Best Restaurants for Spicy Food in San Mateo

48 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Mateo, CA | Downtown (Central Park) restaurant

1. Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Mateo, CA | Downtown (Central Park)

4.7

Exceptional(753)

Price: Expensive

• Japanese • San Mateo

Booked 35 times today

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other! Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

A photo of Amour Amour Wine Bar & Tapas restaurant

2. Amour Amour Wine Bar & Tapas

4.4

Awesome(117)

Price: Moderate

• Tapas / Small Plates • San Mateo

Booked 3 times today

Amour Amour celebrates 10 years anniversary with the relaxed lifestyle, where small plates, good drinks and a cozy and tranquil atmosphere are all part of the experience. Guests can start with the sachet de prosciutto wrapped with goat cheese, fig jam, almonds and herbes de Provence for an introduction to Amour Amour’s culinary French and Spanish style. Popular hot tapas options include the Spanish seafood paella and Spanish meatballs in a sauce consisting of tomato, nutmeg and paprika, The roasted patatas bravas with spicy tomato aioli is another favorite. Amour Amour’s cold tapas plates, such as the Oregano octopus, capers , or the burrata capresse , are flavorful and refreshing ,squid ink paella . For a sweet bite, enjoy the tropical coconut panna cotta with mango puree. Be sure to wash your meal down with a house-made sangria. Bon appetit !!!Family owned and operated !

A photo of Rise Woodfire - San Mateo restaurant

3. Rise Woodfire - San Mateo

4.4

Awesome(638)

Price: Moderate

• American • San Mateo

Booked 34 times today

Proudly local and family-owned, we serve elevated comfort food including wood-fired pizza and rotisserie fare in the heart of Downtown San Mateo (located inside a historical train station!). Try local favorites like our signature pizzas, prime ribs and roast chickens, as well as many vegan and vegetarian-friendly dishes to choose from. Our indoor and outdoor dining are open, so come experience our grand main dining room or dine outside in our state-of-the-art heated covered patio -- kids love watching the trains go by! Takeout service for pickup and delivery are available - Order online through our website www.risewoodfire.com.For table reservations of 13 or more, please contact us directly at info@risewoodfire.com

A photo of The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar restaurant

4. The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar

4.6

Exceptional(375)

Price: Moderate

• French American • San Mateo

Booked 28 times today

The Barrel Bistro and Wine Bar welcomes everyone with selective wines selection and many pairings superbly with a wide variety of cuisine. With selective cheeses and charcutiers, hundreds of different wines, seafood,and meats.The Barrel Bistro&Wine Bar attracts colleagues for a drink after work, business dinners, a quick bite or drink before a show, late night revelers, families for Sunday brunch and more.

5. Porterhouse

4.7

Exceptional(1689)

Price: Expensive

• Steakhouse • San Mateo

Booked 20 times today

The renowned art of dry aging finally arrives in San Mateo, as our new dry aging window is now completed. We are proud to be the only restaurant on the Peninsula (In between San Francisco & San Jose) to have an in-house dry aging facility. Our new menu featuring these marvelous cuts of beef is now available.To accompany your steak, our Wine List celebrates the acclaimed wines of Napa Valley, Willamette Valley, France and Italy. In addition to our steak and chop offerings, our Chef provides for a daily selection of fresh fish and seafood.Whether you are having a romantic dinner, entertaining some friends and family, having a business meeting, or hosting a private party, we will provide you with the ideal setting for your next outing.*Please note that we have re-located 2 blocks away to 164 S B Street, San Mateo, CA 94401

6. Izakaya Ginji

4.6

Exceptional(235)

Price: Expensive

• Japanese • San Mateo

Booked 20 times today

Izakaya Ginji, located in downtown San Mateo, is a Japanese gastropub specializing in Yakitori and tapas style dishes. Izakaya Ginji also has a vast selection of rare Sake and unique Beers. For Japanese spirits, the restaurant also offers a variety of Shochu.We have 10minutes grace period. Please call us if you are running later than 10 minutes after your reservation time.Due to limited seating, dining is limited to 2hours until further notice.Please be sure to include your children or your service animal as a head count for accurate reservation!Also, we are now taking reservations for our INDOOR TABLE ONLY. ***We will NOT accommodate any requests for outdoor patio seating. Reservations are strictly for INDOOR ONLY*** We will be NOT allowing any outside food and drinks. We look forward to providing you with an authentic Japanese dining experience .

A photo of Pacific Catch San Mateo restaurant

7. Pacific Catch San Mateo

4.8

Exceptional(1440)

Price: Moderate

• Seafood • San Mateo

Booked 7 times today

Pacific Catch is a WestCoast Fish House dedicated to delivering high quality sustainable seafood with a unique perspective. From the day we opened we've been mindful about where our ingredients come from and how to bring to life the vibrant flavors and feeling of the Pacific. It's our commitment to our guests to keep things interesting, innovative, wholesome and thoughtfully sourced. That's why we've formalized our relationship with the Monterey Bay Seafood Aquarium's Seafood Watch, James Beard Foundation's Smart Catch and the Surfrider Foundation by becoming a partner and bringing on a director of sustainability to help steward these efforts.We will be following the most stringent protocols on cleaning, sanitization, social distancing, and protections for employee health including temperature taking and the use of protective masks and gloves.

A photo of Vespucci Ristorante Italiano restaurant

8. Vespucci Ristorante Italiano

4.8

Exceptional(855)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • San Mateo

Please consider:*Kitchen closes at 8:30pm, we place last order at 8:15pm and we don’t accept any reservation after 8:00pm*Being a small restaurant, it is crucial for us to know in advance if the number of guests in your party changes, or you want to change the time, or you are planning to not come at all. Please avoid to just not show up, but kindly call to inform us, it will be much appreciated. If we don’t hear from you, we will re-assign the table after 15 minutes. If you need to increase the number of guests on a reservation made through Open Table, please call the restaurant.*We don’t take groups larger than 10 people on Fridays and Saturdays. *About birthday celebrations : we don’t have a free dessert policy, if you order one from our dessert chart, we will bring it to the table with the candle. You can also bring your own cake, our cutting fee is $3 per person.*Corkage fee is $25 per bottle.*We don't longer offer outdoor seating, only indoor dining and take out.

9. Twelvemonth

4.6

Exceptional(590)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Burlingame

Booked 17 times today

At Twelvemonth, our approach begins with passion and respect for people and the planet. Everyone can play a part in imagining a healthier, more sustainable world. Our role is to bring people together with delicious, 100% plant-based food. Our passion and respect have driven us to craft a culinary destination to suit every occasion: from your morning coffee to a happy hour beer at the bar to an eight-course tasting menu. We source from local farmers, champion waste reduction, and push the boundaries of vegetable-first creativity. Twelvemonth exists to foster genuine connections. It’s a place where we share compelling stories and aim to build a better future together—one that works in closer, tastier harmony with the environment.

A photo of Flores - San Mateo restaurant

10. Flores - San Mateo

4.4

Awesome(95)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • San Mateo

Booked 30 times today

Step into the heart of Mexican tradition at Flores - San Mateo, nestled in the stunning San Francisco Bay Area gem of San Mateo, California. Our menu, a vibrant tapestry of traditional Mexican dishes, bridges the culinary gap between The Gulf and The Pacific. This commitment to traditional Mexican cuisine is mirrored in our beverage selection and the restaurant's design, creating an experience that truly honors Mexico's rich culinary culture.4% surcharge will be added to all guest checks for employee benefit, including health insurance, commuter benefit, sick days, and minimum wage ordinance.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

C
Carlos
Tahoe / Reno Area •8 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Here’s the revised review: I had an excellent experience overall at Elena’s! The drinks were fantastic, and the atmosphere was perfect. The bartender was awesome—super attentive and friendly. The busboys were amazing, going above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. Honestly, they gave me better service than my waitress, who wasn’t quite on the ball. While her service left something to be desired, the rest of the staff really stepped up and made it a great night. Big thanks to the team at Elena’s for making it memorable!
More info
Elena'sPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Forest Hill / West Portal
•
4.7
B
Brent
Atlanta Metro •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Great! Staff was awesome and the atmosphere was fantastic! Just what you would expect from a San Francisco experience! Great job guys!
More info
Matador - San FranciscoPrice: Expensive• Mexican• Downtown / Union Square
•
4.5
M
Marla
San Francisco Bay Area •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
The food was delish and the busses we spit on. Will be going back!
More info
RasoiPrice: Moderate• Indian• Burlingame
•
4.8
K
Karen
San Francisco Bay Area •23 reviews
4.0
Dined on 27 Oct 2024
Fifteen of us were warmly welcomed for lunch at two tables. With a vast menu, the gluten-free person and the vegetarian at our table were satisfied. The food was brought quickly and overall was very flavorful. I enjoyed the fish with veggies. The salt & pepper tofu was crispier than I’ve had but tasty. Overall, everyone enjoyed the afternoon.
More info
Crouching Tiger RestaurantPrice: Moderate• Chinese• Redwood City
•
4.1
AS
AlisaS
Las Vegas •13 reviews
5.0
Dined on 11 Sept 2023
As always, the location had plenty of parking and wasn't too crowded. We made Priority reservations, in advance, through OpenTable. We were seated within 2-3 minutes upon arrival for dinner. Our meal consisted of the stuffed mushrooms appetizer, 1lb snow crab, salmon dinner, and I had the Lobster Punch for my cocktail. Everything came out hot and appealing to eat. Our server was a little more attentive with others than to my Mother and I, but other staff stepped in when necessary.
More info
Red Lobster - San BrunoPrice: Moderate• Seafood• San Bruno
•
4

Best Restaurants for Spicy Food in San Mateo

Price

Cuisine

Regions

Areas

Top Rated

Dining Options

Seating Options

Award-winning

Accessibility

48 restaurants available nearby

1. Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Mateo, CA | Downtown (Central Park)

2. Amour Amour Wine Bar & Tapas

3. Rise Woodfire - San Mateo

4. The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar

5. Porterhouse

6. Izakaya Ginji

7. Pacific Catch San Mateo

8. Vespucci Ristorante Italiano

9. Twelvemonth

10. Flores - San Mateo

See what locals rave about

Explore OpenTable