been wanting to try this brunch spot. joined the line before arriving which helped, place was already pretty busy before 11am but we got seated right away. then it got packed real quick after, came in waves. menu's got a lot going on; korean fusion brunch vibes. got the gentle melt (tuna melt) + the layered architecture burger. portions were huge. fries were sooo good. flavors overall were solid and tasted fresh too. would come back to try more stuff. read more

Whisper - gentle melt, layered architecture - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

My husband and I got there when they opened and there were already a few people waiting. The restaurant is pretty large and I loved the vibes. Very clean and modern. Fina served us and she was amazing! She had a huge smile and was very friendly. She went over her recommendations and gave us time to figure out what we wanted. The food came fast and was hot as well as aesthetically pleasing. As an appetizer, we ordered the Truffle Cream Oyster Mushrooms. It was creamy and savory and I would go back just for that dish alone. I ordered the Coastal Green omelette and my husband ordered the Latin Sunrise omelette. Both of our dishes were good! Great place for a brunch date or an early meet up with friends! They are not serving alcohol yet though but are working on their liquor license. read more

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We got the shoyu butter corn ribs, crème brûlée French toast, and the Sea and Green Benedict. The corn ribs were actually so good. Super juicy with a nice char, and the shoyu butter gave it that salty, savory depth with a little sweetness. The crème brûlée French toast was the best thing on the table. It has that hard caramelized top that cracks when you cut into it, and inside it's soft and custardy. Definitely on the sweeter side, but not overwhelming. The Sea and Green Benedict balanced everything out. The shrimp tasted fresh, the poached eggs were perfectly runny, and the sauce wasn't too heavy. The only thing was the croissant base was a little dry, which took away from it a bit, but overall it was still solid. The ambiance is cute and a little trendy without trying too hard, with a relaxed brunch vibe that makes it easy to hang out for a while. Service was friendly and pretty quick, and everything came out well-paced. read more

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Came to Whisper for dinner and overall it was pretty good. We started with the gochujang fried chicken which was boneless dark meat fried. It was tender, crispy, sweet, and savory. Excellent! For my main I had the cast iron which was a huge portion. The rib finger was marinated well but my favorite part was probably the potatoes. They were deep fried just enough so they were crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside. Boyfriend got the congee and thought it was ok. He wasn't the biggest fan of the pickled jalapeno but the poached egg was perfect. We did have to send the dish back for being lukewarm but the staff was accommodating. It's odd that they would serve it in such a shallow dish. Given that they are still on a learning curve, I'll give them a bit of a pass on some aspects but one faux pas was delivering the appetizer and entrees within minutes of each other. The chicken isn't exactly small bites so not only did we lose a lot of table space but that probably was a contributing cause to the congee being cold by the time we moved over to it. The second was the abysmal state of the women's restroom. No TP and toilet covers strewn about. 1. Ladies, do better. 2. Whisper, check more frequently! Still, I would come back to try brunch. The food warrants it. read more

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Whisper is a cool new restaurant that serves Korean themed brunch and other foods. It's a nice, open casual and inviting space to gather with friends although it can get a bit loud. Went for lunch and enjoyed my Bulgogi Benedict served with a salad instead of potatoes and it was an interesting and tasty combo. My friend had the Sweet and Salty fried chicken stack...came with 3 pieces on a croffle, so I tried one and the chicken was cooked very well. Servers were nice, too, and very busy, as they are still getting things down having just opened recently. Make sure you flag someone down to order if you don't want to use the QRCode on the table. Sounds like they are getting their liquor license any day now, too, and I'm looking forward to returning again before or after my next round of golf at Poplar Creek that's less than 10 minutes away! read more

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Was so excited to try Whisper but left disappointed. First off, service was lackluster from start to finish. When we walked in, no one greeted us even though staff members walked right past us repeatedly. We waited a while to talk to the host, and we had to proactively flag him down. During the meal, no one came to check on us, and when we were ready for the bill, it took us 8+ tries to get someone's attention. At one point, we were literally flailing our arms in the air to catch someone's glance. Food was quite disappointing. We got their popular corn ribs which were super salty and hard to eat. We also got their $29 seafood pasta which (aside from coming in a cast iron skillet which was kind of fun) was a watery, flavorless mess with a few frozen mussels, shrimp, and the tiniest scallops. Tried to get their matcha latte but they were "out of matcha." Got their hojicha latte instead which was incredibly gritty. read more

Whisper - Seafood jjambbong pasta - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

We visited Whisper Downtown San Mateo on a Tuesday afternoon. Even though they were fairly busy, we were still able to get a table pretty quickly, which I appreciated. Ordering is done through a QR code at the table, which made the process simple and convenient. My friend and I ordered the Red Dawn and the Gogi Morning, and both dishes were delicious and full of flavor. The inside of the restaurant is very cute and classy, with a cozy atmosphere that makes it a nice spot to catch up with a friend over brunch or lunch. read more

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So much to say here! First, I love that they have the online Yelp Waitlist considering this is a new up and coming brunch spot that was buzzing all over social media. I appreciate that there's not a parameter limitation on how far away you can add yourself on the waitlist. Signed up at 10AM on Saturday morning and drove about 30 mins to get seated right when we parked. The service is impeccable. HUGE shoutout to Vina as it was her first day and she did an outstanding job serving our table along with the other tables around us. She provided a warm welcome when we sat down and shared some of the most recommended items on the menu. She was super attentive, always checking in with us and making sure that our waters were always refilled. We ordered the Shoyu Butter Corn Ribs, Golgi Morning Benedict, and Sweet & Salt Chicken and Waffles. You're not missing out on much with the corn ribs as they were a little bland, but both entrees were amazing! The chicken and waffles were just enough to be satisfyingly crispy on the outside but juicy and tender on the inside. The waffle had a nice flakey crusted which paired great with the fruit! Interiors wise, I felt like the furniture to the designs was carefully curated to be a great picture spot as well. The bathrooms were underground which was a little tricky to find but it looks like they are turning the third floor into a bar or speakeasy of some sort! can't wait to see what they do! read more

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4.5 stars. Beautiful space and good portions. Came for brunch and their fried chicken benedict was delicious. Also tried the kimchi carbonara from the dinner menu and it was good. Sauce is super heavy so I could only eat 1/3. Took the rest home for lunch the next day. Their French fries are seasoned and delicious. Get those too! read more

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

This is a fairy new brunch cafe that opened in downtown San Mateo. I heard about this place online so I wanted to check it out since ai love brunch food. I came on a Saturday around 11 am and put my name down on the waiting list. It took around 1.5 hours to get seated so I just walked around the block until I was called. I ordered the morning edition with scrambled eggs, bacon, focaccia and sweet potato fries. They accidentally gave me ciabatta bread so I asked to switch it and they just gave me an extra price of foccacia. I loved the eggs and fries, super fluffy for the eggs and super crispy for the fries! I would love to come back when the wait times are shorter and try other items on the menu. read more

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

Came for brunch with some friends. Line is long waited almost an hour after checking in. Inside didn't update a lot from the last restaurant but change tables and chairs, added upstairs. We ordered coffee, seafood jujambbong pasta which is very watery not much taste, frozen seafood. Cast Iton Stone Axe, a little too sweet for the finger meat, but meat cooked juicy not over cooked, potato's are crispy but blend. Benedict wasn't the best Benedict, same potatoes. Cream burlee toast was something I really want to be good but it's boring. Side has not taste only middle has little burlee not sweet and no very flavorful. For Brunch is expensive as well. read more

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Grabbed brunch at Whisper on a Saturday, the wait was around an hour. You can add yourself to the waitlist and walk around downtown or grab a matcha/coffee while waiting. Ordered the morning edition with scrambled eggs, sausage, ciabatta, and sweet potato fries. The sausage and eggs were yummy and the sweet potato waffle fries were very light and crispy! The portion size is pretty big. The service was ok, it took some time for my friend and I to catch a waiter's attention to ask for hot sauce/jam and there was no water refill. read more

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

Came here for brunch. Ordered the Crème Brûlée French toast, Gogi Morning Benedict with potato medley, and Dakjuk. The Crème Brûlée French toast was the amazing - the crème brûlée, crispy texture layer was surprisingly present, and it wasn't overly sweet which I appreciated. The Gogi Morning Benedict was a bit too sweet for me, but I can see sweet tooth enjoyers liking it. The poached eggs were perfectly done. The potato medley on the side was a bit bland, so I ended up asking for ketchup. The dakjuk was warm and flavorful, definitely a comforting dish. The bacon bits added a nice crunchy texture to the usually soft porridge. The space itself is roomy and clean, and they had a lot of staff on hand. Service was great and they kept my water topped up without me having to ask. Would definitely come back for the French toast and Dakjuk, but would probably skip the Gogi Morning next time. read more

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Came here on Valentine's Day for lunch and waited about 1 hour. They gave customers roses as a special treat :) . Very spacious, has seating upstairs as well, aesthetic decor. Food: . Gogi Morning (4/5) - needs more seasoning overall especially the potatoes. You can pick between potato medley or salad as your side. Main dish was flavorful . Salt and Sweet (croffle) (4/5) - waffle was soft before pouring the syrup, wish it was crispy. Love the fried chicken, it was big and crispy. read more

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

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The waitlist looked insane (74-103 minute wait at 70th in line) but once we showed up, we were seated within 5 minutes because it's apparently first come first serve. Ordering is done through QR code on the table. I had the Cast Iron Stone Axe which was amazing! The wagyu pieces were thick and juicy and possibly lightly marinated or seasoned to be like typical Korean BBQ meats. My dad ordered the Marrow Coast Cioppino after being immediately drawn to the "marketing" of the huge bone marrow but was unfortunately disappointed by how it didn't really taste like anything but fat. He compared it to the marrow in other places like The Table (in Willow Glen) and a restaurant he went to in Paris...but he liked the rich seasoning of the stew and the seafood, although the entire dish was a little bit salty for him. read more

Whisper - Cast iron stone axe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came here on a busy Saturday and added our name to the waitlist, the wait was over an hour long but we just walked around San Mateo until the table was ready. We ordered 2 appetizers, 1 entree and 1 dessert for 2 people, along with 2 drinks. The HIGHLIGHT of our experience here was our server Fina, she was the best and definitely would come back just to see her. Truffle Wagyu Yukkye 3.5/5 The dish was very pretty and flavors were good but I think the sauce was a bit too salty and could have something to balance the flavors a bit more Gochujang Fried Chicken 4/5 3 pieces of fried chicken thigh, very big portion for the price and beautifully plated but the sauce again was a bit strong and overall a little too sweet Kimchi Carbonara 5/5 The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was creamy with a hint of spice and everything was well balanced. Absolutely would come back for this. Creme Brulee French Toast 5/5 Not too sweet and delicious custard flavor. No complaints here. Our server Fina also explained that they are currently getting their liquor license and will be having alcohol in the coming months so we will be coming back for some mimosas. read more

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It was a soft opening when we ate here for lunch. Went on a weekday as it is packed on the weekends. Decor is great. Service was excellent and staff super friendly. Had the shoyu butter corn ribs which was delicious! But the rest of our order wasn't a wow..ordered the seafood bibimbap (not enough seafood and way too much rice), melting archive cheese scape (it was mediocre), and crème brûlée French toast for something sweet (presentation was great but couldn't taste the crème brûlée). Might come back to try the other items on the menu but it'll be a while. read more

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3.75 stars rounded up. The chef who put Sweet Maple on the map has opened a new Korean-fusion eatery; chic & modern Whisper is located in the space formerly occupied by Wursthall. My group had initially planned on ordering a sweet capper to end brunch, however, Whisper's generous portions left us too stuffed to tackle dessert. We ordered: -- Dakjuk ($20): Korean congee topped with chicken breast, scallion, bacon, & a perfectly-poached egg. My favorite dish of the meal. Loved the mélange of toppings & creamy porridge. -- Sweet & Salt ($23): Korean fried chicken stacked impressively high atop a croissant-waffle hybrid. The fact that I'm not typically a fan of chicken thigh might give me pause before ordering this dish again; that said, the breading had a satisfying crunch & was well seasoned. -- Cast Iron Stone Axe ($29): abundant portion of Australian wagyu finger rib; unfortunately, the thick, chunky pieces were extremely tough & chewy. Both the accompanying rice & potato medley were flavored just right. I appreciate that our dishes were brought out in courses so we could fully enjoy each creation. Because we were seated near the kitchen, there was always a staff member in our vicinity to flag down for anything we needed. read more

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We tried this new brunch spot after joining the Yelp waitlist that showed about an hour. We arrived on time but still waited almost another 30 minutes. The place was very crowded and all of the tables are unusually narrow. With four dishes, an appetizer, and drinks, we were basically playing Tetris to make everything fit, which felt cramped. Food was just okay and nothing really stood out. Service felt disorganized even though there were plenty of servers walking around. Charging one dollar for coffee sweetener also felt like unnecessary nickel and diming. There are many other brunch options in the neighborhood so we probably will not return. read more

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Loved this new cute brunch place! There are so many menu options tho so it was hard to make a decision what to eat. I wish they would've had a kids menu for my kids to choose from. There was no wait at 9:15am on a Saturday, we walked right in. Also you're able to add to waitlist on yelp if you want to get on it while you're driving. The matcha pancake was good but wish they told us there was nuts on it. No description about it on the menu either. My seafood pasta was good! Had a spicy kick to it from the Korean sauce. Also I loved the Korean finger ribs flavor on the egg scramble! Will be back again to try all the other goodies! read more

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We made a reservation for brunch and were seated right away when we arrived. I've alway wanted to try this place since we love a good brunch and definitely not saying no to a Korean fusion. After being seated, we were offered water and menu right away. There's also a QR code on the table for you to scan, I like how the web version of menu has pictures of what each dish looks like. By the time a server came and checked on us, we had already placed the order ourselves. We tried a Benedict dish and an omelette dish. The representations were very good and the amount of food we got were also great. You could choose between potato medley and house salad for side. We decided to get one of each. They were relatively busy so food took a bit to come. I like how they use a croissant base for Benedict instead of English muffins, but it would be amazing if the croissant base is slightly bigger or if it comes with two pieces instead of one. The place does get a little loud when it's busy, but overall, decent dining experience, would love to come back and try other dishes. read more

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My mom and I stopped by on a Friday afternoon for brunch and thank you to all that was at work this afternoon because we were seated promptly and had no wait. Located right in downtown San Mateo, Whisper is another Korean fusion brunch spot to check out. The inside is bright, the furniture seems classy, and the staff was attentive and friendly. I will say, we were on a time crunch due to my poor planning so we weren't able to fully enjoy the Whisper brunch experience, but the few bites we were able to muster betweek the juk, chicken and waffle, and corn ribs was delicious and I do believe they're worth a repeat visit. read more

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I'm going to LOUDLY say that this place is so good! I've been seeing this place all over social media so I thought I would gather my friends for a Saturday brunch! Full party present is needed in order to be seated, even being on the Yelp waitlist won't prioritize you over parties that walk in with everyone present. They took over what used to be a german beer hall so there's still a little reminiscence of that place in the current layout. We ordered a build your own scramble, matcha pancakes, and the corn ribs! That was plenty for 3 people. Parking is metered all around the block. read more

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Came here on one of the busiest brunch days possible, Valentine's morning! I joined the Yelp waitlist about 20 minutes before arriving and still waited around 15 minutes to be seated. They were packed. You can definitely feel that they just opened, but once they're fully settled in, I'm pretty sure this place will become a San Mateo favorite. The location is great. Even though they seemed understaffed, the restaurant was clean and the staff were friendly and accommodating, which we really appreciated. The main reason for my 4-star rating instead of 5 is the table size. My boyfriend and I are foodies, so we already knew we'd be ordering at least two dishes each. When we saw our tiny table especially compared to the plate sizes around us we got worried... and for good reason. We ended up rushing our first dish just to make room for the next one. Now let's talk about the food! Appetizers Truffle Wagyu Yukke 10/10 Would order this again and again. Perfect balance of savory with a hint of sweetness. Absolutely delicious. Mango Scallop Ceviche 5/10 This came out last, which was unusual for an appetizer. It lacked the bright sourness I expect from ceviche, but after asking for extra lemon, it really came together. Matcha Pancake 10/10 Beautiful!! and delicious. Super fluffy with the matcha sauce bringing everything together. Definitely Instagram-worthy and worth ordering. Gogi Morning 6/10 I didn't personally try this, but my boyfriend said it was good... just missing something. Sweet & Salt 10/10 Loved this dish. The chicken was crispy outside, juicy and flavorful inside, and the croffle underneath was the perfect sweet-and-savory combo. A must-order. Overall, everything was good. They still have room to grow, but they're already making a strong impression in the community. It's a bit pricey, but I'd definitely come back. read more

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A solid 3.5 stars. Cute ambiance, friendly staff, but food is just okay compared to similar brunch spots around. Chicken needed seasoning. Croissant bun wasn't the best carb for the base of a Benedict - too puffy, need something more flat. Also 2 eggs on one base was hard to balance. They have 10% off for their soft opening, which is nice but the prices are still expensive. 1 Benedict, 1 chicken & waffle, and 1 iced tea was $50 after tax and tip. That's the cost of going out to eat these days, but for just okay food it's a lot. read more

Whisper - Chicken & waffle aka sweet & salt - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Walked by at around noon on a Saturday and there was a huge crowd waiting outside. Decided to come try for breakfast on a Thursday and it was pretty good - for soft opening, they were offering 10% discount in final bill Monday-Fridays. Food: Cast Iron Stone Axe (8/10) - the steak was so tender!! But a bit sweet. I thought having both potatoes and fried rice was excessive but it would be good for leftovers Mango Pancakes (9/10) - this was very delicious and the perfect level of sweetness! Dakjuk (4/10) - honestly, I would very much prefer homemade chicken jook, this one was more fusion read more

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I came on a Friday during lunch time and even then there was a waitlist! I've tried to come on the weekend but the waitlist is like ~2 hours. Thank goodness for the Yelp waitlist. For a party of 2 we waited around 20 mins, but definitely go check in with the host irl when you arrive. I was waiting for a text to come through, but apparently they don't do that. Lesson learned! After the host came out to ask for my name, we were immediately seated. The layout of the place resembles Wursthall but with individual tables. I love what they've done to the place! It gives cute brunch vibes. The place was nice and clean too. When you are ready to order, the table has a QR code to scan. My friend and I shared two orders which was a decent amount. We had some leftovers to take home. Cast Iron Stone Axe: 4.5/5 Tender, flavorful meat with a perfectly cooked sunny side up egg, served with rice and kimchi. It was so good! I totally understand why this is one of the popular dishes. Gogi Morning: 5/5. I love eggs benedict in general, but I specifically love this Korean fusion. Bulgogi on top of a croissant base with a perfectly runny egg? This is a must try and I'm already looking forward to coming back to eat this dish again. We got the potato medley for both and they were crispy and seasoned well. Super good side to try. Overall, I'm really impressed with the two dishes we tried. I'm definitely coming back to explore the rest of the menu and to order the Gogi morning again. read more

Whisper - Cast Iron Stone Axe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This is your sign to whisper & brunch. EGGspect some bold flavors here, because they let the food do the talking. .:: FOOD::. Seafood Jjambbong Pasta $29: spicy jjambong base, shrimp, squid, black mussels, scallop, spinach, onion, mushroom, green onion Sweet & Salt $23: Croffle with Korean fried chicken, fresh seasonal fruits. Sugar Powder Shoyu Butter Corn Rib $12: sweet corn ribs, cilantro, cheese, butter, shoyu glaze Creme Brulee French Toast: french toast topped with creme brulee. Tuscan Dip $11: Balsamic Vinegar, basil, garlic, parsley, sourdough. Grated Grana Padano Cheese, Focaccia .:: Service/ Ambiance/ Parking::. The service was awesome. Staff was very friendly The spot is very chic with earthy tones. The spot is 2 stories so upstairs and downstairs seating available. Parking is cray cray on the weekends. However there are street parking or garage spaces read more

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Came here for a quick bite since I was in the area. I got seated super fast and had great service once I was seated. It was pretty busy on a Wednesday which is a good sign! The inside of the restaurant is vibrant with nice decor. I ordered the matcha pancakes and they were delicious! They give you 3 large stacks which was a lot! The matcha cream top wasn't too sweet and the pancakes stayed fluffy the entire time. I also tried their freshly squeezed OJ and it was the perfect amount of citrus, tart, sweetness and definitely very fresh. I normally don't drink orange juice but I had to try since the server offered it. I will come back to try other things on the menu! read more

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Very instagrammable but lacking in flavor profiles to match it. The matcha pancakes were good but not to write home about, the oyster mushrooms were bland in flavor compared to their promised description (the truffle was there...in spirit?). The Benedict's were solid but the flavors were again awkwardly balanced. We got the spring spinach and Gogi Benedict's. The gogi was a little too sweet. The potatoes were okay. Service was solid and I can tell they'll be better soon, this place just opened and the staff are still learning the ropes, I'd imagine I'd be a little daunted too in their shoes! The bathrooms are clean and the ambiance is on the louder side. The furniture is super cute. We also got a matcha and a flat white. They were solid. The orange americano was unexpectedly unique, definitely try! read more

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While I do mourn the loss of Wursthall, Whisper is a great new occupant of the space. The new owners kept the general vibes but added a touch of "fancy" to the furniture, making it feel like it's worth a pinky's up girl brunch. I do have a little gripe with how loud it got when the dining hall filled up, which makes it hard to talk. It's clear they are still working out some kink, as the online ordering system via QR code was not mentioned in reviews prior to mine. Quite a few items are also not available, but the staff marked it on the menus adequately. The menu features standard breakfast fare like scrambles and benedicts, with a flair, I wouldn't call it entirely Korean, but there is a lot of gochujang in there, as well as Korean congee. There is also a healthy dose of friend chicken, including hot chicken. I got a benedict with fried chicken, and the fried chicken was crispy, juicy, and bursting with flavor. It was so delicious I could have it anywhere -- in a sandwich, on its own, in a benedict. The croissant on which the fried chicken laid, it was a bit soft, feels premade, and not as crispy or flaky as I expected. Overall it's still a delicious dish, but the whole isn't better than the parts. My friend got a chicken sandwich, said it's good with all the condiments, but he preferred the fried chicken on my benedict. The food arrived in good time, and the service was good when it was present -- but the staff was clearly still training and a bit overwhelmed -- once our food came they barely checked on us, and we had to chase them down for our check. I will definitely want to try a bunch of their other dishes based on this experience! I can't wait until they open their dinner program as well. read more

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

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Came back again and the experience was way better! They really cleaned up the service and organized the waitlist in a more efficient manner. The yelp waitlist is now working and it feels like there are more servers as well which made it easier to get helped I ordered a sweet & salt and I think that this place just does their fried dishes incredibly well. The chicken was fried to perfection and I loved that it came with some fruits to cut the oiliness The nori pasta was also pretty tasty. For a pasta, it's definitely on the lighter side but still plenty flavorful Overall, I have to say that it impressed by the improvements in just the span of a few weeks! read more

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Whisper is a recent addition to San Mateo's brunch scene, bringing a Korean-inspired culinary experience to downtown. It occupies the former Wursthall location, with some interior changes and some updated seating arrangements. We arrived around 10 am to find the restaurant quite busy, but the staff was friendly and welcoming. In addition to paper menus, there are QR codes on the tables for viewing the menu, though you currently need to place your order with a server. Given that this is a new establishment still figuring out its logistical processes, this is understandable. The menu is well-curated with plenty of choices without being overwhelming. We ordered the Sea and Green Benedict, Dakjuk, Sweet and Salt, and Matcha Pancake. For drinks, we chose a Matcha Latte, an Americano, and a Grapefruit Americano. The food and drinks were prepared quickly, and the presentation was appetizing. The standout dish from our order was the Dakjuk, a rare find on menus, which I had only previously seen at a restaurant in Japan Town, SF. However, some of the other dishes were a bit hit or miss. The Sweet and Salt chicken needed a bit more seasoning, the Hollandaise sauce on the Sea and Green Benedict lacked the expected savory flavor, and the Matcha Pancake could benefit from being less thick to allow the toppings to flow nicely when uncovered. Pricewise they are reasonable with some are at higher price for breakfast/brunch dishes One suggestion for improvement is to avoid repeatedly asking customers if they are done with their food, especially when there is still something on their plate. It's best to let customers decide when they are finished and have them request the plate to be removed.   Overall, it was a good dining experience. For now it it between 3 to 4. read more

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4.5 STARS Word Salad Let's get this out of the way, the menu is a complete word salad and confusing. And, I needed glasses on top of my contacts to read the menu. Increase the font please! Don't let this deter you tho cuz the food we ordered was delicious! Soft opening this weekend, Whisper is an ambitious project from the pioneer of AZN fusion brunch in the bay. The owner-chef is from Sweet Maple and Surisan but they're not related to Whisper. They took over Wursthall; don't worry, Wunderbar is still downstairs. Rezzies are accepted and you enter through the side door. There's a handful of dog-friendly tables outside. No heat lamps. M E N U Korean-American fusion with a Japanese flair. The menu seems to be a work in progress and not everything is available yet. No s&p, condiments, jam, etc. on tables. No alkie, liquor license pending? F O O D * The Morning Edition w/ scrambled eggs, applewood bacon, potato medley, ciabatta ($21) Your basic American breakfast staple done right - soft, loose egg curds with three strips of bacon, crispy potato medley (russet, sweet potato, and purple potatoes), and toasted slices of ciabatta. * Cast Iron Stone Axe: Beef finger meat w/ rice, sunnyside up egg, potato medley ($36) - Some menu copies state $26, some $36 A prized cut in KBBQ, the beef finger meat (meat between the ribs) was flavorful, richly marbled, and gets nicely caramelized in the sizzling platter. To appreciate the quality, I wish the pieces were served in strips/larger cuts, not diced. If you like galbi, this will be your jam. Served with a mound of perfectly cooked brown rice crowned with a runny egg and tangy kimchi to cut through the richness. * Pup Patty: Burger patty, no salt ($8) Nice seared crust, tender and juicy. They loved it! Don't worry, they did not eat off the plate. S E R V I C E Upbeat and friendly with prompt food service (9:45 am rezzies). Despite being the only table outside, the managers checked in with us several times. A M B I A N C E Huge, modern-chic two level space with cozy booths, earth tones, and greenery. Overall, as a brand new resto, Whisper has kinks to work out so keep that in mind when visiting. When the weather warms up, we'll be back for their yukhoe (Korean beef tartare)! read more

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This place is pretty good. I liked the overall vibes and the spacious interior. The food we got was also pretty tasty. My kimchi carbonara was pretty tasty. The sauce was creamy and the taste of kimchi was there. It made me finish the dish without feeling tired of the flavors. The jampong pasta was unique, it really just tasted like the pasta but not enough spicy flavor. The flavor was pretty light. The quesadillas were pretty solid, im biased because im not the biggest fan of mexican food, it went well with the kimchi sauce from my pasta. The thing that threw me off was the truffle mushroom appetizer. It had such a pungent smell that im sure other people would enjoy, but not for me read more

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The kitchen needs to work on their timing and consistency. My friend ordered the bulgogi Benedict and I ordered the kimchi carbonara. The bulgogi Benedict came out in 20 minutes which was reasonable. However, the kimchi carbonara came out 30 minutes after that (50 minutes total!!!) by which point I was starving. The kimchi carbonara also came out extremely watery. When we had seen other tables' orders coming out earlier they didn't seem as watery. The taste was at least good, but the sauce just did not stick to the noodles at all. We also weren't offered anything other than an apology from our server for the wait. read more

I was so excited but the experience wasn't as great as my expectations. The food was ok. Ambience & service were great! Kim hi rice was just ok. The mushroom dish was very tasty. read more

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

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Went to try Whisper during their soft opening and it was beautiful and so cute inside. The interior decorations are very aesthetic and I liked how big the interior is, it makes it feel very airy and nice. We went for brunch so I can only attest to the morning, we walked in right when it opened and service was quick and attentive. Matcha Pancakes - very cute and aesthetic. The matcha cream on top is nice and airy, not very sweet. The pancakes are a little more dense than I usually prefer, but it was still very good. Chicken & Croffles - this is Whisper's take korean style. I was very excited about the KFC but it didn't have a lot of flavor. Texture was good and it was juicy and pretty good if you like your chicken to be on the lighter side. Overall, I'd give this another go, maybe for the lunch menu. It looked pretty good! read more

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This was a pretty big let down given the hype and big shoes this location had to fill. Given the soft opening and all, the ~45-min wait for a party of 4 wasn't too unexpected and the hostess was kind enough to warn us when we put our name down. The interior is cozy and clean, definitely fitting the high end brunch theme, however the food was a pretty big let down. I got their version of chicken and waffles- the sweet & salt, and my friends got the matcha pancake (the Dutch version was unavailable), Gogi morning (eggs Benedict) and cast iron stone axe. I didn't try all our dishes however: - For the sweet & salt- the croffle/waffle was soggy and bland, though the chicken was crispy the included syrup tasted cheap and thick - even though the gogi morning had a nice croissant there wasnt enough bulgolgi and it tasted on par with costcos; the potatoes were also not crispy My friends mentioned their pancake had a nice presentation but was a bit rubbery, they seemed to enjoy the cast iron though There aren't any waiters so everything is done through QR codes and food came out at different times leaving awkward gaps during our meal. Shoutout the hostess who was very apologetic and was the only one to come up to tables and check in on everyone read more

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

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Came here to celebrate my sister's birthday and love it! They have a wide selection of brunch foods with Asian fusion. Honestly everything we ordered was delicious. We got the kimchi carbonara, the triangle melt, truffle oyster mushrooms, and mango pancake. We also got the yakult americano and ube latte. Can't wait to come back and try more things on the menu! read more

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