Restaurant Matsumotoya — Restaurant in Strasbourg

I really wanted to come here because I had the feeling it might be authentic – after living in Japan for many years I was really craving a real Japanese food fix. The waiter, wearing a nice jinbei, was friendly when we came in – I immediately had high hopes 😊

When you order a main dish you get some small delicious sides like chicken karaage, aubergine, pork belly and shitake mushrooms. I have to say that these were really good!! We had wanted takoyaki but this was not available. However, the miso soup was really watery and had almost nothing in it – almost no nori and a tiny bit of tofu and definitely not enough miso. The small salad was tasty, although it would be better to have the lettuce at least slightly chopped instead of a massive chunk. Dressing and crispy onion on top were really good.

For the main course, I ordered the “plat du moment” Miso Nikomi Udon which I thought being a special would be excellent. The waiter informed us that there was a short delay with the main courses (which of course was totally fine, we had no problem with this). However it came out absolutely boiling hot which destroyed any flavor that this might have. Instead of algae there were baby spinach leaves which had been boiled into oblivion and were as a result really bitter. The broth did not taste good and definitely was not a nice umami miso taste but was really dark like a shoyu ramen, but with no good taste due to it being boiled. The egg tased like when you overboil a hard boiled egg, even the yolk was a bit powdery and dry. Unfortunately this meant that the cardinal sin of overcooked udon noodles was also committed. Really disappointing!! We also ordered the Karaage Don, instead of the Chicken Katsudon which was not available and this was really quite good – nice chicken and the egg and onion was done well.

We waited quite some time to order dessert (they have a good variety on the menu) as the other empty tables were cleaned and set up for evening service. When we ordered the dessert finally, we chose the green tea cheesecake with a free scoop of ice-cream (bonus points for this) & a macha tea. However, we sat next to the kitchen and could hear a disappointed chorus of “oh nooooo” when the waiter announced that we wanted to have dessert. At this point there were 2 other tables in the restaurant so we were by no means the last at lunch. When the dessert came it was eaten quickly, not just because it was so delicious. Unfortunately, the macha had been prepared with boiling water which it shouldn’t be and this impaired the taste.

Overall, 3 stars because the small side dishes and the dessert was really nice and the Karaage Don was quite good. A shame about the rest but maybe we just visited...

From the outside, Restaurant Matsumotoya might easily be overlooked, nestled as it is within an old building whose modest facade and small windows blend seamlessly into the surrounding architecture. We might have walked right past it if not for the tip we received! This venue deliberately shuns flashy designs and modern fusion menus, choosing instead to deliver an authentic Japanese dining experience that matches or even surpasses the fine establishments of Japan.

From the moment the dishes arrived at our table, it was clear we were in for an exceptional treat. The vegetable gyoza, evidently handcrafted with care and expertise, were a revelation—fresh, bursting with flavors that danced delightfully across the palate. The buckwheat noodles were equally impressive, perfectly cooked to satisfy a true noodle connoisseur's craving.

However, the real pièce de résistance was undoubtedly the tempura—specifically, the carrot tempura. What might seem a simple dish was transformed into a culinary tour de force through flawless execution. The carrots were fried to sublime perfection, achieving an ideal balance of crunch and sweetness, all encased in a light, airy batter that exemplified the expert frying technique at play.

Matsumotoya is a testament to the idea that sometimes the best things come in the most unassuming packages. For anyone eager to indulge in genuine Japanese culinary excellence, look no further. A visit to Matsumotoya isn't just a meal; it's a journey to the culinary heart of Japan, hidden away in the heart...

I give this rating for a first try.

Food: ok, can warm you in a cold day. the fried chicken may have a taste of old oil or be too greasy. I heard a lot of microwave oven used before our serving, so I guess some food may have been reheated, which is a big minus. I have missed some freshness in the plate...too sweet, but this may be the style.

Environment: cosy, but you have to consider that there will be people without shoes and depending on your luck and persons it may be smelly or not. I don't consider it a very clean restaurant. There are places that need attention. you may sit on the lower table on the floor, to have a feel of the culture.

Price: good for what it offers, but can do better.

Service it was good and we didn't had to wait long for the food. It depends if you order on a busy schedule.

I was expecting more seeing the reviews, maybe people were too nice when giving them, and I find it a restaurant...