MATSU

Footscray’s dining scene just got a serious upgrade. Tucked away on Barkly Street—an intimate, 12-seat minimalist room where serious sushi purists are quietly booking out the counter. Chef Hansol Lee—bringing heavy-hitting pedigree from his time at Kenzan and Minamishima—channels true shokunin dedication into every single course. Lunch means a masterful sushi omakase; dinner shifts to an exquisite kaiseki format. Those lucky enough to score a reservation talk in hushed, reverent tones about the uni nori handrolls and the impossibly rich salmon and ikura rice. It’s a masterclass in precision—a whisper of citrus here, a subtle kiss of smoke there, building a deep, buttery umami profile across each piece of nigiri. Spotlessly clean. Impeccably paced. Warm, detail-obsessed service that even includes a polaroid keepsake to mark the night. Skip the predictable CBD spots—this is high-level Japanese dining with an unforgettable, deeply personal touch.