Eat in Japantown, San Jose

Mariscos Costa Alegre ★ 4.0

Mariscos Costa Alegre is San Jose's top Mexican seafood spot, serving family-recipe ceviches, aguachiles, and Mariscadas from coastal Mexico.

Order: Ceviche tostadas and birria tacos with consomme

Minato Japanese Restaurant ★ 3.9

Minato has been a cornerstone of San Jose's Japantown since 1957, serving world-famous teriyaki spareribs and classic Japanese comfort food.

Order: Teriyaki spareribs and tempura udon

Kaita Restaurant ★ 4.0

Kaita is a family-owned San Jose Japantown gem serving authentic Japanese comfort food with daily rotating lunch and dinner specials on Jackson Street.

Order: Daily lunch special with rotating seasonal Japanese dishes

Kumako Ramen Japantown ★ 4.1

Kumako Ramen has anchored San Jose's Japantown since 2006 with house-crafted broths, springy ramen noodles, and handmade gyoza on Jackson Street.

Order: Tonkotsu ramen with handmade gyoza

Kumako Ramen Japantown ★ 4.1

Kumako Ramen has been the heartbeat of San Jose's Japantown since 2006, with slow-crafted house broths, springy noodles, and handmade gyoza on Jackson Street.

Order: Tonkotsu ramen with handmade gyoza

Kaita Restaurant ★ 4.0

Kaita is a family-owned San Jose Japantown restaurant serving authentic Japanese comfort food with daily rotating lunch and dinner specials on Jackson Street.

Order: Rotating daily lunch special with seasonal Japanese comfort dishes

Minato Japanese Restaurant ★ 3.9

Minato has served San Jose Japantown since 1957 with world-famous teriyaki spareribs, katsu curry, tempura udon, and homemade sauces made fresh daily.

Order: World-famous teriyaki spareribs and unagi don

Mariscos Costa Alegre ★ 4.0

Mariscos Costa Alegre in San Jose serves family-recipe Mexican seafood with vibrant ceviches, aguachiles, and Mariscadas rooted in coastal Mexico traditions.

Order: Ceviche and aguachile with fresh Pacific seafood

Roy's Station Coffee and Teas ★ 4.2

Community cafe on the footprint of Grandpa Roy's Mobil station in Japantown, pouring Verve espresso and Satori organic teas with deep neighborhood ties.

Signature drink: Satori single-origin tea latte

Shuei-Do Manju Shop ★ 4.6

Shuei-Do Manju Shop is the Bay Area's oldest Japanese confectionery in San Jose's Japantown, handcrafting mochi and manju fresh daily since 1953.

Worth the queue: Manju bean-paste cakes

Japantown Certified Farmers Market ★ 4.3

Japantown Certified Farmers Market in San Jose is the Sunday morning Taylor Street market with direct-farm produce, Asian vegetables and Japanese sweets.

Nijiya Market ★ 4.2

Nijiya Market in San Jose is the Japantown Japanese supermarket on Jackson Street with fresh bento, sushi, onigiri and an extensive grab-and-go food section.

Kumako Ramen Japantown ★ 4.5

Kumako Ramen Japantown in San Jose is a perennial Metro Magazine best-ramen winner, serving tan tan and four classic ramen styles in Japantown.

Try: Tan tan ramen

Minato Japanese Restaurant ★ 4.4

Minato Japanese Restaurant in San Jose is the Japantown institution since 1957, a Parts Unknown stop known for teriyaki spareribs and katsu curry plates.

Try: Teriyaki spareribs combo

Roy's Station Coffee and Teas ★ 4.3

Roy's Station in San Jose's Japantown occupies a 1930s gas station shell, serving Verve Coffee and organic teas in a beloved community gathering space.

Order: Verve Coffee pour-over with a fresh pork bun

Why locals love it: Built on the footprint of a 1930s Mobil station that Grandpa Roy actually operated, this family-run Japantown gem serves the neighborhood's soul as much as its coffee.

Tip: Pork buns from Tengu Sushi arrive fresh each morning and often sell out by 11:00 on weekends.