Cherylynn N.
Yelp
It was love at first bite.
I'll take a dozen lengua tacos, please!
Lengua taco at a fine dining French resto?!
Yep...and in San Bruno!
Anyone that has the balls to open a fine dining resto in the burbs known for humble ethnic eats, I'm there! Well, if it's affordable.
Soft opening in mid-January, Hapa Bistro took over Kitchen Therapy. Currently open for dinner only. Rezzies only (Resy) with two seatings a night (no walk-ins). Starting 2/8/25, they'll roll out lunch service with French, Japanese, and American dishes.
M E N U
Globally-inspired French Cuisine. The chef is Japanese with an affinity for French cuisine.
Soft opening 4-course tasting menu for $70 pp (menu changes monthly). Optional $30 non-alkie beverage pairing (a la carte drink menu available). Everything is housemade.
Liquor license pending.
D R I N K
* Apple & Black Bean ($10): https://tinyurl.com/2493tjaf
Subtle apple cider flavor with warming spices from the cloves, cinnamon, and black pepper...and tinge of savory note from the black bean.
4 - C O U R S E T A S T I N G M E N U // $70 PP
* Amuse Bouche: Cauliflower Soup + Tart w/ crab: https://tinyurl.com/3v3fw9ar
Great starter in this wintry cold rainy weather, the savory soup was velvety smooth with a mild sweetness. A nice complement to the creamy delicately crisp tart topped with fresh seasonal crab.
* Beef Tongue Taco w/ lentil, tomato confit: https://tinyurl.com/9u55p93s
One of the best bites I've had in recent memory, the lengua was intensely beefy and meltingly tender with a creamy tang from the accompaniments. The housemade flour tortilla was crisp yet pliable.
Ugh. So bomb.
* Ocean Trout w/ spinach, pineapple & carrot salad, yuzu kosho: https://tinyurl.com/bwud73b3
Perfectly cooked for my personal preference (I like raw over cooked fish), the skin was crispy while the flesh was rare. Well-balanced course - mild delicate buttery flavor with pleasant sweetness and citrus tang.
* Duck Roast w/ potato, kale, beet purée, port wine sauce: https://tinyurl.com/mr2fujzj
The roast duck was hella on point, meaty and moist with a perfectly rendered crispy skin. Crispy soft potato, lotus chips, earthy kale, and savory sweet sauces complemented and contrasted the duck's flavor and texture.
* Housemade Bread & Butter
Served warm, the rustic bread was crusty and soft with an easily spreadable butter.
When providing feedback, we forgot to mention that a Hokkaido milk bread would be great for the bread course to tie into the chef's roots.
* House Gelato w/ orange, custard, cacao nibs: https://tinyurl.com/29hay969
Refreshing, lightly sweet ending to a fantastic meal - creamy matcha gelato with sweet orange segments, lightly bitter cacao nibs, and crunchy meringue shards.
I arrived hangry and the portions were just right without me thinking about Jack in the Crack tacos afterwards. However, the portions may be a tad small for a hangry meat & potatoes dude.
S E R V I C E
Refined, warm welcoming service from owner, Sohei. It's a two-person show with just the chef and the owner as the captain/server. It looks like they worked out the kinks from their first week, as each dish had an intro.
We were the only diners during our Friday night seating. Prompt food service with the tasting menu taking about 65 minutes.
A M B I A N C E
Intimate, home-y dining room with romantic vibes - mood lighting, fresh flowers adorning each table, and easy listening music (*ahem* V-day is just around the corner!). Tables are nicely spaced out with seating for 12 diners.
P A R K I N G
Easy free parking in the small plaza.
Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised with Hapa Bistro. For the soft opening, the tasting menu was expertly executed, showcasing the chef's technical skills and top-tier ingredients. IMHO, Hapa Bistro rivals fine dining restos in the city and they're the ones to watch out for!