Silver House

I grab to go from this place about once a month… it’s yummy! The chicken /​squash fried /​green beans and their yang chao fried rice is really great… best leftovers… parking in the back too.

I’ve been going to Silver House since I was a kid, so for almost 15 years now. The food is authentic and tasty. Unfortunately, there are a few reasons I’ve gone less and less in recent years.
First of all: the interior. The restaurant is in need of serious renovation. It looks the same as it did in the early 2000s, and I’m pretty sure the carpet hasn’t changed since I’ve been coming to Silver House.
Secondly, the service. It’s to be expected when you go to a Chinese dining establishment that the service will often be subpar. The waiters here may be efficient, but they aren’t very friendly. Don’t expect a smile from the man who works the front, I don’t think I’ve seen one. Ever.
Third: the salt. The food is good, but for some reason my whole family agrees it makes you really, really thirsty after your meal. I don’t know if thats because of MSG or just too much salt, but it’s not that pleasant of an post dining .
And finally, the prices have increased dramatically over the years. I understand most of that is due to inflation, higher rent, etc. However, I feel like for the food and service your getting, it’s a little overpriced.

I’m upping my review to two stars for the terrific staff they have but food is one star. WHAT HAPPENED? New Management? I order beef chow fun, TASTELESS and tough meat, chicken chow mien, 3 pieces of chicken but tons of bean sprouts and also under seasoned! C’mon! How expensive are Noodles? I ordered Salt and Pepper Chicken wings and was hugely disappointed that they SPLIT the mid section in half! Its so thick with the «fried» stuff that you don’t notice it right away but after the second piece, I’m thinking «where’s the meat»??? I used to love this restaurant and have been coming for over 15 years but no more. I’ve NEVER seen any restaurant SPLIT a chicken wing like this. It insults me as a consumer. Do they really think customers won’t notice?

Take out service is horrible. First of all when I called in, a woman answered the phone as if
she was at home, then when she couldn’t understand what I was saying another person got
on the phone to take the order. I placed a large order of rice for pick up – asked specifically
for the rice to be in the boxes they usually are for take-​out. When I came to pick up my
order, the rice was in one large foil container. I told the guy I requested for the rice to be in
boxes – so he gave me the amount of boxes I needed to pack it myself.

The only reason why I’m giving this place 2 stars because the food is ok. Been coming here for lunch since it’s 2 blocks away from my work. Sometimes it’s not even 3pm yet. They’ll take away the lunch special already.
The other day. I came in for lunch. The guy that took my order was the boss. At least that’s what I think. He was not wearing a uniform. I asked him if I could make switch the shrimp to beef on that one menu. Since I have been doing that and I have seen other customers eat the same thing. He said ok. 10 minutes later. He came back with shrimp. I told him I asked for beef. He walked away. Grabbed a menu and showed me the dish that I wanted. And he’s pointed at the shrimp. I told him that I asked if I can do beef instead of shrimp and you said yes. So he changed it.
Today. I came at around 2:40. All the staff are at the table eating. I was standing by the door for a few minutes. Then one of the guy who I guess just finished eating came up to me and ask me if it’s for here or to go. I said here. Then he told me. «The Kitchen Is On Lunch Right Now». Can you wait? I ask how long is the wait. He said about 20 minutes and ask me again if I can wait. I told him no. I’m on my lunch break as well. I can’t wait. Then he walked away. So I guess that was my cue to leave.
So I went to the Vietnamese place 2 blocks away instead. And guess what. The staff are having lunch as well. But they greeted me right away and so as the other customers right after me. Then a couple of them actually got up and got me water and took my order. Then a couple of minutes later. My food is ready and served.
I understand that they need a break too. But do they really have to take their lunch at the same time? From my understanding. Customers are always the number one priority. I guess I’m not coming back for a while.

Ordered take out and one waiter was busy — told me to wait, while the other just sat on his bum in the back reading the paper? Are you working or perhaps on break? I don’t think it good practice to have your employees sit out in the open to customers if you’re on break (customers don’t know that you are on break, if you are).
Finally got my order taken and I ordered $ 45 worth of food. Overall, OK food, nothing to write home about. So not worth it to me. I only came here since I was in the area from a work meeting.
Not worth it. Very old and not the cleanest place.

Our meal was incredible. Do not miss Black Pepper Beef Rib Eye cubed with string beans. It was gourmet: perfectly cooked meet, You can literally cut it with a spoon, in light yet complex sauce. Yum. The pea sprout with garlic was outstanding and our absolute favorite were the baked prawns with spicy salt and pepper. The dish is actually fried which I usually hate but this dish was stellar. I want to move to San Mateo to be closer to this restaurant.

We have been coming to this restaurant for a very long time. Tonight, however, was very disappointing. They seem to have cut the amount of food and simultaneously increased prices. We had shrimp with Chinese broccoli and stuffed eggplant, along with a single bowl of rice. The Chinese broccoli was old and bordered on stale. The shrimp were decidedly smaller than before. The stuffing inside the eggplant was also noticeably thinner. Preparation was still good, but those dishes combined to cost $ 42 and we were both still hungry when we left, something that has never happened in the past. I’m hoping the food quality was just a one-​off event. But cutting food and simultaneously increasing prices is just a bad way to maintain customers.

This is the best Chinese food restaurant I’ve had up in NorCal! Every dish we got was authentic. Everything came out really hot and around the same time. My friends and I ordered the following:
Eggplant in clay pot
Mongolian Beef with onions
Walnut shrimp with mayo
Salted fish fried rice
Sea bass fillet
Everything was amazing! I’m originally from LA where there are a bunch of good Asian food, so I never thought I would find a really good Chinese restaurant up in NorCal. But this restaurant is legit!
I will be coming back soon. :)

Came here for Chinese New Year dinner on a Saturday, and we were able to score a table for four without a wait. There was a small and cramped parking lot in the back of the restaurant.
The dishes were quite authentic, so no real complaints there. Everything was tasty — the steamed sea bass, garlic pea sprouts, roast duck, yi mein («long-​life» noodles), and the dried oyster with black moss.
Most of the dishes were pretty reasonably priced, except a few of the specials. The live sea bass was around $ 7/​lb. Unfortunately they charged $ 5 for the house soup, which is usually on the house, and the soup was nothing much either. The new year special — dried oyster with black moss was $ 30 (same price as the fish), which I thought was ridiculously overpriced, especially for dried oyster, not even live. They give red bean soup on the house, but if you want fresh oranges, it’s another $ 5.
No wonder there was no wait to be seated. I don’t understand why they want to penny pinch their customers. They should just give things for free when they should be free — like the house soup and fruit at the end. What cheapskates… I expected more, even from a Chinese restaurant.

weekend lunch before hillsdale mall… no wait and seating plenty… order of the half peking duck and house special beef… requesting rice… peking duck served with typical julienned green onions, buns and sweet hoisin sauce… duck fat wasn’t rendered down… thick greasy chewy fatty skin… the buns were brick hard… warm, but super hard… old buns… one of worst peking duck experiences… house special beef was just battered fried beef strips with a thick sweet dipping sauce (maybe pouring sauce to mix)…wasn’t bad in taste or texture, but boring… add some vegetables or any color… it was just a very bad experience for a $ 35 total lunch after tax and tip…

Silver House is a comfort Southern Chinese Style cooking, originating mainly from Guandong Province in China. The taste buds here are simple dishes and clean to the palate; meaning you can really taste the robust flavor of the «cooking pot» (guō) or «wok» especially dishes like beef and vegetables. I really love their Garlic Pea Sprouts. They are famous for this dish here. Also, their Clams with Black Bean Sauce is just excellent. They cook them just right and never overcooked. If you can read Chinese or have a friend who can, point them to order at the wall. The wall menu has a good variety of authentic Southern Chinese Style cooking, with huge servings and better pricing too. After your meal, don’t forget to request for their tapioca dessert. They make them fresh everyday I was told. Service here is quick. When they see you are done, they quickly take it away. Silver House gets super busy almost any day of the week so best time to arrive if you want to get seated immediately, is around 5pm.
Until then, Cheers! ~ :p

A traditional Chinese eatery. Very standard Cantonese cooking with excellent result. If I live close by, this can be my go-​to place was a substitute for my own kitchen.
Other than that, there is not much to write about.

My boyfriend was craving some Asian-​style seafood and found this place. First impression? Old school style Cantonese restaurant with VERY Asian décor. I mean, there’s a bunch of Chinese lanterns hanging from the ceiling! Also, stuffy. They need better ventilation.
The portions are big… and oily. The food is really oily. Other than that, the food was great. The fried chicken wings, the steamed oysters with black bean sauce, the salt and pepper crab, the pan fried noodles. Yummmm.

I love this place. My dad has been going here since 1999 when he worked in the area, and even though we now tend to frequent restaurants in closer driving distance, the last couple of weeks we’ve had our weekend family dinners here.
They have had the same friendly waiters since the late 90’s, parking is relatively easy (even on a Saturday night), and of course the food is great.
I don’t typically crave noodles elsewhere, but whenever I eat here I always have to have either the beef pan fried noodles or the combination chow fun. Other favorites: beef & eggplant clay pot, braised tofu with vegetables, deep-​fried smelt, and string beans with minced pork. Free tapioca dessert after the meal is also really good.

Their crispy chicken is the shizz. Delightfully roasted juicy chicken cut up for you.
We also ordered a plate of shrimps with deep fried tofu and a plate of pea sprouts.
The shrimps were plump and cooked just right, served with sliced carrots and deep fried cubes of creamy tofu. And the pea sprouts were al-​dente too.
Generous portions served here.
The steamed rice was plump and fluffy.
Each was tastey. About $ 56.00 including tax and 18% tip.
Décor: old world, from the 90’s !
Customer service: fine.
Parking: ok.
Bathrooms: meh, needs work.

I’ve been a long time customer of Silver House as previously I’ve thought it to be one of the best chinese restaurants in San Mateo. However, recently I feel it’s gone a little downhill (at least for take out).
I really like their peking duck, but the last couple of times it’s been a little fatty and greasy. Overall a lot of their food is leaning on the «too greasy» taste — including pea sprouts/​green beans with garlic. I also tried the salted fish fried rice which also came with chicken. The rice was OK, but expected a little more of the salty fish.
Overall, if you’re in the area I still recommend that you check this place out. However, depending on what you get watch out for dishes that may be on the oily side.

This place is alright. Nothing I can really brag about to my friends.
This restaurant is located on El Camino and there is parking along the streets as well as a parking lot in the back.
Once you step inside, you’ll see the entire dining room. It’s a decent amount of tables and chairs and the bathroom is inside through the kitchen.
My mom’s family and I had taken up 2 big tables and we were seated next to each other. Both tables decided to order their own dishes so I can’t really say for the other table, but for my table, the food was just okay. We got salt and pepper crab, fried calamari, corn and pork soup, green beans, and some other dishes that I can’t really remember right now. Honestly, nothing was super memorable. The food was decent and prices were okay, but I was expecting a lot more awesomeness from a restaurant that has a 4 star rating.
Service was friendly, though. They were quick to refill the teapots and bring extra supplies when asked for.
Overall, eh. If I’m back, it’s because there’s another family event, not cos I chose to be here.

Old style Cantonese Restaurant. Large portions, sketchy décor, cheap prices and limited service.
The place was busy shared large table with other couple. Decent food. Parking in the rear of the restaurant. We were trying to go to the Shanghai place but it was packed. Fast and quick.

Came by for a weeknight dinner the other night since Hong Kong Restaurant in Palo Alto was closed by the health department due to rodents… The restaurant was surprisingly 85% full during the peak dinner rush!
Meal started off with a complimentary soup.
The Beef Pan-​fried noodles were very tasty with no weird oil aftertaste. Beef quality was decent too. The sauce complemented the dish very well.
Moved on to the Oyster Pork Belly clay pot that consisted of a half-​dozen decent-​sized oysters and flavorful pork belly. The shitake mushrooms and fried tofu was decent too.
Portions were generous and service by the staff was great… they even recognized me!
Meal ended with a complimentary dessert, taro tapioca pudding.
~$ 15/​head after tax and tip with enough leftovers for another person!