Restaurants in San Carlos
Best Restaurants
Greek • $$
“Wonder dinner outside. Recommend the lamb shank and whole sea bass. The trio of sauces with the pita is a must as well. Good value and good food for the kids menu.”
Brewery • $$
“Fun place to meet friends on Fridays. Plenty of food options with food trucks and desserts plus great beer. Staff is always friendly. Great place for polite dogs, lots of seating.”
Afghan • $$
“Such a wonderful welcome by Michelle! The menu selection did not disappoint. Staff was super attentive & the cuisine options were quite delicious. Highly recommend!”
Restaurants by Cuisine
Irish • $$
“Molly O’s is easily our favorite place to get food with friends, watch games, and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere! Great food, fun times, and the most amazing staff! 10/10 would recommend.”
Restaurants with Delivery
Coffee Roasteries • $
“I’m impressed, they manage the whole coffee production chain. From growing the beans in their two farms in Peru to roasting and serving drinks in this shop. Latte and Empanada taste good, and the owners are lovely people.”
Mexican • $
“I smashed my food way before thinking to take a picture really wish I would have in hind sight. It was a beautiful oozy cheese and shrimp chimichanga that was soooo dang good. More seating inside than the parking lot. They stated busy the whole time we were there. It was a delightful lunch!!!”
Brewery • $
“Great people and great food. There’s events every night. So fun”
Pizza • $
“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.”
Chinese • $
“Fried chicken wing - Don't underestimate fried chicken wing, you can taste a good one compared to bad ones and this is one of the best I've had. Good garlic flavor and crispy fried flavor.Baked Spaghetti Bolognese - I was surprised how good this is. They use the good cheese and you can smell it. Crispy cheese on top and the sauce flavor is very good as well.Baked pork chop over rice - The sauce is above average. However, the pork chop could use more marinate, garlic and sesame oil. I think the pork chop they use is pork loin. Using more fatty pork will make it more tender and juicy.Portuguese style baked chicken rice - The flavor of the sauce actually was pretty good but I thought it taste a little sourness.All in all, I'm pretty impressed because I didn't expect it's this good.”
Brewery • $$
“Fun place to meet friends on Fridays. Plenty of food options with food trucks and desserts plus great beer. Staff is always friendly. Great place for polite dogs, lots of seating.”
Afghan • $$
“Such a wonderful welcome by Michelle! The menu selection did not disappoint. Staff was super attentive & the cuisine options were quite delicious. Highly recommend!”
Pizza • $
“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.”
Hawaiian • $$
“Great place to get together with friends & family. We had about 30 people for a family get together. Service was great. The outdoor patio was the perfect setting! Most of the food was outstanding. We are actually from Hawaii so we’re very critical about the food.”
Pizza • $$
“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!”
Outdoor Dining
Hawaiian • $$
“Great place to get together with friends & family. We had about 30 people for a family get together. Service was great. The outdoor patio was the perfect setting! Most of the food was outstanding. We are actually from Hawaii so we’re very critical about the food.”
Pubs • $
“One of the two best taprooms on the SF peninsula. If you know this one, you don't need me to tell you the other one, which is about 2 miles away. Like that place, AA has been getting better and better for the last decade or so. No food here though, it's all about the craft beer knowledge and vibe. Can't recommend a place more highly. Staff, music, and TVs showing classic 70s-90s films when there's no relevant sports on. This is the best there is .”
Pizza • $$
“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!”
Food Trucks
“got a bean and cheese pupusa which came with cabbage slaw and it was so yummy and a great deal for the price ($6.30). would come again! also there’s a shaded seating area too”
Italian • $$
“Excellent place to share Cheers with your friends and family. Salute!”
Pizza • $$
“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 ”
Chinese • $$
“We got the house dinner special for two. The water didn't taste so great but we were started off with the fried shrimp with sweet and sour sauce which was pretty good. I enjoyed the sizzling rice soup. I added hot oil to mine. Next we had our dinner which consisted of Mongolian Beef, Honey Walnut Shrimp, and pork fried rice. All of the above were very tasty. The walnuts in the honey walnut shrimp dish were candied, crispy, and fresh ❤️ The ambiance was very relaxing and mellow. The music was jazzy and there was a virtual aquarium which I really enjoyed. I loved the mellow vibe and our waiter, Felix, was very sweet and helpful.❤️”
Sandwich Shop • $
“Was a good sandwich one half had all the meat basically and I called to update my order since I had not mentioned in my order I wanted cheddar instead of the Swiss it came with and got up charged $1.50!”
Mediterranean • $
“Mediterranean delight offers delightful Mediterranean fare at a good price. I especially enjoy their falafel, shawarma, and kebobs. Their mango/guava juice is also really good.”
Steak House • $$$
“Great food but expensive. It was a great treat for me. I did enjoy it.”
Italian • $$
“Excellent place to share Cheers with your friends and family. Salute!”
Pizza • $$
“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 ”
Online Reservation Available
Wine Bar • $$
“It was the soft opening, so I understand they were still setting things up. Nice staff, and good service. Had them recommended items, and was not upset. Got the baked cheese appetizer and 12 oysters. Beautiful bar, and Mediterranean feel when sitting inside or outside. Will go back again”
Mexican • $
“Our group had burritos (fish, chicken and steak fajita) which were all really good. The habanero salsa was nice and the chips were super crisp. Some good juices and beer options. I enjoyed the lunch a lot check it out if you're in the area.”
Thai • $$
“Best Thai place i have been too! Great food and even better owners!!”
Italian • $$
“First time at Pranzi...loved everything! Ambience, service and food were the best! Our server, Matt, was friendly, knowledgeable and did not rush us. The owner and staff knowing that it was first time, went out of their way to make our experience the best it could be. We will definitely be back soon!,”
Chinese • $$
“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 😍”
Bar & Grill • $$
“Fantastic night! Enjoyed Sema and her hospitality tremendously!”
Wine Bar • $$
“Excellent place to share Cheers with your friends and family. Salute!”
Cocktail Bar • $$
“Really fun place a lot of l great people will definitely go back”
Mexican • $
“Tasty and authentic 🇲🇽 with reasonable prices. Family-run business 😍”
Chinese • $
“Great restaurant! I loved the food, especially the honey walnut imitation meat. Each dish had a great amount of food! We asked for boxes, so we will have a delicious dinner today.
We'll come back for sure!”
American • $$
“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!”
Chinese • $$
“We got the house dinner special for two. The water didn't taste so great but we were started off with the fried shrimp with sweet and sour sauce which was pretty good. I enjoyed the sizzling rice soup. I added hot oil to mine. Next we had our dinner which consisted of Mongolian Beef, Honey Walnut Shrimp, and pork fried rice. All of the above were very tasty. The walnuts in the honey walnut shrimp dish were candied, crispy, and fresh ❤️ The ambiance was very relaxing and mellow. The music was jazzy and there was a virtual aquarium which I really enjoyed. I loved the mellow vibe and our waiter, Felix, was very sweet and helpful.❤️”
Wineries • $$
“Awesome venue. Pleasant, chill vibe. Great food for extremely reasonable prices. Very enjoyable wine. Amazing staff. Came as a stranger, left feeling like family. Will definitely be back again.”
Takeout Restaurants
Breakfast • $
“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”
Salad • $
“Fresh and tasty! Don’t forget it’s healthy, too! Highly recommend!”
Mexican • $
“Good counter service option on Laurel Street. We’ve eaten here a few times. It’s good in that I like a few specific menu items that we tend to reorder and they are consistently enjoyable. Ambiance/location is great and good for bringing friends or visitors for a casual bite before or after strolling Laurel Street”
Coffee Shops • $
“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.”
Coffee Shops • $
“Best coffee in San Carlos... by a considerable distance.”
Mexican • $
“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”
Sushi • $$
“Always great food & service! Clean, friendly & fresh food! Thank you again!🤗♥”
Bubble Tea • $
“For those like me who care about the quality of ingredients and avoid unhealthy foods this place is great! No artificial additives, real milk and zero sugar options. And the large cup is actually large . I got jasmine tea with zero sugar and zero ice, 3 portions of red beans and 1 portion of boba”
Deli • $
“They make the best sandwiches here. I love getting either the Breakfast Burrito or the Breakfast sandwich on the way to work. The people who make my food are very nice. I love the turkey sandwich the most. My husband loves the Always Thanksgiving sandwich. They also have a great selection of fresh breads. My favorite is the Dutch Crunch.”
Bar • $
“Have been here a few times, and it's a cool spot.
The staff and patrons have always been polite with me. However, I crossed the line. Last night, I was a coward and blew a chance with a girl elsewhere, and chose to get wasted, harass a woman and try to grab her. I'm lucky I didn't get my butt kicked. I had it coming.
To everyone that had to deal with me, I'm sorry. I was way out of line. Take care.”
Wine Bar • $$
“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”
Thai • $$
“Best Thai place i have been too! Great food and even better owners!!”
Drive-Thru Restaurants
Hawaiian • $
“Title: Amazing Beef Short Ribs!
The beef short ribs here are incredible—tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The Hawaiian-style atmosphere is cozy, and the staff is super friendly. If you’re a fan of beef short ribs, this place is a must-try. Highly recommend!”
Coffee Shops • $
“The coffee is good, as usual, but service was not up-to-par. I paid with a credit card, because who touches cash during Covid? When I didn't put any thing in the tip jar the cashier stared at me, glanced at the jar, and then stared at me again. I said to her, "I wish there was a tip option on your credit card machine." She replied with an emphatic, "Me, too." Then, rather than pouring my coffee as they usually do, the cashier proceeded to sweep the floor and make busy. After a few minutes of this she got around to pouring my coffee. Excellent coffee, as usual...”
Fast Food • $
“The tacos de cabeza and lengua al vapor are second to none here in the bay almost as good as my grandma's in Mex ( but they only thing is that there sooo dang good they sell out super fast so get there early like 10 to 11 ”
Asian Fusion • $$
“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.”
Italian • $$
“I got my food to go, and it was ready promptly, and the food was absolutely outstanding! I would recommend this place to anybody!”
Chinese • $$
“Went with family here for lunch and got seated the minute we walked in, we ordered and the food came out in less than 10 minutes freshly cooked the service was also great our server made us feel welcome i would recommend this if you enjoy some really good chinese food.”
Mediterranean • $
“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”
Pizza • $
“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”
Greek • $
“Would have been so much better if I could have gotten the extra tzatziki sauce I asked for. What a let down! I only wanted more tzatziki sauce. And I didn't get my fries on the side. Pay attention. People! Pay attention! I would review at an excellent rate had you provided me what I simply asked for.”
Mexican • $$
“excelente servicio y los tacos de pescado están deliciosos😋 y buen precio por todo”
Italian • $$
“First time at Pranzi...loved everything! Ambience, service and food were the best! Our server, Matt, was friendly, knowledgeable and did not rush us. The owner and staff knowing that it was first time, went out of their way to make our experience the best it could be. We will definitely be back soon!,”
Cheap Eats
Mexican • $
“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.”
Creperies • $
“Fun people watching spot for casual meals/bites in the heart of Laurel! Can’t wait to try all of the gelato flavors.”
Barbeque • $
“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”
Coffee Shops • $
“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.”
Coffee Shops • $
“Authentic and charming! The coffee, muffins and sandwiches are WAY wonderful!”
Korean • $
“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!”
Bubble Tea • $
“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.”
Vietnamese • $
“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!”
Mexican • $
“It was a straightforward online order for a carne asada burrito. The food itself was really good, not greasy at all. It is perfect when a restaurant does not put too much grease and the tortilla becomes saturated on the bottom. The green salsa had a nice kick to it to complement the burrito. I would come back here again.”
Coffee Shops • $
“The owners are awesome and I'd definitely come back again! :D”
Bubble Tea • $
“Amazing tea with great variety! Accidentally stumbled across this place, have returned since, and am never disappointed! The milk tea boba is great, but the Super Fruit green tea with passion fruit popping boba is next level. The fresh fruit slices mixed in with the tea are a refreshing surprise and the fruit is always ripe and delicious. I tried the grapefruit fruit tea today as well which hit the spot! Would definitely recommend checking out Tea Juice!”
Sushi • $$
“Always great food & service! Clean, friendly & fresh food! Thank you again!🤗♥”
Chinese • $$
“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 😍”
Bar & Grill • $$
“Fantastic night! Enjoyed Sema and her hospitality tremendously!”
Asian Fusion • $$
“I love momos , fried corn , noodles & fried rice ...”
Latest Reviews
Chinese • $
“First time here. What great food! Fresh, not greasy Will be back for sure. Service is great. They are so nice here”
Convenience Store • $$
“Bubble Yum, Pop Rocks and Chico sticks. KC & the Sunshine Band crackling from the AM radio of an El Camino parked out front. This is The Little Store as I experienced it circa 1974 in 4th grade. Groups of Arundel and TL kids in and out all afternoon . My friends and I sharing snacks (as much as our pooled change could afford that day) while sitting on the stairs before our brutal treks up the SC hills home. No cell phones. No rides. Lots of fun memories & great friends. Decades later I’m back in the neighborhood and while much has changed, the Little Store hasn’t (it even smells the same). Still friendly owners, and still a convenient stop when driving home or on neighborhood walks for sweet treats, a six pack, or essentials. And for many of us nostalgic touchstone.”
Most Popular Restaurants
Italian • $$
“I got my food to go, and it was ready promptly, and the food was absolutely outstanding! I would recommend this place to anybody!”
Coffee Shops • $
“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.”
Steak House • $$$
“Went for our anniversary dinner and was very pleased. We were seated at a comfortable booth near the bar and had great service by Erick M. I ordered a Manhattan and my wife had an Old Fashioned. Both were excellent. The salmon was cooked to perfection and the Prime Rib Sandwich was terrific. We both enjoyed sharing the Izzy's potatoes. Lots of parking was available.”
Asian Fusion • $$
“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.”
Wine Bar • $$
“Excellent place to share Cheers with your friends and family. Salute!”
Coffee Shops • $
“Best coffee in San Carlos... by a considerable distance.”
Bakery • $
“I liked the place was surprised that there’s a PB in this area when I was visiting the next door ice cream shop. It was clean and has nice comfy atmosphere but as any other PB in the bay area the food is not fresh compared to PB in NJ or NYC. I think they bake the pastry once or twice a week for the whole week and for sure this downgrade the whole experience for sure. That’s why I gave the food 3 Stars”
American • $$
“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!”
Georgian • $$
“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.”
Bubble Tea • $
“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.”
Chinese • $
“Fried chicken wing - Don't underestimate fried chicken wing, you can taste a good one compared to bad ones and this is one of the best I've had. Good garlic flavor and crispy fried flavor.Baked Spaghetti Bolognese - I was surprised how good this is. They use the good cheese and you can smell it. Crispy cheese on top and the sauce flavor is very good as well.Baked pork chop over rice - The sauce is above average. However, the pork chop could use more marinate, garlic and sesame oil. I think the pork chop they use is pork loin. Using more fatty pork will make it more tender and juicy.Portuguese style baked chicken rice - The flavor of the sauce actually was pretty good but I thought it taste a little sourness.All in all, I'm pretty impressed because I didn't expect it's this good.”
“One of the best tasting North Indian food in the Bay area. Great Service as well. We had their vegetarian thali - which was fabulous. The Dahi aloo puri and the pot of chai was excellent as well”