27 Best Korean Restaurants near San Mateo

“This is a really fantastic new Korean BBQ restaurant. The service was both warm and incredibly prompt, which really made for a pleasant experience. While the short ribs were a little bit on the sweeter side for my liking, the pork belly and chicken thighs were absolutely perfect. I especially loved the really crispy chicken skin!“

“So good !!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥“

“Good food. Definitely recommended.“

“This late-night Korean spot was such a vibe, and I really loved the overall aesthetic. The atmosphere alone makes it a great place to hang out and catch up with friends over food. The dishes we tried were solid across the board, but the kimchi fried rice stood out the most. A lot of places tend to go heavy or too light on the sesame oil, but Chingu gets the balance just right, which really made the dish shine. Overall, it’s a fun, reliable spot for late-night Korean food with a great ambiance.“

“food place for family and hang out“

“Amazing! I will definitely be going back again soon“

“I ordered the chicken bowl takeout and it was very good. Since I can’t have gluten I’m always nervous eating out, but this place was clearly labeled for dietary restrictions and still tasted great. 10/10 recommend for a chill takeout meal.“

“Earlier this week on Sunday, I was craving some Korean fried Chicken, which I never had before. I did a search on Google and came across Bonchon in San Mateo. The first experience I had, I was not happy with my order because it was not accurate. I ordered an 8 piece, but only received a 4 piece and because it’s through a 3rd party nothing could be done. I decided on Monday I would order this time directly from the restaurant. Everything worked out, and I have to tell you even though my order was not right the first time? This did not take away from the quality of the food. I ordered the drumsticks extra crunch? No sauce, and the first time I ordered with fried rice, both were excellent. The seasoning, it was rich with flavor, and I have absolutely no complaints. The second time on Monday I ordered the same chicken a 4 piece, the corn with the mayonnaise, cheese and red pepper flakes, with a side of steamed rice. Everything was just perfect. I’m not kidding you it’s taking everything in me to control myself from ordering more today, and it’s just Tuesday. It’s just that good! Whoever the chefs are, you can taste the love in their cooking, it’s not just thrown together. There is Love in their food, and know this because my Mom’s food is just the same. Every bite is good. I don’t say these things lightly when it comes to restaurants. There’s not too many that impress me like this. All I can say is keep the love in your food, and don’t change the quality even if you have a million customers, don’t change your food. 5/5 for me, it’s a must try if you love fried chicken or Korean food. I don’t have pictures this time, maybe next time if I can upload I will. The chicken is so crunchy that even when it’s cold it’s still good and crunchy and not soggy. That is when you know food is good, when it gets cold and it’s just as good. Thank you so much for listening.“

“On a business trip and stumbled upon Han Sang amongst a sea of Chinese restaurants. People often think Korean food is BBQ but I grew up on soups and stews so Han Sang was comfort food for me. Food was very good…really hit the spot after a day of travel. Service was also friendly and modern decor.“

“Food is amazing. Ordered japchae, short rib soup, cheese corn, and bulgogi, all of them are very good. Japchae had good seasoning to it and balanced amount of veggies and noodles. Cheese corn is very cheesy, sweet, and have amazing cheese pull. Bulgogi is perfect balance between sweet and savory as well. My husband created bulgogi cheese corn combination that he definitely will go back for. Honestly for me, the star of the show is the short rib broth. Its one of the best broth I have ever tasted with massive amount of meat in it (they definitely did not cheap out on quality and quantity!)

The restaurant itself is nice and spacious. Just had to make sure to wear something you dont mind smelling like bbq because the moment you entered, the amazing smell greets your senses. The service though, was a bit weird. Apparently we were supposed to refill for our own water to the back? And we had to wait a bit before someone actually checked on us. It's not a deal breaker though, we would still go back and enjoy the deliciousness of their korean dishes!“

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

“Found this when I look for Korean restaurant that serve noodle soup. This restaurant is next to hospital which I think in a good location. Next to it is boba shop which I saw some customer went to the the boba shop after their meals.
The interior is very simple, with couple tables and the dishes photo all over the wall which looks inviting.
The menu is pretty complete with many varieties of Korean dishes. We order Spicy Seafood noodle soup and Stir fried noodles with black bean sauce.
They give 3 type of banchan, daikon, beansprout and kimchi. The kimchi is sweet and later I saw it is from a big jar that you can get from grocery store. I wish they make it fresh in the restaurant. At least if have it from jar, don't show the jar.
The noddle soup is yummy but not spicy. the Stir fried noodle is served with hot iron plate. the presentation is good but I just feel it is too sweet.
The server is very nice and very energetic. Only one server serves all the tables.
Overall it was ok meals. May be next time we will try other dishes and wish they make the kimchi in house.“

“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+.“

“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.“

“Satisfies Korean food craving.“

“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!“

“I don't venture out to San Carlos that much, but I was happy to try this Korean-Chinese restaurant! It was nice to find out that there were exclusive dishes that can ONLY be ordered at this location, so we made sure to order at least one of those items.

My favorites were the Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and the Meat Jajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodles). Both had very different flavors, but still comforting. The seafood soup had a nice kick to it, but was perfect on that cold night we went. Noodle texture here is also pretty close to perfect with just enough bounce to them.

What we ordered:
* Chili Shrimp
* Black Pepper Beef (only available at this location!)
* Jjamppong
* Meat Jajangmyeon
* Garlic Soy Chicken Wings (10pc)“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Where do you go when you’ve watched too much kdramas and you start salivating when the characters stary drinking soju with fried chicken??? Vons!!! That’s where I go at least. It’s the only korean place I know that’s at least a 10 min walk from our place. It never fails to satisfy my craving… and when you get there, the big screen tv is always playing some kdrama. I do wish they had more variety with the diahea they offer but then again the simplicity of the menu is what makes the service quick.
Von’s is clean and a refreshing change from the usual chinese, japanese or mexican fare that’s quite common in the area.
Service is quick and staff are friendly. Owned and run by an actual korean - there you go! You can’t get anymore authentic than that!
Pay in cash and you’ll het a bit of a discount!“

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

“I recommend their Korean healthy bowls with beef bulgogi (see attahced). Their Korean tot bowls are also fantastic. I've had their food a few times when they go to the OMCA in Oakland. They're usually my go-to out of all the food trucks that pop up over there.“

“Had dinner here with 2 friends and we ordered the honeynut squash, chilled perilla noodles, scallion croissant, galbi, and crispy anchovy rice. Loved the perilla noodles - they were so light, refreshing, and tasted/smelled lightly like green tea. The galbi was so tender and flavorful. Also enjoyed the croissant - it was very crispy and the bottom 1/4 really was like a scallion pancake! I’d skip the rice next time, it wasn’t anything special. The soju cocktails are light, and my favorite was the natural oasis. Great spot for a date night or nice dinner but is on the pricier end.“

“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!“