Downtown San Mateo

Solid · Japanese, abura soba · Downtown San Mateo · $

walk-in

Abura soba, which is ramen with the broth taken out and the sauce turned up.

Listed · Japanese, ramen · Downtown San Mateo · $$

walk-in

The karaage comes on a plate bigger than the ramen bowl. Vinyl record covers hang on the walls, and The Six Fifty's ramen guide said in 2018 that the room looks more like a jazz bar.

Listed · Japanese, izakaya · Downtown San Mateo · $$

walk-in

Ginjiro Nishimoto opened this yakitori counter on East 4th in a storefront a carpet shop had left. Whole surume squid comes in from Japan and goes on the grill.

Listed · Indian street food · Downtown San Mateo · $

walk-in

Akash and Rana Kapoor ran one truck at Howard and Primrose in Burlingame from 2009. This B Street room was the first one with walls, and the tikka masala burrito came with them.

Listed · Japanese · Downtown San Mateo · $$

walk-in

In 2007 the Chronicle's food editor Miriam Morgan called this one of the best values among downtown San Mateo's Japanese restaurants.

Listed · Japanese, izakaya and sushi · Downtown San Mateo · $$

walk-inthe room’s own account

An izakaya on Second Avenue that opens at five, seven nights a week. Its own site publishes the hours and stops there.

Listed · Chinese, Mongolian hot pot · Downtown San Mateo · $$

walk-inthe room’s own account

A chain hot pot room on South Ellsworth. The company's own directory confirms the door, and that is the extent of what anybody has published about it.