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Bonchon San Mateo

3.5 (524 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

Order Bonchon San Mateo Takeout or Delivery

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BONCHON SAN MATEO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Bonchon San Mateo

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Michelle S.

I haven't had Bonchon for a while. The last time I had it was in the Philippines and I really enjoyed this experience. I was surprised with the new sampler that they ordered. It was tasty and it had a good variety of dishes-- it was definitely enough for me and my boyfriend The place was definitely empty compared to all the other stores along San Mateo but it's a good fix if you're hungry and looking for quick bite. Not much going on, but they did play a Marvel movie in the background, which is pretty cool.

Vanessa D.

Came here on a Tuesday for their 15 wings for $1 deal (offered Mondays and Tuesdays). We picked the Crunch flavor for the deal -- no sauce, just seasoning. Honestly, the flavor reminded me of an onion ranch chip. Not totally my thing, but the wings were massive, super crispy, and juicy. If you're into pure crunch and texture, you'll probably love them. We also ordered 16 more wings -- half in Korean Spicy and half in Soy Garlic. The Soy Garlic was easily my favorite -- sweet, salty, and perfectly coated. Korean Spicy was flavorful. The real standout of the night? The bulgogi fries. Absolutely phenomenal -- cheesy, savory, and loaded with tender bulgogi. Total comfort food. Overall, a great spot for crispy wings and shareable plates. Definitely worth checking out early in the week for that $1 deal -- just make sure you balance it with some saucy wings and those unforgettable fries.

Happy
Erin P.

Food All the same standard quality you'd expect out of any BonChon chain restaurants Service Satisfactory Ambiance Plenty of seats, unclear if we had a trash can or to clean up, we left as is and was fine.

Wendy H.

We dropped by here for lunch. I wish I can say this was good but it was just ok. For some reason the Boneless chicken was not double fried. It tastes like what Panda Express does but panda's is crunchier. The sauce was also skimpy. Someone at our party had the chicken burger and he said it did not have any breading. The fries were the only crispy thing on the menu. I prefer the ssf location

Bulgogi tacos
Jodie S.

Spacious restaurant with lots of seating and no wait at all. If you are starving and need food right away, this is a good option. The server was very attentive as well and checked on us every 15-20 minutes. The chicken were very large pieces and is fried very well. It definitely has the satisfying crunch. However, the soy garlic flavor does taste different from what I remember when they first opened. Not sure if it is just this San Mateo location or if it's all local Bonchons. If I were to describe it, the chicken tasted like fancy Korean chicken from a restaurant before but tastes more like chicken from a chain now. The tacos also tasted different from before but overall flavors aren't bad.

Simple seating. Not a whole lot.
Adem M.

I LOVE THIS CHICKEN!!! Not a whole lot going on scenery wise but the staff is always friendly. Pretty basic on the inside but any flavor of the crispy, juicy, chicken pairs nicely with the pickled turnips. They could use some work on the seating and atmosphere. Nevertheless, definitely a good go to!

Juanita M.

The place gets very packed have been coming to this location for about a year now. Parking is harsh and it is located in a busy area. The chicken is hands down so fuxxxn good and they make it perfect. The Korean street corn is okay not too bad,coleslaw I don't really like but I do substitute it with the sweet pickled radishes which is so much better, Bulgogi Fries are super delicious with some spicy mayo dipping, Pork Potstickers are always fire I order also a side of white rice to eat with my meal. I love coming here a lot but last time I came the cashier was a little rude wasn't the same server I normally get I didn't catch her name will keep recommending this spot and will continue to come back.

Large Mixed
Nina L.

One of my favorite for korean fried chicken from a chain restaurant. Super crispy skin and good flavor. Last time we shared the large mixed with sides of coleslaw between three people. We had three drumsticks to take home but the rest was gobbled up. We did half soy garlic and Korean bbq. Soy garlic is always a favorite. We also ordered potstickers. They're deep fried and delicious. We're not trying to be healthy. Just enjoy it. This time we sat down to eat and enjoyed a few beers. We were sold on the cool matte labels but the beer wasn't bad either. A perfect pairing with fried chicken. Good thing we don't have a bonchon closer to our house. We would order a lot more fried chicken.

boneless soy garlic & korean bbq
Lilly G.

We ordered the medium boneless chicken with half soy garlic and half korean bbq to-go and ate it at home. Why did we pay almost $40 for this? We have been to this Bonchon location before for takeout and we've ordered the boneless every time, it didn't always look like this. These pieces are so small, and I wish I took a picture of it but when you bite in and take a look at the meat, it doesn't even look like meat. You can physically see tiny fibers in the bites that look fuzzy. The meat texture itself is a bit tough and hard to chew. There was zero difference in the flavor profile of the two sauces we got, everything looked and tasted exactly the same. I don't know what happened but unfortunately I'm not interested in coming back to this Bonchon location until something is done about the quality of their boneless chicken pieces. These are unironically the worst chicken nuggets I have ever eaten and with the price I paid I could have gotten like 140 mcnuggets, AND the sauce would have tasted better. Just saying.

Half & half wings and legs
Mino E.

My friend and I ordered fried chicken from this place for the first time. We weren't sure which flavor to pick, so we chose half red sauce and half soy sauce with coleslaw. The outside of the chicken was flavorful, The inside was juicy soft, and still very warm. I was a little worried the chicken would be soggy because we're located far up the hill from the restaurant, and we used a delivery app to order our food. The chicken was delivered in 35 minutes and was properly packed. The box had several holes, which allowed for airflow, keeping the food fresh and warm. It was the perfect late-night weekend meal. Very delicious!

Boneless chicken
Cal C.

Gosh, I wish I saw the review from just 4 days ago commenting on the boneless chicken. That would have deterred me from ordering from here!! We got 12 pieces of the boneless chicken (were these previously called boneless chicken strips?? Bc now they are just called "boneless"). Menu price is $17.50. Can you believe the size of these?? They're so tiny that they look like chicken nuggets or chicken meatballs. And the chicken was dry too. All around, very disappointing and a complete rip off. We haven't been to Bonchon in years and were excited to get this tonight for dinner, but it was a complete failure tonight.

Edit: Back to one star, just got the the bottom of my box, giant curly hair chilling there, Jesus Christ. I'm bald and live alone, so...thanks for that. Back off the table for another year or two, or maybe I'll just go to a different store. Ok here we are, a year later, and actually. Good update, I had a craving looked for other places in the area and decided it was time to give this a try again. This most recent batch I got, was decent. Breading still there sauce still on point, I'm surprisingly the pieces were all pretty uniform. I didn't get any 1 mm wide, banana run over by a car pieces like I did the previous visits. Pricing is still absurd, I'll never go back to this again weekly as I used to but maybe a couple times a year is on the cards now. Very possible I just got a s***** batch last time, and or possible I got a really good batch this time who knows. Have to go back again in a month or two to see if the consistency is maintained. Still not a great deal, but with the jump in quality, I'd rate it a decent deal. I like the new boxes but for gods sake, stop stuffing a bunch of "crispy" chicken into a box with no ventilation. Yeah you got two little holes on the side but, steamed rises. Put a few holes in the top, if you ask anybody if they want warm crispy chicken or hot soggy chicken, it's not a competition. First thing I do when I pick up my order before I even walk out of the shop is pull open the top, but nothing 30 seconds in the air fryer when I get home won't fix. I'm due for a return to have it in restaurant I'm sure it's that much better. Cheers.

Korean Donuts. 2 for 1, perfect ending.
Elvisby J.

First time ever trying Bonchon. Amazing! First, the staff was very friendly and helpful explaining the menu and kept us from over ordering. We had soy garlic potstickers, epic. I only ever want these from now on, anywhere I go. We also had the wings and drumsticks, Korean BBQ and Yangneom flavors. Both flavors were great and not overpowering and the chicken was cooked to perfection. We also had fries which were crispy without asking, nice touch. We had to try the Korean donuts for dessert, not too sweet, just right to finish off the meal. The restaurant was clean and smelled clean. We are from out of town, so this was a nice find. We know that we will be back, next time we come through this way.

$36.45 in 2021

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4 months ago

Soy garlic is my favorite for life!! Prompt service, go for the Monday/Tuesday special pricing.

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Bonchon San Mateo Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Bonchon San Mateo

Question for the business owner. Is it better for me to order via Yelp/Grubhub before 12pm or order by phone? I want to make sure I'm fully supporting your business during these uncertain times.

Ordering by phone would be the most beneficial for the store. As Grubhub charges 10 to 25% commission depending if it’s pickup or delivery order. Thank-you so much for your support. Looking forward to serve you in the near future.

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Chingu

Chingu

4.0
(179 reviews)
0.1 mi

Quality/Quantity - More of a bar than a restaurant. Us young…read morehip cool people come here to drink and hang out. And of course, we have to get some Korean Tapas while drinking. LOL. But today, my daughter wanted a quieter place, so we decided to go to Mala Town Express instead; sorry. Be back next time with a younger hipper crowd than my daughter, lol. HH available; see picture or their website. HH very simple menu; see their website. Decent size regular menu. Ambiance - Small local business. Counter table and regular table seating. Music blasting, think night club. Very limited metered street parking. Free parking on weekends. Open 6 days a week from 5pm or 6pm to 10pm, midnight, or 1am. Again, think of a bar scene. Service - Very welcoming. Good service. Cracked a few jokes. Price - Reasonably priced. Especially during happy hour. Do keep in mind that these are tapa size portions. And while drinking, it can add up... Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2024; look forward to coming back.

Annyeonghasayoh my chingus, let's talk about Chingu! It means friend in Korean. And what a great…read morename, because I came here with my friend after a flight to SFO. We came by at around 8:30 on a weeknight, and we were sat right away. The small restaurant is designed like your typical loungey club-like Korean drinking spot, with dark walls, simple decor, and vibey music. Bar food and Korean staples are the name of the game here at Chingu, so that's exactly what we got. I got a dolsot bibimbap, which is the hot stone pot mixed rice, and my friend got the Korean Fried Chicken, opting for a combination one with two flavors. I think Korean Fried Chicken has been solved, because the average chicken I have at these places is pretty stellar in general. Great thing to get if you want something tried and true. I also really liked my bibimbap. Pretty standard stuff, with bean sprouts, mushrooms, bulgogi, carrots, etc. Something super familiar that I think most folks would be totally cool with! We're not huge drinkers, but that would be THE thing to do here too, so if you're hankering, this is the spot for you!

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Han Sang

Han Sang

4.2
(484 reviews)
4.6 mi
$$

Han Sang in Millbrae was our late-night dinner stop, and I'm so glad we made it before their 10 PM…read moreclosing time. We were seated right away, and the restaurant itself is clean, nice, and spacious. I can imagine it getting packed during peak hours--and honestly, it should. I'm going straight to the point: Han Sang has the best Galbi Jjim I've ever had. I've been to other places (which shall remain unnamed) that proudly claim they have the best Galbi Jjim, but I'm happy to say I've finally found the one. At the same time, I'm a little sad because I live in SoCal, which means I can't just come here whenever the craving hits. This dish checked every box imaginable. The beef was incredibly flavorful, fall-apart tender, and they gave a generous amount of meat. And when I say meat, I mean actual meat--not a pile of bones disguised as a serving. (Yes, that's coming from past restaurant trauma.) You definitely get your money's worth here. The rice cakes were cooked perfectly and soaked up all that rich, savory sauce. Then came the surprise waiting at the bottom: glass noodles. Not the usual thin ones either--these were thicker, chewier, and absolutely delicious. Every bite was packed with flavor. The entire dish was so satisfying it genuinely made me happy. We also ordered the Chadol and Yangji Suyuk, a beef brisket soup that was exactly what we needed on a cold evening. The brisket was tender, and as expected, the broth arrived lightly seasoned so you can adjust it to your liking. After adding a little salt, pepper, and some ssamjang, it became the perfect comforting bowl of soup. Warm, hearty, and incredibly satisfying. Unfortunately, we didn't get to try their Bossam because the portions were huge and we could barely finish what we ordered. That's not a complaint--if anything, it's the perfect excuse to come back. Maybe this is what people mean when they say they left their heart in San Francisco. Mine might actually be sitting in a bowl of Galbi Jjim at Han Sang.

My friend heard good things about their traditional Korean dishes so we decided to check it out on…read morea Saturday around lunch time. It can get a little busy during lunch hour but we were able to get a table for our party of 2 in around 10 minutes. Their menu had a variety of dishes, most prominent were the assortment of noodle dishes from dry to soupy or spicy. Leek Pancake - This was made so well, it was thin yet crispy and held together well. The leeks gave a subtle flavor and were a little tough to bite through but it tasted so good, especially dipped in the side sauce. Yangji Chadol Sul Long Tang - At first glance, this setup is so nice with the assortment of sides at the top to the different items you can add into the soup. I loved the fish cake side as well as the kimchi which they do give refills of. It was nice being able to add seasoning in the soup to match my taste and so perfect combined all together with the radish side sauce. The meat is pretty generous and soft as well with the thin chewy noodles. Such a healing comforting dish. In addition to the food, the workers were so kind and attentive, always helping us to refill our side dishes when needed. Probably one of the best sul long tangs I have had and I keep coming back time and again for it.

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OLHSO Truck

OLHSO Truck

4.7
(38 reviews)
2.4 mi
Large group friendly
Catering service

I've been wanting to try OLHSO Truck since it opened and finally had my chance during a catered…read moreevent. The concept of having Korean food cooked in a robotic food truck is interesting to me. Since the food was catered, unfortunately I was unable to see the robots cooking in action, but fortunately was able to taste the final products. I was able to try the Wagyu galbi (short ribs), dak galbi (marinated chicken), Seoul food bowl (stir-fried pork belly and shrimp), and japchae, served with their corn salad, kimchi, and white rice. The Wagyu galbi was very flavorful with a good amount of vegetables; though I enjoyed the inclusion of lotus root, the veggies seemed like borderline filler to skimp out on meat. The dak galbi was also flavorful though spicy, and again the inclusion of rice cakes seemed like filler. The pork belly and shrimp were delicious, and I liked that the pieces of pork belly I had didn't have an overpowering amount of fat. The japchae was pretty standard and was nice to balance out the meat. I enjoyed the corn salad because it added a creamy component to my meal. The kimchi got lost in the mixture of food in my bowl and the rice was cooked perfectly by the robot. Overall, I enjoyed the food prepared by OLHSO Truck. Unfortunately, since the food was catered and already prepared when I arrived, I cannot comment on the service or wait times provided by the staff. I would consider ordering food from the truck if I am craving Korean fusion type of food and am too lazy to dine in at a local Korean restaurant. If the food from the truck is a good representation of the restaurant in downtown San Mateo, I am more inclined to try the restaurant for a nice sit down dining experience.

Ordered à la carte since the $10 extra for meals didn't seem worth it for a little bit of sides and…read morerice. One thing that is a bit annoying is that there is no way to schedule or get an estimate of your order until after you pay. After clicking the deliver now button, the final eta was actually closer to 70min, but then was actually delivered in 30min. Ordered the Wagyu Galbi, Dak Galbi, SEOUL food, and japchae. The wagyu galbi was nice and tender. The Seoul and dak galbi had similar flavor profiles with the latter being a bit spicier. Note, when you look at your order details, it WONT list any of the sides (e.g. Japchae), which is very confusing. However, it is listed on the final receipt.

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Kajiken

Kajiken

4.4
(1.5k reviews)
0.1 mi
$$

Great chewy noodle texture and very flavourful!! Would definitely come again. There was a line but…read moreshort wait for the outdoor seating. Chill ambience, the space between tables was reasonable but you could clearly hear your neighbor's conversations at very loud volume.. we overheard a very spicy and shocking conversation from the table adjacent to us. At first it seemed like a lot of onions and chives but after mixing it was a good ratio of sauce noodles and toppings. Friend ordered the mozzarella cheese add-on topping and it was literally just a little bowl of the shredded mozzarella cheese you can get at the grocery store... so we joked that next time we can just bring our own cheese (BYOC) I ordered the homura aburasoba (spicy minced pork, green onions, bamboo shoots, seaweed, fish powder, chives with ajitama (soft-boiled eggs marinated in soy sauce, ramen egg)). Highly recommend this place to anyone who likes noodles !!

Located in San Mateo I would rate this place a 3/5…read more Interior design is nice an beautiful. Service was okay most likely due to the large amount of customers coming in and out. A lot of the workers are busy so you have to flag them down and they rarely come check in on you Homura ABURASOBA 7/10 Chicken Marage 7/10 The food here definitely is packed with flavor but the portion sizing is significantly smaller than Elk Grove location. JD Big Back tip: if you get seated near the door you may be interested in bringing a jacket because it does get very windy and cold. Also if you want a spoon you will have to go to the front to request for one.

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Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)
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K. Grill & Tofu House

K. Grill & Tofu House

4.1
(895 reviews)
6.4 mi
$$

I was in San Bruno today and was craving Korean food. Korean cuisine ranks high on my list due to…read morethe awesome variety of flavors and textures you get with your meal. K. Grill and Tofu House is an excellent, family run establishment that serves up delicious food. The space is very nice and the service is very friendly. I ordered a Dolsot bibimbop because I love food that comes to your table and it's still cooking! I also love that your entree is served with several Banchan (appetizer) dishes. One thing I love about any dining experience is getting a lot of different flavors and textures in one meal. The banchan here had seven different dishes! Of course you get your kimchee, bean sprouts, fish cakes and then some other pickled fruits and veggies. They also gave me what seemed like a roasted sardine? In any case, it was delicious! The Dolsot Bibimbap was a hit! Crispy rice, vegetables, beef and a fried egg on top. Plus, some gochujang sauce to go on it! So yummy! I feel like the prices here are pretty standard for the area, but I do think it's 100% worth the money. Check them out if you're in the area!

Came on Sunday night and there was a small wait (about 10 mins)…read more Service was good after we sat down. The water and banchan came quickly. The seafood pancake is crispy and good. The tofu stone pot is delicious with quite a lot of tofu. The grilled chicken is so-so. The stir-fried glass noodle dish is good. Note there is no free parking and you'll have to pay for parking on the street.

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Indoor ambiance
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Bonchon San Mateo - chicken_wings - Updated July 2026

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