Restaurants in San Mateo

“Gonna give it 4 stars because while the aburasoba is good I'd like them to make mazesoba too, which has more complex ingredients, preparation, and flavor. Mogomogu in Sawtelle, LA sets the benchmark for great mazesoba on the west coast.”

“Lahmacun flatbread is the best here! I have been coming here for last 2 months few times a week. The taste and service always remain above standards! Thanks a lot!”

“Yummy empanadas and desserts.”

“On a Tuesday night 7pm, there is still 15 minute wait. This place is popular. You order off a QR code and the system supports multi user ordering for the same table. The skewers are tasty. I wish the skewers are spicier so next time I will put in an extra request. You get a birthday gift bag if you show your ID on the day of your birthday!”

“The drinks are really good. I loved coming here when they first opened and used to recommend it to all my friends. They also have a decent amount of seating inside with a modern cozy feel. However, as they became more popular and busy, the drink consistency started to decline. Although it's still more hits than misses, I'd only come here now if I happen to wake up early and can beat the rush.

I especially like the matcha, vanilla, and brown sugar lattes.”

“Fast friendly service. But you’ll be taking a to-go bag home for sure!! I was stuffed!!”

“The first time I tried pizza from Golden Boy I was amazed! Honestly, it was the best pizza I ever had - & I'm Sicilian. I know good pizza! However, the last 2 times we got pizza from this location, the service was below acceptable, and one of the pizzas made us ill. Three days ago, my husband ordered a pizza and was told it would be ready in 20 mins. When he arrived to pick it up, he had to wait an additional 20 mins for it to be ready. While he was waiting, a customer returned to the counter to inform them that they gave him the wrong pizza. This prompted my husband to check the pizza before he left. They forgot to double cut it (as requested). The time before that, we requested light sauce, but it tasted like they added extra. Both of us had an upset stomach for 2 days afterward. I dont think it was due to extra sauce - but we're certain it was the pizza because I had a piece when I felt better and became ill again. Hopefully these were one-offs & next time it will be back to the greatness we have come to love!”

“The food is really good! Their cubano sandwich and the milanesa are sooo good! And I loved their Cienfuegos salsa. They are also super nice and helpful with their recommendations :)”

“This Thai restaurant is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you’re enveloped in a warm, inviting atmosphere that feels both cozy and exotic. The decor is beautifully done, with traditional touches that transport you to Thailand. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, providing thoughtful recommendations with a genuine smile. Every dish is a delight, bursting with authentic flavors, fresh ingredients, and perfectly balanced spices. The Pad Thai and Green Curry are standouts, but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Highly recommended for anyone craving a true taste of Thailand!”

“Really loved the food and ambiance! Will be back!

Vegetarian options: Lots of veggie skewers

Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly!”

“Take-out dinner for four adults and one toddler. High-quality, authentic Italian. Excellent homemade pasta, including pillowy spinach-ricotta ravioli. Flavorful chicken dish with roast potatoes my husband, who avoids dairy, loved: "Pollo alla Calabrese." Warm reception taking the order over the phone, as well as upon my arrival. The bread we were given to accompany was unexpectedly traditional French, with a slight sourdough note -- tasted freshly baked. Do not miss the light & airy tiramisu for dessert!”

“Cocktails and Wagyu - soooo good!”

“Tucked slightly away from downtown San Mateo in a little strip mall is the most delightful Japanese-Thai-Vietnamese fusion place. When I walked in, I really felt like I was transported to Tokyo. The decor is modern minimalist and the service is warm Japanese hospitality.

There aren't many tables but at lunch on a random weekday, it was almost full. There is only one server and two chefs so it does take a little long to get your food. I had the soy milk mentaiko noodles. It was so delicious. I love milky broths.

Definitely want to come back and try the other dishes.”

“The bacon scallion scones are delicious!”

“Deliciously clean and fresh ingredients with simple homemade recipes.

Can't wait to come back for more...

Don't forget to try the homemade tiramisu as well.

Oh and the coffee is delicious as well.”

“The outdoor patio was perfect for our Sunday brunch and our 18th Anniversary. We’ve celebrated many occasions at All Spice and have always had a stellar experience with the staff and the food. Our table felt intimate — we were sharing a large space with four other tables, appropriately distanced. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Again, all Covid-19 compliant. The food, oh the food! The Dutch baby was perfectly cooked and the fruit fillings were gorgeous. The chicken sandwich was out of this world. The Mimosa and hard apple cider beverages were on point. We always love our meals at All Spice and this time was no exception. It’s a total gem!”

“So far, I’ve had the lentil soup (freakin’ de-lish!!) and a combination personal pizza. The flavor was a delight to my palate! I totally recommend velo*city pizza. Get in there and try them out! You WILL return for more! I met Phillip yesterday and when he learned that I am a musician, songwriter/performer with a current release, he immediately expressed genuine interest in my music. In fact, I believe that he downloaded and Play-listed my song “St Francis” right on the spot, and then he shared his delight in hearing my music with the lady who was also working with him behind the counter. You cannot buy this kind of energy he expressed! Phillips’s reaction to my music made me feel so good inside. I was humbled. I am going to request DrGlyn Reece of the MothFM network of radio stations to give a shout out to velo*city pizza! - Myron Edwins”

“Love the dry aged porterhouse, juicy and delicious. The service was phenomenal and of course the new location.”

“Great atmosphere and brews.”

“Sushi was delicious and service was great! Not a romantic spot though because it’s loud but fun if your going with family and friends. Music is good!!”

“Amazing service. Great food. Awesome staff! Can’t recommend it more highly.”

“Best pizza in the Bay Area!”

“Come here regularly because their pasta is some of the best my family’s had. Love the squid ink pasta the most. Staff is pretty friendly for the most part as well.”

“If you don't have a reservation, it's hard to get a table. If you've got here right when they open you might still have a chance. Food is really good!”

“10/10 REAL CANNOLIS THAT SATISFIED MY CRAVINGS!
I’ve been craving for real cannolis for some time but there aren’t any available in my area. I drove an hour just to get these and they were so worth it! I got a dozen cannolis, half filled with original and half with tiramisu.”

“I got the spicy chicken sandwich and buffalo chicken fries. They were both so good and I absolutely loved the spicy chicken sandwich. The restaurant is small but cozy and cute. The music playing was calming and nice aswell. 10/10 experience”

“Love the indoor/patio ambience Menu selection,,,food ,,,,especially variety of bruschettas Drink selection as well,,,, mimosas,,,sangria Would like more live music”

“Good food. Good service. Good atmosphere.”

“Everything they make is so good!”

“Incredible place with incredible food for incredible prices, I would give it 6 out of 5 if I could. Everything from the drink to the food to the decor was perfect. I will be back”

“Excellent food ! Fresh fish . Melts in your mouth . Small intimate atmosphere.”

“We love coming to Wunderbar, and whenever we bring friends here, they love it too, and we have a blast.

Kiernan is always an incredible host from the moment we walk through the door. He is warm, fun and thoughtful. He knows his drinks and delivers a phenomenal level of service and sets a high bar - not just for Wunderbar, but for all high-end cocktail establishments.

All the bartenders are fantastic, from Selina, to Andrew, to Brandon. The drinks are always on point. And of course, the endless supply of warm buttery popcorn is a great bonus!”

“Lunch was delicious! We came a little late 1:45 pm but we weren't rushed. I don't have much of an appetite, even when I'm hungry, took half of my lunch home. Better the second time around!
Definitely would recommend. We'll be going back!”

“Went to lunch there today Food very tasty and this looks like it would be a fantastic Happy Hour Meet Up!!!!”

“food place for family and hang out”

“Good food, outdoors, dog-friendly.”

“The staff are friendly, polite and professional. The food is good, delicious and tasty. Big portions.”

“Walked by and decided to stop for midweek dinner! So glad we did!! Food was delicious: Started with the veggie eggrolls then ordered the veggie jambalaya and veggie gumbo. Both were delicious! Will be back again next week and maybe get takeout too!! Really nice servers and the owner was very welcoming! Would be great for large groups? ?”

“The sushi was great, the portions were generous, and the service was excellent. I found there was a bit too much mayonnaise in the sushi for my liking, but you can request it without if you prefer or choose a different roll.”

“The cheap side of me wants to stick with AYCE but sometimes you just gotta go for quality over quantity. Both broth and meat were of good quality. My phone doesn't seem to capture that well.. but it's a lot better than it looks (I promise haha).”

“Hot pot is pretty good, this place specializes in lamb but has beef, pork, chicken and seafood options (limited), high quality ingredients and the broth is delicious. Lots of Chinese/cantonese people who eat here. Icecream tastes very cheap, but overall, a great hot pot place”

“good food and love the mimosa”

“We had an absolutely lovely experience here! Came for my boyfriend’s birthday, everyone was friendly and attentive. Fantastic high end ambience. The food was almost too beautiful to eat and every one of us thoroughly enjoyed our entrees. One of our guests said it was the best spaghetti he had ever had! The mushroom risotto was perfection. I had the Chilean sea bass and WOW! The salmon was also amazing. The other two guests had roasted chicken and hangar steak… I didn’t get to try them but they looked amazing and everyone cleaned their plate even though we were full lol! We will absolutely be back. Highly recommend!! 5 stars ⭐️”

“Great service, delicious food and beautiful decorations.”

“The best bahn mi in the peninsula and debatably in the bay. I didn’t want to leave a review; because I wanted it to stay a hidden gem but now that I am moving out of San Mateo I will. Please try the grilled pork with pate, it’s the most popular one.”

“The best savory Scone I have ever had. Soft and oh so delicious. And I have had Scones in France, and all over Europe and the USA. A walk up to their window for your order of pastry and beverage will delight you!!”

“The place needs a remodel!
it was clean on the inside but the furniture is ancient and the windows were super dirty on the outside. Had to wait a while to get our order taken. Lots of tables in need of busing as well. They were understaffed I don't know if that's a regular thing management does to cut costs but staff was very nice and professional considering they really needed a couple more people to not be overworked. The cooks get a satisfactory rating. All in all I think the owners should put a little money into this place and fix it up because there's only so much makeup you can put on a pig. Bare minimum there should be some air conditioning because it gets hot with those big windows. Plenty of easy parking so that was nice, and your vehicle is in view for safety.

Kid-friendliness: It's a Denny's so nobody's trippin off of kids.

Wheelchair accessibility: Flat.”

“One of the best places to eat!”

“great noodle soup and hand made dumplings.”

“First of all the owners are absolutely delightful. We got take out and it blew our socks off! Hands down the best egg I have ever had in my life....Seriously, I had waited a long while to come here and when I got a reservation for my husband's birthday it was a magical, moment. We were delighted. We traveled through taste and it suspended time. Satiated and joyous. Wakuriya is the best Japanese I have had in my life. I cannot wait to dine inside, but until then I will treat myself to their fare every month. Truly, a delight of sight, smell, texture and taste. I feel lucky to live in the neighborhood, to be so close to this 魔法の場所. Much Love Everyone, may you eat well, be well and visit Wakyuriya.”

“The service was fabulous, and the food was delicious. The servings are pretty generous and you're not breaking the bank.
We went in at about 5pm for an early dinner. We were able to get a seat quickly, and the food came out pretty fast too.

Dietary restrictions: They will work with you on whatever restrictions you have”

“Great food an Service. Friendly staff and generous portions.”

“Food was great. What I appreciated was the fact that dishes were not overly salty. Ingredients were fresh. I really liked the scallop vermicelli dish, the skewer okra and prawn. Service was on point.”

“Good food. Definitely recommended.”

“Marisa cares about her customers and it shows. I go to many Jamba Juice locations on the Bay Area Peninsula and this one is the best because of the service! Keep up the good work Marisa!”

“We had the meat ravioli with bolognese sauce and a meatloaf sandwich on a soft roll. Both were fantastic. Highly recommend visiting. Parking was easy and cheap.

Vegetarian options: Cheese Ravioli, Squash Ravioli.

Parking: There are many in front as well as directly across the street.”

“Saigon Butter Tofu Wine sauce Ox Tail Noodle Soup Crab & Pork Meatball & Tomato Vermicelli And to drink: Taro w/Coconut Slush”

“These are the best tasting cupcakes I have ever had! So delicious seriously! Other “fancy” cupcake shops do not come close. I would break my keto diet to have one of these. I no longer live in their area but they are so good!”

“Seated right away without reservation. Outside and inside options. Sat outside. It's covered. Heat lamps if necessary, which is great. Ordered a bunch of yakitori options. All were delicious. I'm definitely gonna try more!

Parking: I parking at the main garage and walking over. It's free after 6pm.”

“Still the best kept secret in San Mateo. I’m moving tomorrow and this food is what I’m going to miss the most. The portions are generous, the price is affordable, the service can’t be beat. Cash only. Small parking lot. Family owned and operated. The carne asada is delicious! Actually I haven’t had a bad meal here. Take away is available. You won't be disappointed . Skip the la cumbre and pancho villa. Come get the best!”

“Solid vegan Thai place with prompt service. I tried a number of dishes during several visits: curry with pineapple and duck, Thai basil, volcanic beef, Tom yum, gingerly ginger and a few others. Out of these volcanic beef did not really impress but it can also be my taste. Really good option if you are in the area. Meat eaters should also be happy based on my feedback I got from my company”

“Fritters are great for a treat”

“This is a quick comfort food place where you order and pay before finding a seat. The egg benedict was relatively good for the price. We didn’t like the egg scramble much. Parking was easy.”

“Philz coffee definitely sets itself apart. Seen as a comfort coffee shop where you wait upwards of 5-10 min for your coffee, it may not be for everyone. Each cup is brewed individually which contributes to the long wait time, but it will probably be one of the better cups of coffee you will ever have. Made with care and love, you will be rewarded for your time. However, since they are super busy all the time, they may not be as welcoming as one would like, but it is understandable since they are all flying around the workspace. The ambiance is quite fitting, inviting and comfortable. If you ever get a chance to try it out, it would be a mistake if you didn’t!”

“This restaurant is truly a hidden gem. The food here is absolutely delicious and flavorful. You must try the pupusas, empanadas, bunelos, and many other Latin dishes. The pupusas are a huge hit. The pupusas are tasty, the salsa is fresh and the curtido hits the spot. Best Latin restaurant in the Bay Area.”

“Open late and fast service, as you would expect from a taco bell. They now have two auto service kiosks for ordering at that feel fairly removed and not welcoming, but that seems to be the standard of all fast food places now to have these. The food was not great, but as you would expect from a taco bell. Prices are very cheap for the area.”

“I love that they brought back the tostada!!! Hopefully it won't go away anytime soon!! Definitely try that Decades menu... Definitely brings back memories!!! ”

“Panda Express inside Hillsdale mall. Arrived around 11:20 am on a Friday.Got 2 meals. Pretty fast service. Generous portions. They were low on orange chicken. I was politely asked if I could wait 2 minutes for fresh. No problem. New dish seared steak and shrimp is really good.”

“It's a McDonald's. Everything you'd expect from a good fast food store you'd get here, except for a drive-through, which is not a major problem as they make your food fairly fast.

Only times I'd avoid would be from 2:30-4 PM as it gets filled with nearby students and things slow down quite drastically.

Much better, cleaner and safer than any of their locations in San Francisco!

Parking: Plenty of parking spots available in the morning and early afternoon, quite hard to park in the evenings.”

“Lo mejor y mejorando aun mas”

“Care and attention are paid at this tiny family-run establishment that flies under the radar. My favorite item is the tofu katsu curry with a very complex set of flavors and the perfect texture (not too thick, not too thin). Really nice vegan/vegetarian sushi with pickled cucumber, umeboshi, and other options. The only drawback is not much ambiance in terms of seating. There is no indoor seating. There are two tables along the sidewalk (no shade, bring a hat). The host is super friendly and goes out of her way to make you feel welcome and valued. This feels like authentic cooking your own grandma might prepare with love.”

“was an amazing vibes lovely crew coffee was so good!”

“When using 2 of your favorite cookies I highly recommend you try to make a Peanut Butter, Apricot Jelly COOKIE SANDWICH. I'm sure you are going to like the results. Don't forget a glass of milk... ENJOY!”

“M y family was in town cleaning my mother in laws house in San Mateo. My son found this place and the food was amazing. We got a large cheese and pepperoni pizza and it was more than enough for 8 of us!! And very good. We will definitely order only from Bizza in the future. The owner and staff were very nice and the place was spotless and so cute inside.”

“My first time to get Korean roll in America! And that is really delicious! Their special Sauce is amazing! They have an order machine and you can handle it easily! Highly recommend!”

“Cozy little hidden place in San Mateo. A bakery, coffee shop and specialized on cakes. They do offer some Filipino delicacies.”

“Excellent ramen restaurant! Probably one of the best in the Bay Area in my opinion. Food and service are fantastic! Yuri and Ryota were both kind, considerate, quick, and caring to make our dinner a wonderful experience. Food is delicious and quick.

Highly recommend!

I wish it were closer to San Jose!

Parking can be a bit tight sometimes, but not terrible.

Tip: if eating with kids, keep them away from the ordering screen so they don't accidentally order items ?

Kid-friendliness: Servers are wonderful with kids. Kind and helpful. Appropriate utensils and serving dishes for kids”

“Donut shops are the real coffee shops and this one proves the rule: High quality coffee and the fluffiest donuts at a very reasonable price. In particular, the almond roll is well worth it!”

“Super tasty! Shortly after I sat down for lunch they immediately served me a steaming cup of hot and sour soup that I polished off. I love it when food is served piping hot. Next came the Mongolian beef and noodles I ordered. I will just saw wow wow wow. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. This was probably the best Mongolian beef I have had. Hands down. Fantastic no frills lunch spot. The way good food is supposed to be. Can I say awesome again?!”

“Best tuna melt I ever had. Thank you so much. I enjoyed my lunch.”

“We ordered the custom chocolate cake for friend’s birthday and it was amazing! ?
Order via email and got very quick response to confirm. We paid when we received it at the store.
The taste and decoration, all perfect!
We put friend’s name on the cake but removed for public picture only. Highly recommended and I’m sure I’ll order it again! ??”

“This is located in the food court area of hillsdale mall. The basque cheesecake is easily one of the best I have had. Even the Japanese cheesecake is super light fluffy and delicious. The tarts are great as well. I have tried almost every single flavor they sell. They also sell tea and some other beverages but I have not had the chance to try any of these. Their cakes and tarts are top notch though”

“We got takeout for dinner tonight. Very happy with this authentic taqueria! This will be our go to Mexican restaurant from now on.
Ordered 3 burritos and 2 taco plates. Amazing food! Fantastic service. Chicken was flavorful and generous. Rice was authentic (not over salted) and burritos were a delicious combination of ingredients. They offered napkins, salsa and utensils. Thank you S El Camino Taqueria! Will see you again in the coming weeks.”

“Best Chile Verde I have had in years! Excellent food, friendly staff, and pleasant setting.”

“While the food was enjoyable, I primarily wanted to acknowledge the exceptional service we received from Deepak. I called in an order Saturday night and was anticipating arriving about 15 minutes before closing but due to transportation difficulties ended up arriving about 5 minutes before closing (12:55 am). When we arrived, Deepak was friendly and patient despite the fact that we were obviously the only reason he was still there. While we certainly didn't want to keep him there longer than necessary, he didn't make us feel rushed and was very helpful and understanding.”

“Marisa cares about her customers and it shows. I go to many Jamba Juice locations on the Bay Area Peninsula and this one is the best because of the service! Keep up the good work Marisa!”

“Bad customer service They ask you if you want napkins even when you buy a dessert and man was not polite new people can Be hired”

“Still the best kept secret in San Mateo. I’m moving tomorrow and this food is what I’m going to miss the most. The portions are generous, the price is affordable, the service can’t be beat. Cash only. Small parking lot. Family owned and operated. The carne asada is delicious! Actually I haven’t had a bad meal here. Take away is available. You won't be disappointed . Skip the la cumbre and pancho villa. Come get the best!”

“Nice staff. Great menu and lovely outside patio for dining”

“Tasty, healthy and satisfying bento box. A lot of other bento boxes out there are too salty, but the bento box from BentoSprout is lightly seasoned, but bold flavor. I hope my company use this caterer regularly. Highly recommended.”

“Great food and service. Happy hour cocktails were great taste for great price”

“Great job on the hand made tortilla”

“Great food an Service. Friendly staff and generous portions.”

“This Thai restaurant is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you’re enveloped in a warm, inviting atmosphere that feels both cozy and exotic. The decor is beautifully done, with traditional touches that transport you to Thailand. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, providing thoughtful recommendations with a genuine smile. Every dish is a delight, bursting with authentic flavors, fresh ingredients, and perfectly balanced spices. The Pad Thai and Green Curry are standouts, but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Highly recommended for anyone craving a true taste of Thailand!”

“great noodle soup and hand made dumplings.”

“Definitely enjoyed the drinks. The atmosphere is great! Beautiful inside. Staff was friendly. Definitely would be going back. Went on a Sunday, parking was easy.”

“Good food but service was poor”

“The drinks are really good. I loved coming here when they first opened and used to recommend it to all my friends. They also have a decent amount of seating inside with a modern cozy feel. However, as they became more popular and busy, the drink consistency started to decline. Although it's still more hits than misses, I'd only come here now if I happen to wake up early and can beat the rush.

I especially like the matcha, vanilla, and brown sugar lattes.”

“Food was fresh and good quality, which is hard to find in a semi fast food restaurant. We accidentally got takeout instead of dine in, and half of the items came in plastic, and orders were separated so that our two orders came in 5 containers. For a company that touts themselves on being sustainable this was very disappointing.”

“The food is really good! Their cubano sandwich and the milanesa are sooo good! And I loved their Cienfuegos salsa. They are also super nice and helpful with their recommendations :)”

“Great lunch at Paul Martin’s and friendly staff!”

“High quality food at fair prices. One baffling issue is that they charge for tea, but provides FREE saki and sida.”

“Fritters are great for a treat”

“This is a quick comfort food place where you order and pay before finding a seat. The egg benedict was relatively good for the price. We didn’t like the egg scramble much. Parking was easy.”

“The temperature in the restaurant was really warm all the way until 8pm when we left. We had a booth and all of us felt really warm. Food was good. Drinks were tasty but wondered if they were virgin drinks. Beautiful restaurant.”

“Raises the Tea bar considerably!”

“We ordered the custom chocolate cake for friend’s birthday and it was amazing! ?
Order via email and got very quick response to confirm. We paid when we received it at the store.
The taste and decoration, all perfect!
We put friend’s name on the cake but removed for public picture only. Highly recommended and I’m sure I’ll order it again! ??”

“I got the spicy chicken sandwich and buffalo chicken fries. They were both so good and I absolutely loved the spicy chicken sandwich. The restaurant is small but cozy and cute. The music playing was calming and nice aswell. 10/10 experience”

“Decent selection of meat, seafood and veggies. I prefer the traditional 'communal' hotpot where you are offered better quality meat. This place is good for a quick fix for me just to get a taste of hotpot. There is only a few condiments unlike the typical place where you have over a dozen to fix your own dipping sauce.
$15.99/lb can get pricing if you are a big eater.”

“Part of a ghost kitchen that serves takeout food from various restaurants, no dine-in seating. I recommend ordering online and then picking it up over ordering in store, especially as parking is a little rough. Also recommend requesting utensils and napkins if you think you'll need them, since mine didn't come with any.

I've never been to other Vons chicken locations but the food that I got here was really delicious and also cheaper than the redwood city Vons chicken.
I got the lunch combo with 6 PC boneless chicken and it was the perfect amount of food for a meal.

Took about 30 min for order to be ready for pickup.”