Went on a busy Easter Sunday as a party of 3 and waited for 30-40 minutes. The host was friendly and checked in with us to notify the table would be ready soon. We were seated on the second floor and although it was a bit of a tight space, I loved the aesthetic of decor. The ceiling high windows made the space feel bigger. The portions were decent and food was tasty. I was just disappointed with the korean fried chicken as I was expecting a bit more flavor. None the less the chicken was crispy and juicy. Would return when in the mood for a cutesy brunch. read more

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Heard there were new items on the menu and we wanted to try. Went for an early brunch and was seated straight away. Service was great especially our server Micki who was friendly. Ordered the Gogi Morning and Bossam Benny and both were delicious though I would prefer it with a croffle instead of a croissant base. The eggs were done so well that you could see it runny when you cut through it. Would definitely come back again read more

Whisper - Gogi Morning - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This place is located in Downtown San Mateo and is street parking only. This place is brand new and just opened up 3 months ago. They do have a few parking garages but they are a few blocks away. I came here on a Saturday morning around 11am. I joined the wait list prior to arriving when I was driving here. I saw this place on TikTok and wanted to come. To check in, your whole party needs to be present. We were seated and were given water/menus immediately. You have the option to order via the QR code or with a server. They gave us time to look at the menu and even helped with recommendations. We got a Strawberry Matcha and a Mango Matcha. The Strawberry Matcha was more sweet and the mango was not really sweet. For food we ended up ordering the Matcha Pancake, The Sunday Chronicle Omelette, and the Gogi Morning. We all shared and agreed that the Gogi Morning was so good. That was my personal favorite. All portions are definitely sharing portions. The flavors were all delicious and the food presentation was great. The interior is very clean and modern. The service was great and our server was very helpful! This was such a cute brunch place and the menu was pretty similar to other modern brunch places. read more

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Got to visit the Whisper few weeks ago on a weekday and we made reservations just in case via Yelp. Parking was relatively easy to find on a weekday which was nice! What we ordered: - Hojicha latte: Yummy! I feel like it's a standard latte that you can't go wrong ordering. Hojicha latte has the nutty/toasted flavor and I ordered it with oat milk! - Kimchi Carbonara: Definitely recommend ordering this & sharing it! It was a huge plate for my friend & I but super creamy and delicious! - Shoyu Butter Corn: This one also was pretty tasty! It was also a rich seasoning flavor and goes well with the corn. - Crème Brûlée French toast: Super moist and soft! So delicious after eating all that food to finish off with the French toast! Overall it was a good food & service! Relaxing vibes and comfortable seats! It's definitely a place I'd go once in awhile for a nice treat as it is a bit pricer but overall good food! read more

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I'm obsessed with Whisper. What stands out initially, and caught my eye one day in downtown San Mateo, is and was the atmosphere: light, airy, bright; filled with stylish but also relaxed, welcoming people. It's a vibe. Frankly, I just don't see this vibe elsewhere in the rest of the Peninsula. Beyond the atmosphere, the food is tantalizingly delicious--Instagram-level gorgeous--and in many cases, a total rarity (i.e., a unique spin on a traditional dish you simply won't find anywhere else). My favorite is the kimchi carbonara. Never before have I tasted a Korean-Italian fusion dish, much less one distinctly mouth-watering. Same goes for drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, like their decadent Ube latte or London fog). Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, is the quality of the service. If you're looking to engage with wait staff whom you might mistake as your friend--given their charm, warmth, and kindness--you couldn't find a better place. The effect of the staff's personalities is such that Whisper feels like a warm tight-knit community of which you've been a part but about which you just never knew! I'll sum it up this way: there's been no other restaurant I've frequented weekly over the course of some months in life--except for Whisper! read more

Came on a Friday for lunch and the place was super busy. Taking over Wursthall, the space is bright and airy with super tall ceilings. Ordering is through a QR code so if you need anything like water or condiments, you'll need to flag down some of the floating staff member. Butter Corn Ribs: Corn that is fried with nice flavors. Would order again. Gogi morning: The potato medley was crispy and delicious and loved the mix of regular and sweet potatoes. The benedict tasted as expected. Melting Archive: One thing that don't note is that it has jalapeños so keep that in mind when ordering. The potatoes were nice and crispy and the burger was solid. I wished the bacon jam was a bit more potent though. Would definitely come back! read more

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Food is really good! I came once for brunch and once for dinner. There's a larger menu for brunch but the dinner options are still pretty extensive. My favorite dish is the creamy oyster mushroom starter. Restaurant is beautifully decorated and spacious. read more

Whisper - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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overall: 3/5 creme brulee french toast: 4/5 red dawn: 2/5, fried chicken w eggs benedict and i thought it was eh tbh the chicken batter was cold but hard and didn't care for it read more

Whisper - creme brulee french toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Our waitress Victoria was really welcoming. We enjoyed the Sweet and Salt and the Nori Pasta. Not too salty not too spicy, just the right balance! And the vibe is great read more

Good but certainly doesn't live up to the hype (or the price point). We went for lunch on a weekday and fortunately it was easy to walk in and get a table (unlike the craziness of a weekend). It turns out they take reservations for weekday lunches (not weekend) but we didn't need them. Gochujang Fried Chicken - appetizer good flavor but came out a bit cold so disappointed Corn Ribs - flavored corn cob like things. Outstanding flavor. The best thing we had. Layered Architecture - fancy name for a burger. At $25 I have high expectations and this didn't come close. Ordered it medium rare and it came out well done. Had to send it back. Came out cooked correctly the second time. Beef patty was really small. Tasted mainly lettuce, tomato and mushrooms and avocado and the burger was too small of a patty to enjoy. Couldn't taste the bacon jam on it which is sad. If you like good thick burgers this is not for you. The one redeeming thing was the fries were excellent and thanks to another review ordered bacon jam on the side to dip them in. The bacon jam itself is the best I've ever had. Kimchi Carbonara - outstanding sauce in this dish. Couldn't really taste Kimchi but it didn't matter because this orange cream sauce was so good! The pasta itself was very low quality spaghetti out of a cheap box. If they did this with good fresh pasta it would be a true hit. Seafood Jjambong Pasta - pretty dish in a cast iron skillet. The flavor profile was weak and again had cheap low end spaghetti out of a box. Skip this dish! Service- hard to tell who our server was and water glasses didn't stay full. You have the option of ordering on a QR code but why would someone do that if they expect you to tip for full service. Conclusion- hopefully this place will hit its stride and improve overall quality. I think I'll give them time to do that before I go back again. Additional note: I'm guessing they use a lot of MSG in the food. I was super sluggish and thirsty after which usually only happens from high MSG food. Really bad: there was a QR code at the bottom of the receipt asking to leave them a review with chowbus. The QR code had been deactivated so I guess they really don't want feedback! This is why we have Yelp! read more

Whisper - Kimchi carbonara - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Wait time: Arrive early to avoid a long wait to be seated. Ambiance: The interior is extremely nice looking with a coffee bar on the right when entering and a partially open kitchen. Dining area: The tables can be a little small for dining and it can be hard to find a large enough area for larger groups. Service: The servers were nice and friendly, however it seems a little disorganized with who is in charge of each area when dining. Food: The food was really good and the portion size was fair for the price point. I would say that the latte was not my favorite and came out warm bordering more towards cool. The pancakes were good with the matcha cream flavor strong to make up for the rather regular tasting matcha colored pancakes. read more

Whisper - Matcha Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Great food and service from Mya! We ordered the gochujang fried chicken, seafood jampongg, and melting archive. everything was delicious! no wait either at dinner which is a plus read more

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Great ambience and excellent service. Food presentation is good however food is okay. We had the triangle melt, sweet and salt, and fresh squeeze orange juice. read more

Carbonara is a little too creamy and sauce in but otherwise the flavor is good. You can use the bread to dip. Gochujang chicken is just like a chimek chicken. Pretty good. Kids liked the kids menu patty and pancakes read more

Came here on a Tuesday with a reservation for 12. Heads up if you're coming with a larger group, they wouldn't seat us until everyone arrived. Our last person was running late and had already texted her order in, but we still had to wait to be seated, which slowed things down a bit. The space itself is beautiful, open, thoughtfully designed, and feels a little elevated without being stuffy. Bathrooms are downstairs, and there's also a speakeasy down there if you're going at night (separate reservation needed). It's downtown, so parking wasn't an issue, plenty of options nearby. Food wise, I went with the kimchi carbonara after our server said it was "the best thing on the menu," and honestly... they weren't wrong. It's a unique twist on a classic, super rich, layered, and full of umami. Definitely on the more decadent side, but really well done. Service was the only hiccup. There were QR codes on the table and we were initially told to order through those, so we all started putting in our orders, then a server came by and told us not to use them. Not a huge deal, but it set things off a little. The bigger issue was timing: food came out really staggered. There was about a 20 minute gap between the first and last entrée hitting the table, which made it a bit awkward. Some people waited, others started eating so their food wouldn't get cold, and by the time the last dishes arrived, a few people were already done. Overall, despite the disjointed pacing, the food delivered and we still had a good time. I'd come back, just maybe with a smaller group next time. read more

Whisper - Kimchi Carbonara "The best thing on the menu"- waiter (it was delicious) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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heard the fuss about this spot and was eager to check them out. walked in one brunch morning and it was busy but there was still enough table to accommodate immediately. I was greeted kindly by one of their staff and was escorted to a cute and cozy table inside. I was explained the ordering system and the menu where you can agin scan a bar code to check out their menu and order. I wanted to try a few things and went ahead and ordered my drink and an appetizer, my entree and ended with a dessert. So far, the ambiance were fascinating. I didn't wait long to be served my drink and meals. Presentation were outstanding and instagramable! and it tasted good! I love the kimchi carbonara pasta the best! will definitely return and try other stuff from their menu. read more

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Our server Victoria was amazing, so sweet and attentive. The food was delicious and the ambience is perfect for a girls' brunch read more

Whisper - Sweet and Salt, Kimchi Carbonara - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here twice for brunch: once with my boss and once with friends. Pictures included are from my first visit. The location and decor is one of my favorites. Tons of natural lighting brightens the entire dining area, and the servers were very attentive. While all of the dishes were excellent, I'd recommend splitting some of the items. The truffle noodles, for example, might be too heavy for one person to eat, but great when also combined with some of the bone marrow. My favorite ironically is also one of the simplest items: the corn spears. The buttery seasoning was delicious, and I just couldn't stop ordering more. The place does get packed pretty early, so I'd recommend going a bit early if you can. Overall a great brunch spot, and would definitely come more when I have the time. read more

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We came on a Saturday for brunch and as expected we did have to wait like 30-40 mins. Nothing a little walk over to mollytea couldn't fix. The menu itself is quite large, we decided to go for savory and sweet items. The jjampong noodles were cooked perfectly but the sauce just didn't cling to the noodles. Honestly we found this dish to be a little lack luster flavor wise. The fried chicken and waffles was a hit. The chicken was juicy and the croffle was crispy and buttery. The burger was also pretty solid. The bun was probably the best thing, it was sweet and soft like a Hawaiian roll. We did the crème brûlée toast for dessert and thought it was okay. Yes the toast was good but we wished there were more burnt sugar pieces. Overall we felt the service to be a bit slow and the food just quite hit the mark for the wait. However they do have a gorgeous interior and it feels quite lively to dine here! read more

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Whisper is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots in San Mateo! The dinner menu did not disappoint. The space is beautiful and perfect for a date night or dinner with friends. We especially loved the Truffle Wagyu Yukke and the bone marrow--both were packed with flavor and beautifully presented. Service was friendly and attentive, and every dish felt thoughtfully crafted. If you've only been here for brunch, definitely come back for dinner! read more

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Food was good and flavorful. Although the menu was a bit difficult to understand. They have some kid options as well. I enjoyed the chicken and croffles . I will return to try more options. Staff was attentive although food did not come out all together and took sort of a long time. This place is still new so be patient. read more

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While D1 was in town for Spring Break I took a personal day and hung out with the cool kids for Brunch. Made a reservation via Yelp which made it easy peasy. We were seated at our chosen time. The aesthetic is super cute. High ceiling. Exposed beams. Cozy seating. Circular tables. There's even seating upstairs. D1 used the bathroom and said it was a little strange, bc it was downstairs and it seemed to have a shared space with another kitchen behind some curtains. Anyhow our waiters were very attentive, until... they took our orders and D1 and my dishes came out almost simultaneously. However, there was a 20 minute gap from the time D1's plate landed til D2's came to the table. And D2 insisted we couldn't eat until everything was the table. 3 different waiters came to say they were checking on her order but never returned to give us an update. D2 insisted we start without her after 10 minutes went by. I was going to draw the line at 15 minutes, but felt bad so we waited until it hit the table. Thankfully we were able to nosh on D1's fries. Disappointing bc we saw her same order land on other tables that ordered well after us. Just bad service on their part. Sad. D1 ordered "The Gentle Melt": tuna salad, cheese, tomato, aioli, on a toasted ciabatta bun. The interesting thing about this sandwich is that the tuna salad was made into a patty. Very nice crunch and well put together. The fries were delicious: nice crunch as well and lightly seasoned. I ordered the "Sweet & Salt": croffle, Korean fried chicken, fresh seasonal fruit, and powdered sugar. The croffle wasn't croffle like at all, it was a waffle. Dense and not flakey. The Korean fried chicken was good nice flavor and crisp. Other than that it was just okay. Nothing different than any other place that makes chicken and waffles. D2 had the "Red Dawn" Benedict: fried chicken, radish paper, chili hollandaise, 2 poached eggs on a croissant base. And it was served with a potato medley. She said it was sadly not worth waiting an extra 20 minutes for. She did like the combination and flavors though, it was just rather anticlimactic for her after waiting for so long. The last waiter who checked on her order before it hit the table, was also the host/ greeter. He apologized for the lag but said they were short staffed. He had to say something after all, but it was clearly a lie. There were more than 7 servers walking around and more than 8 people working the open kitchen. Food was good not mind blowing or awesome. Would we go again. Possibly but hopefully our dishes all come in a timely manner. read more

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I love brunch, so I had to check this place out. The wait can be long, but it's nice that you can join the waitlist on Yelp ahead of time. The place does get pretty packed. Once seated, you order through a QR code at the table. We ordered the truffle wagyu yukke, red dawn, cast iron stone axe, and an orange americano. The potato medley in the dishes was gooddd, perfectly crispy on the outside, well-seasoned, and super addicting. My favorite dish was the cast iron stone axe. Presentation and portion was nice. The other items were just okay. One of the eggs in my Benedict was overcooked. I probably should've tried the kimchi carbonara since I saw a lot of people ordering it. read more

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I was really excited to try Whisper after seeing all the hype on socials but it was unfortunately underwhelming for me. I made a reservation through Yelp for 11:30 AM on a Friday and we were seated within a few minutes of arrival. The interior is gorgeous, I really like the modern look and various decor on the walls. Chairs and tables have an elegant look to it too, and the bar area looks nice. Ordering is pretty easy as you just need to scan a QR code on the table. Every table has a number attached to it, but somehow we were almost served other table's food and drinks! I don't blame the staff though , they're doing their best in such a busy and big restaurant. I ordered an iced ube latte and their Melting Archive. Iced Ube Latte 3/5: there was a ton of ube extract in here so the drink was very dark purple to the point where the straw was getting dyed. The taste was still pretty muted and overall I don't think it's worth it. Melting Archive 2/5: seeing pictures and reels of this was what made me want to come in and try but I left pretty disappointed. I am an absolute cheese fiend and I especially love melty cheese, but the house made cheese sauce had such an off flavor to it. Almost like a strong yeasty taste and the alcohol not getting evaporated enough. It's described as a "house made nacho cheese" on the menu but it tasted like stale fondue cheese to me. The flavor was so off-putting to me that I only ate fries that didn't touch the sauce. It took 1 hour to receive our food which was also a rough point. They are dealing with the sudden hype and popularity so I was expecting some hiccups. The waiter did kindly discount our bill by 10% for the long wait which I appreciated. I still want to come back and try other things, but I will probably wait for some of the hype to die down. read more

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I have some dietary restrictions, so I was really glad to see that they offer such a customizable option. The dish is called The Morning Edition, and you can choose your preferred protein, sides, and style of eggs. I also ordered a side salad for some extra greens, along with a hojicha latte. I especially loved how they prepared the potato medley that came with The Morning Edition. The potatoes were really flavorful and perfectly crispy, but surprisingly not oily at all. They tasted more oven-roasted than deep-fried, which I really appreciated. It felt indulgent without being too heavy, so I could enjoy them without feeling guilty afterward. read more

Whisper - The Morning Edition+ Side Salad+hojicha latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Food is great! I got that steak axe every time. Like the service as well. Weekend is usually a long wait but workdays are fine. read more

I ordered the kimchi carbonara and the matcha pancake, and both were really good! The waitress checked up on us pretty often and gave us good recommendations for beverages we could enjoy with our food. The restaurant itself has a nice bright atmosphere. We would come here again! read more

First time trying this place after a dance recital close by. We were looking for a place that could accommodate 8 people on short notice during brunch time and to my surprise this venue had availability! There were lots of things on the menu that looked very interesting. It's a fusion of Korean and traditional American. After looking around at other tables, I saw a lot of people ordering the Seafood Jjambbong Pasta, so I had to give it a shot. Also got an ube latte. The kids got a more traditional breakfast and we got the corn as a starter. Everything was delicious! The staff was super friendly and the food came out quickly. The pasta has a nice spicy aroma and an even better taste! Can't wait to return here. read more

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Had brunch here and it was such a great experience. I had my dog with us and they catered to her as well by bringing her a bowl of water without me asking. That was really nice of them. Service was friendly and prompt. We sat outside because DOG. For apps, we had the corn ribs, the chicken and waffle and the kimchee carbonara. The kimchee carbonara is a full on pasta meal that is rich and flavorful. Expect to walk it off or NAP TIME afterwards! I loved everything about all the dishes we shared. My matcha latte was perfect for the warm day. read more

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Came to Whisper for dinner and overall it was pretty good. We started with the gochujang fried chicken which was boneless dark meat fried. It was tender, crispy, sweet, and savory. Excellent! For my main I had the cast iron which was a huge portion. The rib finger was marinated well but my favorite part was probably the potatoes. They were deep fried just enough so they were crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside. Boyfriend got the congee and thought it was ok. He wasn't the biggest fan of the pickled jalapeno but the poached egg was perfect. We did have to send the dish back for being lukewarm but the staff was accommodating. It's odd that they would serve it in such a shallow dish. Given that they are still on a learning curve, I'll give them a bit of a pass on some aspects but one faux pas was delivering the appetizer and entrees within minutes of each other. The chicken isn't exactly small bites so not only did we lose a lot of table space but that probably was a contributing cause to the congee being cold by the time we moved over to it. The second was the abysmal state of the women's restroom. No TP and toilet covers strewn about. 1. Ladies, do better. 2. Whisper, check more frequently! Still, I would come back to try brunch. The food warrants it. read more

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First time eating here and will be back! We tried the cast iron stone axe and Gogi Morning Benedict. Both were delicious, but I especially enjoyed the stone axe. Selina took care of us and gave us ice cream to finish off our meal, even though I was already full. See you next time, Whisper crew! read more

Loved this place! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The seafood was cooked perfectly, the pasta was creamy and delicious, and the ice cream was amazing. The atmosphere is stylish but still warm and comfortable, and the service was friendly and attentive. Definitely worth coming back! read more

Whisper - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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overbearing and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. Dennis provided excellent service, had a great attitude, and made us feel welcomed and well taken care of. It's always refreshing to have a server who truly adds to the dining experience. Thank you, Dennis, for the great service -- we will definitely be back! read more

Whisper - POG - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

A really creative brunch spot with unique Korean-inspired dishes. The gochujang fried chicken was fantastic. The waygu steak skillet (served with potatoes and rice) was only so-so. The flavor was fine, but the steak meat was really fatty and rather chewy. I was pretty disappointed by this dish. The ambiance is really classy, but the service is a bit lacking. Our matcha drink finally came after all our dishes had already arrived, which seems a bit backwards. And the servers all seemed a bit distracted and weren't trying very hard to be helpful or hospitable. read more

Whisper - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I had the yuzu lemon honey highball and bossam pasta. The pasta was really good. It is very filling so be prepared to take some home! read more

Whisper - Bossam Pasta - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Big size ! My son ordered kids meals too! Very big size too! Seafood bibibam also good! read more

Whisper - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Long story short why it didn't get 5 stars.. I just wish it had just a little bit more. But we will get to thay later. The downside is the wait. Tbh now that I've eaten there, I would probably consider eating here if it not for the waiting times. Took 50 minutes to get seated. Thank God for several restos in the area. I do have to say I miss wurst hall lol. Service was pretty fast except for the order they forgot. The place looks great. Wide bright and clean. Nothing bad to say. As for my point earlier, I just wish there was a nudge more. Let me explain...the dishes sound amazing.. The food looks great.. Those corn ribs were amazing. The rest though...It just fell a tad bit flat for me. Maybe I was expecting more flavor. Don't get me wrong. It was good. But it could be great. I will Def come back soon though. Those burgers looked pretty good. read more

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Whisper serves Korean style brunch and lunch, kind of similar to the very popular Thai style brunch around the Bay Area but with a Korean theme twist. As such, you can find dishes like bulgogi Benedict, gochujang fried chicken, or seafood bibimbap on the menu. The place is new and quite popular so expect a line. We waited around 30 minutes on a Sunday to be seated. The interior is nicely decorated and actually is quite large and includes a second floor. We ordered the Seafood bibimbap and Bulgogi Benedict. The Seafood Bibimbap offers a generous amount of seafood like scallops, mussels, shrimps, and octopus with a gochujang like sauce and includes a fried egg over rice. It's a large serving but the rice was not crispy at all like what a traditional bibimbap should be. It's as if they cooked the seafood on the side, put rice in a hot pan, and then put the seafood, sauce, and eggs over it. Clearly not the best bibimbap I've had. The Bulgogi Benedict is served on a croissant base. The bulgogi was tender and tasty but the croissant was nothing special, tasted like a Costco croissant, and poached eggs were slightly overcooked. Not the best eggs Benedict I've had. Overall, it's an interesting novelty to try this type of brunch and lunch but the food is ok to me. read more

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We got the shoyu butter corn ribs, crème brûlée French toast, and the Sea and Green Benedict. The corn ribs were actually so good. Super juicy with a nice char, and the shoyu butter gave it that salty, savory depth with a little sweetness. The crème brûlée French toast was the best thing on the table. It has that hard caramelized top that cracks when you cut into it, and inside it's soft and custardy. Definitely on the sweeter side, but not overwhelming. The Sea and Green Benedict balanced everything out. The shrimp tasted fresh, the poached eggs were perfectly runny, and the sauce wasn't too heavy. The only thing was the croissant base was a little dry, which took away from it a bit, but overall it was still solid. The ambiance is cute and a little trendy without trying too hard, with a relaxed brunch vibe that makes it easy to hang out for a while. Service was friendly and pretty quick, and everything came out well-paced. read more

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Whisper is a cool new restaurant that serves Korean themed brunch and other foods. It's a nice, open casual and inviting space to gather with friends although it can get a bit loud. Went for lunch and enjoyed my Bulgogi Benedict served with a salad instead of potatoes and it was an interesting and tasty combo. My friend had the Sweet and Salty fried chicken stack...came with 3 pieces on a croffle, so I tried one and the chicken was cooked very well. Servers were nice, too, and very busy, as they are still getting things down having just opened recently. Make sure you flag someone down to order if you don't want to use the QRCode on the table. Sounds like they are getting their liquor license any day now, too, and I'm looking forward to returning again before or after my next round of golf at Poplar Creek that's less than 10 minutes away! read more

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