10 of the Best Restaurants in San Jose You Shouldn’t Miss

Image via Pho Hoa

San Jose’s outstanding eateries prove this Silicon Valley city has much more tech companies and beautiful weather on its side. Whether you’re looking for casual eats, fine dining, or a simple snack, this Californian city has you covered. Here are 10 of the best restaurants in San Jose you shouldn’t miss.

Image via Sultan Bakery

Sultan Bakery proves Middle Eastern pastries are every bit as good as their French counterparts. You’ve had baklava before, but with at least six variations on hand daily, including the Sultan Signature baklava, you can always find something new to try. Add to that maamool—shortbread pastries filled with pistachios, walnuts, or dates—and hereessa (a semolina cake soaked in traditional sugar syrup) and you’ll find plenty to satisfy your sweet tooth. If you have savory tastes, hot and cold mezze items like dolmas, falafel, and zaatar croissant, a riff on the classic French breakfast, will tempt you.

Neighborhood: College Park
Address: 670 Stockton Ave, San Jose, CA 95126

Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Price: Most items under $10

Image via Yelp

There’s something special about a restaurant that just does things its own way. Freshly Baked Eatery is only open on weekdays, only open for lunch, and only accepts cash. Don’t be daunted by the ever-present queue, though: they get those jumbo sandwiches in your hands in seconds. The hardest part is picking which sandwich to get on their freshly-baked sourdough bread, all made in-house. Popular fixings include roast beef, pastrami and turkey, and ham and pastrami.

Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 152 N 3rd St # 101, San Jose, CA 95112

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday–Friday
Price: All sandwiches are $8

Image via Yelp

Falafel’s has been a San Jose staple since 1966. Pull up, get in line, and enjoy their famous falafel—but beware of the long peak time queues. This cheap eats spot was popular before, but after Guy Fieri came by for an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives things have never quite been the same. The menu celebrates Middle Eastern street food, with gyros, kifta kebabs, and, of course, falafel, all available in pitas or salads. These authentic dishes sit alongside American favorites like hamburgers, corn dogs, and french fries.

Neighborhood: Burbank
Address: 2301 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8: p.m. Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Price: Most items under $10

Image via Phở Hà Nội

Located on the outskirts of San Jose, Cupertino to be exact, Pho Ha Noi is a newcomer making waves in the Vietnamese food scene. San Jose itself has the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam and there’s a reason why this place, in particular, draws customers from all over Silicon Valley. Try the beef pho, pork rolls, crab rolls, or finger-licking garlic and fish sauce chicken wings. If the wait is long, and it usually is, but for good reason, you can always head to the local Pho Hoa chain restaurant instead.

Neighborhood: City of Cupertino
Address: 10100 S De Anza Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday
Price: Most items are between $10 and $20

We couldn’t pick just one place, so we’re giving you the whole market to explore. Filled with fantastic San Jose restaurants specializing in all your fast-food favorites including wood-fired pizzas, burgers, sushi, street tacos, fish and chips, and chicken wings, San Pedro Square Market is the perfect place for the indecisive eater. Jora Peruvian Food, Mochinut, and Urban Momo cater to more adventurous tastes. Add in bars for cocktails, beer, tequila, and more, and live music five nights a week, and you can see why people spend several hours here.

Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 87 N San Pedro St, San Jose, CA 95110

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday
Price: Most items under $30

Image via Black Sheep Brasserie

If you’re looking for a nice but casual night out, Black Sheep Brasserie should be on your list. This San Jose restaurant is heavily French-influenced but has enough California flair to make the dishes a little lighter and more creative than you’d expect. You could stick with small plates, like steamed mussels with saffron cream or Burgundy snails with garlic-parsley butter, or treat yourself to a 38 North duck breast or mesquite-grilled New York steak with bordelaise butter. Save room for tempting dessert options like the vanilla panna cotta and dark chocolate-espresso brownie.

Neighborhood: Willow Glen
Address: 1202 Lincoln Ave STE 30, San Jose, CA 95125

Hours: 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Price: Most soups and small plates are between $12 and $20, most entrees are between $30 and $50

Image via Original Gravity

What’s not to love about Original Gravity Public House? It’s an unpretentious beer bar serving the city’s best local beers and a “simple” food menu of classic American cheeseburgers, kale salads, fries, and sweet potato tots. Beer geeks will appreciate the attention to detail (like using the correct type of glass for each beer) and the constantly changing beer selection. Oh, and there’s a secret beer garden in the back.

Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 66 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113

Hours: noon to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, noon to midnight Friday and Saturday
Price: All food items under $10

Images via Paper Plane

Although it touts itself as a cocktail bar (and it certainly is, trust us), Paper Plane cranks out some delicious food. The ever-evolving menu has items like crispy koji wings, their take on a Crunchwrap Supreme, and grilled Spanish octopus. Wash any or all of them down with one of the bar’s famous cocktails. The cleverly plotted cocktail list helps you find the right drink for your taste, whether you’re in the mood for the familiar or want to be adventurous, or you’re hankering for a refreshing beverage or something bolder.

Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 72 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113

Hours: 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday and Sunday, 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday
Price: Most dishes are between $10 and $20

Image via The Table

The Table is the kind of restaurant we think of when it comes to California cuisine. The San Jose restaurant is casual but chic, unpretentious but not lacking in inventive flavors. Pop in for share plates like roasted bone marrow with mushrooms or herb-roasted jumbo prawns. Alternatively, treat yourself to an entree of pan-roasted duck breast, rib-eye steaks, or Berkshire pork chop. Don’t sleep on their cocktails, either. Signature options like the bold Drunk Uncle, World Peas made with pea-infused gin, or summery frose are a great accompaniment to the restaurant’s meals.

Neighborhood: Willow Glen
Address: 1110 Willow St, San Jose, CA 95125

Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
Price: Most share plates are between $10 and $20, most entrees are between $20 and $30

Image via La Foret

When you want to impress, La Foret is where you go. The restaurant sits in a former historic hotel on a stunning property. Its French-meets-Californian menu combines top-quality local ingredients with impeccable European techniques. You can order a la carte, but we recommend choosing one of the tasting menu options. Putting yourself in the hands of the La Foret chefs is never a mistake. La Foret gives you the opportunity to try unique proteins, including elk, bison, and wild boar. Take advantage of the outdoor dining area at the restaurant’s Sunday brunch. Enjoy a selection of La Foret’s best dishes or traditional breakfast options like pain perdu and eggs Benedict.

Neighborhood: Almaden
Address: 21747 Bertram Rd, San Jose, CA 95120

Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, Sunday brunch 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Price: Most appetizers $20 to $25, most mains $40 to $65

FAQs: Best restaurants in San Jose

What food is San Jose famous for?

San Jose is famous for Mexican dishes, including burritos and tacos and the Vietnamese sandwich banh mi. For dessert, don’t go past the city’s famous burnt almond cake.

Can I eat outside in San Jose?

San Jose enjoys warm weather year-round, which makes outdoor dining comfortable even in winter. Many local restaurants have outdoor eating areas that take advantage of the 257 average annual days of sunshine.

Does San Jose have any Michelin-star restaurants?

At the time of writing, San Jose has three Michelin-star restaurants. They are Luna Mexican Kitchen, Bai Xing Jia Hunan Fusion, and Adega.

Don’t these places sound appetizing? Skip the drive in traffic up to the city and dine at one of these local San Jose restaurants instead. Grab an apartment for rent that’s within walking distance to one of these spots and you’ll be one step closer to a great evening out.

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