Great atmosphere. The mall offers the big department stores of Macy’s and Nordstroms, but the renovations are most apparent outside and in and around the food court. Fabulous indoor and outdoor seating!

The Meet & Greet Bluey & Bingo event was awesome. Only negative was no shade when you got closer to the front of the line. No vendors or staff offering free water to those waiting in the heat. Otherwise, a great event. Also the meet & greet with Jack Skellington was awesome!!! Sally appearing too was an unexpected and happy surprise. Looking forward to the next meet & greet. My daughter loves these!

A great place for shopping and memories! I had a lovely time Hillsdale Shopping Center. I went to Macy’s to get a special gold bracelet for my anniversary (a little treat for myself! 💛), and my husband Miguel picked out some new clothes and cozy pajamas. The stores had a great selection, and the shopping center was clean, easy to navigate, and very comfortable to walk around. After shopping, we had a tasty lunch at the food court, which had plenty of options and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. It was a fun, smooth day — full of little joys and shared moments. We’ll definitely be back! — Lizdalia

Hillsdale Shopping Mall has been a delightful experience every time I visit. From its diverse selection of stores to its impeccable cleanliness, it's evident that this mall prioritizes customer satisfaction. Whether I'm looking to shop, dine, or simply stroll, Hillsdale consistently delivers. Kudos to the management and staff for maintaining such a top-tier shopping environment. A must-visit in San Mateo!

The newer, outdoor part of the mall is lively and beautifully constructed with ample seating and the requisite fountain and sculptures. Plenty of fun food options with indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor part of the mall is more basic and forgettable with the same old stores you see at every mall across America. The food court, which is the anchor that connects the new mall and the old mall, is expansive and inviting with colorful varied seating and decent upscale fast food choices. Very clean and chill on a Saturday July afternoon.

The shopping mall is a nice place to hang out with friends and family. Most of the time it’s not crowded. There are always some shops not in business every time I visit so it gives me a not-full feeling, as I’m used to the fact that all shops are opened every single day when I was in Asia (so active even on public holidays, and those are the time they get the most customers, always crowded) and Canada (except on public holidays, the Canadians close the entire mall). There are a lot of fun shops and restaurants to enjoy in the dining terrace.

So glad that this shopping mall was renovated over the past few years. The new shopping areas are clean and beautifully designed, including a large indoor food court area that’s significantly better than before, along with several new restaurant additions.

I went to the event center for the gem show. I was surprised that the parking ticket of $15 ( when using credit card and $20 if paying by cash) did not include the cost of entry to the event. The entry ticket when buying at the event is $8 and they take only cash. There was plenty of parking closer to the event center. The gem show was very good with vendors display well organized and easy for attendees to walk through and view.

Pretty decent event venue, went there for OpenSauce. Lack of water fountains and water bottle fillers seems to be weird omission from the design of the complex. Bathrooms get crowded fast, don't seem like they're large enough for the spaces they serve.

Been here twice. Once to take the professional engineer exam many years ago and once for Open Sauce in 2025. Both were great.

I haven't been here in a long time. I had gone with my niece for the West Coast Asian Foodie Festival. The place was big and clean as I had remembered. They had a stage setup outside for performances. A children's play , vendor area, and a ton of food vendors.

I went to San Mateo Fair yesterday for senior day with free admission. That was fine, but parking is $20 if paying cash, and $15.00 for credit card. So I used a debit card. The turnout of people was more than usual. Lots of disabled people from nursing homes and also lots of children! Think they got in free? What really surprised me is how things have moved around, and the horticulture exhibits were so minimal, I was very unimpressed. Normally it takes up half of a hall, but it was in one tiny segment of a bldg. Not at all resembling bygone years. Totally disappointing! The hall for children had a Toy exhibit that took up most of one building. Looked fine and offered lots for kids. I checked out the photography exhibits, and culinary ones also. That was quite interesting. But when it comes to food and drinks, BEWARE! First thing outside the entrance they will not allow ANY water in Any type of bottle, you must dump it. I had to buy a bottle of Aqua Fina, for $4.00. Then later in afternoon I was near the community stage and wanted more water so went into the bldg adjacent where they always had beer, wine, water, and food. The door was open, but nothing was inside anymore! I had to go back to the food court and pay another $4.00 to a vendor. My friend and I were shocked at the high prices of food. We ended up choosing the Greek Gyro sandwich, and she added a salad, (very tiny) mine was $17.00, hers $20.00. All the food vendors were very similar in price. Even the barbecue offering a cheeseburger, 1/3lb., was $16.00. I decided after seeing it, that it looked worth about $3.00. Late afternoon we opted to go to the ice crem vendor which offers everything in ice cream, and had a waffle cone sundae that only cost $11.00. Terrific, as usual! I think that was Mrs. J's, Ice Cream in the food court. I had looked for the vendor selling deep fried zucchini and onion rings, and stuffed baked potatoes, but again, the vendor wasn't there, like last year. Disappointing. For senior day I had expected some big band swing, but there was only Hawaiian dancers, (all seniors). In one building there is a butterfly room, and due to my phobia I could not make myself go into it, but my friend did. Before you enter, you are given a cotton swab, to hold at arms length and the butterflies will land on it, as they did for my friend. Mostly monarch. You are told not to touch any of them even if they land on you, which they will. She enjoyed it. I enjoyed seeing the butterfly stilt walker, I encountered and took photo with. We went in all areas of the fair, but somehow it just seemed different than previous years, and didn't inspire me that much. When you can't afford to eat, it's maybe a sign not to go anymore? We did enjoy looking at the hundreds of beautiful handmade quilts, some exquisite. My friend also enjoyed so much of the crochet work, not your ordinary crocheting either. We went through the farm building and petted many friendly goats. Seeing lots of other smaller animals in small cages, isn't exactly a good feeling, but we did see a rabbit that looked like a Yorkshire terrier, as the breed is called a Lion Head. Tiny ears, and long mane over it's head. Very unusual. All the rabbits are good to see. If you're taking kids to the fair, be ready to spend a days salary on feeding them. The 4H girls weren't there, selling their cakes like they always did. Only costing $3-$4.00 slice. Food cannot be brought into the fair, they want you to buy it instead. We didn't spend time or money buying from market vendors, whose prices also went up. Three bags of 6.oz candy for $20.00. If you have to take food and put it in an ice chest in your car, you can go out if you get your hand stamped and can re-enter. This year's theme is aimed for children more than usual. Lots of unusual things, and old toys exhibited, from back in the 1950's,60's,70's, and we saw PAC Man machines, a real trip down memory lane, also for those of us that can remember Mr.Potatoe Head?

This is a good place to see a convention. It has enough bathrooms and water fountains and the signage is pretty clear. The parking lot is huge. It was an efficient event.

Some parts of the facility are very undersized for the number of people it can fit. For example, there are only about 3 restroom stalls on each side of the central building, even though thousands of people can fit in that building. Much worse was the parking lot entrance. It’s severely in need of automation, because it took me 1 hour and 15 minutes to get through the line into the parking lot. The line extended for over half a mile into the surrounding neighborhood. Aside from that, it’s an old but nice facility. Looks like it was built in the 1970s or 80s, but it’s clean and spacious.

Tables and the bar are dirty. The bartender never wiped anything down during my visit. The freezer door in the kitchen is so dirty and gross. The cook is touching that, then touching your food. Nobody asked if our food was good or if we needed anything else. The fish was good. The hot ketchup they used to serve is now ketchup mixed with BBQ sauce (gross). The place has gone down hill since last I visited. I won’t be coming back.

Remember your first visit to a pub in England or Ireland? The Swinging Door brings back all that feeling and more. It's been around a long while (I still call it the Prince of Wales). They were the first foodies with the incredibly hot Habanero burger. I got a bumper sticker for finishing one. And felt the effects for a couple days. Let's just say warmth. The back patio gives off a different, hidden fort, tropical vibe compared to the traditional inside. Both are great. Grab some malt vinegar for your chips, a pint and a burger and enjoy this pub. Right now!

Stopped in for a drink before heading to sushi next door and was pleasantly surprised. The premium Martini was....uhm, let's just say prices are more than reasonable; honestly, they’re fantastic for the quality. The only questionable part: A very inebriated patron at the bar already deep into her cups at 4 p.m. I mean… day drinking is one thing, but full-on drunk before happy hour? Impressive or concerning—you decide. Jokes aside, the Guinness was solid, the prices unbeatable, and I’ll definitely be back to try the deep-fried grub. Cheers family!

Fish and Chips is legit with the tasty batter and soft meaty fish. Karaoke is great but now have downgraded it to 4 stars. Their list now has capacity. And at 11pm on a Friday, DJ no longer accepts new singers. That’s unfortunate.

NICE QUIET PLAY WHEN WE WENT FOR LUNCH. LADY WAS SWEET. LISA WAS HER NAME. GREAT FOOD OPITIONS. FRIED CLAMS. FISH. HAMBUGERS CHICKEN DISHES TUNA SANDWICH FISH TACOS.

We came for the 'dualing' pianos, still mentioned on their website and on event calendars they promote throughout the bay area well into 2025. However, there are no pianos, as we were informed by our very nice bartender. Not since Covid. There was even no live music on a Saturday night at 9:45 pm. So 2 stars for the inaccurate information. So, while this is perfectly fine place to drink British beer, and the food looked decent, be aware of these facts if you are interested in live music. Don't make the same mistake as me, this is not the place to go.

Great little dive-y bar with tasty good and fun bartenders. The crowd is diverse and can be a lot of fun. I highly recommend it for the quirkiness, fun factor, and the good drinks. No food after 10 at night on Wednesday, but there is karaoke. If that happens to float your boat.

Definitely one of downtown San Mateo’s gems. It’s a very calming place to get away and take a small walk, especially when the weather is nice. There are many trees and plants, and the fish in the pond make the place feel even more alive. I cannot think of many other places on the Peninsula, maybe in the entire Bay, that have a tea garden like this. My only wish is that the open hours were longer, but this is not a complaint. Overall, very beautiful. 4/5.

An absolutely gorgeous spot to checkout if you're in the San Mateo area! If you're looking for a relaxing walk with a pond complete with koi and turtles and beautiful greenery...this is the place! It was also nice to see everyone enjoying the day and out doing activities! Very refreshing atmosphere!😸💖🌿✨

🌸 Ambiance & Scenery: The San Mateo Japanese Garden is an absolutely beautiful and serene place. It offers a truly tranquil escape with its meticulously maintained landscapes, traditional Japanese elements like a pagoda and teahouse, and a peaceful koi pond. It's a perfect spot for quiet contemplation or a leisurely stroll. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Activities: It's a wonderful place for visitors of all ages, offering a peaceful environment to enjoy nature and traditional Japanese garden design. 👍 Overall Impression: The San Mateo Japanese Garden is a true gem in San Mateo. It's a highly recommended destination for anyone looking for a beautiful, peaceful, and culturally enriching experience. It's a fantastic place to unwind and appreciate the beauty of nature.

We love doing engagement photos at the Japanese Garden! It's perfect and our couple had so much fun. Can't wait to be back to do more engagement photos

Around half an hour drive from Stanford, 1.5 hours by public transport, 15 min from San Francisco Airport. Best garden I've seen in a long while. So well maintained. There were many koi koi fish in the pond. There were around 5 turtles 🐢 too...so cute. The trees were beautiful too. Seemed straight out of an anime. There's a statue of Lord Buddha too. Small bridges were also very aesthetic. A really good place for photography. Quite close to San Mateo bus station as well as Caltrain station. Must visit❤️

Beautiful garden. Free entry but they do close for private events, so recommend checking their website before you go.

Such a lovely peaceful garden in the middle of the city! Free entry is a cherry on top!! Make sure to visit the rose garden nearby and make a purchase in the arboretum

Seal Point Park is a wonderful spot to soak in the fresh air and take in the stunning views of the Bay Area. Conveniently located near Highway 101, it offers easy access and four parking areas for visitors. This expansive open space is perfect for a variety of activities, though it lacks tree cover—so it’s best to dress appropriately for the weather. Even on sunny days, the cool breeze keeps things pleasant. The tall grasses are alive with the sounds of chirping birds, creating a peaceful atmosphere, especially during early morning sunrise—a true hidden gem. The park features two restroom locations and a collection of unique wind sculptures that add an artistic touch to the landscape. Whether you're into biking, hiking, walking, or simply looking for a serene place to meditate, Seal Point Park offers something for everyone. It’s a great place to spend a few refreshing hours outdoors.

This really is a great spot to walk yourself or your dog! The huge dog park is well planned and ideal for pets. The trail goes north all the way to Coyote Point and beyond and all the way south along the edge of Foster City and beyond. The hill within the park is interesting with some sculptures and great view of the San Mateo Bridge San Francisco. Nearby is Ryder Park that has tables and BBQ facilities. Restrooms are also available. The Dog Park has water for the pets. There are benches to sit and take in the views.

Ran to this park on a lazy Sunday morning. Little hot to my liking but really enjoyed good views, different terrain, they have made 3 tracks - besides bay, and 2 trails above ground which you can take for better elevated views.

Seal Point Park was absolutely spectacular! Everything looked so fresh and green—it really felt like spring. The flowers and tall grass along the trail were beautiful, and walking through the path surrounded by wildflowers on both sides was just mesmerizing. The views of the water and the open sky added to the peaceful vibe. There’s also plenty of parking, which made the visit even easier. Such a lovely place to enjoy nature and take a calming walk!

Energizing park for outdoor activities and walking with your pet, friends or solo. Workout stairs are huge bonus. It’s a great place even in hot weather since there is always a nice breeze.

This is a great walking area in San Mateo and also happens to provide fantastic views as well. There is plenty of parking. There are also restrooms that are relatively clean. I walked this area, but there were many people riding on bikes along the trail as well as a lot of dogs enjoying the scenery.

Beautiful local park with stunning views of the bay area. On a clear day, you can see San Francisco, the East Bay, and the mountains to the west. The park has many trails going north and south as well as multiple routes around the main hill. There are two dog parts, one for small dogs, and one for large dogs and plenty of parking. The bathrooms are also really good and easily accessible. Great trail to hike with young kids as well.

Service was extremely slow and the staff was sassy and rude. I feel like the management there also lacks ethics and care for the job and customers. Also, look at how much chicken they put in this sandwich.

Stop here to get an apple pie pastry every time I am at Hillsdale Mall. Quality is inconsistent but the ingredients are the same. Thick sliced apples in a lattice pastry. When it’s fresh the pastry just breaks apart nicely. What I got was probably day old as it was harder to chew. Service is average. Also, I am insulted when I see the tip screen at checkout. You are asking me to tip you for just handing me the item that I selected over the counter?

This used to be a nice store for sit down sandwiches. Now its just an almost bare bakery. I sincerely hope that it returns to its past glory

Delicious sandwiches! Bakery items all looked delicious too. We took our sandwiches to the outdoor patio area by the fountains.

A family favorite, excellent pastries, sandwiches, soups. And a tremendous array of desserts my favorite Cream Brulee and Chocolate Eclairs. I had the Shrimp Bay sandwich one of the new additions to their Menu. It was a good choice. My daughter had the Turkey and avocado Sandwich, the other one had the Tomato Soup.

Oh my god! I love this bakery! It's bread tastes really good,and as an Asian. These bread really fits my taste, the white bread is very fluffy!!!!! ♡ love mango pastry too!

My favorite spot for sandwiches, salads, and pastries!!! Food there is so cheap and delicious! Ingredients taste super fresh as well. I even tried their weird sando bento box and it didn't disappoint me. I always come here and I shop in Hillsdale. I wouldn't bring a date or some random friend here because it's just a small simple cafe but I love coming here by myself

This place was too packed with people. It was very, very noisy inside, with many people drunk. We couldn’t relax and couldn’t catch up with friends at all. The food was okay, but not as good as expected 😓 Their rolls are recommended and pretty good, but the appetizers tasted just okay. The grilled squid was overcooked—too hard to chew. The edamame was too boiled—the beans got fat and very soft. The server lady also behaved poorly, and so many tiny points disappointed us.

Amazing food and service. The sashimi is definitely one of the best in the bay area! Chef Will and Tim are amazingly gorgeous, Emma and all the staff are so kind. Despite the long wait this place is awesome 💯

We came here for Happy Hour (5-6pm) and it was definitely worth it. It does get busy so come on time. The HH menu is pretty big. We got sashimi plate, couple rolls, and hamachi kama. All were great. Loved the crunchy spicy tuna roll because of the tiny crispy potato bits. Service was excellent and our waitresses were so kind and attentive. Even got a complimentary sake shot! Will def be back.

I cannot recommend this place enough in general BUT it shines during happy hour. The food was stellar and the sashimi literally melts in your mouth. I’m happy hour they had a discount on it! The rolls are fire too. Picture is the Mt Fuji roll. Lastly, I want to shout out the staff. Amazingly friendly. I really liked it here!

This place is an absolute staple in San Mateo and you have to try it. We got here 15 minutes to opening and were met with an anticipating line waiting to get in at opening. We were lucky enough to snag the last seats at the bar( which I highly recommend because the chefs are not only friendly but experts in the food they’re serving). Now for the food. We started off with the happy hour 20 piece assortment of sashimi which was so fresh and melt in your mouth. Personal favorite is the walu and escolar. The shishito peppers. Last time we came in they were out of the peppers and we were ecstatic when we found out they were back in. This dish is the perfect amount of savory and spice to munch on in between pieces of nigiri. We followed with the crispy salmon skin roll and the spicy salmon roll which was a true delicacy. We thought we were done but saw some Chef selection omakase come out and we knew we had to try it. I might be mistemebering but the selection included ( from left to right in the picture) Ō-toro, hotate, sake, kanpachi, chūtoro, maguro, salmon belly, and hamachi. a t was truly delicious and the PERFECT finishing taste. If I could give more stars I would, but all in all I highly recommend.

The BEST experience at Sapporo!!! We drove over here from Hayward (30 minutes away) because they had phenomenal reviews, and wow. We are SO glad we came here instead of a different restaurant. Kristy (our server) took fantastic care of us. The food was a 10/10 and Chef Will also gave us a special treat at the end of our meal. Sitting at the sushi bar was great too so that we could chat with the chefs as they worked while also having a comfortable dining experience. Can’t wait to come back already!

Came here by myself and had an amazing time. The happy hour is super good deal - sashimi are very fresh. I also had the today special - the Uni nigiri, Engawa nigiri and Wagyu nigiri are all amazing. Will come back again

Espetus in San Mateo offers a classic Brazilian steakhouse experience with a wide variety of expertly grilled meats, attentive service, and a lively atmosphere. The food is absolutely delicious—especially the picanha, which was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The salad bar was also impressive, with plenty of fresh, high-quality sides to balance out the meats. However, there were a couple of things that took away from the experience. While I understand that constant table-side meat service is part of the rodízio tradition, I felt a bit rushed. Servers came by so frequently that I barely had time to enjoy what was already on my plate. I personally prefer a more relaxed dining pace, so the rapid-fire service felt a little overwhelming. Another important note: for a restaurant that charges around $100 per person, the restroom conditions were disappointing. One of the toilets was broken, and the bathrooms were noticeably dirty. For a place with this kind of reputation and price point, the facilities should reflect the same level of quality and care as the food and service. All in all, Espetus delivers on flavor and experience, but there’s definitely room for improvement in comfort and ambiance—especially if they want to maintain a premium reputation.

Great Brazilian steakhouse experience! The service was attentive and friendly . The food quality was excellent. The steaks were juicy, flavorful and cooked perfectly. A bit pricey but worth it. What i recommend to try is the pudim and the tres leches dessert. They were delicious...Best to go is after 5pm for full experience and better menu options.

Amazing buffet for the meat lover. Great concept, great food, great service. Awesome for birthdays and special events. Expensive but worth it for a splurge.

I can’t believe I’ve never been to Espetus ! It’s the best place for some fun and delicious meats. The buffet was filled with all kinds of good food and u get ur free flow of bbq meats. My fav for the sirloin and pineapple. The waiters were very professional and nice. We also ordered a half bottle Chilean Pinot noir for $35, was cheap and surprisingly good! Would come back for our next gathering

My first time did not disappoint! Soo many selections of meat, appetizers, and sides. I was in awe 😱 everything was delicious! the Brazilian Martini is one of the best martinis I’ve had 😍

Meat didn't have much flavor and tasted like gas grill but it was still pretty good. Needs some spice, Herb, glazes and rosemary butter. The shrimp mashed potatoes was phenomenal. The service was great. Wife was a little disappointed there wasn't barbecued cheese with honey. All in all it was a good experience. I suggest try it at least once. I'd come back if they got some oak smoke and spices etc

If you are looking for the best steakhouse or meat-focused dining in the area, look no further. This place is a must-visit!

This place will scratch your itch for beef noodle soup, dumplings, and vegetables made in garlic. Reasonable prices, solid service, and usually no line. Order the fish dumplings. Trust me. And gotta love the achoy.

We just stumbled upon here cause Ramen Dojo was closing. Delicious! We ordered a beef noodle soup and a pork pancake. We'll be back!

Overall great place! Delicious food with many options. Although service can be a bit slow, the food is great!

4 stars for the food and the fact that we could do a ~$20 meal for two which is extremely rare in the Bay Area. We tried three items from their Beijing specials. Definitely try the super hot orange dipping sauce on the tables! Service wasn't super attentive but pleasant and courteous when we received it. -1 star for the overall cleanliness, could certainly do with a facelift. It did look like this place is more popular among the take out and delivery crowd than dine-in customers so maybe that explains it. Overall, a good no-frills option for a good pocket friendly meal.

I don't usually frequent Chinese restaurant but visited this restaurant during a group dinner gathering. I like the family-run restaurant style, traditional deco and down-to-earth atmosphere that gave me the feeling of being in an authentic local Chinese restaurant. Although most of the dishes the group ordered were new to me, I found the quality was very good and of great taste (though I cannot tell the authenticity). Pricing was well reasonable as with the amount. The manager (or owner?) was very friendly and sincere and I appreciated his warm treatment during our visit. Overall, I had a very pleasant dinning experience and would definitely visit again if I have a chance coming this way from south Bay.

Authentic Beijing food from an actually Beijing chef. There aren't many places you can get that. In general, his homemade noodles and homemade hot sauce are great. I really like the 炒饼. I don't even know of another restaurant where you can get those in America. The 白菜猪肉水饺 are spot-on northern style dumplings, with hearty, thick skins. The owner recommended that I come back and try the 麻辣牛筋凉面, and also that he makes 点心 on the weekends, which I'm really looking forward to. The 凉粉 may have been good for what it was, but honestly wasn't my thing, I found it a little too textureless, though his advice to try drinking it more like a soup was helpful. Also didn't love the 茄子猪肉卤面 or the 炸酱面, but they weren't bad either.

We were a party of 3. My wife got a Tofu dish. She said the Tofu was OK but the vegetables tasted stale/bad. I got Orange chicken. It was one of the least tasty I've ever eaten. The chicken tasted like it was already cooked before the dish was made. Our friend got lamb dumplings. It came with no sauce, which was a bit strange. He said it tasted good. Big disappointment. Not coming back.