I was looking for a sushi place in the area. I was surprised to see it was in Bayhill Plaza…read more Upon walking in, this place was packed. It seemed there was only one person who was the hostess, taking orders, and delivering the food. I give her mad props. With the dinner rush she was all over it. I placed my order for to go, she was super helpful, gave me her recommendations, and she had a smile on her face with everyone she encountered. This place has seemed to have gotten an elevated, more modern face lift/ renovation compared to the restaurant that used to be here. I was surprised that they didn't have standard sushi rolls that I'm usually accustomed to, but from the rolls that I've tried here... change is good. I ordered: 1. Corn tempura: First time seeing this, I love both corn and tempura. Had to see what it was about. It was perfection. Now it makes me wonder why this has never been done. 2. California roll: Standard staple and was good. 3. Warriors roll: It's an interesting combo, all items that I like.. first bite you're hit with a flavor explosion. At times I felt I couldn't taste the shrimp tempura, but the crunch from the crunchy onion ties it all together. 4. Beef steak: She recommended me to try this first before trying the daily special or short rib. She did not disappoint with this recommendation. The beef was so tender and flavorful. Overall, a great experience. I will definitely be back for more. I forgot to take pictures, because we inhaled the food so fast.

9/28/25 My husband…read moreand I were in the San Bruno area and decided to go to Ichika Izakaya for dinner. The restaurant is located in Bayhill Plaza so parking was plentiful. Upon entering the restaurant, it is a small space. There were two hostess/waitresses going around, but they were more focused on the customers already dining in so we were standing there for about 10 minutes before anyone noticed us. And honestly, they only realized we were there when a family of 6 came in after us. For some reason, that family of 6 was seated before we were. I guess they didn't have enough small tables so we ended up sitting at the counter near the bathroom. Here's what we got: - Chashu ramen (for me) - Dragon roll (to share) - Tempura udon (his) - Lion king roll (to share) Zach and I both got noodle dishes and shared the two rolls. Our noodles came first and then the rolls. The ramen was pretty standard and tasted fine. We also felt that the bowls were fairly small. The lion king roll though, we had to send it back because the salmon on top was only seared and I was 3 months pregnant at the time. My husband informed one of the waitresses that we needed a fully cooked Lion King roll. She took that away and a new (?) one was brought out about 10 minutes later. Between the two rolls, the dragon roll tasted better in freshness. Would I jump at the chance to come back here? Probably not. The service wasn't off to a good start and the food was just okay.

My family had been wanting to try this place for the longest time, and we finally did last Saturday…read moreafter our bonding time at the Serramonte Farmers Market. We were all so hungry that we ordered a feast and I completely forgot to take photos of everything before we dug in! Everyone left happy and satisfied. We ordered the Sinigang con Lechon (definitely not your typical sinigang since it's served without the soup, but it was delicious!), pakbet, buro, porksilog, okoy, house iced tea, tokwa't baboy, Pero Chicken, Tinapay Fried Rice, and Sisig Carbonara. Every dish was flavorful, and there was something everyone in the family enjoyed. The service was excellent. The staff were attentive, friendly, and made us feel very welcome throughout our visit. We'll definitely be coming back, and we highly recommend this place, especially if you're a fan of lechon or crispy pork belly. It's a great spot for a satisfying Filipino meal with family and friends!

They served the most innovative lumpiang sariwa and pata tim! I'm definitely inviting my family and…read morefriends there! Filipino food served here has the flavor of home but this restaurant has kicked up the taste of Pinoy food up a notch! (Or several notches) They have tickled our palate as well as our eyes to enjoy new ways of eating original Pinoy food. Pinoys being adventurous in their culinary skills like to mix a little surprise element in their food. For example, serving an open faced lumpiang sariwa with fried lumpia wrappers on a mound of vegetables with a sauce that is likened to a salsa like concoction but really a sweet brown sauce for fresh lumpia! I was a very happy customer that I ordered the kare kare (their best seller) to take home.

The San Francisco Bay Area has to be one of the most vibrant food destinations on the planet…read more Within a short drive, your culinary passport can take you from Mexico to Japan, Italy to India, the Philippines to Vietnam...and today...THAILAND. No TSA. No baggage fees. No middle seat. So here we are in South San Francisco at White Elephant Restaurant, ready for a little culinary tourism. First up...Papaya Salad aka Som Tum. Fresh, crunchy green papaya, beans, and peanuts delivered that wonderful Thai balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. Crisp, tangy, refreshing...and then...HELLO CHILI PEPPER!!! A perfect wake-up call for the taste buds. While perusing the menu, however, my eyes suddenly locked onto one magical word...BACON. Wait...BACON?!?!? Enter the Prawn Rolls...bacon-wrapped prawns tucked inside wonton wrappers, golden-fried and served with sweet chili sauce. Whoever decided prawns needed to be wrapped in bacon, wrapped AGAIN in wonton skin, and dropped into hot oil...I salute you. Crispy outside, juicy inside, smoky from the bacon, then sweet and spicy from the chili sauce. Every bite soothed my gushing taste buds!!! Apparently, bacon speaks fluent Thai. Next came the Basil Fish which was a medley of golden-fried snapper fillets sautéed with basil, garlic, onions, bell peppers, and chilies in a spicy red sauce. The fish remained crisp outside and tender inside, while the basil, garlic, peppers, and chilies created this wonderful aromatic combination of savory, spicy goodness. Soooo goooood!!! But you can't dine at a Thai restaurant without ordering curry and I'm pretty sure that's somewhere in the international dining rulebook. Our Red Curry with Beef arrived simmering with beef, bamboo shoots, basil, bell peppers, and coconut milk. One spoonful...and there it was. That wonderful velvety richness of coconut milk balancing the curry's heat and umami depth with subtle sweetness. Rich without becoming heavy, spicy without requiring emergency assistance. You GOTTA order this one. And don't forget the rice! The Crab Fried Rice mingled succulent crab meat with fragrant jasmine rice, delivering sweet crab flavor among beautifully seasoned grains. It wasn't merely a side dish. It was the supporting actor stealing scenes from the movie. Finally...Thai Mango Sticky Rice. Sweet ripe mango, chewy glutinous rice, coconut milk, and coconut cream. After an evening of sweet, sour, salty, spicy, crispy, garlicky, and bacony goodness, this dessert arrived like a massage therapist saying..."You've had a long evening. I'll take it from here." Sweet, creamy, tropical, and refreshing. Overall: 5 stars. The Som Tum woke up the palate. The Prawn Rolls proved bacon improves international diplomacy. The Basil Fish delivered crispy, spicy goodness. The Red Curry with Beef brought coconut-rich comfort. The Crab Fried Rice satisfied, and the Mango Sticky Rice landed the plane. White Elephant has been part of the South San Francisco dining landscape for more than 20 years, and I hope we're eating here for another 20. Culinary passport stamped. Bacon discovered. Curry consumed. Taste buds satisfied. Come hungry...and Go Big!!!

First time stopping by this area despite driving past it so many times, and we've finally tried…read moreWhite Elephant to satisfy the Thai food cravings. It's a decent local Thai spot, but I did find the food to be average. It was good but underwhelming. What we ordered: Pad Thai Papaya Salad Eggrolls Mango Sticky Rice FOOD: 7/10 The food was fine overall, but nothing really stood out this time. It just didn't have that wow factor that makes me want to come back right away. It's good in a pinch if you're nearby and craving Thai food, but not super memorable compared to other spots in the Bay. SERVICE: 8/10 Service was fine and standard. The lady who served us was very nice. AMBIANCE: 7/10 The restaurant itself is casual and comfortable, with a simple, neighborhood Thai spot feel. I did really like the artwork and paintings throughout, as well as the small shrine they have, which added character and authentic culture to the space. The lighting pieces were also a nice touch. Overall, White Elephant is an okay go-to if you're nearby and want something quick and familiar, but it's not a place I'd go out of my way for.

I'm reluctant to post a review of this place because it's such a gem and I wanna gatekeep haha but…read morethey're the best! Everything on the menu is top notch and the service is nothing short of it. All the servers are great! Eric is always the best. After trying the entire menu, I'd say the Kashiwa secret box is the best value. Always a fan of the hand rolls (especially the spicy scallop), beef teriyaki plate, and their bluefin lovers roll. Sleeper items include the mushroom tempura, the bbq squid (entire squid for $18!), and shima aji nigiri special. Ambiance is great. Very lucky to have a place so local that's Japan-tier quality. Don't sleep on this place!

Food is good, and prices are reasonable. Location is just okay (not a lot of parking available);…read moresmall spot with a few tables inside, but if it's busy, it feels tight and can't accommodate large groups as well. The real downside - the service. The most recent visit was slow and non-existent, and we weren't able to get a table, with only one person on the floor in the front house hosting, serving, and bussing. The person was working hard, which is commendable, yet didn't acknowledge people coming in (in addition to us) with a "I'll be right with you" or "We're short-handed"...barely even a glance actually at all. Can't really fault them; they were setup to fail. We went to Soul Rice instead. There are other options.

Excellent food and service. The prices were reasonable. We will definitely be back. Loved the tiki…read morebar.

Drinks are great, Mai tai is strong and sweet, ube piña colada was creamy coconut are very good and…read morePrices were reasonable. Super friendly, makes you feel very welcome and ambiance here was amazing. This is a great place to go for good drinks. We will definitely be back.

Food - Skewers! So many and a good amount!…read more - Tasty - Many options Service - 1 waitress and very attentive and kind. Ambiance - Casual - Great hangout dinner spot - Small and long table options - Feels a bit like Asia I've been here a few time, for dinner and a birthday. Many more to go!

Food is amazing, ordered like 40+ skewers and everything was hella good. The service was on point…read moreas well, great staff. 10 out of 10 would recommend, also be sure to order the seafood boil!

Quail + Crane -- An Incredible Breakfast Experience…read more We stayed at the Hyatt SFO for a little staycation and received complimentary breakfast at Quail + Crane the following morning. I honestly wasn't expecting breakfast to become one of the highlights of our stay, but it absolutely did. First, the setting is beautiful. Sitting there enjoying breakfast with the gorgeous view immediately made the morning feel special. The freshly squeezed orange juice was fantastic, and I have to give an unexpected amount of praise to the fruit plate -- possibly the best fruit plate I've ever had. Everything was incredibly fresh, perfectly ripe, beautifully presented, and actually tasted as good as it looked. Then came breakfast! I ordered the Eggs Benedict with Dungeness crab, accompanied by potatoes and greens, and it was phenomenal. The eggs were beautifully prepared, there was a generous amount of crab, and everything worked perfectly together. My husband created his own omelette with bacon, ham, spinach and cheese, also with potatoes, and his meal was equally fantastic. Everything arrived fresh, hot and beautifully presented. But what really took our experience to another level was the service. Our waitress was the ONLY server working the entire room, which was completely full, and somehow she made us feel as though we were the only people in the restaurant. I genuinely don't know how she did it. She was attentive, warm, personable and never once made us feel rushed or forgotten. Watching her take care of an entire dining room while still providing that level of individual attention was impressive. She deserves tremendous recognition. We also had the pleasure of meeting Shawn, who I believe was a manager, and he embodied hospitality. He personally welcomed us, asked how our stay was going, whether we were enjoying our view and Club Level accommodations, and of course how we were enjoying the restaurant. It never felt like a scripted manager check-in. He was genuinely kind, professional and interested in our experience. That interaction stayed with us. We would happily return knowing Shawn was in the building because he made us feel that well taken care of. My only constructive feedback would be regarding our initial interaction with the host. The welcome felt noticeably less warm than the rest of our experience. We were asked to wait approximately 10 minutes despite several tables appearing to be available, and the interaction was fairly dry, without much of a greeting or smile. It wasn't a major issue, but because the hospitality from everyone else was so exceptional, the difference stood out. A warmer initial welcome would make the experience seamless from beginning to end. That said, once we were seated, Quail + Crane absolutely knocked it out of the park. Beautiful views, fantastic food, incredibly fresh ingredients and service that made an already wonderful staycation even more memorable. Shawn and our incredible waitress -- thank you. You are exactly what great hospitality looks like. We will absolutely be back.

Unfortunately, this restaurant had gone downhill. The view is still very beautiful, and there is a…read moremajor premium for it. Seating is decent depending on where you get seated and how crowded the restaurant is. When we went this time, it was much more crowded and we got seated at a tight area where servers slid behind me and another seat that was less than a foot away rather than walking around to a wider area. Service was alright and food was served promptly. No top tier service despite the price being equivalent to our experience at the Rosewood on Sand Hill. If I am paying that much, at least have the staff be able to explain each dishes and the origin of the food. Lastly, the food was worse than before. The Chilean Sea Bass was slightly overcooked. The Pad Thai and Shrimp Fried Rice were okay, since they are hard to mess up. The dumpling soup was okay and it being in a bowl made of plastic felt a little off putting considering the price. The California Roll was very expensive despite not being anything special. The cheesecake dessert also got smaller than last time and they gave less fruits than before. The only dish that tasted great this time were the Aloha Island sushi rolls, which were $34 for 4 bites. Portions are also on the smaller side at this restaurant, and having to order extra food to be full when it is already expensive is not great when the food had gone downhill. I really wanted to like this place, but I guess not. Also the manager recently changed.

This is hands down my fav boba spot in the bay area. i live in the north east bay and i drive all…read morethe way down to San Bruno just to get a drink from here (for context that's like a 45 min drive with bay area traffic lol). The vibes are so chill, the drinks are the best, and the bobaristas are friendly and quick with their service, esp Hannah who always is very welcoming. My fav is def the blended tropical sunshine. Please do not hesitate to swing by and get yourself a drink!

Wanted to stop for food while dropping off a family member to SFO airport, and happy to have found…read morethis place! Came on a Sunday evening and parked easily in the back in the shared lot with Isla. Menu was diverse, drinks were pretty basic, workers friendly, and dining area & bathroom hecka nice! Appreciated them showing Pokemon & Spongebob lol. Loved our lemongrass banh mis and bulgogi bowl. Would definitely come again when in the area!

Good food and courteous service and Place is clean. Service is fast and decent. Love this place!…read moreThe staff is really friendly and helpful and makes you feel comfortable right away. Butter Garlic Noodle: OMG! This was so good. The perfect amount of butter and garlic. Something about this made it the best garlic noodles I've had. Very good portion and the noodles were thick. Came here for a weekend lunch and had a delicious meal. Highly recommend it!

Just passing through town and wanted Chinese food so we ended up here on a late Sunday night. The…read moreservice was great and the food was delicious. Definitely recommend. Missing a pic of the basil chicken...so yummy!

Ordered the pork bahn mi without the pate. Great portions and fresh carrots, cilantro, & jalapeños!…read moreSuper delicious!! Service was prompt and the interior of the cafe provided lots of open seating. Will def be coming back!

I got a Vietnamese coffee and a crispy duck sandwich. It was delish !! I would definitely come…read moreagain. The viet coffee needs was concentrated as f and I need to wait for the ice to melt. The place was clean and no funky smell. I would come again. I thought the service was friendly too.