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Ippudo Spin-Off Joins Japanese Cheesecake on the Peninsula

10 new restaurants head for the San Mateo mall

Uncle Tetsu Japanese Cheesecake

With Hillsdale Shopping Center’s recently renovated dining terrace, San Mateo is getting a whopping 10 new restaurants — including two spots sure to be exciting for Japanese food fans.

Uncle Tetsu Japanese Cheesecake has opened its first Northern California post in the mall, and it’s something of a global phenomenon. The Japan-born chain specializes in exceedingly light, fluffy Japanese cheesecakes, which offer a delicate cheese flavor with a soft, souffle-like texture. Uncle Tetsu has just two other locations in the U.S., in Los Angeles and Honolulu, so expect long lines for its original-flavored, still-warm-from-the-oven cheesecakes. (Coffee, matcha, and chocolate cheesecakes are still to come.) The San Mateo branch also serves matcha tea with cheese foam, salty green tea, and green milk tea.

Kuro-Obi also promises to be a huge draw. The new ramen stall is a casual spin-off of Japan’s famed Ippudo chain, with only one other U.S. location in New York. Here, the specialty is tori-paitan ramen, which features a creamy chicken broth.

There’s also Blue Whale Poke Bar and Grill, which will serve Japanese mains alongside poke bowls and sushi rolls; Sarku Japan, a local mini chain featuring bento boxes, teriyaki, and tempura; Tacos El Grullense, another post of the local chain of taquerias; and MidiC Neapolitan Pizza Company, the first Northern California post for this custom Neapolitan pizza restaurant opening in December.

Hillsdale Shopping Center

60 31st Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403 (650) 345-8222 Visit Website

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