El Camino Real is the four-mile spine of San Mateo, running the whole length of the city. It is not a neighborhood on its own; the businesses along it sit in Downtown, Baywood, the 25th Avenue area, and Hillsdale. This page pulls them all together in one place, block by block down the strip.
San Mateo Local lists 98 local, independent businesses in El Camino Real, San Mateo, from restaurants and shops to everyday services. Nobody pays to be listed.
Hunan and Mandarin home cooking; regulars cite the garlic eggplant, green onion pancake, and crispy noodles.
Cantonese dim sum and seafood with a broad traditional menu.
Specialty coffee bar with Asian-inspired signature drinks like black sesame and miso caramel lattes.
Owner-run Italian-style cafe serving espresso plus homemade breakfast and brunch like Sicilian omelette, carbonara, and tiramisu.
Asian-American fusion brunch with creative plates like Thai tea French toast and Tom Yum scramble; weekends are walk-in only.
Sinaloa-style Mexican breakfast and brunch including chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, omelets, and mariscos.
Latin-American artisan bakery cafe known for alfajores and pastries, with coffee in a cozy setting.
Locally owned shop for customizable coffee, matcha, and energy drinks plus breakfast burritos and pastries.
No-frills neighborhood bar with daily happy hour, a pool table, darts, and a back smoking area.
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.
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.
A South El Camino stand serving breakfast burritos, tacos, tortas, and quesadillas, open early through mid-afternoon.
A small South El Camino taqueria doing tacos, burritos, sopes, and quesadillas on weekdays.
A San Mateo classic since 1970, famous for dozens of house-made-from-scratch pies served alongside all-day American diner fare.
A former Michelin-starred fine dining spot serving prix-fixe chef's menus of modern Californian cuisine with Indian influences inside a converted Victorian.
A Vietnamese spot specializing in Northern-style pho served with wide rice noodles, plus vegetarian pho options.
A casual pizzeria open late with a two-slice-and-soda deal available all day and night.
A build-your-own poke shop with a truffle-fusion angle, chef's-pick bowls, and gluten-free options.
A Brazilian burger truck, open evenings Tuesday through Saturday.
A Latin-fusion sushi and seafood truck, unlike anything else in the guide.
An antiques store carrying Chinese antique furniture, home decor, and gifts, open seven days a week.
A third-generation family-owned florist operating in San Mateo since 1933.
An independent Bay Area hot tub and spa dealer with a San Mateo showroom.
A Japanese grocery carrying fresh sushi-grade fish, prepared bento, produce, and imported Japanese pantry goods.
A Central Asian specialty grocery and cafe on El Camino, with imported goods and a small cafe counter.
An independent auto repair shop specializing in European and imported vehicles.
A dry cleaner offering organic cleaning plus more than thirty years of tailoring and alterations.
An independent optometric practice serving San Mateo since 1987.
An acupuncture clinic on South El Camino Real.
An acupuncture clinic on South El Camino Real.
98 local, independent spots in El Camino Real, San Mateo, and the list grows every week.
El Camino Real has a mix of local restaurants, shops, and services. Browse them above, or ask a local for a pick.
No. Nobody pays to be listed, and there are no chains. It's an honest guide, not an ad platform.
More added every week. Spotting something missing? Suggest a spot. · Own a business we're missing? Get listed, free.