Family-owned Taste and Glory, an Asian-fusion brunch spot, opens in San Mateo 

Dig into tom yum scramble, drizzle a chicken croffle with maple syrup, or indulge in Thai tea French toast and wash it down with an ube latte at San Mateo’s newest brunch spot, Taste and Glory. 

“My husband and I are Thai, and we opened a Thai restaurant before, but we love to eat breakfast and pancakes,” co-owner Nattacha “Phin” Lerspreuk said. “I thought maybe we should mix them together.”

Taste and Glory opened March 24 in Monaco Plaza, serving Asian-inspired brunch in a chic, modern space featuring marble and wooden tabletops, brown and white leather and wooden chairs, and a fake plant wall with a neon sign that reads, “We’re honest but you can cheat.” The menu has a variety of omelets, Benedicts, scrambles (including a vegan option), salads, sandwiches and sweet breakfasts to choose from. But if Lerspreuk, who developed the recipes, had to choose her favorite, she’d pick the “perfect pancake,” buttermilk pancakes with applewood bacon, sunny side up eggs, fresh berries and maple syrup ($21). 

“I love the texture of the pancakes here. It’s soft and puffy,” she said. “My pancakes have more flavor. You don’t need to add a lot of syrup. If you bite just the pancake you’re going to taste a bit of sweetness and smoothness from the buttermilk and butter.”

Lerspreuk and her husband, Thanasit “Toto” Nanthasitsira, opened a Thai restaurant in South San Francisco in 2018 before selling it in 2023 and moving to San Mateo. Siam Spoon still operates under different ownership. Lerspreuk and Nanthasitsira moved to San Mateo at the recommendation of Lerspreuk’s brother, who owns Charm Thai Eatery in San Mateo and Chuan Chim Thai Cuisine in Foster City.

Lerspreuk said she enjoys running a brunch restaurant more than the Thai restaurant. It allows her to spend more time with her 1-year-old, and there are fewer takeout orders so the food is served fresh. While weekdays haven’t been too busy, Lerspreuk said on weekends, you can expect up to an hour wait and they don’t take reservations.

The name Taste and Glory is a mashup of two other names Lerspreuk had brainstormed: Morning Glory (in reference to the flower) and Taste and Toast. Ultimately she decided to combine the two names because she and her husband didn’t want to limit themselves to just brunch. Lerspreuk said they may eventually introduce dinner service as well, but they want to nail down brunch before making concrete plans. Taste and Glory does not offer outdoor dining, but it does have a private room that may be used for private dining and events in the future. 

Taste and Glory, 1208 S El Camino Real, San Mateo; 650-393-4951, Instagram: @tasteandglory_. Open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.