So here it is coming from Sunday night working up a small appetite for supper- I definitely had to think about where to go and so I thought about it -"Let's try something different, but not too far off" and so I landed at a restaurant I always wanted to try after passing by many times - the Smiling BBQ at El Camino Real - and it should have a specific caption lol, "Beifang/Northern Chinese BBQ." So I went in around 8pm not to bad - a very cozy down to earth feeling, restaurant was clean and also had that Northern Chinese vibe. The restaurant was family owned so the manager basically just spoke Putonghua/Mandarin - talkabout like lowkey down to earth (it's as if you gotta be really into the Chinese vibe to get the experience at this joint ). Restaurant was super clean actually for a Chinese place, "chuu bian juo"-or what he said was "have a seat anywhere," (I should've asked do they have maotai and cigarettes lmao like in Chinese fashion-cigarettes and alcohol accompany meals --what a tradition). So I took a little time and decided ultimately go with mainly what the place was for - BBQ. NOW THE FOOD- I'd say that is a definite 4.5 solid for me - VERY GOOD AND SUPER AUTHENTIC - solid Northern Chinese skewers - I recommend the lamb skewer (yang ro), beef skewer (nuur ro), chicken wing (jichi), squid skewer (wuzei) and of course traditional homestyle chives-stuffed pancake (jiou chai he ji). I wasn't sure as this was my first time I wasn't sure how big the portions are so I also ordered what is a "guozi" or fried egg pancake roll just-in-case. To my surprise everything was actually super well grilled - smokey - flavorful . The beef was cooked well and the skewers has a good balance of fat-to-lean meat content, for $5 pricepoint for 2x skewers, not a bad deal at all. The lamb was also super flavorful, not gamey (which is plus) and was juicy not dry. All good and the chicken wings skewer of 2x wings was also grilled semi-crispy with some seasoned spices (love the flavor and aroma). The squid was also marinated well in a sweet glaze before and was not overly cooked so it had texture/not too dry. Now onto the chives pancake and gouzi/fried egg pancake roll. Both were homemade and they were decent. Chives stuffed pancake had a decent texture and for 2x pcs not bad. The guozi was stuffed with some sausages/hotdog and pretty decent for a side dish-sweet sauce was good with the bbq. NOW THE AMBIANCE-ultimately a 4/5 because it was nice, it was clean, but the way they served the food was really lowkey as the plate was nonexistent they simply give you a tray at each table. Sorta interesting. But the utensils and everything was clean so thats good. THE SERVICE - now this is anywhere around 4/5 I would say the owner. Was nice and friendly but really - you might wanna communicate in Putonghua/Mandarin like I did - I mean you could use English as there electronic smart phone menu is in English and Chinese - but to talk to them effectively - I'm glad my Chinese linguistics sorta came in handy. Ultimately very down to earth people - when I asked for water and napkins they were very helpful and accommodating. Ultimately - the is a good place. Definitely worth to visit time and again. read more

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The lamb skewers, the chicken, gizzard skewers, and the beef skewers were good The squid skewers were OK crunchy Do not get the kimchi fried rice It's literally like rice with oil and a hint of spiciness and more than a pinch of salt. The kimchi did not really have much flavor or a kick to it. When I went at opening, there literally was no one in the place and no person to greet to us We have to scan the QR code to order The ambience is very plain and kinda stagnant feeling The service people were very nonchalant Like they will look at you weird if you ask for more chopsticks, than the amount of people that you have Always ask for more napkins because they will not give you more if you do not ask read more

All the food that we ordered could not be eaten, it was either too spicy and weird tasting, the beef skewers were all dry and chewy, the squid had terrible flavor, the sauce spicy chicken was just not tasting right (couldn't explain the flavor. We ordered this via DoorDash and in doordash their name is "King of Bbq"- deceiving! Had I known this was smilingbbq and read the review here in Yelp I would NOT have continued with the order! You've been warned!! read more

Smiling BBQ - Stir fried chicken open frame (Wtheck does that even mean)?? - Barbeque Near Me - San Bruno, California

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You walk into Smiling BBQ and the first thing you notice is... nothing flashy. No trendy decor. No Instagram walls. And that's exactly the point. This is what real Chinese BBQ skewers looks like. The kind of place that doesn't need to impress you with aesthetics because the food already knows what it's doing. Family-owned, family-run. The staff is the family. And you feel it immediately, like you've stepped into a small neighborhood restaurant somewhere between Hong Kong and mainland China. There's a warmth here that can't be manufactured. The menu is simple, but every bite takes you back. From the beer selection to the grilled oysters to the BBQ itself... it's all honest, soulful, and unapologetically authentic. The kind of food that reminds you why street-side spots and humble kitchens often outshine overpriced "modern" versions trying too hard to be something they're not. And let's talk value. For the price? You absolutely cannot beat this place. Other spots charge more, dress it up, and somehow deliver less. Here, the quality is front and center... smoky, savory, deeply satisfying. What really blows my mind is how hidden this place still is. A quiet gem tucked away, flying under the radar, waiting for people who actually care about flavor over frills. This isn't a restaurant chasing trends. It's a place preserving something real. And honestly? That's rare. read more

Smiling BBQ - Beef bbq & intestine - Barbeque Near Me - San Bruno, California

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It's an okay place to go to if you're up for a late night snack. The food is cheap but mediocre, and the restaurant is very barebones and not the cleanest. The service was good though, as the owner was a great host and very attentive. But maybe that was because we were the only ones there... read more

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I like the food there and people there are nice! Lots of their dishes are surprisingly great!

Authentic Chinese BBQ Skewers Open Late at Night for Great Value How do I know it's authentic? My Fob friend told me! Cuz I'm the only ABC speaking person here. Ni keyi jiao wo shuo guo yi hao ma? When I speak English, I can feel the judgement and horror of not speaking Mandarin! Dui bu qi. Wo de mandarin is non existent. I'm thankful for getting called Fatty by my grandma as a kid! I got Roast Pork skin! I'm surprised this San Bruno Hole in the Wall BBQ Restaurant isn't more packed during dinner time because of its cheap, affordable prices! I come here after MMA gym sometimes to get that protein! Best value, tasty & fatty lamb skewers! 3 for under $5! Love this Chinese Street Food Vibe Hole in the Wall BBQ Spot! Reminds me of China! Easy to use QR App to order between you and your friends! You can easily see who ordered what when splitting the bill. Perfect for stingy frugal 50/50 Americans, Europeans, and gym bros on a date! Get them gains in your chest and your wallet! P.S. If you don't mind translating, Wo men jiao pong you hao ma? read more

Smiling BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Bruno, California

I LOVED THIS PLACE!! The food was so delicious and flavorful (aka the ideal place to get some bomb skewers/kebabs). We ordered other dishes like the chicken & scallops although I don't remember the names of the dishes but everything we ordered was so good!! This restaurant run by such a nice family (we love supporting small businesses)!! I met the whole staff and they made me feel so welcomed and I just loved the service and food so much I want to come back tomorrow. It also is so cool that they open until midnight so it's the perfect post night out meal. read more

Not recommended. The bbq is too dry with burnt meat. Also the sauce is way too strong and just superficially brushed on the bbq. The cold dish and sweet sour pork are iconic northeastern China food but the quality is a bit disappointing. read more

Smiling BBQ - Sweet and sour pork - Barbeque Near Me - San Bruno, California

The food was delicious. We went there after 9pm on a weeknight. They stay open until after 11pm, so we were lucky. The prices are very reasonable. We ate too much and they sell beer and wine as well. At first we felt weird because no one else was eating there, but then we saw more customers came later after us. Good to know there are still good places to eat late at night in San Bruno. read more

Ambiance is not the best but the sweet and sour pork was fantastic and the fried rice was very good!

Worst experience ever have, their service is so rude and pushing, foods are under average but the price is still expensive. Don't go

The place is a small family business that preserves authentic chinese bbq. It opens till late night and is a great place for late night hangout. read more

Authentic Chinese BBQ. Beef tendon is my favorite. Cozy place with family business. Owners are very nice!

Excellent, authentic late night Chinese BBQ. In addition to their skewers (which are great), the fried rice and fried noodles are standout dishes, as is their 凉菜. read more

Bbq here is akin to the Taiwan night markets, poor quality ingredients included. Beef and lamb is chewy and hard but the squid is rather tasty and flavored with seasoning. Difference is Taiwan gives you an entire squid about 6 inches long not parts like here. The spinach and nuts is marinated cold and good. Pork belly isn't bad either read more

Smiling BBQ - Awesome squid bbq - Barbeque Near Me - San Bruno, California

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I don't even know where to start. When I came inside the restaurant, I felt like taking shots of tequila because it felt like a bar but I ended up getting wonton soup and egg noodles - it was actually good :) read more

Smiling BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Bruno, California

The food is probably our favorite here especially the corn. My family loves coming here as it's the closest we can get to authentic Chinese bbq. The service is great as the family owned business is very friendly. The interior design is very authentic to a restaurant in China that you would eat night street snacks in. Not the best for pictures but very safe at home read more

The food looked nothing like the picture. There was barely any sausage in the meal and it was cut into pieces smaller than my wife's pinky toenail. All in all, the total amount of sausage meat was less than a Vienna sausage....gummy ass rice too read more

Hands down the best Northeastern Chinese style food I've found in the bay. I've been here a few times already and slowly making my way through the menu and specials. So far everything I've tried is so good and has got me running back for more! & the waitress is really nice - always has great recommendations! My current favorites: - Grilled WHOLE Squid Skewers - BBQ Enoki Bacon Roll - Chinese/Korean Cold Noodles (One of a kind! I haven't been able to find this dish anywhere else cause it's a Chinese/Korean fusion.) *PSA* DO NOT come here looking for food drenched in bbq sauce. I feel like this place is getting a bad rap because people do not understand what type of food they serve. They specialize in Northeastern Chinese style bbq skewers and food. read more

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This place is a hidden gem! It's my go-to Chinese BBQ skewers place for late-night food.

I often come to this restaurant. The taste is very authentic. It has been open for 12 years. The owner did not deliberately give good reviews, so it is unfair for a 12-year-old restaurant to have a rating of over 100. read more

Absolute Northeastern flavor, the feeling of being home, the lamb skewers are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with alternating fat and lean meat! read more

They use an QR code and you order through online, but the funny thing is that you have to pay in cash. I was going to pay with credit card, but they only accept cash? I ordered two lamb, two gizzard, two beef, and a chive. Would recommend the lamb and the gizzard! But the beef felt it was just seasoned with salt lol and the chives still lacked some flavor( had flavor but not enough) Some items you had to order 2. read more

Terrible!!! Where do I start... First, the images for takeout isn't correct. One order of any bbq only comes with one stick not three like in most photos. Each piece of meat is literally the size of my pinky. Food quality is bland as heck. Some meat are still raw and uncooked. The so called bbq bun is literally a piece of white bread on a stick. No service at all and takeout takes forever. Noodles have no broth, it's water... Skip!! read more

Guys!! I absolutely love this place. It's my go-to spot in San Bruno area! This is one of the only restaurants that open till midnight. Their shrimp fried rice , pork belly skewer, Lamb skewer and sausage skewers are my go-to!! My fav is the shrimp fried rice. I would really recommend their grilled oysters too. The owner is super friendly and nice! My friends and I love coming here to catch up over late-dinner. Recommended it to my friends and they really love this place too! read more

you will surprise when you get here, it might look not nice like other restaurants but yes, this is their style, will bring you a Mongolian feeling. price is good and food are delicious . I love those squids, beef and eggplant, veggie, will come back here with some friends and try more items. read more

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This place is good. Not sure what the other reviewers thinking it's too sweet. I thought it was slightly but nothing to go overboard with one star. They had big selection and order via QR code on website. It was really convienent. I would say the classic beef and lamb skewers are the best. The chicken skin left more to be desired and not crispy like other places. Overall I would come back as chinese bbq are far and few between in the bay area. read more

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Some of the reviews on the food made me laugh hehe. Don't order the noodle, order the bbq here. It's definitely not one of the best, but it's good still, especially considering it's San Francisco. read more

So far I've been there twice. This place is actually pretty good in terms of the taste of food. And the female waiter serves well too. This is a very typical bbq restaurant you can find in north China. Sauce is a bit too much. What I like most about this place is their serving speed and the fact that they use charcoal to cook bbq, which is the most authentic and delicious way. Few Chinese bbq restaurants still cook like this. Price is reasonable, definitely not overpriced. Nice place for some late night treats too. 正宗的东北烤串，用木炭烤的很难得，因为很多地方串都是油炸或者电烤...还是木炭最香。我最推荐他家的羊肉串，很好吃。价格也合理，在湾区很正常。烤鱿鱼也跟国内一个味道啊好好吃！！推荐。唯一的缺点就是酱刷的有点多。 read more

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The restaurant is located in a highly trafficked area of El Camino Real in San Bruno so the parking will be a pain if you wanted to park up front. It's definitely a mom and pop style restaurant so don't expect a five star fancy dining experience with nice scenery. I believe it's family/friends owned spot so there can be a bit of a language/cultural barrier in communication, I guess you can say the service may be a little different than what you would get from a chain restaurant at Chili's. The type of Chinese/Asian style of food here is more mainland/western region. For example, you won't find the common Panda Express style orange chicken here or some common things people look for when they go to their normal Chinese restaurants. The seasoning on the BBQ on a stick had a curry powder taste/aroma to it which was great. I enjoyed the fried rice with scrambled eggs and meat in it, definitely the highlight in my opinion. I also believe they are open fairly late on Door Dash and Uber Eats for those late night Asian food munchies. read more

This is NOT your typical Chinese restaurant like Mayflower or The Kitchen down the street. This is more like a Chinese northern style Street Food restaurant. If you been to China, this type of restaurant is very popular these days in China, where ppl gather to eat BBQ skwers, drink beer and talk SH%T about others or just gossip. My friends have been telling me about this place for the past year and finally tried this place out tonight and I am very very impressed with the food quality and service. First thing first, if you are white or black or latino or Asians not from China, and never tried Chinese style skewers but you are adventurous, try to take a mandarin speaking(he or she has to come from the northern part of China, if possible) friends with you to really appreciate the food being served here. I agree with Vikki's review, they need to put fatty meats on the skewers, when the fat drips onto the charcoal, the smoke arises and this will make the meat tastier and sometimes it is necessary to have some fatty meat on it so you can mix it with the leaner meat. Most of the BBQ skewers they offered here are very very authentic. The kimchi fried rice is great! We also tried the wonton and it was delicious! We ended the meal with spicy soup, where you can pick five items and they make it into a soup. We all loved it. Also try to home made sausage, the best! Great selections of Chinese style drinks here as well. Besides beer, which is a must if you eat the skewers, I would also go with their home made plum juice, or coconut juice. As far as service, at least we received great service, the lady who served us was friendly and helpful. Parking should be easy to fine, but if you having trouble finding a parking space, just go inside and ask them, they should be able to let you park at their lot. Even tho I live in Marin, I feel like I will visit here pretty often from now on, it reminds me of where i grew up. Love it love it! read more

Vey authentic northern Chinese recipes of bbq and other popular dishes!! So glad I found this place after years of searching! They make my favorite cold noodle and lamb on skewers. They could use a little less sugar on some of the dish but for the most part they got the flavor down. read more

Smiling BBQ - I have been looking for a Chinese/Korean restaurant that makes this cold noodle recipe. So happy I finally found it! - Barbeque Near Me - San Bruno, California

Horrible costumer service , bitchy waiter .... Super dirty place , and most of all I do t even care how food taste here , because w such a horrible service I I have no appetite . Food : overprice ----- overprice big time --- What's actually good to eat: chicken heart ( make sure to wipe the spices out ) ... Lamp is Soso , beef is ok. read more

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i am Chinese I know how north part Chinese BBQ taste like。everything I had is very sweet！！！？ I dont know why。。。。 I wont order it again read more

The food here is insanely good. The 1 star rating here is due the fact that it's not a normal restaurant. It's specialty is skewers of various meats and veggies and it's not meant to stuff your gut. If you want quantity over quality, go hit up Panda express. If you really want awesome tasting skewers, come here! Definitely the best of the bay. This place has been open for a few weeks now and I must say that the owners take pride in what they do and it shows in the quality of the food they produce. Plus, if I could, I would have given the place 6 stars for being so accommodating to us. You see, we drove all the way up from Cupertino and we didnt' know that this place doesn't serve skewers until the dinner run. Needless to say, he fired up the coals and obliged us anyways and even went so far as to show us the kitchen and throwing in a few extras on the house. We ordered the shredded potatos, 4 lamb skewers, 2 enoki mushroom wraps, 4 chicken butts (more on this later), 2 sweet beefs, 3 crunchy chicken gristle, and 2 drinks. We also had a complimentary helping of their insanely good star anise flavored edamame because we drove so far :) Thanks! Right off the bat, the stuff looks spicy when it comes out. It's all covered in red chili. To our surprise, it was just the right amount of heat. Mild by most tastes. First to arrive was our enoki wraps. The enoki wraps were OK. My wife loved them. I thought they were good but not good enough to re-order. Flavor was OK but I'm just not an enoki kind of guy. The Lamb skewers were insane. One of the chefs was out in the dining area preparing them for the dinner crowd and he even let us pick if we wanted the fatty ones or leaner ones. Fatty please! In no time, 2 appear and hit the grill. The cumin flavor is there but not overpowering, the spicyness is there but done just right. In all honesty, I would say this was one of the best cumin lamb skewers around. I'd dare to say, even better than little sheep. I don't know how they do it but the seasoning was spot on. The crunch chicken was awesome. A little cartilage, a little chicken, a little heat, a lot of flavor and crunch. We ordered 2 but the wife had to get a 3rd. Now to the chicken butts. I dont' know why but Chinese people think this is a weird and gross thing to eat. My wife was cringing when I ordered two right off the bat claiming that cihcken poop is all over that part. I had to remind her many times that it's just called chicken butts. It's actually the tail. All of this gross out coming from a woman that eats intestines and tripe. Seriously. Poop goes THROUGH that stuff. That's gross. Needless to say, I got her to try one and now she's a chicken butt lover too. hahahahaaha! Not too fatty, perfect seasoning, just perfect all the away around. The sweet beef was ok. It was beef, it was sweet and it was good. Not a repeat order good but just good if your into that sort of thing. The shredded potato was great too. It comes out looking all red and fiery but again, it's just the right amount of heat and has a tartness from the vinegar that helps cut through some of the fattier pieces of meat we ordered. Great way to cleans your palate as you go through the skewers. I have to say, though, that the sauce on the skewers were all pretty much identical but since the sauce and seasoning was done so skillfully, the flavor variation was still there because of the cut of meat. It's a fine balancing act that this chef has obviously mastered. In the end, the meal cost us about $30 but we had to tip generously for being so flexible with the kitchen and for taking care of us so well. If you love skewers, this is a must try. read more

Smiling BBQ - Slow at lunch means great service! - Barbeque Near Me - San Bruno, California

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I am from northeastern China and I can say this is the closest to authentic northeastern food. The BBQ is not good but all the other dishes we tried taste like home. Yes the waitress is not the best and doesn't give a f about anything but that's kinda how we are...get over it. Ask for the authentic northeastern dishes and lower your expectations for service and you will be happy. Dishes to order: 锅包肉，溜肉段，地三鲜，酸菜粉，冷面 read more

I'm glad to go try this place despite the bad reviews left 5 plus years ago. Perhaps the owner or chief has changed, it turns out to be an authentic North East Chinese street food experience. Every dish tastes good, home made affair. BBQ is delicious spicy, lamb is tender, chicken is juicy. Ordered Korean cold noodle to relieve the heat after so much BBQ - it's very refreshing and authentic too, just like how I had it in Shen Yang City years ago. Be sure to try the 锅包肉 - thats the origin of Sweet Sour Pork. The only thing I'd suggest for the place is to improve the atmosphere - theres a musty smell, window view is completely blocked by posters, and the seatings are bare minimum - like street stand style. But considering there's only 2 people working, the very reasonable price, I have nothing to complain. read more

Good food. The place might look a little old but very traditional Chinese restaurant. I ordered the crawfish there and it was good and different from Cajun. The skewers are what they are famous for and the price is not expensive at all! Highly recommended for drunk food lols! read more

Smiling BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Ordered delivery from this place after a long day at work. I ordered the pipi shrimp, barbecue corn and barbecue sausage totaling $30. I open, what I thought was the shrimp, and it smelled horrible and looked even worse. Turns out they sent me crawdads, I tasted one and it was absolutely terrible, tasted like dirt and old seawater. The corn was no good, the bbq sausage was okay. Save your money and eat elsewhere. read more

Smiling BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Bruno, California