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Foreigner

4.1 (1.1k reviews)
Closed • 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Foreigner Photos

Business Info

FOREIGNER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Foreigner

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Reviews With Photos

Samuel L.

Back for round two, and this spot is officially a keeper! Finding a place that can comfortably accommodate a party of five for a late breakfast without feeling rushed or cramped is a total win. The atmosphere was perfectly laid back--exactly the kind of "relaxed morning" vibe you want when you're looking to catch up over coffee. From a foodie perspective, the kitchen is clearly firing on all cylinders. Every dish that hit our table was a 10/10 on presentation; the plating was thoughtful and vibrant. But it wasn't just "eye candy"--the flavors were balanced and fresh. It's rare to find a place that nails both the aesthetic and the palate so consistently. If you're looking for a reliable, high-quality breakfast spot that actually feels like an experience, I'd definitely recommend giving this place a try. I'll be back for a third visit for sure!

Dolce barako
Tina L.

A variety of brunch items and pastries from quiches to muffins. I tried the Dolce Barako - really liked the sprinkled Himalayan salt, which enhanced the coffee flavors. They have outlets. It's a great place to sit down and catch up and I love how it's precentral in downtown San Mateo. You would need to park in a parking structure, which is around a dollar an hour. There are also parking meters nearby.

Vanilla Latte
Drisana P.

I meet with a client in this cafe. The coffee and pastries were delicious. They bring everything to your table and services was excellent. Love the ambiance. I needed up staying extra time to finish up some work on my laptop with there free wifi.

Avocado Egg Toast
Chris K.

I'd been hearing good things about Foreigner in San Mateo and finally stopped by to check it out. The inside has plenty of seating and offered some cozy vibes. We ordered the avocado egg toast and the burrata ham quiche, both served with a simple side salad. The avocado toast was fresh and well balanced, and the quiche was rich and flavorful with the burrata adding a nice creamy touch. Overall, a solid spot for a casual brunch.

James H.

First time at Foreigner and really liked this cafe/restaurant. Order at the counter and get a buzzer to put on your table or wait for your take out order. Plenty of seating inside and huge projector screen. Prices are a bit high for a morning breakfast croissant at $15.90 but it was solid. The hot chocolate is made with tcho chocolate so it is kind of bitter not sweet. I'll be back to try other menu items. Street parking only.

Andrea V.

A great recommendation for brunch! They have a variety of food, drinks, and desserts to choose from. The place is very comfortable for meeting up with friends and family. The service was fast because they have excellent coordination from the moment you order until your food arrives at your table!

Croque Madam
Jacqueline Z.

Decent place for brunch in downtown San Mateo! Came here on a weekend with a friend. You order at the counter and they will bring it to your table. Plenty of space available despite it being a Sunday. I decided to get the Euro Latte and the Croque Madam. I expected a bit more "wow" flavor to the Euro Latte but perhaps I got my hopes up. I felt like it lacked the Irish cream flavor. The Croque Madam was solid, with a nice runny egg yolk. I did think the ham was a bit lacking, especially along the edges. Side of potatoes were the right crispy.

Amazing breakfast!! Food and coffee were awesome!! 5 day visit in California and this is the best breakfast of all days. Highly recommend!!
Tone T.

Awesome coffee and food!! Found it on our last day in California... or we would have been here everyday for breakfast! They are busy but handle it well... their menu is a case with samples of what you actually will see at your table. Everything was amazing!!

Junsheng X.

Great brunch place off to the side of downtown San Mateo! They have both indoor and outdoor seating, which is nice considering I can bring my dogs here to dine outside. Food was very fresh and tasty - especially the croissant sandwiches and Benedict's. They got really nice vinaigrette for the salads too! Definitely would return to try other dishes

Avocado toast small green salad and cup of home brewed coffee. 5 !
Glenn P.

Awesome. Very unexpected and quality food. I had the Avocado Toast and 2 slices of bacon, and a cup of their home brewed coffee. 5 . When we return to SF we will definitely comeback. Thank you

Avocado Egg Toast
Nicole B.

Typical Bay Area pricing- about $60 for 2 people to have a breakfast + coffee/latte. HIGHLIGHT IS THE COFFEE FOR SURE I got the avocado and egg toast (requested my egg be over medium) and a latte. The avocado looked like tube guac and resembled a New Yorker style avocado toast (not as good since they don't grow avocados in NY). I expected sliced avocado, because I was back in CA. It was tasty despite the tube guac. Prob wouldn't order it again though. Their "patio" is n the shade & nicely decorated- it's basically an impromptu COVID patio on the public sidewalk. I am glad I got to bring my dog. The service is nice and professional, and the ambiance inside is a bit like a cafe/living room...

Salmon Eggs Benedict
Jackie D.

I was in town to visit my sister and she said this is her favorite place to have breakfast or brunch! She brings everyone here when they're in town and she took me. It was such a cute spot right when we walked in. There was a line which is always a good sign when it comes to restaurants. We looked over the menu and both landed on the same item. We both got salmon eggs Benedict which looked so amazing. They have all their food displayed in a glass case which was really nice to see. I'm a visual person so that was refreshing and helped me with what I wanted. We also ordered coffee which was really good. We sat down, had some water, and great conversation. We got our coffees first and our food came out shortly after. The food tasted so good and I was very happy she took me here. 10/10 for food and service! She'll definitely have to take me back when I'm back in town! Thank you to the wonderful people who work here for the amazing food and service!

Menu
Jenna T.

It's expensive and portions are in the smaller side. Also, no refills for drip coffee. Presentation is nice and the good taste good. The crowaffle was one piece cut up into their 4 quarters and drizzled with syrup. The 4 quarters made it look like more than it was. For $16, though?!! The chicken BLT was served warm which was nice. The shredded cheese sprinkled on top of the bread as decoration was unnecessary and extremely messy. The grilled chicken salad was basic AF. I was tempted to get the latte flight, until the cashier told me that there was no caffeine and they taste like how they sound. You order first then take a seat and they bring your food to you. There's not much service beyond that. Everything else is self serve. Too expensive for portions is what will deter me from this spot.

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Foreigner Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Foreigner

I can't seem to reserve a table? I tried to do it from the official website which brought me to Yelp but there is no reservation button here? also tried to call and left messages but never got a return call. Any help will be appreciated? :D

Not sure if they take resos as I've we've never had to - we go there pretty often. The space is pretty big so you might be able to just walk in unless you have a particularly big party

Does Foreigner have outlets for charging laptops?

There are some areas near outlets.

How much is the corkage fee?

the price charged to guests who choose to bring their own bottle of wine to a restaurant.

Is this restaurant women owned?

Yes

Are there bottomless mimosas offered at brunch?

No, I don't think so. I ordered by the glass last time I went and bottomless mimosas aren't offered on their brunch menu.

May I know what days do you serve the Merienda Menu? Thanks!

According to their instagram, they serve the Merienda menu Monday-Sunday from 2:30pm-5pm! You can make reservations on their website for that.

Are you pet friendly?

They have an outdoor patio, so I assume you can dine with your pet leashed outdoors. Perhaps call the establishment for assurance.

Do the still serve Latte Flights? I didn't see it on the menu.

They do!

Is this a good place for big groups? Like a group of 8?

Yes

Do you sell your quiches?

Yes, we do sell quiche. We have spinach and mushroom, ham burrata and truffle , bacon and cheddar, and the Mozzarella basil goat cheese. If you have questions how to order. Please feel free to call us at 6506201888.… Read more

How busy are Sundays for brunch? Is it hard to get seated?

I didn't have any trouble getting seated, you won't either

Is this a good spot to get some work done?

Yes, there are plenty of small corners to sip coffee, free WiFi and get some work done.

Is this place baby friendly ? Diaper changing table and high chair, available?

I have seen wooden high chairs, the bathroom is located outdoors in the hall shared with other companies and I have never used it so I am not sure about the bathrooms being kid friendly

Just curious, is the owner Hungarian? The Hungarian foods on the menu are yummy!

Yes. The guy who built the menu is Hungarian.

Is it still open for outdoor dining?

Yes, they have tables outside!

Can I bring my dog?

Not inside

Are they opened during COVID-19 for take out?

Yes. Go to their website to order online for takeout. The website ordering process is pretty straightforward and simple.

Is it a good study spot?

No. Space is very limited and lots of people were looking for seats to eat their food. Taking up a spot for hours to study would be kind of a dick move.

Do you by any chance have any gluten free and dairy free pastries?

Yes!

Are there gluten free options for bread/pastries?

Yes for pastries, not sure about bread

View All 29 Questions

Backhaus - Beautiful morning at this cute yard. My favorite "little dudes"

Backhaus

(898 reviews)

$$

The bakes here was some of the top ones I have had. I tried a couple of bakeries on my road trip up…read morethe Pacific Northwest and this was one of my favorites! I tried the cheesy twist, morning bun, and the ham and cheese croissant. I am pretty sure I tried other things but I can't remember exactly what but these were the stars. The cheesy twist kind of tasted like there was an Alfredo type sauce along with the cheese. It was delicious. One thing I wish I would have done is ask for it heated because I saw some other people doing that and it looked delicious. The morning bun was so good. It had a beautiful medley of spices that truly brightened your morning. The flavors were so balanced. As for the ham and cheese croissant, the star was the ham. The flavor of the ham reminded me of a thanksgiving ham. It was amazing! Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with anything here. I regret not getting a full loaf of bread to take home with me.

Update 4/1/26 - came in yesterday and tried a new item. The passion fruit danish, and omg... I'm…read moreobsessed!!!! It was so dang delicious, I went back today in the hopes it might be there again. Needless to say, I figured the chances were pretty slim!!! No way it would be there. however to my overwhelming happiness it was Don't judge me. had to get a couple!! I even told the kind staff members helping me... PLEASE..... tell the Chef.. to make these a regular. & That all the baked goods are great, but this danish is amazing!!! It's just that good, to me!! The dough is a perfect soft chew, layered almost with just enough butter and sweetness. The passion fruit shines with the perfect tart and zip.... And that marshmallowy meringue on it, is delightful. " You did your thing with this danish Chef" This danish now trumps my go to kouign Amann. By the way. I'm from Hawaii, so it might be one reason this flavor speaks to me, but I'm pretty sure anyone who likes a little tart, bright, perfect sweet will also enjoy it. If not more for me I did get an epi for my friend and a couple other goodies as well. I dropped off two items to a friend who works near and she could not thank me enough and tell me how much she enjoyed her goodies too.

Brothers Cafe - banana foster

Brothers Cafe

(266 reviews)

$$

If you're looking for a casual, welcoming spot with great food and plenty of convenience, Brother's…read moreCafe is a fantastic place. Located in Laurelwood Shopping Center, there is ample parking, which makes visiting stress-free from the start. It's been a go-to spot for good food for a while now, and it continues to deliver. The location used to be a bagel shop, and this has turned out to be a great replacement for anyone who misses the old spot. The chicken fried steak is especially delicious, and the pork chops are particularly impressive for a fast-casual dining spot. The menu also features a solid variety of coffee drinks. Whether you're stopping in for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or a just coffee, there's something for everyone. What really elevates the experience is the atmosphere and service. The space works well whether you're dining solo or meeting up with a group, and the staff are consistently friendly and attentive. Overall, Brother's Cafe is a reliable, enjoyable spot that combines great food, easy parking, are well worth a visit.

I can't say enough good things about Brothers Cafe,it's truly a little hidden gem! Tucked away in…read moreSan Mateo, this spot consistently delivers amazing food and a warm, welcoming vibe. The huevos rancheros are absolutely incredible, perfectly cooked, packed with flavor, and so satisfying. And the Swedish pancakes? Easily some of the best I've ever had. Light, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweetness: they're a must-order. Everything feels fresh, homemade, and made with care. If you're looking for a cozy place with outstanding breakfast and brunch options, Brothers Cafe is super great and definitely worth checking out.

Foreigner - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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