Chingu

This late-night Korean spot was such a vibe, and I really loved the overall aesthetic. The atmosphere alone makes it a great place to hang out and catch up with friends over food. The dishes we tried were solid across the board, but the kimchi fried rice stood out the most. A lot of places tend to go heavy or too light on the sesame oil, but Chingu gets the balance just right, which really made the dish shine. Overall, it’s a fun, reliable spot for late-night Korean food with a great ambiance.

Ordered a food delivery late at night. Food arrived in good package and no spillage. Food tasted authentic. Reasonable portions. Only wish the bowl of rice was bigger though. The free banchans were nice too. Kimchis were more sour than other korean places I have tried but I could handle it just fine.

This was a great spot to feed a large group of 12 for $25 each including tax and tip! The food itself was delicious and we tried so many menu options by splitting everything family style. The space was filled with really cute decorations and I loved the Soju bottle wall that casted a light green glow. The only issues we ran into were slow service and they messed up our order. However, the food quality is worth the wait and the slight mishap. Still highly recommend eating here!

Very disappointed, overpriced. Was originally very excited about this new Korean restaurant in San Mateo. However, after spending $60 per person post tax and fees, I feel like there are better choices in San Mateo with the same price. Tofu soup - it has plenty seafood inside, but tastes very mid. Korean fried chicken - probably my favorite along the 3, but the honey flavor is too sweet / heavy for me. Grilled wagyu: it is very hard to chew at the beginning, then it’s overcooked later. There’s no way for us to tell when is the right time to eat it, and no one came to help / explain. A waste of money. The store itself is pretty cute.

Cute spot for sharing small Korean plates with your chingu (friends :)). The atmosphere is quite nice and service is good. We got the bulgolgi stew, spicy pork, and chicken wings to share. I would say the stew was flavorful and the toppings were great but the meat quality was a bit lacking. The spicy pork was okay, pretty standard. The chicken wings were probably their best out of the three! Overall come for the vibes but don’t expect the absolute best Korean food.

We had a weird experience last night here at Chingu. We’ve been here many times before, but this time was just odd. We came in asking for a table of 3, and we were told we had to wait for 30 minutes. There were a few open tables, but it seemed like the host was holding those tables for his friends. We finally got the call to come back as a table opened up, and the host was passive aggressively kicking the chairs around to make space for our party. He didn’t seem happy to get us a table. It was busy and loud, so he may have been irritated by the crowd that night. We get seated, and the first thing the host does is tell everyone keep it down. He did the whole “if you can hear me clap once…clap twice” thing that you do in classrooms. He said it’s too loud, and he needs everyone to talk with inside voices and to keep it down. He proceeded to sit with his friends at a table and laugh and hang out with them. Very weird experience. I’d most likely come back because I do like this place, but not sure if Saturday nights or that specific night was a special quiet hours night.

I like that they are open late. I have been a couple times, the cheese corn and bulgogi fries are good. Lots of soju

thank you aaron for a great bday experience! we had originally planned on eating in SF but due to the crazy blackout that happened, we came down here to downtown sm instead. so happy we did, because not only did we have some fantastic kimchi jigae/beef ssam/tteokbbeokki/steamed egg, we also had a delicious soju shot courtesy of aaron’s recc. would highly recommend this restaurant! -the thankful ladies who were freezing out in the cold

Chingdu is an intimate restaurant off of the main street in San Mateo. The food is more Korean bar food mixed with comfort items so it's not your traditional Korean restaurant or KBBQ joint. I was contemplating on gate keeping this place but I want them to succeed so they dont close down so I guess I have to share it with Yelpers. Our group of 4 ordered the army stew, cheese corn, chicken gizzards, Galbi platter with wrap items, egg souffle, and kimchee fried rice. Honestly, everything was so freaking good!!! Corn cheese was surprisingly super flavorful and not just the usual corn topped with mozzarella? It has something added... I think maybe crack because I couldn't stop eating it. The egg souffle was so nice and fluffy and a perfect consistency. All four of us were so impressed with all the food but I have to say that the MAIN reason I picked this place was for the Korean rice punch!! I loveeee korean rice punch and I ordered one to go. Our server, Aaron, was super attentive and friendly! He was managing all the tables on the floor and while the restaurant isn't big, there was a large party of 23 guests that took up half the space so it was great that he checked in on us despite being slammed. This will definitely make it on to the rotation and maybe it'll still be our secret ... for now.

A nice Korean restaurant with good service and food. It is small with casual feel to it. Seating is tight but not claustrophobic. I went here with my family and ordered sundubu jjigae, bibimbap, galbi and Korean fried chicken. The bibimbap and jjigae was well made and tasty. The Galbi, however, was way too greasy and the fried chicken -- the appetizer -- came last and was lukewarm. The staff was very friendly and were helpful.

Love Chingu!! Great place to go for drinks and korean food with friends. The service is great, staff is all so friendly and the vibe is overall very chill and good for groups. Drinks - we usually order beer and soju bottles but have also gotten the soju cocktail that comes in a watermelon rind. This was super fun and tasty but you definitely need at least 3 people to help drink it. Food - big fan of the korean fried chicken and kimchi fried rice with bulgogi.

Went on a Thursday evening, maybe a couple of hrs, right before the opened. Party of 4 & we were seated right away, because they were not busy at all. The employee who greeted us, was super friendly, he was also our waiter & stayed on top on making sure we were good with water refills, or any questions we had about the menu. You have to find parking on the street OR they have parking garages. Variety of items to choose from on the menu, appetizers, soups & main dishes & we were able to get a little bit of everything. Pricing was not too bad, for the amount they give for each dish. Everything also had its own unique different flavors.

Came by for a late dinner with friends around 730pm so we were able to catch the back end of the happy hour. It was pretty empty until around 9pm when alot more people came as I think this is more of a place to hang out after dinner than eating dinner. Parking in downtown San Mateo can be a little challenging but you will find parking around the corner. Food: 4/5 Korean fried chicken - 6 pieces of chicken and a some pickled radishes. Well fried and good flavor 4/5 Bugolgi fries - good portion and the bugolgi tastes good. Just feels right eating bugolgi on top of fries 4/5 Corn cheese - you can never go wrong with this cheesy goodness 3/5 Perilla pancake with fish paste was just okay Definitely would recommend as a place to hang with friends and enjoy some food and drink!

Hidden germ in San Mateo downtown! Food are delicious. Pork bossam are tender, flavorful. I love eating that with bachan and melted cheese. It came with lettuce too and it's a refreshing way to eat the bossam. The corn cheese comes in a hot plate which is the best way to serve corn cheese. The place is very cozy, great place to hang up with friends. Servers are VERY friendly and helpful. I had a very good dining experience here and for sure will come back if I am in the area again.

Cozy Korean tapa spot opened until late hours for those looking for a late night snack or late dinner. The vibes are definitely immaculate with the kpop music, music videos playing on the wall with a projector, detailed decorations like the soju bottle wall, and more. Will definitely make you want to stay for a long period of time talking. We visited the restaurant twice, and the first time the food deserved a 5/5 rating. However, on our second visit, the food leaned more towards a 3.5-4/5. The Korean fried chicken was very salty with a very thick batter. It was also a little over fried to the point where the meat was dry and bones broke in half easily. Will probably come back a third time to break the tie to see which one is more of the real experience. PSA: there are some details that they do not inform you ahead of time. For one, there is a small additional fee if you pay with a card. The second thing is that if you ask for extra lettuce or leaves with your bossam, it is also an additional cost. We didn't find out until we saw the receipt.

Came here on a Saturday night for a birthday party and had a great experience. The interior was beautifully decorated, and the waiters were very friendly. We ordered the tteokbokki and fried chicken wings, which were both delicious, especially with the soju. Although there was a mix-up with our order, the staff were very attentive and corrected it quickly. They even gave a free bottle of soju to the birthday girl, which was a really nice surprise! Would highly recommend if you're looking to celebrate a birthday or just for a night out!

A little hidden gem if you are looking for good Korean food or have late night munchies. My favorites were the Korean oden and the egg soufflé. Amazing flavors on a cold night. Kimchi fried rice was good too. My only critiques were the wings and short ribs were over sauced where it was a little too caramel like. Service was excellent. Enjoy so much by the gentlemen attending our table. Highly recommend.

Best pocha in the peninsula without making the trek up to the city or down to SJ. Super lively, loud and the drinks are flowing. Service is friendly and welcoming. There's a great happy hour Tuesday-Thursday 6-8pm, Friday-Saturday 9-11pm and Sunday 5-7pm!

The waitress was especially unhelpful when it came to deciding what to order. We asked "how sweet is the fried chicken?" and she replied "that's a weird question to ask". How is it weird to ask about the taste profile of the dishes on the menu that is your job to explain to customers?! So anyway, we ordered the fried chicken, half in each variety, and the sweet-and-spicy variety was indeed a saccharine nightmare. The honey soy chicken was good though. On the other hand, the starters (blanched bean sprouts and pickled napa cabbage) were very nice, the side of radishes with the chicken was nice, and the sizzling plate pork and bean sprouts was especially tasty. Although I would very much like to eat this dish again, the fattiness of the pork belly might be a concern. The interior has some panels resembling shipping containers, which is a terrible idea because they do absolutely nothing to dampen noise, so it's incredibly loud inside just from people's conversations being bounced around.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Chingu! The restaurant is pretty cozy, with about three small window tables and two long bench seating areas. I really liked the soju bottle wall at the entrance. My friend and I came here for a late dinner. We got the fried chicken skin, corn cheese, tofu soup, and bibimbap. Everything was tasty, but my only gripe is that the items that were fried tend to be pretty oily! I felt like I was wearing lip gloss after eating the bibimbap (the serving is really large though, worth it for the money!) I would definitely come back but it's good to be aware of the oil levels. Also, the servers here are very informative and friendly!!

Very classic pocha experience - drinks, shareable bar bites - great for a gathering with friends. Came here on a Friday night with a large group (10 people), and we were able to easily make a reservation earlier in the week online. Everything was setup when we arrived, with prompt and friendly service. It's not a large space, 2 high top tables by the window and probably 5-8 tables with stools/benches inside. We ordered food and drinks for the table, everything was good and very shareable. Out of the apps, I liked the stir-fried chicken gizzards most, with the sweet and sour wings a close second (the hot were pretty spicy and I like spicy food!). We did double up on some orders and I think the portion sizes could've been a bit larger at that price point, but overall we left satisfied

The food is pretty bad. The kalbi short ribs were super tiny pieces and no depth of flavor only sweet. The fried chicken wings were dinky and itsy bitsy for the price. The only thing saving the meal was the army stew. Hard to mess this up but at least it was kinda filling. Only 6-7 tables and high tables by window. More of a place to just get a drink rather than dinner. Service was good.

A hole in the wall spot in downtown San Mateo for late night Korean food! The inside feels small but there's plenty of tables, and it wasn't crowded on a weekday. Service was attentive and food was brought out fairly quick. It was actually happy hour when we went so we ordered the bulgogi fries and corn cheese which were a few dollars off from the regular price. Happy hour during the weekdays was from 6-8pm. We got the army stew to share among 4 people which was plenty of food. Really enjoyed the army stew and the assorted meats and vegetables it came with. I wish the portions for the corn cheese and fries were a little bigger but the happy hour made it worth it. Would definitely come back to try other food items on the menu and it's a great place to hang out with friends for a late night snack!

Wow this place is such a vibe! So happy my friend showed us this spot because I want to come back asap. I love the decor and how casual it is. We opted to get some snacks and drinks before dinner. We gazed at the menu and you can definitely eat a full on dinner or lunch here. -chicken skins: 5/5, this was sooooo good. So crispy and tasty. It came with mayo as the dipping sauce. I wish it came with vinegar because that's what I'm used to but it was still good. -honey butter almond makgeolli: 4/5, first time having this and I was surprised at how sweet it was! Such a delicious pairing with the chicken skin. -makgeolli: 4.5/5, I liked the flavor of this more than the honey butter but I'm glad I got to try both! So delicious Coming here for a snack makes me really excited to come again to try their other meals. Will definitely be coming back again

The price is steep for the amount of food you get. There's also very little banchans, only bean sprouts and kimchi in a very tiny dish. Service was great, staff were very friendly. Food was okay, we tried the army stew, fried chicken and galbi. Nothing really stood out, food wasn't horrible but I wouldn't say it's good. Everything is just not memorable. Street parking only. Probably won't come back.

The food here is good, but the service and ambiance is definitely probably more well suited for younger people without kids. It was hard to get ahold of the servers for the check, they barely looked at us and we had to attempt several times to flag them down. It felt like we were inconveniencing them, they never once smiled or exhibited great customer service. Not only that, we felt like we were a nuisance for bringing a stroller inside. It's super loud in here which is fine, our baby slept thankfully but we could barely converse over the music (maybe that's the point--just not ideal for us as new parents wanting to enjoy each others company) overall probably will not return but at the very least the food was enjoyable! Food 8/10, experience 5/10.

Nice cozy Korean place in San Mateo. Food: chicken wings are a must. We got half/half spicy and sweet. Sauce is amazing and fried perfectly. Tofu soup was okay and I've had better. Ambiance: service is very attentive. Street parking, but it's on the outer edges of downtown so was t too difficult to find parking

San Mateo sorely needs more Korean options, and Chingu is the first Korean pub food entry into this space. We were the only ones there at opening on a weeknight, and then half an hour later, one other person came in to dine. In fact, the waitress said she was surprised to see us, and said that typically they only really fulfill takeout orders around that time. In an area where tons of Asians traverse, it's really surprising to see a lack of foot traffic for cuisine that's typically very popular in the bay. The place itself seats very little, and is dimly lit with K-pop playing on a projector. We were given crisp cold water with small metal cups to pour in along with complimentary banchan (small cuts of kimchi, bean sprouts, and broccoli). I unfortunately saw that the prices had risen from the last menu posted. I wanted the army stew because the dish is relatively cheaper here compared to other places. I pretty much never order this dish as I can make it at home for infinitely cheaper, but I was curious if it could change my mind. The army stew comes with a circular block of ramen, fresh tofu pieces, Vienna sausage, spam, kimchi, cabbage, zucchini, onion, braised soybeans, a few sprigs of enoki mushroom, and jalapeno slices. The soup looked more flavorful than it was; it tasted like a blander tofu soup base. I think there was just enough meat and tofu for two people, but not enough if you're a big meat eater. Additionally, there was too much cabbage filler, and the stew could have used more starch. The bowl is shallow enough for you to easily find ingredients within, and sits atop a portable burner that they light up for you. I didn't really enjoy my meal here, though the waitress was kind. I also was stressed out at the time, and being let down by the meal did not help. I don't think I'd return with how expensive it is or with the memory of the poor experience.

Food: We ordered the grilled pork ssam ($37) and it was served on a big hot plate with melted cheese, kimchi, bean sprouts and onions. It was good for 2 people. We also ordered the tteokbokki ($19) which was a big portion to share as well. Their food options are mostly to pair with drinks and yapping with friends. Service: There was only one person serving that evening and he was pretty efficient with taking care of all the tables. Ambiance: The restaurant is small and dark, in a good way. It's intimate and gives off a cool hip Seoul vibe. There is a big screen playing Korean videos on the repurposed metal container panels. Hot take: We stumbled across this spot because it was open late on a Tuesday. They're open until midnight on most days. We'd come back again.. with more friends and more Soju :)

We are always in search of good Korean food- and this place is just perfect for late night snack or to hang out with friends- resto has a fun vibe - lighting could be better! The servers are just OK- they can be more attentive and be approachable- they tend to hide out in the kitchen- but overall it's worth trying out!

I was really excited to try a new Korean pub in the downtown San Mateo area. However, the food did not meet my expectations. We ordered: -corn cheese: literally zero flavor besides a bunch of cheese and not enough corn to ratio. -fishcake soup: this was just okay but some of the fishcakes were not fully cooked and were hard to chew. -chicken wings: again, just ok. Crispy enough to be called Korean bbq chicken but nothing special. -egg soufflé: so bland...never been so disappointed with one of my favorite dishes that's actually super easy to make. -honey butter makkoli: tastes like juice and honestly way too sweet for my palate. Service was great and brought us what we asked for. However, the food could definitely use some work. I love Korean style pub food but this place did not satisfy my cravings.

I got the Korean street food plus drinks to-go! They had the new honey-butter-almond flavored makkuli (HBAF) too! Whaaaaaaat!!! We definitely will be stopping by again to hang out with the food fresh and hot along with these drinks straight from Korea. What I also realize is that this setup is great for having the night-life feel without the actual drawbacks of being outside with the bugs and the wind and the cold and randos. The buldak chicken was a hit once again, and I was able to get the cheese pull even at home since I got takeout this time.

This is a chill place to catch up with friends, grab a few drinks, and eat. Our table loved the grilled pork ssam, the half and half Korean fried chicken, the chicken skin, and the honey butter makgeolli. The raw marinated shrimp was delicious and most people were surprised that they liked it. I would skip on their raw marinated crab. It was hard to break and you end up feeling like you wasted food

I really like their army stew, bubbling hot pot of pure happiness, this place's army stew delivers. The broth comes to the table already simmering. It smells incredible from the moment it lands.

This meal really reminded me of a lot of meals I've had in KTown LA, it was so much fun to visit a spot that served such a large variety of Korean bar food after a while. I came with a group of 4 and we ordered the half and half Korean chicken wings, spicy pork belly, tteokbokki, and bulgogi beef stew. This was plenty of food for us, and my favorite by far was the bulgogi beef stew. The dish was served on a burner so it stayed fresh and hot for the entire meal- the meat was so tender and flavorful and came with such a large variety and quantity of veggies, tofu, and glass noodles. The spicy pork was also quite good, and I was very pleasantly surprised by how the pork belly wasn't super fatty. I wish that there had been more rice cakes and/or veggies in the tteokbokki, as the large plate we got was mostly sauce. The restaurant has a fun vibe and is pretty dark inside, it seems that most people came to drink + eat simultaneously, so it can get a bit loud inside. Our server was super friendly and energetic and did a great job of checking in on us and recommending which and how many dishes to order.

Great atmosphere with dive bar feel like my friend's bar in Seoul. The crowd is lively and loud - having a good time. Food options aren't as nuanced as your traditional Korean restaurant but not intended to replace them! Again this is a fun dive bar after hours in San Mateo. Great choices of soju and they carry makgeolli! makgeolli goes well to cut the spicy army stew or the other spicy and savory options! Come here for the atmosphere and crowd and you'll have a great time. If you're looking for traditional Korean go visit the other offerings around the Bay.

If I could give this place 100/10 star rating, I would do it in a heartbeat! Chingu is the best Korean pocha spot in the Peninsula hands down. My boyfriend and I are regulars here and we keep coming back -- the quality of food, the ambience, and especially the service that the staff provide are TOP NOTCH. Aaron and their crew are so attentive, so friendly and just make the overall experience at Chingu so amazing!!! If you're ever in the area and are craving Korean food and looking for fun and great vibes, Chingu is your spot!

Stumbled on this fun little spot in downtown San Mateo serving Korean bar food! We tried the army stew and pork ssam. Both were delicious and the presentation was really nice. We were impressed by how fresh the produce was for the ssam. Definitely hit the spot for Korean comfort food!

Bar food / comfort food vibes. First time I came here with friends and ordered food family style. We came around when they first opened. Not very busy. Service was good. FOOD: 2x Korean tofu soup, fried chicken, and wagyu ssam, bibimbap. For 4 ppl, it was not a lot of food. The food is okay...Tofu soup was sooo spicy. Wagyu ssam was good but not a lot of meat. Fried chicken was good and so was the bibimbap. Second time I came here, they were busier. Came with 2 friends (3 total) and ordered family style again. FOOD: We ordered the kimchi fried rice, steamed egg, fried chicken and perilla pan cake. Kimchi fried rice, steamed egg and fried chicken were good, but typical. The perilla one was kinda weird...they gave it to us with ketchup. Service was quick and decent. Overall, okay, but not very outstanding for what we paid. Maybe I'm not ordered the right things? Or maybe this place is better for drinking?

Guys, this place is priceyyy. One pro is that they are open until midnight Banchans only 3. kimchi, pickled daikon, broccoli. Seafood Soondubu $19 medium spicy here is more like mild. never had enoki and shiitake in my seafood dubu before. not complaining but just want to mention it. the flavor was okay. Bibimbap $25 that's right. $25 for a bibimbap! I thought oh it better be stone pot. She said it is and we got it on a stone plate. Never seen this plating for bibimbap before. Also, lettuce in place of spinach is just not the same. Don't recommend. The bibimbap sauce is also more gochujang and less beany and sweet. Wings $19 Honey soy sauce - this was good. Soju $15 for a bottle of flavored soju. for that price, I assumed it was the big jug.

The service, food, ambiance, is all top tier. I make it mission to visit every time I go to California since I love Korean food. Shoutout to Jeanine! The best server in the entire world.

Came in after work for some happy hour. I really enjoyed the Korean fried chicken both the spicy and the sweet. The egg soufflé was huge! Bigger than expected and was pretty tasty too. Soju is of course on the menu, but I really enjoyed the sweet Sikhye instead. Thank you!

This is truly a hidden gem in San Mateo! Immaculate vibes and top notch service. You can really tell that Chingu's owner put in a lot of effort in the interior designs (also my water cups were never empty lol) Came here after a gathering to get some soju and some late night snacks. They have every flavor of soju imaginable! They also sell the "hangover cure" flavor mix ins for the plain soju which was super fun! They give us banchans even tho we didn't order any food. The staff were super nice and attentive. We ended up ordering the fried chicken skin and it's just so crispy and delicious (very unique) Definitely will be coming back for some late night craving and try some Korean comfort foods!

San Mateo sorely needed a place like this. Open late, good food and alcohol for reasonable prices, and great vibes all around. Our group of 9 had a great time at dinner, the team at Chingu is awesome and really took care of us! Bottles of soju are around $15 and they have lots of flavors to try. Corn cheese - more cheese than corn!! Make sure you have your lactaid handy :D Chicken buldak - this was my favorite dish. Chicken is so juicy and flavorful and great with the onions and cheese on the side. Pork ssam - this comes out on a burner with veggies and cheese. The pork is cooked maybe a touch more than what we preferred, and didn't help that it kept cooking over the burner Army stew - comes out on a burner with tons of goodies. Flavorful and hearty. Bibimbap - solid option Bulgogi fries - another favorite of our group. Meaty, cheesy, and savory. Will definitely be back!

My friends and I still frequent Chingu a little too often, and my 5 star rating remains the same, but now that I've tried pretty much everything on the menu, I have to say that the bibimbap is my FAVORITE thing on the menu. Bulgogi fries a very close second. The menu just refers to it as "bibimbap" but it's actually dolsot bibimbap so it will come served in a stone plate so you get all the crispy rice goodness at the bottom. I'm a sauce girl, so I though the tiny cup of sauce on the side was not going to be enough to mix in, but it actually was! Super flavorful, packed full of veggies, and also don't skimp on the meat. Hosting parties: A friend of mine actually had her birthday here once and we had a wonderful time. She booked dinner for about 22 people, so they pulled together about half of all the tables into two seating arrangements. They placed buckets of soju on the tables as well. We still got to enjoy the loud and vibrant atmosphere with all the other diners who were there for a normal Thursday night dinner too, but no one seemed annoyed that a large group of ~20 was being rambunctious. Staff were very accommodating to our birthday decorations and even let us keep the cake we brought in the fridge AND cut/served it for us when the time came!

The food was pretty solid however the service was sadly a letdown. When we first arrived, we stood at the entry way for a few minutes and weren't really acknowledged by any staff. When we got seated, another party was sat next to us 5 minutes after and they were attended to first (took their order, food brought out first, etc) I just felt that was a little off putting. For food we ordered the army stew and Korean fried chicken. The portions are generous so I think it's perfect for hanging out with friends/big groups! The tables are pretty small so it did take up a lot of room. The place is suppose to be like a Korean pub so it's definitely lively and loud! The army stew had lots of toppings and even some I'm not used to seeing such as bacon and jalapeños. The KFC was so good! Very crispy and sticky -- both flavors left a good impression. Between the hot & spicy and the soy sauce glaze flavor, the soy sauce glaze is my favorite. Didn't really see our server much throughout the night and it was hard to flag her down when she was mostly in the back. It's slightly pricier than other Korean restaurants I've tried but the portions balance it all out. We also had an issue with paying, we told our server we were ready to pay and she said she'd be right back with the bill but she never came. So we walked up to the front and then another server helped us check out. Overall, good food, just disappointing service :(

Very disappointed, overpriced. Was originally very excited about this new Korean restaurant in San Mateo. However, after spending $60 per person post tax and fees, I feel like there are better choices in San Mateo with the same price. Tofu soup - it has plenty seafood inside, but tastes very mid. Korean fried chicken - probably my favorite along the 3, but the honey flavor is too sweet / heavy for me. Grilled wagyu: it is very hard to chew at the beginning, then it's overcooked later. There's no way for us to tell when is the right time to eat it, and no one came to help / explain. A waste of money. The store itself is pretty cute.

Great place for a late night meal! The army stew really hit the spot after a night of drinking. The soup was very flavorful. The rice plate was also so good. The portions are also VERY big, we ended up having a lot of leftover stew. The service was very nice! The waitress even pushed together two tables for us even though there was only two of us because the table was full with the big dishes lol. The inside is very trendy and I've never been to Korea but I imagine it's the same vibe and aesthetic!

The ambiance pairs industrial-chic décor with cozy lighting -- ideal for a fun night out with friends. While it may lean toward the trendy end of things (and can be a bit loud), if you're looking for bold flavors, comfort food, and a good time, Chingu is a strong pick!

Authentic Korean food, in an Industrial themed restaurant! The walls are decorated with an ocean shipping container. I highly recommend the following: jap chae (glass noodles with beef), soon dobu (tofu soup), egg soufflé (steam eggs, Korean style).

Very cool hole-in-the-wall tucked away in central San Mateo, great for dinner, late night snack, or drinks with friends. Recs: - Japchae (9/10): This hit. Super yummy, though portion size was on the smaller side. - Rice drink (8/10): Forgot the name but this non-alcoholic rice drink was really unique and tasty. Would recommend trying. - Steamed egg souffle (7.5/10): Huge, comfort food, good for sharing, though a bit salty. Would come back if I'm in the area!

Army Stew - it was decent, nothing special about it. The portion was fair, but for the price, I expected more in terms of flavor and ingredients - 3/5 Cheese Corn - just okay. Nothing special, and honestly, the portion size for the price felt like robbery - 3/5 Service was one of the better aspects of the experience. Despite the place being busy, the staff remained friendly and attentive. - 4/5 Ambiance - Loud. If you're into a noisy atmosphere, you might enjoy it. If not, it can be overwhelming - 2/5 Overall - 3/5. The food is alright but overpriced for what you get. The portions lean on the smaller side, and the noise level can be a dealbreaker unless you're with a lively group. It works if you're with friends who are in the mood for a loud, casual dining experience, but I wouldn't go out of my way to return.

Very convenient hours, open late compared to other places around! Good place to come with a big group and the vibe is catered towards family style appetizers and entres to share with the table. I really enjoyed the bulgogi fries & cheese corn (you can never go wrong with this!), but this isn't something I would crave on the daily. Cute and trendy with the soju wall and would recommend to go here for some good korean food!

Ive been here twice and every time- its been a great experience Chingu has very tasty food and perfect for a late night snack + drinks The servers are soo friendly Definitely highly recommended Shout out to Aaron, Edward, Alice and Jeanine*

Great food, good flavors. Classic korean comfort food. Place was a little small inside and service was a tad slow.

Heard about this place from my friend and was really excited to try. My friends and I ordered the army stew, bulgogi fries and grilled pork belly Ssam. I enjoyed the army stew a lot and the pork belly was really good but a little pricey for what we got. I also liked the bulgogi fries but the fries were soggy. I wish the staff was more inviting. The women who was helping was a little moody and not as attentive. But overall I like this place in downtown San Mateo. There are no place like this here and it opens till very late at night!

Bulgogi fries!! Super tasty, nicely dressed. Cheesy, meaty, very good. Crispy fries. Would get again, it was a hit at the table. Army stew was good, getting hotter as it cooks down. We forgot to turn off the burner so it kept reducing down into a thick sauce lol. Lots of goodies in there, good flavor. Tasty banchan. The vibe inside is kind of dim and industrial. Kpop videos playing on the tv. Cool, open late.