Where to start? I have food allergies so I called 24 hours ahead before making my reservation per the instructions on their website. Gluten and shellfish. Check. We showed up at 4:55 Sunday evening at a venue in an ordinary strip mall with covered windows. We were the second party there, in a restaurant that seats 16 diners. The restaurant filled up halfway through our meal. We ordered the tasting menu for 2 and one wine pairing. Presentation of all dishes was superb and all were cooked to perfection. We started with a creamy potato leek soup in a glass demitasse cup, followed by a stone fruit salad with crispy prosciutto and ingredients from the chef's own yard. How cool is that? The miso sea bass stood out for both of us and we wished it was the main instead of just a taste of perfection. We would go back for that dish alone. The main was marinated tri-tip - and plenty of it. Like 5 slices! My wife's, pictured nearby, was superb, with slices of beef that melted in our mouths. My plate was not nearly as good, with every slice stringy. I let this slide because a cow is a cow and sometimes this happens. It's also hard to tell prime beef marbled fat from connective tissue when cutting with a sharp chef's knife. Dessert was sorbet and fresh fruit making my tongue very happy. The paired wines echoed each dish, including dessert, and were well worth the price. As other reviewers have pointed out, the $80 charge is well under market value. Diners in downtown San Francisco could easily pay $240 and up for the same menu and cooking quality. We'll be watching the website for the next menu change. Anyone else wish they could email customers when it's updated? read more

Made reservations two a Monday night at 7pm, arrived right at our start time and were quickly seated. Restaurant had around 5 other groups dining but didn't feel too busy, space is small and intimate so definitely recommend a reservation. Drinks: Wine pairing - came with 4 pours two whites, a red and a sparkling resling, the wines leaned towards European varietals, we were able to split the tasting which was perfect to get a small taste with the 4 courses Food: Caramelized Onion Bisque - a nice amuse bouche, savory with a rich caramelized onion flavor, slightly creamy velvety texture and mouth feel, served with a small toasted slice of bread with broiled cheese Roasted Nectarine Salad with Goat Cheese - solid, a very petit portion size, nectarines was juicy with a slight sweetness and subtle tartness, lemon vinegarette was a nice compliment, goat cheese was mild with a nice soft whipped texture, caramelized pecans added sweet crunchy texture and pops of flavor Black cod with Burre Blanc - tender cod that flaked away with a soft texture, paired nicely with the buttery creamy beurre blanc sauce, snap pea puree added a bit of sweetness, a tad small but very tasty House made sourdough - great, served warm, interior was moist with a nice springy bouncy, great crunchy crust, served with softened butter, wish this came out more towards the beginning but I think the intention was to use it to soak up some sauce so understandable Strawberry Sorbet - great smooth and silky texture on the sorbet ripe strawberry without being too sweet, paired with some Earl gray sponge cake which had a great airy texture, cherry sauce, and crunchy meringue pieces, a nice portion size as well here Grilled Tri-Tip, cooked to a perfect medium rare , super tender, chimmichri added herbaceous slightly spicy garlic kick, sweet romanesco sauce was an interesting contrast, roasted potatoes were great for soaking up the sauces, also served with some grilled bell peppers and a few sauteed shrimp, filling and hearty generous portion size on the main dish Service was excellent, very attentive and well paced. Water was refilled throughout the meal and silverware changed out between each course. Great knowledge of the wines paired with the dishes. Overall really enjoyed Hapa bistro, a small seasonal menu that's well executed, a great affordable tasting menu in the peninsula, French heavy influence, would definitely revisit to try the next seasons offering. read more

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I really appreciated having an upscale meal experience without having to adhere to a dresscode although I felt bad because the restaurant interior is really nice yet I was in sweatpants. I also felt that the price was so reasonable for the quality. Server was also so nice moving tables around for my party of 5. My brother is allergic to salmon and they had a different plate for him (I tried a bite and it was DELICIOUS). I can't wait to come back! read more

Another terrific meal with friends at a very reasonable price ($80/person prix fixe with $25 pate add on that's shareable). Warm, cozy environment with very good, attentive and welcoming service. I didn't realize that Sohei is now in the back of the house preparing these wonderful dishes but glad he came out a couple of times and we were able to say, Hello, and share some of his southern French and Italian inspirations along with use of Japanese ingredients and flavors. The dashi and tuna crisp, hamachi crudo, pate, warm sourdough bread, chicken cordon bleu, and strawberry ice cream dessert were all well executed. Glad to see that they have a nice selection of wines now, too, as well as an optional wine pairing for only $40. We had a crisp Chardonnay that paired well with the courses. Definitely, coming back after their menu changes again to see what creative, fun, but elegant dishes Sohei, his mom, and the Hapa Bistro team comes up with next!! read more

First time eating at Hapa, it's a cute restaurant with great service with Sohei. Food was delicious especially the sourdough bread. Country pate was really good and a great value for a 4 course meal. Definitely will be back read more

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$70 for a tasting menu - had to check this out! I had dinner reservations for two on a Friday night. My friend kept referring to the location as "quaint" and "intimate". Located in a tiny strip plaza, we had no idea what to expect and were pleasantly surprised. There were only a handful of tables inside of a quiet, dimly lit restaurant. We also did the $25 pâtè optional add on. The wait staff were very gentle, soft spoken and polite. My friend and I kept joking that we were too "loud" (lots of laughing) and were going to get kicked out...it's that kinda place (very quiet...). **Menus change seasonally** so this speaks to my experience of the 2025 menu. The hits: * butternut squash soup - excellent, full flavor profile, rich (could have been a wee bit larger of a serving) * scallops - perfectly cooked, the cream/sauce was a little heavy against the scallop * pâté - flavorful, delicious and the warm sourdough was perfect * pork - very good, excellent, juicy (I almost never order pork from a menu) Underwhelming: * fig gallete - the gallete dough itself was a bit bland * poached pear with zabaione - this was a no; the Marsala wine in the zabaion was overpowering and made the dish unpleasant. Was kinda a bummer after such a lovely meal. Would have been nice to have a pear crisp or pear tart instead. All in all, Hapa Bistro is worth checking out - fine dining is not something that comes to mind when I think of San Bruno and this spot was a fun change of scenery. read more

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thought we finally had a cute bistro with decent price, unfortunately, our dining experience is the worst. hamachi curdo is so fishy, color looked stale already, and the main course, duck~~~~~this is the only place i had gamey duck~~~ the skin is behind gamey definitely frozen for too long, the meat looked pink but just very gamey, the gameiness gets to the all the veggies . it is been a while but never goining back read more

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Love this bistro! The vibe and atmosphere reminded us of bistros in France. Every dish served was amazing last night! What makes this tasting unique was the touch of Japanese fusion-a perfect marriage. read more

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Such a wonderful dinner and experience at Hapa Bistro. Sohei was an excellent host and server and the food was magnificent. So many highlights in the meal as well as in the decor and woodwork of the restaurant. I do recommend that you let them know well ahead if you have any dietary restrictions. Otherwise, just enjoy this gem with gusto! read more

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I took my husband here for his birthday, and everything was amazing! Each course was extremely delicious, very professional, and very balanced. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the menu. The pate is an extra add-on, but I really recommend it! It was the best pate I've ever had! Our main course was beef bourguignon, and the beef was so tender and rich in flavor. Service was great, and it's a very romantic and cozy ambience. read more

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Just had a great meal there with friends, very impressed with the ambiance, service, & food! Very small intimate restaurant giving off homey and comfortable vibes. One lady was doing most of the serving, & she did a great job, not only just serving dishes & clearing the table, but also engaging in conversation so that it feels like we're invited guests instead of being customers. Price fix menu was spot on, loved all the courses, mix of flavors & textures were amazing. We all especially loved the hamachi crudo with the citrus cilantro sauce, we all wanted to drink up the sauce! We also had their non alcoholic beverage mix: a grapefruit mix & a strawberry mix, both very delicious & refreshing. Price for the meal is really reasonable too for the quality. They change their menu every 3 months and today's menu is in its second week. We will be back! read more

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I love trying family owned restaurant. I believe this one is owned by a son and his mom. It's interesting how they turned a typical office space into a restaurant. I loved the simple and yet relaxing ambience. There were about 6-8 sets of tables, giving the place a cozy vibe. Service was spectacular. They changed your setting after each course, a true fine dining experience. :) I got a 4 course meal for $70, and added the housemade pate for an additional $25. They change their menu about every 6 weeks. Lastly, the food was generally tasty. I especially enjoyed the deconstructive cardamom ice cream lemon tart dessert. The only feedback I have for them was the steak. They didn't ask my party how well we'd like our steak. Worst of all, both the plates and the steak came out cold. Hope they will take this feedback in consideration for the future patrons. read more

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Came by for both lunch and dinner the other week and it was a mediocre experience. Parking is available on the street or in the private strip mall lot. Walk-ins were available for lunch and dinner required a reservation with a $70 fee for no-shows. Started off with the duck confit for lunch and it was a pretty pedestrian meal. I've had better renditions of this at corner bistros in Paris. The potato gratin and tomatoes that complemented this entree were decent. The lava cake and pear tart were also extremely pedestrian in my book with whipped cream and fruits to complement each dessert. The pear tart wasn't the freshest. For dinner, the highlight of the meal was the celery root soup that was served in a plastic cup?!? along with a super light and flakey spanakopita. Opted for the pate add-on which was clearly written as $20 on the menu but was charged $25. Informed the waiter whom informed me that it's supposed to be $25 and did nothing about it. The pate was decent although the pate that was served that evening was different from the ones that others had...especially the pastry crust around the pate?!? The homemade sourdough was decent and served with some whipped butter. The hamachi carpaccio was good with the vinaigrette and radish. A slightly stronger vinaigrette would make this even better. The firto miso course was a touch too simple for a bistro. It was a simple shrimp, scallop, and croquette over a bed of vegetables. The main course featuring the dry aged duck was remarkably similiar to the duck confit for lunch. Again, the duck that came out was a medium well compared with the medium rare one that other diners had in previous weeks... The potatoes were obviously kept warm under a heat lamp and not fresh...bummer. The almond petite cake was also lacklustre as it didn't taste too fresh. Bummer. The dinner experience, especially the nonchalent approach to the misprint on the pate left a sour taste in my mouth. I felt that the photos from previous diners vs what was served the evening that I visited were vastly different...like if the dishes came from a completely different chef. ~$100/head for dinner and ~$38/head for lunch after tax and gratuity. read more

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I've heard of Hapa Bistro for a few months but never bit the bullet until recently (c/o Amex Platinum for giving us some incentive to go. I think half the guests there had the same idea because we saw quite a few cardholders). I love that it's a family owned restaurant run by a mom and son. The restaurant itself is tiny, but cute. They made the space work. I'd recommend requesting a table by the wall in your reservation notes if you want to be a bit more secluded. Parking is ample. There's a lot with a decent amount of free parking, so you don't need to stress about that. Service was a little spotty. They definitely try to be nice, but I don't think they know how to handle requests very well. My fiancé noted that I was pescetarian in the reservation as well as in the text confirmation. We then clarified again as we sat down, and were told that they would check in with the kitchen. I didn't get an answer, so I asked again what the substitution for the duck entree would be. I was given the roundabout again about how staff would check. Lo and behold, when the primary course came, guess what I was served. I sent the initial duck dish back, and they came back shortly with a pescetarian-friendly dish. Food itself was actually decent for the price. It's not Michelin-worthy, but I don't think they're doing for a star. The food is a bit more elevated than most. The initial squash velouté was a bit bland, although I did enjoy the cheese bite it came with. Burrata salad was fresh, but nothing special. I also don't love butter lettuce to begin with, but at least this was light and healthy. The salmon dish was a bit cold, and I expected it to be hot. I think they might just cook everything at once and let it sit out? It was cooked well, but the hollandaise sauce was more like a cheese sauce compared to traditional hollandaise. My corrected main course was a seared ahi tuna dish, which was again, on the lighter side but I liked the yuzu sauce it came with and the accompanying vegetables. For dessert, they provided a complimentary slice of chocolate cake for special events in addition to an apple pastry. I usually don't like baked fruits, but I was able to stomach the apples. I wasn't a fan of the pastry crust itself though. It was not very flaky and I found it a bit hard to cut through just using a fork. I do wish they described the dishes a bit more instead of just reading off what is literally listed on the menu. I think if you're just going to tell me what it is without additional details, there's really no need because I can read it on my own. I am curious to see how the menu will change though! read more

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We came for a large family dinner and the table was beautifully set up. Very intimate setting inside, great attentive service who kept our drink glasses full. Each dish was delicious and fresh, and I left feeling satisfied after the dinner. The sourdough bread and pate is extra but would definitely recommend read more

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It was love at first bite. I'll take a dozen lengua tacos, please! Lengua taco at a fine dining French resto?! Yep...and in San Bruno! Anyone that has the balls to open a fine dining resto in the burbs known for humble ethnic eats, I'm there! Well, if it's affordable. Soft opening in mid-January, Hapa Bistro took over Kitchen Therapy. Currently open for dinner only. Rezzies only (Resy) with two seatings a night (no walk-ins). Starting 2/8/25, they'll roll out lunch service with French, Japanese, and American dishes. M E N U Globally-inspired French Cuisine. The chef is Japanese with an affinity for French cuisine. Soft opening 4-course tasting menu for $70 pp (menu changes monthly). Optional $30 non-alkie beverage pairing (a la carte drink menu available). Everything is housemade. Liquor license pending. D R I N K * Apple & Black Bean ($10): https://tinyurl.com/2493tjaf Subtle apple cider flavor with warming spices from the cloves, cinnamon, and black pepper...and tinge of savory note from the black bean. 4 - C O U R S E T A S T I N G M E N U // $70 PP * Amuse Bouche: Cauliflower Soup + Tart w/ crab: https://tinyurl.com/3v3fw9ar Great starter in this wintry cold rainy weather, the savory soup was velvety smooth with a mild sweetness. A nice complement to the creamy delicately crisp tart topped with fresh seasonal crab. * Beef Tongue Taco w/ lentil, tomato confit: https://tinyurl.com/9u55p93s One of the best bites I've had in recent memory, the lengua was intensely beefy and meltingly tender with a creamy tang from the accompaniments. The housemade flour tortilla was crisp yet pliable. Ugh. So bomb. * Ocean Trout w/ spinach, pineapple & carrot salad, yuzu kosho: https://tinyurl.com/bwud73b3 Perfectly cooked for my personal preference (I like raw over cooked fish), the skin was crispy while the flesh was rare. Well-balanced course - mild delicate buttery flavor with pleasant sweetness and citrus tang. * Duck Roast w/ potato, kale, beet purée, port wine sauce: https://tinyurl.com/mr2fujzj The roast duck was hella on point, meaty and moist with a perfectly rendered crispy skin. Crispy soft potato, lotus chips, earthy kale, and savory sweet sauces complemented and contrasted the duck's flavor and texture. * Housemade Bread & Butter Served warm, the rustic bread was crusty and soft with an easily spreadable butter. When providing feedback, we forgot to mention that a Hokkaido milk bread would be great for the bread course to tie into the chef's roots. * House Gelato w/ orange, custard, cacao nibs: https://tinyurl.com/29hay969 Refreshing, lightly sweet ending to a fantastic meal - creamy matcha gelato with sweet orange segments, lightly bitter cacao nibs, and crunchy meringue shards. I arrived hangry and the portions were just right without me thinking about Jack in the Crack tacos afterwards. However, the portions may be a tad small for a hangry meat & potatoes dude. S E R V I C E Refined, warm welcoming service from owner, Sohei. It's a two-person show with just the chef and the owner as the captain/server. It looks like they worked out the kinks from their first week, as each dish had an intro. We were the only diners during our Friday night seating. Prompt food service with the tasting menu taking about 65 minutes. A M B I A N C E Intimate, home-y dining room with romantic vibes - mood lighting, fresh flowers adorning each table, and easy listening music (*ahem* V-day is just around the corner!). Tables are nicely spaced out with seating for 12 diners. P A R K I N G Easy free parking in the small plaza. Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised with Hapa Bistro. For the soft opening, the tasting menu was expertly executed, showcasing the chef's technical skills and top-tier ingredients. IMHO, Hapa Bistro rivals fine dining restos in the city and they're the ones to watch out for! read more

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Came here for a weekday lunch. Hapa Bistro is family-run restaurant, located in a little plaza in San Bruno on El Camino; there're a few parking spots, but it was already quite busy when we visited on a weekday lunch so you might need to find parking on the street. Service was lovely and the space was traquil and chill. We both enjoyed our dishes! My sister-in-law had the chirarshi and I had the chicken cordon bleu. I was shocked I finished the whole dish; it was yummy and such great comfort food. read more

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Hapa was a recommendation by a neighbor & I'm so glad my husband & I went! What a uniquely excellent addition to San Bruno! I highly recommend for a special celebration or intimate evening out. The setting is cozy & the service is attentive & personable. Each dish was colorful, beautifully presented, & deliciously prepared. The meat dish in our menu was chicken cordon bleu & it was tender & juicy, not chewy & dry. I have a dairy allergy & the restaurant was most accomodating with the dessert. The wine pairing was very well matched & not over-poured. I found the set menu to be balanced, without over powering flavors, having more than enough food, but not excessive. Lastly, an added treat is that they have parking!! We wish Hapa much success & hope they remain in San Bruno! Thank you Hapa for a tasty & pleasantly paced dining experience! read more

Impromptu date night on Saturday. Hidden gem located in a strip plaza with small parking lot. It's newly opened for several months, family operated with mom and son Sohei working the front of the house. Menu is seasonal prix fixe menu $70 with optional wine pairing and pate add on. Atmosphere is inviting and intimate. We arrived with Sohei opening the door for leaving guests, greeted warmly and sat right away with reservations. Meal was well paced with no long waits between courses. The portions are generous and we definitely left full. The proteins and vegetables were cooked to perfection. Highlights for us were the Heirloom tomato & burrata salad w/ balsamic, Herb Crusted Salmon w/ leek hollandaise, and our favorite was the Peach Melba. All the food was great quality and made in house down to the sourdough bread. Salmon was tender and buttery paired with the sauce, crust and asparagus provided a nice crunch/textural component. The dessert featured creamy homemade vanilla ice cream, cookie bits, balanced with tart raspberry and sweet peaches. Definitely plan to come back and try out another menu. read more

Hapa Bistro - Menu - French Near Me - San Bruno, California

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(Tom Cruise voiceover) Was on a mission to find the best place to dine close to an exfil like SFO. The vibe is most fabulous hidden restaurant in San Bruno! Right on El Camino! Yes, hidden. Fabulous setting and soundtrack! Likely to make every evening cinematic! Josh warmly greeted me. Sans reservé mais I was treated with impeccable courtesy! And Josh is a one-man-army! Tasting Menu: Amuse bouche: Potato LEEK soup avec a phyllo pastry. Incroyable! TUNA TARTARE. Wasabi. An absolute delight! Micro greens and rice wafer. MEDITERRANEAN mocktail! Rosemary. Excellent happiness elixir! Grapefruit jus avec vanilla. Like a drinkable creamsicle! CHEESE SOUFFLE. Gruyere. The balsamic salad was refreshing, but the souffle! Wow! STEAK AU POIVRE. Avec legumes. This is why I came! Beef! It's what's for dinner. C'est parfait! TARTE AU CITRON. Lemon curd. Toe curling good! Deconstructed to perfection! The home made cardamom ice cream is the definition of glace. Understated elegance! A silent luxury for the palate! Would order everything again! And again! N'est pas, mademoiselles! Home made Sourdough! Amazing! Worth violating my low carb oath. VIRGIN LONG ISLAND. Ahemm. Floral. Incredible! Hapa means mixed heritage. And the cuisine fuses the finest apects of East & West cuisine! The maestro himself, Chef Sohei Lappen, came out! We talked wine and cuisine! Such an honor! Gochisousamadeshta! Arrigato gazaimasu, Chef Sohei and Josh! Will be back! (On an undisclosed time and date of course for opsec.) Woohoo! This review will self-destruct in 5..4..3..2..1 Poof! (cloud of smoke) read more

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I wasn't sure what to expect but it definitely exceeded any imaginations I had. The flavors were deep and rich and very well prepared. The portions were just right. It was an amazing last dinner before heading back to Asia. So close to the airport I might have to make it a habit before flying out next time. Make sure to make a reservation. It's a small and quaint restaurant read more

Hapa Bistro - Vegetable starting - French Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Adding a disclaimer to start: I went for their second seating on the first day of their soft opening on Jan 12. I fully expected things to be a work in progress still. This restaurant is inside the same space that is Kitchen Therapy during the day. It is currently prix fixe only, open for dinner, and two seatings a night. They currently do not have their liquor license, so I opted to go for their non-alcoholic pairing, which is basically all of their botanical drinks. The courses: Amuse-bouche Caulifower Soup and mini crab tart: These both had a light and delicate flavor, as expected for a warm-up. Appetizer Beef Tongue Taco: The braised tongue was tender and not stringy. The lentil and tomato confit gave some nice flavor pops, although the tortilla was hard. This was more a tostada than a taco. First Course Ocean Trout: The execution on this was great. Crispy and flavorful skin with the fish cooked just enough for it to start to flake. The pineapple and yuzu kosho offered some bright flavor contrast to the dish. Main Course Duck Roast: The duck breast was cooked medium and served with a port wine sauce that added a nice heartiness to the dish. I also enjoyed this dish and it's what you would expect from a French restaurant. Dessert Matcha gelato: The matcha on this was just enough to give it the distinct matcha flavor without overpowering it. I found the contrasting textures between the gelato, custard, cacao nibs, and meringue pleasant and delightful. Pairing: I didn't like the N/A pairing. I felt that they were weak (flavor) and didn't add to the meal. I shared this feedback with them. Service: This had a few rough moments. They had two people bringing out food, but only one person explaining the courses. This resulted in some courses being brought out to me and told to enjoy before the other person had made it to my table to talk about the course. No big deal, I just waited for them to come around on subsequent courses. The other issue was that my bread for the main course was somehow forgotten. With only four tables and hearing them explain to other tables how the bread was there to use sop up the sauce served with the duck, I still had to ask for it. Unfortunately, when I finally got it, it was burnt on the bottom. As I noted at the top, this was their first day during their soft open, I expected there to be issues. Both servers were pleasant and friendly. Overall, this was a positive experience. I hope that they are successful because the food was delicious. The things I noted above are things that are easily sorted out and their pricing was reasonable. I would give them another try after a while. read more

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AMBIANCE/LOCATION Hapa is tucked away in a small, inconspicuous lot with free parking. The restaurant was converted from an old office space to a nice cozy dining room that fits about 6 tables.The restaurant is newly renovated and very clean. You can tell this is a unique restaurant with a homey vibe. SERVICE Served by the owner himself! He was polite and accommodating. I will say that service may feel slower paced than normal because it's currently a one man show. Sohei was serving and bussing all the tables, and probably also helping in the kitchen with a bunch of other tasks too. There were only 3 parties at the restaurant (10 people total). The wait between every dish was ~15-20 minutes which was a bit too long for my taste, but at least my stomach had time to digest everything. Our entire dinner lasted a little over 2 hours. FOOD Amuse Bouche was great- loved the carrot soup. My only feedback was that it would come with a small spoon. I wanted every last drop of the soup. Tuna tartare- loved this one! It was my favorite. Cheese souffle with gruyere cheese and balsamic salad- light souffle. I wasn't the biggest fan of the salad because I think it was frisée leaves. Steak au poivre- it wasn't as tender as I would have liked but the flavor was there. Not too salty and 3 generous slices. Mine came out bleeding a bit into the sauce which I personally wouldn't normally mind but given that this restaurant is supposed to be in the fine dining category, I expected a bit more on plating presentation. We received bread with butter right before this dish. Tarte au Citron- was a bit disappointed when this came out in the form of an ice cream. I was anticipating a lemon tart. It was deconstructed so the lemon ice cream replaced the custard part. I loved the crumble. Flavor was great, not too sweet and perfect lemon flavor. The dessert itself was huge. I know plating is a thing but I would have liked it in a bowl vs a plate (small nit). Menu rotates every few weeks. I look forward to going back and trying something different. Overall I think this is a nice fine dining restaurant owned by a family. I left extremely full. I really liked that you can still get a taste of fine dining in San Bruno instead of driving out to SF or Silicon Valley. I know they are new and probably keeping cost low but I do hope they grow and will eventually be able to hire more people so they can serve more people during business hours. Btw, check out their catering business, Vienna Catering. I would imagine their catering business is comparably good. read more

5 stars for Hapa Bistro!! . We really enjoyed our time dining here. Like others mentioned, it is an intimate space in an unassuming strip mall along El Camino. Don't be fooled! The food is curated with fresh hand picked ingredients. Service is super friendly, prompt and attentive. We met Sohei (one of the owners, too). Such a great spot to visit for a special occasion but don't wait for one- just go and try Hapa Bistro! read more

Hapa Bistro - Poached Pear in wine with zabaglione - French Near Me - San Bruno, California

WOW, what a phenomenal dinner! My husband and I wanted to grab a quick bite for my birthday, but we didn't want to go all the way to San Francisco to eat. We found this gem of a restaurant and were able to get a last minute booking. The service was very professional and fast. The food was delicious and it really filled us up! This was a 10/10 experience and we'll definitely be back. FYI, according to the server/owner the menu changes every 2 months or so. It's a mother and son restaurant serving high quality French prefixed dinner. read more

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Beautiful, sophisticated French inspired prix fixe menu with clever Asian inflections. It was fall when we came, so the butternut squash soup and fig galette were great opening notes. Homemade pâté atop homemade sourdough bread was also excellent. For me the highlight was the Japanese scallops gratin, delicate and flavorful, though the stuff pork and Japanese sweet potato mash was also well done. Finally the poached pears with marsala wine sauce (grandma's recipe, we were toldl). Excellent for the price point and wine selection was also thoughtfully done. This is a local gem, check it out! read more

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I tried Hapa Bistro during their soft opening stage. First, the atmosphere is modern and relaxed, where tables are well distanced apart so each dining party has amble space. The owner Sohei was very friendly and engaging, sharing the background and inspiration for the restaurant. Dinner features a fixed course offering French inspired dishes using quality ingredients. The flavors were delicious from the first to last bite, each component, every course. The beef tongue taco, though not your traditional incarnation, was one of the best "tacos" I've ever had before. The celery root pie with mushrooms reminded me of an elevated pot pie with creamy mushroom soup. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly medium rare and so soft and tender. Though not needed to be satisfied, if you're a big eater, l suggest ordering the pâté en croûte ($25). Once Hapa has their official grand opening, wine and beer will be offered, along with a wine pairing. During their soft opening they have a nonalcoholic beverage pairing. We were able to BYOB during the soft opening. I highly recommend that you experience the remarkable dishes and warm atmosphere at Hapa. read more

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Five stars for our lunch time experience at Hapa Bistro!! Lunch menu offers French, Japanese & American items you can choose from. Two items we ordered were both not only very tasty but also reasonably priced and filling. We also enjoyed good service and comfortable space. As we spoke with one of the owners, we learned a lot more is developing in coming days and months. Looking forward to try more here! read more

Hapa Bistro - Chicken Cordon Bleu - French Near Me - San Bruno, California

Wonderful experience! The food was fresh and delicious, the staff were friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Amazing food & ambiance. Service is very attentive very very clean place. Cant find a coursed meal like this anywhere in millbrae and san bruno. Perfect for dates, recommend coming on weekdays for easy r The menu changes often so easy to frequent! read more

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When Asian-French fusion hits just right! To start, there was a few other starter items but the tomato tart is definitely a highlight, it was a light, bright appetizer -- beautifully flaky pastry topped with blistered cherry tomatoes, hints of creamy and a touch of fresh herbs. It balanced sweetness and acidity wonderfully, a refreshing way to open the meal. The homemade pâté was a standout, made with beef tongue and duck liver, it was rich without being overwhelming. The accompanying red date and fig sauce was an inspired touch. The rack of lamb was cooked perfectly medium-rare, with crispy asparagus and layered potato on the side -- classic but done really well. Dessert was light and refreshing with berries, ice cream, and lady finger. Overall, solid flavors, creative pairings, nice vibe. Already looking forward to what's on next month's menu read more

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I like this place～ very special. The food is good and I like the music. Service was good too. I like the Pata the most, highly recommend. read more

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Although I don't remember the names of all the courses on the prix fixe menu, everything was absolutely delicious. The service was excellent as well. We even had a chance to chat for a few minutes with the chef, who co-owns the restaurant with his mom. He was super nice! If you like a quiet, calm and peaceful place to enjoy food and conversation, this is the place. We love supporting local businesses and will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend! read more

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delicious food for a nice night out. every dish was well balanced and tasty. would definitely come back.

Overall a great meal, attentive service with delicious courses. Located in a strip mall off El Camino you would need to come as a destination. Parking available right out front which was a bonus. First course of cauliflower soup was hot and tasty although the little glass made it hard to get the last sip. 2nd course taco was surprisingly tender and melt in your mouth with delicious flavors. The next course the trout was salmon like and prepared with the crispiest skin and cooked perfectly, the final course before dessert was a steak with potatoes and cooked equally rare but well executed, right before the steak we were served a nice bread and butter dish, somehow it seemed like it was an over site as I would expect it to come earlier in the meal. The bread was warm and had a great crust a little salt with the butter would have made it perfect. Last but not least was a pistachio cake and milk cream with oranges. Generous portions for the number of courses, I'm feeling very full from it all, a great "deal" for $70/head in these current times. I hope they do well. read more

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So lucky to have this neighborhood gem! Y'all better capitalize on the $70 tasting menu before the demand goes up, it's really quite a steal considering the 5 courses and the high quality and the thoughtfulness of the flavors. 1st course: beef tart, leek soup. The tart was unexpectedly thin and crispy, and the soup was creamy and light, a good way to start off the meal. 2nd: beef tongue taco: the beef tongue was ultra tender and flavorful, and the corn tortilla was chewy and slightly sweet. Tomato remoulade was not exactly salsa but added some nice acid to the richness off the beef. Microgreens probably not necessary but nice texture. I wasn't sure if eating it with my hands was classless and peasant-like but I did and I have no ragrets. 3rd: trout with pineapple/carrot: omggggg the crispy skin! The trout was perfectly cooked through and the crispy skin really helped provide textual contrast to the soft fish. The carrot and pineapple slaw on top added brightness, and dipping the fish in the spinach puree was a fun way to change things up. Really fun to eat and beautiful colors and textures and tastes. 4th: duck breast with port wine sauce, beet puree, potato gratin, bread. The duck was super tender and flavorful. I don't eat duck that often but wondered if the skin could be more crispy. Good either way. The port wine sauce made a great addition to the meat and the bread helpful to soak it up because it was just that damn good. The bread was also an underrated star of the show, it was super crusty and warm, yet soft and chewy. Good on its own and even better with the sauce, and also fun with the beet puree which was intensely beet flavored in a good way, and pleasantly sweet. I'd never had anything like it! The gratin was good, nothing to write home about, but not bad by any means and a good starchy addition. 5th: pistachio mini cake with condensed milk ice cream: omggggg. This was so perfect and luxurious. The cake was tiny and warm and very caramelized on the outside, soft on the inside. There were some citrus bits in it that added nice pops of tartness and sweetness to cut through the creaminess of the ice cream. The flavor combo was so simple but so thoughtful. I resisted getting coffee but my wife ordered it for me an having it with the coffee was out of this world. To top it all off, Sohei came to us afterwards and was super friendly. He seemed focused on the true Hapa mission of the restaurant to fuse Japanese and French cuisines. He also wanted to make sure we had a great time which we absolutely did. My only complaint would be the drinks, while ok, I wasn't sure with my peasant taste buds if I was enjoying them the way they were meant to be enjoyed. I got an orange vanilla drink and my wife got a lime grenadine drink. Both ok, kind of like light juice with water and floral notes, but not sure if I'd pay $10 for them. Hapa bistro will benefit greatly from obtaining their liquor license which I'm told is in the works. Thank you Sohei for an amazing experience and very thoughtful flavors. Wishing the restaurant a lot of success! read more

Had a wonderful meal at Hapa Bistro! The courses of the tasting menu were lovely, and thoughtfully paired with the wines. Pretty atmosphere too - not what you'd expect from a strip mall :-) Enjoyed chatting with the owner too. Highly recommended! read more

We really enjoyed our dinner here! The prix fixe menu has a great variety of dishes. Intimate ambience and attentive service. The highlight for us was the pate - with fresh warm bread! The menu changes periodically - we will definitely come back! What a gem in San Bruno. read more

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Nice family run coxy restaurant. We ordered a 6 course set menu with reasonable price. Great food and high quality service. An ideal place for a relatively quiet gathering enjoying great food and chats. read more

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5 stars for the food! I love Japanese palette French food (slightly milder, incorporating iconic Japanese ingredients) so this hit the spot perfectly. I agree with previous reviews on the quality and commentary of each dish so I won't repeat them here but the reason I gave a 4 star overall is because the ambience doesn't match up to the level of the food. If the ceiling, restroom, and acoustics were renovated /redesigned to be as upscale as the food, I think it would complete the luxe course menu experience and could compete with fancy SF bistros as the slightly more affordable and accessible option for those who live in the peninsula. read more

Hapa Bistro - Drink and course menu on Feb 9, 2025 - French Near Me - San Bruno, California