28 Best Korean Restaurants near San Mateo

“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!“

“So good !!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥“

“Good food. Definitely recommended.“

“food place for family and hang out“

“Stopped in twice now. Small restaurant/bar. Ordered tofu stew, bossam, and of course KFC. Overall food is excellent. I really like the bossam here and I've tried both the beef and pork, I think I prefer the pork. KFC is crispy and moist.. Mandu is crunchy. Portion is good. Price is average for Korean. Small menu but what they have is good. Staff is always friendly. It can get a bit loud though.“

“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.“

“Came on Sunday night and there was a small wait (about 10 mins).

Service was good after we sat down. The water and banchan came quickly.

The seafood pancake is crispy and good. The tofu stone pot is delicious with quite a lot of tofu. The grilled chicken is so-so. The stir-fried glass noodle dish is good.“

“I had the Yukgaejang (육개장), and it was outstanding! The broth was rich, deeply flavorful, and had just the right amount of spice. The shredded beef was tender and plentiful, and the fresh vegetables added great texture. I especially liked that the noodles were served on the side, so I could add them when I wanted. The banchan (side dishes) were fresh and complemented the meal perfectly. If you’re looking for authentic Korean comfort food, I highly recommend the Yukgaejang here. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“Wonderful cafe with nice ambiance. I always love their drinks, and their Korean food is excellent. Haven’t tried the Italian / American dishes yet but I’m sure they’re great too! Wait staff is always friendly and helpful.“

“Lovely dinner experience at Han Sang. I noticed it got quite busy with a line, so try to get a reservation in ahead of time. The food also came out super fast given how big the portions were and how long it takes to prepare some of these dishes. We were really impressed and hungry, and definitely ate too fast because we had a lot of leftovers.

My favorite was the jokbal bossam. They gave a plethora of banchan and sauces for the bossam. The galbjjim came out piping hot. Definitely try to eat this while fresh and hot. I noticed the stone pot dehydrates this dish over time. The samgyetang also tasted very good, healthy, hearty, and ginseng forward. Yukhwe was tasty, and I’m not usually the type to order beef tartare. The leek pancake was okay, but could pass on.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“Family friendly spot with delicious food that arrives fairly quickly. It's surprisingly affordable given how comfortable the restaurant seating is. I love getting the small side dish of jampong (red soup) since I can't finish the entree version myself. Also a great spot for groups since the dining area is really large. We always get the Jajangmyeung, Jamppong (spicy soup), and the fried pork or chicken.“

“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.“

“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!“

“So many creative and yummy options! We were lucky and able to get a same day reservation at 5:15 pm on a Friday.

Service is impeccable and it looked like there was more staff than tables when we arrived but over the course of dinner, as the rest filled up, it made more sense.

We loved the custard appetizer. So smooth with great textures and flavors from the potato, fish roe and everything else in the bowl.

The lasagna was very unexpected yet delicious with layers and ground meat.

The pawns had great flavor and we liked the sausages and tomatoes it came with. I also love that the bodies were de-shelled as already.

The cold noodle was very interesting with the foam. It's a very mild flavor so this dish is more about the presentation and textures.

The scallops were fresh but not that interesting. I love Hokkaido scallops but I prefer them raw. This cook was good, just not that interesting.

The spicy hot tofu soup was fine. It didn't feel different or elevated from what I've had at other places and a touch too salty for our tastes.

There's plenty to try on the menu and would have loved to try the kalbi but our bill was quite pricey already.

I highly recommend giving this restaurant a try, it's a great treat and dining experience.“

“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.“

“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!“