When my husband and I stopped by Matsuyama (a trendy Japanese fusion eatery that’s smartly dressed in stark black and vibrant red with accents of silver) on a recent evening, we found a chatty group of friends huddled around a few tables pushed together, but most of the diners had settled in at the long sushi bar—eager for not only the chef’s inventive creations, but his banter as well. 

We took our time eyeing the extensive menu, which boasts an impressive 39 specialty sushi rolls, more than 15 appetizers, a selection of small fusion plates (perfect for sharing), plus ramen, nigiri and combinations for lunch and dinner. 

While the Banana Bacon (Hokkaido scallop, banana and bacon wrapped with Scottish salmon topped with pico de gallo) sounded pretty interesting, we opted for the more accessible Japanese Tostada to start. Four perfectly browned wonton chips were topped with soft seared tuna, garlic, pepper, white onion, cilantro and tomato—all offset by spicy jalapeño and sweetened by thick teriyaki sauce. It was the perfect fusion dish—slightly eccentric and crazy delicious.

Philly II Roll

 As avid sushi fans, we were ecstatic about the wide selection of rolls. After due process scanning the menu, we finally settled on Silvina’s Roll and Philly II (each roll featured about nine pieces of sushi, which was plenty of food for two, very hungry, people).

The Philly II was a refreshing mix of deep-fried shrimp, spicy crab, cucumber, avocado, salmon, thinly sliced lemon and spicy sauces. The tempura batter on the shrimp was slightly sweet and paired well with the zesty lemon and heat of the sauces, resulting in an approachable roll that’d be perfect for sushi newbies. 

The Silvina—a blend of crispy soft shell crab, spicy sesame-flavored crab, scallions, ono and salmon, then lightly torched with Korean chili sauce and topped with sautéed white onion, jalapeños, ground garlic tuna, red shallots and sauces—was plenty to take in (literally), and by the last bite, we’d only scratched the surface of the multi-faceted flavor profile.

 Ask for a few pieces of the green tea (my favorite flavor), mochi, and bite through the tacky outer layer of pounded sticky rice covering a delicate ice cream center. It’s a familiar end to an adventurous meal.

Matsuyama Japanese Fusion, 7452 Foothills Boulevard, Suite 100, Roseville, 916-787-9898.