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    Prime BBQ

    4.7 (936 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 11:30 pm

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    PRIME BBQ ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - Prime BBQ

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    Scott L.

    Would be a four except the service is not friendly or professional. Water refiller ended up spilling water on one of our diner's - poured from too high of an angle and initial pour splashed on our companion, additionally Kimchee and Seaweed salad is one small double condiment size dish per table regardless of number of diners per table, a table of two gets the same portion as a table of five, we asked for one more but was told one per table, additionally servers bring out the food with no enthusiasm or smile on their faces. They will also rush you out after completing your meal. We tried a variety of dishes from appetizers like Fried Chicken Skin (addictive and likely bad for you but so are many other things), Skewers, Wagyu, Okra, Lamb, Chicken, etc... all the food was good, just a turn-off due to the service.

    Vermicelli Scallop w/ Garlic was the size of a nickel
    Dalengua T.

    Place is nice and neat, clean Food is tasty but portion runs small, real small. It's like kids meal when comparing to other bbq stick places. Server - all three running around: Forgot to light up our toaster Did not refill our water or drinks I was told I must do this and that on the menu in order to get the daily special. Customers spent $$$ on skewers would not care to do this or that for an extra one, your daily special meant to attract customers instead inconvenience drives customers away.

    Carena N.

    A bit fusiony for a typical Chinese bbq place with some Japanese yakitori options. My personal favorites were the beef tongue (JP), chicken hearts (JP), Gizzard (CH), Lamb (CH), Beef (CH), Achoy, and Green chives. Semi sweet glaze over complimented well with some of the bitterness of the veggies. Spice powder on the side was also a nice addition! Barely spicy but good to add with the meat. Honestly everything was not bad. My biggest gripe though was that these hot plates were heated by two tea lights and basically did little to nothing. You can hold your finger there and it will feel barely warm at all. The food is already cooked so it's not like it did anything other than to "warm." There were other tea light candles underneath and if the other ones lit up, it might've actually did something. If I could, I would've lit them all up since I prefer my food hot. Otherwise, these hot plates are pure aesthetic, near zero function.

    Lotus Root ($3.75), Grilled Scallops ($2.99) and Enoki Mushrooms ($2.89)
    Calvin C.

    Prime BBQ was nice. We visited on a Sunday around 5:30pm and were seated quickly. There was ample street parking. Skewers ranged in price from around $3 to $6. We also ordered some side dishes for around $7 to $9, Cucumber Salad, Chicken Karaage, Grilled Eggplant, and Agedashi Tofu. After ordering the food came out quickly. They were all pretty good. For what you get, we found the side dishes to be the best value. The skewers were good, but some can be pretty light. Okra, for example, is $3.45 but only has three pieces. We liked the ribeye skewers which were $5.99 and had four pieces. Overall, it was good. But there are so many good places to eat in San Mateo. We'll probably try some other places before coming back to Prime BBQ.

    Grilled Oyster w/ Garlic
    Yikai L.

    Recommend the fried eggplant. Beef (chinese style) and beef tongue (japanese style) are also highly recommended.

    Skewers
    Joanne T.

    Who knew a vegetable could become the star of the show at a bbq spot? While all the skewers here are excellent (especially the lamb) the fire eggplant fries are a must. I could eat the whole dish myself.

    Interior
    Vanessa W.

    After trying both skewer spots on 25th Ave, Prime BBQ has the edge. The izakaya selection has a good variety of meats and veggies alongside rice dishes, and small plates that make it easy to share. The drink list is strong too, with plenty of unique teas, juices, and sodas. They also have a ton of sake and beer options. Service was friendly and attentive, and the decor is warm and cozy with a surprising number of labubus hanging around the bar area. The only downside is the price, which runs high if you are ordering multiple skewers and drinks. Still, for quality, variety, and vibe, Prime BBQ is a solid pick for a fun night out.

    Lychee Bacon
    Toby M.

    This place stands out from its skewer competitors around! Compared to some other places (one even down the street), Prime BBQ offers so much more variety, unique dishes, and even different flavors of the same meat to keep things diverse. Curry Chicken Katsu: pretty basic but we liked the offering of actual dinner plates instead of just skewers; rice was watery though Lychee Bacon: something we've never seen combined and it surprisingly works! We even ordered a second skewer Meats: out of all that we tried, I recommend the pork belly the most; second favorite was chicken skin but the one with the sauce on it vs. the plain one; chicken heart was also really flavorful They have daily specials - we came on a tuesday and got the buy 1 get 1 50% off ribeye skewer and that wasn't bad, just a bit chewy. There was a BOGO beer offer too. Service was sporadic. They do a really good job explaining each skewer they drop off so you know what you're eating, but we weren't checked on and it took us getting up and heading to the bar to even get a check.

    Yakitori Veggie Combo
    Addy K.

    Been here a couple of times now and overall it's been a solid experience. Prices are reasonable for what you get. The rubs on the skewers aren't too spicy, but they do lean on the saltier side. We ordered the yakitori set along with the lamb skewers; both were cooked well and came out quickly. Their grilled eggplant was also a hit. The decor is nice, the place is clean, and service was fast and efficient. Overall, a nice, quaint Chinese BBQ spot that's easy to come back to when you're craving skewers.

    Kevin N.

    Great spot for skewers and drinks at night. Staff here are super friendly and the place has a nice cozy vibe. They offer a mixture of Japanese and Chinese skewers and you can easily order via a barcode/app! Ordered a variety of skewers of beef tendon, beef ribeye, Wagyu, pork, chicken gizzards, scallop, Japanese scallop, enoki, shishito pepper, and cucumber salad. Everything was tasted great, seasoned nicely and had a good amount of spice to it. Would skip the tendon though, a lil too chewy for my taste. Had the consistency of mochi but otherwise would come again!

    Pinhwa S.

    Had such a great time at Prime BBQ in San Mateo! We ordered the veggie fried rice, cucumber salad, mentaiko stir-fried udon with shrimp, vermicelli scallop with garlic, grilled oyster with garlic, and a bunch of skewers -- shishito pepper, wagyu steak with uni, beef tongue, and chicken meatball. We also tried the Thai tea (with the cutest bear on top ) and a bottle of Kubota "Senjyu." Everything was tasty, but my absolute favorite was the mentaiko udon, the beef tongue skewers, and the chicken meatball. Also, don't miss their $2 lunch specials (Fri-Sun) for oysters, abalone, and scallops. Super cute space with Labubu decor and a big sake selection. Highly recommend!

    Anh T.

    Our friend really wanted us to try this place and I can totally see why! They have a large variety of items including yakitori AND chinese skewers. Their seasoning on the chinese skewers is sweeter and less salty than other places I've tried. They also have this jar of chili powder that tastes a lot like oxtail which was so unexpected. Only complaint is that food came out slower than preferred and it also took a while to get our check. Probably not a quick bite to eat if you have somewhere to go. Also I believe it's only street parking.

    Gyu Don
    Rachelle C.

    Stumbled upon Prime BBQ after seeing that they have almost 5 stars, but I personally do not feel the same way after my experience. A cool, fun vibe - definitely a millennial's playlist playing in the restaurant! Came in on a slow Sunday afternoon. There was very little interaction with the service staff as we were only greeted once and never checked in on for water. The floor was extremely slippery/greasy and the table was sticky. We ordered a little bit of everything... Some yakitori, noodles and a bowl. From what we ordered, we enjoyed the Gyudon the best! (Even though the side veggies were not evenly cooked)

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    Prime BBQ Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Prime BBQ

    How are the private karaoke rooms priced?

    Is this a buffet restaurant?

    No. You look at a QR code menu then order via the menu. It is delivered to your table. Want more? QR code menu.

    Are reservations available?

    Yes, it is available. We do take reservation for parties of 5 or more people. You can call us at 650-458-3838 to make reservation. Thank you.

    Is it recommended to make reservations or is it first come first serve?

    During the weekend, if there is big group over 5 people, I recommend that you make reservations by calling us at 650-458-3838.

    Does it get smokey inside or is it well ventilated? Will clothes smell of dinner?

    The grilling is done in the kitchen. I do not notice smoke from the kitchen. Your clothes will smell like dinner to the extent as similar to other restaurants. Not from active grilling smoke at this restaurant.

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    Keitan Binchotan Yakitori

    Keitan Binchotan Yakitori

    4.4
    (482 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    My friend and I came here a few weeks ago. The parking situation wasnt too bad, there is a parking…read moregarage around the corner. She ended up ordering whatever she wanted. It was the combination one and I think she made the best choice. I think the best was the bbq chicken and beef. Honestly, everything here was good. It was intimate and the ambiance was pretty good! The service was quick and the people were hella nice. I will come here gain.

    Love that there's a late-night yakitori spot in San Mateo! I stopped by after landing at SFO late…read moreat night, and it really hit the spot after a long and stressful flight. The space itself is small, intimate, and quaint, making it a cozy spot for some skewers and drinks. I ordered a large bottle of Sapporo and greatly appreciated that it came with a chilled glass. The tako wasabi was also good and is one of my favorite things to pair with an ice-cold beer. The mentaiko udon was satisfying, although I thought it tasted much more like kimchi than mentaiko. Luckily, I enjoy kimchi, so I still liked the dish, but it might be disappointing for anyone expecting that richer, briny mentaiko flavor to come through. I'd honestly consider renaming the dish or making the description a little clearer to avoid confusion. The skewers came out relatively quickly, and most were enjoyable, although there were definitely a few hits and misses. Surprisingly, the ribeye was tastier than the wagyu skewer, which leaned a little dry. The chicken skin was solid, though not quite as crispy as I've had elsewhere. The scallop was easily one of my favorites--it was tender, perfectly seasoned, and delicious. I would've happily ordered a few more if I had room. The tsukune, unfortunately, was pretty dry and plain, even after dipping it into the egg yolk, so that's one I'd probably skip next time. Overall, not every skewer was a winner, but there were enough standouts to make it a satisfying late-night meal. The cozy atmosphere, cold beer, quick service, and convenient late hours make this a spot I'd happily return to after a late flight. A solid 4/5 for me--although getting off a long and stressful flight may have made me a little more forgiving too, haha.

    Photos
    Garlic Shrimp, Butabara (Pork Belly) 2Pcs (2Pcs)
    Garlic Shrimp, Butabara (Pork Belly) 2Pcs (2Pcs)
    Perfectly grilled corn!
    Perfectly grilled corn!
    Skewers | ig: whaEVAeats

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    Skewers | ig: whaEVAeats
    Yakitori Kokko

    Yakitori Kokko

    4.1
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$$

    This yakitori spot is definitely worth a visit, especially if you're dining with family or a group…read moreof friends. Parking, there's a small lot in front with only about three spaces if you're lucky but there is 3 hour street parking nearby. We made a reservation, and the restaurant was packed with families and groups, so reservations are highly recommended unless you're dining early. My favorite features is the outdoor patio seating in the back, which is pet-friendly and perfect. The yakitori is delicious, and they proudly use premium-grade charcoal, which really comes through in the flavor. That said, after several skewers, it can start to feel like you're eating variations of the same grilled meat. Thankfully, the menu also includes rice dishes and ramen, which help round out the meal and add some variety. HIGHLY recommend the wagyu. The beer selection on tap is good, and the overall atmosphere is lively and welcoming. The restaurant is also conveniently located just a couple of blocks from downtown San Mateo, making it easy to stroll around afterward. There are plenty of dessert spots, boba shops, and other places to explore nearby, which makes for a fun night out. Great food, great atmosphere, pet-friendly seating, and a vibrant neighborhood. I'd happily come back again.

    Best izakaya no cap Ramen good rice good yakitori good fried…read morestuff good appetizer good beer good Server friendly Worth to drive 7 hrs for this Busy weekend tho

    Photos
    Kokko's menu (updated on 1/9/2022)
    Kokko's menu (updated on 1/9/2022)
    Kokko's menu (1/9/2022 updated )
    Kokko's menu (1/9/2022 updated )
    Yakitori Kokko

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    Mokutanya

    Mokutanya

    3.9
    (2.5k reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    Cute but pricey izakaya (it is owned by non-Japanese Asians!) They have a parking lot so don't park…read moreon the street like I did (alternatively, you could take Caltrain as they are right across the street from Broadway station!) The private booths are intimate, the lighting is dimmed, music is bopping (not to age myself, but it was bops from my high school years) Fitting, as I was getting dinner with my best HS friend! I love how you take off your shoes to get in the booths! So cute and fun. There were some families there and the kids were given coloring pages. Coming from SF, this is how you know you're in the suburbs. The skewers were delicious. A group of 4, we ordered 4 of each. We tried steak, chicken, takoyaki, fries (which were pretty much takoyaki fries), bacon-wrapped mochi, bacon enoki mushroom, unagi, fried chicken skin, Uzura Tamago (Quail Eggs), and more! Everything was good and flavorful. However, it ended up being over ~$70/person, so not cheap. I will say service was lacking. They didn't bring us the bill for over 20 minutes. Relatedly (in that it's negative), whoo boy was my stomach upset after! It was delicious, but at the cost of being greasy.

    A great, reliable spot if you're looking for a fun yakitori and Japanese tapas-style dinner…read moreexperience, especially one that closes decently late no matter the day. We came to Mokutanya for a casual night out. It was pretty late for a sushi spot to be open on a Sunday night (around 8:30 pm), and overall, it hit the spot. The menu has a lot of variety, and it's definitely a good place to share dishes with friends or a group. FOOD: 8/10 The skewers were the highlight for me and, I believe, one of their specialties. They were well-seasoned, nicely grilled, and served hot off the grill. I also enjoyed trying a variety of small plates, which made the meal feel fun and interactive. Some dishes were better than others, but overall it was a solid experience with good flavor and variety. We ordered their Raw Oysters, and it was decent. It definitely was not the freshest we've ever tried, but it was still good, thankfully. SERVICE: 8/10 Service was standard, but the staff was chill and easygoing. AMBIANCE: 8/10 The restaurant has a warm, lively, and slightly upscale-casual feel, great for groups or a casual night out. You can experience zashiki seating, where you take off your shoes before entering the dining area and sit down at low tables. The lighting was pretty dark, lol. Overall, it's a solid late-night option if you're in the mood for skewers, small plates, and a relaxed group dining experience.

    Photos
    Mokutanya
    Momo w/ Wasabi Wagyu Beef (Salt & Pepper) Wagyu Beef (Sweet) Momo w/ Yuzu Honey Glaze
    Momo w/ Wasabi Wagyu Beef (Salt & Pepper) Wagyu Beef (Sweet) Momo w/ Yuzu Honey Glaze
    Shochu

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    Shochu
    DASH Japanese Tapas & Sushi

    DASH Japanese Tapas & Sushi

    4.2
    (566 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$

    The crispy fish skin combined with the aroma of eel creates a very delicious fried rice. I did not…read moreexpect to find such a good Japanese restaurant in a location that is quite far from the center of the food district. Besides the fried rice, the tuna and salmon sashimi are large, fresh, and high quality. Many times when I eat sashimi that is not very clean, it upsets my stomach and makes me want to use the restroom. However, the food here is both clean and fresh, and I had absolutely no discomfort after the meal. I also ordered chawanmushi and stir fried udon, both of which were very well executed. I would give full marks to this restaurant for both its sashimi dishes and main courses. The service is good, the environment is clean, and the dishes are priced normally, perhaps slightly on the higher side, but the value for money is reasonable. The only downside is that parking around this area is quite difficult. Overall, however, I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys omakase and appreciates high quality Japanese cuisine. 酥脆的魚皮加上鰻魚的香味,交織成一盤非常好吃的炒飯。我沒有想到在這麼偏離美食街中心的位置還有這一家好吃的日本料理。除了炒飯之外,鮪魚和鮭魚生魚片大片又新鮮,很多時候我吃不乾淨的生魚片料理會想上廁所,這家的食物又乾淨又新鮮,我在餐後完全沒有不良的反應。我也點了蒸蛋和炒烏龍麵,也是表現的非常不錯,我對這家餐廳的生魚片料理和主食給予滿分評價,良好的服務,乾淨的環境,正常且略為高價的料理,但是性價比合理。美中不足的地方是這附近停車非常困難,不過總體來說,推薦給喜歡吃Omakase的各位老饕。

    Overall: 3 stars…read more Restaurant with a captivating menu full of inspirationally fusion tapas. I love the innovation and understand where some of the flavors are coming from, but I think a bit of finetuning would help the dish land better for me. Peach Shirome - The white cream adds a jarring saline forward combination to the sweetness of the peach and the leanness of the white fish. I think this dish could work if it focused on a more succinct concept. Chu Toro / Otoro - The fattinest of the bluefin really comes through in the cut, but it also tastes like the fish has been sitting there a while which starts to add a slightly unpleasant fishiness. Tuna Salmon Tower - Classic notion of Japanese style tartare tower that tastes very pleasant and smooth with richness coming from the fish and avocado. The fish needs to be diced significantly more so it can eat like a tartare though. Dash Taco - Intriguing bite that recreates the flavor of a taco instead with a more pleasant crispy seaweed shell thats more delicate all around from the tender salmon to avocado to the topped salsa. Food: -1 Presentation: E Price: E Atmosphere: E Service: E Menu: +2 Insta/Yelp/Beli: @amei_eats Insta/TikTok: @ameizing.race

    Photos
    Omakase x 2
    Omakase x 2
    Fish Tacos
    Fish Tacos
    Wagyu beef

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    Wagyu beef
    Ichika Izakaya

    Ichika Izakaya

    4.5
    (270 reviews)
    8.7 mi
    $$$

    My husband and I had dinner here tonight, and overall it was a really memorable experience. We've…read moretraveled quite a bit and tried sushi in many different cities, including around the Los Angeles area where we live and have our favorite spots. So when we visit a sushi restaurant, we tend to evaluate everything as a whole -- price, quality, service, and of course the flavors. For dinner we ordered the Mango Tuna Roll (which was our first time trying a mango-style sushi roll), the 8-piece Omakase Nigiri, a Double Toro Roll, two pieces of Otoro, and a hot sake. With a 20% tip included, the total for the two of us came to $163.50, which honestly falls within the average range of what we usually spend for a sushi dinner like this. Normally we might pay around $120-$130 depending on the place, sometimes a little more if we add an extra item or two. The portion sizes were pretty standard. Not unusually large, but not small either -- similar to what we've experienced at many other sushi restaurants. Where this place really stood out was the depth of flavor. The quality and balance of the ingredients were excellent. At one point I actually caught myself closing my eyes just to focus on the taste, which is something I almost never do. The preparation felt very refined and the flavors were elevated, rich, and memorable. I would describe it as delicate portions with very elevated flavors. Because of that, I'm giving this place 5 out of 5 stars. This is the kind of restaurant that works perfectly for a nice dinner with your partner. It's not necessarily a place where you go wild ordering everything on the menu like at a taco spot. Instead, it's better to be thoughtful with what you choose and enjoy a few well-crafted dishes. You can easily have a special, enjoyable dinner here without going overboard. Definitely worth visiting if you're in the area and want a quality sushi experience with refined flavors. The only thing I felt was missing was a small welcome miso soup. In some sushi restaurants we've visited, they serve a tiny cup of miso with a couple pieces of tofu as a warm welcome. It's a very small gesture, but it creates a nice first impression and adds a sense of hospitality to the experience. Considering the quality and pricing of the menu here, a simple welcome miso soup would fit perfectly with the overall dining experience.

    I wasn't expecting such a legit Japanese restaurant to be in this plaza! I've been here several…read moretimes and always enjoyed every dish I got, and always had great service. They have regular specials which are often very good, a recurring special seems to be their uni and toro on a crispy base (yam if I remember correctly), which is always served with the seafood fresh and the base warm and crunchy! They also have great non-seafood options, I recently got the spicy lamb skewer, which was served warm, and seasoned and cooked to perfection. The restaurant is a pretty decent size, if you come early evening it's easy to get seated right away, but it gets pretty popular as the evening goes on!

    Photos
    Ichika Izakaya
    Spicy tuna crispy rice
    Spicy tuna crispy rice
    Double toro roll

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    Double toro roll

    Prime BBQ - bbq - Updated August 2026

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