a 2-minute walk from JR Nakano Station South Exit. I visited around 1 pm on a weekday. There was a line about 30 minutes before, but it seemed to have calmed down a bit. When I peeked into the restaurant, there were 3 customers already seated. The L-shaped counter could seat around 8 people. The owner seemed to be running the place alone, as there were still leftover dishes from previous customers on the counter. I sat at a cramped seat that was lowered down. First, I was served hot tea in a large teacup. That's how a sushi restaurant should be! It was nice to be able to see the cooking process from the counter. I could see the owner searing the fatty tuna and conger eel. The larger pieces of sushi included salmon, yellowtail, squid, salmon roe, medium fatty tuna, egg, shrimp, and spicy cod roe. Under the seared fatty tuna and conger eel, there was firefly squid hidden. The sushi rice was topped with seaweed and sesame seeds. I dipped the sushi toppings in soy sauce and wasabi before eating them with the rice. The toppings were delicious, but the vinegar in the sushi rice was a bit strong. The chirashi sushi set might be a bit challenging due to the quantity. The fish head soup had a rustic flavor. This sushi restaurant seems to truly shine with its nigiri sushi. Considering all this for 840 yen, I think it's fantastic.

The sushi restaurant in the city only has a counter that can seat 8 people. It is difficult for small, independent restaurants like this to compete, especially when they offer lunch for less than a thousand yen. Large chain restaurants have the advantage of keeping costs low and maintaining freshness through specialized distribution channels. Providing cheap and delicious sushi at a small restaurant is a challenging task. With low expectations, I ordered a medium-sized beer (580 yen) and the lunch nigiri set (840 yen). The nigiri set included 8 pieces of sushi - mackerel, shrimp, salmon, sea bream, tuna, salmon roe, eel, and egg, along with a tuna roll (with green onions) and miso soup. The quality of the fish was decent for the price, but not outstanding. However, the nigiri set at this restaurant completely changed my perception of affordable sushi restaurants. The shrimp, for example, was freshly peeled after the order was placed, resulting in a moist and flavorful taste. The sea bream had finely scored cuts, providing a crunchy texture without the rice falling apart. Lastly, the eel was traditional simmered eel, incredibly soft and creamy. Although it may not be extraordinarily delicious, the attention to detail and craftsmanship made me very satisfied. It's not about just putting tasty fish on top of vinegared rice; it's about the happiness of enjoying something that the chef put effort into. And all of this for 840 yen is truly fulfilling.

I have been going to this counter with only 8 seats for about 5 years. I think part of the reason is because I am a regular, but I love the atmosphere of chatting with the chef and getting recommended sushi in a special way. I go there quite often, about twice a month when I can. There are many other regular customers, so I naturally become acquainted with them. It's one of the pleasures to talk with these people. The atmosphere is so comfortable as a regular that it might be a bit intimidating for new customers, but I would definitely recommend going for lunch and trying the conger eel here. The conger eel here is truly amazing. It melts in your mouth.