Food is strictly ok, ambiance is not great either. For almost $300 per person, I was expecting better food and better service . Out of the 10 courses, we did not get even 1 wow. 2 back to back ice cream desserts was also very disappointing. read more

Lovely quiet Monday bday meal. It's a understanded building and rather dark inside but once your eyes adjust it's like zen. It's serenity. 10 courses each one better than the last. Personal faves were the Sunflower. Don't let the name fool you. It's like the best soft taco you get the privilege to masticate. It's squid but it's better than that. Just get it. The other stand out was the katsu abalone. Presentation and flavor and texture. Chef's kiss. I don't want to just write a novel about each course. Go eat here and you will know. I don't want to get your hopes up since the menu can change. Save room for dessert. The white chocolate miso magic. I repeat magic. I would Willy wonka my way in a river of that. Also. Special note the bartender. Fantastic. We sampled all three in house sodas and the dirty martini were so unique and lovely. The team works seamlessly together for service. It was a great evening. Thanks read more

I think it was the 2024 San Diego Magazine that voted Matsu Best Japanese Restaurant Runner up so I had to try it. And very good reviews on Yelp too persuaded me! I paid for the 10 course omakase and wine and sake pairing so I got a hotel room because I didn't have to drive home. Coltrain was extraordinary. Angela was engaging. Kim, the sommelier went above and beyond to answer one of my questions. Catherine showed me some serious knives, all the while being genuine. Each course was beautifully presented and the timing and service was well orchestrated. read more

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Incredible birthday celebration for my husband. This place is a spectacular and masterful place for foodies. The 10 course tasting menu is creative, fun, delicious and healthy. read more

So there I was. Starting my culinary journey. This was my first tasting menu experience, at a Michelin Quality restaurant. Matsu 松 was an interesting take on Tradition Japanese Cuisine. The setting was minimalist and the service was exquisite with a flare for the dramatic. The food had some High Highs and some low lows: I got the Birthday Treatment with some non-alcoholic bubbly stuff that was subtle and fragrant. Then an egg white topped "Mocktail" that was lightly sweet and floral. The opening Amúse Bouche was a fish (who's name escapes me) on a Japanese waffle. Notes of sweet and just when the fishy flavor would become overwhelming the waffle took over which was somewhat familiar but also new at the same time. Delightful. The next coarse was a top 3 of the meal. Cubed sushi caliber fish in a ponzu sauce that I could have drank with a straw. Catherine Graham said it reminded her of Ceviche and she liked this the most. I would have liked some crunch added. Delectable. The next course was roasted squash, with a yuzu mustard (mind blowing), dehydrated pumpkin? Seeds, and some roe. The Squash was semi sweet with a bang from the mustard. Decent. The next course was my least favorite. Good but some components were overwhelming in a bad way. The thinly sliced fish covered in matcha was far too strong. Inside was a welcoming spice and crunch that saved me from completely disliking the dish. Too earthy. Meh. Next was the Ebi Tempura in a blueberry ponzu. The was amazing. The crunch, the sweet, the citrus tang. Also there was a sauce on top of the Ebi that added a delicious chipotle type flavor. Exceptional. The next course was Seared Abalone with wild mushrooms in a waygu tallow infused sweet sauce that did not compliment nor save the dish. Beautiful to look at but tough to eat. The Abolone was chewy in a less than pleasant way which was a counter to the tender mushrooms. This dish wasn't my least favorite but it isn't on my highlight reel. Acceptable. Up next is the blackened cod with crispy skin on top of banana curry with tempura mochi (gnocchi?). This was great. The cod was fork tender and flavorful, the mochi was crispy and the banana curry tied it all together. The crispy skin helped texturally but was hard to cut through without making a mess. Yum. Next was the Duo of Duck which was my favorite dish of the night. The confit of duck with the broth was frickin amazing. I didn't have a big enough spoon to carry it all to my mouth. The next presentation was pieces of the duck's thigh meat and so on wrapped in a crispy something or other. The sauce was tangy and the little orange stuff was a fermented dried fruit mashed into a paste to add Umami and a little sweetness plus a piece of Vietnamese cilantro that definitely gave you bang for your buck providing an airy citrus, grass flavor. Delicious. And then: there was the A5 waygu on top of caramelized onions with a little fresh wasabi to boot. Ridiculous in a good way. The meat was tender and juicy, the onions were a great accompaniment, and the wasabi added a welcome spice. Fantastic. Served with the Waygu was an a la carte item that I suggest to anyone experiencing this beautiful place. The Salt and Pepper wings were amazing. With fried leeks as an afterthought. The wing were crispy and salty in a good way. I possibly tasted some white pepper which has numbing effects that were fun. More please. The first desert was a pine needle sorbet with poached Japanese Pair on top of some heavy cacao crumbles. Separately these items were overpowering but as a single bite they were unexpected and vibrant. Tasty. The final course and second desert was a blonde miso ice cream topped with thin white chocolate slivers and milk powder. I love white chocolate so I'm all for it but the pleasant surprise was the depth of flavor imbued from the miso ice cream. I was grateful for this to end my night. Satisfying. I'm no food anthropologist and I know I may have butchered and or mispronounced these ingredients most likely shaming my ancestors but I know food and I am grateful to have taken such a journey. Which is really what it was. I went somewhere. Food doesn't always do that and when it does I'm grateful. Good food. Good company. Good service. 8.2 out of 11 Shout out to our waitress who made us feel taken care of the entire night! read more

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TL;DR - Not at all worth the hype; service that reaches well beyond its capabilities accents only slightly above average food. Affordability = -1 * Service = -1 * Food = -1* I'm honestly at a loss for words; with hype from source's like San Diego's own Eater as well as other less reputable food bloggers enthusiastically setting up expectations for Chef William Eick's fine dining establishment, I came in, with 3 others, with expectations well in check, but excitement at an all time high. Reservation - you're expected to pay the entire bill in full at reservation; while I've seen deposits before, I've never encountered this "full bill" method before, but decided to take a chance. Atmosphere - As you walk down the sunny streets of Oceanside, you enter what feels like a cave at Matsu. I cannot emphasize this enough - I've been in plenty of dim restaurants, plenty of bright restaurants, but Matsu immediately felt TOO dark as we entered, casting an inordinate number of shadows on the simple atmosphere of the 48-chair dining area. The simple setup tries to slap you in the face with "fine dining". Service - Unexpected, unreasonable 3.5 hours for 10 courses; no comment. To a minor extent, urgent need to keep all water glasses full and replace silverware (except chopsticks) at every course. Urgency was comical by the end of the evening, and silverware refreshment was unneeded. Matsu feels like a restaurant trying too hard to be like a Michelin-starred restaurant when it hasn't established its voice or reputation. Affordability - the $155 starting price is standard for an omakase, and is even reasonable for a fine dining establishment that has a chef's course (arguably what I'd call this meal, NOT omakase). But with the wait time as well as the portion size and overall lack of originality, it's hard for me to justify this price point. Food(this is really why you're here) - You'll see from my photos that the presentation has a cohesive theme (as to what that is...? Japanese? Old style clay? Asian?). Of the 10 course meal, the sorbets and maybe 3 of the dishes presented some sort of culinary fascination; overall and even then, the meal was a huge disappointment. Temperature seemed to stick in my mind, as it seemed odd that, considering the speed at which dishes came out, the dishes I'd expect to be hot were at best served slightly-warmer-than-tepid. Cultural appropriation to reel in curious people with words like "omakase"? Understaffed, causing slow output? New restaurant jitters? Who knows, but Matsu doesn't check enough boxes to seem worthwhile. **Review severely edited due to character limits. read more

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TL;DR - Incredibly overhyped, awkward service, mediocre if not below average food. To mirror another reviewer's experience, I am completely perplexed as to the praise this place has garnered. The outrageous prices, awkwardly intrusive service, and needlessly fussy dishes that don't taste very good invoke a "fake it til you make it" mindset. The extremely cavernous Matsu requires interrogation level intensity spotlights to light up each seat. Not sure if they are LED but throughout the night, I was definitely uncomfortably warm - I think from the lighting. I sat at the bar for the Chef's "omakase" - a liberal and culturally appropriative use of the word by Chef William Eick. Over three hours for 11 courses. Course pacing has some major issues. Silverware replaced after every course, despite most dishes being most logically consumed with chopsticks. At no point does silverware seem like a thoughtful pairing for the dish to be consumed - it is all standard knife and fork. In several instances, a server was trying to remove my food before I had completed the dish. As for the food - we see a constant repetition of themes across dishes but not in a new way for each course, leading you to tire of the same togarashi profile dish after dish. Some don't make sense or are challenging to eat and do not come with guidance on how to enjoy. The squid veil that you see pictured is downright unpleasant as the sunflower oil powder sticks to your teeth and gums like cheeto powder. The cabbage "gyoza" was so bitter and one dimensional it was nearly inedible. The velvety wagyu was lost in the sauce and char. I was left looking for more salt in nearly every dish. The sorbets were interesting, but did we really need THREE of them? Ingredients that needed elevation were served too simply and ingredients that should be prepared simply and allowed to shine were doused in spice, char, or bitter sauces. A 2 star review may seem harsh, but when accounting for the astronomical price of $220 for the chef's counter, I would say pass on this even as a one time experience. read more

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Been here a handful of times. Do not know why I never left a review. The D-Bag food snob in me would say this place is art and above Yelp. You don't typically Yelp fine dining. From the unassuming location to the aesthetics and decor of the interior to most importantly, the food. You would not suspect a restaurant of this pedigree to be off the main drag in Oceanside. You would not expect Cabbage to carry so much flavor or be able to transform in such a manner that it excites your tongue. The main components of the dishes are executed to perfection. You will have a fish or a scallop or a piece of duck that is of Michelin quality but added is some whimsical food science of taking an ingredient I have never heard of , doing a chemistry project with it and transforming it into an accompanying component that just brings it all together to something amazing. While this is done in alot of other fine dining establishments and Michelin Star restaurants - Matsu delivers with more soul. They will take the time to explain the dishes, the Chef interacts with the customers, the staff shows their humanity versus being robots like you would get at Addison. It is just amazing and the O- Side location and classic California soul just make it all that much better. Selfishly I want it to remain a secret. I don't want it to blow up to the notoriety chef William deserves. This dude was cooking up fusion dishes at his previous post at Mission Ave Bar & Grille pre Covid. When I made my way from San Francisco to San Diego I was complaining to my girlfriend about how food in San Diego sucks. She brought me to Mission Ave Bar and Grille and I was like WTF ? Right next to the chicken wings and burgers were oddities on the menu for a bar and grille. Not only oddities but tartares and crudos with ingredients that I initially thought "yuck those things don't go together". Then you bite in to it and it is like wow, and how ? read more

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Staff was sweet, our server Morgan was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. Cocktails were also yummy The food descriptions were very interesting and many things I haven't heard of or tried before, but there were many things that just were missing the mark or things we didn't like or felt like the food wasn't cohesive to telling a story. The chefs in the kitchen seemed quite young so maybe they just need a few more years of experience under their belt to have everything get together. Ambience was also nice but lacking something read more

I love fine dining and matsu is serving it! They are serving some of the most beautiful food I've ever seen. The presentation is beautiful and the food itself is out of this world. It's easily one of the best restaurants I've ever been too. I'm an Omakase girl and they have a well thought out Omakase. I truly think it's worth every penny. I would go back in a heartbeat & am so excited to go back!! They have an amazing bar menu as well if you're not in an Omakase mood! If you're celebrating any anniversary or birthday - this is the spot. read more

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We had the 6 (1 pescatarian) and 10 course menu. It was very delicious and I was definitely full after. We all had 1-2 cocktails and they were so fun and yummy. The service was great excellent and the staff was all very attentive. The location is off the Main Street and it was very dark on the outside but beautiful inside, comfy yet modern. read more

Matsu - Dessert - Japanese Near Me - Oceanside, California

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Came here on a whim and was not disappointed. Epic provisions, vibe and service. Thank you for being here. Wowza. We ate it allllll. Taste buds are on fire. read more

My husband took me here to celebrate Valentine's Day! Japanese food is his favorite, so he was excited to check them out and I love trying new restaurants. We were seated promptly, despite running late due to traffic. Decor is simple and modern. We opted for the 8 course omakase menu and add caviar and wagyu. He also added the wine pairing, while I went for a cocktail. I chose the Oni, which was similar to a spicy margarita and it was very refreshing! Almost all of the courses came with a broth that they pour over at your table, which makes for a very beautiful presentation. The portions were extremely small, but very flavorful. Most of the courses consisted of veggies, so I'm glad that we had the extra wagyu add-on. Service was top notch- everyone was friendly, nice, and attentive. Overall, I had a pleasant time here- just wish the portions were a little bigger so that we didn't have to look for food afterwards. The meal ended up being over $600 and we were still hungry. read more

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We went to Matsu about a month ago to celebrate my birthday. The evening started off well but quickly went south. 1. The interior decor/ambiance is great. Not too quiet, stuffy, or pretentious. Hostess was very polite and attentive. Unfortunately, this is where the positives end. 2. In terms of food, we opted against their "Omakase" and went with the a la carte menu. It seems like the omakase is just a set menu of most of their a la carte items, so we decided to pick and choose what we want. **One thing to note is that Matsu does NOT serve nigiri/sashimi. Kind of threw me off initially, but decided to give it a shot anyways. We ordered 3 items and 2 cocktails to start, with the intention to order more. The kampachi was decent, but nothing to write home about. The beef tartare was pretty good, but the insane amount of cheese completely overwhelms the flavor of the tartare. I scraped off most of the cheese on top, and eating it that way improved the balance of the dish. This ended up being our favorite of the 3. Chicken wings: the flavor was good, but unfortunately the wings were all very dry and had the texture of day old chicken wings you toss in the microwave. Normally, we'd chalk up an experience like this as maybe an off night, or us just not having the right expectations and leave it at that. However, the reason why this is a 1 star instead of a 2 or 3 star experience is due to the service. 3. During our time there, after our 3 small plates came out, no one came to check in on us for about 30 minutes. No water refills, no nothing. I was pretty fed up at that point and had decided to leave without ordering more. I flagged a server and asked for the check. He assured me he'd have it over to us, only to leave us hanging for another 15 minutes. I was ready to get up and walk out, but my fiance called over another server and had them bring us the check. All in all, from the time we took our last bite of food to the time we paid the check and left was 50 minutes. During this time, the couple next to us, who had opted for the omakase menu, went through 4 full courses of their omakase. There were 6 wait staff and 11 tables occupied that night. It's not as if the restaurant was insanely busy and there is no justifiable reason the service should have been as slow/atrocious as it was. I was really excited to try Matsu, but unfortunately it was a complete dud and we ended up re-doing my birthday dinner the following week elsewhere. read more

Went for anniversary dinner and stated that on the reservation through OpenTable. The first dish of the 10 course dinner had a hair on the plate which I noticed as soon as the plate was placed on the table and the server brought it back to the kitchen immediately. I did enjoy most dishes especially the lobster chowder. The pork dish was not as tender as I would have preferred and was a bit more chewy than I expected. The pine dessert was just awful and looked and tasted like earthy soil....I've had a similar dessert dish at both Huntress and Lilian where the dessert looked like soil but tasted amazing...I was also disappointed that not one person acknowledged our anniversary dinner especially for paying over $700 total for two....there are just so many other fine dining and Michelin level restaurants that would have been a far better experience especially at this price point....it really didn't feel like a restaurant where the chef was in control or cared about providing an experience to remember.... read more

Came and had the omakase 10 course menu. The positive, from the moment we sat down the service was excellent and our wait staff was great. The drinks were also well done. The food was also great. I found the raspberry Amberjack a great combination and the duck really well done. The miso ice cream was a tad salty, but overall a great experience with the white chocolate brittle. I would definitely come back again. The negative, there was a strong musty smell when we walked in. I recently had to repair a sewer gas issue related to improper plumbing of vent pipes and that had a similar smell. I would recommend having a contractor come in and identify the source. It might be a faulty AAV vent or some other issue that can be easily remedied. It might also be the bar, in which case it needs more air flow. If it is something else, it needs to be addressed. Once we were in the restaurant for a while we were able to ignore it, but it was very noticeable when we walked in and for first few minutes. Regardless, this smell gave off a bad first impression when we walked in. I would happily revise and update the review to 5 stars once the above issue is resolved. read more

We ordered the whole menu, however multiple courses were salty. It feels like they were using a new salt and don't know how to control it yet. read more

We really enjoyed a recently Michelin starred restaurant, so when we heard Matsu was new and vying for a Michelin star, we wanted to give it a try before it gets too much hype. I'm no Michelin expert, but I'm going to give my opinion anyway because that's what Yelpers do. If it were up to me, I would almost give them a star. Lots to like about this place, and they just need more time to get the execution right. Best thing about this place is the innovation. Everything we had was familiar, yet unique and intriguing. For example, the highball tasted like a highball except it was extra fizzy and had a je-ne-sais-quoi quality to it that I can only attribute to the lemon oil in it. They also made me an off menu Laphroaig old fashioned that had some pine oil in it that really elevated it. The scallop was perfectly cooked, and though I didn't love the sauce that came with it, I can appreciate the complexity of the sesame and red miso flavors that really gave it a unique depth. I truly enjoyed each dish for the experience, but at the same time, there wasn't anything in particular that I'm eager to eat again. Service was great and down to earth. There were a few mishaps, but nothing serious and probably just a learning curve with a new restaurant. We came to celebrate a birthday, but they didn't do anything to acknowledge it, which isn't a big deal to us, but just struck me as odd since most other places would at least give you a candle with your dessert. read more

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Must visit! The food and service is exceptional. Unique and delicious menu. Will return! read more

Matsu - Japanese Near Me - Oceanside, California

Low-key outside, magical dishes if you are a fan of flavor experimentation, Japanese ingredients and fare, and allowing the chef to curate your experience. "No sushi, no rice." We really enjoyed our chef's counter evening with Chefs David and William, who were both friendly and so open to sharing their stories and recommendations for whisky, knives, and more. So much ingenuity goes into every course that pictures do not do them justice. The wine pairing I shared with my husband was well-chosen, too--wines and sake that brought out nuances in the dishes. The meal was on par with what I've had at a higher priced, Michelin-starred local venue, and you get face-to-face time with the chefs all night. I highly recommend going to Matsu for one of the most delightful local dining experiences possible. read more

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It's been a while since we've done an 8 course tasting, but we had a fantastic experience. Food was beautifully presented and tasty. I wouldn't say that I would choose to eat every dish served all the time, but it was a fun tasting journey. Course highlights were the black cod and duck for us. Service staff was knowledgeable and helpful. We really enjoyed the bartender coming over to our table to explain some of their cocktails. Would highly recommend!! read more

Matsu - Scallops with shiitake mushrooms. - Japanese Near Me - Oceanside, California

I would categorize their food as American New (with strong Japanese influences) as opposed to authentic Japanese cuisine. The food vibe is still more "Western" despite noticeable Asian/Japanese elements. Overall I had a great experience here. The restaurant offered tasty food with a nice ambiance, perfect for a business dinner or a date night out. I read an Eater article before visiting and was under the impression the chef was going after Michelin stars. His food is at the level, however, a slightly faster service - it took 2 hours for them to serve the ten courses, and more trained servers might help the restaurant obtain its star. We asked some questions, and our server had to go back to the kitchen to find answers. No one asked for food restrictions when we made the reservation, and when they found out my husband could not eat pork 10 minutes after we sat down, they substituted it with onions. I got a hearty pork dish while he had to eat (I am sure it is delicious) onions instead. Also, many of the dishes were served in a bowl, a deep, Asian-style bowl, which made it very awkward to consume food with a fork and a knife. I recommend either changing the serveware to a plate (like what they did with the meats and desserts) or having people use just chopsticks. Their servers have been changing my forks and knifes every round even though I have been using only my chopsticks in the first two or three courses. I really hope this meal can be only 1.5 hours long (they can also consider serving a 7-course $115 menu). I loved their pork and duck dishes, and enjoyed my two desserts, and I plan to come back for a different menu later this year. 4 star (as opposed to 5 star) was given because of the slightly slow service and the onion substitution. read more

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I went back to Matsu to taste their six course dinner - like their 10 course meal, it is optional to have each course paired. I had the same dining experience this time - the food is fantastic, the attention to detail is evident in the decor and place settings, and the service is perfect (and so informative about every dish). All the dishes I had this time were different, and that's because chef William is always innovating and using season produce. This meal is one of those that are memorable, delicious and photoworthy. read more

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Their 10 course meal is an adventure for the palate. It's definitely tasty and quite an experience both taste and visual presentation. Staff are kind and knowledgeable. read more

Where traditions of Japan meet culinary creativity in California This is @eatmatsu by @chefwilliameick an incredible 10 course prefix that should certainly be in the running for a @michelinguide Featuring both imported and local ingredients, I thought this experience was one defined by various textures, depths of flavors, and often unique combinations. Clarified Turnip Chawanmushi | Ikura | Pine Nut Cabbage | Cabbage Dashi | Caviar Sunflower | Cuttlefish l Rayu Ebi | Tenkasu | Tentsuyu | Dynamite Black Cod | Curry Imo Mochi | Matsuyaki Scallop | Shiitake | Mustard Seed Pork Jowl | Rosehip | Pork Fat Caramel Koji Duck | Carrot | Wasabi A5 Wagyu | Onion | Horseradish Matcha | Kokuto | Pine Caramelized White Chocolate | Blonde Miso | Hidden Tangerine Highlights: service was impeccable, and the ambience was State of the art Cost per person: around 250+ not including wine pairings read more

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Well, I'm a tough critic but here's my thoughts: First off the decor inside is gorgeous, I thought I was in San Francisco or LA. Nice and cozy modern atmosphere. The staff is absolutely top notch! Everyone that works here is CIA trained worthy. If they get a Michelin star, it will be because of them. Service matters and they totally get it!! We did the 4 course tasting and it was delish. I got the duck, sorry I didn't get the Wagu like everyone else, it was good but it wasn't the best duck I've ever had. Also, the desserts were good but 2 of them you needed a knife to cut, in my opinion, desert should never need anything but a spoon (just my own opinion), If you are a big fan of Japanese cuisine, you will really love it here. It's pricey but honestly the service was so spectacular, it was worth it. read more

Matsu - Wagu - Japanese Near Me - Oceanside, California

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Finally - an experience based restaurant where the meal builds upon itself. I'm so thrilled Matsu has landed in Oceanside. It's a small spot on the backside of the main road - unassuming if you don't know what you're looking for. Walk in and it's an intimate affair with only a few seatings and a bar. Speaking of bar - grab yourself a drink. I asked for dealers choice and I was absolutely not disappointed as it came with a side of gin to enhance flavors. My husband and I are vegetarians but you wouldn't know the difference that this restaurant wasn't catered just to us. We had four courses with the cabbage with cabbage dashi, artichokes, satsumaimo and finished it off with the honey chocolate and sesame dessert. I loved every single item and would 100% go back for more. My husband and I don't eat out much but when we do, we want it to be worth it. Something that we couldn't create in our home. Matsu easily did this and I'm excited to keep trying their ever changing menu. read more

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I absolutely adore this place and have thoroughly enjoyed my experience: food, ambiance, service... everything!! My boyfriend and I tried their Christmas Karaage dinner course that pays homage to the KFC Christmas tradition celebrated in Japan. This experience felt extra special since my boyfriend was born and raised in Japan. The flavor profiles of the dishes were out of this world. It was so yummy I'm still thinking about it! They serve pretty large portions of 6 different cuts of chicken. My favorite would probably be the corn bread topped with a chicken breast. I didn't expect the portions to be so big so it is very worth the price. The mocktails were absolutely delicious, perfect for those who don't drink. I highly recommend everyone to try this limited time course while you still can!! Finally, the service was impeccable. Everyone was so kind and attentive. I believe the manager came up and introduced himself to us at our table. He was very personable and really solidified the experience. Will definitely be coming back. Without a doubt Matsu will take care of you in more ways than one! :) read more

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We were very lucky and had the restaurant to ourselves. The staff Mitchell and Rowland were very professional, knowledgeable and attentive. My partner and I don't do these type of dining experiences often but we would highly recommend this experience celebrating a special occasion. read more

Matsu - Japanese Near Me - Oceanside, California

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I'm going to go over as much as I can so bear with me. Reservation: It was annoying we had to create an account to make a reservation. It would be easier with an OpenTable type system. Host: Friendly, but it was really weird to have the host stand in the back of the restaurant. You entered the restaurant and were greeted by the bartender in the back left corner of the room, and a host in the back center who walked all the way to the door to greet you in the middle of the dining room, walked back to the host stand, then back again. Restrooms: You has to walk to the back, then down an unlit hallway to find one of two restrooms. If you didn't get accidentally smacked by someone coming out of the kitchen door, you made it to the end. The restroom on the right's toilet seat was broken and loose, neither restrooms had toilet seat covers for the ladies. Cocktails: Decent, on average with most loungeish places. Our party of 4 had 4 different cocktails and sampled each other's drinks. Nothing inspired us to order a second round during our 3 hour meal. Servers did an okay job of describing each round to us, but I felt a little more in depth description would have been more appreciative. Round 1: Hamachi appetizer, this was excellent. Flavorful, we could tell the fish quality was excellent, good flavor, my non-sashimi eating wife still enjoyed this first course. Round 2: Some sort of grilled caviar and broth. Round 3: Special rice paper with a single grilled calamari tentacle over I could tell if it was mushrooms. Round 4: White shrimp tempura? This was good, warm depth and flavor. Round 5: Salmon, another great dish. There was some fried or grilled mochi served alongside, felt that mochi could have been softer. Round 6: Shiitake mushrooms and scallops. I felt the temperature of the scallops were a little too cool for my liking. Was an okay dish. Round 7: Pork Jowl. The pork jowl and rose petal combo felt out of place. The rose petal was intended to cut down or balance out the rich fat of the pork which it did do, but having it together in your mouth it didn't feel like a piece of veggie that belonged there. The salty sauce that was on top masked a lot of the good rich pork flavor, and there was also some sort of sweet jam that helped cut down the dish. I was hoping to like this more but it was average. Round 8: Duck. Pictured is probably cooked to medium. Two of the duck portions came out medium temp, and the other two portions were darn near medium rare. The duck felt out of place to me with the turnips and sauce. The physical temperature of the duck was luke warm, I'd usually a huge fan of duck but I was expecting something a little less chewy. Round 9: So we elected to pay an additional $55 to have the A5 Wagyu dish. Stay away... Wagyu to me is something that should stand out on its own. It was served over caramelized onions, some sweet sauce, and topped with wasabi. The sauce they had on the dish was too sweet, it really overpowered the Wagyu. It really took away from what Wagyu is. The steak itself, parts of it were tender, and parts of it were tough. The cut I had wasn't consistent throughout. My wife was really looking forward to this dish as we had opted to pay for it, it was a letdown to say the least. Round 10: Matcha crumble, mochi waffle, yuzu sorbet with some dark sauce. The sauce had this licorice, dark molasses type of flavor. I didn't care for it. Round 11: This was probably our favorite dish. Miso ice cream with a milk chocolate tree bark. The chocolate was excellent and had a little toffee like crunch inside that we thought was good. The ice cream amazing, creamy, packed with flavor, we wanted more and they offered which was nice. Price for the set meal was $165, plus $55 for the Wagyu option. We prepaid for the meal plus gratuity. I didn't pay for it myself but I'm sure after cocktails it was $300+ per person. Would I pay that again? Heck no. For $1200 for our table, only 2-3 things stood out, maybe 1 blew us away was the last dessert. There was a "chef's table" dining option which literally I think is just the last two seats at the bar. I didn't dine there but I feel that this would have not felt that much better than a regular dining room seating. I felt like the meal without the Wagyu option at $100-115ish price point would have been a better deal without the Wagyu. Maybe an hour less out of the whole dining experience. I get the Asian fusion creativity concept of the chef, I get that this is supposed to be different, but I don't feel like there is great value here for the food. I was expecting a more traditional Japanese inspired meal done more of the Japanese way. We drove an hour+ from Orange County looking forward to a reinvented Japanese inspired meal with Wagyu to be highlighted in the main course. The entire staff is nice, friendly, warm, welcoming. No complaints there. Simple question for last, would I come back? No. read more

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Excellent! The best restaurant we've been to in San Diego county! We've been lucky to have been to several Michelin restaurants including one in Carlsbad and the 3 star one down south - Matsu surpassed them! Service was excellent. Servers were young and enthusiastic and very helpful. Ambiance is minimalist. Loved the table. Ok on to the food. Delicious. One of a kind. Never eaten before dishes. We've eaten all over at many great restaurants. We will be back! See pics. read more

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I stumbled on this place on a whim and I'm hesitant to share because I feel like I'm giving away the keys to the kingdom. This restaurant has to be one of my top 5 of all time. The staff, I can't even begin to describe how treasured they made us feel. The attention to detail is unmatched. The ambiance is moody, sultry, quiet but also very alive at the same time. This experience is also a part of dining. Everyone is so knowledgeable and kind. The food is to die for! My goodness just take all of my money I don't care. The bartender is wonderful. 5 stars could never be enough to describe the brilliance of Matsu. read more

Matsu - Japanese Near Me - Oceanside, California

One of the absolute best dining experiences I've had in a long time, wow. We had the 10 course vegan menu...don't scroll past, hear me out--phenomenal. Seriously. I'm not a hardcore vegan, but I'd say I eat that way about 80% of the time. My bf is a full-on meat person and decided to also try the vegan menu; what Matsu does is so magical he said he could convert to veganism easily if it always tasted like this, and that was just the first course. It just got better as the night went on. The service is top tier (our server, Coltrane, was so warm and attentive and knowledgeable) the atmosphere and decor have the perfect vibe, and the food?? Sheesh! I woke up this morning and it was the first thing I thought about. Matsu is for sure our new go-to spot, bravo. Thank you for an incredible experience. read more

One of the best meals I've had! We went to Matsu with little knowledge of what to expect. I had seen varying reviews on Yelp, so we kept an open mind and let the restaurant speak for itself. The service was really great as all of the servers were attentive, helpful, and friendly. We didn't have drinks because we brought our own wine, but I hear they're good too. I had the 10 course menu and my partner had the 6, but they gave her an extra one and larger portions of those that we both had, which was thoughtful. The dishes that stood out to us were the Cuttlefish and the Eel courses. But the dish of the night was the dessert. The white chocolate, blonde miso, and strawberries dish was just incredible. It could have been one of the best desserts I've ever had. The restaurant might be a little dark for some people, but I like how it sets the mood. We can't wait to go back! read more

Matsu - Caramelized White Chocolate | Blonde Miso | Strawberries - Japanese Near Me - Oceanside, California

just so I'm clear: the five-star rating's for other dinners at Matsu (that I never got around to writing about) but this review's for a collaboration dinner (with guest chef Sean MacDonald) I would barely rate three-stars. the restaurant's acoustics make intimate conversations difficult. service is attentive to the point of hovering which seems odd since the wait staff was ill-prepared to answer even basic questions. I assume they're more comfortable (and familiar) with the regular menu. I ordered an Abnormal Brewery Mocha Stout and was served an Abnormal Brewery Boss Pour IPA. they only have three beer options so that was discouraging. the Kinka Daiginjo sake had a jarring, alcohol-forward flavor I'd characterize as antiseptic. I wonder if the server brought the wrong beer AND the wrong sake. the courses were VERY uneven. some were genius. some were awful. the rest so-so. I loved the clever whimsy of "Oysters" and Caviar (oyster mushrooms and black caviar) but the oyster mushrooms were thinly sliced and so few and far between, I almost missed the joke. the squid ink and tapioca "chip" (I think the server called it a wrap but it looked like a blue corn tortilla chip) was the low point of the evening. I'd guess it sat too long before service and wilted in the humidity. it had an unpleasantly spongey mouth feel. the Unagi tempura was cooked in oil that wasn't hot enough and turned the batter coating into a grease sponge. however, the knife skills of whoever trimmed the (perfectly-cooked) artichokes are impressive. the UNI course was a home run. I like uni anyway (and theirs was exceptionally fresh and under-processed) and the piquant burst of flavor from biting into a mustard seed was a revelation. OMG. if you're skeptical about sous vide being a handy cooking technique, the SHORT RIB dish will make you a believer. totally amazing. the ribs cooked for long enough to break down tough connective tissue at a temperature low enough the dish came out medium rare. the fish sauce caramel was exquisite and highlighted perfectly by the mild acidity (and mild flavor) of the kimchi. *** Chef Eick: PLEASE add the short rib dish to your regular menu *** the bluefin TUNA sashimi "palate cleanser" was killer. simple. refined. would appreciate it if whoever trimmed the artichokes minced the ginger a little smaller. chunky, ginger's a bit overwhelming. the DUCK dish was no bueno. the flavors were okay (I really liked the XO sauce) but the duck skin wasn't crisp and had a mouth feel like a wad of Vasoline. that was particularly disappointing since previous duck experiences at Matsu were exquisite. I'm not a fancy desert person (I'm okay with apple pie and ice cream) so take what I'm about say with a grain of salt: the PLUM UMESHU was a cold mess that was ill-conceived and sloppily executed. the SASTUMAIMO (a Japaneses sweet potato desert) was good with enough fennel flowers to give it a unique taste. I know it's only my opinion, but Chef MacDonald's flavors were interesting but he struggled with textures. ps: we skipped lunch and arrived hungry. I get "French" portions, especially if you're having a nine-course tasting menu, but we also left hungry. after spending $450 (including tip, one beer, and one glass of sake) I stopped for something to eat on the five minute drive home. just saying ... read more

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100% worth every penny. I've been to several pre set course experiences but this one definitely stood out to me. The restaurant itself almost feels like a speakeasy, it's on a main road but it's pretty hidden. I've driven by it several times and have never noticed it before. When you walk in it very dark but it gave it a unique ambiance. The decor is very minimal but I liked the clean look. They have an extensive sake menu that features several sakes that I've never seen at any sushi restaurant. The bartender came over to explain the sake to us. He even let us try a couple of them. We ended up going with the 3 dot one which I highly suggest if you like a filtered, not so sweet sake. He also chilled it for us. My friend doesn't drink and they made her a beautiful mock tail. I'm a pescatarian and I was afraid they weren't going to be able to accommodate me since the only options during making a reservation were for the wagyu addition. They were fortunately able to accommodate and each and every one of my dishes was to die for. I wish I was able to pick a favorite but I'm not sure if I can. Their most unique dish was their mochi, matcha, waffle made with pine needle syrup from local pine trees. My mouth has never experienced those flavors before. The service was phenomenal, the food was an absolute dream, and the experience was unforgettable. Thank you Matsu! read more

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A for creativity/ambiance, F for dietary accommodations, C for price to quality ratio. I actually liked a lot about Matsu and there is plenty of potential! For $180 per person for omakase, the price to quality ratio and attention to detail was not there. The non-vegetarian omakase is a lot of veggies for the price tag as opposed to say high quality fish at other omakase places at a comparable price range. I get you're paying for quality ingredients, the chef's experience, etc. but it doesn't quite add up for me. I was between 3-4 stars and what pushed it over was that they knew we had dairy intolerance but clearly some dairy slipped in and 2 people in our party reacted badly. They did try to accommodate us and I believe they did for most dishes, but I was having a bad time in their Very Beautiful Bathroom before dessert and the other person reacted shortly after leaving Matsu. Luckily, we're fine but if it were a true allergy, that smells like a negligence law suit in the making. First fish dish started strong, drinks were fire and their sauce game is good. The one (1) piece of prawn tempura was tasty, but soggy since it was served in the sauce. Squash dish was very hard and felt like carving a pumpkin with a butter knife. Similarly the duck was delicious but hard to cut--though maybe that's more because the knives were dull. The squid burrito-type dish was creative but a lil off. The squid wrapper was way too big and there was too much dried sunflower leaf powder on the outside that was bitter and coated my mouth in an un-ideal manner. The chef was also Quite Serious and perhaps would benefit from being more personable, but to each their own and I'm sure he's occupied with doing his main job well. I LOVE and respect the creativity and concept of this restaurant and I'm hopeful that they will improve their technique! (Sorry, I don't mean to be harsh--my intent is to be 100% respectful and 100% honest. But I apologize if it comes off as critical.) read more

Beautifully presented ten course was delicious the service was great. Little dark inside but he table was lit enough to enjoy the color of carefully presented dish. read more

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I don't know what took us so long to get here! My husband and I had stopped in for drinks a few times and have eaten at Chef's previous restaurants so it was overdue. We decided to stop in and sit at the bar versus booking the pre-fixe menu. The bartender, Roland, greeted us and welcomed us back in. We haven't sat down for drinks there for probably a year so, remembering our faces was a kind gesture. He walked us through the menu and highlighted plates not to miss (the tempura shrimp, the burger) and unique plates like their signature sunflower. Every plate was both artistic and delicious. He also shared the meaning or inspiration behind the cocktails we tried and paired some unique wines and a sparkling sake with some of the plates. You will spend more than the average dinner out but this is beyond average and a true experience. I never quite understood why they chose to keep the windows closed and essentially blacked out, from the outside it seems odd. But when you spend the evening at Matsu you'll see why...you kind of feel like you've been transported and it works perfectly for the vibe inside! I'm so impressed with what the team at Matsu has created. We'll be back! read more

Not so great .. Big hype ... Michelin Star, in your dreams ! Cold restaurant in decor and temperature ! However, service was exemplary . Better Omikasas elsewhere . read more