Amazing Basil

★★★★☆ 4.3 (831) • $$

"Just like its name, the food here is absolutely amazing! This place is super close to my home, and I've passed by so many times without trying it, now I wish I had known sooner just how incredible it is. Everything we ordered was delicious!The portions are huge, so depending on your appetite, one dish can easily be shared between two people. We had the house-made garlic bread, and wow, even Italian restaurants could take notes from this place! We also tried the vegetable laksa noodle soup, chicken lemongrass noodle soup, Thai Massaman fried chicken with rice, and Massaman shrimp with rice, all absolutely fantastic.For drinks, we ordered a round of boba drinks, and I loved the crème brûlée one! Mine was super sweet since I ordered it at 100% sugar, but I'd definitely recommend cutting it to 50% for a perfect balance.The staff was polite, the ambiance was cozy, and just a heads-up, come early because the wait times can be long. Highly recommend this spot, and I'll definitely be coming back to try more dishes!"

Kazuma Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (886) • $$

"I love sushi, but it's expensive, so I don't go out often to enjoy it. We arrived here about thirty minutes before they closed. The restaurant was empty, so we were seated right away. As with many sushi restaurants, the menu was extensive and it was difficult to decide what to get. We settled on the spicy salmon roll, Rainbow roll, and soft shell crab appetizer - nothing fancy.They brought out some complimentary miso soup and it was too salty to finish, so we took a few sips and set it aside. They brought out the spicy salmon roll and rainbow roll before the appetizer, which I guess was ok, but I would have preferred it the other way around. Anyway, the fish was mediocre - nothing special or memorable. It got the job done. The soft-shell crab appetizer was overcooked. They must have fried it for too long to the point where the crab was chewy. This appetizer was so greasy it was difficult to finish. They made no secret that they were in a rush to close the restaurant, giving me my check and reminding me they were closing the doors in five minutes. This is my second time to this restaurant, and I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to come back unless I was in the area and they were one of the only places open. Like I said, the food wasn't bad, but it also didn't taste that fresh either compared to other sushi restaurants I've been to across the Bay Area. Quality was right in the middle. I would recommend people try this place, but certainly don't go out of your way for it."

The Pots Hot Pot

★★★★☆ 4 (881) • $$$

"Have been here several times and always stocked and a fun time! My favorite hot pot place in the city!! All you can eat and sometimes has a short wait on weekends.Recommend the Tom yum and fire mala soups (if you like spicy). Also definitely try the condensed milk puffs (included in AYCE) for dessert"

Poki Run

★★★★★ 4.5 (691) • $$

"Poki Run has truly ruined it for myself when it comes to my poke cravings. No other place can compare, especially when it comes to taste and quality of that sushi rice. Let's be real- if your rice is trash, the meal itself couldn't possibly be any better when it comes to this type of dish. Poki Run is a bit of a drive compared to a couple of poke spots located a lot closer to home but I'd easily make the trip. 5/5 stars!! Seafood, protein, and ingredients are always fresh, tasty, and the pricing is 100% justified. Flavorings as a whole is always spot on and satisfies all my cravings completely. Having a few recent fails at other establishments have only solidified my love and high praises for PR."

Avenida Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (899) • $$

"I've been wanting to try this place since they opened in downtown San Mateo and my first experience wasn't a pleasant one. Back in 2023, I had emailed them to reserve a table for 12 people for a celebration reunion with my classmates from the Philippines. Thought this restaurant it would be ideal (for obvious reasons), but nobody ever got back to me. Even calls to speak with the manager went nowhere. I had to reserve another venue, and I finally received a response from them after the planned reunion. In a nutshell, the excuse given was they were busy and will use it as a learning experience.Water under the bridge so moving on, I decided to take the Wifey here for dinner back in November of last year with the two dogs in tow. We didn't have reservations, so the only option was to dine on their parklet. We didn't mind the cold, as long as we had a nice heater to keep us warm. We ordered the following:Pork Sisig ($27 with egg +$2) Seasoned pork, chopped and sauteed with spices on a sizzling plate. Looking at the picture, let me state the obvious: the egg yolk was already broken, and it was already cooked. They didn't even allow us the experience of mixing the egg with the rest of the dish, and the taste was mid at best. The texture of the pork was also flossy as it wasn't the typical sisig that I'm used to. Crispy Pata ($39.50) They describe it as crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. All true, but at this price point, I wanted it to wow me. It was lacking in flavor, and it was cooked inconsistently with some chunks of meat being too hard. Nothing too special, and you can get a similar dish at other Filipino restaurants at half the price. Sinigang ($11) Veggies and broth only. This hits the spot as the sourness of the broth was just right and it warmed us on a cold, chilly night. Pinakbet ($23) Stir-fried string beans, eggplant, bittermelon, okra, squash, shrimp, pork, shrimp paste and topped with chicharrones. This was the best-tasting food among the dishes that we ordered. All the ingredients complemented each other as it was well-balanced. As far as service goes, it was also inconsistent as we were initially told that we could sit at a table near the door but then changed it to the parklet as that table was reserved. Our server also changed (understandable) that caused us to wait on a request that we had to repeat. All in all, there were hits and misses and a mix bag of everything else from my very first experience to the most recent one. I'm still giving them 3 stars, and that's being generous since I want them to improve, be more consistent and be better. Hopefully on our next visit."

Kemuri Japanese Barú

★★★★☆ 4.1 (793) • $$$

"Food was really good, just the salmon skewer was a little bit on the drier side. Otherwise flavor and presentation is good! Karaage chicken was very juicy! Service was amazing, they took the time to explain the menu. It is a great place to meet with friends, drink and munch on some tapas."

Blurr Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (781) • $$

"Blurr Kitchen is located in a small shopping center in Santa Clara. I showed up about 15 minutes before closing, so parking wasn't an issue. I could see how it could be a problem during peak times. The food was plentiful. Even with all the food being on a warming tray, it seemed fresh. We got a few combo plates for takeout and the portion size was humongous. Literally, we could have shared one plate and still had a ton of left overs. Super excited to have Blurr Kitchen in our "backyard" and looking forward to trying other dishes from them."

K-Elements BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.8 (878) • $$$

"If I could gatekeep one spot, I would gatekeep this one. I've been coming to K-Elements since high school and the price and quality is unbeatable for an AYCE spot. Whenever we try another kbbq place, we always compare it to K-Elements as the standard. Unlimited meats at a very wide variety, individual cups of cheese corn, and very attentive staff always ready to help change out the grill. The dining room is huge and each table can accommodate parties of 2-6 at least and plays kpop music in the background, usually with a sports game on the big tvs. You order on your phone via the QR code placed on your table, and they bring out the meats and sides on little trays. Even back when I was in college K-Elements was the must-visit every time I came back to the city. Do yourself a favor and get the kalbi short ribs--they're the best. My only complaint? I wish the grills were bigger so I could eat it all faster :P"

Pho Luc Lac

★★★★★ 4.6 (587) • $$

"I love this place!! my goto spot in willow glen area-- Best viet restaurant in the area ! Esp if you don't want to drive all the way to Tully/ story / grand century area !! All the dishes I've tried here have been good !! - Bun Bo hue : 10/10** spicy anddddddd really good . On par with an nam and bun Bo hue spot near grand century - Com Bo luc lac with garlic tomato rice : 10/10* sooooo goooood. Medium rare steak with garlic tomato rice and fish sauce - Pho : 10/10 * I have tried the pho yet but my friends and family said it's good Service : 10/10* quick , attentive, easy goingDecor: clean and modern ; not the typical viet restaurant. They even decorated for the holidays ( Halloween and Xmas ) super cute Would come back ( which I have multiple times already )"

Bar Bay Grill

★★★★☆ 4 (736) • $$

"i have been going to bar bay grill for the past two years as a regular and i absolutely adore this place. their $1 oysters on tuesday and thursdays are a steal and i love going during those times. i usually avoid bars since i do not drink but this place's atmosphere does not make it uninviting. you could definitely bring kids and the atmosphere would still be light and fun.honestly there had never been a bad bite from me here.my favorite things are the oysters, garlic bread, wings, garlic fries, samgyeopsal, chicken wings. i love this place to death and it definitely needs more people coming here!"

Mirchi Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (726) • $$

"Recent discovery of this fusion Halal spot thanks to my Pakistani Sista from another Motha.. Love it! I was told this place is very popular in her community and I can taste why. I ordered the crispy chicken burger with madrasa fries and it was absolutely delicious. Not only was the coating crispy, the chicken inside was juicy and well seasoned, not oily. The fries were "meaty" & had a good kick to it with their house wing sauce. But you must enjoy it fresh, best at dine in. My friend had the Sheezan Club with regular fries. Its one of her regular favs. We sat and talked from open to close, service was attentive enough that my friends chai was refilled multiple times at ask. Easy to wave down wait staff when needed. Minimal Décor. The restaurant was steadily busy and seemed like everyone knew each other. Very friendly atmosphere. Inside seating behind small doorway feels a lot cooler than outside. Perhaps there's AC in the back? I was feeling a bit warm/stuffy at one point as I was seated in main dining area. Not a big bother though as the food was good. Parking is plenty. Restaurant is in the last space all the way down the driveway. Can easily miss the driveway to plaza if not paying full attention."

Tommy Thai

★★★★☆ 3.5 (915) • $$

"Came here on a Saturday evening, got seated right away. Friendly and attentive staff. Love the ambience, clean and spacious. Food was delicious and large portions! Will def be back!"

Mala Town

★★★★★ 4.6 (523) • $$

"BRING BACK TOM YUM SOUP BROTH. As frequenters who actually completed 3 loyalty cards between 2 people we ask nicely please, bring back tom yum soup. The new sukiyaki broth that replaced it is too sweet and the sweet and sour tomato broth gave me a horrible acid reflux. After they removed tom yum we tried it a couple more times but even the variety of the ingredients decreased. Sadly, we won't be coming back anytime soon. Maybe maybe maybe"

Genghix

★★★★☆ 3.7 (768) • $$

"Went here for lunch with the boss man and absolutely enjoyed everything I ate!True rating 4.5THE GOOD° Lemon Chicken lunch dish- absolute BANGER! - The crisp on the chicken was on point, the lemon sauce had depth, and it had actual lemons served with it° Even the salad was super enjoyable because of the dressing/sauce° Miso soup was made well. Don't consider myself a miso soup connoisseur.° Personally I liked the decor. Old doors, old artifacts... But still feeling clean and modern° Service was good and easy to call over when needed.- you could tell they took care of their older clientele, the usuals, very well and caring.THE BAD° Nothing that I could noteTHE UGLYNone"

Pho Saigon Noodle House

★★★★☆ 3.5 (840) • $$

"We love this local Vietnamese restaurant!Service is very fast and clean.I love the variety in Vietnamese soup dishes since there's so much more to explore other than pho but the pho is also so good here!!10/10 would recommend"

Happy Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.9 (659) • $$

"I was happy to find this place open till 8:00pm on Thanksgiving day (an hour earlier than their normal business hours, but good enough for me). Ordered for pickup in advance. The restaurant had a cute atmosphere with indoor seating, no one dining in on this holiday evening, not surprisingly, but a handful of takeout orders were neatly bagged and sitting on the table, my order ready when I arrived. The staff grabbed my bag and politely handed it to me, a simple and smooth process.I really enjoyed the baked lobster roll, with shrimp and crab meat and a lobster mix (large flavorful chunks), and a nice kick from the spicy mayo. It was so delicious, and a decent size for a meal. Wow, I sometimes feel like all sushi spots are fairly the same, but this one stood out to me with the quality and taste. It was definitely memorable, and makes me wanna come back for more."

Cajun House

★★★★☆ 3.8 (678) • $$

"This review is long overdue. I have visited Cajun house several times, and each time, I leave a happy boy! The food is fresh and flavorful. Combo C is our go-to, and it's a steal! The service is always excellent. Super friendly and attentive. The owner ( I think ) is super kind and chats up the tables. Bonus points: their 90s playlist hits every time we are in, and I am convinced it elevates the food's flavor.Go out and support this local business! **Pro Tip** Cross the street and get dessert at the ice cream parlor."

Kuya's Asian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.7 (685) • $$

"Kuya's Asia Cuisine catered lunch for Red and White Fleet's kick off Spring Season, and everything was beautifully presented and delicious.If you want to support a local family-owned Filipino Restaurant, then please support Kuya's Asian Cuisine.Cheers!!!"

Ginger Café

★★★★☆ 3.6 (714) • $$

"My family and I used to come here frequently. We moved to AZ 8 years ago, but make it a priority to come visit anytime we are in town. You can't go wrong with the string bean chicken and potato beef."

Dumpling Time

★★★★☆ 3.6 (695) • $$

"Finallly got to try this place and let me tell you, yes it is pricy BUT the food is delicious and fresh. Ambiance:We asked for outdoors since it was a nice day. It does seem like they have a lot of room indoors and a decent outdoor seating. The staff is great and prompt. Food:- shrimp toast - 5/5 this is a must get trust me. - pork & shrimp sui mai - 5/5 stuffed meaty and juicy- chili pork dumpling - 4/5 good just wish it was spicier- XLB - 5/5 so good- wagyu beef gyoza - 3/5 sadly nothing to special I could skip this- vegan fried rice - 5/5 seasons and really good"

What The Cup

★★★★☆ 3.7 (653) • $$

"Fun place for lunch today. There are two walls of ramen choices to choose from ranging from mild to very spicy. There are also options of regular ramen options from no spice to very spicy. Lots of available add ons as well. Small selection of drink's available as well as a modest snack section. My tonkatsu ramen was very good with good bouncy noodles and flavor. The broth was a touch salty for hubby but perfect for me. Hubby said his instant ramen was cool for the experience and he appreciated the add ons as well. Service was very helpful with selecting the appropriate spiciness levels of the ramen as well as the cooking apparatus for the instant ramen."

Golden Crab House

★★★★☆ 4.4 (434) • $$$

"Excellent food and excellent service! We had a birthday party dinner for my son. The waitress heard it's a birthday party she gave us ice cream on the house. The only thing is it's hard to find a parking space."

Seorai Korean Bbq

★★★★☆ 4.1 (479) • $$$

"Really decent Korean bbq place with top notch quality and service! I would recommend to go there if you are in the area. The meat quality was good but the pancakes were crunch as I like."

Golden Triangle Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (434) • $$

"Been here about 5 times. Delicious and inexpensive. My favorite dish is the drunken noodles. Here is how I break it down: On the plus side-Really good foodNice presentationReasonable prices (especially for Los Gatos)No corkage feeBeautiful interiorIn the minus side -Very slow service (even when not crowded)High interior noise levelTables are crowded very close togetherIn a nutshell, the food here is AMAZING, but the painfully slow service knocks them down to four stars. Bring a bottle of wine. You will be waiting."

Dae Bak

★★★★☆ 3.6 (604) • $$

"For opening this late and wonderful customer service , will come back again! Lovely people and delicious fresh food! Recommend !"

Kothai Republic

★★★★★ 4.6 (369)

"Inventive flavors, welcoming service, cozy ambiance as you watch the world go by through the tall glass walls on the corner of 9th & Judah. All but one of the tables was full when I entered sans reservation and it only became so when a couple offered to split their 4-top. We had a lively conversation about food and San Francisco places.I ordered Yellowtail Carpaccio ($23) that was delicate yet deeply flavored with ginger miso aioli, chili oil and a nori chip.The meltingly tender pork chop over miso parsnip purée ($39) was punctuated with a grilled fresno pepper to balance the sweetness of the glaze but whose scoville rating I didn't fully appreciate until the first bite (that'll teach me!) I really appreciated the cooking method of the pork chop as it was medium yet the fat was perfectly rendered. I ate every bite even though I intended to take half of it home.With a slightly peppery Russian River Pinot Noir, it was the perfect meal.Service was on point, every step felt ideally timed and unhurried.I like their menu very much and photos of certain brunch items look very tempting. I'll be back."

Cafe Bunn Mi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (455) • $$

"Was suggested to try out this spot, so glad I did. Hands down, the crispy duck sammy hit so hard. The tenderness of meat was yummy. The bread was fresh and crunchy but soft enough to devour. Good size sammy for lunch unless you like sharing it with another. Overall the combo of slaw and duck, ughhh say less. I took order to go but there is a good amount of seating indoors. Menu has such a variety, will come back to try more. Service was prompt and didn't have to wait too long for order."

PhoEver

★★★★☆ 4.1 (455) • $$

"Phoever is hands-down one of the best pho spots in Sunnyvale! From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with friendly service and a cozy atmosphere. The menu is packed with delicious options, but the pho is the true star--deep, flavorful broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and generous portions of tender meat.I ordered the Beef Pho (rare steak & brisket), and it was the beau idéal! The broth was rich and aromatic, with just the right balance of spices. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and they give you plenty of fresh basil, bean sprouts, lime, and jalapeños to customize it to your liking. Beyond the pho, their spring rolls were fresh and packed with flavor, and the Vietnamese iced coffee was strong and delicious--just the right amount of sweetness.What really makes Phoever special is the service. The staff is incredibly welcoming, making you feel like family. Even on busy nights, they're attentive and quick.If you're craving Vietnamese comfort food and stuck in Sunnyvale and don't feel like driving all the way over to the east side, Phoever is the place to go. I'll definitely be back again and again!"

Time Thai Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (390) • $$

"I've been here more than a few times and have also ordered a party tray and each and every single time the food was delicious. Every single dish I've tried has been amazing and kept us wanting more!! Their fried chicken is always fried to perfection. It doesn't taste/feel greasy. Same with their calamari. Their staples are always a hit--pad Thai, khao soi, fried rice, curry. All super super delicious. Service is always quick and friendly. They also recently renovated so the spot is a lot more spacious and open.This is our go to Thai restaurant!"

Bibimbowl

★★★★☆ 3.8 (519) • $$

"Went here for lunch. Got the Hot Stone - Chicken and Shrimp with Brown rice. As the name suggests, the bowl was super hot (almost sizzling) which enhanced the taste of the food. The chicken and shrimp were very tasty and the food was hot till the last bite. Loved the crispy brown rice that got stuck to the stone :DFor obvious reasons the hot stone is available when you dine is, so would recommend eating here to get a better experience."

Shirasoni Japanese Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (724) • $$

"After having Teppanyaki on a cruise ship, I decided I wanted to find a restaurant at home where I could have my birthday dinner. A friend recommended this restaurant, and I'm glad she did. Our food was very good! I had salmon, my older son had filet mignon, and my younger son had shrimp. We all agreed the fried rice was the best we'd had anywhere. The grilled veggies were very tasty also. I didn't care for the salad dressing, but really liked the mushroom soup. Our chef wasn't very entertaining and not engaging, so that was a bummer. The chef we had on the cruise ship was an amazing entertainer and a tough act to follow.I admit I was thrown off by the 20% service charge, but I've heard that some restaurants are doing that nowadays. This restaurant is someplace I would only go for special occasions so if costs a little extra I'm ok with it as long as the service and food are good. I'm sure we'll be back because both my sons now want their birthday dinners here as well."

Dumpling Time

★★★★☆ 3.7 (531) • $$

"Went here with a couple friends on a Saturday night. Parking was a bit of a hassle, but the restaurant was not crowded and we got seated right away. When we left at 9:00 though, they were full. I loved that the place was well lit. The staff was very friendly and they were also attentive - they kept bringing us more water and checked back a few times after our food was delivered to see if we needed anything.The seaweed salad was very good - I liked the sesame dressing. The spring rolls were delicious - fried just right. The BBQ dumplings were also very good, but the pork were only OK. We ordered fried rice, which I don't think we needed, and we got a dessert - I forget what it was called, but its the balls with sesame seeds. Those were delicious, but larger than the ones you usually get."

Viet Noms

★★★★☆ 4.1 (428) • $$

"I can't believe I have not yet left a review for Viet Noms. My family & I have been regulars since 2021. On average, we eat here once a week. The food is consistently delicious (especially the spring rolls) and the staff is friendly and welcoming. In particular, Yuri (sp?) who goes out of her way to prepare my son's rice plate to his liking. I find that they are really good at following special instructions such as removing cilantro and green onions from the dish. In addition, the restaurant is clean and nicely decorated. In the 3+ years I've been coming here, I have never had a bad meal or dining experience. Highly recommend!"

Mizu Sushi Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (485) • $$

"We have dined here twice and, thus far, the staff have been consistently polite with excellent service. The menu has an array of cooked and raw rolls, vegetarian options, as well as a gluten free section, and the sashimi is sliced generously. The fish is fine for the price. We celebrated a birthday recently and our waitress was very nice (Sveidy, thank you!). Our order came out pretty quickly and this location isn't crowded like the location in West San Jose. I recommend trying this place for both the cordial service along with variety of Japanese food options."

Ocha Tea Café & Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (637) • $$

"A tiny Taiwan restaurant that I go almost very week. They have great pine apple fried rice (with secret hot sauce) and perfect Crispy Salted Chicken. The waitress quiet and friendly. Just enjoy everything!"