Barbeque Restaurants near San Carlos

“FAMILY OWNED & DELICIOUS! It’s made to order and you get a lot of food!! They host you like you’re in their own home. Which is rare and deserves more than 5 stars. The BBQ chicken is perfectly cooked over veggies and rice. I regretted not ordering double Mac salads because it was the first thing to go. Thank you guys, see you next week!“

“This is a whole in the wall place reminiscent of when I used to live in the South! Meats are very tender and sides are flavorful. Everyone working there is super nice as well. It’s hard to find good American style BBQ in the Bay, but I’ll definitely be back when I’m craving it!“

“I don't know what these people are saying about the food. I took a chance and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the ribs, French fries, and beans (which I got mac n cheese which was a mistake but I wasn't going to sweat it like these other haters). The ribs had a tasty rub, the original BBQ sauce was good, and the meat fell right off the bones. I don't know what people are saying on these reviews, because my meat was not dry at all. Give them a try and make up your own mind. Not sure about the location since I door dashed my order, but glad I found a place that is good bbq when I'm craving it.“

“Absolutely loved this place! The food is outstanding — fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The restaurant is spotless, and the ambiance is just perfect: calm, comfortable, and really inviting. It's the kind of spot where you can actually relax and enjoy a meal without the noise and chaos you find elsewhere.
What really sets it apart is the ordering experience — you order right from your phone, which is both seamless and genuinely fun. It feels modern without being gimmicky. Highly recommend to anyone looking for great food in a clean, peaceful setting. Will definitely be back!“

“We’ve been here a few times and each time, our food is delicious. On this June 6, 2026 day, I had the 1 meat bowl which included the smoked chicken and the baked beans.I devoured every bit. Both were so delicious. My husband inhaled his brisket sandwich and my son surprisingly finished his chicken tacos. We even got a greeting from the owner. 😊 We ate outside this time, but the ambiance is good whether we sit in or out. I highly recommend that you try this place if you haven’t already.“

“We’ve been here twice, but only downstairs, which can get very noisy. Their yakitori is very good. We also tried the mentaiko udon and grilled corn and both were good, too.

There’s a public parking garage behind the restaurant. Parking is free after 6 pm. You can enter the restaurant through the back door.“

“This place is amazing! The spare ribs are bbq'ed right in front of you along with all of the other meats. The owners are kind and very personable. :) I went here two days in a row. Delish!“

“Omg this might be the best chinese skewer place in the Bay. The flavor is amazing and the decor is so on point too. I love the veggie skewer options they have (must get a-choy and chives) and the meat skewers are tender too. I really wished they had a fried rice addition since that would go so well with the skewers.

I would recommend you join the waitlist before coming in person since it’s usually really busy. I would come back here many times!!“

“Excellent place for fresh food, wonderful mediterranean style flavors and dishes that taste amazing. Everyone who is there is very kind and the service feels genuinely caring and always helpful. After finding it a couple weeks ago, we've been back 3 times“

“The best BBQ around. A must try, you won’t regret it.“

“Ok, this is great food! Awesome Barbecue and Fried Chicken. Menu is on the website. Don’t forget to tip!“

“Really good Chinese BBQ place. All of the bread items we tried were flaky and tasty, highly recommend the brown sugar one. The skewers were all solid, and I appreciated that the beef had a more teriyaki-style flavor, because too much cumin starts to get a bit sameish. In that regard, you should consider getting an order of the lettuce leaves to use as a wrap for the skewers, it's a great palette cleanser and adds some nice texture.

Would love to go again, but it's a bit far from my house and Chinese BBQ isn't something you can do too frequently.“

“Really enjoyed our dinner here! We skipped the famous sampler platter since we weren’t super hungry and just ordered a few things that sounded good.
- The beef tongue was a bit chewier than I expected - definitely had to work at it.
- Oxtail stew was tasty but they went a little heavy on the green onions.
- Pork jowl had great flavor and that nice fatty richness, though I wish it had been a touch more tender.
- Whole marinated short rib was absolutely incredible. So tender and juicy, honestly the star of the show.

Worth coming back for that alone. Good meal overall with one dish that really knocked it out of the park!“

“OLHSO Truck isn’t just a food truck—it’s a fully automated robotic kitchen on wheels. Fresh ingredients are prepped daily by human chefs, but the actual cooking is done by a high-tech robot loaded with Chef Han’s perfected recipes. Once an order is placed, the truck’s system stir-fries everything while en route, so the food is piping hot and fresh just minutes before arrival.

For something made entirely by a machine, the food is impressively flavorful and well-executed.

Wagyu – Boneless wagyu short ribs marinated in a rich house sauce, stir-fried with fresh veggies. The meat is tender, packed with umami, and perfectly caramelized.

Dak Galbi – Chicken stir-fried in a gochujang-based spicy sauce with plenty of chewy rice cakes. The heat is customizable, but the deep, smoky flavor always shines.

SEOUL Food – A bold combination of kimchi, pork belly, soybean paste, and shrimp, all stir-fried together for layers of intense, savory flavor.

Japchae – Glass noodles tossed with mushrooms, fresh vegetables, and a sweet-savory soy sauce. Light yet satisfying.

Orders are placed through their app, and the robotic kitchen times the cooking process to ensure food arrives fresh—not sitting in a takeout container for half an hour. The whole concept is futuristic and efficient, and for a meal made entirely by a robot, the taste is surprisingly impressive.“

“Friendly and helpful staff, great environment, attentive. my first time having Caribbean food and got the jerk chicken, the extra sauce is highly recommended for the extra kick.“

“Our band, Drini & the Bad Kats Band, played at the venue for the first time last night. The entire staff, patrons and owner were great. Our friends loved the venue as well. I’ve been for Karaoke Nights several times and have always had a blast as well. The drinks are strong and delicious, just like I like em. Lots of space to move around too. 🤗🎤🎉“

“The last remaining location. They have good brisket sandwiches, burgers etc.

Also the young man at the register, Jesus N, is very welcoming and professional. He asks questions, makes sure you get the right order and helps you understand the menu etc.
He remembered me from a previous visit and is very polite. Good customer service.“

“Always a good place to go especially in the winter for some warm comfort food! Indoor seating can be a bit smoky from time to time. They also have outdoor seating which is great during the pleasant weather of Bay area. Can get crowded during peak dinner time.“

“Soo much value for your money. Small place with a few tables but mainly everyone orders to go. I got the bbq combo for around $17. Holy cow this could have served 3 people! Delicious. It has bbq chicken, Korean short rib and kalbi. I obviously got it with the macaroni salad. Across from in and out burger. I would much rather have scratch cooked food than a burger meal for $12. You wont be disappointed“

“We ordered the kalua pork and a combo plate seafood BBQ mix with shrimp and chicken katsu.
The combo plate was huge but it felt like an ordinary dish you could get anywhere else. A bit bland nothing special.
However, the kalua pork was right on point. It tasted really good, tender, juicy, and full of flavor. That dish definitely stood out and made the meal worthwhile. If you go, I’d recommend sticking with the kalua pork.
The Hawaiian cookies was such a sweet surprise to see them there that I bought the guava flavor one. It instantly took me back to beautiful memories of a special place in Hawaii with family. Every bite felt nostalgic and comforting. 🌺“

“Authentic korean food! Very happy to find this restaurant as I visit SFO for work quite often. Nothing fancy but the food here tastes just like homemade mom's food. The portion was very generous with a variety of side dishes. The staffs were very kind, attentive and courteous. I can't wait for my next visit already.“

“Great ramen!!! Fast and friendly service!“

“This is the first review of 2025. I accidently ordered off the uber app from a whim. Until I read the reviews meanwhile my meal was in route. I think they changed the cook yall. Chicken was cooked well rice as well. Mac needs its home recipe for sure. Was the chicken hot? No it was warm. But I am very impressed by the improvement. I won't be ordering again though. 😂😂😂😂“

“The charcoal grills are a new experience for me. It was awesome! Food was delicious! Service was great! My only complaint would be for the ventilation to be better/stronger. I know to expect to smell like KBBQ after, but I think ventilation can be improved.“

“A really good find in the city that is open till late night and the food here is also pretty amazing. It has also a bunch of good deserts along with the delicious food that they have. You probably wouldn’t come here for the ambience, but you’ll definitely come back here for the food and it’s totally worth the price.“

“Waterfront view, great service, awesome hot pot. What else can I ask for? Yeah. Love this place and will surely come back again!“

“Came to visit the l&l barbecue on 3rd avenue in downtown San Mateo. First time to this location. Location is under New Management and I couldn't tell the restaurant was very up to the l&l standard.
Clean tables plenty of seats. Pepsi soda fountain and Hawaiian drinks available. I had the pineapple orange flavor which is my favorite. The menu has regular plates and even mini plates available if you're not that hungry. My wife had the shrimp with rice and a Pepsi. We shared a Spam Masubi. I ordered the regular chicken katsu plate with rice and macaroni. The food was good. Parking is difficult. Plenty of street parking but it fills up fast in the evening and there is also a parking garage which is a bit of a walking distance but if you don't want to play parking wars I would just go for the parking garage and walk a short distance.“

“Fresh authentic Cantonese food. Always come back to here when we crave BBQ pork, porridge, traditional Cantonese rice dishes. Affordable, but that would mean service would take some time. I would call at least 45 minutes in advance to order takeout because it can get busy sometimes. They have fresh fish on the menu even, and weekday specials like pineapple buns.
Great spot for gluten free and dairy free options with all the porridge and rice dishes.“