Matsuri, the unassuming sushi spot tucked into a Bird Road strip mall where regulars routinely wait more than an hour for a table, is finally opening a second location. The Miami institution plans to expand into Coconut Grove in 2026, giving longtime fans a closer option without sacrificing the fresh sashimi and generously portioned sushi that built its following.
According to Miami New Times, Matsuri will open its second location at 2750 SW 26th Avenue in Coconut Grove, nearly 40 years after it first opened. The original restaurant remains at 5759 Bird Road in Miami, where it has earned a reputation as a beloved, locals-only destination. Matsuri's own website tells a slightly different story about its history, stating it has served customers for over 30 years, though the exact timeline between the two accounts has not been clarified.
Matsuri’s history is a little more specific in Miami New Times’ account: the restaurant dates to 1988. The paper has also highlighted dishes that are less common on U.S. Japanese menus, including ankimo, or monkfish liver, and fresh sea urchin, alongside sushi and sashimi. That mix of traditional specialties and everyday favorites has helped distinguish the Bird Road restaurant from Miami’s more formal sushi counters. New Times’ profile of Matsuri describes its menu and long-running appeal.
A New Home in the Coral Bagels Plaza
The new outpost is set to land in Suite C at the Coral Bagels plaza, the same report notes. Food blogger Gaby Cuadra reported spotting a Matsuri sign while walking through the area, offering an early glimpse of the brand's arrival in the neighborhood. Matsuri's website currently lists the new address simply as coming soon, with no confirmed opening date yet attached to the project.
The new address places Matsuri in a neighborhood retail center with an established mix of everyday businesses: Coral Bagels is listed among the plaza’s key tenants, alongside Mathnasium and Adventure Sports. The property is also promoted as being within walking distance of the Coconut Grove Metrorail station, giving the location a transit connection beyond its nearby parking. The center’s tenant and location details underscore that the sushi shop will join an existing commercial hub rather than a newly built dining district.
That lack of a firm timeline hasn't dampened enthusiasm among regulars who've grown used to the wait at the original location. The restaurant itself acknowledges on its site that there may be brief wait times during peak hours, a notably understated way of describing the hour-plus lines that have become part of the Matsuri experience for years.
What's Drawing Fans Back
Matsuri's menu has long centered on the basics done well: sashimi, noodles, and traditional izakaya-style dishes alongside bento boxes, business lunches, and Japanese classics. That consistency helped the restaurant win New Times' Best Sushi award in 2025, cementing its status among Miami diners even before news of the expansion broke.
Matsuri’s expansion comes as Miami’s Japanese dining scene stretches from casual neighborhood restaurants to chef-led tasting counters. A 2023 city dining guide counted 17 notable omakase counters and described Japanese openings from Bal Harbour to Doral, alongside growth in ramen and izakaya offerings. Matsuri’s long-running, informal format stands apart from that tasting-menu trend, while still giving the restaurant a place in a city where Japanese dining has become more varied. Time Out’s guide to Miami Japanese restaurants captured that breadth.
Dr. Liana Mendoza, a regular at the Bird Road location, said Matsuri is her favorite sushi spot in Miami and that the new Coconut Grove location will be more convenient for her. She added that she cannot wait for her tomo tomo special once the second restaurant opens, echoing the kind of loyalty that has kept customers lining up for decades.
For now, Miami diners will have to keep watching that Coconut Grove storefront for signs of progress. With no confirmed opening date, the countdown to a second helping of Matsuri's sashimi and sushi continues for a fan base that has already waited the better part of 40 years for an easier seat at the table.
