Food guideCalifornia · United States
Where to Eat in San Mateo: 18 Researched Spots and 8 Must-Try Dishes (2026)
18 researched places to eat in San Mateo and the 8 dishes to order, grouped by type of place, with the neighbourhood, address, hours and price tier where the place record has them.
- 18 places to eat
- 8 must-try dishes
- 4 neighbourhoods
- Researched October 2026
- 13 sources
Must-try in San Mateo8 dishes
Galbi Eggs BenedictAt Whisper
Sourdough and PastriesAt Backhaus | San Mateo
Ceremonial Grade Matcha Lattes Where to order it in San Mateo
Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles Where to order it in San Mateo
Shengjian Bao (Pan-Fried Dumplings) Where to order it in San Mateo
Crepas Con Mariscos Where to order it in San Mateo
Beef JjimAt OLHSO Korean BBQ House
Raspberry Chicken Salad Where to order it in San Mateo
The short answer
- Start with Whisper (Downtown), OLHSO Korean BBQ House (Downtown), Pausa Bar & Cookery (Downtown), KAIZEN & COFFEE (South San Mateo) and Backhaus | San Mateo (Downtown).
- 18 places across 4 neighbourhoods; Downtown (12), South San Mateo (3) and North Central (2) have the most.
Where to eat in San Mateo: 18 researched places
Restaurants and bistros
Whisper
Why it’s on the map
Opened in early 2026, this modern Asian fusion venue occupies a sprawling 140-seat space and is led by a former Sweet Maple chef.
Try: Galbi Eggs Benedict
310 Baldwin Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
OLHSO Korean BBQ House
Why it’s on the map
A premium Korean BBQ establishment led by a master chef, featuring high-end cuts of meat grilled tableside.
Try: Beef Jjim
236 S B St, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
Pausa Bar & Cookery
Why it’s on the map
This sophisticated venue focuses on modern interpretations of Northern Italian cuisine using seasonal California ingredients.
Try: Wood-Fired Pizza
223 E 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
Mexican Restaurant · Downtown
Sushi Restaurant · Downtown
Restaurant · East San Mateo
Ramen Restaurant · Downtown
Chinese Noodle Restaurant · North Central
Restaurant · Downtown
Brunch Restaurant · Downtown
Breakfast Restaurant · South San Mateo
Mediterranean Restaurant · South San Mateo
Vietnamese Restaurant · Downtown
Chinese Restaurant · North Central
Cafés and coffee
KAIZEN & COFFEE
Why it’s on the map
A minimalist specialty coffee shop that emphasizes precision brewing and single-origin beans. It is locally celebrated for its creative, from-scratch signature drinks.
2337 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94403, USA
Tea House · Downtown
More places to eat
Backhaus | San Mateo
Why it’s on the map
An artisan German-style bakery and cafe that has become a local staple for naturally leavened sourdough and buttery, laminated pastries.
Try: Sourdough and Pastries
32 E 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
Asian Grocery Store · Downtown
Research receipt
How this San Mateo food guide was researched
- 18 places to eat, each matched to its real place data record: the neighbourhood, address, hours and price tier come from that record, not from a review.
- The sites below are the ones the research cited for these places to eat, most-cited first.
- Researched October 2026.
Sources checked
Planning questions
Where should I eat in San Mateo?
Start with Whisper, OLHSO Korean BBQ House, Pausa Bar & Cookery, KAIZEN & COFFEE, and Backhaus | San Mateo. All 18 places to eat are on the San Mateo map, grouped on this page by type of place.
Which neighbourhoods in San Mateo are best for food?
Downtown (12), South San Mateo (3), and North Central (2) carry the most researched places to eat, out of 4 neighbourhoods on this map.
Is San Mateo expensive for food?
Of the 18 places, 16 list a price tier: 8 moderate, 4 inexpensive, 3 expensive, and 1 very expensive. Tiers come from the place record, not a menu, so treat them as a range.