The kitchen needs to work on their timing and consistency. My friend ordered the bulgogi Benedict and I ordered the kimchi carbonara. The bulgogi Benedict came out in 20 minutes which was reasonable. However, the kimchi carbonara came out 30 minutes after that (50 minutes total!!!) by which point I was starving. The kimchi carbonara also came out extremely watery. When we had seen other tables' orders coming out earlier they didn't seem as watery. The taste was at least good, but the sauce just did not stick to the noodles at all. We also weren't offered anything other than an apology from our server for the wait. read more

Rating: 4 Stars What I ordered: * Shoyu-Butter Corn Ribs * Truffle Wagyu Yukke * Mango Scallop Ceviche * Nori Pasta First impressions: Cute ambiance but very packed What I loved: Corn ribs, truffle wagyu yukke, and the mango scallop ceviche! The last 2 were very refreshing. What could be better: Food WILL take a while but good opportunity to talk to your group. The nori pasta was just okay for me but my partner liked it. The truffle flavor in the wagyu yukke wasn't noticeable either but everything else was delicious and I'd order again! We also tried to order dessert, flagged a worker down, to which they said they would get our server. We waited 5 - 10 mins before deciding to grab dessert elsewhere. It's still their soft opening so hopefully later they'll have more servers. Would I come back? Definitely! Great & refreshing flavors, just be aware there will be a wait for the food. Tips: * Make a reservation * If interested in Wunderbar (speakeasy bar), time your visit when the bar is open read more

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First time here since we live in the neighborhood. Metered parking at 9:30am was easy, right in front. Dined in as soon as they opened for breakfast. It got busy quick! Music on, folks are talking, kitchen is busy. Loud. But if you focus on the food and your company, you'll be iiiight! Service was fast. There's paper menu plus table QR codes to order from. Pretty new place but you can tell the progress and improvement in everything! If you observe. Ambiance was there, you can dress up or dress down. Every staff was friendly and helpful. Would come back again to try more food. We ordered the oyster mushrooms and sauce was creamy, salty but yummy. Then the chicken with croissant waffle was not so sweet and not so salty. Very crunchy and battery for the chicken. Then we also ordered the Gogi Morning. Basically eggs Benedict bulgogi. The caramelized onions was great addition for flavor. read more

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Me and my friend got brunch at Whispers and everything was so good and flavorful!! The Gochujang Fried Chicken was very juicy and delicious, I really like how it's not dry at all. The Seafood Bibimbap was very flavorful and I love how it's loaded with lots of seafood. And the Matcha Pancake is very fluffy and has a strong matcha taste, which I really like. Service was attentive and helpful and the inside was spacious, it even has a second story too!! read more

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Very nice place, inside is spacious, nice tables n chairs. Service will get better in time, I just think they need a lil more experience in the evening. Food was delicious! The Australian Wagu with the potato's and the over easy egg over rice was so good! Looking forward to trying new items in the future Maybe needs some soft background music ... read more

Whisper - Cast Iron Stone Axe! "Stone Axe" -Australia Wagyu finger rib, rice, Sunnyside, crisp potato medley - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Whisper is a huge restaurant off 3rd that took over the German place (the Wunderbar speakeasy is still downstairs - phew!). The vibe was very aesthetic, open windows, lots of seating, beautiful furniture, and an intriguing Asian fusion menu. That and the 10% off opening discount allured me here. Although the menu looked interesting, the execution was average at best. The wagyu rice was extremely chewy and all fat, the rice was completely unseasoned and a bit dry / old in places. My friend's fried chicken benedict was served on a "croissant" which did not appear as such, and was so hard she could not bite into it. Overall, a welcome addition to the Bay Area since we need more brunch spots but perhaps some kinks to work out as they head towards a full opening. read more

Had a great experience at Whisper! We joined the waitlist in advance, and after arriving, we were seated within 5-10 minutes. The presentation of the food is exquisite, and everything tasted amazing. The portions are also very generous. I highly recommend the Truffle Cream Oyster Mushrooms--it's incredibly rich and flavorful--and the Cast Iron Stone Axe was cooked to perfection. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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

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Came for brunch on a weekday. Very convenient, lots of parking. Only two people and the portion is big, we didn't order a lot. But both pasta and rice plate were very tasty. Nice ambiance, love the interior decor. Can't wait to come back when they have alcohol menu! read more

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Came for brunch with some friends. Restaurant is spacious and great ambiance. Arrived at around 9:30am for a group of 7. We waited maybe 15min? So it wasn't too bad, and given the large space, the line moved quickly. Tried a couple items including: Sweet and Salt (chicken and croffles): tasty, standard. Chicken could use more seasoning Nori pasta: pass... it's spaghetti w seaweed, but then also egg slices and bulgogi and lettuce slices and jalapeño peppers and onion to mix in. Honestly kind of weird texture and flavors. I think it would have tasted better with just the spaghetti, nori and bulgogi. Mango pancake: definitely my favorite item on the menu (they let us try complimentary bc we were celebrating a birthday). The mango cream was delicious! I'd come back for the ambiance but food is mediocre. Not sure I would want to wait in line for the food, so ideally could make reservations read more

We decided to check out San Mateo's newest brunch spot that replaced Wursthall. We shared the mango and matcha pancakes, and I also tried the cast iron stone axe. The mango pancake was our favorite and more enjoyable than the matcha. The cast iron stone axe was just okay in my opinion. We also ordered a starter that never arrived. The servers were friendly, and the atmosphere inside is super cute, fitting perfectly with the San Mateo vibe. read more

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Axe is good, large portion of meat/ potato medley is also tasty; rice is not hot. Good service a bit short handed read more

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

Whisper replaced Wursthall, a longtime San Mateo favorite and darling of downtown. They've got big shoes to fill! The ambiance is nice and the food good, but get this - on a menu of 35 mains, only 2 of the savory items are vegetarian. Only 2! In the Bay Area, in this day and age! And I asked, the others could not be made vegetarian. Idk, I find that bonkers. Vegetarians do not want to subsist on only app, salads, and pancakes. I really hope they adjust their menu as they go on! The mango pancakes were good, the corn ribs alright - some sort of weird flavor. read more

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Finally found a brunch spot that hits all the right notes! Everything we ordered was not only beautiful but absolutely delicious The pancakes were super fluffy and soft, topped with fresh mango and the creamiest whipped cream (not too sweet) just perfect. The waffle with fresh fruits was crispy on the outside, soft inside, and paired so well with all the juicy berries and oranges. The Sea & Green benedict was rich and flavorful, with perfectly poached eggs and silky hollandaise sauce. And those roasted potatoes, crispy, colorful, and addictive! We also loved the omelette with fresh salad and toasted bread, so fresh and satisfying. Plus the matcha latte and fresh orange juice were the perfect finishing touch. Definitely a 10/10 brunch experience. Great food, pretty presentation, and such a happy meal overall. Can't wait to come back again! read more

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The place is beautiful and very spacious. The ambiance is nice and it looks comfortable. However, our experience was disappointing. The bathroom is located downstairs and unfortunately it had a strong meat smell, which was unpleasant. The service was very slow. We were given coffee without creamer, and when we asked for some, they only brought one. The plates didn't seem properly washed, and no serving spoons were provided. Overall, the service felt very slow. The food quality was just okay, nothing special. The dessert was very basic and not very tasty. Sadly, I don't think we will be coming back. read more

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This place just opened a couple weeks ago. Nice location since the other brunch spots are not super close in proximity. Very busy. But I was alone and was able to sit at the bar very fast. The food also came out very fast. The Spring Garden Benedict was delicious the flavor was on point. Love a good benie. Latte was good but I usually like flavor, they didn't have any yet but should soon. read more

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We dined as a party of 8 on a Sunday morning. Here's a rundown of our experience: The GOOD: - my kids enjoyed the mango pancakes - it's pretty loud in the restaurant so the screams of my starving kids were mostly drowned out (see below for why they're screaming) The BAD: - waiter didn't bring us menus for 5+ minutes until we flagged him down for them - no waters for our kids until asked - 20min wait between the first item coming out until the last... - NO WHERE did it mention a mandatory gratuity for parties of our size. Not in the menu, it was NOT itemized on the check, the waiter did not mention it. But it was hidden as a part of taxes & fees. Silly me, didn't do the math and didn't figure out it was already hidden in "taxes & fees" and tipped on TOP of that. For this horrendous service. read more

The girls and I visited a new spot in San Mateo called Whisper. We were seated right away, which was a plus. Ordering is done through a QR code at the table, and the menu offers a good amount of variety. Since they recently opened, the drink options were limited, but the service was quick and the food was solid. Overall, a good experience and a place I'd check out again. read more

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

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They started their soft opening on 1/22/26. Long lines for larger parties. We had a party of 2 so it was fairly quick. Inside has many tables and a second floor. The restroom is downstairs and kinda far, like a maze. The latte was not that good. The truffle mushrooms was really good, wish it came with more than just 2 pieces of bread, it was a $4 charge for extra bread. The nori pasta was interesting and good but not really my cup of tea. The creme brûlée French toast was also very good, not overly sweet, with a lot of cream, and soft. The decor was chic and cute. read more

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Came here for lunch on a Monday and they were packed! So popular. The space inside is really nice and clean, and they did a good job of getting the food out quickly despite how busy they were. I got the fried chicken croffle ($23), which was tasty but the chicken was a bit overfried and the croffle was a bit flattened. Overall I prefer the one at Taste and Glory but this one was still good. The bulgolgi Benedict ($24) was really good and had nice flavor from the caramelized onions. Overall it was a very solid brunch experience! read more

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

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Whisper is one of those brunch spots that actually lives up to the hype. It is a Korean fusion concept, but it does not feel forced or overly trendy. The flavors are thoughtful, balanced, and executed really well. The space is beautiful and welcoming, perfect for catching up with friends or bringing someone from out of town. Service was friendly and attentive without feeling rushed, which I always appreciate during brunch. You can tell they care about both presentation and quality. One standout for me was the Golden Classique. It is a smoked salmon eggs benedict served over a buttery croissant instead of the usual English muffin. The croissant was flaky and rich, the salmon tasted fresh, and the poached eggs were cooked perfectly. Once the yolk mixed with the citrus hollandaise, everything just came together. If you are looking for a brunch spot that is aesthetic, creative, and consistently good, Whisper is definitely worth a visit. read more

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

Wow I had high expectations for this place and it was met indeed! We got the mango pancake, kimchi carbonara, classic impression, and the tuscan oil dip. For starters the tuscan oil dip was so yummy! I just wished there was more bread that came with the dip because we used the ones from our pasta dish. The kimchi carbonara in my opinion was better than the classic impression. It had more flavour and the kimchi worked really good with the rest of the dish. It is more on the soupy side which I agree on and huge portions. The classic impression was okay.. The mushrooms threw me off and the sauce was kinda mid. Totally get the kimchi one if you're between the two. The mango pancakes were super fluffy and wasn't too sweet at all. You get three pancakes and syrup which was plenty for the three of us. We can ohm the Tuesday around 6pm and no one was there so we didn't need to reserve a table. There is also a bathroom on the basement floor and a qr code to see the drinks and pictures. The food also came out super fast. read more

Whisper - tuscan oil dip kimchi carbonara - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

The food and drinks were excellent! I had the Gogi Morning. It was an eggs Benedict with sautéed onions served on a croissant. I loved it and would go again! My only complaint was that the meals for the table were not served at the same time. We only had to wait about 5 minutes, but the table next to us easily waited 15 minutes for the second persons food. I would easily have given Whisper 5 stars if the just worked on the timing. read more

My friends and I went for our Galentine's day Brunch. The wait wasn't bad in the late morning, but got crowded near noon time. Service was okay- The staffs were accommodating and friendly. However, it was their second soft opening weekend. They were still unsure and confused about which table ordered what. We were approached four times with drinks- 2x Matcha Latte, 1x cappuccino and a cup of coffee.. at this point, did they sign us up for an endless caffeine service?! Joke aside! Our dishes were decent and looked decent. It was on the drier side.. Overall, the ambiance was elegant and bright. A lot of natural light shining though the windows. The seatings were spaced out nicely, which gave every table space. read more

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A very innovative take on Korean fusion cuisine--every dish was excellent, though the wait for a table was a bit long. read more

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We were excited to try the new Asian fusion menu at Whisper and arrived just before they opened at 8:20 AM. We were pleased to be seated shortly before 8:30am and found the staff to be very friendly and welcoming. The restaurant is bright, clean, airy, and modern, which made for a great atmosphere. For our drinks, we ordered a mocha and a Hojicha latte. While the mocha was good, the latte was unfortunately lukewarm. For our main dishes, my husband had the Latin Sunrise omellete and I had the seafood bibimbap. Both were pretty decent, and we enjoyed the meal overall. We would definitely like to come back to try other dishes on your menu. read more

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Great place for lunch! All the items we ordered were delicious! Would definitely come back for some fun, Asian-fusion dishes. Ambiance is bright & spacious. The seats were very comfy. Come in and you'll see! Cheers. read more

I love this brunch spot, my bff and I tried the coffee and the French toast which was spectacular! (Not too sweet) the service was very good as they want to be super efficient with their tables. This places gets packed but definitely recommend hopping on the waitlist earlier. The place is very pretty and there is a lot of noise so be aware in case you bring an additional person. read more

I have been so excited to try this place since I heard about it when they were still in the soft launch phase. Early Yelp reviews noted they had some issues during soft launch, but it was well worth the wait! The food was absolutely delicious! I was a little bummed that they still don't have a liquor license so we weren't able to get a drink, but appreciated their matcha latte and super cute glassware. I went with a friend before peak brunch hours (10am) and barely had to wait. Even though you can queue yourself in the virtual Yelp waitlist, be sure to check in the host and have your whole party there. We got our food out pretty quickly and the portions were generous for brunch. I can't wait to come back and try some more of the food! And hopefully by then I can enjoy it with a morning cocktail. read more

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

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We ordered 4 items to-go and all were tasty. The classic impression and nori pasta were our kids' favorites. The cast iron stone axe was flavorful and hearty, and the sweet & salt had a great fried chicken. Only note: the croffle in sweet & salt is probably better for dine-in, since it loses some crispness on the way home. Overall, really good takeout and generous portion. We'd order again. read more

Whisper - classic impression, nori pasta, iron stone axe, sweet & salt. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

Whisper is an absolute gem for brunch. We went on Sunday and honestly loved everything we tried. The truffle cream oyster mushrooms were next level, rich, earthy, and perfectly balanced. The triangle melt was comforting and indulgent in the best way, and the smoked salmon eggs Benedict had a fun twist with a buttery croissant base instead of the usual English muffin, which made it even more decadent. Every dish came out thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor, and you can tell real care goes into the menu. It is one of those places where you immediately start planning your next visit before you even leave. Highly recommend for a relaxed but elevated brunch. We will definitely be back. read more

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Great customer service from wait staff--specifically Aaliyah! She remembered things, brought stuff she knew we would need, she also was great to converse with. Food was also delicious and great! read more

Kimchi carbonara is rich, flavorful and started the night on the right foot. You'll have to ask for a spoon if you want to slurp up the sauce. The marrow coast cioppino was too tomato acidic. The marrow had no flavor. One of our muscles didn't open and they still served it to us. Willing to go back to try other dishes. read more

We came on Sunday for dinner and got a table right away. Donnie and Mya served our table and they were fantastic. Excellent service and the food was delicious. I will be coming back. read more

The food and ambiance was everything we ordered the truffle cream oyster mushrooms to start, which was so light and delicious! Then ordered the dakjuk and the marrow coast cioppino which I would highly recommend! The dakjuk was so flavorful, light and comforting. The poached egg on top gave the dish some richness without making it feel heavy. The pieces of bacon and I believe pickled jalapeños just added some wonderful saltiness sprinkled into every bite. Would make wonderful leftovers or just a good, comforting bowl when you're craving jook. Now the marrow coast cioppino was absolutely phenomenal. If you love bone marrow and seafood you'll love this dish. The bone marrow was cooked perfectly and the fat seeping into the dish totally elevated every bite. Served with sliced charred focaccia that was perfectly crispy but held its soft fluffiness. Truly one of the best, and most unique dishes I've had in a while. We finished with the mango pancakes and duuuddeeee they were some of the best pancakes period. Topped with a mango whipped cream and fresh cubed mango, the pancakes themselves were soft, fluffy and buttery. Literal perfection in every bite. It is served with maple syrup on the side for optional serving. Would 1000% come again, and plan to soon to try out all the other intriguing items on the menu. I really hope this place lasts because I can see this becoming the new go to spot in San Mateo. read more

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The truffle cream oyster mushrooms stood out as a starter (please order if you're reading this). I'm glad we had a side of fries because once we finished the ciabatta bread, there was still some cream sauce that we didn't want to waste. The creme brulee french toast wasn't too sweet and I enjoyed the caramelized bits. It did have a bit too much cream, so I didn't touch the syrup that it came with. Ambiance of the restaurant was lovely with comfy velvet couches and fresh flowers. The upstairs and downstairs layout with the large glass windows makes the space feel open and airy. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu! read more

Whisper - Truffle cream oyster mushroom - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

So happy to have another breakfast spot in downtown San Mateo! Fully acknowledge that we were there on their 3rd day of operation so totally understand they're still figuring things out. But overall we have a great experience at 8:30 am on a Saturday. The ambiance is bright with lots of natural night, comfortable chairs and colorful pops or color. They did a great job with the space. The service was 10/10 perfect. Everyone was so nice and checked in on us multiple times, very friendly, engaged and responsive. Our waters were never empty! The food was really good! Poached eggs were cooked perfectly. Fries were deliciously seasoned and crispy. really enjoyed the potato medley that came with my breakfast. Ours dishes were flavorful and presentation was insta worthy for sure. A few suggestions which I'm sure they're working on -more drink options -include a lime wedge with the corn -post hours on the door - need jam/jelly -salt and pepper on tables -the menu is a bit confusing, maybe that was just us I'm sure all the things above are in the works. Overall we look forward to coming back again soon for the yummy food and great service. We ordered: corn ribs, Latin scramble, & the morning edition. Total was $61. read more

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Found this gem on YELP! Just flew into town and needed breakfast. Seated immediately and the decor was beautiful. Sage green my fav!! (1 star) Ordered coffee and it was hot and strong and flavorful. Served with real cream in little pitcher, not processed crap. (star 2) Custom breakfast ordered and it was so pretty. Lots of fluffy scrambled eggs, fresh salad with sweet cherry tomatoes, an intricately cut sausage with lots of crispy edges and focaccia was served to me. On top were sprinkled edible flowers. Great touch! 3rd stars. 4th star for great service when the place was quite busy. All the servers were very attentive. Thank you Whisper for such a great goodie experience. read more

The food was great and a vast amount of unique options to choose from on the menu. However, the portions and seating arrangements could use some work. The service was great and food came out quickly. The building is gorgeous with high ceilings and art all over the walls. Definitely plan on returning for dinner sometime soon! read more

What a great addition to downtown San Mateo! We passed by on our way to a different place for Saturday night dinner which the recently launched and wait didn't seem toolong so decided to give it a try. So glad we did! The have transformed the space from Wursthall communal long tables to these cozy (and very comfortable!!! Huge plus now a days ) configurable seating options. The only thing is that hasn't changed or improved is the noise level- the space still carries a lot of noise so expect a constant having to speak up and over the dining room din. But the atmosphere is lovely, servers are friendly and the food is delish! We tried the must get kim chi carbonara and the burger the carbonara has all the right Yemen's and is really a generous portion very filling and totally splittable. The burger was stacked high with topping and comes with the best and generous portion fries- not listed in the menu but would even get a side of them if possible! The only things with burger were it little hard to mange esp with all the topping compounded by the too thickly sliced tomato and it was a bit salty. But the bacon jam is fire and def ask for more on the side it needs it and is great to dip fries in. It is nice we saw they have the upstairs area where a group was celebrating a birthday ( there were actually two while we were there!) a nice choice to have for a small group or gathering. Def would come back -the price point given the size of servings is actually a deal! read more

Whisper - Burger bacon, bacon jam avocado mushrooms tomato and pickled jalapeños with heat! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came here with my besties today to check out this newly opened spot, and we had such a great time at Whisper. Everything looked beautiful and tasted just as good -- from the fluffy omelet with fresh avocado to the perfectly done toast and sweet bites. The vibe was bright and welcoming, perfect for catching up and enjoying a relaxed brunch together. We left happy, full, and already talking about bringing more friends back next time. Definitely a new favorite brunch spot for us read more

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

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