Matsu

We met Chef William at the Oceanside Seafood Market Sunday. He was very approachable & answered multiple questions even though he was in the middle of cooking for their monthly Chef demo. My wife and I decided then and there we'd visit Matsu the following Thursday to experience his restaurant. We were greeted and waited on by Coltrain, a gem of a human being and very passionate about food, service and especially Matsu. The bartender (sorry, I don't remember your name) was amazing. Hands down the best mocktails we've ever had. Chef William took the time to come to our table to welcome us and make some suggestions. Every dish was spectacular. I won't go into detail. (See photos) Bottom line: Matsu checks all the boxes. Amazing service. Tremendous food. Perfect presentation. A wonderful experience for the senses. We will definitely be back.

One of the best meals of my life. If you are a lover of fine dining, I couldn’t recommend more. We ordered the 10-course tasting menu and every course was a 10/10. Loved them all, the lobster chowder, shrimp tempura, sheepshead, and incredible desserts. The dish ware was immaculate, and the overall ambiance is stunning. You can see, feel, and taste that everything is done with purpose. We ordered the Fuji, koi, and kitsune cocktails and loved them. The waitstaff and bartender were superb, very warm and extremely knowledgeable. They are able to accommodate dietary restrictions. Couldn’t recommend more!

Chef William and his team did such a beautiful job with everything from start to finish. The service is impeccable, the food is ambitious and creative. The tasting menu and wine pairing for the evening starts strong and ends stronger. Thank you, everyone for the lovely evening.

Had an awesome experience at Matsu. Went with a couple buddies who were in town for the weekend and it ended up being one of those meals that really stands out. Coltrane took great care of us, super friendly, knew the menu really well, and was on point the whole night. We also told the bartender what we liked and let him do his thing, and he crushed it. Every cocktail was excellent. The chef even came out to say hello, which was a nice touch. Every dish we had was fantastic and the presentation was beautiful without feeling over the top. The food is definitely creative and out of the box. The shrimp tempura was my favorite, and the wagyu burger was unreal. Great atmosphere, great service, amazing food. Easily one of the best meals I’ve had in a while. Would 100% go back.

One in your life you have to go to Matsu and experience there 10 course meal, it’s absolutely incredible and everything is delicious and every detail the way the food is prepared , presented , the plates , the ambiance are amazing. Everything is a WOW .Peopke that work there from Chef William, the manager, waiters and bar tender are very attentive and professional, my husband and I felt pampered. The food are amazingly delicious, everything are my favorite especially the kanpachi raspberry white fish, the sunflower cattle fish, tempura and the chowder. Will definitely come back cause everything is just delicious and the ambiance is wonderful.

From the moment we stepped into Matsu, the ambiance is effortlessly approachable yet distinctly elevated. The atmosphere draws on the Japanese-influenced minimalism, with a focus on natural elements that create an inviting space. We experienced the 10 course menu, where each dish was a brilliant balance of Japanese flavors, crafted with locally sourced ingredients. Every bite was thoughtfully curated, and each course was a testament to the Chef’s attention to detail. Complimenting the wonderful food was the exceptional staff. They were knowledgeable and passionate, offering insights into the flavor profiles, ingredients, and inspirations for each dish. Our overall dining experience was nothing short of magical, and it’s one we look forward to repeating.

I planned to propose to my girlfriend on our Caribbean cruise near the end of December. An ill timed head cold ruined my plan. Before we made it back to San Diego, I plotted on a new venue to pop the question. Miraculously, Matsu had availability on NYE. I surprised my gf, a huge foodie, with the reservation. To my delight, it was on her list of restaurants in the area she wanted to try. I contacted the staff ahead of our reservation and coordinated a flower delivery. The food was delicious, we were stuffed in a good way by the end of courses. One of the servers brought out the flowers on cue and I asked the love of my life to marry me... she ugly cried and SAID YES! Apparently we were their first proposal. The staff was super accommodating and the GM even recorded the proposal from her stand. I highly recommend this restaurant if you love Japanese food or want to taste it done well.