Chef William Eick is about to start a culinary revolution in Oceanside. When Eick shuttered his much-touted restaurant 608 nearly two years ago, his goal was to stay in North County and help turn his hometown into a foodie destination. His newest endeavor, Matsu, is a modern fine dining Japanese pop-up (currently situated inside the more casual Mission Avenue Bar and Grill, where Eick is also executive chef) that offers only one sitting per night with an eight-course tasting menu ($110 per person). “Guests can expect light dishes within the first three courses, then typically a tempura course, followed by some richer dishes. Then a dessert, which is more on the savory side, but still a sweet finish,” says Eick. And according to the chef, there has never been a better time to introduce the American palate to Japanese flavors. “Most Japanese restaurants in America are doing the same thing, but with our tasting menus, we are able to really refine the cuisine and explore ingredients that would otherwise not be able to be used, and that lets us introduce newer flavors to our guests,” he adds. Eick’s goal is to have a brick-and-mortar by the end of next year, but until then, those in the know can make a reservation for the pop-up via the website or Instagram, but hurry—the waitlist is already two months long. 711 Mission Ave., Oceanside, eatatmatsu.com