Hadn't been to Matu since 2022, so when I saw that Matu Kai was opening in Brentwood with a larger space than the original Beverly Hills location, it was only a matter of time before I came here. Helped that the friend group agreed on Matu Kai as our annual holiday dinner venue!
The one thing that I REALLY wanted to try was the Matu Philly Cheesesteak, but I was informed beforehand that it was only available at the bar during dinner hours. Well, I am then thankful that the Lock, Stock & Barrel menu ($115 pp) exists because it literally served the cheesesteak as "dessert."
A rundown of everything on the menu below, with all beef as 100% grass-fed wagyu from First Light Farms in New Zealand:
1. 24-Hour Bone Broth: Always a good starter here. Very clean, not too salted.
2. Garlic Bread: Solid, had some nice toasted cheese on top.
3. Shrimp Cocktail (Kauai origin): I mean, it's really hard to mess up shrimp cocktail. The horseradish sauce had a kick!
4. Tenderloin Carpaccio: The only dish that I felt was underwhelming. Didn't have enough flavor, which is surprising given the high beef quality that they have to work with.
5. Steak Tartare, Japanese Accent: As usual, one of Matu's best dishes and easily the most photogenic. The wagyu quality really shines here. Absolutely fantastic dish.
6. Hand-Cut Fries (from HiHo), Beef Tallow, Parsley: Matu and HiHo Cheeseburger have the same owner, so it makes sense they'd import the fries here. These were actually some amazing fries! Perfectly crispy and the beef tallow adds a ton of flavor.
7. Maltagliati (from UOVO): Was bemused that there is even a pasta dish on this menu, but I guess if UOVO is part of the group why not? It was a very good pasta.
8. 8-Hour Braised Beef Cheek: Now we're getting into the good stuff! The only shame is that there wasn't more of this. Super tender and flavorful. Enjoyed the celericac puree it came with.
9. 7 oz Center Cut Filet: Matu's whole deal is that you trust them to cook the steak at their signature "warm red," which is a medium rare center. They know what they're doing. Great filet!
10. '47' Salad, Little Gem Lettuce: A break from all the meat! Really fresh lettuce, might have had more cheese than necessary.
11. Tenderloin Satay, "Crying Tiger" Sauce: I don't really have satay enough to comment on how it compares to real satay, but this was good enough.
12. Ribeye/NY Brochettes, Harissa Spice: Can't really go wrong with these skewers with the meat quality. Spice added a nice kick!
13. Ribeye: Can't come to Matu and not have their trademark ribeye. So so so damn good. That wagyu cooked in "warm red" really shines here.
14. Maitake Mushrooms, Thyme, Butter: Crispier than expected, but paired well with the ribeye.
15. Matu Philly Cheesesteak & Chips: The cheesesteak that we all wanted and ended up getting! This was as advertised. The wagyu beef mixed with the Cooper Sharp cheese was perfection! The artisanal sesame roll is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The Philadelphia-style Long Hot pepper did get to me, that thing is really spicy! Honestly, this by itself is a worthy meal and a candidate for best cheesesteak in the city. Only thing is that it was a bit hard to enjoy because we were so stuffed by this point!
16. Arturo's Panna Cotta (Café Con Leche, Strawberry, Passion Fruit): Had three different kinds of panna cottas. The strawberry one was definitely the favorite, but café con leche and passion fruit were good as well.
Service here is great. The starters came out pretty fast, but they slowed the pace down once the big ticket items starting coming out. Overall, very friendly and welcoming.
There is absolutely zero dependable street parking here. Valet parking is right outside the restaurant and is $15.
Ambience is what I hoped for. Very warm and cozy environment inside. Tables were spaced well. Not too loud at all. The bar area seamlessly fit in. Great work designing the space!
Overall, Matu Kai delivers on every single mark. Can't wait to come back again! read more