Izakaya Matsuri - Cape Town, South Africa

Some of the best sushi in Cape Town, if Lonely Planet is to be believed. 

Jet lag makes my stomach turn at the thought of yet another meat-heavy Cape Malay-inspired meal so curiosity brings us to Bo Kaap.

Started with the Bang Bang Prawn. Very fresh shrimp and avocado, deep fried. What's not to like?

They have a more limited selection of fish than we're used to. US sushi includes a menu of at least ten choices, varying in quality as some of it probably sits when it doesn't sell. Izakaya Matsuri only has salmon, tuna, and a daily linefish for raw options, and I appreciate the use of super-fresh, in-season ingredients. 

We order some stuff, our usge. The Dragon Roll because we need unagi, and this eel is  soft and flaky and sweet, striped with ripe avocado. There's an assortment of sweet, striped Salmon and meaty Tuna, sliced into sashimi and nigiri. Fresh, higher-end cuts for sure.

Mixed Tempura because we're dying for vegetables. Because vegetables barely exist outside a salad bowl. The batter is exactly right. Onion, carrot, sweet potato, broccoli, and calamari in shades of light brown, practically white, a never-soggy coat to soak up some sauce.

Nice meal. Love the decor and the dark, quite mood of tranquility. The food is no-fail, a reliably familiar selection of quality sushi and sashimi. Great for the sushi craving, good for a lighter, less meaty meal.