I was interested in dining at Tempura Matsui but saw a scathing review from The Infatuation written earlier this year, and a recommendation for Secchu Yokota instead. It seems like some of their gripe was with the service, but a lot about the food as well.
Has anyone been to Matsui recently that can comment on their meal? Or if you’ve been to both, which one you liked more?
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[https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/reviews/tempura-matsui](https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york/reviews/tempura-matsui)
by crakhamster01
3 Comments
I’m not sure if this reviewer has dined at many formal tempura restaurants in Japan, but I do agree that most people unfamiliar with that scene would likely favor Seccu Yokota over Tempura Matsui. However, that’s because Seccu Yokota is intentionally geared a bit more for Western customers.
The chef’s father at Seccu Yokota specialized in Japanese-style Western food, and the menu reflects this influence. Tempura Matsui is much more similar to high-end tempura restaurants like Tempura Kondo in Tokyo (the place that famously turned away Obama because he didn’t have a reservation). It’s not “fun,” nor is it supposed to be. It’s like going to an art show but eating the art. That can be a turn-off to many people, looking for a good time, especially younger people.
I would say both restaurants had similar quality tempura, but Seccu Yokata is a more personal menu (and service) while Tempura Matsui is a more traditional, high-end tempura meal and stiffer service. As for the criticism of servers advising how to eat each dish, the writer failed to elaborate but that’s done even in Japan. There are many types of salts, seasonings, and dipping sauces and a chef will often suggest different ways to pair. When I was at Matsui, no server told us how to eat, but the chef did suggest and all the customers at the time spoke Japanese. I wouldn’t count that as a strike. The big con for both is the price: more than double the price of going to a *top* rated tempura restaurant in Japan. Makes it a real one off experience.
I had the opposite experience as this review. I found the tempura at matsui to be comparable to high end Japan tempura spots, where’s I found Secchu to have certain courses that were thicker and greasier than Id expect, although I agree Secchu is more friendly and fun
I agree with the other commenters. The Infatuation reviewer walked into a traditional high-end tempura shop with the wrong expectations. Several styles of tempura exist; not all of them maximize crispiness, as the reviewer demands.
Servers told us “chef suggests eating this with lemon juice / truffle salt / seaweed salt / dipping sauce” as they’re in front of you at all times. They’re flavor pairing suggestions. Nobody chided me for using the “wrong” condiment.