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Spiral Flame

4.5 (54 reviews)
Open • 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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SPIRAL FLAME ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

Recommended Reviews - Spiral Flame

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49er Roll
Jenny P.

Most foods were amazing! Chef is amazing. The wait staff is very nice but a little overworked. This is the best grilled skewers place ive ever been to and I've been going here for the last 3 months! The ambience is nice. The oyster mushroom quality has seemed to gone down :( hope this gets fixed soon! everything else has maintained its consistency and the corn addition is SO PEAK! HIGHLY RECCOMMEND! Note to waitstaff girl with bob: I stood up to stretch my leg, sorry that it looked like I was impatient and rushing you. You are working with great efficiency and I was not impatient, sorry if i made you feel bad

Andrea N.

Came here for an early lunch, and unfortunately, it was not a good experience. We were the only customers in the restaurant, and the waiter didn't seem very friendly or welcoming, although she did say hello and sat us. We ordered a salad, which came out right away but was basically just lettuce with a small amount of shredded carrot. We were charged $6 for it, which felt very overpriced. We ordered sushi rolls, but they didn't taste fresh. I had the bento box and unfortunately, ended up getting sick afterward and wasn't able to eat for the rest of the day. What also stood out was that a woman came over to ask if everything was okay after we had already finished our entire meal. Since we were the only people in the restaurant, it would have been nice to have someone check on us while we were actually eating, especially considering the food quality. I won't be returning and I can't recommend this place.

Alli W.

This is a hole in the wall place that you won't notice easily. Street parking only. Ambiance: 5/5 Restaurant is bigger than we expected! Plenty of tables and can get loud later in the evening. Service: 3/5 There was only 1 lady waiting the entire restaurant. She was attentive in the beginning but her service became lacking when it got busy. Food: 4/5 Skewers were good but not a lot of options for seafood. Sushi was good; fish's quality was fresh and buttery. Fried rice was surprisingly good too!

Heated table to keep our skewers warm
Jesse S.

Another fine evening , Excellent food . Kinda getting use to how this works. Come in sit down. Drinks ordered, take your pen and order the dishes you want on sticks , and order sushi. Come to think of it I never saw a drink menu. They have different types of beer and sake. But not sure of the prices. Food came out fairly quickly. And it's gotten busier than last time . I still enjoyed everything, we finished off all the items we ordered.

C X.

I was actually hesitant to leave a review because I don't want too many people to find out about this hidden gem and make it too crowded! But then I realized that wouldn't be fair to the owner. Their skewers are SOOO good! There really aren't many good skewer places around the Peninsula, so we were super excited to find this place. Honestly, everything on the menu is worth trying. The flavors are very well balanced and pair perfectly with the ingredients. You can really tell that the chef and owner have put a lot of thought and effort into their recipes and menu. Everyone working here is also very nice. They have a chill, laid-back vibe and aren't overly attentive or constantly checking on you, which I personally really like. Definitely a hidden gem. We'll be back!

Grilled Chicken Thigh (1) ()
James H.

I hate to give a newer restaurant a low rating. But a lot to improve on. All the skewers were kind of too salty. The meat skewers all tasted like same seasoning used. The lion king, 49ers and double hamachi rolls all $14.50 were tiny. Only 6 pcs and 8 pcs, the fish were tiny sliver. The sushi rice tasted plain with no rice vinegar. The service was nice but didn't get checked on until after finishing. I won't be returning here. Street parking.

Edamame
Rio J.

Friday evening was busy, with a few people waiting inline. Lucky our friends were already seated so we just joined in. It was the first time here so we ordered a bunch of skewers and grilled stuffs pretty much one each for tasting. The stood outs: - Edamame - I didn't touch it until the other dishes to arrive, thinking it's just edamame right, whatever. I was wrong! It's perfectly soft and very savory. I kept on eating it throughout the meal. - Agendashi tofu - Again, another app. I was expecting a oily fried thigh battered tofu. No, it was soft tofu with lightly fried skin in a flavorful dashi sauce. - Grilled oyster - We ordered two small and two large. Honestly the size differences are not significant. Smooth texture, lightly sauced, very meaty, cooked perfectly. - Grilled baby Napa cabbage - $4 for 4 strips of Napa cabbage sounds crazy yeah? The skill of creating the Maillard is worth it. Special shout out to our server Linda! Above and beyond!

Rainbow Dragon Roll
Tiffany C.

My friend was coming to visit and my husband found this new place and asked us if we wanted to try it. Sushi and skewer sticks? What a weird combo! What was I thinking? It was a GREAT combo! The restaurant itself was super cute and the waitress was super friendly and helpful! The food was even better! I was blown away! All of us kept saying "mmm" as we bit into each different piece. Our favorite sushi roll was the Romeo and Juliet. We ended up ordering another one of those along with the 49er. Each of the skewer sticks were packed with flavor and everything tasted super delicious! I can't wait to come back to try the other stuff!

Elizabeth H.

Great little spot for sushi and skewers! We were craving sushi so left skewers for a return visit. The searing on the fish had great flavor. Service was friendly and helpful.

Pineapple Beef Skewer (1) ()Signature Lamb Skewer (1) ()Crispy Pork Jowl Skewer (1) ()Grilled Blk Pepper Wagyu Beef and more!
Taylor K.

Heard about this place from a friend who said I needed to check it out. Little skeptical at first as it's in such an unassuming area. Wouldn't expect a good sushi/skewer restaurant to be hidden away like that. Skewers is where this place shines to me. I ordered almost one of each and honestly I was impressed. Especially for the price. Typically skewers are expensive in the Bay Area when you want quality, but Spiral provided the quality at a very reasonable price. Sushi was really good too. Wish I took pictures of everything. Sushi chef seems to know what he's doing and the service was fast and friendly. Another thing that stood out is the place is clean! A clean bathroom is always a big selling point to me. I'm coming back for more skewers and rolls soon!

Ramon D.

Really delicious skewers, full of flavor and spices. The server was also very friendly and the food came out fast even thought I came here a little early. The decorations on the walls felt vibrant and made the place feel comfortable. Can't wait to try their other skewers!

Agendashi Tofu
Glenmarie J.

First time here. Plenty of parking. I think it's great that they accept reservations. My party ordered sushi and skewers. Came here on a thursday night night, so it wasn't really busy. We were seated right away and was given about 5 minutes to look over the menu so we can order. Sushi items that we selected were great, but were smaller than what I'm use to getting. The skewers that my kids ordered was a hard miss. So I guess how they do it here is they precooked the skewers in the back, and place it on a metal griddle at the table. Which is kept warm by tea light candles. Maybe we came in on off night because our griddle was only lit when the skewers came. And not even 5 minutes later, one of the tea lights died. So it took longer to warm up that griddle. They all tasted the same, seasoned with the same thing. A tad bit salty to be honest. The service was great though, they were all nice and accommodating. But I might stick to sushi only the next time I come around.

Elaine C.

I want to preface that I'm originally from Vancouver, Canada, where bbq skewers and sushi are not uncommon--so I feel like I have some street cred when it comes to these things and I've been here twice already! Location: As some other Yelpers have pointed out, this restaurant is nestled in a quiet San Bruno neighborhood just off El Camino which makes it super accessible while also having nice ample street parking in a not-so-busy area. But don't let the humble location fool you into thinking this is just some mom n' pop place. Ambiance & Service: Love their accent wall filled with fun Chinese drinking and eating slogans. It really makes you feel like the owner wants you to have fun, chill, and enjoy some good eats with some drinks. Cool vibe all around where you can hang out with friends and just have a good time. I think it's also important to mention that this place was super clean. I came here with my 7 month old baby and there was lots of room to fit my stroller. The staff were friendly and extremely accommodating offering me a highchair or making way for my stroller. I would say this restaurant is family friendly as I saw a few other young families dining here, too. Food: I came with a group of friends the second time around and was able to order a bunch of different skewers and sushi to try. Everything was flavorful, well seasoned, perfectly cooked, and super fresh. Here are some notable dishes that I loved and would recommend: - Edamame. Don't sleep on these. I ordered 2 of these because they kept getting devoured by my friends. Not your typical boring salted edamame. Thank me later. - Lotus root chips. Another crowd favorite! If you like potato chips, give these a go! Perfectly paired with a beer - Salt & pepper corn. You think you know corn ribs? Let me get you on these and then you can thank me later. - Potato skewers. The kids loved these and so did I! - Chicken wing skewers. Love these so much! The skin is cooked beautifully where you get a nice crunch along with the medley of spices - Pork neck skewers. Lovely textures of soft and crispy - bbq beef skewers. Super tender and perfectly seasoned - lamb skewers. Again, tender and juicy - Jumbo chicken wing. I haven't seen any other place do this so it was so fun to see! It takes the chef a long time to meticulously cook this so it was definitely a treat! - Nigiri & Sashimi. All so fresh and clean tasting - Salmon skin roll. Perfect cook on these I love how each table gets a warming element for the skewers. Since they're heated using tea light candles, they don't cook your food but instead keep them warm in between bites and drinks. Nice thoughtful touch. I highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking for a chill place to wind down with family and/or friends. I believe this place is still fairly new so not many people know about it yet, but once word gets out it'll get super busy. For now, you should be able to visit on a weeknight without having to wait too long for a table. Go go go!

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2 months ago

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5 months ago

Little hidden gem. The edamame starter is delicious and the fish tastes so fresh. Looking forward to coming back soon.

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Page 2 of 2

Ask the Community - Spiral Flame

Is this place the same owners of the previous Spiral Japanese Restaurant or new owners?

There is a legal notice on the door indicating an ownership change.

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Smiling BBQ - BBQ Lamb, not bad! Kinda juicy from the fat

Smiling BBQ

3.0(131 reviews)
0.8 mi
•$$

You walk into Smiling BBQ and the first thing you notice is... nothing flashy. No trendy decor. No…read moreInstagram 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.

The lamb skewers, the chicken, gizzard skewers, and the beef skewers were good…read moreThe 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

Photos
Smiling BBQ
Smiling BBQ - Dumplings, not bad! I believe they were Beef dumplings

Dumplings, not bad! I believe they were Beef dumplings

Smiling BBQ - Stir fried chicken open frame (Wtheck does that even mean)??

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Stir fried chicken open frame (Wtheck does that even mean)??

Z-One Kitchen - Pork & beef Chinese sandwich

Z-One Kitchen

3.6(71 reviews)
0.9 mi

Came by at 9pm because I got a big back . I wasn't able to do Ayce but no fret, the food was still…read morevery good. Iykyk, when the service is bad... that means the food is super good so go with open thoughts :D We ordered the lamb, beef, and squid skewers. Also ordered the liang pi and Chinese beef hamburgers. They taste authentic. Ambiance is a bit run down. I will be back for the Ayce :8

Where do I start...from the casualness to the beer to the just the overall vibe...it's reminds me…read moreso much of my hometown Tianjin in the north. This place is kind of a hole in the wall with its self proclaimed "Texas BBQ" and location. Parking can be tough if the parking lot is full, and I wish they picked a better spot to open this shop. It's off the beaten path for most Chinese restaurants in the area. The prices for BBQ aren't exactly cheap, however that can all be mitigated since they offer AYCE at a price starting at $35 a person with drinks. I love their lamb skewers and chinese hamburger. Lamb skewers were seasoned to how I expected them - with a spice mix mainly consisting of cumin. I also like how they include a fatty piece just before the last piece, which is They also offer spicy powder on the side that you can shake on your order to make it more spicy. The Chinese hamburger was very flavorful and authentic and very cheap for the price - much more value than ANY fast food restaurant and a lot healthier! We also ordered a liangpi and cumin chicken, both which were decent. This place offers very fair prices for chinese BBQ if you consider AYCE, since I have yet been to a chinese BBQ place that offers AYCE. Food comes out pretty quickly, and service is welcoming, especially if you're familiar with northern chinese hospitality. If you can look past the fading decor, colored utensils, and overall hole in the wall vibe, this place is actually pretty good if you're from northern china and looking for a homely vibe! Just don't expect Texas BBQ even if its in the name.

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Z-One Kitchen
Z-One Kitchen - Cumin Beef Ribs

Cumin Beef Ribs

Z-One Kitchen - Full container with the 2-meat combo and pork feet noodle soup

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Full container with the 2-meat combo and pork feet noodle soup

Jin Gege & Yao Yao - Bbq pork

Jin Gege & Yao Yao

3.4(167 reviews)
0.8 mi
•$$

Been craving spicy food, and since it was hubby's birthday, we decided to come here for lunch…read more Don't forget to redeem your free fish dish if it's your birthday! They will ask to see your ID, so make sure you have it with you. We ordered the beef chow fun, which was very tasty, and the egg white and dried scallop fried rice, which was also very yummy. We ordered two different fish dishes because some of us don't eat spicy food. We got the free one prepared non-spicy and ordered another one that was spicy. We also ordered their string beans, which are a must-order for us. The place isn't very spacious, so if you have a large party, you might have to wait longer. The portions are decent and the food tastes good, so there's always a line. I would recommend coming earlier or later, after the lunch-hour rush, if you don't want to wait an hour. This place is inside a mall, so there is plenty of parking.

We went on a Saturday for lunch and this place was pretty busy. They have an extensive menu. The…read morewaiters and waitresses don't come over to take your orders manually. There's a tablet on every table to place your order. We ordered bunch of entrees to share. We ordered the Garlic Pea Shoots, Salt & Pepper Wings, Shanghai Xiao Long Bao, Signature Stonepot Rice With Spareribs, Golden Soup Pickled Fish, Honey Walnut Prawns, BBQ Combo ( BBQ & Roast Duck), and Hakka Signature Shredded Chicken. For dessert, we ordered the Chengdu Ice Jelly and Milk Custard With Red Beans. Our food came out in a timely manner. Majority of the entrees were flavorful and tasty. However, the Xiao Long Baos were flavorless and they tasted like store bought frozen ones. They were the worst Xiao Long Baos that we ever had. The Signature Stonepot Rice With Spareribs was kind of bland and there wasn't anything special about it. The Milk Custard With Red Beans was meh. The wait staff never came by to check on us. We had to flag them down for extra napkins and for our check.

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Jin Gege & Yao Yao
Jin Gege & Yao Yao - Chengdu jelly ice

Chengdu jelly ice

Jin Gege & Yao Yao - Must order!

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Must order!

Seoul Kalbi Korean BBQ - The spread

Seoul Kalbi Korean BBQ

3.8(1.3k reviews)
1.2 mi
•$$$
All you can eat
Takes reservations

Stellar customer service from Young! So good that we thought she was the owner. Made the whole…read moreexperience felt so homey. Great smile, very welcoming, sweet, and accommodating! Love charcoal grilled meats! Their premium menu and classic menu is good! They even have caramelized potatoes, raw marinated crabs, etc. Love that they include rosemary with some of the meat items. Great banchan. It does get smoky in there and if you get the classic menu, you're limited to 1 order of Kalbi per person, but overall. well worth it.

Came here for dinner on a Friday night around 6 PM with a reservation for 5, and we were seated…read morepretty quickly since the restaurant wasn't too packed. The service here is excellent! The staff consistently checks on you and makes sure you have everything you need, including asking if you'd like to order more meat. We went with the Premium Menu, and I highly recommend upgrading! My absolute favorite items were the galbi and teriyaki steak. Both were incredibly tender, flavorful, and practically melted in my mouth. The premium meat selections are definitely worth it if you want to get the most out of your Korean BBQ experience. The only downside was the ventilation system. It didn't seem to be working very efficiently, so smoke from the grill occasionally lingered around our table. By the end of the meal, our clothes and even our faces smelled like grilled meat. Aside from the ventilation issue, everything else was great. Excellent service, delicious meat, and a solid Korean BBQ experience. I'd definitely recommend this spot, especially if you opt for the Premium Menu!

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Seoul Kalbi Korean BBQ
Seoul Kalbi Korean BBQ - The signature item! Seoul KALBI LA style, marinaded bone-in flank stead.

The signature item! Seoul KALBI LA style, marinaded bone-in flank stead.

Seoul Kalbi Korean BBQ - Unlimited side dishes

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Unlimited side dishes

Taqueria Mi Durango - Pollo en salsa taco salad $16

Taqueria Mi Durango

4.1(614 reviews)
0.6 mi
•$$

"Great hole-in-the-wall Mexican near SFO airport"…read more Came here for dinner at 6pm on a Monday night, based on good Yelp reviews. The place is unassuming-- has a thin stretch of outdoor seating and a handful of tables inside. Not super bright in lighting, and a TV inside was showing a baseball game. Seemed like a lot of the business was takeout, as people would come, hover, get food, and leave. I was GOING to order the fish tacos or a fish quesadilla, but I was swayed by the picture of a breaded fish plate special. My son got the carne asada quesadilla, and others at the table got a veggie burrito and a chicken bowl. Food came out pretty quick-- maybe around or just over 10 minutes (the fish plate and veggie burrito came out slightly after the other two). I was very impressed that the fish plate looked even BETTER than the photo (see photos of both). The fish was HUGE. There was a generous helping of guacamole, lots of fresh avocado slides, some onion and cabbage, etc. There was a nice bed of lettuce on the side with sour cream over it, and the rice & beans (covered with a thin layer of cheese) on another side. The fish plate was just delicious. The batter wasn't overpowering or too heavy, and the fish was excellent inside (and very flat). I really liked the sauce in a little cup on the fish, or having it with avocado or guacamole, or even straight. The rice and beans were yummy too. Such a great dish, and it was under $20 before tax and tip. My dining companions all liked their food, though my son said the carne asada meat was "just good" (he had a bite of the chicken and said that was better). The person at the register was friendly. And as mentioned, the prices were very reasonable. I'd happily eat here again if in the area. Great portion size, great quality, good value, etc. Enjoy!

The good: the burrito was tasty. The service was good…read more The bad: I ordered the California burrito, which is supposed to come with french fries. The burrito had potatoes, but they weren't french fries. They were boiled potato strips. Kind of somewhat annoying when that's what I was looking forward to. Also, I ordered a super burrito, but it was more like a taco. Burritos here are really small so if you're hungry, forget about it.

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Taqueria Mi Durango
Taqueria Mi Durango - I don't know what it's called.  But come on!  It's so good!  Crispy and creamy due to the condense milk and some sugar grains.

I don't know what it's called. But come on! It's so good! Crispy and creamy due to the condense milk and some sugar grains.

Taqueria Mi Durango - Menu

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Menu

Spiral Flame - japanese - Updated October 2026

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