Eat & Drink in San Mateo

3 Bees Coffee

Downtown (3rd Ave) · $$

Family-run coffee house with what regulars call the best espresso in the county, warm rotating local art, and sunny sidewalk seating.

Pausa Bar & Cookery

Downtown (4th Ave) · $$$

Scratch-made Northern-Italian plates and house pastas with an all-Italian wine list; a Michelin Guide listee.

Flores San Mateo

Hillsdale · $$$

Regional Mexican dishes and standout margaritas in a lively room with a big patio; a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick.

Palette Tea Garden & Dim Sum

Hillsdale · $$$

Modern dim sum, Cantonese roast meats, and Peking duck from the Koi Palace team.

Bahche Mezzehouse & Wine Bar

Bay Meadows · $$$

Family-run mezze and wood-fire Mediterranean plates paired with a focused wine list.

El Sinaloense

North Central (Palm Ave) · $$

Sinaloa-style seafood, especially ceviche, tostadas, and shrimp dishes.

Sushi Edomata

North Central (25th Ave) · $$$

Edomae sushi carrying on the Sushi Sam's legacy, serving the area since 1988.

Joy Sushi

Downtown (B St) · $$

Generous rolls and traditional sushi in a casual room with a strong catering side.

Oceanic Restaurant

El Camino Real · $$

Hunan and Mandarin home cooking; regulars cite the garlic eggplant, green onion pancake, and crispy noodles.

Thonglor Thai Bistro

Downtown (4th Ave) · $$

Modern-leaning Thai with curries, pad see ew, and customizable spice levels.

Sole Ristorante Italiano

Hillsdale (37th Ave) · $$

Family-owned, home-style Italian plates and classic pastas in a neighborhood setting.

Tannourine Lebanese & Mediterranean

North Central (25th Ave) · $$

Family-run Lebanese kitchen known for lamb shanks and mixed grills.

Champagne Seafood Restaurant

El Camino Real · $$

Cantonese dim sum and seafood with a broad traditional menu.

Kaizen & Coffee

El Camino Real (south) · $$

Specialty coffee bar with Asian-inspired signature drinks like black sesame and miso caramel lattes.

Backhaus

Downtown (3rd Ave) · $$

Naturally leavened artisan breads and pastries baked fresh daily, visible through the open bakery windows.

Fiero Caffe

El Camino Real (downtown edge) · $$

Owner-run Italian-style cafe serving espresso plus homemade breakfast and brunch like Sicilian omelette, carbonara, and tiramisu.

Bonjour Bakehouse

Downtown (Howard Ave) · $$

French-inspired bakery known for croissants, macarons, scones, and vegan/gluten-free pastries.

Sama Coffee Shop

Downtown (South B St) · $$

Friendly neighborhood coffee shop on South B Street with long daily hours and Turkish-coffee options.

Taste & Glory

El Camino Real (south) · $$

Asian-American fusion brunch with creative plates like Thai tea French toast and Tom Yum scramble; weekends are walk-in only.

Apple Fritter

Hayward Park / Norfolk · $$

Casual all-American breakfast and lunch spot with hearty portions and its namesake apple fritters.

The Breakfast Club at Midtown

Bay Meadows · $$

High-energy all-day brunch with many Benedict varieties, a big American/Mexican menu, a patio, and brunch cocktails.

La Casa de los Huevos

El Camino Real (mid) · $$

Sinaloa-style Mexican breakfast and brunch including chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, omelets, and mariscos.

SimplyCake

Downtown (3rd Ave) · $$

Hong Kong-style bakery with artisan breads, Asian-inspired pastries, custom cakes, and specialty drinks.

Lolita Artisanal Bakery-Cafe

El Camino Real (south) · $$

Latin-American artisan bakery cafe known for alfajores and pastries, with coffee in a cozy setting.

Patio Coffee Shop

Beresford (25th Ave) · $

Decades-old neighborhood diner-style coffee shop serving all-day breakfast to local regulars.

Caffeinated Cowboy

El Camino Real (south) · $

Locally owned shop for customizable coffee, matcha, and energy drinks plus breakfast burritos and pastries.

Made Out of Dough

South Grant · $$

Small-batch custom cakes, cupcakes, scones, and sugar cookies, also seen at local farmers markets.

Fogbird

Downtown (B St) · $$

Craft cocktails and bar bites in a high-ceilinged room with an original brick wall and a nine-foot bar.

Wunderbar

Downtown (Baldwin Ave) · $$$

Reservation-only underground cocktail bar with an inventive, whimsical drink list.

Fieldwork Brewing Co.

Bay Meadows · $$

More than 20 rotating fresh taps and Detroit-style pizzas on an industrial-style patio near the Hillsdale Caltrain stop.

The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar

Downtown (B St) · $$

Hundreds of wines by the glass and bottle paired with cheese and charcuterie boards, seafood, and cocktails.

B Street & Vine

Downtown (B St) · $$

Family-run wine and bruschetta spot since 2006 with live jazz on weekends and a real happy hour.

A2 Wine Bar

Downtown (B St) · $$

A cozy wine bar and art gallery pouring a curated selection of wines from around the world, with charcuterie and small plates, plus regular comedy and events.

Taqueria La Cumbre

Downtown (B St) · $

A longtime family-run taqueria from the lineage credited with the original Mission-style burrito, hefty burritos, a full vegan menu, and $3.99 cocktails on Thursday nights.

McGovern's Bar

Downtown (4th Ave) · $$

Comfortable downtown Irish-style pub and local hangout with a global beer and drink mix.

The Swingin' Door

Hayward Park (25th Ave) · $$

Long-running British pub open until 2am with karaoke four nights a week, trivia, live bands, and award-winning fish and chips.

Antone's Cocktail Lounge

Hillsdale (37th Ave) · $

Family-run neighborhood dive open daily until 2am with pool tables, bumper pool, Pac-Man, and a jukebox.

Route 92 Cocktail Lounge

El Camino Real (south) · $

No-frills neighborhood bar with daily happy hour, a pool table, darts, and a back smoking area.

Bucky's Cocktail Lounge

Hayward Park · $$

A renovated neighborhood lounge with dark oak counters, a deep beer-and-whiskey lineup, a back patio, and yard games like cornhole and darts.

Steamies Bar

Hayward Park · $

A San Mateo watering hole for more than fifty years and a longtime old-timers' hangout. After sitting closed for over a year, the owners secured a long-term lease, gutted and remodeled the space, and reopened the doors in March 2008. It's a laid-back dive with a pool table, game-day TVs, a patio, midweek karaoke, and taco trucks parked outside.

Harry's Shoreview Deli

Shoreview · $

An old-school Shoreview deli known for classic build-your-own sandwiches, roast beef, pastrami, and turkey, piled with all the fixings.

Yumi Yogurt

El Camino Real (south) · $

A family-owned frozen yogurt and ice cream shop serving San Mateo since 1985, open late every night with a wall of self-serve flavors and toppings.

Avenida Restaurant

Downtown (3rd Ave) · $$

Modern Filipino cooking in downtown San Mateo, with elevated takes on kare kare, sinigang, pancit, and lumpia.

Leo's Tacos Truck

El Camino Real (south) · $

Al pastor tacos carved off a vertical trompo, a family Mexican-food operation that started in LA and now parks on El Camino, open late.

Tacos El Flamingo

El Camino Real (south) · $

A South El Camino stand serving breakfast burritos, tacos, tortas, and quesadillas, open early through mid-afternoon.

Camila's Tacos

El Camino Real (south) · $

A small South El Camino taqueria doing tacos, burritos, sopes, and quesadillas on weekdays.

Los Carnalitos

East San Mateo · $

A neighborhood taqueria on South Norfolk, open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.

Edi's Quesabirrias and Tacos

Downtown · $

A quesabirria specialist near downtown known for birria tacos with consome for dipping. Closed Tuesdays.

El Sabor de Mi Pueblo

North Central · $

A North Humboldt Mexican spot open weekdays for lunch and dinner, closed on weekends.

La Carreta

East San Mateo · $

A taco truck near Fashion Island doing tacos and Mexican plates for lunch and early dinner.

Heidi's Pies

El Camino Real (south) · $$

A San Mateo classic since 1970, famous for dozens of house-made-from-scratch pies served alongside all-day American diner fare.

The Pantry

Hayward Park · $

A longtime family-run kitchen serving hearty American breakfast and lunch alongside Filipino classics, a Hayward Park favorite for decades.

Neal's Coffee Shop

Baywood / Crystal Springs · $$

A classic diner-style coffee shop in the Crystal Springs plaza serving big American breakfasts and comfort food from morning to night.

Penelope's Coffee & Tea

Hillsdale · $

A neighborhood coffee and tea spot near Hillsdale with espresso drinks, loose-leaf teas, and light bites.

Kaz Teriyaki Grill

Downtown (4th Ave) · $

A tiny downtown Japanese takeout counter, no seating, just fresh teriyaki with homemade sauces that locals have leaned on for years.

Amigos Grill Cocina Mexicana

Norfolk · $$

A neighborhood Mexican grill on Norfolk turning out big plates of American-Mexican classics from breakfast through dinner.

Taqueria Los Primos

Downtown (N B St) · $

A downtown taqueria slinging tacos, burritos, and Mexican plates, a quick no-fuss local standby with a second spot on Ellsworth.

La Piñata Mexicatesen

Downtown (N B St) · $$

A downtown spot for Mexican and Salvadoran home cooking, from enchiladas salvadoreñas and carne guisada to super tacos and shrimp burritos.

Suavecito Birria & Tacos

Amphlett / Hayward Park · $$

A takeout-and-delivery counter for crispy quesabirria, birria ramen, and overstuffed burritos. No seating, just a cult-favorite walk-up window.

Aldo's Pizza

Norfolk · $$

A longtime neighborhood pizza joint and local favorite, sadly closing in July 2026. Go grab a pie while you still can.

Rainbow Pizza

Baywood / Crystal Springs · $$

A Crystal Springs plaza institution since 1983, serving pizza and Greek favorites to generations of regulars.

Taqueria El Chacho

Bridgepointe / Fashion Island · $

A late-night outdoor taco stand near Bridgepointe, cutting al pastor fresh off the trompo for the after-hours crowd.

Lilo's Kitchen

Roaming · $

A roaming food truck slinging some of the best birria in San Mateo. Check their Instagram (@lilos_kitchen17) for where they're parked today.

Mortar & Pestle Bar

Downtown (B St) · $$

An industrial-chic downtown cocktail lounge with house-made syrups and Indian-inspired drinks like the Bangalore Old Fashioned, plus Curry Up Now street food alongside.

Sky Lounge

Downtown (3rd Ave) · $$

A downtown lounge and late-night spot with drinks, DJs, and events just off B Street.

All Spice

North Central (El Camino) · $$

A former Michelin-starred fine dining spot serving prix-fixe chef's menus of modern Californian cuisine with Indian influences inside a converted Victorian.

La Fonda de San Mateo

North Central (El Camino) · $$

A family-owned Mexican restaurant serving classic dishes and margaritas that has operated in San Mateo since 1976.

Pho Element

North Central (El Camino) · $$

A Vietnamese spot specializing in Northern-style pho served with wide rice noodles, plus vegetarian pho options.

Sapporo Rock-N-Roll Sushi

North Central (El Camino) · $$

A sushi restaurant with a rock-and-roll theme known for aburi-style nigiri, opened around 2021.

Seniore's Pizza

North Central (El Camino) · $$

A casual pizzeria open late with a two-slice-and-soda deal available all day and night.

Truffle Poke Bar

North Central (El Camino) · $$

A build-your-own poke shop with a truffle-fusion angle, chef's-pick bowls, and gluten-free options.

Luceti's on 25th

25th Avenue · $$

A family-run old-school Italian restaurant with a lively bar, known for veal parmesan, gnocchi, and tiramisu, plus live jazz several nights a week.

La Lanterna Ristorante

25th Avenue · $$

A family-owned traditional Italian restaurant open since 2001, serving dishes like cannelloni and gnocchi alongside cocktails and wine.

Cobani Gyro & Kebab

25th Avenue · $$

A halal Mediterranean spot known for lamb gyros, kabob plates, hummus, and garlic fries at reasonable prices.

Amici's East Coast Pizzeria

East Coast-style pizzeria (Bay Area regional independent)

Atlas Bakery & More

Local bakery and café

Boba Bless

Mission-driven boba tea shop

Cuban Kitchen

Family-run authentic Cuban restaurant

Chill Spot Rendezvous

Local café / hangout spot

OLHSO Korean BBQ and Seafood

Korean BBQ and seafood restaurant

SAJJ Mediterranean

Mediterranean restaurant

Sibby's Cupcakery

Nut-free bakery specializing in classic and custom cupcakes made from scratch

Rise Woodfire Pizza & Rotisserie

Woodfired pizza and rotisserie restaurant

Bay Watch Restaurant

Breakfast and lunch diner open 7 days a week

Ravioli House

Old-school Italian takeout known for fresh ravioli and pasta

Antoine's Cookie Shop

Cookie and dessert shop

Jeffrey's Hamburgers

Longtime local burger and sandwich spot

Al Carbon

Latin American / Honduran restaurant

Munguia's Bakery

Latin American bakery (panaderia)

Tabla Indian Restaurant

Shoreview · $$

Popular independent Indian spot on the Shoreview strip, known for North Indian curries and a steady takeout crowd.

Ay Caray Taqueria

Shoreview · $

Neighborhood taqueria serving burritos, tacos, and Mexican plates on South Norfolk.

Golden Wok Bistro

Shoreview · $$

Independent Hong Kong-style cafe and Chinese kitchen for dine-in and takeout.

Pho Little Saigon

Los Prados · $

Longtime Vietnamese pho house in the Marina Plaza center, a neighborhood go-to for big steaming bowls.

Mr. Green Bubble

Los Prados · $

Taiwanese bubble tea and smoothie shop in the Los Prados center.

Hot Wok Cafe

Los Prados · $

Independent Chinese takeout and dine-in spot for classic wok plates.

Inshou Cafe

Los Prados · $$

Hong Kong-style cafe on the Los Prados corner serving milk tea, rice plates, and comfort classics.

La Ronda Restaurant

East Hillsdale · $$

Family Peruvian kitchen known for ceviche, seafood, and fried calamari, plus hearty beef and chicken plates.

Wakuriya

Crystal Springs Village · $$$$

One-Michelin-star kaiseki counter where chef Katsuhiro Yamasaki serves a seasonal Japanese tasting menu. Tiny room, books out weeks ahead.

Diandas Italian American Pastry

Crystal Springs Village · $

Old-school Italian American bakery for cannoli, rum cakes, and cookies. A Peninsula sweet-tooth institution.

Crystal Springs Tavern

West San Mateo (Polhemus) · $$

Neighborhood gastropub with a dry-aged tavern burger and house-made pastas, tucked on Polhemus.

Sourdough & Co.

Crystal Springs Village · $

Sandwiches, soups, and clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. Quick, hearty lunch.

Shiki Japanese Restaurant

Laurelwood · $$

Laurelwood sushi bar and Japanese kitchen, a steady neighborhood favorite.

Guadalajara Grill

Laurie Meadows · $$

Independent Mexican spot on Laurie Meadows since 1993, with free chips and an open kitchen.

Town of Dumpling

Laurie Meadows · $$

Laurie Meadows Chinese favorite known, as the name promises, for its dumplings.

Golden 9th Deli & Market

Sunnybrae · $

Family-run corner deli and market since 1991, beloved for its sandwiches.

El Palenque Taqueria

Sunnybrae · $

Longtime Sunnybrae taqueria for burritos and Mexican plates.

Mariscos El Ajoyano

Sunnybrae · $$

Family-owned Sinaloa-style Mexican seafood, big on ceviche and aguachiles.

The Cake Shop

25th Avenue · $$

Custom cakes and cupcakes on the 25th Avenue strip.

Village Sandwich

25th Avenue · $

Sandwich and burrito counter inside the San Mateo Food Mall.

Andersen Bakery & Cafe

Hillsdale · $

European-style bakery for fresh pastries, breads, and sandwiches near Hillsdale.

Little Late Bird

Mariners Island · $$

Boba, coffee, and all-day brunch with sandwiches and Korean rice bowls, over by Bridgepointe.

Celias Mexican Restaurant (Peninsula Ave)

North Central · $$

Longtime family Mexican sit-down on Peninsula Ave.

Celias Mexican Restaurant (Campus Dr)

Laurelwood · $$

The Laurelwood location of the local Mexican family favorite, on Campus Drive.

Blue Moon Bar

Downtown (B Street) · $

Lively downtown sports bar with karaoke on Wednesday and Friday nights plus trivia, in the old Moon's Family Sports Pub space on B Street.

Cruel Donuts

Laurie Meadows · $

Small-batch, Asian-inspired donuts in flavors like guava, ube mochi, and strawberry shortcake.

Cruel Donuts & Ice Cream

25th Avenue · $

The 25th Avenue outpost of Cruel Donuts, with donuts plus house-made Asian ice cream like taro.

Golden Bell Donuts

East San Mateo · $

The classic early-morning neighborhood donut counter on the east side.

Donut Delite

Downtown (B St) · $

Downtown donut counter beloved for its apple fritters, plus coffee and bagels.

Ramen Parlor

Downtown (B St) · $$

Rich tonkotsu and spicy garlic ramen, a longtime downtown favorite.

Kajiken

Downtown (B St) · $$

Nagoya-style brothless abura soba (oil noodles), listed in the Michelin Guide.

Teaspoon

Downtown (3rd Ave) · $

Milk teas and fruit teas, a downtown boba go-to.

Dessert Republic

Downtown · $$

Hong Kong-style desserts and late-night snacks with a 1960s-nostalgia feel, reopened under new owners in 2026.

Mr. Pizza Man

Downtown (4th Ave) · $

Classic delivery pizza and wings, a longtime San Mateo shop.

Zhangliang Malatang

Downtown (B St) · $$

Build-your-own spicy malatang hot-pot soup, priced by the weight of what you pick.

Furagu Sushi

25th Avenue · $$

Neighborhood sushi spot on the 25th Avenue strip for nigiri, rolls, and Japanese plates. A local favorite.

Kobeya

25th Avenue · $$

From-scratch Japanese comfort food on 25th Avenue, known for chicken katsu curry and chicken nanban.

Prime BBQ

25th Avenue · $$

Yakitori and skewer izakaya with QR ordering, wagyu, gyutan, and Japanese small plates.

Miss Shang

25th Avenue · $$

Yunnan-style Chinese in the former Hunan Mifen space, known for its viral chicken-and-rice dish.

Fortune Star

25th Avenue · $

Mandarin-style Chinese known for big portions and value, orange chicken and chow mein.

Little Shanghai Restaurant

25th Avenue · $$

Shanghainese kitchen known for xiao long bao soup dumplings and classic Shanghai dishes.

Mahasan

Downtown · $$

A modern, dinner-focused Thai restaurant downtown on E 3rd Ave.

Johnny's

Downtown · $$

The Half Moon Bay brunch favorite brought its American diner classics to the Brickline building on B Street downtown.

Eterna Primavera

Downtown · $$

A downtown Guatemalan and Latin American restaurant on E 3rd Ave.

Bao Express

San Mateo · $

Cantonese bao, dim sum, and dumplings on Park Place.

O2 Valley

Downtown · $

Taiwanese bento and fusion plates downtown on E 4th Ave.

Izakaya Fusion Grill Keitan

Downtown · $$

Binchotan-grilled yakitori and skewers, small plates, and tonkotsu ramen, in a cherry-blossom room with a karaoke lounge. Open late.