Snacks

Delicious! 1. egg…read morepuff, $8.25. I usually see these called bubble waffles. This was good. They warn you that it takes 10-15 minutes to serve this. 2. creamy snowflake bowl, $10.95. Bowl of finely shaved/crushed ice (like snow, hence the name!) in a creamy sauce (kind of like melted ice cream), one fruit, and one topping included. We chose strawberries and tapioca pearls. We shared this between four of us. This was very good! I wanted to get red bean, but my daughter wanted tapioca, so we got that. The strawberries were sweet and tasty. For some reason, they took about half an hour to get this to me. I think they forgot to make it.

Too thick! Fruits are too big to fit through straw for drinking. Boba is too firm…read more Service was a kiosk. Staff just shouts out number. Lots of customers. Hot inside. There is seating but most people are ordering to go.

Interior

Snowflake Cup with Fruit

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Egg Puff w/ Strawberry and Matcha Ice Cream

Tong Sui

4.8(1.1k reviews)

The worker Marina was very kind and inviting. I didn't know what to get so she suggested I sample…read morethe mango mochi and it was delicious. Will come back again for workers and desser

Server was very helpful and approachable. The dessert is not too sweet and perfect for my taste!read more

Coconut pudding

Outside sign

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T02 Signature Coconut Pudding - Glass Jar

Dessert Republic

3.4(911 reviews)

0.1 mi

•$

Finally returned after the new management took over. It doesn't have the same feeling because the…read moreseating was designed in the past to make you feel like you were dining on the streets of HK. Now, it feels more like a restaurant, which is still okay. The food, for the most part, remains consistent with what was offered before, along with some new additions to the menu. Depending on the time, the wait for a seat can be long. But in San Mateo, this is still my go-to place for HK-style dessert.

Fun HK street aesthetic and open late!…read more Desserts and food can be uneven, so you'll have to find your own personal favorites and standouts on the extensive menu. I liked my almond milk tofu pudding, but my friend's Nutella strawberry crepe was sadly very bland, limp, and not filled with very much Nutella. I also ordered a seafood chow mein to go for the next day's lunch because it looked so good on the next table, but it was decently bland and needed to be punched up with some black and white pepper and soy sauce.

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Green Milk Tea with boba

Simply Cake

4.3(542 reviews)

0.3 mi

Locally owned & operated

Grab-and-go

A must whenever I'm downtown San Mateo! I love my Asian breads and pastries, and this place checks…read moreall the boxes. I can't get enough of the pork sung roll. It's their twist on the Chinese classic and it's SO good! I haven't tried the pork sung and taro roll yet, so I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for that one next time. I'll also have to actually pick up a cake one of these days for a special occasion. For now, I'll keep coming back for the pastries!

This was my first time here and since we were stuffed from eating lunch at Ten Second Noodles,…read more(look for my review there too), we wanted a dessert, but for later and since there was a line out the door here, we HAD TO check it out! Hee. So I waited in line, as my Boyfriend went through and picked up goodies for us. He got us this delicious, velvety Coffee Cake, that was much more like a sponge cake or a log cake, but it had a great smooth coffee flavor! It wasn't too sweet either. He liked the bbq pork bun, but said the bread tasted better than the pork enclosed inside, so he wished he only ate the bread, part. Hee. The other cake was a green tea one and it smooth and tasty too. The ambiance was busy and they had a beautiful mural along the far right side. All their tables were full, so I didn't want to be rude and take a picture of other customers, but I liked how the line to the register separated the bakery area and the sitting area. There's also only one restroom for such a busy cafe. I hope the employees have access to their own restroom! I'll definitely go back and try other pastries here, next time I'm in town hee.

Mix fruit cake @whaevaeats

Slice of mango cake

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Blueberry mousse cake, 10/10 so good!

Somisomi

4.2(371 reviews)

•$

SomiSomi is a taiyaki soft serve chain that's been making its way through California. Since Uji…read moreTime closed I've been really happy to have a new taiyaki place in the area. I've been a few times now and can say the quality of the soft serve and taiyakis are very consistently good. The texture of the soft serve is perfectly smooth and creamy. The taiyaki has a light crisp on the outside and is light and fluffy on the inside. It's served warm which adds great contrast to the ice cream. I always get mine filled with Nutella though you can get it filled with red bean, matcha or custard as well. I especially like coming in to try their new seasonal soft serve. Last time I was there it was pistachio. They always offer a swirl with their seasonal flavor and this time it was with their classic milk flavor. I love pistachio so this flavor may have been my favorite they've done so far. I saw the other day that their new flavor is Banana Milk which I'll definitely be trying very soon The workers are always friendly and efficient though they seem sometimes understaffed for the amount of demand that comes it. You can tell they're doing the best they can but they sometimes look a bit overwhelmed. A couple more hands on deck would serve them well but that's more up to the management. The workers themselves do a great job every time. Like I said it gets pretty busy in there so don't be surprised if there's not a ton of open space inside of there. Overall SomiSomi is a great addition to downtown San Mateo and I'm looking forward to more trips there in the future

Was in the mood to have some Taiyaki, so I came to Somisomi in San Mateo. I believe they are a…read morechain. Since I really enjoyed the one in Cupertino, I had expected to receive the same quality from this establishment. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The service was good, the floor and tables were neat and clean. What was disappointing was the lack of filling in the Taiyaki's. Usually, one bite into the pastry and you'll taste the filling. I had to eat half the pastry before I got to any filling. Just a mouth full of mocha. I guess not all franchise locations are the same.

SOMISOMI SAN Mateo

2 flavors in one soft serve

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Ube/matcha swirl with oreo and macaron topping - yum!

Antoine's Cookie Shop

4.7(1.2k reviews)

Every time I order from Antoine's Cookie Shop, I'm never disappointed. The quality of the cookies…read moreis always consistent, and they're genuinely tasty. My favorites are the Walnut Chip and the 66% Dark Chip. Ordering is also always fast and friendly, which makes it an easy place to come back to whenever I'm craving cookies.

Before we queued up for dinner at a spot nearby, we stopped in to Antoine's Cookie Shop. My friends…read moreand I went in together for a Baker's Dozen ($32 for 13 cookies) so that we can get a variety. My favorites of my selection were the honeycomb, cookies n cream, and toffee. Best pre-dinner snack! There are parking spots up front, though not a lot, but we lucked out with an empty space as we drove up. Not much room inside to dawdle either, so check out the menu outside and go in to order and pickup.

Cookies n cream and Honeycomb

Toffee + honeycomb

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66% Dark Chocolate Chip

Heeretea

3.9(220 reviews)

Food: - Items: 2 Coconut Mango Puddings…read more- Liked the Coconut, the mango tasted kind of artificial - 7/10 Service: - Ordered from a kiosk - Server wasn't very helpful in describing their best drinks, just pointed us to their menu - 6/10 Ambiance: - Small place, don't remember any seating inside - To go type of place - Nice lighting and decor - 7/10 Overall Rating: 7/10

Upon entering, there is a kiosk where you can order. I got the four season green tea with 50%…read moresugar, no ice, with Boba. The tea was very lightly sweetened and because the boba was glazed with sweetener, I enjoyed the drink because it wasn't overly sweet overall. There are a few tables where you can sit and hangout but unfortunately the toilet was out of order so it discouraged customers from staying.

Milk tea with crystal boba

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Beard Papa's

3.9(451 reviews)

The very first time I ever tried Beard Papa's, over a decade ago when the one by the Metreon in SF…read morefirst opened, I wasn't exactly blown away by the experience. Granted, my friends probably hyped it up a bit too much while we were waiting in line (I think it was already their second or third time going), but, regardless, I thought it was just okay. Fast forward all of these years later and I have to say - whether it's because my tastes have changed or because I found a flavor that I really liked, this place is so much better than I remember! With so many boba joints and dessert shops nearby, it's pretty easy to overlook Beard Papa's. Being located on the edge of downtown/3rd Ave certainly doesn't help, but, for something quick and convenient (and different), they're a decent option. While the menu may not look all that extensive, it has a fair amount to offer when you consider how you can mix and match your choice from their near dozen cream puffs/eclairs and handful of cream fillings. Add to that the occasional seasonal/featured flavors they'll have and their assortment of lava cakes and cheesecakes and there's plenty to choose from! -- ST. VALENTINE'S RASPBERRY ECLAIR - Raspberry Cream Custard-filled Eclair with White Chocolate Coating and Raspberry Frosting This was a seasonal offering (admittedly, an older one), but if they ever added this to their regular menu, I'd easily get this again. Surprisingly, this actually wasn't super sweet and I loved how well the raspberry and white chocolate flavors complemented each other. -- GREENT TEA ECLAIR WITH VANILLA CUSTARD FILLING Not nearly as good as the St Valentine's Eclair, but way better than the original Vanilla Cream Puff I had before. The frosting had a strong hit of green tea to it, and the custard was fine, but, this time, the cream puff felt a little stale/dry-ish. While I definitely enjoyed Beard Papa's cream puffs/eclairs more than I did before, I can't say I've loved everything about this location. Mainly, the service here has been a little uneven - the first time we stopped in, the guy behind the counter looked really annoyed with having to help us and seemed like he was dying for us to leave (FWIW, we walked in almost an hour before they closed). Our last visit, though, the workers were friendly and super fast, as they handed us our eclair before we could even finish paying. Even though my opinion of Beard Papa's has definitely improved, since I never really crave cream puffs/eclairs and limit my sweets to the occasional scoop(s) of ice cream or milk tea, I can't say Beard Papa's is on the verge of getting into my regular dessert rotation. However, given how much I enjoyed their St. Valentine's Raspberry Eclair, I'm definitely more open to coming back than ever before if/when should the desire come along, especially since they don't have those same long lines anymore! THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded up for now.

Stumbled upon this place with a sweet tooth. As far as eclairs or puffs go, they are excellent…read more Service was fast and pleasant.

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Urban Ritual

4.2(697 reviews)

Matcha toffee was excellent! I also loved how quick the drink was made, top quality. The space…read moreitself is a bit tight, but the product makes up for it.

This time we got some fruit teas and they were so good not overly sweet, and you can actually taste…read morethe tea (which I love). My friend got a fruit tea, and I tried the Toffee Matcha... omg, so thick, creamy, and just really satisfying. Service was also super sweet, the cashier guy was really friendly and helpful, which made the whole experience even better. Simple, solid, and always hits. Will definitely keep coming back

Entryway

Menu and coffee

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Specialty drinks menu

Shuyi Grass Jelly & Tea

4.1(245 reviews)

0.3 mi

A cute boba shop with grass jelly drinks and more! I'm so happy there's a place to get a simple…read moregrass jelly drink where you can customize the sweetness. The grass jelly tastes fresh and is so soft. Highly recommend the Grass Jelly Cool Curaçao Tea if you're into that! Service is fast and friendly. The shop has a few tables that you can sit at and it's a nice spot to sit for a bit.

Shuyi replaces the former Tan-Cha that closed down a couple of years ago. I hadn't been back to…read morethis location in a bit, so didn't realize Tan-Cha even closed down. The interior looks very similar to Tan-Cha, with the same counter space, additional tables, and some other cosmetic changes. They have a loud and clear PA system as well to announce your order # when it's ready. And there are 3 self-service kiosks to use to reduce potential waiting. Additionally, they have a bathroom available for use, and they keep it relatively clean. For my order, I opted for the Mango Pomelo Sago w/ boba toppings. I chose my usual 30% sweetness, but the drink itself did not have much taste and could have used a sugar boost. The boba toppings were also a bit on the firmer side so wasn't my favorite. Staff was pretty friendly during our very limited interaction.

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Gloria M.

13 years ago

OMG! Are you serious!!?? I've been craving all this goodies for years!!! You can find them all in one place!!! I had to go all the way to San José Flea Market just to get the famous Tostilocos!!! Fresh squeezed juices fresh fruit in excellent serving sizes!! I'm so happy to have found this place. Is right in the heart of San Mateo! Now I have a healthy option (fruits and juices) and if I want to be naughty I can cheat with some tostilocos or mangadas!! The owners were very courteous! I really Wish them the best on this new business! Finally some one thought of this!!! One thing I also liked was that the place was really clean so if you are craving some Antojitos Mexicanos? This is the place!!!! read more

Jarred F.

11 years ago

This is not a restaurant, but an ice cream bar. We like this ice cream better than any other...more natural flavors and made fresh. The French mint, which is chocolate mint and does not have that phony artificial bright green color you see in most places, is far superior to anything you'll find anywhere else. Also the other flavors are fabulous chili chocolate dark with just a touch of hot, hazel nut makes me want to drive right over there and have some!! read more

Emily Z.

Elite 26

166

301

2 years ago

Absolutely love this place, perfect for the hot weather in the peninsula! I ordered the mini mangoneada, and it was the perfect portion for a quick refreshing snack. Despite being the mini size, they give a good portion of mangoes. Definitely coming back soon! read more

Nissa Z.

209

194

10 years ago

So delicious, so fresh and we're definitely coming back! So many things to try on the menu, too little time. Clean and great friendly staff. Can't wait to try EVERYTHING! read more

Mike R.

7 years ago

Good desert place I liked the ice cream cools chairs and very clean place , the workers are very nice and polite

Lisamarie G.

190

8 years ago

This place was fantastic, great prices for large servings. Everything was so fresh and filled with flavor !

Alison A.

3 years ago

bomb bomb took the words out of my mouth i've never gone to another place unlike this place

Sam H.

10 years ago

YOOOOOO this place is the bomb diggity. I f*ck wit it

Jessica G.

181

7 years ago

Best Mangoneadas & chicharones in the area

Snacks - desserts - Updated October 2026

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Livin Sweet

4.8

(173 reviews)

Livin Sweet is my favorite discovery this year! I love their flavors -- esp all the drinks with…read morefresh fruit/produce and spices. I'm a sweet tooth but my middle-aged gut needs to avoid excess sugars/flour and dairy so their menu options are perfect. So far, my picky gut has been very happy with Mangonada, Green Smoothie, and Michelagua. Some people need bubble tea regularly, I need their Michelagua whenever I'm passing Belmont!! The staff are very friendly and patient as I'm still learning the menu and want to try everything. I walk out looking like I have a family to feed, meanwhile I'm solo tasting my way through the menu The decor is cute and the store always looks neat. Street parking in this area is always a crap shoot (not their fault), but there is a public parking lot across the street (on the corner of 6th & Emmett). I'm a fan and will be coming here like I have a gym membership. See you there!

Was in Belmont for dinner and we craved something sweet, we looked on yelp and spotted this spot…read more Plenty of parking available around the area. Cute ice cream shop in Belmont. When we walked in, we were greeted right away. Customer service is great, you can sample the ice creams. Different flavors than other ice cream shops, but BETTER. They had rice pudding, queso, eggnog, strawberry to name a few. The hubby decided to have the queso ice cream in a cup and I had the creminieve, it was fresh strawberries with 2 scoops of ice cream (you can choose what flavor ice cream, but I think it's best with the strawberry ice cream) and topped with cream, it was DELICIOUS I finished the whole thing! They also had dessert waffles available. Cute ice cream shop, friendly service, and delicious desserts. Definitely a must when you're in the area!

Panther Brazilian Acai

4.5

(17 reviews)

Literally just got back from Rio and have been trying all the stores around to find some good acai…read more This place has the most legit tasting acai blend between SF and SJ by far! I'm pretty sure I came here 3 days in a row. This shop seems pretty new, but if I was to make any suggestions I would recommend getting a soft-serve machine for dispensing to keep the acai texture smoother. The ice cream tubs seem to encourage the formation of larger ice crystals which can make the center a bit crunchy.

My wife found out about this place when looking for some Açaí in the area and I'm so glad we came…read moreacross it. We haven't had Açaí bowls in a long time and this was the perfect way to reintroduce our "addiction". You start out by choosing your first base, it is filled up half way and then you can put your first layer of toppings. From there you add in your second layer of açaí and top it off with more toppings. I didn't think that a soursop base would make that much of a difference, but now it is my new favorite. The açaí was delicious and I'll have to come back again to try some of the other combinations.

Buena's Organic Soft Serve

3.9

(169 reviews)

•$

Came here for some soft serve and WOW (anything ice cream will catch my eye). The soft serve was…read moresuper creamy and had the perfect texture. The cones were crispy and paired so well with the ice cream mmmm! Got the black sesame soft serve topped with a generous amount of cookie crumble (rich, nutty, and not overly sweet). Definitely a must-try if you love black sesame! Also got the Ghiradhelli chocolate ice cream swirl, as per usual, you can't go wrong with chocolate ice cream if you're indecisive heh! Cute spot, great presentation, and the perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth. Would definitely come back to try more flavors!

Delicious Treat!…read more Absolutely loved Buena's Soft Serve! The Black Sesame soft serve was SO good--creamy, delicious, and full of flavor. Definitely a must-try! And here's an added bonus: follow them on Instagram and you can get a Buy One, Get One Free deal! Such a great excuse to grab one for yourself and one for a friend. I'll definitely be back!

Lolita Artisanal Bakery Cafe

4.8

(160 reviews)

Grabbed some coffee and a snack with some friends after a workout…read more This former Starbucks has a small parking lot in the back and there were a few spaces open, so it was very easy to find parking. The service was friendly and quick. They were very patient while we explored all the various items they had on display. I got a bacon and egg empanada which they warmed up for me. It was nice, might've been even better with some kind of sauce too. My friends got the mushroom empanadas which looked really delicious. I wanted to order one to bring home only to find out they sold out! The cafe con lèche was quite strong but they do warn you about it before you order. Nice place to catch up with some friends. Good amount of small tables and it's clean.

Bakery and coffee shop with specialty of Argentina pastries. It has been opened for many years and…read moreI just found it last week. It is nice bakery and coffee shop on same roof. The interior is simple with plenty of tables. One of Their speciality is empanadas and you cannot go wrong with it. It is very yummy. There are couple filling options. The other pastries like Traditional Argentine pastries such as Guava Dulce de Leche which we order are also yummy. The Alfajones is also good. If I am not mistaken either you have to order pastries two at a time or it is cheaper if you order two. The drip coffee is good and light. Beside argentina pastries they also have more common pastries you find at most of places like croissant. Service was good and quick. Parking is available on the street or it has parking lot at the complex. Will come back next time to try other pastries.

Zumix

4.6

(21 reviews)

Used to work nearby and now missing this truck. They don't have much fast food so really appreciate…read morefood trucks when they come. It's parked across from Marriott Hotel. They open at noon. Friendly people. Love their birria tacos, smoothies and torta! They fill that cup of fruit to the top & definitely get your monies worth! The prices are just right too for each item, 3 tacos for $10! Can't beat that.

The two items I ordered were two different types of food from chorizo tacos to the berries bowl. I…read morecan say that they are both really good! I have my lunch and dinner for tonight and I got a drink all for less than $30. I would definitely come back.

The Chinita Baker

4.3

(23 reviews)

Ordered the Pork belly plate and I was happy with it but it was not properly executed…read more To be frank the pork was not all the way rendered and it left the plate feeling extra fatty/ the flavors not fully developed. I ate most if it but would return .

I LOVE CHINITA BAKER!!!…read more but seriously. I didn't know pork belly could be so good. The desserts are seriously so yummy. I'm such a fan 100/10

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Froyola

4.4

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The woman at the counter was very sweet and the churros were delicious. The Salsa music playlist…read morewas even better. Cute date/chill spot. We will definitely be back *We had the churros with chocolate.

The churros and Nutella combo is delicious! They have different flavors everyday so just check the…read more"todays flavor" sign at the front to see froyo flavors. The matcha soft serve is really good too, tastes like authentic matcha.

Romolo's Cannoli

4.6

(924 reviews)

Ever since I discovered freshly filled cannoli in Boston, I have been hunting them all over the…read moreWest Coast. This neighborhood establishment has a loyal following for a good reason. I like to go for the chocolate shell, traditional ricotta filling, and pistachios and chocolate chips, or toffee, or a plain shell with lemon filling, pistachios, and a cherry. I'm sure you'll find your own delicious combinations.

This is the place in the peninsula. If you are Italian or even if not, you have heard about these,…read moreyou have had these or wanted to. Outside of the city, this is one of best places to get ahold of Cannoli's and more. Growing up I heard about these cannoli's simply from my father and his siblings that were from New York. The cannoli originated in Sicily and later adopted by some areas of S Italy, perhaps other places in the country. I always have seen this place on my way to Shred in San Mateo. Finally stopped in and bought a few. Very good! So if you want an Italian treat, better said a Sicilian treat, you need to try this place. Of course, some of them are more Italian American in origin vs the Sicilian Cannoli. When in San Mateo area, make this your stop...Mamma mia!

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