The places in San Jose the guidebooks miss.
The places in San Jose the guidebooks miss. locals-only counters, after-hours rooms and the spots tourists walk past.
Duc Huong on Story Road crafts San Jose's finest banh mi with house-made cold cuts and crispy baguettes, a Story Road staple and East Side local favorite.
OrderBanh mi dac biet with house-made cold cuts and pate
Why locals goTucked in a Story Road strip mall, Duc Huong draws from-scratch banh mi seekers who know the side pickup window is the move to skip the line.
TipArrive before 09:00 on weekends for fresh-from-the-oven pate chauds while they last.
Com Tam Thien Huong serves Vietnamese broken rice with expertly grilled proteins, drawing long lines from San Jose's Little Saigon community at lunch daily.
OrderCom tam plate with BBQ pork and fried shrimp cake
Why locals goOverlooked by tourists who head to pho spots, this broken-rice specialist in Little Saigon regularly earns praise as one of the best com tam spots in the entire country.
TipOrder the sampler plate to try grilled pork, shrimp cake, and egg cake side by side for under $15.
Falafel's Drive-In is a San Jose icon on Stevens Creek serving crispy herbaceous falafel at a retro walk-up window, a Food Network-featured local institution.
OrderFalafel sandwich with house-made banana shake
Why locals goFeatured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives yet still unknown to many San Jose visitors, this walk-up window has served the same crispy falafel recipe for decades.
TipOrder the banana shake alongside your falafel sandwich; regulars have treated that pairing as the standard order here for generations.
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.
OrderVerve Coffee pour-over with a fresh pork bun
Why locals goBuilt 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.
TipPork buns from Tengu Sushi arrive fresh each morning and often sell out by 11:00 on weekends.
Huong Lan on Tully Road is a San Jose Vietnamese deli legend open before 05:00, serving large soft baguette banh mi considered a Bay Area gold standard.
OrderBanh mi #1 with pate, head cheese, and cured ham
Why locals goOpen before dawn for workers and students, Huong Lan has quietly served banh mi since the early 2000s without the long lines of higher-profile competitors nearby.
TipThe deli case holds roasted duck and BBQ pork belly that sell out fast - arrive before 10:00 for the full selection.
Back A Yard on E. Capitol Expy delivers smoky jerk chicken, oxtail stew, and curried goat to East San Jose with Caribbean recipes perfected since 2004.
OrderBeef oxtail stew with white rice and plantains
Why locals goThe East Capitol location is quieter than downtown but serves the same fragrant jerk chicken and oxtail stew that built Back A Yard's San Jose following since 2004.
TipThe oxtail stew runs out by early afternoon on weekends - call ahead to reserve a portion.
Pho Kim Long is a cash-only San Jose institution on N. Capitol Ave where long-simmered broths have earned a devoted following since the early 2000s.
OrderPho bo tai with rare sliced beef and bean sprouts
Why locals goCash only and off the downtown radar, Pho Kim Long produces broths that serious pho eaters in San Jose rank above far more famous Bay Area spots.
TipArrive at 09:00 when the bones have been simmering all night and the broth is at its richest.
Phonomenal at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose serves elevated Vietnamese and Asian fusion in a food-hall setting steps from the SAP Center.
OrderShort rib and brisket pho with bone broth
Why locals goTucked inside San Pedro Square Market, Phonomenal gets overlooked next to flashier food hall vendors but produces some of downtown San Jose's most refined Vietnamese fusion.
TipThe market gets busy at peak lunch - order early and grab a table in the outdoor market area.
Bun Bo Hue An Nam serves San Jose's deeply aromatic Central Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup from a humble Story Road storefront beloved on the East Side.
OrderBun bo hue with extra pork knuckle and blood cake
Why locals goCentral Vietnamese food is San Jose's most underrated cuisine corridor; An Nam's spicy lemongrass broth has regulars driving across the Bay but rarely appears on foodie lists.
TipClosed Tuesdays - plan ahead. Cash and debit only. Weekends open an hour earlier at 09:00.
Duc Huong's McKee Road outpost delivers the same legendary house-made cold cuts and crispy baguette banh mi as the Story Road original, with shorter waits.
OrderBanh mi xa xiu with BBQ pork and house pickles
Why locals goThe McKee Road location draws the same devoted banh mi crowd as the Story Road flagship but with even shorter lines, making it the insider choice for East San Jose regulars.
TipSpring rolls and pate chauds from the pastry case are self-serve - grab one while you wait for your sandwich order.
Day trip · 9 hours
Explore and relish the enchanted day trip to California's famous wine country on this full-day tour of Napa and Sonoma County.
2 hours
Learn how to make your own nigiri and seafood rolls from scratch in this hands-on class with Chef Elham. Cook spicy edamame, prep sushi rice, and roll it with a variet...
2 hours
Cook a 3-course Chinese-Californian meal in San Jose. Make dragon cauliflower, pineapple chicken and rainbow fried rice with Chef Parsati.