Matsuei

The restaurant has a cozy stylish interior and serves delicious Nikkei cuisine. I paid S/ 150 for one run which matched the quality of the fresh well-presented dishes. Service was polite and friendly. A great spot for flavorful fusion food in a relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Extremely mediocre sushi with lackluster service. I ordered the moriawase — the chef’s choice of 16 pieces of nigiri — and while the fish was fresh, the rice completely ruined the experience. Each piece was overstuffed with rice that felt straight out of an “all you can eat” sushi buffet in the U.S.: overly vinegared, overcooked, and packed into a dense, sticky clump. The texture was more like Southeast Asian sticky rice — heavy and gummy — rather than the light, airy, subtly sweet-and-sour sushi rice that forms the foundation of great nigiri. Because yes, great sushi is fundamentally about the rice — not just the fish. Any sushi chef will tell you that. I get that this isn’t Japan, and I don’t expect the chefs here to have undergone years of “rice apprenticeship”. But I did expect something better than gas station/shopping mall sushi, especially since the sushi selections had no real “fusion” angle to fall back on as an excuse for lack of authenticity. I did try one fusion dish — the udon carbonara — which was decent, but forgettable. It was also laughably small for a main dish, more like a tapas portion. The ambiance is upscale and refined, but the energy is dead. The staff didn’t seem like they wanted to be there. They wore Japanese samue robes and tossed around phrases like “irasshai” and “hai,” which just felt forced and cringey. So what is this place trying to be — a traditional sushi-ya or a modern fusion spot? It doesn’t commit to either, and in the end, it misses the mark on both.

Food is great but service needs to be improved.

We were very excited to try the sushi here. We went for a late lunch and we're surprised at the doors were locked upon arrival. Luckily somebody opened them up because we were starving. We decided to order the premium sushi pack (boat) for four which was an assortment of assortment of nigiri and maki (rolls). The tuna here was maybe the best I've ever had but all the other cuts of fish and the rolls were a bit average.

If you’re a sushi lover in Lima, Matsuei should be at the top of your list. This place has a long-standing reputation, and it absolutely lives up to it. We came for the sushi—and left completely impressed. What Stood Out • The Sushi Every piece was expertly prepared, beautifully presented, and full of clean, fresh flavors. The fish quality was exceptional—melt-in-your-mouth good. We ordered a variety of nigiri and rolls, and there wasn’t a single miss. • Attention to Detail • Efficient, Courteous Service The staff was attentive without being intrusive. They made great recommendations and ensured a smooth, relaxed dining experience. Final Word Matsuei delivers some of the best sushi in Lima—no gimmicks, just high-quality ingredients and expert technique. It’s the kind of place that honors tradition while consistently delivering on flavor and freshness. Would we go back? Absolutely. Rating: ★★★★★

I was looking forward to this place since I heard this is where the known Acevichado roll was created. We had a reservation and we were 4 people. We got some of the sashimi recommended by the server and they were good, I think just one blew our mind. Then we tried the acevichado roll but it was ok, the sauce was good but the roll itself was too thick. Also, we got the Matsuei roll and we enjoyed that one. We ordered another roll recommended by the server, which was the Tartar, and that one was good too. The rolls are good size. The food was all right, the only thing that bothered me a little was that the server recommendations were pretty expensive. We don’t live here so for dollars is fine but for someone coming from some other places in South America, it can get pretty pricey, plus he was kind of pushy. Also, they have an open kitchen so you will end up smelling like food.

I visited Matusei for lunch because it was recommended by my lonely planet guide book for Peruvian Nikkei food. I really wanted to try Peruvian Japanese fusion food and it was definitely the best recommendation! The Nikkei sushi tasted heavenly. I tried all the recommendations from the service staff and the sushi chef. I couldn’t stop eating because it was so delicious. It was my first Nikkei food experience and it was amazing! Don’t hesitate to try this place if you want to try Nikkei food! Besides, the interior of the restaurant was very high class and the service was great.

Outside of Japan, this was hands down my best sushi experience (and it’s still close with some great omakase in Tokyo). Each piece is crafted with care using incredible, high-quality cuts of fish. Several dishes are very unique combinations, and all absolutely delicious. Highly recommend!