Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Apple Fritter

    4.2 (1.9k reviews)
    Open • 7:30 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Order Apple Fritter Takeout or Delivery

    Apple Fritter Photos

    Business Info

    APPLE FRITTER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Apple Fritter

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Spicy Hash
    Rigel A.

    This was my first time here. We decided to do a weekday brunch out on the patio since it was a nice day. The portion sizes were good enough for us. The service was pretty quick since it wasn't as busy. The food was delicious. We also ordered a few donuts. We really enjoyed the original apple fritter, banana flavored fritter, and my fav was the blueberry lemon cake donut. It was really refreshing and sweet. I would definitely go back and try more dishes and donuts.

    VB L.

    I'm a little surprised that I never wrote a review for Apple Fritter. I've been eating here since they turned my favorite Taco Bell into this quaint and delicious local eatery. When they first opened for a few hours a day, the locals couldn't get enough of the homemade food and quirky atmosphere. Now, it's a San Mateo staple. Whether you're craving squishy doughnuts or a juicy burger, Apple Fritter delivers. Their wall of doughnuts as you enter from the parking lot is a tempting way to stir up your appetite. Counter service is always fast and friendly. Just pick up a menu while drooling over the doughnuts and whenever you're ready to order, someone is ready to take it. Seating is both inside and out, but sitting inside gives you the pleasure of looking at all of the fun oddities on the walls and ceiling. The food is amazing, the decor eclectic and the service cordial. Just check the hours before heading over. They cater to their hardworking employees as much as the customers, so hours are limited.

    Julie B.

    Apple Fritter is such a whimsical brunch vibe! Their donuts are fresh, and the apple fritter itself is well portioned and sweet. Some favorites included their ultimate pancakes, granola parfait and egg scramble, but the coffee is delightful. I preferred the cocoa puff cold brew over the carbonated coffee (vietnamese coffee with sparkling water). They have a private parking lot and offer both indoor or outdoor patio seating. The staff is friendly and will take care of clearing tables afterwards.

    Maple Cake Donut
    Jodi C.

    We visited Apple Fritter on Easter Sunday on a whim, and it was SO WELL WORTH IT! This stop was about halfway between SF and where we were staying in Cupertino, so it was perfect before our long SF exploration day! We stood in line to order for about 20 min, and everyone told us it was worth waiting on! It turned out to be VERY true! The food was out of this world, the donuts were SUPER yummy and we the service was wonderful! I can only speak for my plate, but I ordered the "Amazing Breakfast Sandwich" and it was DELICIOUS!!! Let me break it down for you: 1. The bread was sourdough - but it was SO MOIST and SQUISHY! Unlike your harder, toastier sourdough bread. 2. the turkey bacon and cheese were tasty and hearty on this sandwich 3. the arugula was fresh and added a clean taste to the bite 4. The garlic aioli was the PERFECT sauce to go on this sandwich. It gave it the aromatic flavor it needed! (I took off the fresh tomato due to allergy!) I still think about this sandwich!!! The hashbrowns were good, they were a solid choice. They make it on the crunchier side which I LOVE! Pictured there are the cinnamon bun and the maple cake donut, which both were SO GOOD - especially the cinnamon bun. The bun was a perfect balance of the cinnamon, glaze, brown sugar and dough. The maple donut was comparable to some of my favorites! The donut dough was not my favorite, but the maple glaze made up for it! I topped off my meal with an iced tea! :) I want to go back to San Francisco JUST for this breakfast again! Highly!!! Recommend!!!

    mikey d.

    I recently stopped by Apple Fritter in San Mateo and tried the Naughty Burrito to go along with the Brunchurrito, which I ate there. Both burritos were satisfying and definitely worth trying. The restaurant has an open layout with plenty of parking, making it easy to stop by. It's located next to a car mechanic shop, and I liked that they had old-school Pokémon playing on the TV--it added a fun nostalgic vibe while I was eating. Customer service was acceptable, but nothing really stood out. It's more of a self-service experience, so if you want water or anything else, you'll need to get up and grab it yourself. It would've been nice if someone checked in once or twice. One thing that did confuse me happened on a different visit. I arrived around 1:50 p.m. hoping to order food to go, but the gentleman locked the door and told me they were no longer taking orders. If you close at 2 i dont see how you were closed already. It was a little odd since there were still plenty of customers inside eating. I understand kitchens have closing times, but it would've been helpful if the hours or last call for food were clearer. Overall, it's a solid spot for a good breakfast burrito with a laid-back atmosphere. Despite that one experience, I'd still come back and recommend giving it a try.

    Order at the counter as you enter with seats inside as well as outside
    Michael F.

    Tried this charming breakfast, brunch place for the first. Never knew a restaurant like this was right off Fashion Island Blvd near 92 exit. The Awesome Breakfast sandwich with choice of protein, bread and a side for $16.25. I chose cheesesteak, multi grain and hash browns. The dish was very filling. Will likely come back to try a few other dishes in the future!

    menu
    Cat M.

    came here on a sunday at noon and it was pretty busy. there's a small parking lot but it fills up quick. there was a line out the door to order (you order, they give you a number stand and you sit wherever you like). it took about 20 minutes in line to place our orders, and then another 15 for the food to come out. food was okay, a bit flavorless but portion sizes were generous. we wanted to try the apple fritter but they ran out :(

    Sue L.

    My husband found this place online, so we decided to stop by for breakfast on his birthday. He is a big fan of breakfast burritos so of course we ordered a Naughty Burrito to share. He picked the chicken apple sausage for the protein and also added bacon (+$3.00). The other ingredients including the hash brown and cheddar paired well with the chipotle mayo. They even grilled the tortilla and made it crispy just the way he liked it. Couldn't leave without also ordering the apple fritter and old fashion! Since it was on a Monday, there were only a few customers. I liked that they have both indoor and outdoor seating available. It's located in an industrial area so it was quiet and peaceful. Would definitely recommend stopping by if you're into breakfast burritos/sandwiches and donuts!!

    Where's the APLLE FRITER?!!!
    Dan S.

    So I go to an establishment called "APPLE FRITTER" .. and there are 0 APPLE FRITTERS. -2 stars especially since I walked there from San Mateo event center with fritters permeating my mind and activating my salivary glands. Seriously and kinda ridiculously disappointed by this. Other than that..great ambience, whimsical decor, friendly staff. I want to minus another star for the Line wait, it is so slowwwwww. Empty seats and 30 min line to order is ridiculous.

    Naughty Burrito
    Alicia S.

    I was super impressed with this breakfast/ brunch spot. The food was delicious and I was especially blown away by the coffee. I got the iced cinnamon latte and the hazelnut vanilla latte. Both amazing! The service was quick and easy. The inside was well decorated and nice available seating. They also had donuts which were delicious!

    Ryan Fitzpatrick playing tater tot pong
    Lynnelle E.

    I think like everyone else found this place while searching for a good brunch place to go to. Parking wasn't too bad, I think turnover was pretty good. As people were leaving, more people came to park. The line can get long at times but moves pretty fast. Drinks: Dragon fruit mimosa - I'm not a mimosa fan, but this was refreshing. I highly recommend if you want something nice and light. Horchata freeze - so creamy and very cinnamony. You can really taste the cinnamon throughout the drink. Iced salted caramel latte - it was good but nothing that really stood out. Probably will not be getting again. Food: 1. Chorizo breakfast tacos with tater tots - huge portion and so tasty. The chorizo and egg with chipotle sauce, salsa, and cheese was a perfect balance. The chipotle sauce had a nice kick, and I liked that the egg and chorizo were not greasy. Tater tots were crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. 2. Churros and cream french toast - I could not get enough of this no matter how full I was. I liked that it had actual churros in it and not just like a cinnamon and sugar topping. The French toast was nice and crunchy, not super eggy and soggy. I liked that they had the syrup on the side. 3. Spicy hash - the spicy hash was really good, and jalapenos were a nice touch to make it more spicy. hash browns were well cooked, and cheese was perfectly melted. appreciated the chipotle sauce on the side. 4. Wild thang burger - The burger was juicy, and the onion ring in it was crunchy. There was a good amount of bbq sauce and jalapeños and the fries were crispy 5. Original breakfast plate with chicken pineapple sausage - classic and simple. The chicken and pineapple sausage had a nice snap to it and not salty. Donuts - we ordered a bunch to go. We got blueberry, raspberry, and banana fritters. It was super crunchy but to be honest, I sampled all of them but couldn't tell a difference. I was kind of disappointed, considering it's called apple fritter. Fruity pebbles donut was tasty but didn't care for the cookie crisp donut. I feel like it was a totally different cereal. Overall, all the food was amazing and I would love to come back to try the other items they have.

    Donuts
    Miguel C.

    If you're craving an apple fritter or breakfast, this is the spot. Came for a fritter and ended up getting breakfast food. It was pretty good, 8/10 for the spicy hash, if you like spice that's the one I would get. The hipsterito was a 7/10 for being a vegetarian option. I would rank the apple fritter best over the banana and cinnamon roll. Staff were friendly, and I enjoyed the theme inside, real nostalgic inside.

    Cheesesteak Sandwich
    Rini R.

    One of the best places for sandwiches if you are craving for one . They also sell a variety of donuts and I have never been disappointed. Very reasonably priced and the service is quick and the staff is friendly . They have indoor as well as outdoor seating area . They get a lot of office crowd if you go during lunch hours . Some parking is available but I always walk so I never needed one . My favorite is cheese steak sandwich with grilled pineapple and jalapeños. They close at 2 so if you go too close to their closing time you may need to get a to go .

    Westcoast Wrapper

    See all

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of VB L.
    1143
    950
    1712

    2 months ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 4
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shiv
    0
    3
    1

    9 days ago

    One of the best local spots around. Main reason y I go back? To satisfy my sweet tooth. Donuts n fritters ‍ diabetes speedrun 10/10

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 days ago

    Went 10am Monday morning. Doughnut holes stale, not enough icing. Disappointed will try apple fritter when I get home

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Clifford W.
    25
    791
    4062

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gina C.
    0
    72
    55

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 4
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 47

    Apple Fritter Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Apple Fritter

    Do we need tomake reservations?

    No you cannot

    What's the cost of a dozen donuts on average?

    Donuts run about $2-3 each. Fritter is $4.50. From the ordering website as of April 2022 Assorted… 

    Are you donuts dairy free?

    Do they take reservations for brunch or not on Weekend?

    Hi Shikha, Apple Fritter doesn't take reservations.

    Are they still open 8-2 pm? hard to know what to rely on, and nobody answers the phone, vm full and there's nothing on the voicemail greeting that says anything about their open hours.

    Yes they're open. They're pretty short staffed it seemed like the last time I visited. You're right they don't answer the phone. Both times that I went during covid I had to order there in person and wait around 20 mins or so.

    Are they selling donuts again? During the first few months of shelter in place order they weren't. Thanks!

    Yes I recently had the fruity pebbles

    How big are the burgers? 6oz? 4oz? 1/3lb?? Nothing on the menu lets me know what to expect.

    About 6 oz

    I'm looking to bring a vegan friend here who will be visiting from out of town so that she can try garlic fries! Are the fries here Vegan-friendly, as in, no animal products are fried in the same oil?

    No we are sorry we don’t serve vegan fries. Unfortunately we do cook some animal products in the same oil. Thank you for your inquiry.

    What time do they have the donuts until?

    Apple fritters run out early. Best to go before 11 to guarantee different flavors. Regular donuts are there usually all day.

    View All 11 Questions

    Kaizen & Coffee - $9 single origin pour over & iced black sesame latte

    Kaizen & Coffee

    4.5(744 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    •$$

    Miso caramel never had anything like it, i'm shocked and…read moreimpressed and very down to get this again or try other things on the menu also the Miso caramel didn't overpower the coffee taste at All which is imo rare? Pandan Matcha! this is the strongest pandan flavor i've had in a while and it was really good!! it did overpower the matcha flavor but I didn't mind because I like pandan and this was really good and not superrrrr artificial or sweet like other places. If you are looking for a strong matcha taste, this drink might not be for you tho service was great and speedy considering how long the line was (30min before closing too wow) I also loved the decor and I think this would be a great place to work: there's wifi, some seating and power sockets

    4/5 Kaizen Coffee…read moredefinitely lives up to the hype when it comes to their pour over. The space is clean, modern, and aesthetically nice, but it is pretty small and not really the type of café I would hang out at for hours. It reminded me more of a busy boba shop where you grab your drink and go. We came around 1 PM and waited about 10 minutes. They only allow around six people to queue inside, so there was a pretty steady line of people waiting outside. This place gets BUSY. We tried the black sesame iced latte and a single origin pour over. The pour over was easily a 10/10 for me. I love light roasts that are super fruit forward, bright, and almost tea like, and this was exactly that. The barista was also incredibly friendly and even shared his recipe with me, which I really appreciated. The black sesame latte was one of the drinks we kept seeing on social media, so obviously we had to try it. Unfortunately, it was not our favorite. The black sesame tasted pretty grainy and bitter, which clashed with the sweetness of the coffee rather than complementing it. I would probably give that drink a 3/5. One thing I really liked is their whole bean selection. They had a ton of freshly roasted coffee available, including beans from Hydrangea and Black & White. Overall, Kaizen gets a 4/5 from me. The pour over alone is enough to bring me back, but I was expecting a little more from their black sesame iced latte

    Photos
    Kaizen & Coffee - Tees and Coffee

    Tees and Coffee

    Kaizen & Coffee - Instagram: TianTianEats

    Instagram: TianTianEats

    Kaizen & Coffee - Recommended per our barista. This Coco Hazelnut Croissant, which is winning!

    See all

    Recommended per our barista. This Coco Hazelnut Croissant, which is winning!

    Cafe Kazka - Chicken corn cheese pasta

    Cafe Kazka

    4.2(156 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    •$$

    cafe kazka is such a hidden gem in foster city! my friend and I came to check it out for lunch…read moreafter hearing it was a hong kong-style cafe, and were not disappointed at all. first, the cafe is so cute and also spotless- I could've stayed all day just reading or doing work. there was lots of outdoor seating overlooking the water which was so nice! I got an iced HK style coffee + milk tea which I've never had before but was so delicious. I'd definitely come back to try the other fruity drinks too! we ordered the tom yum noodles, preserved vegetables & pork noodle soup, salt & pepper fries, and the HK style french toast with peanut butter. the french toast was our favorite- it was fluffy and chewy and was just like the HK classic. the noodle dishes were both so hearty and flavorful too, and the portions were a good size. it did take a bit long for everything to come out, but it did seem like there was only one person working and she was very kind and accommodating when we had questions about our order. we didn't mind at all, especially sitting outside and enjoying the view! overall, I'll for sure be back for the drinks and to try some other HK style street food.

    This was my first time trying Cafe Kazka, and unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The…read morerestaurant seemed seriously understaffed and very disorganized. I ordered the lemongrass pork jaw rice. There were only about six pieces of meat, and the lemongrass was chopped into very tiny pieces and mixed into the sauce. The problem was that the lemongrass was extremely tough, almost like small pieces of tree branches, and impossible to chew. I had to spit them out, but because they were chopped so finely and mixed throughout the sauce and meat, it was very difficult to eat. If this is how they prepare the dish, they should reconsider the way they cook and serve lemongrass dishes--or consider removing this dish from the menu. I also waited about 30 minutes for my food. After such a long wait, I expected the food to at least arrive hot, but it was already cold. It seemed like the food had been sitting in the kitchen for a while because there weren't enough staff to bring it out to customers. The table service and cleanliness were also disappointing. There were no staff available to clean the tables, and I actually saw customers moving previous customers' dirty plates to one side and wiping the table themselves. Our table was also extremely sticky. The restaurant really needs to review its food delivery process. Instead of having staff run around the dining area trying to find the right table number, they could simply have customers pick up their food using an order number. This would probably make the process much faster and more organized. Overall, the food was just so-so, the service was slow, and the whole restaurant felt very unorganized. Unfortunately, I will not be coming back.

    Photos
    Cafe Kazka - Inside

    Inside

    Cafe Kazka - Duck breast rice

    Duck breast rice

    Cafe Kazka - Fried fish siu mai

    See all

    Fried fish siu mai

    Penelope's Coffee And Tea

    Penelope's Coffee And Tea

    4.2(490 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    •$$

    Penelope's Coffee & Tea is what happens when a neighborhood café decides that coffee should have a…read morepersonality. The atmosphere is effortlessly civilized: bright, relaxed, and sufficiently comfortable to encourage lingering without descending into the laptop-induced paralysis of so many contemporary cafés. The patio is particularly appealing, with sunlight, greenery, and the sort of unhurried ambiance that makes you suddenly believe you have nowhere else to be. The coffee is superb. Greek coffee is bold and concentrated, while the specialty drinks display an almost suspiciously effective command of sweetness, spice, and texture. The womelette, an omelet cooked in a waffle iron, is wonderfully absurd and genuinely delicious, which is a rare combination in breakfast cuisine. Service is warm and personal, and the staff contributes substantially to the café's neighborhood character. Prices are not bargain-basement, but they feel entirely defensible given the quality and portions. Penelope's isn't merely a coffee shop. It is a small, caffeinated argument for slowing down.

    Penelope's Coffee and Tea is a warm, family-run Greek café in Foster City known for creative…read moreartisan drinks and unique breakfast fusion dishes. They have a wide selection of coffee/tea drinks as well as pastries and breakfast. We came early morning to grab some coffee and light breakfast. I had a hot Latte and a veggie egg sandwich breakfast. Both were bloody amazing!! I tell you the latte is so smooth, crisp and perfectly made to my liking. Now the breakfast sandwich was small but tasty. Service was spot on. The vibe was relaxing. Indoor and outdoor seats are available. Overall, this is a great coffee shop.

    Photos
    Penelope's Coffee And Tea - That morning vibe.

    That morning vibe.

    Penelope's Coffee And Tea - Bacon Womelette wit some OJ hits hard

    Bacon Womelette wit some OJ hits hard

    Penelope's Coffee And Tea - Hot Wild Berry Latte

    See all

    Hot Wild Berry Latte

    Sama Coffee Shop - Rose Cardamom Honey Burma

    Sama Coffee Shop

    4.1(454 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    •$$

    Sama Coffee Shop in San Mateo understands that a café can be more than a place to consume coffee;…read moreit can be an exercise in atmosphere and appetite. The room is quietly elegant, its Middle Eastern influences expressed through considered décor rather than theatrical excess. There is an appealing sense of decorum here; a place designed to encourage lingering rather than turnover. The coffee is similarly assured. Turkish coffee possesses the requisite depth and bitterness, while the rose-cardamom-honey latte introduces floral sweetness and spice with admirable restraint. The pastries and sweets--particularly the baklava and kunafeh--provide a luxurious counterpoint without descending entirely into confectionery excess. At roughly $10-$20 per person, Sama occupies a sensible price point for an experience that feels considerably more considered than the average neighborhood coffee shop. Sama is, ultimately, a café with a point of view and that is increasingly rare. The service was designed to provide you with a feeling that you're like a beloved family member. Eager to answer all questions asked and make you feel like you're at home.

    We stopped by Sama Coffee Shop for a coffee and a quick dessert while we were in the area. It's a…read morecharming Turkish-style café with a nice selection of coffee drinks, creative lattes, teas, pastries, and desserts. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, making it a good place to sit for a bit and enjoy a drink and something sweet. Overall, I would say our experience was fine. The coffee and dessert were good, but nothing really stood out enough that I would make a special trip from the South Bay to San Mateo just to come here. That said, if you're already in the area and looking for a casual coffee spot with some Turkish-inspired treats and a relaxed atmosphere, it's definitely worth stopping by.

    Photos
    Sama Coffee Shop - Gold Digger Latte

    Gold Digger Latte

    Sama Coffee Shop - Rose Cardamom Honey Latte and her Biscoff Cloud by her side

    Rose Cardamom Honey Latte and her Biscoff Cloud by her side

    Sama Coffee Shop - Beautiful morning coffee. Cheers!

    See all

    Beautiful morning coffee. Cheers!

    Little Late Bird

    Little Late Bird

    4.2(97 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Recently discovered this place and today I was with my baby who fallen asleep in the car. I ordered…read moreonline but I couldn't park or figure out how to pick up my order. I stopped in front of their coffee shop and run back forth saying that my baby is sleeping, let me know when it is ready. So the cook bought my sandwich to the car even though I didn't ask for that. Awwww as postpartum mama who did not have her breakfast and coffee at 11am, I was so touched by their excellent service! Coffee was so smooth and my sandwich like my grandma did - so yummy! They just earned forever customer! :-)

    I've been here a number of times, they're located in a business complex, but they're also open on…read morethe weekends so we pop in here and there for coffee or a snack. We've tried a good number of things on the menu and the main thing for me is that even though the prices are not steep, the food portions are quite small. Even the bagels are not standard-sized bagels, they're smaller and feel more like a mini bagel. Whenever I order any rice dish, I'm never full. Taste is average at best across everything I've tried. So even though it's not expensive, it doesn't feel quite worth it. The drinks are good, I've enjoyed most of what I've tried. The space is pretty big and open, good for working or hanging out and the staff is usually friendly. The only time I've had a negative experience with service was with the owner or manager (not sure), she was a bit rude and stand-offish.

    Photos
    Little Late Bird - Environment

    Environment

    Little Late Bird - Bulgogi Sandwich & Flat White (oat milk)

    Bulgogi Sandwich & Flat White (oat milk)

    Little Late Bird - Banana latte, lavender latte and Nutella croffle

    See all

    Banana latte, lavender latte and Nutella croffle

    Backhaus - Beautiful morning at this cute yard. My favorite "little dudes"

    Backhaus

    4.4(919 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    •$$

    My son came into Backhaus specifically for one of their cookies, but they had already sold out for…read morethe day. When the staff realized that was what he had come in for, they gave him a couple of the "reject" cookies that had already been set aside for employees. Needless to say, he was thrilled. It was a small gesture, but an incredibly thoughtful one that really made his day. Backhaus has fantastic baked goods, but it's this kind of genuine customer service that makes the place stand out. We'll definitely keep coming back.

    Decided to get in line a lil after 10am on a Saturday. The line moved pretty quickly! We knew we…read morewanted the vanilla latte - got it iced and hot. I got mine with almond milk. It's a good latte! There were so many baked options. We asked the worker for recommendations. We asked about the almond vs chocolate hazelnut croissants & savory options. Speck & egg was the top specific mention, but she added that they're all good. I learned that speck was ham. We ended up getting the chocolate hazelnut croissant & speck & egg. We got the last one of the croissant, so I can only imagine how fast things run out. Baked to perfection - flakey and not dense at all. The croissant did get a bit too sweet over time. There's two tables inside and one bigger one outside. It can get a little crowded with everyone waiting for their drinks. I'm glad I got to try it! I'd come back - lots more to try. Street parking can be a hit or miss nearby. Wherever you park, it's still a nice walk in the downtown area.

    Photos
    Backhaus - Indoor order line

    Indoor order line

    Backhaus - Cardamom swirl and Cortado. Pumpkin bread.

    Cardamom swirl and Cortado. Pumpkin bread.

    Backhaus - Everything croissant w/ cream cheese

    See all

    Everything croissant w/ cream cheese

    Blue Bottle Coffee - San Mateo - My Craft Matcha

    Blue Bottle Coffee - San Mateo

    3.7(327 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    •$$

    Blue Bottle Coffee in San Mateo deserves a special shoutout for the excellent service I received…read morefrom Cameron. He greeted me promptly in such a warm, friendly way and was genuinely helpful throughout the visit. It was honestly one of the best customer service encounters I've had anywhere recently, especially in a coffee shop. Great coffee is always appreciated, but great service like this really stands out. Cameron made the experience feel welcoming and memorable. Highly recommend this location, for both service and cleanliness/atmosphere.

    Save yourself the headache and skip this spot on a Friday unless you're walking over from the…read morenearby offices. Parking: Absolute nightmare. Finding a spot anywhere near the building took forever. The Wait: Waited 15 minutes just to order, only to be told it would be another 15 to 20 minutes for the drinks to actually be made. The Vibe & Pace: I'm usually pretty patient with long lines, but watching the staff work was painful. Zero urgency, moving in slow motion while a huge crowd waited. You could literally feel the shared frustration in the room and everyone around me was checking their watches with the exact same annoyed expression. The coffee at Blue Bottle is always solid, but the bottlenecking from app/delivery orders combined with a staff that refuses to pick up the pace makes this location a skip. Definitely wouldn't go out of my way to come back here.

    Photos
    Blue Bottle Coffee - San Mateo - Side interior view

    Side interior view

    Blue Bottle Coffee - San Mateo - Their Scone. Really like this.

    Their Scone. Really like this.

    Blue Bottle Coffee - San Mateo - Inside

    See all

    Inside

    Ceré Tea - Black Sesame Matcha Einspanner (oatmilk, 50% sweetness)

    Ceré Tea

    4.5(170 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    •$$

    I was eating next door on a Sunday afternoon and saw lots of people going in and coming out with…read moredelicious looking matcha drinks. I watched their reactions when taking the first sip, it was a lot of head nodding and thumbs upping to their friends so I felt like I had to go in and try for myself. Went in and ordered an earl gray matcha and my partner ordered a passion mango tea w boba. The matcha & the passion fruit was so good! The boba was chewy and sweet. I would definitely recommend coming and trying! I really wanted to try their strawberry matcha but I'm always so skeptical (I have trust issues w bad strawb matchas) but the earl gray was good, so maybe I'll try next visit. The interior was nice, menu was straight forward on the wall and on the check out table -- only thing is the description of the drinks weren't shown on the menus until you're on the self check out kiosk. I was curious about the sunny side up matcha thinking it was made with real egg yolk (which I thought kinda weird?) but the kiosk said that it was mango. You didn't really talk to staff at all & the drinks came out pretty fast! Would come back again.

    I'll round up because I want this place to do well. This was my second time coming here. The first…read moretime, my husband ordered a hojicha einspanner. The second time, I ordered a matcha einspanner, and he got the hojicha einspanner again. Maybe I'm just not too familiar with how to drink einspanners, but the cream pretty much sat on top of the drink. At first, I was mostly just drinking the matcha, which was fine because it was flavorful and seemed to be good quality. Once I got toward the end of the drink, that's when I started tasting the cream. The cream was a little too thick for my liking and left a film-like texture in my mouth, which I didn't love. Since I enjoyed the overall flavor of the drink, I'll give it a 4! The ambiance is cute, and the service was easy. You just order from a kiosk, and they call your name once your drink is ready. The first time I went was on a weekend, and the line was out the door. This time, I went on a weekday, and it was pretty empty. If you're looking for a sweet, caffeinated drink as a pick-me-up, I'd recommend trying it at least once.

    Photos
    Ceré Tea - Black Sesame Matcha Einspanner (oatmilk, 50% sweetness)

    Black Sesame Matcha Einspanner (oatmilk, 50% sweetness)

    Ceré Tea - Hojicha Einspanner

    Hojicha Einspanner

    Ceré Tea - Sunny Side Up Matcha

    See all

    Sunny Side Up Matcha

    Apple Fritter - burgers - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...