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Table for 2 - Matsu, Oceanside, CA
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Matsu

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Visa Dining Collection

$50 and over
Creative Japanese
626 S Tremont St, Oceanside, CA 92054

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Innovative
  • Great for creative cocktails
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
  • Neighborhood
    Oceanside
  • Cross street
    Corner of Wisconsin St and Tremont St
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Matsu x Sake Icons & Sake Samurai Collaboration

    $195.00 per person

    Prepaid

    May 14, 2025 only
    6 Course sake pairing dinner with Kome Collective, featuring the brewers from Kawatsuru and Takatenjin, plus special guest "Sake Samurai" John Gauntner.

  • 10 Course Tasting Menu

    $225.00 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

    $285.00 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 $285, 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 2.

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 94 people are saying

Matsu reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • North San Diego

    Best Service

  • North San Diego

    Innovative

  • North San Diego

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Matsu offers a "phenomenal experience" with exquisite Japanese cuisine and "attentive service." Diners rave about the "creative and beautifully presented" dishes and the "outstanding" sake pairings. While some note high prices or small portions, the restaurant's "hidden gem" status and "modern take on Japanese cuisine" make it a must-visit.

94 Reviews

  1. Stephanie

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a fantastic dinner. It was innovative, executed beautifully, and delicious. I can't to return!

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  2. Annie

    Las Vegas6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Matsu was overall an excellent restaurant. The food was delicious and interesting. The chicken wings were absolute perfection! The two desserts, one sweet and scrumptious but the other, wow, creative, unique and totally sublime. It was a forest in my mouth. A genuine hats off to the chef for that dessert!

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  3. Caroline

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved all the various dishes we choose and will definitely go back. We highly recommend this place.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Laura

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Just the best place for an unforgettable experience!

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  5. OpenTable Diner VIP

    Atlanta2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This place was awesome! We came from out of town and have had wonderful Michelin star restaurant experiences across the country and in France and Japan, and the level of this food and service lines up with them. We were surprised that there wasn’t a line out the door, but maybe the location hasn’t caught up with this. If you can swing it, go here. Wonderful all around dining experience!

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  6. dana VIP

    San Diego11 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 23, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    This is my fourth dinner there. The food is presented beautifully. but it was not the A+ I was expecting for $250 a person, although the sake that the food was paired with was spectacular. We were told that a non-meat, all fish diet could be accommodated for one of us and a dairy free diet could be accommodated by the other. The first course was a brioche bun topped with caviar and Wagyu fat. I couldn’t eat the brioche bun because there is milk in it, and I was told there was no alternative. My friend who does not eat meat had to eat the whole thing even though the dish had Wagyu fat in it, and they said there was nothing they could do about that either. I expect something very different from a restaurant of this caliber. While in the past it has been good, my waygu dish was so fatty. I could barely chew it. The Uni was outstanding as was the kanpachi . I did not have the cheesecake dessert but I had a Pineneedle flavored sorbet. To say it was strong is an understatement, I had a whole Christmas tree lot in my mouth! I think they are trying really hard and want to make this into something spectacular, but they have a long ways to go. And lastly, there’s a problem with the ambience: we were seated near the bar and had to listen to the vibration going off all night from the machine that washed the wine glasses. I honestly wish I could be giving a much different review.

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  7. Jay VIP

    San Francisco11 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 23, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent Tasting Menu with Saki Pairing. The Saki was outstanding but the food did not meet that standard. Since it was a tasting menu, I did not expect to love everything-I didn’t. Lovely restaurant with excellent staff. A couple of dishes missed the mark k for me.

    1 person found this helpful

  8. Caroline

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was amazing, service was spectacular. It was our second time at Matsu and we enjoyed it just as much as the first. It was delightful to have the pairing of saki and Shota San there to talk about the saki. The perfect evening thank you Matsu.

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  9. Mia VIP

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Phenomenal experience. Every dish was spectacular. A meal to remember!

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  10. Karen

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a wonderful and delicious dining experience. We were welcomed individually by each staff and enjoyed the 10 course tasting menu. Each course tastier than the previous and collectively a most delicious Japanese meal.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Matsu is rated 4.6 stars by 94 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego
  4. North San Diego
  5. Oceanside

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Matsu

626 S Tremont St, Oceanside, CA 92054

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Corner of Wisconsin St and Tremont St
  • Neighborhood
    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
    Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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