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    Fogbird

    4.0 (201 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Fogbird Photos

    Business Info

    FOGBIRD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Fogbird

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    Jia H.

    Best cocktails I've had in recent memory, Fogbird is a hidden gem with an elevated, but chill vibe. You can tell there's a lot of heart and skill that go into crafting these drinks. They have a great happy hour 4-6pm.

    Oaxacan after midnight
    Ruby Z.

    Cute cocktail bar right in downtown san mateo, indoor and outdoor seating. Such a cute spot for a friend catchup or a date, their cocktails are solid and good snacks! (That dip with the potato chips was delicious!) Service is always quick and friendly. Recomment stopping by if youre looking for a nice cocktail spot in san mateo!

    Monica W.

    Hi David H, Thanks for reaching out. I don't have a way to respond via Yelp since there isn't any contact information so I'm responding in another "review". I had already responded via email to the email directly from Fogbird, but I didn't receive a response so I've attached a screenshot.

    Swan Song
    Sharon S.

    Another 5-star experience at Fogbird. A close friend, whom I haven't seen in almost a year, met me here for a pre-dinner drink. I decided to try something different and ordered the Red Dawn. How can this be the first time I tried this? It was so good, refreshing, not too sweet and not heavy on the alcohol. I think this is my new favorite here. Service was quick, attentive and friendly. The place is decorated for the holidays so made the feeling so festive and warm. A perfect place to hangout on a chilly, December day!

    Inside vibes
    Kim T.

    Great ambiance and service. Drinks were well balanced. Came in on an early Sat evening glad we did because there was a wait for tables for some. Great selection of hard to find tequilas!

    Allison S.

    Really cute place! I like the inside and colors. This is definitely a trendy cocktail bar, they have specialized cocktails and happy hour drinks. They also have small bites as well. I didn't love too many of the options for cocktails but the gin one I got had a nice after taste. The drinks took a very long time for some reason. I read in another review it's almost impossible to order drinks when it's busy, but there were only a few other tables and everyone was already drinking when we got there. Even single shots took awhile. I would definitely come back if I wanted to sit and chat with some friends and it wasn't busy. But I can't even imagine having to deal with it when it's crowded and waiting super long.

    Happy hour drinks
    Laura O.

    Finally tried Fogbird. Got to enjoy the HH for a little bit which is always nice! Haven't tried the food yet but will be sure to try it next time. Service was quick and friendly.

    Donna T.

    Fogbird is a hip and cool bar in downtown SM. If you're looking to get some craft cocktails and have some time on your hands, I'd def check it out. Each time we've gone, the place is always bustling. With that said, you can expect the servers to always be pretty busy and for you to wait awhile to get their attention or get seated. If you sit at the bar or along the rail though, you can almost always get seated right away; which is what we've done and were perfectly fine. The drinks are all unique and do rotate frequently. Each one comes with a metal straw, which I appreciate since I hate using paper straws. I like the ambiance here a lot, it gives off a sleek and trendy feel of a bar that you'd want to introduce to your friends.

    Old Fashion and Old Sparrow
    Dale B.

    Great place for drinks and food Great atmosphere and chill vibe Friendly service Highly recommend

    The carrots were the highlight of our night
    Bri W.

    Fogbird has been marked as a "never return again" for me. Etiquette is the most underrated and underused trait taught these days. Yes, clearly I had a problem with the mushroom appetizer that was recommended to me as a popular item that needed to return to the menu. For one thing, "crispy mushrooms" in the description to me does not equate to BATTERED mushrooms. Plus, the mushrooms were so greasy that it gave both my friend and me bad stomach aches. The grease was so apparent that it looked like there was water on our plates. When the mushrooms came out, they didn't even look like mushrooms. I was so confused about what I ordered but my bad... I didn't go out of my way to flag down a waitress and make a scene while we both were carefully chewing on the BATTER. I thought crispy mushrooms meant they would be sautéed on a pan until the point of crispy on the edges, not assuming "crispy" meant "with batter." After flagging down our waitress after I gave up on trying to pretend like this dish tastes mediocre, she responded to my complaint with *what would you like instead* and went through 4-5 items on the menu. This question indicates either the original order or the replacement order will be comped. Meanwhile, if one appetizer was not going to be comped, the waiter SHOULD HAVE verbally let me know that before putting in my replacement order. Also, if the only reason why a waiter is waiting by our table for us to pull out our credit cards and does not check in on our table during our dine-in experience, 18-20% tip is not necessary but as it was shown on my receipt, 18% is the lowest offered tip listed on there. Poor etiquette. It's such a shame that my second experience fell way below par. A beautiful, elegant atmosphere combined with milking us for more money put a bad taste in my mouth. Also, the customer before my friend used the bathroom left urine all over the toilet seat. Where's the courtesy? Where's the etiquette? Are these the type of customers you attract? Lastly, coming back around to only ask what else we would like to order after delivering the "replacement" order was a sure sign of milking us. That's fine but I sure won't be returning and neither will my friends. Just as in any profession and in life, communication is key. If you didn't accept my complaint, do not offer a replacement then charge me for both. Poor management. This is the culture that Fogbird encourages. Poor customer service. Standing next to us making us feel pressured to pay right away. Poor communication skills. Elegant décor. But the opposite in taste.

    Paloma
    Lisa N.

    Fogbird and I are no strangers, as it's a typical stomping ground for my coworkers and I for happy hour (which is Monday-Friday from 4-6 pm, as of 4/1/25). I love the casual vibes, yummy drinks, and reasonable prices! This is definitely a great stop on a warm spring/summer day with outdoor seating, or just grab something at the bar on more rainy days. You can never go wrong with the Paloma and fries after work. This location, though roomy, is definitely more appropriate for smaller groups. Keep in mind that there is only 1 bathroom! I will definitely be back here. Service: 5/5 Food/Drinks: 4/5 Price: 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5

    Matches!
    Win L.

    Meh. I am happy there is a bar/lounge option amidst all the restaurants and boba offerings in downtown San Mateo. This space is quite large but not much variety in seating options and the height difference in the seats (at the same table!) are very bizarre! I would hate to be having a date here and either tower above him or stare up at him because of weird chair design choices! Service was transactional - they took our order and returned for bill - that's it. Not much interaction despite it being a low capacity night. The drinks were also meh. We don't plan to return despite limited options in the area.

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    3 months ago

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    David H.

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    6 months ago

    This place was really nice. Great drinks and also a lot of mocktail options! I would recommend.

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    2 years ago

    really love the cocktails here, brought a couple friends and they loved it too. Great service and a cute atmosphere. Great location.

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    1 year ago

    Interior is cool; very crowded so service is limited; also got noted their kitchen closed at 8:30pm.

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    1 year ago

    Unique cocktails and a nice patio. The chip and dip was good and so was the lemonade coctktail.

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    3 years ago

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    Page 2 of 6

    Ask the Community - Fogbird

    Do you still have outdoor seating available?

    Yes, space for 30 ppl.

    Do they have mocktails for non-alcoholic drinkers?

    Yes! They have a few.

    When is your happy hour?

    Hi Angela, We do not have a HH. Good news is we have a wide range of drinks from $9 to $16.… 

    Is there outdoor seating?

    Yes, we do have outdoor seating located on B Street

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Gao Viet Kitchen & Bar - San Mateo - vermicelli bowl

    Gao Viet Kitchen & Bar - San Mateo

    4.0(2.2k reviews)
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    Came in around Thursday evening around 6pm. The staff is strict that everyone must be present to be…read moreseated. We were able to get in before the rush and got seated. We each ordered a pho: brisket pho and chubby pho, and then the banh cuon plate to share. The food was really good and honestly no complaints but just a note for myself and anyone who can relate, next time I will try not to pick a pho without marrow because it made the broth really fatty near the end and I didn't care for it. The beef quality was tender and good. The broth was tasty and clear besides the marrow which cause some oil rings spotting on top. The bang cuon was pretty good and I love nem chao tom. Not sure if it is nem but very similar.

    Everything finally worked out in our favor (in the area and got on the waitlist in time) for us to…read morevisit the original GAO. Honestly, I prefer the SF location more. The dining experience is a lot more cramped here, at least in the downstairs dining area. There was also a bunch of gnats? Fruit flies? Flying everywhere. I get that it was hot and probably why they left the door open, but it was annoying and kind of gross to constantly have to be swatting insects away from our food. Food wise, I was craving a pho, and the brisket pho did hit the spot. However I found the noodles a bit too overcooked without the typical bite I like in my pho noodles. Overall, my favorite item was actually the cafe trio. The corn coffee was unique and I enjoyed it a lot!

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    Banh hoi with pork belly

    Olhso House - Table grill firing up OLHSO wagyu beef.

    Olhso House

    4.2(413 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Minority-owned & operated

    Very good Korean bbq. It's a bit on the pricey side and could be upwards of $100/person depending…read moreon how much you order. But I thought everything tasted excellent. I could not stop eating! The only dish I wasn't super thrilled about was the cold noodles (not flavorful enough?) but the meats and the sides were incredibly delicious.

    Before you arrive, just throw out any previous KBBQ experiences you've had before. You might…read moreaccidently walk right past the entrance to Olhso House but once you walk in, you're in Chef Han Sungil's world. This was the best Korean BBQ of my life, full stop. A special thank you to Andrew for making the birthday meal that proved it.   Inside: The atmosphere is unlike any KBBQ restaurant I have visited.  The dining room makes you recalibrate what a KBBQ place is supposed to be. More than 20 projectors work in concert to wash the walls in shifting, cinematic light of various scenes.  Ditching the fluorescent and exhaust fan aesthetic that defines your standard KBBQ experience. It's a theater built around the grill that only adds to the food you are about to experience. Service: The service was just as impressive as the food. This wasn't a crew reciting menu descriptions, they understood grain, fat content, and ideal timing on the grill for each cut, and they hovered with the quiet vigilance of people who've clearly been trained by someone who takes it personally. It felt less like being served and more like being guided, which is a rarer thing at a KBBQ table than it should be.   Food: The only downside is that this meal may have ruined every other KBBQ spot for me. After years of dining at well-known Korean BBQ restaurants in LA's Koreatown and trying several places throughout the Bay Area, this was easily the best quality I have encountered. We went with the Olhso Signature spread, and two cuts stood out: the Wagyu Ribeye, marbled in a way that you only see on photos in the menu, and the Beef Tongue, sliced thin and grilled to a perfect level. The Beef Tartare was its own quiet argument for the kitchen's range. There was no need to compete for the best piece of meat at the table because every bite delivered. The banchan was excellent as well, and I am still thinking about the kimchi stew. Olhso House isn't reinventing Korean BBQ.  It's reminding you what the form was always capable of when someone with a passion is behind it.  Some birthdays you remember for the cake. This one I'll remember for the ribeye.

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    Bar Underdog

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    4.3(56 reviews)
    13.8 mi

    I think it's kind of funny that there is such a discourse amongst other reviews about whether or…read morenot this place is a speakeasy. As a speakeasy enthusiast myself I definitely agree to the fact that it is "hidden" but also it does kinda give corporate vibes a little bit - maybe we can say they "gentrified" the speakeasy experience which is honestly so funny for Palo Alto. But anyways I don't think a classification should stop you from visiting it. The food is actually surprisingly really good. We came with a pescatarian and honestly while the offerings for snacks were a bit slim, every option was really good. I feel like this was the first time where I understood the price even the the quantity is no where close to be desired. One shrimp is like $6 and I was like whoah. Service is definitely more laid back and it's overall just like a more chill atmosphere. I'm fortunate to work nearby so I'll definitely visit this place a few times after work to blow off some steam... And the drinks! Yes they are good! They are also quite strong! Would come back again but also if you're conscious of budget then I'm not sure if you'll find the same value proposition.

    Note: I believe the menu has changed since my last visit…read more Stopped by Bar Underdog for a quick drink and was recommended their take on a martini from the "Traditional" section. It came out quickly, crisp, and as cold as it gets. I also tried a shrimp dish from the "Steamed" section, and it was delicious. Their chicken was also larger than I expected, making it a good bang for your buck, especially if you plan on grabbing a few drinks. Excited to come back and try more of their cocktails!

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    Fogbird - cocktailbars - Updated September 2026

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