29 Best Korean Restaurants near San Mateo

“Good food. Definitely recommended.“

“So good !!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥“

“Ordered a food delivery late at night. Food arrived in good package and no spillage. Food tasted authentic. Reasonable portions. Only wish the bowl of rice was bigger though. The free banchans were nice too. Kimchis were more sour than other korean places I have tried but I could handle it just fine.“

“food place for family and hang out“

“Just delicious. I ordered an ube soft serve with an Ah Boong (fish waffle) on the side. The Ah Boong is warm and fresh, simultaneously soft and crispy, and the ice cream is flavorful and the perfect amount. I inhaled the entire thing within 5 minutes, it was just that good. The ube soft serve is not the best I've had, but it's still good, and that's probably because of my personal tastes. I think it is worth the price. The location is convenient too, right in Downtown San Mateo! Overall, I will come again. 4/5.“

“Hands down the best Korean fried barbecued chicken in the Bay Area! Banchan in San Mateo blew me away — perfectly crispy, juicy chicken with a rich glaze that hits all the right notes. The flavors are bold but balanced, and the sides (especially the pickled radish and kimchi) complement the meal beautifully. Service was fast and friendly, and the place was spotless. I’ve been craving it ever since. Highly recommend for anyone who loves Korean BBQ or just amazing fried chicken.“

“I loved the food. BBQ chicken, garlic fried chicken, cauliflower rice. I wanted to try the noodles, but I'm not fond of green onions and I found out that it's pre mixed into the noodles. Had hoped for the option of no green onions in the mix. Oh well, can't have it all. My rating is 4.5 “

“This is one of my favorite Korean restaurants in the Bay Area. One of the reasons is because they have a good selection of banchans. They offer a small fish that comes as a standard banchan.

We ordered Soondubu seafood and fish roe with Japchae as an appetizer. The Japchae was on the sweeter side and I wish it had a little more char flavor. Overall still a good dish. Portion sizes are generous. The soondubu’s had plenty of addins.“

“Wanted to try a new Korean restaurant. This was definitely a hidden jem. We got here around 6:30pm on Saturday, May 31, 2025. There was no waiting and seated us right away. The restaurant seating is spacious with plenty of chair space and legroom. They cook everything for you. It was cooked to perfection. The Kalbi was tender with the perfect seasoning. Their Bonchon is some of the best we have ever tasted. Especially, their Kimchi. We have tried many different brands of Kimchi from Korean supermarkets. This has become our favorite Korean restaurant now.“

“OMG I knew nothing about this restaurant but we chose it because that’s where we found a parking space, rock star. It was meant to be. Everything was delicious. From the kimchi to the beef tongue to the tofu soup with the dumplings, to the beef tendon soup (after adding salt) and the spicy noodles. I already want to eat there again. Tomorrow.“

“Homemade Korean food (including kimchi!) that tastes very authentic and flavorful, yet healthy. Prices are decent. Loved the ox tail noodle soup.
The owner heard my baby crying and saw I was having difficulty trying to hold her and eat at the same time. She offered to help me carry my baby while I ate and she was able to calm her down, very kind and helpful 😊“

“Delicious food and great service. We love many dishes from this restaurant“

“The food was great! In my bowl I got white rice and japchae mix, protein: bulgogi, carrots, cucumbers, and kimchi for my banchans. I also got a fried egg for a little extra. Everything was bomb, I would definitely go again. I'd like to try the other meats, i will say the meat was a little cold and wish it was a bit warmer.

For sauces I tried the Seoul Spicy Sauce and the Mayo Siracha and like both with my food. The service was friendly and chill.“

“Korean place with good vegan options. Items are labelled vegetarian on the menu, some items need to be modified to be made vegan. Clarify that the banchans are vegan (they have fish cake sometimes). Like greens, bean sprouts, and fried tofu banchan they have. Bathroom was nice and clean.

Love the mushroom tofu soup, really flavorful and they are generous with the mushrooms. Also got the hot stone tofu bibimbap, make sure to ask for no egg to make it vegan. Good option to go to if going with a group of omnis, can also accomodate larger groups as well but would consider making a reservation if the party is 6+.“

“Satisfies Korean food craving.“

“great korean bbq plates. I usually get the beef bulgogi or the spicy pork.“

“The food at Paik's Noodle was delicous, with generous portions and great flavors. The service was fast and friendly, and the atmosphere was clean and comfortable, perfect for a casual meal. Highly recommend if you’re looking for tasty noodles at a good price.“

“This place is absolutely incredible!!! The food is beyond delicious - especially the Korean dishes, which are so good they’ll leave you speechless. The service is wonderfully friendly, making the whole experience feel warm and welcoming. I also love that they have outdoor seating; it gives the restaurant such a pleasant and vibrant atmosphere.

If you go, you must try the Korean tteokbokki(spicy rice cake 떡볶이) korean fried chicken, and the kimchi fried rice , all highly recommended. Even the coffee is amazing here!!!! they serve it generously and it tastes fantastic.

Overall, a perfect spot for anyone looking for excellent food, outstanding service, and a great vibe!“

“Ordered through door dash. Bulgogi fries, chocolate torte, and soy garlic chicken. All incredible. Chicken was juicy had a great crispy texture with a great sauce taste. Even reheated and maintained crisp well when we had leftovers. Also nice big portion sizes.“

“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.“

“This place right here has the best sushi rolls for the best price!! They hook it up fat! They are always friendly I'm willing to do whatever you ask to you're liking to accommodate your sushi experience! At this spot I always get the most sushi rolls for what my money is worth!! You can order ahead of time so you can come by in and pick up your food when ready! Great thing also about this place there was a time when I lagged to pick up my order and I was still treated with the upmost respect I'm kind customer service as I would if I picked up on time!! Must try to teriyaki chicken is super good 🤩💯“

“This spot is bringing a unique dining experience to the Bay Area! The food truck specializes in Korean food that's made by robots.

Currently, the food truck only operates in Foster City for delivery or pickup. When you order through their app, the robots will start making the meal about 6 to 8 minutes before it's ready to be delivered. This means your food is always hot and fresh! The portion sizes can easily feed two people. The best part is there are no service fees or delivery charges! The flavors of each dish were so good! The wagyu was my favorite ?. Each dish is served with rice, banchan and seaweed.

They're opening a brick and mortar restaurant later this year in San Mateo, so be sure to check that out as well.“

“My husband and I were just here for our 2 years anniversary. They take walk ins for bar seating and there are 4 bar seats available at a time.

Definitely lived up to the hype. Flavors are very delicate, not overpowering at all. If you are looking for something extremely flavorful then this may not be a good fit. However, if you prefer lighter and refreshing profile, Yeobo Darling is the place for you. The sea urchin appetizer and the scallion croissants are MUST HAVEs.

The attention to service here is outstanding. Masha was helping us throughout the night and was extremely sweet and attentive. We got to learn about her story and vice versa - lots of nice conversations. Overall, 100% would come back and hopefully to see Masha again! :)“

“I heard good things about Vons and was not disappointed. The quality of the chicken can vary month to month, but the flavor and crisp is top notch. I love a good Korean fried chicken and Vons delivers there and more. The additional seasonings are great and the sides make the show. Japchae, dumplings, and tteokbokki are our go-tos here. We always do takeout, but the dining area is clean, albeit cramped. Anytime friends or family visit and mention fried chicken, we point them to Vons.“

“Good Place for any occasion.Fair price for your pocket 😍🤩“

“Got the bulgogi burrito at off the grid OMCA and honestly, no notes. Absolutely INCREDIBLE tasting - well marinated bulgogi, crispy tots, fast and smooth customer service. My friend got the chicken katsu and he intended to only eat half and he ate it all - I tried it and it was TASTY. I consider myself a discerning eater and I have no qualms at all. Highly recommend!!“

“The Fried Chicken was wonderful. I just wished it was better sauced and they do not give out extra sauce on the side.“

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