Porridge & Things — Restaurant in Millbrae

Our visit to the restaurant was disappointing from the moment we arrived. Despite the presence of numerous waitstaff, we had to actively seek attention to be seated. The food, while generous in portion, would be on the saltier side for most.

The service, however, was the most disheartening aspect of our experience. Our waiter exhibited a consistently negative demeanor and questioned the adequacy of our $5 tip, despite providing minimal service—no refills, no extra napkins, and no check-ins throughout our meal.

In response to his visible annoyance, we reluctantly added an additional $11 in cash. Regrettably, this gesture went unnoticed. As we were leaving, he pursued us, aggressively demanding more money and questioning the quality of the food, until another staff member intervened.

This behavior was not only unprofessional but also unacceptable. A tip is meant to reflect the quality of service, not the food, and certainly not an entitlement. The whole encounter left a bitter taste, overshadowing any enjoyment we might have found in the meal. We expect better from a dining establishment and were profoundly disappointed by this experience.

Upon reviewing other customer feedback and speaking with fellow patrons, it appears this issue of seemingly mandatory and aggressively solicited/arguing for tips is a recurring problem at this...

Food was good, we got the porridge for two but portions are huge and can feed 3-4 people.

Service was horrible. We arrived at 2pm and got served our food around 2:15. The waiter came by after dropping off our food with the check and left it at our table (already quite rude since I was with a friend). He came by 2:18 and asked where’s the check. I said we’re not done, he told us they close at 2:30. I checked my watch and said there’s at least 10 more minutes. He said the sign at the door says they close 2:30. I asked him why he took us in at 2pm and didn’t say anything if they don’t want customers. He said there’s a hours of operation at the door and they close at 2:30. I paid and even tipped them (regretting now) and told them we’re never coming back.

If you’re closing soon, a simple professional approach is to let the customer know before they sit down and order. If your customer is in the middle of their meal, give them a few extra minutes and let them know nicely instead of dropping a check and telling them to hurry up and kick them out.

Rude rude rude. Never coming back even though I love their congee and...

Don’t understand why this place is not above 4.5 stars. The food is so yummy and definitely worth a 5 star… I’m not from Chiu Chow where this restaurant is all about, but I’m from Hokkien which is adjacent to Chiu Chow and our foods have so much in common. I’m feeling home dining here. The food here is extremely authentic, incredibly flavorful, and hearty——foods are tasty of course but most importantly, you’re guaranteed to walk away feeling comfortable and satiated. 蒜香鸡 has that crusty skin and onion hint and we cannot stop, 海鲜粥 is so flavorful, 煎带鱼 and 蚝烙 are way beyond our expectation because they’re done just right with crusty outside and tasteful inside. Even their 清炒芥兰 is so good and I’ll crave for more. Everything we ordered are top notch among all Chinese foods I’ve had in the states. Of course, I might be biased because I organically like this type of food due to its similarity to that of my hometown. I can’t guarantee that you’ll like it but at least give this place a try if...