“ Cute spot and attentive service! We ordered the creamy sesame tan tan pho and the soy milk pho with chicken and mushrooms. The first was real nice - it had a deep sesame flavour as expected (I particularly enjoyed this as I love sesame but I wouldn't recommend to someone who doesn't love this flavour). Would have liked it to be a tad more spicy though. The soy milk pho was very interesting - a homey comforting experience. I've never had anything like it, however my companions were not the biggest fans of the flavour. It a great choice if you love trying new things like I do, but I would not recommend it if you prefer to stay on the safe side of things. It did not have a deep flavour profile, but still would be a great meal on a cold wet day. They have a real creative menu though, so I can't wait to come back to try the other options! ”

“ We just finished our Saturday shopping at Hillsdale and wanted a delicious late dinner. Searched for Japanese restaurants, and this one intrigued us due to its Japanese fusion twist and the vibe looked interesting in a minimalistic way. My partner's Japanese and I'm Southeast Asian -- so we were ready for this one! We also called them and they spoke Japanese, which gave us reassurance there would be some amount of authentic Japanese flavors and techniques. And overall--very glad we came here! We enjoyed the traditional Japanese elements with really inventive combinations and delicious, balanced flavor profiles. An authentic selection of shochu and sake. Service was exceptional (Shout-out to Risa), which enhanced our experience. ---- ENVIRONMENT: Inside, we found it to be minimalistic, cute, and welcoming, with pleasant children's artwork on the walls. It was fairly empty when we went, but we learned it's typically packed and we got a little lucky! Parking was easy at the time; we found street parking right in front. ---- SERVICE: Fantastic. We enjoyed our evening-long interactions with our server, Lisa. She was very friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely great to talk to. She not only helped guide us through the menu but also shared background about the restaurant. She enhanced our dining experience. ---- DRINKS: Shochu Highball with Oolong Tea: Love seeing highball cocktails on a menu, as it's an authentic, foundational component of Japanese drinks. The shochu highball here was just right: simple, delicious, and authentic. Akaoni Shochu: We liked the small offering of shochus. This one was smooth and enjoyable. If I could make one request, I wouldn't mind some Japanese whiskeys on the menu XD ---- FOOD: Papaya Salad: Fresh and balanced. We lighter flavor profile for the dressing -- perhaps more Japanese-like -- which differed from the typical heavier renditions in Southeast Asian cuisine. Braised Beef Spring Roll: This one was inventive and different. It offered a unique flavor profile that worked. It was balanced and ultimately delicious. Chicken Croquette: I thought this was a perfect croquette. Crispy, well-breaded, and balanced inside. Highly recommended. Tuna Tartare: Another of my favorites. This was fresh, well-seasoned, and delicious. It was accompanied by chips. Highly recommended. Creamy Sesame Tan Tan Pho: Very interesting and delcious; I looked forward to this one when I saw it on the menu. It was rich but not overwhelming, with a well-executed balance of flavors. Definitely worth a try! ---- FINAL THOUGHTS: Rin-Tei is not a standard Japanese-style joint serving ramen and karaage -- it offers much more. Come with an open mind and a curiosity to experience Japanese fusion with thoughtful component combinations and flavor profiles. Everything will be interesting, delicious, and balanced. The exceptional service and authentic drinks will enhance it all. Do note that the portion sizes are a bit small, so order plenty and share. We're already looking forward to coming back to try more! Highly recommend for anyone who loves inventive Japanese flavors. ”

“ There is something unique and heartwarming about this restaurant. As soon as you walk in, it's very bright and modern yet simple and clean. The food was amazing. My friends and I ordered the chicken rice, Rin-Tei Hot Pot with Cod Creamy Soy Milk-Sesame Sauce, clay caramelized cod, calamari, and yuzu sorbet. It was all exceptional...along with the service! Our waiter was so kind and attentive. We came on a Sunday evening and made reservations for 5:30 but we could have probably walked in and waited for 5-10 min to get seated. There are a few street meter parking spots right in front. Restroom is extremely clean and beautiful. We loved everything about this restaurant. Please give it a try for your next date night or friend get together! ”

“ Excellent service, food, and ambiance! Will be back for more! Staff is very attentive. Enjoyed the spring rolls with fresh orange. Nice jazz music in the background. ”

“ My friend and I wanted to try something new around the South Bay as I just recently moved here. We came on Monday on MLK's day. We weren't sure if they were open that day but decided to just go and see. When we both walked in, we both loved how the inside looked. It was a smaller restaurant with bar sitting and multiple tables around. We told them it was a table of two and got seated right away despite how packed they were, I think we were just lucky as we also got parking right in front too. When I saw the Yelp I was a little skeptical not going to lie, I've tried a few Asian Fusion places and always had my cravings under satisfied. So we ordered a couple dishes and the appetizers. While we were waiting I found out that this place just opened in December 2023! So it's definitely a newer spot. When the food came out we were both stunned on how pretty they looked. We were both ready to eat, and we ended gobbling the whole thing up. With no leftovers behind, I think that's how you know it was delicious. I can easily give this spot a 9/10, the flavors were so good! I was afraid that my soup was going to be heavy as it was the coconut milk soup, it was such a creamy soup and not heavy! So I wasn't sick of it and ate the whole thing. I saw that there's a dinner menu here, I am definitely dragging my husband here one day! ”

“ Great pho! Noodles are chewy and the beef is very tender. The lady who served me is wonderful and always smiling! ”

“ Where else would I be able to find Soymilk Pho?! When we first walked in, the ambiance of this restaurant was very modern and simple. It looked like a cozy, yet classy place which I absolutely loved. I got the Soymilk Pho - I had the soymilk chicken and mushroom pho. For some reason, I thought the broth was going to be bland because my past experience with creamier broths and noodle soup bases have been all creamy, but no flavor. However, Rin Tei was able to not only have the creamy element, but it also had flavor! It was savory, rich, and creamy all rolled into one. This place is definitely a solid place for a date night and to try some pretty interesting, non-conventional food. Service was absolutely impeccable as well. Our waiter was extremely nice and because it was during the Christmas and New Year's holiday time, the restaurant gave us soda on the house. What can get better than that! ”

“ Great little restaurant in San Mateo! The beef pho and salmon special were both delicious. The service was also wonderful. Would gladly go back and try other things on the menu - all of which looked great. ”

“ Was so impressed by this place. We came on a Monday evening and were blown away. Service was EXCELLENT - everyone was attentive, friendly, and hilarious! The vibe is very clean and minimal. We had the beef pho (solid), the fried chicken(crispy fried deliciousness) and the special creamy soy milk pho which was OUT OF THIS WORLD. It doesn't sound good, but it sooo was. Creamy broth, noodles, chicken, mushroom and garnish. ”