Mongolian Hot Pot, located on Ellsworth Avenue, is not in the heart of Downtown San Mateo, but is worth a try if you like restaurants where you cook your own food. It is best to go with a larger group of friends to bring down the cost per person, since you add fixings to a communal pot and having a pot with diverse ingredients can add up quickly. From bamboo hearts to thinly sliced meat, there are fixings that appeal to everyone. Be cautious when selecting the base type for your broth, as the spicy broth is not for the faint of heart. Eating at Mongolian Hot Pot allows you and your friends to be adventurous with your meal while enjoying a fun social experience.
Hours all week: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Outlook Editor picks:
- Spicy broth (for the brave)
- Lamb
- Chicken skewers
- Bamboo cores
- Fresh soft tofu
- Hot Pot dumplings
- Spinach
- Enoki mushrooms
Laurelwood Park is a good place to make your new spot for exercise if you are tired of running on a treadmill at the gym to get your daily cardio. Sugarloaf, the hill you see when you take the trail, is picturesque and adds a certain tranquility to any workout. Try going to Laurelwood Park and getting your exercise while surrounded by nature. More conveniently located than Sawyer Camp Trail, Laurelwood Park’s trail has a nice variety of flat, uphill, and downhill sections that changes the basic run into a more varied experience. If you are looking to get outdoors but are not interested in running, you can play a number of sports—soccer, frisbee, or just a game of catch—on the plush green field located in the main park and at the entrance of the trail. Laurelwood’s rest rooms are better than the average park’s, and parking is relatively convenient on the hill above the park.
