Some of the food/sauces can be crazy salty, like so salty it makes your mouth uncomfortable lol. I experienced that with the fried fish fillet and crispy tofu appetizers. The fish was pretty thin. The coating was chewy. I liked it, but man is the sauce insanely salty. If we ignore the salt content it was actually really good lol. Big flavor and aromatic. The crispy tofu was dry and sharp, definitely will cut your mouth up. Ouch. The sauce was also stupid salty, but flavor-wise it was good as well. If there was a way they can make the sauces less salty, it would be a big win for them. The braised pork chop bento was tasty, and the dishes in there were not heavy on the salt. They were very homey and nutritious feeling. Good cabbage and daikon side dishes. The pork had good sauce, but the coating was falling off, lots of chewy breading. I was picking those out and just having the meat. The pork chop was good, and very plentiful. The lemon ai-yu drink was okay, kind of helped a craving but drinks are so-so. Not well mixed. read more

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I ordered the stir-fried basil chicken bento with a Taiwanese sausage to go. The Taiwanese sausage was the highlight of the meal. It tasted pretty authentic and was enjoyable. Unfortunately, the basil chicken bento was very disappointing. I was expecting a Taiwanese-style three-cup chicken or at least a dish with a strong basil flavor, but it was basically just soy sauce stir-fried chicken. There were a few basil leaves mixed in, but I couldn't taste any basil at all. The biggest letdown was the rice. It was dry, hard, and crumbly, almost like reheated leftover rice instead of freshly cooked rice from a rice cooker. Some bites were so hard that I had to spit them out. I was also surprised that the vegetables were broccoli instead of the cabbage that's commonly found in Taiwanese bentos. Overall, the bento didn't feel authentic or satisfying. I left feeling disappointed with the lunch. I might order the Taiwanese sausage again, but I don't think I'll be coming back for the bento. read more

O2 Valley - #R1 Stir Fry Basil Chicken Bento and Taiwanese sausage - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

4.5 Stars I came here to pick up some dinner to-go. The portions are HUGE! I got the popcorn chicken ($11-12), the stewed pork belly bento ($17-18), and a sausage ($3-4). Everything was authentic and delicious - though, I found out the pork belly is not really my think - too fatty and gelatinous. Order at a kiosk and they call your name. There are some seats inside too. read more

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This place used to be called Noodleosophy. They have a kiosk for take out orders right when you walk in.. This is not a huge place as there are only 5-6 tables. They have quite a selection on their menu. We ate there for the first time. There were 9 of us and they were nice enough to let us move the tables so we can sit together since there are not a lot of tables to dine in. For dine in, you scan the QR code on the table to order and they''ll bring your order to you. Most of us ordered the bento box (between $17-18). All the bento boxes has a tea egg in the middle. Two that we tried are the chicken and pork belly with minced pork over rice. They were tasty and we couldn't finish it. They have the right size lids to cover it so you can take it home which was convenient. I also tried the appetizer of marinated mushroom. The sauce was actually a little unexpectedly too sweet for me. I also had a mango yogurt smoothie ($6.25) which was shared because it was in a pretty tall cup. It hit the spot - though it did give me a minor brain freeze because it was so cold. They also have a help yourself water station - for all patrons which was convenient. read more

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Excellent Taiwanese food and well-priced milk tea can be had here not far from San Francisco! This is a famous one from down South, and I'm glad it is so accessible with great parking in the area. The food was good and met expectations. It indeed was fragrant and aromatic liked the Fabled island (according to travel commercials). Oh, we had enough food to for at least several meals! Popcorn chicken order was filled Beyond the top of the box!! And the bit of chemistry even in the restaurant name is awesome. read more

O2 Valley - M5 PaoChung Matcha Milk Tea - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Was excited to try this new Taiwanese spot that opened, the 4 stars is really for the minced pork over rice. We got a few items to try out, the grilled chicken bento (which isn't actually grilled) was pretty sweet so that surprised me. I also wish they'd give me more minced pork on the rice , the sides were okay I think they change it depending on the week. We got their minced pork over rice bento and it was so good, it was just the right texture and flavor paired with the rice. We also got their popcorn chicken and sausage, the sausage was decent and the chicken I'm not sure I'd get it again. Overall I'd come back to try other stuff on the menu though. read more

O2 Valley - #R3 Grilled Chicken Cutlet Bento #R13 Minced Pork Rice Bento A3 Basil Popcorn Chicken K3 Grilled Taiwanese Sausage - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

I've visited their Palo Alto location before, so I was excited to see this new spot open up. This location is a bit smaller than the one in Palo Alto, but it's a great addition to the neighborhood. ​The interior is simple. They have two touch screens for ordering, which makes the process incredibly simple and clear. While there is some seating and a standing area if you want to eat in, I noticed that most people (myself included) tend to order to go. ​I ordered the Basil Popcorn Chicken, and it did not disappoint: ​Texture: Perfectly tender and juicy. ​Flavor: Really yummy and well-seasoned. ​Quality: Even after the walk/drive home, it stayed nice and delicious while warm. ​Verdict: A solid, efficient spot for a quick snack or meal. I'll definitely be back to grab more chicken and order other dishes. read more

O2 Valley - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This is a Taiwanese bento box spot~ They give a generous portion which I was suprise to see! I ordered the basil popcorn chicken, grilled chicken cutlet bento, and the Taiwanese sausage bento. - The popcorn chicken was soo good!! Nice and crispy. The chicken was juicy and was cut very big. - I was slightly disappointed in the grilled chicken cutlet bento, I misunderstood what I was getting and thought it was a grilled chicken. I wasn't expecting it to be fried. The bento box also came with a cucumber & egg dish, napa cabbage, tea egg, and some minced pork on the rice. I thought the cucumber and Napa cabbage dish were very light in taste, almost bland, but it helped balance the grilled chicken cutlet. read more

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I had tried the other location before so I was so excited to hear that O2 Valley opened another location in San Mateo! They are known for their bento boxes which can be great for takeout and packing for a meal. If you are dining in, you scan the QR code on your table to order. If you are ordering takeout, you order on the kiosk in the restaurant. The food was brought out quick within 5 minutes. The restaurant is a little small but still has several tables for seating. Items ordered: - Grilled chicken cutlet bento: The meat was on the sweeter side which I wasn't expecting, and I would've preferred a more savory flavor. But the meat itself was very tender and there were several pieces which made it worth it. Sides included rice with minced pork, cabbage, celery with chicken, and an egg. - Braised pork chop bento (boneless): I personally liked the braised pork chop better as it was more savory and tender. Came with the same sides as the other bento. Will definitely be coming back to enjoy more of their bento boxes which are very affordable for the amount that you get! read more

O2 Valley - R3. Grilled Chicken Cutlet Bento - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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They took over spot where my fav noodle restaurant was ! Nothing changed inside ... could use a remodel . Food was good and portions large . Music was wierd and too loud though ! I'd order again . read more

O2 Valley - The popcorn chicken was soso. Batter needs more spices . #R1 Stir Fry Basil Chicken Bento. Was also only ok - no basil flavor - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

So glad they opened an O2 here. Just like the Cupertino location, they offer the same basic, simple and fast Taiwanese bento boxes. They include the staples like popcorn chicken, chicken cutlet, pork belly with daily sides. You can order at the tablet kiosks or with the cashier. The wait time is very fast, you'll get your order in under 10 mins. The flavor here is a little lacking and can use some more seasoning. I ordered both the TS and popcorn chicken, both were a bit underwhelming. They have room for improvement and I'll try them again soon. read more

O2 Valley - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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O2 Valley is another South Bay gem that just opened in San Mateo! We ordered their full-size bento boxes for dinner, and the portions were very generous--definitely enough to share. Each bento came with 3-4 slices of pork chop, which made it feel like a great value. We're excited to come back and try more items on the menu! read more

O2 Valley - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Cute spot! I really wanted Taiwanese fried chicken so I had to come. We got a fried chicken and fries pork cutlet bento. SO much meat per order, very much appreciated!! Lots of breading and thin pieces. It felt like I was eating popcorn chicken strips with vegetable sides. Yummm. I love the vegetable sides in the bento! The vegetables made it feel like a full meal. The vegetable sides rotate. The menu pic has eggplant as a side, but we don't have that today! Very toddler friendly, because they have the red pepper powder on the side at the tables. My kid doesn't need to be scared he'll have a spicy bite! Love the spicy mushroom sauce they have near the water counter! It has fermented beans, mushroom, and red peppers! We wanted to eat there, but I didn't realize at the kiosk I have to choose the dining option to select 'eat here.' The dining option buttons for 'to go' and 'here' orders were placed in the same area as other food dish buttons, so I didn't see it for a while! I suggest to update the software so the dining option is the first or last question. Our food was ready so fast, I didn't even realize! We waited 10 minutes at the table when our food was just waiting at the counter. They also have paper bowls, but you'll have to ask for em! Excited to come back :) read more

O2 Valley - Pork Cutlet Bento - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Just opened about a month ago. This spot use to house Noodleosophy, then was taken over by another group serving the same menu, and now it O2 Valley. I have tried their other locations in the South Bay and thought they were pretty good. I love the concept of Taiwanese bentos and that you can pop in, order on the kiosk, and it'll be ready in about 5 minutes or less. Pretty convenient. I hope they stick around for a bit. I liked Noodleosophy's curry katsu noodles, but at least I can still get that in their Millbrae location. read more

O2 Valley - Braised pork belly bento - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This place was so yummy! I the braised pork belly and it came with broccoli, potato curry, and rice with minced pork! The minced pork and rice was amazing and tasted like home. The braised pork was a little dry and chewy but I don't mind. The broccoli had garlic which I really liked and the potatoes were just alright. They have different sides depending on the day. The popcorn chicken was also pretty good as well. We came on a Wednesday afternoon and there wasn't that many people. Also a good amount of tables and theres a qr code you order off of. Service was pretty fast and easy to take out also portions are huge! The total came out to be around 40 bucks which is a little pricey but still good! read more

O2 Valley - #R4 Popcorn Chicken Bento - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Excited to try a new spot in San Mateo! Ordering process is easy if you are dining in, just scan the QR code on the table. All of the bentos are some variation on the same thing: rice with minced pork, egg, cabbage, eggplant, and a main. My kids enjoyed their chicken dishes (popcorn chicken and "grilled chicken") and my wife enjoyed the pork belly. I had the tofu which tasted fine but was cold. The tofu comes with fried mushrooms instead of eggplant for some reason. The "grilled" chicken is also fried, so I don't understand the naming conventions. Pricing was ~$18 per bento which is pretty good for the area. Quality of food was fine, nothing special. Good for a quick lunch/dinner but certainly not for the health conscious. read more

This is a new favorite! Stopped in today for lunch with a friend and we will be back to try other options. The food came out so quickly and it was easy to order through the QR code on the table. The popcorn chicken bento was delicious and the sweet potato balls were as yummy and chewy as the last ones I had in Taipei! The tempura was a bit sweeter than expected but still delicious. I want to be back to try the cutlet and the mushrooms for sure. The portions were generous and everything we had was flavorful and fresh. Will definitely be back! read more

O2 Valley - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Great for to go, but lacking for a sit down environment. Wonderful if you're looking for a home cooked Taiwanese meal. Try the mushroom sauce in the front, it's quite unique. The sauce for the bento boxes are delicious. I got the 5 spice pork bento and loved it. The portions are large. read more

Glad they opened in San Mateo! I've gotten their bentos in their Palo Alto and Cupertino locations, so glad to have one closer to home. Portions are huge, and they have some seating in store for a quick lunch. Food came out surprisingly quick!! They also have spicy and lemon pepper (?) shakers on the tables for added flavor if you'd like. I got the chicken cutlet bento and it came with an egg, rice w minced pork on top, and 2 veggie sides. At first I thought it was less chicken compared to a competitor in downtown San Mateo, but then realized it was 2 layers of chicken. Good amount of food to actually share between 2 mid appetite ppl. Lots more selection / variety than other similar Taiwanese bento spots in downtown San Mateo. Will def come back. read more

I went to O2 Valley in downtown San Mateo on the Saturday of its opening weekend. I actually didn't even know it was open until I saw an Instagram ad. I had to loop around for parking a couple times which was expected for a Saturday. Around lunchtime there were only two other parties waiting for orders and a few takeout orders were already ready on the shelf, though the shop quickly filled up after I ordered. The shop is a bit small, though there are quite a few tables and chairs available for dine in. Ordering is done on the kiosks by the counter as well as online on their site. I ordered the chicken cutlet bento and taro yogurt smoothie with boba, which I figured were safe options since I haven't been to any other O2 locations before. My order was ready approximately five minutes after ordering. The bento came with chicken, rice, egg, cabbage, and some sort of chicken and vegetable stir fry. The chicken cutlet was not greasy at all and seasoned very well, very similar to Taiwanese popcorn chicken seasoning. In general, I am not too big on veggies though I felt the provided side dishes complemented the chicken very well. The smoothie only comes in one standard size. I ended up ordering on a kiosk and this drink didn't have any customization options, though I noticed the online ordering allows for sweetness customizations; maybe kiosk ordering system can be updated to match the online system. Although a bit sweet since I wasn't able to adjust the sweetness, I thought the overall flavor of the drink was very good although I wish I could see inside the paper cup. Also, the boba is more on the firm side and a little too firm for my liking. Overall, I think O2 Valley is a nice addition to the 4th Ave side of downtown San Mateo. I do look forward to trying their other offerings whenever I am in the area. read more

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not too crowded on a weeknight, but lots of to-go orders. got the grilled chicken cutlet bento (definitely not grilled!), which came with braised pork rice, broccoli, eggplant, and an egg. the chicken was a bit too sweet for my liking, but was fried nicely; I enjoyed the braised pork rice the most. the place is not too big, but there are enough tables scattered around to enjoy the meal, with the occasional (and sometimes constant) sound of the electric fly zapper in the background. read more

O2 Valley - #R3 Grilled Chicken Cutlet Bento - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

I love their bentos. I think I went every day last week, trying something new every time! There's so much variety and everything tastes great. My only complaint is that it's pricey at $17-$18 per bento but I guess this is just an industry trend and not unique here. Definitely the best Taiwanese bento in the Bay. read more

O2 Valley - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Love this place! Bento boxes are a generous portion size! The chicken is fried well and they give so much chicken! Delicious. read more

O2 Valley - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

I got the minced meat rice and a side of popcorn chicken to go. I really liked the bento the last time a coworker got it for me in Palo Alto so glad they opened one in San Mateo. The popcorn chicken has a nice light batter and it's flavorful. I do wish they gave you a side of spices on the side like quicklys did. The minced meat rice is good, I ate half with my popcorn chicken and could make 2 meals out of the 2. It is a bit pricey for what you get though. Bento sides are random and what they make that day but so far I really enjoyed them. read more

So glad there's another Taiwanese bento place in town now. I've been to the one in Palo Alto and this one is a bit different from what I can remember. This one has grilled chicken bento, which is one of my favorites from Chick & Tea. There is a good selection of drinks too but in a downtown with 10+ boba places and TP Tea is just 3 doors down, its not that much of an attraction. Not sure if I missed it but I didnt see any combos with cheaper drinks which is a shame. That said, the portions are HUGE. I thought Chopstix gave a lot of food but o2 gives even more. Definitely coming back here again, if just for the grille chicken and other grilled foods that I havent had a chance to try yet. Food: 5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Service: 4/5 read more

Great popcorn chicken. I loved the garlic version of it. Portion is great and the meat is lean

We ordered the bento box and had already eaten part of it when we noticed a bug in the vegetables :( It was really upsetting and ruined the meal for us read more

O2 Valley - R6. Braised Pork Chop Bento Boneless - Taiwanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Underwhelming is the best way to describe this new addition to downtown San Mateo. It replaced Macho Burger, which at least offered a damn good fried chicken sandwich, so I was sad when they closed! I got an order of popcorn chicken and a side of waffle fries. Almost $18 incl tax. Good portions, but nothing remotely special much less at that price point. I ate it pretty much cause it was 1:30pm and I was starving, but otherwise it was just boring. The popcorn chicken a few blocks over is better. The only drinks they sell is boba and various teas. Can't even get a soft drink. They do have a water dispenser, which came in handy since the food was quite salty. I felt dehydrated the rest of the day. There's 2 self-service ordering kiosks at the counter. Note that if you use these your order will be prepared to go. The only way to get dine in is to sit at a table, scan the QR code and order from there. Is that communicated anywhere? No. A nice employee told me once I got my food in a bag and sat down to eat. In the last few years, downtown San Mateo has turned into a mecca of fast casual Asian spots. I'm not sure how this place will distinguish itself against its competitors. read more

Food is good and fast, bento boxes come in huge portions, enough for 2 to share. The side dishes have that grandma home cook feel. Their drinks aren't as good as their bento boxes. read more

Everyone must try this new spot in DT San Mateo, they replace the macho burger with at least fried chicken kind of fast food bentos. Today afternoon we are group of 5 order 2 Grill Chicken Bentos and 2 Taiwanese Sausage, the portions were huge! The service is amazing, the tall guy and the lady in front were wonderful. Especially the tall guy that handle my special request on extra spicy grill sauce which is really appreciated. He did gave me a wrong drink might be too busy but he make a new one immediately for me, his attitude is outstanding! Overall, the ambiance is great, there are only few Dine-in table so if you want to secure a spot, make sure you come in before or after the rush hours! We definitely will comeback in the future:) Good work and keep it up! read more

Unable to order in website for pickup, when trying to change 15% tip. Order disappeared and screen went blank then turned white. Malware?

Food was good. Chicken was crispy, moist but not greasy. Portions were generous. Better as a takeout. If you dine in your clothes will smell due to poor ventilation. read more

Super large portion! Great taste too! Recommend. The basil popcorn chicken and fried radish are delicious