“I had to go to the Richmond District today and I knew farmers market was happening. I told myself to just get a snack because I need to fit into a dress for the two holiday parties I'm going to on Thursday. Within 10ft of entering farmers market, I saw Kunugi Noodles's booth that had a picture of Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. So naturally I didn't listen to myself and ordered one lol!The owner was working by himself so it was a wait. But the okonomiyaki was worth it, especially because Hiroshima-style is hard to find in the city.It wasn't exactly Hiroshima-style because the crepe batter was mixed with the cabbage and the egg was pre-made (a fried egg instead of it being shaped like a crepe). But working in an outdoor kitchen has limitations and cooking it that way was the way to do it in this situation. It was delicious nonetheless!The cabbage/crepe pancake is where the seafood was. There were pieces of shrimp and squid that gave it a chewiness against the softness of the crepe batter. The cabbage added a smokiness. The yakisoba noodles were yummy and maintained a slightly firm texture from being fried. I also liked the amount of Bonita flakes added. It was just right to add more seafood flavor.The owner was really nice! Even though he was clearly busy working on his own, we conversed a little on our travels to Japan.I know this page says his location is at a farmers market elsewhere and I don't know how often he's at Clement Street's farmers market. But wherever you go, if you see his booth, check it out!“
“I don't know when Soon's opened but I've been living in the Peninsula for 6 years and cannot believe I just discovered this restaurant. For authentic Korean food, you typically have to head down to Sunnyvale or Santa Clara. But obviously for those who live in the Peninsula or above, it is a journey. Soon's finally starts to establish options alongside Daeho in San Mateo.From the outside, Soon's looks confusing. It is supposedly a Korean restaurant in a western plaza selling a whole variety of things. Is it fusion? Is it "Korean" cuisine by inspiration? And there's even some hints of Chinese, Hawaiian and Mexican in the menu. Again, not a good sign. Also, you need to stare at the ceiling when you're inside... it could've been a 3-story building.But let the food speak for itself. The banchan already is diverse and authentic, as well as every single dish that came out. The food is cooked by your "aunt" with decent sprinkling of love and nostalgia. It is Korean comfort food done well across the board. We had a tofu soup, galbi, kimchi fried rice and jjajangmyun... (?) - yes, the things from Chinese restaurants.And yes, all of them turned out great. It definitely is created with your aunt's interpretation but proper. The food tends to be on the sweeter side (so a bit additional sugar) but still within normal ranges.Ah, and the staff is super friendly.I am so glad we discovered Soon's. We'll absolutely be back. And one less reason to go down to Lawrence and El Camino.Parking: Plenty of parking in the plaza.“
“I've tried the Daeho in japantown SF and I've had the Daeho in San Jose...but I feel like this Daeho tastes the best??? I'm not sure if it's the meat quality, portion sizes, flavor or what but this is my favorite location out of all the Bay Area locations.Daeho specializes in galbi-jjim, which is Korean braised beef short ribs in the most delicious sauce. You MUST get the cheese on top because they torch it at your table and it makes for a great IG story haha. I also like to get rice cakes in it. The large size can feed a table of four.The spice level is kind of inconsistent among the chains or even on certain days. I usually get spicy and I thought it wasn't spicy, during my most recent trip. (Maybe my spice tolerance went up? Maybe the chef just made it less spicy?) If you're unsure what spice level you are, I would err on the side of less spicy because you can always add spicy to it later.Aside from the beautiful galbi-jjim, I think everything else on the menu is pretty good. I like to pair my galbi-jjim order with a cold noodle to offset the heat. I think the soups here are so good. Their galbi-tang (short rib soup) is perfect on a cold day.“
“I enjoyed all 3 types of ramen I tasted at Ramen Nagi: original, red and black. David is a gracious host who is extremely professional and presents Ramen Nagi superbly. I came here on Thursday, and loved it so much that I came back Saturday night. Highly recommend. David makes you feel so welcomed and taken care of. Thank you David!!“
“This Sichuan restaurant is a gem! The dry pot shredded cabbage is incredibly tasty, and the spicy hot pot with fresh fish slices is simply outstanding. The texture of the fresh fish fillets is so amazing. If you're a fan of Sichuan cuisine, this place is a must-try!“
“Located in busy downtown San Mateo, this is an outstanding Japanese restaurant! Traditional preparation and high quality seafood. Be sure to try call in for a reservation, as this place is very popular. In fact, we had a 5:00 pm reservation and learned that the fresh oysters were already sold out(fortunately, they spared one order for us). Highly recommend their 8 piece sushi omakase. Loved their agadeshi tofu: fried tofu in warm broth. Their chawan mushi is another great starter, steam egg with chicken, fish cake.“
“Came for a team event with 6 people. Had to sign up and wait for a table. But didnt take long.We each ordered a noodle with some apps to share. All the food was great. Super authentic northwestern food. Prices were standard bay area prices.Would recommend for a quick meal.“
“This was the best Thai food I ever had. It was sort of like Chinese style on the portion size of each dish it's sharing dish. Fried fish was my favorite it was very delicious, it's must have! It has sweetness to it, it balance out. The spicy fish soup was very spicy but it's spicily good! I asked medium spicy but it still pretty spicy so if you cannot handle the spiciness don't get medium level, get lower level for your comfort. The chicken was also pretty good, with their in house peanut dressing, paring very well together. I got the Chai Tea. Their food overall is great very delicious. The server is good, but little bit of English barrier but that's no issue at all that is also mean the food is good. And it was!“
“I haven't ordered the food here yet BUT I have stopped in for the boba many times. They have such a unique boba tea menu from mango pomelo sago to tiramisu lattes along with regular boba tea options as well. I'm way more impressed with their boba tea menu and quality than Boba Guys right across the street. There is also a convenient little kiosk at the front where you can input your order which is nice if you're an introvert, are indecisive, or have anxiety ordering things (lol). My only complaint is that I've tried ordering the boba online for pick up a couple of times and the system hasn't worked for me. I'll input my order, get ready for check out, and as soon as I input my card and press finish it says "oops there is an issue". I tried a few different cards (and know my credit cards are fine) and it still does this. Not sure if that's an issue on my end with internet, etc. but it's happened a couple of times. So I'll mostly just order in person and it's fine. The restaurant side has a mom and pop family feel to it. I'll have to try the food sometime soon!“
“Inexpensive restaurant with a great variety of dishes. Don't if the dishes were not as tasty, but they also were plentiful. We will go back to sample other dishes. I did not care for the seafood noodle soup. Fried rice and chow mein were tasty. The salt and pepper bean cake was missing the salt.“
“You have your own area of dining separated by glass wall. Staffs are very friendly and helpful. Manager Mei ( May ) particularly attentive we like her very much. Even it is a Japanese type BBQ restaurant the kitchen is separated on one side you won't get smelly after eating there. We went there twice just to make sure they are consistent. The only thing I may complain is just the parking sometime it's hard to find parking.“
“Whoa! 5☆ Excellence! Great Fresh Fish on a Monday, let me tell you: When you order something CRUNCHY here, it is! No cold, soggy dish room tempura or deep-fried - it is HOT and CRISP - crackle in my mouth GOOD. So excellent here - fantastic bar service, great comfy vibe and deeeelicious sushi. I will be back fo' sho'!“
“Good pho. Great customer service with a smile ☺️?. Easy to park and find. Fast and Fresh.Vegetarian options: Good selectionParking: Easy in and out with a big vanKid-friendliness: Very kid friendlyWheelchair accessibility: Very accurate“
“Between their 2,169 reviews (and counting) and the fact that this is the third Ben Tre that I've written about, it'd be fair to say that whatever I write isn't exactly going to be groundbreaking. Really, what are the odds it would be anything that hasn't already been said before? And yet...here we are. Not because I think what I have to add is so important, but because I just think Ben Tre is just awesome! Granted, nothing that I've had is the best that I've had before, but it'd be hard to find something as consistently good across multiple trips and multiple locations as what Ben Tre has to offer! Compared to their spot in Millbrae (and their now-shuttered location in San Mateo), this Ben Tre looks pretty generic. However, what it lacks in trendy or eye-catching decor, Ben Tre makes up for in the basic fact that it is super clean. Also, and most importantly, their all too familiar menu is full of the same tried and true favorites that all of their locations have to offer - a bunch of appetizers, including less common dishes like Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe) and fried quail, pho, various noodle soups, bun/vermicelli bowls, rice plates (including their awesome yellow rice), claypots, vegetarian dishes, soups, salads, and garlic noodles. In all, their menu has something for just about every taste! -- (#1) BEN TRE APPETIZER COMBINATION - Imperial Roll, Shrimp Roll, Grilled Pork Meatball, Sugarcane & Crispy Shrimp, Rice Vermicelli, and Lettuce...$19.95 ( I've long wanted to try this, so I was stoked when my friend suggested splitting an order. Of the bunch, I thought the imperial was the best followed closely by the pork meatball. Honestly, though, nothing about this was bad. -- (#28) CA RI GA - Chicken Curry Noodle Soup...$17.95 ( Not quite as good as the one I used to always get in Millbrae, but still pretty solid. While the curry isn't as rich and robust (it's a bit thin), the chunks of chicken are both big and juicy and the noodles have a nice bite to them. -- (#18) PHO TAI CHIN - Beef Noodle Soup with Rare Beef & Well Done Brisket...$16.95 ( Such a basic dish, I know, but still great! The portion is fairly generous, the noodles are tender, and there's a good meat to noodle ratio. The broth is the best part, though (rich, not fatty), so it's hard to go wrong with any of their pho choices. Also, even though I haven't tried them at this Ben Tre, I would assume that some of my favorites at their Millbrae location are just as good here, like their Bun Rieu (Tomato & Crab Pho), Pho Thit/Tom Nuong (BBQ Pork, Beef, or Shrimp with Bowl of Pho Noodle Soup), and their Ben Tre Com Vang & Thit Dac Biet (Yellow Rice with BBQ Pork or BBQ Beef). And that's without even mentioning some of the other dishes on the menu that have caught my eye, such as their Bo Buc Lac (Shaking Beef) and Com Vang Tay Cam (House Special Yellow Rice in Claypot). After all, why would I have any reason to doubt the OG location of the Ben Tre/Gao Vietnamese empire?“
“We’ve been coming to this restaurant for years, and it never fails to impress. The delicious Thai cuisine is a culinary delight, and the staff's kindness enhances the overall experience. The yellow curry is my absolute favorite – a flavorful masterpiece. Five stars without a doubt!“
“Oh man, this place is spicy!!! No joke. Delicious flavors though. Came over the weekend, husband got the most popular dish (spicy), I got some beef tendon noodle soup dish (not spicy, supposedly...). So thankful that the spicy meat comes separately so you can decide how much to put in your noodle soup. Husband put three spoonfuls and he was chugging water throughout his dinner Mine was surprisingly spicy, and I thought it was a non spicy option!! Even the noodle and broth by itself was spicy! Flavors were very good though. I also had to chug water throughout dinner Would like to come back, and maybe bring an extra side meal for my toddler since the non-spicy side dishes were a bit limited. Friendly service, clean restaurant. Surprisingly packed for a Sunday night! Excited to see new restaurants pop up on 25th :)“
“I went here with my friend around Tuesday at noon and this place was packed! There was only one poor guy manning the entire front and he was definitely overwhelmed. This definitely echoed my experience when I went to White Elephant Thai restaurant (see my review and as this is a sister restaurant, I can't say that I'm surprised. I do feel bad for the servwe as he was waiting on tables, taking orders, and also preparing orders for delivery services too! When it comes to the food, it was definitely great that it was the sister restaurant of White Elephant because the quality, great portion sizes, and authentic flavor is all still there! We ordered the crab fried rice, pad see ew with beef, pad Thai with chicken, and another pad Thai with beef (we were planning dinner to go too hehe). The food came out pretty quick and had tons of flavor. Loved the quality and portions of the food here. As for ambiance, the restaurant is pretty small and has some cool murals on the two main walls. It was pretty packed and people were even waiting outside during this prime weekday lunchtime. As for parking, there is street parking so could be hit or miss! Overall, will definitely come back but would suggest more help for the staff in the front for better efficiency!“
“We ordered the Hand-pulled Laghman which was very good! Noodles were fresh, veggies and meat were tender, and the sauce was very flavorful.As an appetizer, we ordered the Gosh Naan, which was a pleasant surprise. There was less meat in it than expected, but the meat was very juicy.In terms of service, it was a little bit slower than some other places.However, definitely still recommend stopping by, food was delicious!“
“If you’re looking for a place with authentic Vietnamese cuisine, you’ve found it. The people here are kind and genuine. I have nothing but positive things to say about the culture they bring to this area. Do not miss out on an opportunity to eat here. Especially if you’re from out of town!Kid-friendliness: They don’t mind kids. All types of families here.Wheelchair accessibility: It’s all tables you can remove the chair from and put a wheelchair“
“The waiters were very attentive and polite. Suggested dishes that we should try. The food was absolutely delicious and fresh. Best noodle house in MilbreaParking: Finding parking is difficult as the restaurant is on a small street. You need to find parking somewhat further away and walk to the establishment.“
“Went to Himawari on a rainy day. Looking for an intimate location. The entire restaurant has an amazing atmosphere as the walls are decorated with records and jazz music plays throughout. The ramen selection is very good and they have quality broth. Despite there being three parties ahead of us, things moved by quickly, and I was seated in less than 10 minutes. Would consider this place a restaurant that desires for parties to eat quickly and leave instead of staying however, long they please to chat a.k.a. 1 1/2 hours plus.Vegetarian options: There is a singular vegetarian ramen, and some additional salads and side vegetarian dishes but I wouldn’t recommend this place to a vegetarian because there isn’t a large enough option and I wouldn’t consider the price is reasonable for almond for example, the vegetarian ramen isn’t base price“
“5 stars for service!! Staff was super attentive and quick & hardworking despite it being quite busy. Refilled our bonchons when it got empty without us asking, explained what different sauces/things were for.Food was pretty good. Ginseng chicken was a little bit dry for the chicken and lacking in ginseng, but this is in comparison to the ones I had in Korea. Tofu soup & seafood pancake were pretty good; had better elsewhere (not in the bay) but it does the job. Japchae was a little too elastic but had good taste! Slightly on the pricier end as well (tofu soup was $17.5)“
“Honestly unexpectedly good food. The dumplings are top notch. The restaurant feels really messy and a little unhygienichonestly, although the staff was friendly.I see a lot of people to take out which I guess makes sense. Worth trying the dumplings for sure although if the owners clean up the place there's a lot of potential.“
“We went to Araki Sushi for lunch. This lunch spot is located in the heart of what we call college row in Palo Alto. We were greeted immediately when we walked in. Given waters until everyone decided what they desired to drink. The menu is full of foodie possibilities. Two Friends got the Chicken Teriyaki Bento's. It includes soup, salad, steamed rice & 4 pcs California Roll. She added deep fried gyoza. Nicole enjoyed Eel Eggs. I forgot what it was called.... Ivan and Steven ordered the lunch special Roll combo. Any 2 Rolls $18.95. Any 3 Rolls $22.95. They're served with soup and salad. I enjoyed 8 pc deep fried California Roll. The portions are huge. They create everything fresh in front of you. Happily to say, we were full and ready to nap but hi ho back to work we go. Well definitely come back soon.“
“We had spicy tuna rice cake and both types of Ramen. Shoyu Ramen was better than Tonkotsu, though a bit more oily than we enjoy. Tonkotsu was very bland - it required more salt and spiciness. Crispy rice with Spicy Tuna was great.They do have 16% service charge.“
“Great sushi. Not enormous portions but the prices reflect smaller sushi rolls. Great sushi, it came out very quickly. Staff was incredible and very nice. Would recommend. They have seating inside and public seating outside the restaurant. You can tell many people do carry out here.“
“Taro San Japanese Noodle Bar is famous for its hand-made noodles. They are the heart and soul of the place. On a recent rainy day, indulging in their Wagyu signature noodleb bowl couldn't have been more satisfying. It easily secured a spot in my top 2 favorite restaurants at Stanford Shopping Center.“
“Whenever visiting San Fransisco, i hv always made time to come here. Our family really love all the food.The bbq porkchop, pho, fresh spring rolls, fried rolls...The food portion is large for our SEA stomach so we usually order 1 main and 1 appetiser for 3 persons.This restaurant is located 2-3 mins walk frm Dylan Boutique hotel.“
“Best chinese i ever had in the san mateo area. nothing compares to the taste and quality of the food. i have been to this location quite a few times over the years and it's always good. Large quantities as well. My favorite dishes include peking duck, salt and pepper fried oysters, shrimp fried rice, and honey walnut prawns amongst many others. the only thing i could say bad about this place is parking can be an issue. i always order ahead and arrive early to find proper parking to pickup.“
“Hands down. This is worth all the good reviews.I recently moved to the Bay Area and was looking for a new Thai place to call my favorite. I'm super glad I came to this one!I had the spicy fried rice, and they were all coated well with seasoning. For those who like spice, although this dish is categorized as spicy, it isn't. It's more like a 3 out of 10 for me.All good. Just ask for chili sauce!My partner and I had the mango sticky rice as well.Portion is small but really good if you aren't trying to roll out of a restaurant!I loved that they fried and salted the mung beans on top of the sweet rice. Together with the semi sour mango, the flavor profile is great!Definitely recommend giving it a try.Price is fair for the portion, and the flavors are well done!10/10! Will be back.“