Hapa Bistro — Restaurant in San Bruno

Hapa Bistro opened in January 2025 offering a casual lunch menu and a 4-course prix fixe tasting menu with optional non-alcoholic botanical-infused drink pairings. Lunch is currently available for dine in and takeout. Dinner is reservation only and seating is quite limited.

My partner and I made a Saturday night reservation to celebrate a birthday. The vibe is elegant, but not stuffy. The interior of their small, unassuming storefront is enlivened with houseplants, anchored by warmly hued wood tables and chairs. The service is attentive without verging into obsequious.

Each course was well presented, and we had the option of adding patê en croute a la carte for an additional $25 as well as a series of 4 non-alcoholic beverage pairings. We opted to share one patê, which came with bread, and we tried two of the house-made botanical drinks. The tamarind, well-balanced and redolent of sweet/sour apples, was our favorite.

The intention behind each dish was clear, and the menu was well-balanced overall. The contrast between richness, sourness and gentle acidity reflected the French/Japanese fusion approach. The hamachi appetizer, topped with a kind of pineapple salad, might have been my favorite dish, but the filet mignon main is also in contention. The accompanying port wine sauce was a gorgeous velvet. I just wish there were more of it. Beet puree was a thoughtful addition.

I’m very excited to visit again as their menu seems to change seasonally, if not more frequently. I’m also looking forward to seeing what they do with the drink pairings once they get their liquor license.

For an unfussy but elegant date night or celebration for a couple or very small group, you can’t go wrong with Hapa Bistro. I thought the price point made our first visit an excellent value, but remember this is a tasting menu so do not expect...

Found this new spot on Resy and booked the 8p seating on a whim - and what a treat, the food was delicious! They are still getting off the ground - so don't let the lack of reviews deter you - go check them out before they get busy.

Food: it's a $70 4-course tasting menu and every dish was delicious - each a tasty combination of textures and flavors with a beautiful presentation (unfortunately I forgot to take pics but you can see some on yelp or on their instagram). The sauces were especially good. Portions were reasonable - not huge, but we left full and satisfied. You can find the menu on their website or Instagram.

Service: It's a small spot with maybe 16 seats currently with a 2-man chef and waiter team. We were the only ones at the 8p seating so service was obviously impeccable.

Ambience: located in a strip mall so parking is easy. They've done a good job turning their space into a reasonable upscale dining spot.

Would definitely recommend - and we will definitely be back again as the menu will change monthly...

Fantastic prix fixe tasting menu at an excellent price point for the quality! It's French cuisine (we had a lovely fig galette and scallops gratin), but with Asian inflections (the stuffed pork with Japanese style sweet potato mash was another highlight). A thoughtful wine list pairs well with the food (a Loire Valley sauvignon blanc went perfectly with our meal), as well as a solid mocktail selection. It's hidden in a run of the mill strip mall, but inside with its understated but elegant decor you wouldn't know it! I'm sure the menu will change seasonally, so...