Adega ★ 4.8
Adega is San Jose's only Michelin-starred restaurant, serving a seasonal Portuguese tasting menu with 500+ Iberian wines in the Alum Rock neighborhood.
Order: Multi-course tasting menu with Portuguese wine pairing
The restaurants worth the trip in San Jose. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Our picks in San Jose
Original Joe's ★ 3.9
Original Joe's has anchored downtown San Jose since 1956, serving generous Italian-American classics like prime rib and the beloved Joe's Special.
Order: Joe's Special with ground beef, eggs and spinach
Mezcal ★ 4.0
Mezcal in downtown San Jose serves authentic Oaxacan cooking with family-recipe moles, tlayudas, chapulines, and a signature mezcal cocktail program.
Order: Tlayuda with black bean puree and mole negro
LUNA Mexican Kitchen ★ 4.0
LUNA Mexican Kitchen on The Alameda in San Jose earned Michelin notice for its farm-to-table Mexican cuisine with organic seasonal ingredients.
Order: Enchiladas with house-made mole
Black Sheep Brasserie ★ 4.2
Black Sheep Brasserie in San Jose's Willow Glen pairs French technique with California ingredients, featuring escargots and an elegant wine list.
Order: Escargots with garlic herb butter and puff pastry
The Table ★ 3.9
The Table in San Jose's Willow Glen is beloved for seasonal New American cuisine, craft cocktails, and an outdoor-friendly weekend brunch atmosphere.
Order: Seasonal farm-to-table brunch plates
SP2 Communal Bar + Restaurant ★ 3.7
SP2 Communal Bar in downtown San Jose serves seasonal American shareable plates, craft beers, and a popular late-night bar scene on weekends.
Order: Seasonal shared plates with craft cocktails
District ★ 3.8
District in San Jose's San Pedro Square pairs globally inspired small plates with one of the city's most extensive wine and whiskey programs.
Order: Globally inspired shareable plates with curated whiskey
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
Pho Ha Noi ★ 4.1
Pho Ha Noi on Story Road is a San Jose Little Saigon institution, simmering 500 pounds of shank bones daily for its silky Northern-style pho.
Order: Pho Bac with 24-hour bone marrow broth and fresh noodles
Pho 90 Degree ★ 3.8
Pho 90 Degree on Story Road in San Jose is open until midnight with generous pho bowls, an outdoor patio, and Vietnamese combination plate specials.
Order: Pho Dac Biet with rare flank, brisket, tendon and tripe
Com Tam Dat Thanh ★ 4.0
Com Tam Dat Thanh in East San Jose is beloved for authentic broken rice with charcoal-grilled pork chops, shrimp cakes, and family-recipe house sauces.
Order: Com tam with grilled pork and fried shrimp cake
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
Firehouse No.1 Gastropub ★ 3.8
Firehouse No.1 Gastropub in San Jose's San Pedro Square serves premium steaks, chops, and seafood alongside an acclaimed classic cocktail program.
Order: Premium steaks, chops, and classic cocktails from the bar
The Farmers Union ★ 3.7
The Farmers Union is a downtown San Jose landmark in an 1870s building offering ingredient-driven American cuisine with 40 craft beers on tap.
Order: Prime rib French dip with 40+ craft beers on tap
Back A Yard Caribbean Grill Downtown ★ 4.0
Back A Yard has served authentic Jamaican comfort food in San Jose since 2004 with signature jerk chicken and oxtail drawing a devoted following.
Order: Jerk chicken and beef oxtail plate
Chez Sovan ★ 4.1
Chez Sovan is a beloved San Jose weekday lunch institution offering rare authentic Cambodian fish curries, kebabs, and Khmer dishes at low prices.
Order: Fish amok and slow-cooked Cambodian curry with rice
Southern Comfort Kitchen ★ 3.8
Southern Comfort Kitchen in downtown San Jose serves New Orleans and Cajun soul food from family recipes, with fried chicken and gumbo near San Pedro Square.
Order: New Orleans fried chicken with Cajun sides
Aqui Cal-Mex ★ 3.6
Aqui Cal-Mex on Lincoln Avenue is a San Jose institution for natural and organic California-Mexican food with seasonal rotating ingredient menus.
Order: Burritos with natural, wild, and organic ingredients
Ozumo Santana Row ★ 4.0
Ozumo at Santana Row in San Jose delivers exquisite robata-grilled cuisine and handcrafted sushi rolls in a stylish room with an outdoor beer garden.
Order: Robata grilled items and omakase makimono rolls
Bill's Cafe Willow Glen ★ 3.9
Bill's Cafe in Willow Glen has been a San Jose breakfast institution since 1977, baking croissants daily and drawing weekend crowds for brunch.
Order: Eggs Benedict and fresh-squeezed orange juice
Falafel's Drive-In ★ 4.0
Falafel's Drive-In has served legendary falafel pita sandwiches from its Stevens Creek Blvd window since 1966, one of San Jose's oldest food landmarks.
Order: Classic falafel pita with tahini and hot sauce
La Victoria Taqueria San Carlos ★ 3.8
La Victoria Taqueria in San Jose is open until 3am with its cult orange sauce on burritos and tacos, a late-night downtown institution since 1998.
Order: Burrito with world-famous orange sauce