I have been here more than once. I went this week for breakfast, and they have changed their quiche recipe. It is still good, but not as good as it used to be. Portion sizes are smaller than they were before, though the food is still tasty. I got my quiche on a plate with a small heap of greens with dressing. Service is serviced with a smile; but I sure do miss the old quiche recipe. read more

Some of the best breakfast, brunch, and lunch food in San Mateo! No one I've gone with has ever had a bad meal, only great ones. I finally booked a Mereinda tea time today--an experience involving a nicely set table, classic tea ware, a snack tower of your choice with fruit/small bites/tarts/macarons, and a 40oz tea pot--and it was a great experience. Our server Josh was absolutely amazing. Would highly recommend Foreigner for regular food or their tea time. read more

Such a delicious brunch! I had seen previous reviews that it can get packed so I decided to come earlier on a Sunday morning (around 10:30) and it was easy to get seated and I got my food really quickly. By 11:30 the line was way out the door, so I'd recommend getting there early! I got the veggie scramble and iced latte and they were both really large portions for the price, which was great read more

This should not show up on a cheap lunch search. Im sure the food is good. The ambiance is great.

We ordered for pick-up ahead of time to take on a picnic in Central Park. You can order online through Yelp/Grub-Hub, but the menu on their website seemed more inclusive of all the delicious coffee drinks. I have a latte a day in order to survive. Their latte menu is super interesting and I tried the Yema Latte which is "inspired by Filipino Dulce de Leche". I liked that at "less sweet" I was able to taste the flavor without it tasting syrupy. The Chicken Sandwich on Ciabatta and the Breakfast Croissant were both so delicious and juicy. The bread and croissant were both fresh and perfect. The food was ready in time for pick-up, though they steamed my latte milk on arrival so that it was hot. Staff was friendly. Shop is cute, and outdoor dining is currently open during SIP read more

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Had the best breakfast at foreigner cafe a while back. While it was self serve the line up of options available and decorated around the ordering counter made us salivate like animals . I would go again. read more

Foreigner Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Foreigner is Covid ready and requires masks. There is very minimal indoor seating and a couple tables outside for outdoor seating. However, there is a large indoor eating area in the suite next door with tables spaced out. They have some street parking available. The cashiers and servers were very friendly here and frequently checked on us to ensure everything was going well during our meals. I ordered a dirty chai and salmon benedict but also got to try the tocino. Everything was good and came with some sides. Maybe I eat a lot but the I could have eaten more after the salmon benedict plate and dirty chai. Maybe next time I'll get a side or one of their good looking pastries. Overall I would recommend this place and would go back. read more

Foreigner Cafe - Dirty chais - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Met up with some old friends there for the first time and we had a blast! The Cinnamon Tea was delicious and we had a Chef's Choice for High Tea. There was a good variety and delicious! We had 3 tiers for 6 people, 3 men and 3 women, we had plenty to eat and leftovers too! Highly recommended and we shall return. read more

Foreigner Cafe - 3 tiers for 6 people - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Such a cute place! Came on a Thursday morning around 8am (and a cold morning too), so it was relatively empty then. There is a parking garage nearby which was convenient. We got the La Amour crepe (strawberry, Nutella, banana) and Bacon Benedict, along with an iced Euro latte and hot Euro latte (English toffee, Irish cream, French Vanilla flavors). Personally, the bacon was a little hard/dry and the latte too sweet for my liking (I should have known from the ingredients though), but overall everything was delicious. The interior design is beautiful! There's a laidback/casual vibe with assortment of seating options (tables, high top counters, indoor/outdoor, etc); you order at the counter then they bring the food to your table (open selection seating w/ table number). read more

Foreigner Cafe - Euro lattes (iced and hot) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Fantastic food, reasonable price, good atmosphere. I highly recommend this place! I also left my backpack there and they found it and kept it for me to pick it up the next. I had my passport in it and some cash. Ebro was there untouched! read more

Ugh the Ube puff tastes great, the dirty chai latte is amazing!! And the service was friendly, looking forward to being friends soon. The Ambiance is really nice, the decor is Chic. read more

Foreigner Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came here on a Sunday morning around 11am and we were seated immediately. You're required to order first at the counter then get a table after and they'll find your table to give the food. Ambiance: 10/10. Casual. Spacious and really cute interior design! High tables and low tables available. Not too loud diners. Plenty of natural lighting. Food: 7/10. Pricey and the flavor didn't make up for it. Salmon Benedict - Smoked salmon was really salty. Only 1 benedict was served so that wasn't worth the price. The potatoes were soft but didn't have much of flavor. Salad was good-- you can't go wrong with it tbh. French toast - Small serving. Banana bread was dry and not enough syrup. Nothing to rave about. Quiche - Dry. Not much flavor to it. read more

Pretty good spot for a quick brunch. We had the Bacon Benedict and the Smoked Salmon toast with the plant base latte flight. Food was aesthetically pleasing and great for Instagram photos. read more

Foreigner Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came here for brunch because I wanted something fresh and creative. We were not disappointed. I loved how they displayed models of their food out by the front counter. Everything looked delicious but we went with: Croque Madam: Cheesy without being too rich. The brioche bread was fantastic. Farmers Salad: Fresh and bursting with flavors from all the great colorful ingredients. I especially loved the beets. They were so fragrant, earthy, and sweet. Perfect for a beautiful day outside. The staff were attentive but I can see how it can get crazy when this place is overflowing with people. Only minor nit ding I have is that the music + acoustics of the place made the room feel like a legit popping bar. It was really loud. Maybe thats the vibe they are trying to go with but I felt my stress level lowkey rise slowly through the meal. It made the busy road outside seem like a library compared to inside. read more

This is a little hidden breakfast gem in San Mateo. They have a vast menu to please anyone's taste and dietary needs. You'll order at the counter and find yourself a table. Even on a Sunday morning, they had plenty of tables to accommodate. The staff was friendly and helpful to ensure a pleasant visit. The food was good! I ordered the Foreigner favorite - potatoes, poached eggs, and kielbasa sausage. It was a good flavor combination, but the kielbasa had the consistency of really thin-sliced ham rather than a sausage consistency. I always love a place that has fresh-squeezed orange juice. I highly recommend trying this place out! read more

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Great brunch spot that delivers in flavor and amount of food! This brunch spot has a large selection of bougie toasts, benedicts, sweet pastries and savory entrees. It totally has something for everyone (except if you don't like eggs. Almost everything had egg.) I've been here a few times and have had: - tomato basil goat cheese quiche: great. Smooth and creamy. Minimal crust to filling ratio in case you're expecting more crust. - bacon and cheddar quiche: great - smoked salmon toast: huge and they don't skimp on smoked salmon - jalapeño mimosa: yummy but barely any jalapeño flavor if you like spicy. This place is popular so be prepared to wait on weekends. Also the format of their restaurant is a little different. Order at the front counter, take a number and seat yourself. Someone brings you food and clears your table. Not a traditional experience but more casual. read more

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It's a little expensive, but worth it. I've never been disappointed with the food or service. The outdoor seating is great if you have a dog

matcha latte was mediocre. but their food is what you should come here for. large servings of cafe menu items from sandwiches to salads. the ambiance is loud, so i wouldn't suggest coming here if you're trying to get work done. but i'd definitely come here with friends or family to grab a nice brunch read more

Foreigner Cafe - matcha latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Love to come here for breakfast/brunch. Super nice ambiance, excellent service, good location, always busy but not too hard to get a table. read more

Foreigner Cafe - Bacon cheddar quiche, Turkey and Cheddar Croffle, kiwi and blackberry tart - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Food: lots of options from egg-based brunch dishes to toasts and sandwiches to small desserts. Nice flavors. I had the Denver omelette and liked it. The bread could be improved - it was cold, stale and smelled/tasted of day-old fish. The bread alone would be 2 stars. Pour over coffee was good too. Ambience: good indoor and outdoor seating options. Very quiet place for having a coffee while reading a book or working after the busy brunch hours (past 2pm on weekends). Prices are reasonable, and service staff is friendly. I would return. read more

Foreigner Cafe - Denver omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Only reason I come here is for the bacon Benedict.I was incredibly disappointed when I discovered they've completely changed it. Old Benedict 10/10 New Benedict 2/10 (bacon bits really?) read more

Met a long-time friend here for brunch to celebrate her belated birthday. What a cute and cool brunch spot! Order at the counter and they bring your food to your table. We both had the raspberry lavender mimosa. She had the smoked salmon toast and I had the avocado egg toast. Both were scrumptious and filling. Street parking was easy since we met around 9:15 AM on a Monday morning. Will definitely return to try other items on the menu. read more

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Came here with some friends for a post spa brunch. I enjoyed the company and had the London Fog Tea which was nice for a cold morning. It was easy to find a table as they had ample seating around noon. We decided to share some dishes: -Foreigner's Favorite (Chicken apple sausage with potatoes): tasty but wish the potatoes were crispier. -Lecso with poached egg: good roasted tomato flavors and egg cooked well -Ham and Swiss Croffle: I was a bit disappointed in the croffle as I was hoping for a heartier meal but was glad my friends ordered the sausage/potatoes and Lecso to share which rounded out the meal. I might have ordered the wrong thing but I felt like the food was okay for a brunch. Food wise, I would give it a 3.5. Maybe I was hungrier than I thought and was expecting more. Staff was nice and ambience was nice as well. They also have a nice selection of pastries which I will have to give a try. read more

Foreigner Cafe - Foreigner's Favorite, Lecso with Poached Egg, Ham and Swiss Croffle, lattes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Stumbled upon this cafe and had high expectations! We had an order of mushroom toast and a veggie toast with tomato, basil, and mozzarella. Both of our toasts were so hard and tough to bite or cut through. Overall the flavor was lacking making the overall experience disappointing. Staff was nice however and with the large crowds, they worked quick to get your order in. read more

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Wanted to come here forever for brunch and glad I finally did but I probably won't be back. Café is cute, I love the case where you can see all the brunch options, lots of drink options too. However, the food was plain. For brunch I had the croissant sandwich, which looked amazing in the case but lacked flavor. I also asked for no cream cheese but it was still on the sandwich. If you're looking for something similar, I would recommend Caffe Central in Burlingame. I've also been here for dinner, which is a much more quiet time than brunch. At brunch it's hard to find a table, at dinner there was only one other couple dining. I had the squash risotto, which was nice but also plain and bland. read more

The Foreigner is one of my absolute favorite breakfast places to go to in San Mateo. My go-to order is the chicken sandwich (seen on photo). I'm a huge fan of chicken sandwiches and the one at The Foreigner definitely is at the top of my list. I like to take my dog along with me to eat breakfast after a long walk and the Foreigner has very convenient outdoor seating for your fur babies. Though it is a hot spot in San Mateo so I would recommend getting there early to grab a seat. It gets really busy for breakfast so sometimes the staff will forget to clear tables and you'll have to wait a while. You do have to order indoors and the staff will bring it to you at your table. The plant-based latte flight was alright. If you like watered-down lattes that taste like green juice then I would recommend trying it. read more

Foreigner Cafe - Latte Flight - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Great ambiance, food always tastes pretty good, and casual place to eat. We come here for brunch sometimes, and they always have seats. You can also work here. the -1 star is for the price... which is a bit on the steep side. read more

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Love the California bagel - thinly sliced turkey meat, red onion, avocado, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, light dusting of grated cheese (Parmesan?), paprika, freshly ground black pepper - mmmwahh! Yummy perfection! Also ordered an iced matcha latte (gotta have my matcha) delicious & refreshing! Many thanks Foreigner- we had an awesome brunch!! read more

I came here for brunch, and I really enjoyed my food. You order at the counter and then take a number. I really liked that they displayed how all of the food looks like at the counter. This definitely swayed my decision! I had the banana Nutella croffle and fresh squeezed orange juice. My croffle was delicious, and I loved the homemade whipped cream. My OJ was so refreshing, but they did forget to bring it out. read more

If you are looking for the best brunch food in San Mateo, you'll find it here at foreigner cafe! It's a cozy spot with warm lighting perfect for getting some studying or work done. They also have a wide variety of food and drinks to choose from. I got the Yema latte, and not only was it the prettiest latte I've ever had, but also the tastiest. Their Strawberry Delight Croffle was my first time trying croffle, and it changed my life! I will no doubt be getting it every time! We also got the Tomato Basil Quiche and the Smoked Salmon Toast, both highly recommend! The Quiche was light and fluffy, and the smoked salmon toast was packed to the top with egg, capers, chives, avocado, cucumber, and a generous amount of salmon. Every dish here comes with a fine attention to detail and care. Even the cold brew coffee had ice made out of coffee to avoid dilution! This place is a must go and I can't wait to go back! read more

The food is very good, but what is disturbing, is that they allow pets inside, as opposed to service animals which is mandated by CA law. When a dog is constantly barking, it obviously has NOT been properly trained to be a service dog. They really should enforce this law to keep those who have no regard for others in a public restaurant. It's a real nuisance to others who are trying to eat their food in peace. Just tie the leash it's supposed to have, outside. Some people are just so ignorant. read more

Overpriced rip off. $13.00 for a small drip coffee and a piece of apple strudel! cake! With the noise and the woman wearing a mask I didn't hear the price so there was sticker shock. I know I should have cancelled the order when I put the charge card in.....lesson learned. I called to check to be sure there was no error. Nope, $8.50 for the apple strudel. read more

Foreigner Cafe - $13 takeout - overpriced - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

This was a bustling cafe/restaurant and pretty much all the seats inside were taken when I came on a Sunday afternoon around lunch time. However, I was able to easily grab one of the tables they have outside. You order at the counter and they give you a number and bring your food out to you. All of their food options are displayed nicely in their glass case so you can see exactly what your meal will look like when it comes out. They also have your basic coffee shop options as well as some unique concoctions to choose from. I settled on getting the chef's omelette with a side of their chamomile citrus tea. Even though breakfast had technically been stopped at that point, the lady taking my order asked the chef to make the dish for me, which was really nice of her. The meal came out about 10 minutes later, and the colors on the plate all popped nicely. The ingredients went well together and it was the perfect amount of food to get me filled up with weighing me down. While it was tasty and savory, it still felt like a healthy option that I didn't have to feel guilty about afterwards. read more

Foreigner Cafe - Chef's omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Food here is soo good. Self seating. Water dispensers on the corner side and amazing desserts. read more

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Great breakfast! What they have on the menu in the restaurant seems a much wider selection than what they have on the website. read more

Constantly closes early, third time arriving over an hour before closing and they're already done serving. Seats already stacked on tables. Food is good if you can get it. Don't believe their hours! read more

Foreigner Cafe - They can't even make it past 2pm. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I have eaten here a few times and the food is always amazing. Their lattes and matcha latte are also delicious. They have great service and the look and feel is very cute for this restaurant. read more

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Delicious! Great service and food. We loved the mixed greens salad which came with a balsamic vinegar dressing served on the side of our sandwiches. The turkey blt avocado sandwich was served on a baguette; it was deliciously crunchy and soft, but a little tough to cut through. The filling of turkey, blt, and cheese was awesome. The chicken avocado blt sandwich was also great. It was served on a focaccia that was very soft. A tasty sandwich as well! The coffee was wonderful and strong. We enjoyed our latte and cafe au lait. Fabulous coffee for sure. read more

Foreigner Cafe - turkey blt avocado, chicken blt avocado, latte, cafe au lait - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Fantastic food and service. I had my wedding reception here! We did not know how it was going to pan out given the current Covid situation... Noryn went above and beyond and we had a amazing, memorable reception. My wife and I decided to keep the reception small and intimate (25-30 people). Foreigner was able to accommodate my party! Noryn has been very responsive from the start. We went back and forth on the arrangements. We agreed on a four course lunch menu. 3 of our guests dropped out and to replace them, she gave all the guests a extra cauliflower dish. The appetizer salad was great. Crack potatoes were so good, barely any left. And that was just the start. Cauliflower was pretty good. Guests had 4 options for entree to choose from (chicken white, dark, salmon, mushroom lasagna). Salmon with wasabi mash potatoes was the highlight. So good that everyone almost licked their plates. Chicken was cooked to perfection. Noryn (the owner) is the queen of potatoes. Wow!! For deserts, we got two tarts. Almond pear tart - my favorite. Nothing was left. Strawberry crumble tart- my wife's favorite. The wine choices she had were on point. Our guests drank a lot ( 13 bottles). She even served beer to a couple guests for free. All our guests raved about food after the event. We agreed to end at 4pm but we stayed much longer and she did not complain. Fantastic service throughout. We could not have asked for a better experience. We have been coming here on and off since they opened and food has always been awesome. read more

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Food was alright... but portions were a bit small to be honest Taste was OK, drinks were alright too Seating was nice and ambiance too Just a bit small and average tasting food imo read more