Top Soup Restaurant in San Mateo
Daeho kalbijjim & beef soup
213 2nd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, United States
Cheesy Short Rib ?There’s no doubt that Daeho has been one of the hottest Korean restaurants in the Bay Area for the past couple of yearsNow with three locations with the opening of their newest San Mateo spot, this was my first time back since they opened Daeho Milpitas to join their flagship San Francisco locationI was determined this time to try the Kalbijjim with cheese (I thought it was gimmicky a few years ago) while also sampling more of their menu with a larger groupWhile there was a line, it moved quickly with first seating and the San Mateo interior may very well be their largest locationYou preorder on entry and while I thought the server suggested we order too much, it was actual spot on with the plentiful orders resulting in just a bit of leftovers (appetites are easily stimulated by delicious food)My favorites are definitely the beef ribs with cheese (it’s a great addition), the chadol (great soup broth) and the cold noodles. The stone pot rice and the spicy cold noodles, I’d skip next time. The price is elevated but portions and service are top notch. Now with three locations, crowds are more manageable although still popular.? Kalbi Jjim $85 ~ Braised Beef Rib with Extra Meat, Mild, Topping Cheese +$5 / Chadol (Brisket Point) Daeho Suyuk $55 / Kalbi Stone Pot $26 ~ Sizzling Rice Bowl w/ Mixed Vegetables & Grilled BBQ Beef Ribs / Mool Nyaeng Myun $20 ~ Noodle with Cold Beef Broth / Bibim Naeng Myun $20 ~ Noodle with Cold Sweet and Sour Spicy Sauce?DaeHo Kalbijjim & Beef Soup (San Mateo, CA)
California Pizza Kitchen at San Mateo
100 31st Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403, United States
Tonights service was not on par as usual. The counter was closed to seating due to COVID so they crammed everyone t the front half of the restaurant. It didnt make sense cause social distancing was not really observed since all the tables were next to each other and they only appeared to have 2-3 servers and a busboy.As usual I got my Thai Crunch salad the tortilla soup. The not u to par thing was our server was not attentive and my soup and meal came at the same time. To make it worse, the salad it usually tossed and served perfectly. Tonight I received it with a very slight drizzle of dressing over a large amount of crispy noodles (ratio of noodles to salad was way off, too much noodles)Our server never checked back with us while I observed him repeatedly checking in with the tables full of women. All other tales were lucky to have him come back if at all.Service were not as great as it had been during our previous visits.
Little Vietnamese Bistro
422 San Mateo Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066, United States
Grand opening vietnamese restaurant，with good taste and best service！Highly recommend of the rare beef and beef ball noodle soup~ Rare beef was soooooooooo fresh and tender since they used filet mignon. Soup base also taste amazing！It is not like some soup base will make you feel thirsty after eat. Excellent！Also like the imperial rolls：？crispy skin and delicious filling. Curry chicken with steamed rice and roast chicken with tomato rice also good！Will come back again！
Top other services in San Mateo:
Dynasty BBQ)
105 W 25th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403, United States
The experience at Dynasty BBQ Eatery was nothing short of delightful, from the savory flavors of their meticulously prepared dishes to the warm and welcoming demeanor of their staff. Whether youre indulging in their succulent BBQ offerings or exploring the variety on their menu, the food consistently impresses with its quality and taste. Celebrating a special occasion here, such as a birthday, is met with thoughtful touches, including a charming gift that truly enhances the celebratory atmosphere. This establishment stands out not just for its culinary prowess but also for its dedication to creating a genuinely friendly and memorable dining experience for every guest.
A One Kitchen & Bar
677 San Mateo Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066, United States
What a wonderful find here in San Bruno. Service was excellent and food was wonderful. A mix of Southeast Asian cuisine - from Malaysian to Thai to Chinese - this restaurant a little bit of everything. Start off with a soup - their wonton soup is hearty and full of umami. Follow with some black pepper beef - tender and full of vitality. We had the garlic crab like others - definitely worth it - be ready to get your hands dirty - dont worry they provide enough towels for you. Dont forget to finish off with some mango sticky rice. Highly recommended.
Totoro Ramen
856 N Delaware St, San Mateo, CA 94401, United States
The density of the soup base is extraordinary. Sanitary is my main concern, taste the second and atmosphere (customer service and interior) being last and this restaurant exceeds any restaurants out there on all three; just the place I was looking for!
Wakuriya
115 De Anza Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94402, United States
Thanks to my friend who reserved the restaurant a month ago. The restaurant itself is like a hidden gem in an ordinary shopping plaza. There are four tables that can be seated with 4 people and some bar seats also. The tables were fully reserved the day I visited. Each table is separated with a screen so its actually very private for each party. We ordered two sake flights to begin with: chef selected and primary. All of the sake in the flights are daiginjo. I bought one bottle from the chefs selected flight in the end. That one is Nabeshima from Kyushu. It is less sweet and has a stronger acid flavor, which matches more with my whiskey soul. Since it is kaiseki omakase, all we need to do is to wait for each dish to be presented. The first dish was Sakura salad. The Sakura was imported from Japan. The Sakura was presented along with tai sashimi. As an appetizer, it had just the right flavor: fresh and easygoing. The next dish was composed of four smaller dishes: uni with hotate, lobster, ikura, and fried small squid. There wasnt a specific order to take in. I like the fried squid the most because you can taste different textures in one bite: the crispy skin and the chewy inside. The hotate and the uni were also very fresh and full of umami. The only thing that Im slightly unsatisfied with was that the uni was shredded. Next one is the blue shrimp soup with somen noodles. The shrimp was sweet but the soup was seasoned in a right way such that the sweetness from the shrimp wouldnt be taken over. The next dish was the chefs sashimi. I liked the way the sauce was presented. Unlike traditional sashimi plates, where wasabi is placed next to the sashimi, the chef made the wasabi a part of the sauce that was also used as a decoration. Next one was my favorite dish that day: chawanmushi with duck. I need to say this is really a bold but clever combination. If I remember correctly they also put soybean milk inside the chawanmushi, which made the eggs more fluid. The duck meat was really wonderful with the steamed egg and asparagus. The next dish, usually a vinegar dish, was replaced with yuzu sake sorbet. The acidity was provided by the crispy ginger candy instead, which was amazing. The next one was pure protein: usa wagyu and poached eggs. The dish was really warm, a distinct contrast to the previous dish. You can feel that your body was also warmed up. After the proteins were the starch dish. This time, it was rice mixed with mentaiko along with cod. The rice was a bit sticky to me but I still liked the flavor. Finally, the dessert was panna cotta with mochi. A very nice ending for the course.To sum up, although the full course did not use too many high-class ingredients such as A5 wagyu or premium ootoro, it still granted you an amazing taste journey. You can still taste the umami of each ingredient in the dish. Especially considering the price, I would say it is totally worth it. There are many omakase restaurants around the Bay area that are more expensive but with a worse dining experience. It definitely matches the one-star Michelin.
San Mateo Farmers Market
1700 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94402, United States
One of the biggest farmers markets I have ever been to. Tons of local Bay Area businesses that specialize in produce, meat, honey, fresh juice, coffee, plants, flatbreads, and the list goes on....Some of my favorite vendors were:+ Bolani: Specializes in vegan sauces and Afghan flatbreads! Absolutely delicious and they give free samples.+ Xiong Farm: They have so many different kinds of eggplants! I bought two HUGE Chinese eggplants from them and they were so fresh.+ Sweetdragon Baking: PLEASE try their chicken pot pies!! OMG, they are are to die for! I highly recommend bringing them home and putting them in the toaster oven for 10 minutes. EXCELLENT.+ Roli Roti Gourmet: Theres just something so satisfying about seeing some rotisserie chickens rotating away inside of a food truck. The line gets pretty long here. Very popular vendor.+ Kens Top Notch: In the summer, they have TONS of fresh mango nectarines and white peaches! Super sweet and they give free samples of all their fruit.+ Hidden Star Orchards: REFRESHING juice! Perfect to sip on while youre walking around the farmers market in the sun. I recommend the Apple Cherry Cider. Only $3!!
Chai Yo Thai Cuisine
2116 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94403, United States
I recently had a mouthwatering pad thai experience at Chai Yo Thai, and let me just say, it exceeded my expectations in every possible way! From the moment I entered the restaurant, I was greeted with warm smiles and a cozy ambiance that immediately transported me to Thailand. The fragrant aromas wafting from the kitchen only fueled my excitement for the imminent feast.Now, lets talk about the star of the show: their pad thai. Words cannot express how delectable it was! The dish was a harmonious symphony of flavors, striking a perfect balance between sweet, tangy, and savory. Each mouthful kept me longing for more, as the combination of chewy rice noodles, succulent shrimp, and perfectly cooked chicken created a heavenly texture and delightful taste that was hard to resist.What truly set Chai Yo Thais pad thai apart was its incredible freshness. Unlike other places Ive tried, their version wasnt weighed down by excess oil, giving it an air of lightness that only enhanced the vibrant flavors. It was evident that the ingredients were sourced with utmost care, as the vegetables were remarkably fresh and crisp. I couldnt help but appreciate the dedication to quality and attention to detail put into every single element of the dish.Furthermore, the portion size was more than generous, ensuring that I left with a satisfied palate and a happy belly. Despite being packed with flavor, I didnt feel overwhelmed or heavy after finishing my plate. This made the dining experience all the more enjoyable, as I could savor each bite without worrying about feeling sluggish afterward.The service at Chai Yo Thai was impeccable. The staff was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive throughout my visit. They were more than happy to answer any questions about the menu and offer their recommendations, which made me feel at ease and comfortable in making my choices.In addition to the fantastic pad thai, I must also mention the overall ambiance of the restaurant. The cozy decor and gentle lighting provided a perfect backdrop for a relaxing evening of indulgence. The attention to detail was apparent, from the charming Thai-inspired artwork to the subtle Thai music that enhanced the dining experience and transported me to the bustling streets of Bangkok.In conclusion, Chai Yo Thai is a hidden gem in the realm of Thai cuisine. Their pad thai is a symphony of fresh flavors that will delight your taste buds and leave you craving more. With exceptional service, a cozy ambiance, and an unwavering commitment to quality, Chai Yo Thai is truly a culinary haven for Thai food enthusiasts. I cannot recommend this place enough - come prepared to be transported to Thailand, one delicious bite at a time!
Sushi Maruyama
279 Baldwin Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, United States
If there was ever a time to gatekeep a restaurant, this would be both the time and place.The biggest standouts are as follows:- Incredible food. There’s clearly a significant focus on quality, consistency, and creativity.- Beautiful space with an upscale, intimate atmosphere. It feels like a spot that locals undoubtedly frequent, but is also amazing for a date-night or special occasion.- The waitress who booked our reservation made a point to personally greet us and remember our names. She constantly checked in on us and made us feel like family. She also noticed that my bag was on the table, since there were no purse hooks at any seats, so she brought over a gorgeous little basket for me to put my personal belongings in that she stowed tidily under my chair. An absolute doll.- The sushi chefs were so much fun. Nonstop fist bumps and check ins to make sure we were doing fine. Encouraged us to order as we wanted directly from them.- Despite a couple of the items we ordered being forgotten (it was a busy Saturday night, so no sweat there whatsoever), all of our waitresses were so apologetic for the delays and mishaps, offering us desserts and sending us complimentary edamame and miso soup for the wait between dishes. It wasn’t a bother at all though since we sat at the sushi bar and were having such a great time regardless, but I appreciate that they were so genuinely concerned about our experience and wanted us to get exactly what we wanted.- Wonderful, expansive sake selection. Exciting and innovative specials menu that changes daily.- They made me an uni-convert. Don’t ask me why I used to be opposed to it, just be glad I’m finally part of the cult of uni.- They played nonstop 90s r&b and hip hop with special attention paid to Mariah Carey’s criminally underrated deep cuts (I’m talking “Thank God I Found You”, “Breakdown”, and the “Always Be My Baby” Da Brat/Xscape/JD remix). Instant brownie points in my book.If I could list any cons, I would; but I truly don’t feel like anything about this establishment is worth a negative critique. It hits every point I want in a quality restaurant experience. Warm, inviting, respectful service. Delicious, complex, comforting food. Exciting, innovative, yet classic flavor profiles and combinations. Supreme attention to detail and focus on excellence. And most of all, they make you feel like you’re a part of their circle. They’re not afraid to get to know you and to make the few hours you have with them memorable and worth the reservation.Whatever you do, come here. Make a reservation. Tip the staff generously. Enjoy the food and the music. And don’t be shy about ordering whatever sounds delicious to you because chances are, it’s going to be delicious beyond the limits of your imagination.