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

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.

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

I've always saw this restaurant in the corner of my eye when driving, and I finally got the chance…read moreto try it for their Chinese burger! This dish changed my life, the pork was so savory and it had small chopped up pieces of a spicy green pepper. I can't recommend it more! My dad also decided to try their chicken fried rice, and he told me it was delicious and packed with flavor. This is definitely a hidden gem, but I believe it deserves more hype! Staff were kind, and chef was humble and even took the time to walk over and deliver our food to us when we were just ordering to go!!! Give this place a chance if ya can!

date & time: monday june 15, 2026 @ noon vibe: groups in…read moreoff the shoulder sweaters paired w/ lingerie inspired shorts decor: vibey pastel colored eatery service: super kind imbibe: tea devour: 2 meat combo, fried rice & red bean jelly dessert 10/10. my fave spot for comfort food total: $50.68

Came here for lunch with family yesterday and ordered several of our usual favorites: Golden Char…read moreSiu, Spareribs with Honey Sauce, String Beans with Minced Pork, Golden Soup Pickled Fish, Yangzhou Fried Rice, and we also tried the Sweet and Sour Whole Fish. Overall, most dishes were decent and generally flavorful, but nothing particularly stood out this visit. The Char Siu was disappointing, noticeably dry and tough. The Sweet and Sour Whole Fish was also underwhelming. It appeared to be black tilapia, and unfortunately had a strong "muddy" or earthy taste that wasn't fully masked by the sauce. Service was just okay. Pricing, however, has definitely gone up while portion sizes remain the same. One additional concern was cleanliness, one of the chairs appeared dirty, possibly from food being dropped on it during table cleaning. Overall, a mixed experience with consistency issues this time around, especially with a couple of the signature items. :(

Originally had a reservation for 6 people for 7:45, but at 7:00 we called to make a last minute…read morechange to 10 people. Ren was on the phone with us, and instead of just telling us the larger tables have already been reserved and can't be done, he asked us to call him back in 10 mins to see what he can do. Lo and behold 10 mins later he said he was able to add on another table at the end but it'll be a tight fit. Not a problem! After sitting down, we opted for the premium menu upgrade, and our table really liked the Premium Rib Meat (boneless marinated short rib). Even though it was AYCE and super busy, we always were able to get our food order in and it arrived quickly. If the heat on the charcoal grill was slowing down, they were quick to refill it. Awesome place for kbbq, and one of the only charcoal places that I know of in the area.

The restaurant wasn't too filled on a Saturday night. We arrived around 4:30pm and there was no…read morewait. We let the staff know our party size and they had us sit in the waiting area while they set up the table. The food was good and quality was not bad. Only downside was that the restaurant ran out of many of the side dishes we tried to order. I can only imagine what side dishes are left if you dine here later in the day. Other than that, the charcoal grill was also pretty smokey from the very moment we sat down. We were luckily enough to have enough seats to not have to sit directly in front of the grill or it would have been worse.

Craving meat so I had to drive out of the city to San Mateo. It's the only place within 20 miles of…read moreus where my wife likes the Mac salad, so it's worth it. I get the short ribs -- they are always meaty, with enough char but not burnt, and great flavor.

I've been here before and this visit was a step down. I picked up a spam musubi and a macaroni…read moresalad, both affordable at $3.79 each, but the savings aren't worth it if the food doesn't deliver. The spam musubi was overly salty and the sauce they used overpowered everything else. The macaroni salad had too much mayo and was borderline inedible. Two simple things, two misses. I'm a little surprised given the high rating on Yelp, but this visit didn't reflect it. I'm always on the lookout for the next great Hawaiian BBQ spot. Unfortunately, this one isn't it.

Amazing! Everything from the moment you walk in being greeted, to the service from beginning to the…read moreend of your meal. We've been here a good amount of times and the quality of service can't be beat. The owner is almost always around and his presence makes the experience that much better. The conversation is one you won't want to miss. The food is always top tier. Freshly made to order and the plating is always so clean. The service has always been great. They even expanded the restaurant so there's even more space to dine in and to bring your whole group with you. Definitely a south city gem. We will definitely be back for more! Thank you Sofra Grill!

We came here one lazy Sunday afternoon for lunch. We had a Baba Ganoush, the Branzino fillet, and…read morethe Kofte plate. The Baba Ganoush was very good. The fresh bread that came with it was amazing. We probably could have just snacked on this pair all day. The Branzino fillet was pretty good. I like that it was a fillet vs a whole fish, so I didn't have to deal with bones. It was a little bland for me though. I added the garlic sauce which gave it more flavor, but I would have liked not to have to do that. Not bad, but could be better. The Kofte plate was also pretty good, but again a little bland for me compared to the Kofte at Mazra or a koobideh at one of favorite Persian spots. Again, not bad but much more flavor when I added the garlic sauce which and hot sauce. Service was excellent. They were attentive and refilled out waters without asking. The unisex bathroom is EXTREMELY clean. A good indication of how they keep their kitchen. Definitely a plus. This is a nice local spot we'll have to come back to so we can try other items. This visit, however, was just okay. Next time I'll have to try the lamb dish and a few others.

"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.

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.