Guidebook for San Mateo
Food Scene
Great Indian restaurant that has an all-you-can-eat buffet only during lunch times from 12 pm to 2 pm.
Clay Oven Cuisine of India
78 East 3rd AvenueGreat Indian restaurant that has an all-you-can-eat buffet only during lunch times from 12 pm to 2 pm.
Great Japanese BBQ where you cook your own meats, seafood and veggies! Go for the happy hour prices are Monday and late nights. http://www.gyu-kaku.com/#!san-mateo/cq7r
13 locals recommend
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
329 S Ellsworth AveGreat Japanese BBQ where you cook your own meats, seafood and veggies! Go for the happy hour prices are Monday and late nights. http://www.gyu-kaku.com/#!san-mateo/cq7r
Great place to get some good quality Japanese ramen! May have a line depending on what time you go.
14 locals recommend
Santa Ramen
1944 S El Camino RealGreat place to get some good quality Japanese ramen! May have a line depending on what time you go.
Great Japanese restaurant for a wide selection of quality sushi rolls and bento boxes.
13 locals recommend
Joy Sushi
225 E Middlefield RdGreat Japanese restaurant for a wide selection of quality sushi rolls and bento boxes.
This Japanese restaurant gives huge portions on the sushi rolls and other foods.
9 locals recommend
Old Town Sushi
100 S B StThis Japanese restaurant gives huge portions on the sushi rolls and other foods.
For those who love sourdough bread, this place is for you! Huge selection of sourdough bread baked fresh daily with cute shapes like crabs or other animals. San Francisco bread tradition.
39 locals recommend
Boudin at the Wharf
160 Jefferson StFor those who love sourdough bread, this place is for you! Huge selection of sourdough bread baked fresh daily with cute shapes like crabs or other animals. San Francisco bread tradition.
Cooking Papa
949A Edgewater BlvdGreat view of the lagoon water and great Hong Kong style food.
Wonderful Persian food with freshly baked bread out of the oven and juicy chicken.
19 locals recommend
Shalizaar
300 El Camino RealWonderful Persian food with freshly baked bread out of the oven and juicy chicken.
Shopping
A tiny factory that makes the fortune cookies fresh daily and also have broken ones that you can buy in big bags for anywhere from $6 and up. Great for souvenirs and snacks!
32 locals recommend
Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co
56 Ross AlleyA tiny factory that makes the fortune cookies fresh daily and also have broken ones that you can buy in big bags for anywhere from $6 and up. Great for souvenirs and snacks!
If you love Pez dispensers and Pez candy, this place is for you! Huge selection of Pez dispensers, both to view and some are available for purchase. They have rare Pez dispensers for viewing only.
7 locals recommend
Burlingame Museum of PEZ Memorabilia is Closed
214 California DrIf you love Pez dispensers and Pez candy, this place is for you! Huge selection of Pez dispensers, both to view and some are available for purchase. They have rare Pez dispensers for viewing only.
Great upscale shopping area with about 9 floors. Has a movie theater, food court, several quality restaurants, huge selection of stores.
402 locals recommend
Westfield San Francisco Centre
865 Market StGreat upscale shopping area with about 9 floors. Has a movie theater, food court, several quality restaurants, huge selection of stores.
Great local mall that we go to sometimes for shopping. Plenty of ample parking. Across the way is a Trader Joe's!
150 locals recommend
Hillsdale Shopping Center
60 31st AveGreat local mall that we go to sometimes for shopping. Plenty of ample parking. Across the way is a Trader Joe's!
Essentials
Whole Foods is a healthy grocery store that many locals go to. They have a good selection of organic produce and goods for those into health.
158 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
1010 Park PlWhole Foods is a healthy grocery store that many locals go to. They have a good selection of organic produce and goods for those into health.
Safeway
1655 El Camino RealSafeway's is a well-known grocery store that many locals go to.
Fresh produce from the Farmer's Markets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays until 2pm. Also has gourmet food shops inside.
679 locals recommend
Ferry Building Marketplace
Fresh produce from the Farmer's Markets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays until 2pm. Also has gourmet food shops inside.
Trader Joe's
45 W Hillsdale BlvdGreat place to get quality food and snacks from.
Sightseeing
Great views of the bay from the bridge and a nice place to walk. Be sure to bring a jacket and good walking shoes as it can get foggy, windy and cold sometimes!
1321 locals recommend
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate BridgeGreat views of the bay from the bridge and a nice place to walk. Be sure to bring a jacket and good walking shoes as it can get foggy, windy and cold sometimes!
Coit Tower is a landmark with colorful, detailed murals inside and a wonderful view of the city.
545 locals recommend
Coit Tower
Coit Tower is a landmark with colorful, detailed murals inside and a wonderful view of the city.
Great place to have a picnic, play some Frisbee and people watch.
1721 locals recommend
Golden Gate Park
Great place to have a picnic, play some Frisbee and people watch.
Great place to watch the sea lions, grab some seafood and shop at the stores. Also stop by Trish's mini-donuts (not my shop lol), where they have yummy, not-so-sweet cinnamon and sugar mini donuts.
416 locals recommend
Pier 39
The EmbarcaderoGreat place to watch the sea lions, grab some seafood and shop at the stores. Also stop by Trish's mini-donuts (not my shop lol), where they have yummy, not-so-sweet cinnamon and sugar mini donuts.
Landmark area in a nice neighborhood. Great for taking pictures, having a picnic and people watching. Lake in the park to watch the ducks and other birds.
463 locals recommend
Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon StLandmark area in a nice neighborhood. Great for taking pictures, having a picnic and people watching. Lake in the park to watch the ducks and other birds.
Alcatraz Island
Used to be a prison but is now a tourist attraction.
Great place for food, snacks, and a feel of the Asian culture in San Francisco. Be prepared for lots of tourists and crowds.
551 locals recommend
Chinatown
Great place for food, snacks, and a feel of the Asian culture in San Francisco. Be prepared for lots of tourists and crowds.
Artists have painted several colorful murals on the walls of buildings. Great for picture taking!
55 locals recommend
Precita Eyes Muralists
2981 24th StArtists have painted several colorful murals on the walls of buildings. Great for picture taking!
Great place to view the tall redwood trees. Be sure to go early in the morning (around 6 or 7 am) to avoid the noisy crowds and to have peace and quiet. Entrance fee is $7 at 8 am, subject to change.
660 locals recommend
Muir Woods National Monument
Great place to view the tall redwood trees. Be sure to go early in the morning (around 6 or 7 am) to avoid the noisy crowds and to have peace and quiet. Entrance fee is $7 at 8 am, subject to change.
Walt Disney Family Museum
104 Montgomery StGreat place to go if you love all things Disney.
A large collection of European art in a gorgeous hilltop museum setting.
208 locals recommend
Legion of Honor
100 34th AveA large collection of European art in a gorgeous hilltop museum setting.
Crissy Field
A popular park for jogging, picnics, biking, and sightseeing.
A national park with almost 1,500 acres of hiking and biking trails, beautiful beaches and stunning views. Also has nice houses.
383 locals recommend
Presidio of San Francisco
A national park with almost 1,500 acres of hiking and biking trails, beautiful beaches and stunning views. Also has nice houses.
Most crooked street ever. Be prepared for a long line down and take pictures of the winding street!
345 locals recommend
Lombard Street
Lombard StreetMost crooked street ever. Be prepared for a long line down and take pictures of the winding street!
Great place to take pictures of the building and may be able to see couples getting married. The dome of this Government building is a replica of the one crowning St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
134 locals recommend
San Francisco City Hall
1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett PlGreat place to take pictures of the building and may be able to see couples getting married. The dome of this Government building is a replica of the one crowning St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Four-acre refuge in Golden Gate Park featuring Japanese architecture and gardens.
348 locals recommend
Japanese Tea Garden
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrFour-acre refuge in Golden Gate Park featuring Japanese architecture and gardens.
Arts & Culture
Great musical show that has pop icons, celebrity impersonators, public figures and amazing huge hats that some of the performers wear.
54 locals recommend
Beach Blanket Babylon
678 Beach Blanket Babylon BlvdGreat musical show that has pop icons, celebrity impersonators, public figures and amazing huge hats that some of the performers wear.
Great place for the kids and to learn all about rain forests, planetarium, aquarium and see the living green roof.
816 locals recommend
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse DrGreat place for the kids and to learn all about rain forests, planetarium, aquarium and see the living green roof.
Great hands-on exhibit museum for the family and to learn all about science!
432 locals recommend
Exploratorium
Green StreetGreat hands-on exhibit museum for the family and to learn all about science!
Great place to play the vintage coin-operated arcade games that you loved when you were a child.
87 locals recommend
Musée Mécanique
Fishermans WharfGreat place to play the vintage coin-operated arcade games that you loved when you were a child.
Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin StGreat place to view works of Asian art. Take lots of pictures!
Cartoon Art Museum
781 Beach StGreat place to view animation art and cartoons.
A large non-profit theater company that offers both classical and contemporary theater productions.
29 locals recommend
A.C.T.'s Geary Theater
415 Geary StA large non-profit theater company that offers both classical and contemporary theater productions.
San Francisco Opera
301 Van Ness AveNice theater with opera performances.
Great place to hear beautiful classical music in a huge, gorgeous building.
154 locals recommend
San Francisco Symphony
201 Van Ness AveGreat place to hear beautiful classical music in a huge, gorgeous building.
Everything Else
ShareTea
204 2nd AveGood place for milk tea and other drinks.