MoonCats Sushi Bistro

Overview:  This small restaurant in Old Town attracts a loyal following for it’s authentic Japanese cuisine. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming, and the owners pride themselves on careful preparation and high quality ingredients.

Décor: The interior of this cozy, intimate bistro is painted in shades of blue, pale yellow, and dark red. The walls are adorned with mirrors and Japanese pictures of landscapes and waterscapes. In the center there is a small counter where you can look into the kitchen while you eat. Another counter faces the wall, and several small tables are available inside or on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant.

Drinks:  Beers include Sapporo by the bottle ($3.75), Yebisu by the bottle ($6.25) and Sapporo by the glass ($3.75) or pitcher ($13.)  Cold bottled Sake includes Nigori Silky Mild ($10),Kamotsuru ($18), Kamotsuru Daiginjo ( $25-$75), Tamanohikari Ginjo ($17), Kikusui Ginjo ($21- $84), Hakkaisan Ginjo ($116), Sharaku DaiGinjo ($32-$64), and Dassai Daiginjo ($54).  Other alcoholic beverages include a small glass of hot sake, Sho Chiku Bai ($3.75) Chu-Hi in Lemon, Green Apple, Grapefruit ($6), White or Red Wine by the glass ($7.50) and Plum Wine ($5.50). 

Non Alcoholic drinks range from $1.75 to $2.50 and include Green Tea (Hot or Iced), Iced Tea, Iced Oolong Tea, Calpico (Original, Strawberry or Mango) and Sodas.

Lunch Specials:              

Bento Box Specials are served with Green Salad, Seaweed, Sweet Potato Salad, Miso Green Beans & Gyoza dumpling.  You may also add Miso soup for $1.

A.  Mixed Tempura with Rice  $8.50

B.  Grilled Salmon with Rice   $9.50

C.  Grilled Mackerel with Rice  $9.50

D. California Roll & Mixed Tempura  $10

E.  Sushi & Mixed Tempura $12  ( Sushi 3 piece: Salmon, Yellowtail, Tuna )

F.  Sashimi & Mixed Tempura with Rice  $13 (Sashimi 4 piece: Salmon, Tuna )

Other Lunch Specials:  The Udon & Inari Sushi Combo ($7) comes with Tanuki Udon(crunchy topping) and 2 pieces of Inari sushi. For the Rolls Combo of 2 ($7) or 3 ($9.50), choose from your choice of California, Vegetable, Asparagus, Cucumber, Eel Cucumber, Tuna, Spicy Tuna, Salmon, Spicy Salmon, or Salmon Skin rolls. Noodle Soups: Ramen ($8) with Roast Pork, Boiled Egg, Bean Sprouts, Cabbage, Sansai (Wild Vegetables) Udon ($6), Shrimp Tempura Udon ($6.50) and Fish Tempura Udon ($6). Stir-fried Noodles: California Yaki Udon ($7), Uni Yaki Udon (with sea urchin & wild vegetables) for $8. Rice Bowls: Pork Ginger ($7), Shrimp Tempura ($7) and Unagi (Eel) for $9.50.

House Favorites, Small Plates, Starters, and Sides:  House Favorites include the ever popular Jalapeno Bomber ($8) with spicy tuna, shrimp, and cream cheese, Spicy Tuna Shishito ($6), Stuffed Avocado ($7), and Albacore Onion ($14).

Small Plates range from $6 to $10 and include Agedashi Tofu, Baked Green Mussels, Ika Geso Calamari, Kurobata Pork Sausages, Salmon Kama (collar), Hamachi (yellowtail) Kama, and Softshell Crab Karaage.

Starters include Endamame ($2.50), Spicy Tuna Tacos ($4) and the often-ordered Crispy Rice: California($4), Spicy Tuna ($5), or Spicy Salmon($5). 

Sides include Rice ($2), Sunomono ($4) and Miso Green Beans ($3).

Sushi and Sashimi:  Maki Sushi rolls, available in the range of $3-$13.50 for four pieces, include Tuna, Eel Cucumber, Fish Tempura, Salmon, Shrimp Avocado, Spicy Tuna, Spicy Scallop, Yellowtail Scallion, California Roll, and the Rainbow Roll. Softshell Crab (California rolls with softshell crab tempura), Crunchy Dragon (California, shrimp tempura, eel), and Red Dragon ( spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, tuna) rolls are favorites. Other specialty rolls include Caterpillar (eel, cucumber, avocado) Philadelphia (California, cream cheese, salmon), and Orange Dragon (spicy salmon, shrimp tempura, salmon). Vegetarian rolls include Asparagus, Avocado, Cucumber and Vegetable Rolls. 

Nigiri Sushi, available in the range of $3-$8.50 for two pieces, includes Albacore, Baby Lobster, Conch, Eel, Flying Fish Egg, Halibut, Fried Tofu, Mackerel, Red Snapper, Salmon, Salmon Egg, Scallop, Sea Urchin, Shabu Shabu Beef, Shrimp, Squid, Tuna and Yellowtail.  Some selections of Nigiri Sushi are available in the range of $10-$21 for five pieces.

Specialty Sashimi ranges from $9 to $17 and includes Ankimo (Monkfish Liver), Yellowtail Jalapeno, Carpaccio (Salmon, Halibut, or Red Snapper) and Ceviche.

For $19, either Chirashi (seven pieces of assorted sashimi over sushi rice with miso), or a Sushi Plate (seven pieces of assorted sushi with California rolls and miso soup) is also available.

Noodles, Rice Bowls, and Tempura:  Shrimp Tempura Udon and Uni (sea urchin) Yaki Udon are very popular. Noodle dishes ($7.50-$9.50) include California Yaki Udon, Uni (sea urchin) Yaki Udon and soups, such as Sansai (wild vegetables) Udon, Shrimp Tempura Udon, Fish Tempura Udon, and Ramen. Rice Bowls ($8-$10) include Unagi (eel) and Shrimp or Fish Tempura. Tempura ($6-$7.50) is available in Fish, Shrimp, Vegetable, or Mixed. 

Soup and Salad:  Soups ($2-$6) include Miso, Asari (clams) Miso, Asari in butter or sake broth, and Kenchin Jiru (root vegetable soup.) Salads ($4.50-$9) include Green Salad, Seaweed Salad, Albacore Salad, Salmon Skin Salad, Tofu Salad, and Sweet Potato Salad.

Desserts:  Mochi ice cream, Apple Pie Roll with ice cream, pecans, and caramel sauce.

Service:  The owner will seat you.

Signature Dishes:  Sushi, Sashimi

Chef:  Ken Hiyama

108 E Lime Ave

Monrovia, CA 91016 

626-256-6500