Matoi Sushi

An Instagrammer recommended Matoi Sushi in Coquitlam for me, and mentioned the restaurant is Japanese owned. When BF and I came here for dinner, the staff was friendly and cheerful. We were seated at a very small table and after ordering, the waitress moved us to a larger table. I thought that was nice of her and is a lot better than squeezing our dishes as some restaurants have done before. Or even worse, asked us to move after all the dishes came since there was not enough table space.

ASSORTED SASHIMI, HAMACHI, TAKO, TUNA AND ATLANTIC SALMON ($14.50). 

Starting with the hamachi, the sashimi could have been more fresh. The hamachi does not have the nice bright burgundy red colour and looks like it has been sitting out since morning. Next, the tuna sashimi is still frozen but at least could not taste mushy. Continuing, the tako is a good small portion which makes it easier to eat. And last, the salmon sashimi could have been cut thicker and tastes average.

TORO SASHIMI ($6.50).
The toro sashimi does not taste the freshest and is served at more of a room temperature than cool. Moreover, the sashimi tastes neither buttery nor fatty and is fairly dry.

NABEYAKI UDON ($8.25).
The soup base tastes bland and has a strong sweet taste. It would be nice if the restaurant has a seafood udon option or added some scallops, prawns or clams for a higher price. Ebisu and Kamei's nabeyaki udon is pricer by $2.00 but they have a lot more ingredients in their udon and a better tasting broth.

DELUXE TEMPURA, YAM FRIES, ZUCCHINI, GREEN PEPPER, ONION RING, SPOT PRAWN, SALMON AND PRAWNS ($12.50).
The tempura has a nice light flaky batter and does not taste overly oily. Starting from the left, there is a good amount of four to five pieces of yam fries. Unfortunately the yam fries are not fully cooked and tastes raw. Next, the zucchini, green pepper and onion ring tastes pretty standard. Continuing, the deluxe tempura comes with only one spot prawn which tastes yummy. In general though, for a deluxe or assorted tempura it is usually nicer to have more than one of each item, so more than one person can try it. Moving on, the prawn tempura tastes good and has a nice snap. And last, the salmon tempura tastes dry and overcooked. The only restaurant I know of that has perfected salmon tempura is Nagano in Coquitlam, but that was only once.

TUNA NIGIRI ($1.25), SALMON NIGIRI ($1.50), MATOI ROLL ($4.99) AND ALASKA ROLL ($4.99).
The rice for the nigiri and sushi rolls are too loose which made some of the pieces fall apart. The tuna and salmon nigiri tastes average with no complaints other than the rice. For the rolls, neither of them have a heavy mayonnaise taste. I chose the Matoi and Alaska roll since I like any rolls with shredded imitation crab meat.

POSITIVES
- Average food
- Friendly staff
- Complimentary pocky

NEGATIVES
- Rice is too loose
- Toro sashimi was not fresh

LITTLE THINGS
- None of the waitresses ask customers how the food is. I guess they assume customers want privacy?
- If the only reason you visit is because the restaurant is Japanese owned, Fuji Sushi in Coquitlam is Japanese owned as well and their tempura batter is perfectly flaky
- Kind of over priced for what it is.. $75.00 after tax and tip? Eh

Food: 2.5/5
Service: 2.5/5