50 Best Vegan Restaurants in San Mateo

“Food was standard American Thai fare. The pad thai was average, although my party enjoyed the spicy eggplant stir fry dish. Everything is pretty okay, and decent enough if you're in the mood for Thai food. I will say it was nice that entrees were $14-15. Pretty affordable meal.

We came on a Sunday afternoon (2pm) on a holiday weekend. We had to sign up on the waitlist, and it was about a 20minute wait until we got a text saying our table was ready. Staff was nice, although never refilled our waters.

The interior gives a casual vibe. The space isn't very big, and all tables were completely filled at all times. Noise volume inside was moderate. Can still hear your tablemates without raising your voice too much, but it wasn't quiet in there by any mean.s There's tv screens, one of which was broadcasting the news channel.“

“I found this bakery when I was looking for a place to purchase alfajores and I was so happy to have found it! I was greeted as soon as I walked in and my first visit was nothing but a very nice experience. Two young men behind the counter seemed really friendly and helpful. The other customers in the store at the time seemed very happy. I came for alfajores today, but I will definitely go back for more alfajores and other goodies!“

“If you’re trying their signature Miso Caramel Latte, may I recommend going with the iced latte option? While the hot latte is still good, the umami-ness of miso and the contrast of the flavors is much more pronounced in the iced latte version.“

“Superb Vacas Fritas! Crispy yet succulent and juicy. Build your own bowls, wraps, and platters is the theme. Loved every bite here. The mojito was very good. Room for improvement would be that they could use a few more beer options. I will be back for more.“

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

“First time here. Long line to get in but it moved fairly quickly. Had the Roast beef Aburasoba. Mind-Boggling GOOD! The flavor was out of this world! The service was fantastic!! I can’t wait to go back again!“

“Halal beef burgers, made to order, soft brioche buns, veggie options, yummy milkshakes! Definitely with be a place we frequent! Face friendly business, family owned and operated 👏🏼🇺🇸“

“Cocktails and Wagyu - soooo good!“

“Good food. Good service. Good atmosphere.“

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

“Must try Affogato!! Espresso poured over Vanilla ice cream or over your favorite ice cream. Delicious 😋“

“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 ⭐️“

“ONE word "EXCELLENT". Great menu, love the murals, quick service, clean and they even serve beer and wine. parking is tricky so have patience. Garlic Fries, Hummus, Combo Gyro Plate!“

“Best pizza in the Bay Area!“

“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!!“

“Great place. Long lines and worth it“

“Excellent meal here. The miso sea bass was delicious, and the nigiri in the seasonal omakase was great. Wagyu nigiri was a standout. Our waitress/server was fantastic also! one of the best sushi/omakases in san mateo in my opinion! pricing is absolutely reasonable too.“

“Fritters are great for a treat“

“Hamburgers are beyond delicious.“

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

“Love the pizza! We live in the East Bay but we stop by whenever we pass by San Mateo. We always get a Meat Lovers & the Chicken Pesto!“

“Delicious Asian fusion breakfast and lunch“

“Came here one morning after passing it the other day. It was not busy as it was when I first passed by it. The service was quick and easy. I ordered the chicken and waffles. Honestly it was a huge portion of food. The chicken was nice and crispy. Seasoned well and the waffle was really good. The gravy was a nice touch and good but I Honestly did not finish it. Everything was so delicious and the coffee was also great. Great atmosphere bomb food and exceptional service. 👌“

“Super good restaurants with healthy and tasty thai food. They do accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions. They could make Jain food for me and also adhere to it strictly even when I order from Doordash and call and let them know about my allergies and Jain religious dietary restrictions. The front desk person is so friendly and helpful.“

“Love the food n the people who works there. ❤️papaya salad, pad thai. Fried pompano and ground chicken with basil Aroy mak mak 👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️“

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

“I am so impressed with the food and staff at this restaurant. We came in around 8 PM, 30 minutes prior to closing and was worried staff would be annoyed with having to serve such a large group. Instead, we were greeted with smiles and well cared for. Every single person in our group praised the food. There were lots of options for everyone in the group. I enjoyed a Shoyu Ramen. The broth was flavorful, not “fishy”. Portions were excellent. So glad we found this place. Looking forward to coming here again!“

“Delicious authentic Brazilian food with amazing service . Fun experience too!“

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

“They have their operation down, pat. Good place for ramen. Prices are what you expect for San Mateo.

Update 2026: still the king in the area. They got this super ramen now that is huge! Think large bowl of Pho but with ramen. And it's filling. Delicious!“

“Has been the dumpling spot for us going on two years now. We come here about one a month-ish but LOVE this place. One time my boyfriend and I ate 50 soup dumplings between the two of us. It was amazing.
Another time, we were coming back from half Moon Bay and decided to give the frozen dumplings a try. The guy who’s always there (don’t know his name sorry!) gave us directions on how to do it and even gave us some paper to line the pan with so they wouldn’t stick. We super enjoyed them at home! On our visit to go pick up the frozen dumplings, we met a man there who says that he’s from Napa and stops by whenever he’s in the area. (Wow!)

Our faves are: Pork Soup dumplings, Pork chive, and Chicken Corn dumplings 🥟
Thank you for all the yummy dumplings!
-Nina & Camden“

“Wonderful vegan sushi & friendly owner. I tried the shiitake avocado & spicy vegan rolls, both were delicious. Looking forward to visiting and trying other menu items soon!!“

“Having enjoyed their dishes many times for months, It’s beyond “Very Satisfying”! Excellent, delicious food! Quality well maintained although it is a hard time under C-19. Hygiene suggestions n requests well followed! Thanks 🙏 Customer Service outstanding! Highly recommended 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍“

“Nice all the time“

“good food great service and accomending.“

“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 is one of my favorite spots for a quick bite. The onigiri are always perfectly seasoned, fresh, and filling. The staff is incredibly friendly, and Erick was especially kind and welcoming. Everything tasted authentic and comforting. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“The do called "inclusive" atmosphere is really just an owner who hates everyone who has different views. If your social or political views are woke, you aren't welcome. Spend your money elsewhere. This guy is an idiot.“

“I Thought I’d try this pizza place I have a detail, shop in San Mateo thought I’d pick up lunch for the shop.

This is a great new find Pizza is great hot and fast. We will be back soon thanks for the quick turnaround and the quality pizza.“

“Do you love going to Flavortown? How about dreaming with your eyes open? Then try these birria tacos. The first time I had it was from leftovers that my daughter brought home for lunch. Then I drove from Oakley to San Mateo to have them fresh. It was AMAZING! They provide extra stuff to add to the tacos, but it honestly didn’t need them. The meat was so tender & flavorful that I had to close my eyes so I could fully appreciate the taste. Then I added the extras one by one & it tasted like a new taco each time. I know it seems like I’m exaggerating, but it’s really that good! My only wish is that they had seating nearby & a second location closer to Oakley.“

“Great service, delicious food and beautiful decorations.“

“San Mateos best kept secret. Best sushi I've had in years. Wonderful atmosphere, great service and at a reasonable price. My comment after dinner was , I guess I have had so much grocery store sushi, I forgot what real sushi should taste like.. Best Japanese food like this is rare these days until you try Tokies“

“Fun, friendly, non-pretentious place. And the burgers are all that you want and nothing you don’t.“

“They're serving up some extremely solid & completely delicious Lunch Specials at this homey Chinese Bistro in No. San Mateo. They kick things with a superb Hot & Sour Soup that's chock of mushrooms, tofu, bamboo shoots, etc. I had their Mongolian Beef w/ fried rice; a gigantic platter of extremely delicious and tender beef in a knock-out sauce with plenty of onions & scallions. Service is outstanding; welcoming, efficient and super friendly. This place is a keeper !! Bravo HWB !!“

“Each meal I’ve had here has been consistently fresh and well-prepared. Did I mention delicious? The staff is friendly and attentive.“

“Fantastic ramen full of flavor and rich umami. The garlic tonkatsu broth is my favorite, but you really can't go wrong here. If you're feeling extra hungry, get their combo option that adds a healthy healing of chicken on top of your ramen. For less than $20, it's a fantastic deal.

The restaurant is small, so be prepared to wait during peak hours. The service is fantastic and always friendly.“

“Kurodai - Black Seabream Nigiri 3 very strong wasabi, bitter, fishy
Ao Ebi - Blue Shrimp Nigiri 5 very chewy texture, slightly seared, slightly sweet
Hon Maguro Chu-toro - Medium Fatty Blue Fin Tuna Nigiri 5 fat evenly distributed, not stringy at all, melt in your mouth
Negitoro Hosomaki - Supreme Fatty Bluefin Tuna w/ Green Onion (Maki) 4 fatty, rich, fresh, flavorful
Oyster Shooter 2 juicy raw oyster, raw quail egg, tobiko, sake, ponzu, tabasco, very strong alcohol, bitter
Baked Baby Scallop 5 two baked Peru baby scallop, juicy, presented on shell, uni, mayo, unagi sauce, green onion, creamy, rich, flavorful
Iku-Uni-Himo 4 soy sauce marinated ikura / large fish eggs, way too salty, uni, mashed monkfish liver, white truffle oil, flavorful
Mentaiko Yaki Udon 4 pan fried thick wheat flour noodles, crunchy seasoned cod roe, crispy bacon, stir fried thin udon, flavorful
Yuzu Cheesecake 5 glazed crust, strong citrus flavor, creamy“

“Was greeted & seated promptly. Welcomed by Manager Hung. Brittany was our waitress & we received the 20th Anniversary Sacks. Happy Anniversary.“

“Nick the Greek Laurelwood is one of the best ran restaurants in the region. Litza, Dimitri, Wesley, and the team provide exceptional service every time I visit this restaurant. They are so focused on amazing experiences. They keep the restaurant spotless and clean at all times. They have amazing attitudes and lift up my spirits on every visit. The food is exceptional and always tastes delicious. Thank you Litza, Dimitri, Wesley, and team for the outstanding work you do for Nick the Greek Laurelwood!“

“BJ's is consistently good and the service today with Aja T. was outstanding. Our only complaint was that our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, so we brought home a LOT of food. And that's really NOT a problem! Good food, good atmosphere, reasonable prices, a great place for a group, and great service. Love having BJ's in the neighborhood.“