Server Nate was great, super attentive without hovering. He refilled my water a few times without me even asking. The crab Eggs Benedict was on point and the sauce tasted fresh. The potatoes, purple, regular, and sweet, had a light crisp on the outside and were soft inside. The crème brûlée French toast was nicely balanced and not overly sweet. It was pretty loud when I walked in, but once I sat down and the food came, I forgot about the noise. read more

See all

Enjoyed the marine avenue and the iced Pandan latte. Thank you for the great service! read more

Whisper - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Food was delicious and definitely would come back again! We got the Kimchi Carbonara and the Sweet & Salt. Staff were very friendly and Mya, our server, was super sweet!! read more

Whisper - Kimchi Carbonara, Sweet & Salt - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here to celebrate my bday with my GFs and I'm so glad we came. I've been here before with my kids where we only got the pasta and drinks but this time we ordered a variety of things and I'm so glad we did. We started with some small plates of Truffle Cream Oyster Mushrooms - it was so decadent - and perfect with the bread they provided. We also got the Gochujang fried chicken and WOW - the crunch, the tender chicken the gochujang - not too spicy - had just the right amount - it was definitely worth getting and I love it's an appetizer so we all could try it and enjoy. For our main courses we got the Cast Iron Stone Axe - which has Australian Wagyu finger meat, with rice, crispy potato medley (SO GOOD), with a little side of kimchi, and a sunny side egg on top. Everything was so flavorful but dang - that crispy potato medley - was crispy on the outside - soft and pillowy on the inside - and it's a medley of different kinds of potatoes. I would just get those on the side!! And the wagyu as so tender and caramelized perfectly... The other main course was the Kimchi Carbonara. One of my friends was worried it might be too spicy but it was perfect - and the texture, flavor, everything was so tasty, a bit decadent but so worth it!! And you get side of bread with it so scoop up all the sauce!! We ended our meal with the Creme Brule French Toast. It was a perfect share - fluffy and a bit of the creme Brule in the middle... Perfect way to end our meal!! They do get super busy - staff is very friendly and attentive which is surprising given how busy they are - so I guess they staff appropriately. What I do like is you can see what other people are ordering as the menu descriptions don't give them justice! read more

See all

Whisper is relatively new to downtown San Mateo, but they're a consistently popular brunch and lunch spot. Dinner, from my couple of experiences is more hit or miss, but generally Whisper has good foot traffic coming through all day long. The space inside has tall ceilings and the tables are somewhat spaced together tightly, so fair warning to you. I've had the same dish both times I've dined here and that is their Layered Architecture Burger, that comes with bacon and bacon jam. This burger is both savory and a bit sweet at the same time. Quite an interesting experience for your mouth, in my burger eating experiences. I have also ordered their Strawberry Lemonade to wash down my burger, and based on my exact repeat order, I can tell you both items I've tried I would order yet again. Service has been challenging on both occasions that I've visited. I was told they were short staffed and offered a discount on my meal for one of the occasions. read more

Whisper - Layered Architecture(Burger) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

This unfortunately did not hit for me. I want to preface that I am not a brunch girlie and this is mainly for appetizers and entrees. Finding parking at 9:30am on a Sunday was super easy! The restaurant didn't have a wait that time, and it was very nice and spacious. It definitely gives off an "elevated" vibe. When we left around noon, there were a few parties waiting. Alcoholic drinks were good, but everything else kinda missed. We ordered two apps, two entrees, and side of fries for two people, plus two drinks to start off with. And all the food came out AT THE SAME TIME, and our table is small for two people. When all the apps came out, I asked if we can slow down the entrees since all the apps filled the table but the person shrugged and said it's up to the server. Then a minute later both large entrees came out. My friend and I were so overwhelmed LOL, we were focused on rushing our apps, puzzling dishes on top of each other, it was not fun and chaotic. Anyways let's get to it: 1. Corn - 3/5 - I asked the server if we can just eat it whole instead of munching it on the cob, and he said we could. We in fact couldn't LOL. I thought it'd be crunchier too but it was just basic. 2. Truffle mushroom - 4/5 - I love truffle and mushroom so that was pretty tasty and not too heavy! 3. Mentaiko Jjambbong - 2/5 - I ate a few bites but it's not to my liking. This might be a personal preference. 4. Fries - 3/5 - pretty basic, has good crunch to it. Overall, pretty mid experience. No real servers designated to sections, just people roaming around and barely checking up on you LOL! If you're looking for a basic brunch spot, I mean why not. read more

See all

We decided to check this spot out for brunch since the weather was warmer in San Mateo. I added my name to the waitlist, but when we arrived, they told us there was actually no wait even though I was 5th on the list. We were seated right away! *** O U R P I C K S *** OLD FASHIONED ~ this wasn't strong at all and didn't have enough alcohol to really taste like an Old Fashioned. Our server gave us an extra half glass of a stronger Old Fashioned to make up for the weaker first glass. 4/5 ICED PANDAN LATTE WITH MATCHA ~ perfectly sweetened matcha with a nice pandan flavor. Delicious & tasty! 5/5 TRUFFLE CREAM OYSTER MUSHROOMS ~ "oyster mushrooms baked into truffle cream and cheese. Served with 2 pieces toasted focaccia." *** We really enjoyed this creamy, rich and flavorful dish! There was some spinach mixed in as well, and the mushrooms had a nice texture. 5/5 SWEET AND SALT ~ "croffle, Korean fried chicken, fresh seasonal fruits, sugar powder." *** This was my dish. The chicken had a nice sweetness and a good crunch! The croffle had a good chewiness, almost like it was made with mochiko flour. I was expecting some maple syrup or maybe a fruit compote for the croffle, though. The chicken could have used a sauce as well. I felt it was a little dry eating it by itself. 3.5/5 MARROW COAST CIOPPINO ~ "a rich tomato base, shrimp, scallops, black mussels, crab meat, toasted focaccia, roasted beef bone marrow, feta cheese, sourdough, basil, parsley." *** My partner had this and felt underwhelmed. They only give you 2 pieces of toasted focaccia for a fairly large bowl of tomato sauce with some seafood. He was expecting to see a crab claw, but unfortunately, there was none. The description says "a rich tomato base," but it tasted more like a marinara sauce for spaghetti. The only highlight was the large piece of bone marrow, which was naturally rich and flavorful. Otherwise, for a nearly $40 dish, it just didn't wow us. 3.5/5 I wanted to mention that all of our dishes came out at once. Since I could only eat one dish at a time, I felt like I couldn't enjoy my entree while it was still piping hot. Spacing out the dishes would have made a big difference. One thing they need to work on is serving more bread with these saucy dishes! Honestly, how are you supposed to enjoy all that sauce without enough crackers, bread, or croutons? Drink the sauce like soup? We would have needed to order extra bread at least 3x for the amount of sauce that came with the cioppino. Even the creamy oyster mushrooms could have used a few more pieces of bread. So instead, we took the rest home, where we could enjoy it properly with some extra bread. And then there was my chicken, which could have used some kind of sauce, but was served without anything. It was a little strange to have one dish with so much sauce while another could have really used some. Overall, beautiful ambiance and friendly, top-notch service, and some really good flavors, but unfortunately, the main dishes just didn't wow us. Maybe we didn't order the right plates for a home run. We enjoyed some of what we ordered, but I'm not sure this is a spot we'd rush back to. read more

See all

WOW! Actually sooo scrumptious and NOT overhyped for once, unlike most brunch spots in the bay area.... Gochujang fried chicken (9/10): SO JUICY AND TENDER! sweet! sour! spicy! I loved this. I hate that it was only 3 pieces for the price though... but perfect for 2-3 people to share. Gogi morning (7/10): This dish is really unique! I love an eggs bene but pairing it with bulgogi and strawberries... was a choice... Maybe too sweet for me personally, but the fries we got were yum! Mentaiko cream seafood jjampong (8/10): WOWWWW I loooved the sauce! This is more tomato than cream, which was ideal with the mentaiko and TONS of seafood!! So gooood. Mango matcha (6/10): uummmm... yeah it's mid read more

See all

Reservations were made for a Wednesday breakfast/brunch date, but there were plenty of tables open upon our arrival. Staff were friendly and were patient while we waited for our whole party to arrive. We started with the Shoyu Butter Corn ribs (good), Truffle Cream Oyster Mushrooms (good, but better with the bread as it could be salty alone), and the Triangle Melt (melty inside, flavorful) to share. Tried the Miso Ssamjang Bossam - good sized portion and flavorful; however, this was a bit sweet which I was not a fan of. I ordered the Sea & Green benedict and wasn't too big a fan of this dish. The shrimp were flavorless and I guess I didn't expect the croissant base to be so thick and bready. There was also not enough hollandaise sauce so it was a bit dry, especially with all that bread. I did like the dressing on the salad, however. read more

See all

Good food, pretty poppin for brunch. I still miss wursthall which used to be located here aaa. But whisper is good too. The food presentation is gorgeous. Good look and good taste. The flat white was strong and smooth. The red dawn benedict was filling and tasty. The fried chicken was tender and juicy. It was chicken thigh. The meal felt a little heavy to eat as the first meal of the day, but the food was good. (I know, it's brunch but still lol). The eggs were runny and delicious. The croissant base was soft and fluffy, though I think I would have preferred the traditional english muffin for more rigidity and texture for mopping up the sauce. The house salad was really yummy with an even flavor of citrus dressing. As it gets pretty busy, I'd recommend to waitlist before you get to the restaurant. read more

See all

Will definitely come back to try more items. My recent visit was part of work event. We were upstairs in a private area but would love to sit in main dining area next visit as it was super cute. The staff got a work out going up and down stairs for our large group. They should have space upstairs for some basics like plates, utensils and maybe an espresso machine. I feel like they were running downstairs so many times to grab things ...they brought out appetizers we ordered but there no plates. I had crème brûlée French toast which was as decadent as it sounds. For those of you who love fusion dishes you will love the menu here. My vegetarian colleague was able to customize an entree, fyi if you feel menu is meat heavy. Sorry I don't have pics. Thought it would be cringe to be taking pics of everyone food when I was with my colleagues and bosses so will add some the next time I go. read more

My San Mateo go to for breakfast or dinner! Everything we've tried has been creative and full of flavor. The staff has always been friendly and welcoming. My faves are the Mango Pancakes and the kimchi carbonara. read more

See all

Victoria was so sweet! Best waiter ever ! Food: I dont usually like Asian fusion, but this was unique with its heterogeneous mixtures. I tasted all the foods and this how I rated them based on taste. I like regular kimchi and my friend thought the pasta pomodoro was okay. Other than that the 5/5 hit dat spot! -sweet and salt 5/5 -cast iron 5/5 -bulgogi nachos 5/5 -kimchi carbonara 3.5/5 -pasta pomodoro 3/5 -truffle mushroom 5/5 Service: 5/5 since our waiter Victoria was so nice she gave me a free ice cream ! Very friendly service ! She came and checked on us whenever she had the chance. Ambiance: 5/5 San Mateo is my favorite vibe in the bay right now. Downtown San Mateo got a little San Diego Little Italy--vibe to it now. read more

See all

Cast Iron came with a flavorful rice mushroom that complimented the steak cubes so well. Classic impression was not my favorite but it did taste good. Not overwhelmingly creamy. Kimchi pasta is somthing I would order again... it was creamy and a little spicy, with just unique flavor. May I add?? There is a speakeasy on the way to the restroom which was a good surprise for us. read more

See all

Cute brunch spot in San Mateo! Mentaiko cream seafood jjampong: 8.1/10! Seafood was cooked well, and I particularly enjoyed the squid. I did feel like it was a bit too acidic with the bell peppers and would enjoy the sauce more if it had a thicker consistency. Kimchi carbonara: 8.4/10! The sauce was creamy and delicious. I would recommend adding more kimchi and green onion to help cut through the richness of the sauce and the sweetness of the bulgogi meat. Matcha pancake: 9.1/10! The highlight of our visit. The whipped matcha cream was light with good notes of matcha and overall paired well with the pancake, the candied pecans, and sweet strawberries. Overall a great brunch spot and would come back to try the other dishes. Thank you to Nate for being a friendly and attentive server! read more

See all

Came here on a Saturday early morning and got seated within 10 minutes. Me and my friends ordered family style to share everything. The interior was beautifully decorated and clean, and the service was good. The kimchi carbonara was our favorite dish we tried, very creamy and flavorful. We also really enjoyed the mango pancakes, they were fluffy and not too sweet with the toppings. We had the corn ribs, nothing special and would skip. The truffle wagyu tartar was also a let down, it had no taste at all. read more

Whisper - Mango pancakes- good and shareable for the table - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

We came out on a Saturday morning, and I was really surprised that there wasn't much of a wait! We added ourselves to the Yelp waitlist while we were parking and came in with our group of seven The food overall was really good, a bit on the heavier side. We got the really popular cast iron skillet which had really tasty rice. I also got a Gogi Benedict, which overall was really yummy, the eggs were jammy and the croissant below was really fluffy and sweet. Wasn't super croissant like though more like bread We also got the seafood beeping bop, which was tasty, but I had a little bit too much. He also got the Matcha pancake, which were actually really awesome!! super flavorful and With red beans that were crispy! Service was awesome, Seth was our server and he was super nice and attentive! We will be coming back again! A great thing was that it's pretty spacious inside so we brought two strollers and accommodate us as well read more

See all

Really enjoyed brunch at Whisper! The space is beautiful with bright, natural lighting and a really nice aesthetic. Service was also fast and friendly. I made a brunch reservation ahead of time, which I'd recommend since I've heard it can get pretty busy. // Iced mango matcha latte Yummy and refreshing! The mango flavor wasn't too strong, so you could still taste the matcha. It was light with a nice creaminess and wasn't overly sweet. // Cast Iron Stone Axe Such a delicious protein-forward brunch option! The meat was juicy and tender, and the potatoes came out piping hot. Everything was flavorful and satisfying without feeling too heavy. The menu has so many interesting fusion options that it was honestly hard to choose what to order. So many other dishes looked amazing, and I already have a few I want to come back and try. Definitely will be returning! read more

See all

We recently moved to San Mateo and are on a quest to try as many restaurants as possible. We had seen Whisper a few weeks ago and decided to add it to our list to try. It did not disappoint. The service was great. Servers very attentive.! The restaurant was filled with lively conversation from customers enjoying their meals. We ordered the Melting Archive and Nori pasta. We were super hungry we didn't t take pics. Must visit! read more

Whisper - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

I've been meaning to try this place for awhile. I came by for dinner on a Friday evening. Not to busy, able to get a table for 3 with minimal wait. We ordered the kimchi carbonara, dakjuk, gochujang chicken, and layered architecture (aka a burger). The kimchi carbonara was our favorite, good flavor. Then surprisingly the burger. The congee was good, but lacked a little flavor (not as good as the other two dishes), the fried chicken was average (had better at other places). I would come back to try their brunch. read more

See all

Omg this place was AMAZING. There were a lot of people waiting yet we were somehow seated very quickly. Selena was our server and she gave great recommendations and was very attentive. Our food was.........let's just say we'll be coming back and we live 2 hours away. The place was crowded but didn't feel like we were crammed in together. 100/10 recommend! read more

Whisper - Pork Benedict (forgot the name) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

So many great options at this restaurant. Service was a little slow and not very helpful. But, I'd come back for the food. read more

Whisper - Green tea - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

I have been wanting to try Whisper for a bit now and finally was able to make some time to go! This Korean fusion place is fun! I had previously been in the space when it was the German place before, but Korean inspired fare? Yes please! Understood that Whisper is popular for brunch, we went for a dinner on a Friday night; brunch items are not all day unfortunately. FYI, they are a spot where your "full party must be present to be seated". It was pretty full but the wait wasn't too long, as I had made a quasi reservation (waitlist) beforehand. I loved the decor and the table settings. More "English tea time" than anything Asian inspired. Even our drinks were cute. (Strawberry lemonade and iced chai latte) Entrees are a little on the pricier side (upper 20s) and we asked for recommendations based on what we liked, items we got: Gochujang Fried Chicken Cast Iron Stone Axe Mentaiko Cream Seafood Jjambbong Nothing was overly spicy- I believe we asked more medium/mild when we could. All the items on the menu were pretty substantial, on the heavier side. But all in all it was a good place to finally try! *Note: They have a neighboring speak-easy downstairs. Such fun if you can score a reservation! read more

See all

Great ambiance and brunch place. Kimchi carbonara was the star of the table. Everything else was just okay. Would recommend to try, come early so you don't need to wait. The cast iron dish was a bit bland however and would skip. read more

Whisper - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

An interesting take on Korean fusion breakfast and brunch food. Glad they had the option to put yourself on the Yelp waitlist; we waited 30-40 minutes for a party of two on a Sunday. We started with the gogochung fried chicken appetizer; I thought the dish was a bit too sweet for my liking. I would pass on the bone marrow cioppino next time. I thought the tomato sauce was a little basic and wished it had a more Korean twist. The dish I would order again is the Mentaiko cream seafood jjambbong. The squid was cooked perfectly in the jjambbong, and I really enjoyed its flavors. Dishes are priced at $20-30 a dish, and you order through a QR code. I am interested in trying some of their other dishes, so I'll be back! read more

See all

Whisper @whisper.sanmateo A stylish Asian fusion spot in San Mateo with a warm, eclectic interior. Perfect for brunch or dinner. The menu features creative Asian inspired dishes with unique flavors! My favorite dish was the Miso Ssamjang Bossam. The pork belly was so tender! What we ordered: Shoyu Butter Corn Ribs Gochujang Fried Chicken Cast Iron Stone Axe Kimchi Carbonara Miso Ssamjang Bossam We tried their dinner menu, though a couple of items weren't available, so we'll definitely be returning to try more of the dinner menu and their brunch menu next! Whisper 310 Baldwin Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401 Follow @itsmickeywang for more. #Whisper #brunch #dinner #bayareaeats #bayareafoodie read more

Whisper - Interior, Bar Area - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

We came here for a Saturday dinner. Luckily Yelp allows you to make reservations and we were seated right away. I recommend making reservations as it got busy as the evening went on. My husband and I ordered the Gojuchang Fried Chicken and Kimchi Carbonara, whereas my friend ordered the Nacho Bulgolgi. They were all delicious. I would recommend family style - for me, the Kimchi Carbonara was on the rich side but my husband said he could have eaten the whole dish himself. The Gojuchang Fried Chicken had a nice sweet sauce and it was perfectly fried and stayed crispy amidst the sauce - well executed. Service was friendly and fast. The restaurant was bright and airy. We really enjoyed our meal and will definitely be back to try their brunch items. Parking could be a little tricky. There is a parking structure nearby but it was 95% full when we arrived. The parking gods however were kind to us and we found a spot on the top level even though the sign at the entrance stated that it was "full". Parking can be hit or miss but there is always the option of street parking. read more

See all

I've heard about whisper for a long time and always see lines out the door so I was really excited to try the food. I came right at opening on a Thursday with my family. We made reservations though it wasn't too busy inside. We were greeted by our waitress, Mya and she was very friendly and let us know to order using their QR code when we were ready. There were a lot of menu items that we wanted to try so we decided to order a bunch and split everything. We got a few starters including the Shoyu Butter Corn Ribs, Avocado Scampi Toast, Corn Cheese Pancake, and Truffle Cream Oyster Mushrooms with extra focaccia bread on the side. The corn ribs were juicy and seasoned well. The scampi toast was our least favorite of the apps as the shrimp lacked flavor. We were expecting some garlic or lemon but it was pretty bland. All we tasted was the balsamic glaze which wasn't bad it was just very one note. The corn cheese pancake was a surprise hit at the table. The "pancake" part was thin like a tortilla and added nice crunch with all of the toppings. It had grilled scallops on top which were juicy and seasoned the way we wanted the shrimp from earlier to be. The truffle cream mushrooms were my personal favorite. It was rich, creamy and comforting. I do think it should definitely come with more bread because two little pieces of toast wasn't enough for the dish. For mains we got their Kimchi Carbonara, Fried Chicken & Waffles and their Bacon Shrimp Quesadilla. The carbonara was hands down my favorite dish of the night. So much flavor yet so perfectly balanced. The cook on the noodles were great too. That's the dish I'm definitely coming back for. I enjoyed the chicken and waffles as well though my sister said her piece of chicken was pretty dry. Looking at it, it did look drier than the piece I got. Overall the flavor profile was standard for a chicken and waffles. The quesadilla was tasty as well no real complains with that. It was pretty much what we expected it to be. We were so full but I refused to leave without trying at least one dessert so we shared the crème brûlée French toast. It wasn't overly sweet and the cream on top was a nice texture with the crackly sugar on top. After sitting a bit, the cream does start to melt into a pool so this is a dish you'll wanna eat fairly quickly Overall I had a fun experience here at whisper. They have a good mix of fun experimental dishes, and classic dishes. It wasn't very loud or crowded in there during our visit which was nice. I've definitely seen it much busier though driving by some days. I did come by another day wanting to get a quick lunch. Their hours show they're open until 230 and I got there at 2 and they told me that their kitchen was closed. I know 30 minutes is pretty close to closing so I wasn't mad as I planned to just order and eat really quickly and try to get out of there at 230. But would've been nice if they had their hours more accurately posted just in case people go really out of their way to come here to realize they actually close earlier. I was walking nearby anyway so it wasn't a big deal to me. I wanna come back and have that carbonara again and try a few more of their menu items. Overall had a good experience here! read more

See all

Came recently to try out this place. Menu is mostly for brunch but also has an interesting fusion Korean + New American Comfort elements. Corn ribs have been on my radar to try for a while. Whisper's version is satisfying and very tasty. I would order this again. I also had a kimchi carbonara. It's creamy and has a slight tang/bite. Instead of the traditional pork cheeks, Whisper's version came with a very tender and tasty braised short ribs. There is no funky fermented kimchi taste at all. I actually crave this a day later. Highly recommended. read more

Whisper - Kimchi carbonara - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Really gorgeous restaurant when you walk in, so we already had a great first impression. We came at the tail end of dinner service around 7:30, so we were seated very quickly. Servers were all very attentive and once they took our order, food came out in fifteen minutes. The wagyu tartare was delicious, although I wouldn't describe it as a typical tartare you'd get in a Korean restaurant. Melting archive was very good as well, good flavor and the fries were nicely done. Stone axe was definitely the highlight of the meal and gave us a variety of textures and flavors to munch on. We will definitely be back for the brunch menu! read more

See all

Friend and I had dinner here on Sunday 7/26/2026. She made a reservation online and we were seated immediately. I had the shrimp scampi avocado toast and she had the ceviche, which we both enjoyed. Unfortunately one of the waitresses said they were out of eggs - this wouldn't be an issue if 3-4 sections of the menu weren't focused on eggs. As a result, our options were limited. Whisper seems to be better known for brunch so we likely would have been able to take full advantage of their vast menu if we came earlier in the day. Service was very attentive, with multiple wait staff checking in on us and refilling our water glasses. We loved the variety of chairs. Lots of seating available and not too noisy/easy to have a conversation. I don't live in the area but would consider coming back for brunch with my friend! read more

The food at whisper is tasty - we got the marine avenue and the lemony hollandaise worked perfectly with the crab and the asparagus. Though - I don't know why they say the benedicts are on a croissant because they're more like buns than croissants? I thought maybe they're using croissant dough, but even then it really doesn't evoke croissant to me. Still tasty, but I got excited it was on a croissant and then let down that it really didn't seem like a croissant. Generally I'd say a 4 or 5 for the food depending on what you get. The ambiance is cute, like a modern upscale cafe. I miss wursthall still, but at least it's super cute inside. Honestly though (and I hate that AI has taken over that word), if the food weren't as good I probably wouldn't come back. Not sure if it was just my waiter, but service here was terrible. It felt like we had to flag down a food runner every time we wanted something. We got our coffee after our food came out. Had to ask someone for a refill. We never got checked in on. The table in the corner sat for at least twenty minutes it felt like before someone came and checked on them. We ordered a drink that was delicious but didn't arrive until after we finished our food. We were actually pretty sure it wasn't going to come and then it just showed up. Like, we were pretty ready to tell them never mind and please make sure it wasn't on the bill. The galling thing though? Our waiter (Michael? I dunno his name pops up in some of the other reviews) had the nerve to ask us to give him a good review on yelp and if we did, he'd comp the drink that almost didn't show up for us. And made us feel really uncomfortable with saying no. I mean, I was gonna write a review knocking the service anyways lol but it felt wrong (and I think it's against the yelp policy to get stuff in exchange for positive reviews). Hugely disappointing. Places with better service would have at least apologized for how late the drink came at a minimum, or comped it full because it basically never showed up. The crazy thing was that it didn't look like they were understaffed at all - there were a ton of staff running around the dining area. That should have been plenty to at least make sure we had our waters and coffee refilled. Their coffee though? Possibly one of my favorites in San Mateo. Which is a little unfortunate lol. But if I have to pick or recommend a place for brunch, it's definitely not going to be here. read more

Pros: big portions, unique menu items, friendly staff (thanks, Celina!), quick service although our entrees came out at different times. Cons: loud, food is a little rich for my taste and instagrammy Probably won't rush back but a fun place if you're looking for a unique brunch spot in San Mateo. read more

Wonderful ambiance with high ceilings and comfortable seats . service and food were great. Parking can be a bit challenging but we got lucky finding a metered space 2 blocks away. Perfect restaurant to dine and enjoy with family and friends. Will definitely come back to try other items . read more

See all

I went there for my birthday brunch and I noticed there was an open section and an upstairs section. The upstairs section felt more exclusive and it was easier to have a conversation. The food was definitely tasty but I had a few observations. Gogi Morning beef was tasty but the egg was a tad bit overcooked as the yolk started to harden. Yolk was still runny! The matcha pancake had a great cream top with a good subtle hint of matcha taste. It's a great alternative to the traditional pancake setup with syrup. The creme brulee French toast was definitely a star! Not too sweet and can actually be eaten on its own without the syrup. Iced Pandan latte was alright, I'd rather go to a Vietnamese coffee shop that specializes in that. But it was still a solid drink! Ambiance was very lively with many parties excited over the menu and seeing what they should try. Service was very prompt and friendly! read more

See all

We came here for a girls day brunch and I'm so glad our friend made a reservation ahead of time because it was so busy! - PARKING - We couldn't get a street spot so we parked in the nearby parking structure and walked over. - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - Beautiful tall ceilings with upper and lower level dining areas. The upper level is pretty small and tight, but they make it work. We checked in with the host and it took some time to get some parties seated but we eventually got taken to the upper level. It might've been harder for staff to make rounds since we were on the upper level in the corner, as it took some time for them to come get our order. We also asked for shared plates but had to flag staff twice before they almost doubled up on the request. - FOOD - We ordered the following to share amongst the 4 of us: - Corn Ribs - Creme Brulee French Toast - Kimchi Carbonara - Pork Belly Benedict We were all satisfied at the end as it was a good amount of food. My favorite was probably the Kimchi Carbonara. - OVERALL - A nice brunch spot with Asian flavors that make breakfast dishes more interesting! read more

Whisper - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Do not order the nachos. Seemed like stadium chips with canned sauce. Service was nice but seemed disorganized and overwhelmed. The large amount of dirty glasses on the bar was a staggering amount and I felt for the person who would have to do all those dishes. The check-in process is automated so make sure to put your name on the waitlist or confirm you're there. French toast was good. read more

Great food, nice ambiance, service was on point too. Would definitely come back again soon. We ordered the stone bowl beef and the corn dish, both were delicious read more

A beautiful brunch spot with lovely ambiance, luxurious decor, attentive servers, and great food! MUST ORDER: Kimchi Carbonara Pasta My friend and I went on a weekday so there was no wait, but I hear it can get pretty crazy on the weekends. We ordered the Red Dawn Benedict which is a Korean fried chicken Benedict with the potato medley as well as the Kimchi Carbonara. The Benedict was good but nothing to write home about, but the kimchi carbonara was absolutely amazing. The creaminess was cut by the tangy kimchi and I also liked that it had some meat in it for protein. I thoroughly enjoyed this fusion pasta and will definitely be back for this dish in particular. read more

See all

This was our first time trying Whisper after seeing so many positive Yelp reviews. We joined the Yelp waitlist before arriving, checked in with the staff, and were pleasantly surprised to be called much sooner than the estimated wait time. The restaurant is fairly spacious with high ceilings, but that also makes it very loud once it's busy. Conversation can be a bit difficult because of the noise level. The food was just okay--not bad, but not memorable. The pasta I ordered was very creamy and quite heavy. We also tried the cast iron beef dish. I really enjoyed the crispy mixed potato tots, but the overall dish felt a little greasy, perhaps because of the cast iron skillet. The beef itself was tender, but it lacked seasoning and flavor. I think serving it with more kimchi to mix with the rice would really help balance the richness and add more flavor. The biggest disappointment was the service. The staff all seemed to be constantly running around and extremely busy, making it difficult to get anyone's attention. I only needed a refill of water and some extra napkins, but I had to flag down multiple servers before anyone responded. Even then, one server brought the water while another later brought the napkins. It wasn't a huge request, but it felt unnecessarily difficult to get basic service. Overall, Whisper has a nice atmosphere and a convenient Yelp waitlist system, but the food didn't quite live up to the hype, and the service needs to be more attentive. I'd consider giving it another try, but this first visit was just average. read more

See all