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    Somisomi

    4.2 (367 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 11:30 PM
    Updated a few days ago

    Somisomi Photos

    Business Info

    SOMISOMI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Somisomi

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    Reviews With Photos

    Alex M.

    Overall: A+ // 6 stars Somi Somi is my favorite dessert place in the bay so I'm so excited to see its expansion. Their soft serve has such a good texture, and it doesn't melt as fast as before. I love their uniqueness in flavors, specializing in Asian takes from black sesame to ube. The taiyaki adds some warm comfort, while the toppings of the macarons adds some fun color and texture to the dessert. I'm so impressed that with all of this, the total cost is under $10 when at ice cream stores, thats usually the cost of a single scoop. And the best part is, most of their soft serve is lactose free for the lactose intolerant! Food: +2 Presentation: +1 Price: +2 Atmosphere: E Service: E Menu: +1 Insta/Yelp/Beli: @amei_eats Insta/TikTok: @ameizing.race

    Ube soft serve upside down
    Christine D.

    Smooth and creamy Ube soft serve. No lines today, so service was quick. Spacious inside, but there are no seats.

    Ube with strawberry & Oreo crumbs w/ custard tayaki & milk/milk tea with fruity pebbles (don't remember the filling in my friend's tayaki)
    Laura E.

    I've wanted to try Somisomi for years and finally had the chance last night (7/26/2026) as it was a few doors down from Whisper. Ordering from the kiosk was easy. I had ube with Oreo crumbs, strawberry, and custard tayaki. So creamy and could taste the ube! My friend got the milk/milk tea swirl with fruity pebbles though I don't recall if/what tayaki filling she had. They are very efficient as our orders came out quickly. Would come back regularly if I lived closer!

    Cookies and cream with ahboong
    Erika C.

    The soft serve and pastry are tasty but why does it feel so chaotic and stuffy hot in here? There's something icky about an ice cream place being muggy. I want an ice cream place to be room temp at minimum but preferably a little colder, like the product won't melt right after I get it. The floors look like they could use some mopping, they're grimy. when I was there, there was a big unmopped puddle right near the steps. I told them about it before I left. In any case, I plan to come back but hope it's a bit cleaner.

    Spencer Q.

    Soft serve: 4/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Portion to Price: 3/5 Overall: A very good option if you want a sweet treat in the area. The extended review... Soft serve: Cookies and Cream Taiyaki - 4/5 - I'll say that it's a very tasty softserve. There are also good seasonal flavors that make an appearance throughout the year. Service: 3/5 - Standard service. Ambiance: 3/5 - There are a few bar tops but no seats inside. Portion to Price: 3/5 - Pricing is standard fare.

    Taiyaki

    I was really disappointed with the taiyaki. Compared with the one I had in Livermore's location , this one was too soft and didn't seem to be cooked long enough. It wasn't crispy on the outside, there was no nice golden-brown color, and I really missed that contrast between a crispy exterior and soft filling. Unfortunately, it just wasn't what I was expecting. Hopefully they can cook it a little longer to get that crispy, golden finish.

    In Downtown San Mateo
    Andrea Y.

    For a sweet treat that is not 'too sweet, give this place a try! The shop is always crowded for customers waiting for their order. Tonight I tried the Ube Pistacchio which was delicious. It really tasted like Pistacchio. We also got the Matcha and Milk. Clean aesthetics, bright lights and customers eagerly awaiting their ice cream in a fish cone

    Natalie P.

    Stop by Somisomi at San Mateo downtown on Friday before July 4th after lunch at Harbor Dimsum seafood and loved it. They have swirls ube& pistachio, matcha and milk . I m a fan of matcha so i got the matcha flavor in the cup $4.50, it was perfectly balanced , rich, creamy and lightly sweet. The texture was smooth & refreshing. Once in a blue moon end up ordered 3 soft served matcha in the cups. The negative is only one young girl working there. There are water cup and water near the entrance to help yourself with. The interior is big, no seating so its more grab and go.

    Kaycee C.

    A nice location. The line is always long, but it moves quickly and the service is friendly. I enjoy the weekly swirls and the fish waffles.

    Katrina C.

    The best warm snack! I'm not an ice cream person, but I always stop here for the taiyaki. The nutella and cheddar fillings are the perfect sweet and salty combo. Crispy, fresh, and delicious every time This location is a big, popular spot, but keep in mind there are no chairs, just standing tables!

    Upside Down Ahboong -  Matcha & Banana Pudding Soft Serve, Strawberry, Biscoff Crumble (R) & Ube Soft Serve, Strawberry, Fruity Pebbles (L)
    Mike L.

    Between all of the great things I had heard about them and how long they've been sitting on my list of bookmarks, I can't say I have anything close to a good excuse for taking so long to finally come here. What's worse, it's not like I'm hardly ever in San Mateo either. However, in my defense, this technically wasn't my first time trying Somisomi. It's just that since I had only tried a couple of bites of their tayaki with red bean, it didn't feel like I had gotten a proper experience! With their location right in the heart of the downtown/3rd Ave area of San Mateo, it's not the least bit surprising that this Somisomi can draw a fairly steady crowd. Besides how busy the neighborhood can get, they're a terrific option for an afternoon treat just as much as for an evening dessert. Their menu is pretty simple, consisting of two main things - soft serve, which comes in a half dozen permanent and a handful of seasonal flavors, and taiyaki, which comes with your choice from eight different fillings - that you can order separately or together as part of their signature ah-boong dessert. -- UPSIDE DOWN AH BOONG with Ube Soft Serve Topped with Strawberry, Fruity Pebbles, and a Taiyaki with Matcha Filling Pretty solid overall. The soft serve had a surprisingly strong taste of ube to it and it wasn't overly sweet. As for the taiyaki, I liked how crispy it was on the outside and how soft it was on the inside, but the matcha filling was a little underwhelming (really subtle and gloppy). -- UPSIDE DOWN AHBOONG with Matcha & Banana Pudding Soft Serve Topped with Strawberry, Biscoff Crumble, and a Taiyaki with Black Sesame Filling Of the two, I liked this one better. For one, I thought the flavors in the soft serve balanced each other really well (the matcha helped tamper the sweetness of the banana pudding), but I LOVED the black sesame filling in the taiyaki. It tasted so good, I wish there was more of it! As far as service goes, there's usually not much to note at a place like this, but I thought the workers here were great. The girl at the register did a good job of making sure folks knew there was a second table to the side tat folks could order from and happily answered the questions that the group in front of us had. Perhaps more importantly, they're pretty efficient with everything, as they seemed to get orders out at a steady pace. Besides how much I enjoyed the desserts here (did I mention I love their black sesame taiyaki?), the other thing that I like about Somisomi is how they stay open so late (11:30pm). Quite welcome, considering how most dessert shops in the area close so much earlier, but also because it just means I don't have to worry about rushing here to get more of the black sesame taiyaki before this place closes! FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now.

    Gigi T.

    We were pretty disappointed with our visit. The biggest issue was the lack of personal service. Instead of ordering from an employee, you're expected to use a self-service kiosk and then stand in a waiting area with no chairs or stools. The whole experience felt cold and impersonal. What made it even more frustrating was that after we carefully selected our toppings on the kiosk, the employee still asked us what toppings we wanted. If we're expected to do all the ordering ourselves, the staff should at least be looking at the order we just entered. There are often long lines, and I suspect part of the reason is that many first-time customers aren't sure how the ordering process works. Since the employees are busy filling orders, there's really no one available to answer questions or guide people through it. As for the ice cream, it was just okay. It wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't memorable, and we've had much better elsewhere. Overall, the impersonal ordering process, lack of customer interaction, and average ice cream mean we won't be returning.

    Upside down ahboong with nutella filling and Earl Grey soft serve...almost forgot to take a photo
    Teresa G.

    We love this place for the variety of soft-serve and for their taiyaki which is a cross between a pancake and a waffle. We've tried several soft serve flavors over time: black sesame, Earl Grey, matcha, ube, and sakura berry. The smooth, light, fluffy swirls of whipped ice cream is always a treat. One can have it different ways - ahboong (fish-shaped waffle cone), upside down ahboong, in a cup, or cold brew float. The taiyaki is a perfect pair to the soft serve and I recommend you try it with different fillings. Service is quick after putting in your order in a self-service terminal at the counter. There are plenty of outdoor seating on South B street which is the pedestrian friendly area of downtown San Mateo. I don't think I will grow tired of this place.

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    Likes: variety of soft serve flavors. taiyaki red bean and taro are delicious. Combine both and you get ah-boong

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Somisomi

    Is there dairy free &/ or lactose free options?

    Yes there are. If you go to their main website, at the bottom of the page there is a link to allergen information which will show which flavors have lactose and which ones don't. Since some flavors may rotate I'd also suggest contacting in case to… 

    Is the milk pasteurized? We asked one of the employees and he said no! i'm pregnant so we are considering abt it. We love somisomi but if its not...:(

    Hello Quinn, All of our dairy products are pasteurized.… 

    Do they have black sesame or chocolate flavors? Seems like they used to but now the selection has been cut way back to just a few flavors. The corporate website for SomiSomi has way more flavors than I see on the menu here. Thanks!

    Hello Neela, Yes, we have those flavors but availability in the stores vary per season. Right now… 

    Are they still out of the milk flavor?

    Hello, Alex We sincerely apologize for this flavor's unavailability. Rest assured that we have… 

    Hi! Is this place open now? I don't have instagram so I haven't seen any updates. Thanks!

    Hello Jeannie! SomSomi San Mateo is currently not open, but it's coming soon!… 

    When is this place opening? Love soft serve but ill be sad if it's like that lobster roll place that never opened in that same location lol?

    Hello, Maia Thank you for your interest!… 

    When is the grand opening?

    Saw on their Instagram that this location opens this Friday, February 3, 2023!

    View All 10 Questions

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    4.4(978 reviews)
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    This Daeho location definitely feels busier than the others -- the wait can run 1-2 hours! We put…read moreourselves on the waitlist and hung out in the car. Pro tip: when you get in, you order first before being seated, especially the kalbijjim since it takes a long time to make. The kalbijjim, of course, is the star of the show and never ceases to amaze me. The veggies inside are flavorful and tender from marinating in the sauce for hours, and the beef is fall-off-the-bone tender and plentiful. It's expensive, but worth every penny -- and with the cheese torched on top, it's just perfect. We also got the bibimbap and steamed mandu, japchae, and they were amazing too. Service was great -- attentive even with the crowds. There's street parking, but 3rd Ave is busy, so your best bet is the parking lot nearby. Come hungry and be patient -- it's worth it!

    This is easily one of our absolute favorite places to go when we don't feel like cooking dinner…read more While we've noticed that their galbi jjim has declined over the years--becoming noticeably sweeter--their soups have kept us coming back. These days, we go for the seolleongtang. Our top picks are the combination seolleongtang and the yukgaejang (spicy brisket soup). The combination soup is rich, hearty, and feels like drinking pure liquid collagen. If you're craving something with a kick, the spicy brisket soup offers a much deeper, more savory, and flavorful spice profile.

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    Daeho Kalbijjim & Beef Soup - B3. Doh Gal Jjim (Tendon) (EX) -@tinah

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    Olhso House - Table grill firing up OLHSO wagyu beef.

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    4.2(413 reviews)
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    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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    OLHSO Truck

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    Was thinking of having Korean for dinner and decided to give the food truck a try. We ordered the…read moreSeoul set which was kimchi,belly pork,prawns and vegetables stir fry served with rice and 2 sides of kimchi and corn salad. Order was delivered to the house in 20 minutes and the presentation and taste was beyond our expectations . The ingredients in the dish tasted fresh and delicious. Would definitely try again.

    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.

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    Kajiken - Homura Aburasoba

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    4.4(1.5k reviews)
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    I've come here twice now and I didn't realize I never left a review the first time I came! So now I…read morefeel I have even more to say how you much gotta come to Kajiken! Both times I've come I hadn't had to wait very long and our second time was with a large group including kids. Our server was great in helping us preorder before we could get seated and we only waited 15 minutes. We all ordered the same things: half of us ordered the original aburasoba and the other half ordered the homura aburasoba and the food came out quickly. They kindly gave us little bowls for the kiddos and forks and all the kids loved the noodles and the adults shared a large pitcher of beer. All in all, best aburasoba and one of my favorite spots in San Mateo!

    Kajiken is an Aburasoba Japanese restaurant serving brothless noodles in downtown San Mateo. There…read moreis often a long line of people waiting. Their noodles are homemade and their secret sauce gives the noodles balance and umami. Nearby Taishoken has a similar offering. 4.5 on Yelp and Google. We waited about 30 minutes after lining up at 5pm on a weekend. Got Ubereats in summer 2026. Note: No public phone number Safety Pluses - Online menu, Delivery services available, online ordering. Food Review: Takoyaki ($9.50) had 6 good sized balls with octopus, takoyaki sauce, mayo and bonito flakes. Decent. 7.5/10 Pan fried Gyoza ($8.50) are pork & vegetable pan eggless fried dumplings. Not overly crisp. Solid. 7.5/10 Homura Aburasoba ($19) They suggest you mix the eggless noodles for 20 seconds to ensure full coating. Noodles are very al dente and better than expected. You can choose the type of egg you want. It takes getting used to no broth. 8.5/10 Nikumori Aburasoba ($20) has spicy minced pork, pork slices and more. 8.5/10 Original Aburasoba ($16.45) does away with the egg and is still a solid simpler version. 9/10 Overall - Very Good Food - Very Good Decor - Very Good Service - Good Value - Very Good Would we come back - Yes

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