01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Whether you are after a hearty bowl of white rice or a quick drink over a spread of small plates, Matsuba in Edogawa Ward's Higashi-Koiwa district accommodates with an unusually varied menu. The kitchen turns out teishoku staples like ginger pork sets, hamburg steak sets, and fried chicken sets for around 800 yen, alongside Western-influenced diner fare such as omurice and chicken pilaf. Diners often point to the comforting, unpretentious cooking, from buttery omurice to sliced pork scented sharply with fresh ginger.
The seafood options are just as prominent as the meat dishes. Charcoal-grilled fish includes atka mackerel (hokke), salted mackerel, and butterflied horse mackerel, while raw preparations span sashimi platters, fatty tuna (toro sashimi), tuna topped with grated mountain yam (maguro yamakake), and brimming kaisen-don bowls. Reviews frequently welcome the generous mounds of grated daikon radish served beside the grilled fish, reflecting the hearty portions typical of an old-school Japanese diner.
Those dropping in for a drink can take advantage of value combinations pairing 1 beverage with a choice of 2 dishes, or order a la carte favorites such as dashi-rolled omelet, oversized skewers, and offal hotpot (motsu nabe). With beer, shochu, and highballs on tap, it is easy to assemble an informal spread suited to the mood of the evening.
The restaurant operates continuously from lunch through dinner, making it an easy drop-in spot for solo meals. Payment is cash only, so keep notes or coins handy when visiting.
