Southgate Ave & Gellert Blvd corridor · Updated September 5, 2026
Daly City packs a notable concentration of Asian restaurants around the Southgate Avenue corridor and Gellert Boulevard. Several Southgate dining rooms sit within a short walk of one another, making the area especially useful for comparing options. Gellert adds two distinct destinations: the expansive dim sum appeal of Koi Palace and the Korean fried-meat portions at King Katsu Land.
The selection spans dim sum, Korean comfort food, Thai brunch, Japanese ramen, sushi, Vietnamese pho, and casual noodle-house cooking. One meal might center on xiao long bao and roast duck, while another brings bubbling soon dooboo, rich ramen, toro nigiri, or a warming bowl of phở. Banana Island broadens the choices with roti, beef rendang, and Hainanese chicken.
Plan around the kind of meal and group you have in mind. Southgate Avenue works well when diners want several nearby choices, while Gellert Boulevard is better treated as a corridor with specific destinations. For a focused sushi occasion, consider Tiny Sushi - Oh Baby; for a shared spread, Koi Palace or lively Banana Island gives a group plenty to discuss.
Pho Huynh Hiep 3 - Kevin's Noodle House is a straightforward Southgate stop for Vietnamese comfort food. A soul-warming bowl of phở is the main draw, while grilled pork over broken rice offers a savory alternative to noodles. It works especially well for a casual meal, whether the priority is aromatic broth or a filling rice plate.
Kan Kiin Brunch & Thai Eatery approaches Thai food through a distinctive brunch format. Matcha pancakes keep their sweetness measured, while hat yai fried chicken with waffles pairs crisp, savory chicken with a brunch staple. It is a strong fit for diners who want something less conventional than a standard noodle or rice lunch, especially when sweet and savory dishes can share the table.
Dae Jang Geum Tofu House specializes in Korean comfort food served with plenty of heat and substance. Bubbling soon dooboo is the defining order, while sizzling galbi offers a meat-focused alternative. The cozy setting suits a warming meal with a friend, a small family gathering, or anyone deciding between tofu stew and grilled beef.
Koi Palace is the dim sum anchor on Gellert Boulevard, built around polished versions of familiar favorites. Its xiao long bao arrive juicy, the pork buns bring flaky layers, and roast duck gives the meal a substantial centerpiece. The format suits families and groups who want to share several dishes rather than commit to a single bowl or plate.
Banana Island is a lively choice for a table built around sharing. Crispy roti, tender beef rendang, and flavorful Hainanese chicken provide contrasting textures and enough variety to shape a group meal. Near Lake Merced and the San Francisco border, it best suits friends or families who would rather divide several substantial dishes than order narrowly.
Tom San Ramen combines rich ramen with sushi in an inviting Japanese setting. The chirashi bowl adds a colorful lunch option alongside the restaurant's noodle soups and sushi selections. This range makes it practical for companions who cannot agree between a hot bowl and raw fish, as well as solo diners seeking a focused Japanese lunch.
King Katsu Land keeps its focus on generously portioned Korean fried meat. The appeal is direct: crisp frying, substantial servings, and a meal centered firmly on katsu rather than soup or sushi. It suits hungry diners who prioritize crunch and quantity, and it offers a clear Gellert Boulevard counterpoint to Koi Palace's shared dim sum format.
Tiny Sushi - Oh Baby pairs a compact format with carefully presented sushi. Spicy tuna rolls provide a punchier choice, toro nigiri emphasizes a soft, rich bite, and beautiful chirashi bowls turn assorted fish into the visual centerpiece. Its focused sushi identity suits date nights, celebrations, and diners looking for a more special-occasion meal.
Daly City's Asian dining choices reward deciding by mood: shared dim sum, bubbling tofu stew, crisp katsu, rich ramen, polished sushi, warming phở, or a Thai-led group spread. Start with Southgate or Gellert, then let the preferred format narrow the field.
Koi Palace on Gellert Boulevard is the guide's dim sum choice near Serramonte. Build a shared meal around juicy xiao long bao, flaky pork buns, and roast duck. It is particularly well suited to families or groups, since the strongest approach is ordering several dishes for everyone at the table to sample.
Pho Huynh Hiep 3 - Kevin's Noodle House is the featured Daly City destination for phở. Its warming noodle soup is the clear choice when broth is the priority. Diners who want something beyond pho can stay with the same restaurant and choose flavorful grilled pork served over broken rice.
Southgate Avenue places several choices within a short walk: Pho Huynh Hiep 3 - Kevin's Noodle House for phở, Tom San Ramen for ramen and sushi, Kan Kiin Brunch & Thai Eatery for Thai brunch, and Dae Jang Geum Tofu House for soon dooboo and galbi. The cluster makes changing plans between cuisines relatively simple.
Choose Dae Jang Geum Tofu House when a bubbling, warming soon dooboo sounds right; sizzling galbi is available for a meatier direction. Pick King Katsu Land when the goal is perfectly fried meat in a massive portion. The decision is essentially stew and sizzle on Southgate Avenue versus crisp, substantial katsu on Gellert Boulevard.
Tiny Sushi - Oh Baby is the strongest special-occasion sushi pick in this guide. Toro nigiri brings a delicate, melt-in-the-mouth texture, while its chirashi bowls emphasize presentation and variety; spicy tuna rolls add a bolder option. Tom San Ramen also serves top-notch sushi, but its broader ramen-and-sushi format feels better suited to mixed preferences.
Entries start from The Infatuation's Daly City restaurant guide (updated June 12, 2026). Addresses, phone numbers, and price tiers were cross-checked against each restaurant's official website and public listings. Google Maps rating snapshots were taken in early September 2026 and are shown as approximate values, because ratings move. Hours and menus change — confirm details with the restaurant before visiting. Last updated: September 5, 2026.