This was one of those meals where you stop trying to decide what to order and simply trust the people who know the food best.
Our friend brought us to Willy's in Oceanside and introduced us to the owners, Matt and Kayoko, who were incredibly warm and welcoming from the moment we arrived. We decided to put ourselves completely in their hands and let them choose what to bring out.
That turned into an incredible journey through the menu.
The cucumber water kimchi was cool, crisp, refreshing and full of flavor without being spicy. It was such a clean way to start the meal.
The tuna zuke temaki was another standout. The tuna had a beautiful, fresh tuna flavor with none of the fishy smell or taste you sometimes get with lesser quality fish. It tasted clean, rich and fresh, and you could really appreciate the ingredient itself.
Then came the grilled oysters, and these were cooked perfectly. They were soft and tender, warm all the way through without being overdone, and the soy butter combination gave them this surprisingly deep, almost cheesy richness. It was one of those bites where everyone at the table immediately stopped to talk about it.
The yaki onigiri had what I would call an actually perfect crispy exterior. Crisp and deeply toasted without crossing over into burnt, while the rice inside stayed tender. Such a simple dish, but getting that texture exactly right says a lot.
The grilled black pepper shrimp were big, tender and juicy, and the pepper sauce had huge flavor without overwhelming the shrimp. Every bite had that satisfying balance of sweetness, savoriness and pepper.
The fish curry might have been one of my favorite dishes of the night. The rockfish was incredibly soft and tender without being overcooked. You could immediately tell this was not fish that had been sitting in a pot all day waiting to be served. It tasted carefully timed and cooked to order, which was a theme throughout the entire meal. The curry itself had this unexpected tangy, almost citrus note that pulled everything together into this delicious swirl of flavors.
The chanko nabe was another surprise. It was shoyu based, but it was so much more than hot water, soy sauce and vegetables. The clear broth had a deep umami flavor that lingered through the back of the palate and kept developing as you ate it. Even the pork impressed me. Pork in dishes like this can so easily become dry and overcooked, but every piece was beautifully tender and juicy. That kind of consistency takes skill, timing, patience and care.
By the time the yaki soba arrived, we were completely full, so I only managed two bites. Even then, it made an impression. The noodles were incredibly flavorful with an almost caramelized note to them, and once again the pork was exceptionally tender and tasted beautifully seasoned or marinated.
And somehow there was still dessert.
Matt and Kayoko brought out a grape topped panna cotta along with a green tea matcha dessert to finish the meal, and it was the perfect ending to everything that came before.
What impressed me most about Willy's was not just that the food tasted good. You could feel the care behind it. The timing, textures, temperatures and seasoning all felt deliberate. Nothing tasted rushed, tired or like it had been sitting around waiting for someone to order it. Dish after dish felt thoughtfully prepared at exactly the right moment.
Matt and Kayoko also made the entire experience feel personal. They were genuinely friendly, generous and clearly passionate about what they are serving. We came in because a friend trusted them, then we trusted them with our dinner, and they absolutely delivered.
If you find yourself anywhere near Oceanside, go to Willy's. And if Matt and Kayoko offer to choose your meal for you, let them.
An absolutely memorable dinner and easily a five star experience. read more
