50 Best Vegetarian 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.“

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

“Cocktails and Wagyu - soooo good!“

“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 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!“

“Great atmosphere and brews.“

“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.“

“Good food, outdoors, dog-friendly.“

“Delicious food, i ordered chef special vegan duck, so crispy and yummy, loved their bbq fried rice too, the service is awesome and they are very informative on the ingredients if it is vegan or not. 5 star for the food flavor and customer service as well.“

“Fun place for a meal. I enjoy the chicken Milanese sandwich with the garlic aioli. Staff is friendly and helpful. Next time I'm going to try something different just to get better acquainted with Cuban cuisine. Thank you, Miss Martinez!“

“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!“

“My girlfriend and I visited this restaurant on Thursday night, and it was a fantastic experience. During dinner, there were only about five tables occupied, making for a relaxed atmosphere. The decor is authentically Japanese, while the playlist had a chill vibe with American pop hits.

We ordered one sake and a few skewers, and I highly recommend trying the Beef Tongue—it’s incredibly tender and flavorful. The other BBQ skewers were also delicious.

Another highlight is the happy hour from 9:30pm to 11:30pm, where you can get buy-one-get-one-free beer.

Overall, I’d rate the food 5/5, drinks 4/5 (the sake was a bit strong for us), and the restaurant itself 5/5 for the ambiance and experience.“

“Solid tonkatsu with spinach added. The soft-boiled egg was a bit disappointing as it was a bit cold, but the rest was good. Interestingly, this was the first time I've had chasu that was grilled. Gotta say, it's an excellent innovation.

The service was friendly and fast, while the atmosphere was a bit sterile.“

“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 noodle soup and hand made dumplings.“

“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“

“Great food, daily menu curated based on their fish for the day - like it should be. Authentic Japanese vibes, good drinks and small plates besides sushi. I usually go for their omakase - changes regularly. Probably the best bang for your buck omakase in the bay. The first white fish was a bit too warm? but others were on point. Loved the tamago that closed the 8 piece platter. The homemade tofu starter was silky smooth. Sake was hot and had a smokey note - very nice for a breezy/chilly day. There are wine and beer options.“

“This place hits different, everything was so good. Couldn’t even name anything that wasn’t good. Loved the ribeye, pork belly and vermicelli with scallop. Had to order it again, just that good. Nice service and atmosphere, very nice music taste too!“

“Best pizza in the Bay Area!“

“Google Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sal’s Burgers on Campus Drive is absolutely top-notch! The Cowboy Burger is hands down one of the best I’ve had—juicy, flavorful, and perfectly crafted. The chicken wings are equally phenomenal, crispy and packed with flavor. On the side, don’t skip the garlic fries—they’re out of this world. And to top it all off, their milkshakes are to die for. This spot is a must-visit for burger lovers in San Mateo!“

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

“Good food. Good service. Good atmosphere.“

“Seema is amazing! I cannot recommend her enough. This isn’t the best picture because the food smelled so good and we dove right in and forgot to take a picture! We loved her chapati and chickpea curry. So tasty and flavorful! Prompt and friendly. Price is reasonable. Thank you Seema!“

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

“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.“

“Vegetable fried dumplings, soy sauce noodles, and green onion pancakes were all incredibly good. Staff was supremely helpful, kind, and personable. Highly recommend!“

“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? ?“

“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“

“Food is delicious. There's nothing too exciting about the atmosphere. Their restaurants clean and well kept, but it's just a run-of-the-mill, nothing unique about it space. But the food was great. Had the bananas foster and it was so good.“

“It looks like a small place from the outside, but the inside is big and the food is delicious. Very strongly suggested.“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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“

“The staff was so so helpful and accommodating with my baby and stroller. It's a tight space inside but they seated us in a very comfortable spot where I could park my stroller and they were all very kind (and adorable and silly with the baby). I'm very grateful!!“

“Came here with a buddy and made out for about $50 or less. We ordered 3 rolls and split them, which was enough food for the two of us. The portions were fairly well sized and reasonably priced(for current bay area sushi prices). The fish tasted fresh, and they had plenty of options. They were not very busy and the waitress was friendly. I enjoyed the mostly wooden decor, reminded me of the more old school sushi places i grew up with. Mini bonus for me is that they are in the same spot my childhood chinese restaurant was at!“

“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).“

“Good food. Definitely recommended.“

“Enjoyed omakase 8pcs with some age dashi tofu, nigori sake and the white peach panna cotta!“

“Have you ever had Fujian cuisine before? Now you can at Taste of Shaxian in San Mateo! All of the dishes were very simple, but surprised us with a lot of flavor! Whether you're a fan of dumplings or not, this place has good ones and a bunch of other must-try dishes all priced very reasonably. For 2 people, we ordered just enough to be comfortably full.

* Shaxian Wonton Soup
* Soup Dumplings Combo
* Spicy Cold Noodles (highly recommend!)
* Braised Chicken (bone in) Clay Pot w/ Rice (highly recommend!)“

“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“

“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.“

“Yummy food. Highly recommend“

“Gao Viet has been bookmarked for awhile now and today was the opportune time to try it. I was in the area, needed to pick up dinner and traffic on 101 was backed up. 5pm was not busy, so I order a few things to try and placed an order for take out. Sugarcane drink, Banh Hoi with 4 items, 2 Giants prawns, and Banh Canh.

Sugar cane drink was fresh, maybe a little too much ice, but it was fine.

Giant prawns: they charge per prawn, which I was curious how big these prawns are. The seasoning and sauce was ok, I wished the sauce was packed separately, as it made the Banh hoa and veggies soggy by the time I got home. The prawn themselves were cooked right, but I wonder if the shell could be more crispy. As it was, I couldn't eat the shell. Overall, I do think these are overpriced in my opinion.

The Banh hoi was an appetizer with 4 varieties: eggroll, pork, shrimp paste on sugarcane and some other type of meat. Out of my order, this was my favorite. I love wrapping it in the lettuce and cilantro and mint herbs. One feedback is that it only came with one fish sauce container, which is skimpy for an appetizer order. My mom had to make more dipping sauce for us.

The Banh Canh was generous portion of pork and bones and quail eggs and shrimp. As it was a take out order, I reheated the broth when I got home so it would be hot. Noodles were good, broth was perfect.

So, maybe next time I would try dining in with friends for the full experience. I wonder if the wait will be long for dinner hours. I'd like to try more dishes and their special drinks.“

“Been here since it opened — staff are always super kind and the food is consistently good. Never short of anything from your selection (vs the other newly opened Malatang place where they keep missing stuff and there are flies in the ingredients)“

“I recently tried the yellow curry and pad thai, and both dishes were incredible! The yellow curry was rich, creamy, and had just the right level of spice, with tender chunks of potato and chicken that soaked up all the flavors beautifully. The curry sauce was fragrant with hints of turmeric and coconut milk, which made it perfectly comforting.

As for the pad thai, it was a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy, with a delightful mix of textures. The noodles were cooked just right, and the peanuts added a nice crunch. Each bite had a burst of flavor, with the fresh lime juice cutting through and elevating the dish.

Both dishes paired wonderfully, and the portion sizes were generous. I’d highly recommend this place for anyone craving authentic Thai flavors with a cozy, satisfying touch“

“Shop is small and quaint. Great location. We ordered a baker's dozen. I tried their Snickerdoodle, Cookies and Cream, Toffee, and White Chocolate Macadamia. My favorite is the Cookies and Cream. I'll try their other flavors next time.“

“good food and love the mimosa“