Restaurants in San Carlos

“Saffron is an Indian restaurant in San Carlos with a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere, and dishes that truly stand out for their flavor. I arrived shortly after they opened and was greeted by a server who, while polite, offered service that felt somewhat limited and lacked warmth. He handed me the menu and walked away, so I had to call him over to place my order—a detail that could definitely be improved.

I started with the cauliflower, perfectly cooked and paired with a well-executed sauce. The samosas, drizzled with yogurt sauce and a touch of tangy tamarind, were a true hit. Next, I had the classic chicken masala, served with an exquisite garlic naan. The food was excellent: authentic and well-balanced flavors that did not disappoint.

However, the service remained detached, with no drink recommendations or attentive follow-up at the table. The chai was delicious, and the dessert—a cheesecake in a cup—was good but not impressive enough to end the meal memorably. The server was quick to bring the check, but I would have appreciated more attention to detail.

Overall, the dishes are excellent and stand out for their quality. However, the service and dessert could be improved to make the experience perfect. I would give it 5 stars, hoping they refine those aspects to make this place one of my favorites for this type of cuisine.”

“Read the recommendations about the cold brew, and +1 to them. Really good cold brew.

Bought a bag to take home but will definitely come back when I return to the area.”

“The Pizza Guys team in San Carlos are amazing. They supported our school's snack shack. Quick delivery with hot pizza multiple times during an event. Exceptional service.”

“Great people and great food. There’s events every night. So fun”

“Food should be 6 stars - their Lentil soup is off the charts as is there eggplant dip. And their wild fish Some might give Atmosphere a 4 because it is not a "party" place but outdoor dining super nice”

“Pretty blown away by the size of this brewery. Little disappointing it's only open Fridays from 4-10 but the beer is amazing. They also have a really good root beer that i have loved for years now. Highly recommend.”

“Súper Delicious, I recommend it to all my friends !”

“Great food but expensive. It was a great treat for me. I did enjoy it.”

“Such a wonderful welcome by Michelle! The menu selection did not disappoint. Staff was super attentive & the cuisine options were quite delicious. Highly recommend!”

“Great customer service, good food and fine wine 🍷”

“The chicken in the burrito was absolutely amazing. I was going to get carnitas and I saw what they were cooking and changed to that and I will be back! Decent prices too”

“Friendly people and good food.”

“I ate at Pazzo on Wednesday and had a great experience. The restaurant is take out only. I ordered at the restaurant instead of on the phone. The staff were super friendly and helpful with recommendations. The order took about 20 minutes and we had a drink outside while waiting. I HIGHLY recommend the shrimp and grits. Over anything else on the menu! And I was told the gnocchi was amazing too iAnd of course the pizza is awesome!”

“muy rica comida! y los ceviches son delicious 😋”

“delicious food. very kind staff. will definitely be back.”

“Nice long bar so theres a lot of space to chat, and a good selection of beers from various locations in California and nearby states including Moksa from Rocklin, Slice in Lincoln and other awesome breweries. They offer ales, sours, IPAs, stouts, wines and even got some in-house bottle options. When you leave you can pick up a 4 pack for your home. Service is good, and they offer some small bar snacks like pretzels and trail mix.”

“fast and good. clean delicios”

“Great place to get together with friends & family. We had about 30 people for a family get together. Service was great. The outdoor patio was the perfect setting! Most of the food was outstanding. We are actually from Hawaii so we’re very critical about the food.”

“Food was incredible! Had the option of mild or spicy birria tacos, I ordered the spicy, it was so flavorful and delicious! Also ordered a bean and cheese pupusa which was soo tasty”

“delicious pastrami sandwiches🤤”

“Mediterranean delight offers delightful Mediterranean fare at a good price. I especially enjoy their falafel, shawarma, and kebobs. Their mango/guava juice is also really good.”

“A place that values quality and source of ingredients”

“Excellent place to share Cheers with your friends and family. Salute!”

“Excellent place to share Cheers with your friends and family. Salute!”

“To begin our Christmas season, the entire experience at Impasto was delightful and delicious. Franco was wonderful to speak with as well the entire staff was excellent... Grazie ”

“Ordered for delivery to my hotel. Arrived in 30 minutes, exactly as ordered, super hot, and really great pizza. Like Domino's on steroids. Highly recommended.”

“No extra fees or surcharges. Thank you Yan’s Garden for the honest, inclusive menu pricing and please stay fee-free.

We enjoyed the food. Lunch special is a decent deal with a filling portion size. We ordered the Tofu and Black Mushroom a la carte and it was huge, enough for two and a half meals. Salt and Pepper Eggplant appetizer size was also substantial, tasty but somewhat on the salty side.

Outdoor seating: There are a handful of four-top tables outside the storefront, shaded by an awning.”

“Hosted an event in the Rustic Room adjacent to the main restaurant. Beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages, with passed appetizers and flatbreads. Guests remarked on the good quality of the drinks and food, and the service was friendly, professional, and excellent. Particular kudos to the lead event contact, Barbara, who was patient and thoughtful about organizing everything for a great evening. Would strongly recommend for your event, unless I want to book a repeat event, in which case I have dibs.”

“Great breakfast Good quality and good prices!!”

“awesome”

“Best Thai place i have been too! Great food and even better owners!!”

“A SUPERB RESTAURANT. [Original] A SUPERB RESTAURANT.”

“It was the soft opening, so I understand they were still setting things up. Nice staff, and good service. Had them recommended items, and was not upset. Got the baked cheese appetizer and 12 oysters. Beautiful bar, and Mediterranean feel when sitting inside or outside. Will go back again”

“A lovely white tablecloth setting. Great service and delicious food. A lot like Wings in San Jose which is out of business now😭. So yes I love that we found King Chuan Restaurant 😍”

“amazing food wonder staff”

“Great food, drinks and service!”

“Good pork and lengua - flavorful. The sope is loaded! Very healthy amount of shredded lettuce, cheese and beans. Adding avocado on top was a good decision. Tacos are ok. Chicken is a little dry.”

“Have dined there several times. The food is excellent and I have an affogato as my dessert.
The staff is attentive and provide good feedback n the menu.”

“Fantastic night! Enjoyed Sema and her hospitality tremendously!”

“Really fun place a lot of l great people will definitely go back”

“Tasty and authentic 🇲🇽 with reasonable prices. Family-run business 😍”

“Best place to go after the holidays, nice service, excellent food and very tasty wine …”

“I have tried many Chinese restaurants and this by far is one of my favorites. Not only do they give you huge portions unlike other Chinese restaurants. Their dishes are delicious they have so much flavor and I've never been let down once. For their spicy dishes I'd order extra spicy because they're regular spicy dishes aren't that spicy to me but I also love spicy food and I'm very tolerant to it. If you've never tried this place you have to try it literally it's one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Bay areanow next on my list is the Mongolian beef chowmane which I'm sure I won't be disappointed.”

“The portions are huge, the prices are super affordable, and everything tastes great. Whether it’s Gyu Don, or a Chirashi deluxe bowl, you’ll leave full and happy. Perfect for a chill meal that’s easy on the wallet!”

“As always, excellent food, service, and atmosphere. We’ve always been able to be seated in the wine room which definitely adds to the experience. This is our favourite restaurant in San Carlos. We have always come as a group of 5 and everyone has always left happy. Thanks to our server Engin tonight. He was excellent!”

“This is the best, bar none, diner for comfort food priced right on the SF Peninsula. And, dont tell anyone, but ther servers and food is also the Peninsula's best. 5 stars & then some! P.S. Favs are Turkey melt for lunch & Biscuits & Gravy for breakfast - Get it with a one egg side... Also, the pancake combo will fill you up & is delicious!

Dietary restrictions: Just ask - they're great people working there.

Wheelchair accessibility: Yep”

“I came here to say that this hole in the wall exceeded my expectations.

I ordered the breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese and bacon. ? I had it with their homemade style biscuit and it held its shape; not too buttery.

Eating the eggs was like eating fluffy clouds. The texture of the breakfast sandwich dissolved into my mouth and it helped that the Pumpkin Pie oat latte wasn’t acidic or too bitter or lacked espresso so sip, don’t gulp because you want to take your time.

The ratio of coffee to Oatmilk was equally proportional. One can actually taste every sip, reminiscent of a fond fall memory in your mouth. ??

Sadly..there are no pictures but in many ways I felt like I was truly present enjoying the experience. I can tell the workers also cared about their work; all were friendly and kept the place nice and clean.

Thank youuuu!!! I’m coming back and I live in Berkeley where all their cafes are hard to beat. But this takes the prize in San Carlos.”

“Fresh and tasty! Don’t forget it’s healthy, too! Highly recommend!”

“food and service is superb! number 1”

“I typically order food here through doordash. The food is always on point.
A few items I recommend:

1. Chimichangas - Very crunchy and flavorful. Not greasy

2. Taco-dilla with birria - cheesy meaty goodness with the consome. It's perfection.

3. Super burrito - perfect balance in every bite

4. Taco salad - I love the crunchy taco shell with the fresh salad and steak.

5. Chips and guac - Made in house and the chips are thick and crunchy. The guac is fresh with a little bit of crunch from the onions.

One of these days, I need to check it out to get the full experience.”

“Best coffee in San Carlos... by a considerable distance.”

“I’m hooked and never not going to show up 😎”

“Meat is flavorful, good serving, friendly service, price matches quality perfectly, Cant go wrong with anything here, excellent food, good prices, ill definitely be back for more delicious, I think it was cash only”

“Always great food & service! Clean, friendly & fresh food! Thank you again!🤗♥”

“Lots of bright, natural lighting. Big open space with lots of seating with access to power outlets. Clean. Three individual all-gender bathrooms. Friendly staff. Drinks come out perfect every time. Good place to work. Some people take personal and work calls though, so I recommend bringing noise canceling headphones if that bothers you.”

“Have been here a few times, and it's a cool spot.

The staff and patrons have always been polite with me. However, I crossed the line. Last night, I was a coward and blew a chance with a girl elsewhere, and chose to get wasted, harass a woman and try to grab her. I'm lucky I didn't get my butt kicked. I had it coming.

To everyone that had to deal with me, I'm sorry. I was way out of line. Take care.”

“They make the best sandwiches here. I love getting either the Breakfast Burrito or the Breakfast sandwich on the way to work. The people who make my food are very nice. I love the turkey sandwich the most. My husband loves the Always Thanksgiving sandwich. They also have a great selection of fresh breads. My favorite is the Dutch Crunch.”

“good Italian ice cream so good”

“I love momos , fried corn , noodles & fried rice ...”

“Yummy vegan flavors: today I had a combo of pear/Riesling & pineapple/hibiscus 🌺 Melinda is one of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever met! Let’s us take our time & gives us samples til we’ve decided. The shop is so blessed to have her.”

“The coffee is good, as usual, but service was not up-to-par. I paid with a credit card, because who touches cash during Covid? When I didn't put any thing in the tip jar the cashier stared at me, glanced at the jar, and then stared at me again. I said to her, "I wish there was a tip option on your credit card machine." She replied with an emphatic, "Me, too." Then, rather than pouring my coffee as they usually do, the cashier proceeded to sweep the floor and make busy. After a few minutes of this she got around to pouring my coffee. Excellent coffee, as usual...”

“🍏. 🍏🥤 🥤. 🧋🧋 súper ricos 🤑”

“The tacos de cabeza and lengua al vapor are second to none here in the bay almost as good as my grandma's in Mex ( but they only thing is that there sooo dang good they sell out super fast so get there early like 10 to 11 ”

“Had a wonderful meal with my nephew here last night. Food was fresh,very well presented and delicious. Definitely a great change of pace from the usual! I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a nice, satisfying meal with a different twist. Added note, the Borscht was to die for.”

“It was a really busy line, but one of the ladies went out of her way to help me check out my stuff! And the chocolates are divine, especially the strawberry one especially! So happy that this place exists.”

“I was visiting the area and found this place on Maps near my hotel. WOW what a find! It was hard making a decision, because everything on the menu sounded great. I got a kefta kebab plate: 3 big pieces of kefta on yellow rice with roasted veggies. It came with a nice salad with lots of finely chopped Persian cucumbers, and a very generous dollop of hummus. And, of course, a lovely big pita. This made dinner last night and lunch today. So yummy. If you like spice, say YES to the hot sauce! Tangy and delicious.

Vegetarian options: Falafel, hummus, baba ganouj

Dietary restrictions: Halal meat”

“excelente servicio y los tacos de pescado están deliciosos😋 y buen precio por todo”

“Definitely one of the better/best Taco Bells in the area. Always seem to work through a crowd efficiently. Food is always pretty fresh. Glad to have this in our neighborhood for quick nights.”

“This location’s very nice, friendly, and clean! I ordered a couple of drinks and Sylvia was so helpful and thoughtful of making sure my drinks were all correct, if I needed anything, and giving me recommendations on foods and drinks!

Kid-friendliness: Saw a couple of kids with their friends and parents”

“Place is very clean compare with others locations. I was impressed how clean is everything and service was good. I can tell they have a good maintained staff. Five starts! Today I decided to eat inside!”

“comidas deliciosas 😋 estou com saudades”

“Wingstop is a staple go to whenever I want wings. Lemon pepper, mango habanero, Korean BBQ, and hot are my favorite. I like their fries too. The seasoning is different from other fries. The only drawback with wingstop is often when they get really busy the service tapers off. It makes sense, it's just unfortunate.”

“un café muy fresco y rico 😋☕☕☕”

“Good, fast sandwiches for a low price. If that's what you want, this place is great. Points off for interior decor being bland, but at this price point I'm not complaining.”

“Quite a delicious carne asada burrito. The meat was tender and well spiced. It was as if I was eating a plate of Mongolian beef but instead of those juices and spices, it was more of a adobo asada style but Mexican. I feel like this review might not appeal to most readers but trust this local business is serving a burrito con mucho sabor.”

“Fun people watching spot for casual meals/bites in the heart of Laurel! Can’t wait to try all of the gelato flavors.”

“William BBQ had the Aloha spirit. Talked with Lon and shared my thoughts about his restaurant. I was disappointed that he did not have the most common dish -- teriyaki beef plate, however, maybe next time.

The kid's bowl was perfect . We enjoyed chicken katsu and the grilled shrimp
bowl. Substituted rice for the mac salad...that was nice of him to do so. Went away filling full after a hearty lunch.

We'll be back, Lon. Aloha & Mahalo”

“For those like me who care about the quality of ingredients and avoid unhealthy foods this place is great! No artificial additives, real milk and zero sugar options. And the large cup is actually large . I got jasmine tea with zero sugar and zero ice, 3 portions of red beans and 1 portion of boba”

“Excellent food 10/10, everything very delicious

Dietary restrictions: Everything is cooked with smokers 0% vegetable fat

Parking: Enough

Kid-friendliness: It has special chairs for babies

Wheelchair accessibility: It has a ramp, apart from tables”

“Authentic and charming! The coffee, muffins and sandwiches are WAY wonderful!”

“(Translated by Google) Good food, the sandwiches are delicious, the place has good food, only I have a complaint and it is not for the place but for the owner, today, Saturday, January 29, at 2 or 2:30 p.m. I went to the homedepot, I went to his place and he had two employees working, a young woman and a lady between 35 and 40 years old, the young lady cooks and works very fast. What I don't like is that the older lady, while I was waiting for my food, was about 20 minutes. This lady spends talking and complaining about the owner and his Unfortunately, other employees took a lot of time for the young woman and instead of getting to work during the course I was there, she did not pay attention to the cashier's window and 4 potential clients left, the fifth person who arrived was waiting and I had to yell at him to pass the You to attend and it is not worth that the business loses money more in these times due to bad employees, instead of paying attention and paying attention to the clients, attending them, let them go, take care of your business, sir, and hire someone people who really want to work and take care of their place not people who only go for their salary thank you(Original)Buena comida los sándwiches estan deliciosos el lugar tiene buena comida solo que tengo un complain y no es para el lugar sino para el dueño hoy sabado 29 de enero alas 2 o 2:30pm fui a homedepot pase asu lugar y tenia dos empleadas trabajando una joven y una señora entre sus 35 y 40 años la jovencita cosina y trabaja muy rapido lo que no me gusta es que la señora mayor en lo que estuve esperando mi comida fueron como unos 20 minutos esta señora sela pasa ablando y quejandose del dueño y de sus otras empledas lastimosamente le kita mucho en tiempo ala joven e ves de ponerse a trabajar en el trascurso que estuve ahi no ponia atencion ala ventanilla de la caja y se fueron 4 potenciales clientes la quinta persona que llego estaba esperando y tuve que gritarle para pasarle la vos para que atendiera y no se vale que por malas empleadas el negocio pierda dinero mas en estos tiempos en ves de poner atencion y restetar alos clientes atendiendoles los deja ir cuide su negocio señor y contrate personas que realmente quieran trabajar y le cuiden su lugar no gente que solo vaya por su salario gracias”

“Their new spicy hot pot is delicious, it tastes exactly like the ones I had in China! I love their new dish, the authentic Spicy Dry Pot! It tastes like what I had in China. I definitely will come back for it!”

“We went in before the end of the shift, so staff was kinda hurrying us and wouldn’t allow us to have desert even though we ate a full meal! It was wonderful food though!”

“Really family friendly place with high quality Korean noodles. Reminds me of Korea and oddly Southern California, where Korean food presence is strong. SO glad to be seeing more high quality foods in the Bay area, and in the Peninsula where there is an absolute paucity of selection. Service was only ok, but it was clear that they were understaffed during their opening months. Will be back!”

“It was great! Clean, cute, great service, and most importantly tasty boba! I was able to adjust the drink to my liking—including sugar level— and I feel like every detail was considered from presentation to menu. I think it’s cool that San Carlos got a swanky new addition to their food and dining scene with Bober. I’ll definitely be going back with friends.”

“Kids love the arcade games and toy machines.

Dietary restrictions: My hubby likes that they have a gluten free crust pizza

Kid-friendliness: Arcade and toy machines are a hit”

“I recently visited the Subway sandwich store, and I must say it was an excellent experience from start to finish. The store's atmosphere was inviting and clean, making it a comfortable place to enjoy a meal.”

“We ordered chili Relleno and also a mixed grill platter. Super tasty and generous portion. Staff was super friendly and accommodated me substituting more sea food and no steak for the mixed grill. I’ve been here a few times and is always good. Outdoor seating was very comfortable. Entire place is clean and bright.”

“First time here. What great food! Fresh, not greasy Will be back for sure. Service is great. They are so nice here”

“A SUPERB RESTAURANT. [Original] A SUPERB RESTAURANT.”

“Bubble Yum, Pop Rocks and Chico sticks. KC & the Sunshine Band crackling from the AM radio of an El Camino parked out front. This is The Little Store as I experienced it circa 1974 in 4th grade. Groups of Arundel and TL kids in and out all afternoon . My friends and I sharing snacks (as much as our pooled change could afford that day) while sitting on the stairs before our brutal treks up the SC hills home. No cell phones. No rides. Lots of fun memories & great friends. Decades later I’m back in the neighborhood and while much has changed, the Little Store hasn’t (it even smells the same). Still friendly owners, and still a convenient stop when driving home or on neighborhood walks for sweet treats, a six pack, or essentials. And for many of us nostalgic touchstone.”

“Amazing, delicious, flavorful, I love it, I want more; those are the words that my little child used to describe the food he ate. He is not wrong, everything we had to eat was delicious and well prepared. We all know children are the hardest to please when it comes to food.”

“I got my food to go, and it was ready promptly, and the food was absolutely outstanding! I would recommend this place to anybody!”

“Food was great I had the biscuits and gravy. The red velvet pancake didn’t taste like red velvet thought. More strawberry thank anything. Still good though but not what I expected.”

“I came here to say that this hole in the wall exceeded my expectations.

I ordered the breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese and bacon. ? I had it with their homemade style biscuit and it held its shape; not too buttery.

Eating the eggs was like eating fluffy clouds. The texture of the breakfast sandwich dissolved into my mouth and it helped that the Pumpkin Pie oat latte wasn’t acidic or too bitter or lacked espresso so sip, don’t gulp because you want to take your time.

The ratio of coffee to Oatmilk was equally proportional. One can actually taste every sip, reminiscent of a fond fall memory in your mouth. ??

Sadly..there are no pictures but in many ways I felt like I was truly present enjoying the experience. I can tell the workers also cared about their work; all were friendly and kept the place nice and clean.

Thank youuuu!!! I’m coming back and I live in Berkeley where all their cafes are hard to beat. But this takes the prize in San Carlos.”

“Definitely worth the drive everytime.”

“Had a wonderful meal with my nephew here last night. Food was fresh,very well presented and delicious. Definitely a great change of pace from the usual! I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a nice, satisfying meal with a different twist. Added note, the Borscht was to die for.”

“fast and good. clean delicios”

“Lovely atmosphere & service was good. Recommend the bread, but know there's a charge for it (typically complimentary in TX steakhouses). They were out of prime rib, so we had the skirt steak with creamed spinach. Both were good, but the skirt steak had a teriyaki flavor, which I wasn't expecting. We also had the chicken picatta, & while it was good, it didn't have much of a typical lemon flavor, & it is only chicken & sauce on a plate. It has no pasta accompaniment, which is how we're accustomed to it being served. Overall, we were glad to try it, even though the food fell a little flat for us.”

“Best coffee in San Carlos... by a considerable distance.”

“I liked the place was surprised that there’s a PB in this area when I was visiting the next door ice cream shop. It was clean and has nice comfy atmosphere but as any other PB in the bay area the food is not fresh compared to PB in NJ or NYC. I think they bake the pastry once or twice a week for the whole week and for sure this downgrade the whole experience for sure. That’s why I gave the food 3 Stars”

“As always, excellent food, service, and atmosphere. We’ve always been able to be seated in the wine room which definitely adds to the experience. This is our favourite restaurant in San Carlos. We have always come as a group of 5 and everyone has always left happy. Thanks to our server Engin tonight. He was excellent!”

“Have dined there several times. The food is excellent and I have an affogato as my dessert.
The staff is attentive and provide good feedback n the menu.”

“Yummy vegan flavors: today I had a combo of pear/Riesling & pineapple/hibiscus 🌺 Melinda is one of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever met! Let’s us take our time & gives us samples til we’ve decided. The shop is so blessed to have her.”

“Absolutely wonderful food. Amazing atmosphere. Very dog friendly but you must sit outside to bring a dog. We had dinner and desert with a few glasses of amber qvevri, and enjoyed every drop! Shalva was incredibly friendly and told many jokes. I would highly recommend this place.”

“It was great! Clean, cute, great service, and most importantly tasty boba! I was able to adjust the drink to my liking—including sugar level— and I feel like every detail was considered from presentation to menu. I think it’s cool that San Carlos got a swanky new addition to their food and dining scene with Bober. I’ll definitely be going back with friends.”

“delicious food. very kind staff. will definitely be back.”