Gao Viet Kitchen — Restaurant in San Mateo

Edit: I decided to try Gao again in San Francisco. Sadly, it was as terrible as this location. Stay tune for the review!

TLDR; if you’re new to Vietnamese food, you might enjoy Gao—it’s a decent starting point. But if you're looking for something that truly captures the essence of the cuisine, there are better spots around. It’s not bad, but it definitely didn’t live up to the hype for me.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Pros: Ribs in the Pho were exceptionally tender and flavorful. Friendly, professional service.

Cons: Very hard to find parking. Broth in the Pho was overwhelmingly salty. Disconnected from authentic flavors. Overpriced for the experience, with a $80 price tag on the Lobster Banh Canh feeling particularly hard to justify. A single plate of bean sprouts for three bowls of soup? Small oversight that could easily have been avoided.

Ambiance Gao sets a sleek, modern tone from the moment you walk in. It’s clear the restaurant is aiming for an upscale feel, appealing to a broader crowd, rather than strictly adhering to the cozy, informal vibe typical of many Vietnamese eateries.

Service The service was attentive and friendly, though there was a noticeable delay in refilling our water bottle, a minor inconvenience considering the saltiness of the Pho broth.

The Food

Pho (4/10) A letdown in the most anticipated dish. The broth, which should be the heart and soul of any Pho, was regrettably too salty. The flavor profile reminded me of something closer to canned beef stock than the rich, layered broth typically achieved through long hours of simmering. For $39, the portion felt disproportionate. While the tender short ribs were the standout—slow-cooked to a beautiful tenderness—the lack of the expected rare steak or flank was disappointing. It’s a dish that, despite its high-quality ingredients, misses the mark in execution.

Lobster Banh Canh (6/10) This dish was much better, with a broth that was pleasant, though not extraordinary. It was close to authentic, with just the right amount of complexity, but didn’t offer the WOW factor one might expect at this price point. The lobster, while fresh, didn’t shine as brightly or enhance the flavor as I’d hoped. The dish felt slightly underwhelming given its $80 price tag.

Bun Bo Hue (3.5/10) Perhaps the most disappointing of the trio, this dish simply didn’t capture the essence of Bun Bo Hue. The absence of shrimp paste—an essential component of this central Vietnamese classic dish—made it feel watered down and more like a generic spicy noodle soup than the bold, distinctive dish it should have been. They over used ground lemongrass, which clashed with the broth and threw off the balance.

Overall Experience While Gao uses some high-quality ingredients, the dishes feel toned down to appeal to a broader audience, sacrificing the boldness and authenticity that make Vietnamese cuisine so distinctive. It’s a decent introduction for newcomers, but for those familiar with authentic Vietnamese flavors, it doesn’t quite live up to...

My wife and I have been eager to visit this establishment ever since we came across a post about it on Instagram. We finally had the opportunity to dine there on a Saturday for a belated Valentine's Day celebration. Upon our arrival approximately 20 minutes after opening, we found the restaurant to be already at full capacity. Consequently, we had to wait for approximately 30 minutes to be seated. During this waiting period, we observed a continuous flow of food being served from the kitchen, accompanied by tantalizing aromas that heightened our anticipation.

Once we were seated, water was promptly provided for my wife and our son, who unexpectedly joined us for the date. We proceeded to place our order, selecting the pork belly dish and the Gaozilla. Regarding our beverage choices, we opted for the Peachee Way, specifically the small bowl serving, rather than the single drink option. I had to clarify the specific drink I was referring to, as the waiter initially expressed unfamiliarity with the name. He then confirmed my request for the smaller size of the beverage.

The pork belly was served promptly within 5 to 10 minutes. The meat was tender, and the skin was crispy, providing an exceptional culinary experience. The accompanying dipping sauce perfectly complemented the richness of the pork.

Subsequently, the Gaozilla arrived, exceeding expectations. Its impressive size matched the enticing visuals depicted in promotional materials. Our son promptly identified the meat and expressed a desire for it. We proceeded to partake in the noodles, meat, and broth from the main bowl, finding the bone marrow particularly delectable. The top layer exhibited a delightful crispiness, adding an appealing textural element. The meat was expertly cooked to a near-perfect medium, with a slight hint of overdoneness. Nevertheless, the flavor was remarkable, and the meat retained its succulence.

As we savored the meal, we noticed the absence of the accompanying drink. Approximately 5 minutes later, a single drink cup was presented, prompting us to clarify that we had requested the small bowl. The staff promptly apologized and rectified the error, presenting us with the desired small bowl. The drink proved to be a delightful accompaniment, reminiscent of a refreshing horchata beverage, without being excessively strong.

In conclusion, the overall experience and quality of the food were highly satisfactory. The sole minor inconvenience encountered was the initial oversight regarding the drink order. It is advisable to arrive early, as the establishment does not accept advance reservations. The wait is undoubtedly worthwhile, and I eagerly anticipate a...

We've seen many IG stories of this place in San Mateo, and we were curious if the place was primarily IG worthy or was the food actually delicious. Fortunately, it leaned on the latter.

We went with a 6 top so we were able to order a ton of appetizers before our monstrous main courses. The food was great albeit a bit on the sweet side. We got the Wrap and Poll, which was interesting but the rice noodle that you use to wrap the other protein (grilled shrimp, rib eye, and sausage) was super sticky and wet, so it was quite unexpected for us non-natives (we were mostly Chinese with one Pakistani). We appreciated and used the hand sanitizers at the table.

Our curiosity and sense of adventure got the better of us so we had to try the Ốc Hương (snails) in the pork broth. The snails itself lacked flavor until we figured out we were supposed to eat the snails with a healthy portion of the spicy broth.

The main attraction for the appetizers was definitely the bank-khot, crispy pancakes topped with shrimp made with rice flour and coconut milk. Again, the easiest way add the fish sauce dipping sauce is just to pour it into the crispy shell, which means you probably want to eat the hors d'oeuvres in a single, delicious bite or else you'll have fish sauce dribbling on your plate.

My wife was really looking forward to the beef carpaccio, but as you might expect, it was a bit on the sweet side, and a bit too sweet for her. Luckily, we have so many sauces available on the table that she was able to mute the sweetness with some sauce from the other dishes.

Now onto the main courses:

My wife ordered the made-for-IG, "THE BIG GAO PHO" with a titan piece of short rib, bone in, of course. She really loved the Filet Mignon and bone Marrow, which is not typically available in a tradition Pho noodle dish. The noodle was perfectly cooked. She'll definitely order it again, and probably with seafood next time.

I just read about the Bo Ne, a Vietnam take on steak and sunny side up eggs with a side of pate and a French roll (think Bahn Mi). The dish was topped off with Vietnamese Ham and grilled onions. The dish did not disappoint! The steak tasted well marinated, and it was perfectly cooked. Be warned, the sauce was also a bit on the sweet side. The best part of this dish, unexpectedly, was the French bread roll which somehow remained crispy throughout the meal.

All in all, it was a very good experience. I recommend going with friends so you can order more appetizers since they are so unexpected for most of us who are not familiar with...