Local’s Favorites
Food scene
A few of our regular go-tos
Family owned Italian restaurant just two blocks on the road. Food is amazing and reminds us exactly what we ate in Italy.
Sole Ristorante Italiano
69 37th AveFamily owned Italian restaurant just two blocks on the road. Food is amazing and reminds us exactly what we ate in Italy.
Mexican restaurant just two blocks on the road. Serving size is huge and good value.
Fernando's Mexican Restaurant
63 37th AveMexican restaurant just two blocks on the road. Serving size is huge and good value.
Jack's Prime Burgers & Shakes
3723 S El Camino RealA modern spin on the classic burger dinner
Cuban Kitchen
3799 South El Camino RealA taste of Havana
Iberia
740 El Camino RealAmazing Spanish tapas place at Belmont just minutes away
Shake Shack
180 El Camino RealShroom burger is my personal favorite by far
The Refuge
963 Laurel StSichuan Chong Qing Cuisine
Classic Sichuan cuisine for spicy food lovers
Chef Zhao Bistro
2450 S El Camino RealClassic Sichuan cuisine for spicy food lovers
Ping’s Bistro留湘·小聚
Classic Hunan cuisine for spicy food lovers
Great great Vietnam place in downtown San Mateo. Love literally everything on the menu. Go before 5pm to avoid the line!
7 locals recommend
Gao Viet Kitchen
313 South San Mateo DriveGreat great Vietnam place in downtown San Mateo. Love literally everything on the menu. Go before 5pm to avoid the line!
Nice wine bar at downtown San Mateo. Good atmosphere, with live music at night
18 locals recommend
Barrelhouse
305 California DrNice wine bar at downtown San Mateo. Good atmosphere, with live music at night
Dash Japanese Tapas and Sushi
204A 2nd AveHimawari
202 2nd AveNice ramen place at downtown San Mateo
Dipping ramen (Tsukemen) is delicious! PS: it’s relatively not as easy to find Tsukemen as an option on the menu in many other ramen places here in the Bay Area
8 locals recommend
Taishoken Ramen
47 E 4th AveDipping ramen (Tsukemen) is delicious! PS: it’s relatively not as easy to find Tsukemen as an option on the menu in many other ramen places here in the Bay Area
Kokko
509 2nd AveOur favorite Izakaya at downtown San Mateo
Liuyishou Hotpot San Mateo 劉一手火鍋
98 E 3rd AveClassic Sichuan style hotpot for spicy food and hotpot lovers
Our version of comfort food, or casual Sunday brunch Chinese style
6 locals recommend
China Bee Restaurant
31 S B StOur version of comfort food, or casual Sunday brunch Chinese style
PRANZI "Northern Italian Restaurant"
777 Laurel StOur favorite brunch place at Redwood City. Great food, great atmosphere and friendly staff
21 locals recommend
Angelicas
863 Main StOur favorite brunch place at Redwood City. Great food, great atmosphere and friendly staff
Our go-to whenever we miss the taste of sweet lobster. Get a to-go box and go to the nearby Bayfront park for a picnic, while enjoy the terrific water view and watch planes taking off from far away
43 locals recommend
New England Lobster Market & Eatery
824 Cowan RdOur go-to whenever we miss the taste of sweet lobster. Get a to-go box and go to the nearby Bayfront park for a picnic, while enjoy the terrific water view and watch planes taking off from far away
wonderful
270 BroadwayAnother classic Hunan/Sichuan cuisine for spicy food lovers
Hog Island Oyster Co.
Fresh oysters, great ocean view at SF Embarcadero
Sotto Mare
552 Green StOne of my personal favorites in Little Italy SF
Sorrel
3228 Sacramento StA relatively pricey one for special occasion but hey, it’s really good!
Rintaro
82 14th StOur favorite Izakaya place in Mission SF
Great Korean restaurant in SF Japantown. Line is normally quite long so make sure to go early
25 locals recommend
DAEHO KOREAN BBQ & BEEF SOUP
1620 Post StGreat Korean restaurant in SF Japantown. Line is normally quite long so make sure to go early
Coffee, tea and sweets
Blue Bottle Coffee
315 Linden StPhilz Coffee
113 S B StSharetea Hillsdale Mall
31st AvenueUncle Tetsu Japanese Cheesecake
72 Hillsdale MallYumi Yogurt
3787 Stevens Creek BlvdCha Express
212 E 3rd AveBlue Bottle Coffee
315 Linden StMeet Fresh
19449 Stevens Creek BlvdEveryday Essentials
Where to get groceries and essentials
Mosaic Market
9 37th AveOur neighborhood store, specialized in Middle Eastern groceries
Trader Joe's
45 W Hillsdale Blvdabout 5 mins walk away
Whole Foods Market
1010 Park Plabout 5mins drive away
Open on Sat 9am-1pm year round. One of the biggest and best farmer’s market in the Bay Area. Offers A LOT of fresh produce and local food like honey, eggs or artisan cheese! Many many organic options. Perfect place to take the family or just hang out with friends.
San Mateo Farmers' Market
1700 W Hillsdale BlvdOpen on Sat 9am-1pm year round. One of the biggest and best farmer’s market in the Bay Area. Offers A LOT of fresh produce and local food like honey, eggs or artisan cheese! Many many organic options. Perfect place to take the family or just hang out with friends.
Marina Plaza Shopping Center
2992 E Hillsdale BlvdAsian groceries focused
Nijiya Market
1956 S El Camino RealJapanese groceries
99 Ranch Market
1350 Grant RdChinese groceries
Costco Wholesale
450 10th StAbout 8mins drive away
Target
2220 Bridgepointe PkwyAbout 10mins drive away
Shopping
Hillsdale Shopping Center
60 31st AveApple Hillsdale
60 31st AveParks
Local parks nearby that we love to go for a picnic, jogging or just chilling out
Lovely, easily accessible park in the neighborhood (only 7mins drive away) with a mixture of recreational spaces (trails, picnic, playground and open grassy field). Moderate hike up to Sugarloaf peak.
9 locals recommend
Laurelwood Park
3471 Glendora DrLovely, easily accessible park in the neighborhood (only 7mins drive away) with a mixture of recreational spaces (trails, picnic, playground and open grassy field). Moderate hike up to Sugarloaf peak.
San Mateo Central Park
50 E 5th AveJapanese Gardens
50 E 5th AveFoster City Skate Park
670 Shell BlvdBayfront Park
2-198;1-99 Old Bayshore Hwy
Golden Gate Park
Sightseeing
Places we’d bring friends and family who are first-time visitors to and we keep going back to ourselves even as locals!
Ferry Building station
Fisherman's Wharf
2801 Leavenworth StFort Mason
2 Marina BlvdCrissy Field
Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon St
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
Coit Tower
Twin Peaks
Alcatraz Island
Filoli Historic House & Garden
86 Cañada RdMontalvo Arts Center
15400 Montalvo RdSausalito
Beach
Who doesn’t love the sound of ocean waves, right?
Dunes Beach
Montara Beach
Cabrillo HwyStinson Beach
Point Reyes National Seashore