I wouldn't care for living in San Mateo myself (I just evacuated the Bay Area for Brooklyn) but I can confirm that there's some really good quality, affordable

I wouldn't care for living in San Mateo myself (I just evacuated the Bay Area for Brooklyn) but I can confirm that there's some really good quality, affordable food to be had there, both downtown and in a little cluster near El Camino and 25th or thereabouts. Little Shanghai may not be the best Shanghaiese-style Chinese restaurant in the bay area, but there pretty darned good, and will serve you lunch for like $5...