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Matsu

$50 and over

Creative Japanese

Make a booking

2 people

27 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 14 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Innovative
Neighbourhood gem

Matsu follows a new light in modern Japanese cooking while paying homage to centuries-old tradition. We honor the philosophies behind the culture and its cuisine while expressing the local terroir and what grows naturally around us. The menu is our study of pristine, simple ingredients, the overall experience a balance, providing a sense of omotenashi, or Japanese hospitality.

We currently offer a 10 course tasting menu that constantly is changing with the seasons and availability, featuring a wide variety of seafood and vegetables, a few meat courses, and desserts. We also have a la carte and vegan options available as well, and walk in guests are welcome to join us either at our bar, or if tables are available for the evening. With advance notice, we are happy to adjust the menu to accommodate most dietary restrictions. A5 Wagyu can be added for an additional $55 per person.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: William Eick

From the OpenTable editors: Head to this serene spot for innovative Japanese fare from pop-up darling and Thrillist San Diego best chef award-winner William Eick. Dig into elegant, beautifully plated dishes that could include sakana with banana curry or ebi tempura in an intimate, dimly lit dining room. Toast with a glass of sake or one of the restaurant’s inventive cocktails like a kelp-infused gin sour.

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Creative Japanese, American, Contemporary Asian
Hours of Operation
Mon, Thu–Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(760) 681-6152
Website
http://eatatmatsu.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Private party facilities
Please contact info@eatmatsu.com for any buyout or private event inquiries.

Location
626 S Tremont St, Oceanside, CA 92054
Area
Oceanside
Cross Street
Corner of Wisconsin St and Tremont St
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access

Experiences

Chef Nino Fjordside/Agnes Karrasch Collab Dinner
US$375.00 per person
Prepaid
20 Jan 2025 - 21 Jan 2025
6 Course collaboration dinner with Chef Nino Fjordside and Agnes Karrasch Nino is the research and development chef, and Agnes is the sous chef for KOKS in Greenland, which held 2 Michelin Stars and a green star at its Faroe Islands location before the move to Greenland. Nino spent years working around the world, including at L'Air du Temps in Belgium, L’Enclume in England, and Celler de Can Roca in Spain. After his time at the latter, he he had secured his dream job at Albert Adrià’s Enigma in Barcelona, then became Head of Research and Development at KOKS. Agnes most recently was the sous chef of KOKS.
10 Course Tasting Menu
US$185.00 per person
Prepaid
Multiple dates available
Join the Matsu team for a 10-course tasting menu. Dietary restrictions and certain allergies cannot be accommodated without advance notice. Whole table participation is required. *We cannot accommodate gluten allergies at this time. **We ask that you do not make multiple reservations with the intent to be seated together, as we cannot accommodate parties larger than 4. CANCELLATION POLICY: Our intention is to provide our guests an intimate dining experience born of rigorous culinary techniques and attentive service. Therefore, no-shows and last minutes cancellations have a notable impact on our ability to serve our guests to our standards. Therefore, all purchases are final and nonrefundable.
Chef's Counter Tasting Menu
US$250.00 per person
Prepaid
Multiple dates available
Join the Matsu team for an 11-course tasting menu. Dietary restrictions and certain allergies cannot be accommodated without advance notice. The 11-course tasting menu price per-person is $250, with the addition of applicable taxes and gratuity. Whole table participation is required. *We cannot accommodate gluten allergies at this time. **We ask that you do not make multiple reservations with the intent to be seated together, as we cannot accommodate parties larger than 4.

What 55 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.9Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

North San Diego
Best Service
North San Diego
Innovative
North San Diego
Healthy
North San Diego
Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Matsu offers a uniquely memorable dining experience with its "excellent 10 course prix fixe menu" and "amazing food and cocktails." Patrons rave about the "incredible service" and "creative dishes" that showcase Japanese fusion in an intimate setting. Perfect for special occasions, Matsu's tasting menu and wine pairings are highly recommended.

55 Reviews

S
Stacy
VIP
Hawaii
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
What an incredible culinary experience! We had the omakase and it was truly a unique and exciting 10 course meal. Every course was creative and delicious. Easily the best meal we’ve had all year. The courses were spaced perfectly. Amberjack tartare, the most delicate flavorful shrimp, perfect duck, an egg that is impossible to describe…each course is so special. The service was knowledgeable, inviting, and fun. What a great team! Really lovely folks that made the evening so special.
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B
Brian
VIP
San Diego
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on 16 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
2nd time. it had been a while so the menu was updated. hands down my favorite venue for upscale dining. Kat our server was exceptional and great to see Roland
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J
Jesse
Orange County
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on 15 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Amazing. made my wife's night for her bday. Our first Omakase experience and we were 'wow-ed' by the selections, presentation and service.
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AL
AnLe
VIP
New York City
12 reviews
3.0
12 reviews
Dined on 9 December 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
It was alright. The restaurant had a strange smell. The foods overall was okay. Nothing amazing. Felt underwhelming between the value and price point for San Diego standard
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C
Cindy
VIP
Las Vegas
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 4 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Guest Chef Mike was amazing! Great food. Great service. Great restaurant
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M
Mark
San Diego
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on 1 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Their 10 course Omakase is very, very good. Almost to Michelin star level. Need to work on a bit more consistency from course to course. The Abalone course was amazing. A couple of courses after that were good, but not quite to the same level. A bit more focus and they could get a star. Price does seem a bit high since they don't have a Michelin star. Dinner for two with the wine pairing and a 22% tip was over $700. It's more reasonable if you don't do the wine pairing. The pairing was an excellent mix of white and red wine, plus a couple saki. They could do a better job in explaining the wine and sometimes the dish. We're pescatarian and they did a good job of adjusting the menu. While in a neighborhood of mixed use ( housing, auto repair, bar, etc) Matsu is quite nice inside. Bespoke wood tables/chairs/trim and minimalist decor make for a very pleasant ambiance.
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J
Jon
Detroit
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on 27 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Matsu really is a hidden gem! The service under their general manager Kim is amazing. The food is absolutely heads and tails above any other restaurant I have been to. Chef William creates amazing combinations and wonderful depth of flavor without ever losing the essence of the ingredients. Their monthly tsuki night is an amazing chance to try some of their wonderful food and interesting new test dishes as well! How Michelin have overlooked this gem for so long is beyond a mystery for me.
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S
Sean
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 26 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had the 10 course tasting, not only was the food great, but the overall experience was very enjoyable. Staff was knowledgeable of the items, readily available, and cognizant of the time they spent within our meal. Perfect place to celebrate our anniversary.
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M
Mark
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 19 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Totally worth the hype, came in for my Wife's birthday and was blown away. No words I could post would really do this place justice, just know it's as good as it seems, if not better than expected.
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J
Jocelyn
VIP
San Diego
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 16 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Every single aspect of this place was thoughtfully and meticulously designed with great quality--all the way down the table setting. Matsu's carefully-curated interior design starkly contrasts its unassuming exterior (and location). The modern take on Japanese aesthetics can also be seen in their creative, textured tableware--which were each uniquely chosen to enhance the experience of each dish. For example, the Amberjack (sashimi) sat in a mini porous tidepool rock, as if we were presented with the freshest catch right by the ocean. To reflect the kitchen's subtle use of pine flavoring--like in the Senbazuru cocktail--there was just the perfect amount of quiet emphasis of pine designs/imprints throughout the place: on the countertops, on the menu cover, in the bathroom candle. All the staff were professional, courteous, and quick to fill our cups. Coltrane welcomed us into our seats with a gracious smile so warm that we didn't mind when he told us the wagyu supplier that night was stuck in traffic. The food was impeccable. They first surprised us with warm towels and an amuse-bouche, which was a cute take on sushi: sashimi on taiyaki! Our drinks were strong without being spirit-forward, and I had the cutest little micro-crane with it too! Ebi (shrimp) tempura had a great soft crunch. Kakuni (pork belly) paired so well with the freshest wasabi and cilantro. The skin crisp off the Sakana (fish with oil-boiled skin) was densely tasty. Don't be fooled by Tsukune's appearance; yes, it is a glorified fancy cheeseburger, but it is the best glorified fancy cheeseburger. Take it from me: we were so blown away by this phenomenal experience that we are fully ready to sit in another hour-long northbound traffic the next time we come back.
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FAQs

Matsu is rated 4.7 stars by 55 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

27 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 14 times today

Experiences are available.

626 S Tremont St, Oceanside, CA 92054

Additional information

Cross Street
Corner of Wisconsin St and Tremont St
Area
Oceanside
Hours of Operation
Mon, Thu–Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Creative Japanese, American, Contemporary Asian
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access

Website
http://eatatmatsu.com/
Phone number
(760) 681-6152
Private party facilities
Please contact info@eatmatsu.com for any buyout or private event inquiries.

Matsu

Make a booking

Why they're an Icon

Additional information

Experiences

Chef Nino Fjordside/Agnes Karrasch Collab Dinner

10 Course Tasting Menu

Chef's Counter Tasting Menu

Menu

What 55 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

FAQs

How is Matsu restaurant rated?

Is Matsu currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Additional information