SMoFCon’s Local Color and

Dining Guide
 I know, I know - you don’t see San Jose as the culinary Mecca that San
Francisco is (It hosted the first edition of Top Chef!), but I can tell you from 35
years of eating in San Jose, you’ll find some lovely places to dine in this wonderfully
madcap little center of technology. I’m happy to present to you the places where
I eat every time I get a chance to dine in Downtown SJ.
The guide is organized by the type of food. The places I’ve included are
among the better restaurants of San Jose. I’ve chosen not just the popular places,
but also places where you can get a decent meal for a decent price. I’ve also
chosen not to include fast food, but you can find a list of those included in the
pages.You really don’t have to look too hard to find them.
Most of the places listed are within walking distance of the Fairmont,
and all walking directions are from the Fairmont to the destination. If the place
is more than a mile away, I’ve simply included the driving distance. In those cases,
Google Maps is your friend.
Things being as they are, some of these places may have called it a day
and boarded up the doors. This happened with three places between the first
and the final draft of this guide. Hours might have changed. Chefs may have
gone to greener pantries and the food might have gone downhill, so I strongly
suggest you call ahead or check other reviews (and may I recommend Yelp.com,
the restaurant sections of sfgate.com or metroactive.com for that). Time, she is
a fluid impediment. Still, I hope you’ll find this guide useful in figuring out how
you’re gonna keep yourself fed and watered during our convention.
Christopher J Garcia

Rating notes
Meh- You can pass it up, but if you find yourself there, it won’t be too rough. It’s
not actively bad, but it’s nothing that you should worry yourself about missing.
Nom- Tasty, maybe one really good thing on the menu or maybe the service isn’t
what it could be.
Nom Nom- Tastier, probably better service, dependable. The kind of place you
might fall in love with over time.
Nom Nom Nom- Delicious and wonderful. The kind of place you go “Man, that
was good eatin’!” after you’ve finished your meal and loosened your belt.

Cost
$ - easy on the pocketbook
$$ - inexpensive enough
$$$ - enjoy the caviar and champagne - you’ve earned it

Directions
These are walking directions to the establishment from the Fairmont Hotel.
There are exits to both South First Street and Market, as well as onto Paseo de
San Antonio, a walking plaza that runs for several blocks. All of these paths are
used as starting points for directions. For locations more than a mile away, we’ve
simply included distance for driving.
American
1 Agenda Restaurant
http://www.agendarestaurant.com 408.287.3991
399 S. First Street at San Salvador St., San Jose CA
Wed-Thu. 5:30 PM - 2:00 AM, Fri-Sat. 5:30 PM - 2:00 AM, Sun. 9:00 PM - 2:00
AM
It’s hard for me to eat here, remembering its time as a nightclub called
Marsugi’s back in the late 1980s. Nirvana played here to an audience of about 50
people total! I saw a lot of random Ska bands here.The Syrah Short Ribs are really
good. How good? They almost make me forget that this place was once a Mecca
for live music! The menu’s kinda variable, with the appetizers being better than
most of the entrees, but it’s all very tasty. It’s also not wheelchair accessible.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

2 Arcadia Restaurant
www.michaelmina.net/mm_arcadia/ 408.278.4555
100 W San Carlos St. at South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
Tue-Sat: 6:30 AM - 11:30 AM, 5:30 PM - 10PM, Sun - Mon: 6:30 AM - 11:30 AM
This is a Michael Mina restaurant that lives in the Marriott. The Head
Chef, Daniel Patino, has a long history in the South Bay for his food, and Arcadia
ain’t bad. I usually go for the lobster in any form. The Lobster Corn Dogs are
pretty much the best single appetizer you can find in the Bay Area. The Lobster
Pot Pie is right up there too. DO NOT MISS THE DUCK FAT FRIES!!! I’m sorry
to yell, but they’re that good.
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$$+

3 Billy Berk’s
www.maxsworld.com/billyberks 408.292.4300
99 S 1st Street at San Fernando St., San Jose, CA 95113
Mon - Wed. 11:30 PM - 10:00 PM; Thu. 11:30 PM - 11:00 PM; Fri. 11:30 PM - 12:
00 AM; Sat. 4:00 PM - 12:00 PM; Sun. 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
I don’t think of it as much of a restaurant, but that’s my problem. I think
of it as a bar that happens to have great food. The best value you’ll find in all of
Downtown is the Mac ‘n Cheese appetizer. It’s awesome, just the right size and
delicious! The dessert menu is good too, especially if you’ve come for drinks,
which are the real highlight of the joint.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $/$$

4 The Blue Chip

www.thebluechipsj.com 408.971.2898
325 S 1st Street at San Carlos St., San Jose, CA 95113
Mon-Thu. 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Fri. 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM; Sat. 9:00 AM - 11:00
PM; Sun. 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
 This is a sports bar. If you think of what you’d expect from sports bar
food, that’s what you’ll be getting if you go here.The atmosphere’s decent enough,
and there are friendly regulars. Here’s the kicker: they’ve got a cheesesteak menu.
That’s right, a cheesesteak MENU!!! They do about a dozen variations. I have to
say that I love the Pizza Cheesesteak. It’s not traditional, but it’s tasty.Wheelchairs
may have difficulty.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$

5 Cafe San Jose

www.cafesanjose.com 408.265.3020
1583A Meridian Ave. at Hamilton, San Jose, CA 95125
7AM - 3PM, Daily
Let’s say you’re like me and you’ve been up all-night playing poker and
managed to lose 2/3 of your rent money to those sharps who totally managed
to catch straights on the river when your three-of-a-kind should have had that
pot wired and you’re pretty sure that the only thing that’ll make you feel better
is a Belgian Waffle Sandwich. And if you go to Cafe San Jose, you can be sure it’ll
be good enough to make you forget that you’ve gotta find a new apartment. The
breakfasts are some of the best around.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

6 Eulipia
www.eulipia.com 408.280.6161
374 S 1st Street after San Carlos, San Jose, CA 95113
Tuesday-Saturday: 5:30-10PM; Sunday: 4:30-9PM
This place has been around forever and was the lynchpin in the
revitalization of South First Street in the 1980s. That doesn’t make the food any
better, though. It’s not like the food is bad, it’s just nothing above average and the
price is fairly high. It’s the steaks here that get most of the attention, and I do
enjoy the Hanger Steak. The service tends to be fantastic, though. I actually got
dumped by a girl here once and the staff was very nice, even comping me a couple
of glasses of wine. Nice folks.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$$

7 Fahrenheit Ultralounge & Restaurant

www.fahrenheitsj.com
408.998.9998
99 East San Fernando Street at Second Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Sat 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Farhenheit is kinda swanky, I mean it’s also a Ultralounge! The food
here is delightful. The Grilled Skirt Steak has wonderful flavor and they certainly
understand the concept of Medium Rare. The drinks are also spectacular.
Rating- Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$
8 Firehouse No. 1 Bar & Grill
www.firehouse1.com 408.287.6969
69 N San Pedro St. near Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95110
Mon-Fri. 11:30 AM - 2:00 AM; Sat. 3:30 PM - 2:00 AM; Sun. 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM
This is a bar. You love bars. Admit it. I shouldn’t have to tell you this.You
absolutely adore bars, but you know you have to eat sometimes. Of all the bars
in San Jose, Firehouse may do some of the best bar food you’ll ever have. Oh
yeah, and there’s a guy who blows fire. The Wings...my god the wings...they are
spectacular.The place gets crowded and loud and the service can be slow, but the
drinks and the food make it a place worth visiting.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

9 Flames Eatery & Bar

www.flameseatery.com 408.971.1960
88 S 4th Street at San Fernando, San Jose, CA 95112
7AM to Midnight, Daily
Flames is the place you go to for giant portions. The food’s solid,
unspectacular, but solid...until you get to the breakfast part of the menu where
you see how huge the Waffle selection is. Then you turn the page and there’s
a section for their versions of Eggs Benedict. They have Potato Skins Benedict.
I’m not lying. You ain’t gonna find anything as rad as that anywhere else in
Downtown!
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$

10 The Fountain
http://www.fairmont.com/sanjose/GuestServices/Restaurants/
FountainRestaurant.htm
408.998.1900
172 S. Market Street in the Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, CA 95113
Mon -Fri: 6AM-2PM, Sat:7AM-2:00PM;
Sun:day Brunch: 10AM - 1:30PM
The Fountain does some nice food. I’ve never been over-whelmed, in
fact, I’m not sure I’d say I’ve even been just plain whelmed, but the food is tasty,
if expensive. The service, though, is very nice. I do enjoy the Brunch. The website
says they recommend reservations, but I’ve never had any problem getting a table
on demand.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$$

11 The Grill on the Alley

http://www.thegrill.com/location677d.html?subsections_id=50
408.294.2244
172 S. Market Street in the Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, CA 95113
Mon - Thu: 11:30AM - 10:00PM, Fri:11:30AM - 11:00pm; Sat: 5:00PM - 11:00PM;
Sunday: 5:00PM - 9:00PM
Fast Food Near Downtown
The Grill on the Alley is
actually in the Fairmont. You probably Baja Fresh- 150 S. First Street,
walked right by it. Think back...try San Jose, CA
and remember when you were going
Ben & Jerry’s- 115 San Carlos
through the hotel this morning...you
passed it, you’re sure you did.The food’s Street, San Jose, CA
good enough to merit a visit. I like the Chinese Gournet Express- 150
Chicken Breast with Herbs, but really, South First St. Suite 111, San
the bartenders are fantastic and have
them make you a perfect martini.
Jose, CA
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$$ Chipotle- 975 The Alameda, San
Jose, CA
12 Morton’s Steakhouse
Denny’s- 1390 South First Street,
www.mortons.com 408.947.7000
177 Park Avenue, Suite 100 at Market San Jose, CA
Street, San Jose, CA 95113 Happi House- 695 North Fourth
Mon - Thu: 5:30PM - 10:00PM; Fri: 5: Street, San Jose, CA
30PM - 11:00PM; Sat: 5:00PM - 11:
00PM
Jack in the Box- 1558 West San
This is the San Jose edition Carlos St., San Jose, CA
of the Morton’s chain. Get a steak. Johnny Rockets- 105 South First
Honestly, it doesn’t matter which one. Street, San Jose, CA
They’re all magical. I love coming to
Morton’s, and when I come on the McDonald’s- 1398 West San Car-
weekends, I get myself the Double-cut los St., San Jose, CA
Prime Rib. It’s pert-near perfect. Pinkberry- 368 Santana Row, San
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$$ Jose, CA
13 Naglee Park Garage Pizza My Heart- 117 East San
408.286.1100, 505 E San Carlos Street Carlos St., San Jose, CA
between 11th and 12th Streets, San Quiznos- 150 South First Street
Jose, CA 95112 Suite 181, San Jose, CA
Tue - Thu: 5PM to 9:30PM; Fri: 5PM
to 10PM; Saturday (Dinner): 9AM to Quiznos- 754 The Alameda, San
1PM and 5PM to 10PM; Sunday: 9AM Jose, CA
to 1PM. Subway- 475 East San Carlos St.,
This place does a lot of San Jose, CA
business with college kids. They do a
lot of events from films to live music. Subway- 165 San Fernando St.,
You order at a counter and then find San Jose, CA
yourself a table. The show was featured Subway- 103 East Santa Clara St.,
on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives on Food
San Jose, CA
Netwood in 2010. The portions are
so-so, but the food is pretty tasty, especially the Maple Lacquered Cornish Game
Hen. It’s da bomb. Isn’t that what all the kids are saying these days? Or is it jiggy?
I can’t keep up anymore...
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

14 Peggy Sue’s
www.peggysues.com 408.298.6750
29 North San Pedro Street at Santa Clara., San Jose, 95113
and
408.294.0252
183 Park Avenue between Almaden and Market Streets, San Jose 95113
10am to 10pm
Hey, it’s another 50s-themed place! This one, while not as decorated, has
the better food. Come for breakfast.They do a fine Chicken Fried Steak breakfast.
The prices are also better here than at that other place. Lunch can be rough at
the Park Ave. location, but overall, it’s decent eating.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$

15 San Jose Museum of Art Cafe Too!

http://www.sjmusart.org/content/visitUs/cafe/cafe.phtml 408.277.0557
110 South Market Street in the San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA 95113
Tue - Sun: 11AM - 3PM
Soup, salads and sandwiches are what you get here. The Chef Salad isn’t
bad, and the Fire-Roasted Vegetable Sandwich is also worthy of above-the-title
billing. It’s actually pretty good for Art Museum Food.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$

16 Sonoma Chicken Coop

www.sonomachickencoop.com 408.287.4098
31 N. Market Street at Santa Clara., San Jose, CA, 95113
Sun - Thu: 11 AM - 9 PM; Fri-Sat: 11 AM - 10 PM
This is a family favorite around these parts and is great for groups. The
portions are big, the food is reliable and the for-the-dollar value is pretty high.The
roast chicken is tasty, but if you pass up the desserts, you’re a fool. The Banana
Phyllo Sundae has at least two epic poems written about it, while the Bourbon
Bread Pudding leads its own religion.You must!
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

BBQ
17 Henry’s World Famous Hi-Life
www.henryshilife.com 408.295.5414
301 W St John Street at Julian, San Jose, CA 95110
4PM to 9PM, Daily
 This is a legendary joint around San Jose. Everyone’s eaten here, or
at least they say they have. The ribs are why you come here. They’re tasty and
sloppery and worth the trip. The place gets crowded, is kinda dim, and you’re not
going to find a lot of over-the-top service. It’s an SJ landmark, and if you wanna
say you did the whole San Jose thing, you should take a trip.You’ll have good BBQ
in a setting that smacks of BBQ joint. Sadly, it’s not wheelchair accessible.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$

18 JC’s Famous BBQ

408.246.2147
1080 Saratoga Ave. Suite 8, San Jose, CA 95128
Mon – Sat: 11AM – 10PM
This not a mistake: this place doesn’t have a website. I called and asked
if they did, and they told me they didn’t. I was kinda shocked. What kind of
restaurant in the heart of Silicon Valley doesn’t have a website? The kind that puts
out good beans, nice ribs and solid BBQ chicken.The beef ribs are huge and I can’t
say enough about how tasty and filling they are. I particularly enjoy the beans,
which come with every order. It’s a ways out, but it’s worth the trip!
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

British
19 Britannia Arms
britanniaarmsdowntown.com 408.278.1400
173 West Santa Clara St. between Santa Clara & Almaden, San Jose, CA 95113
11AM – 1:30AM, Daily
The Brit has a few locations around San Jose, and the Downtown version
is probably the loudest. There’s nothing fancy on the menu, the mushy peas are
mushy, the Fish & Chips are decent, but mostly, it’s a bar that draws sports fans
and karaoke-types. You know Karaoke types, don’t you? They’re the ones who
sing Wild Horses quietly to themselves through out the week only to butcher it
when they get in front of the mic!
Rating - Meh / Cost - $$

Cajun/Creole
20 Gumbo Jumbo
www.gumbojumbo.net 408.29.GUMBO.
80 North Market Street between St. John & Santa Clara, San Jose, CA 95113
Mon - Fri: 5:30PM to 10PM; Sat: 3PM to Midnight; Sun: 3PM to 10PM
This is Gumbo country. Not all of San Jose, but the specific area defined
by the walls of this restaurant. There’s a solid menu, most of it is very good as
I’ve heard it from folks. I’ve only had one thing: the Gumbo Jumbo Jambalaya. It’s
a combination of seafood, sausage and chicken, but that’s not all. They then use it
to make a burrito. No, I’m not kidding. It’s awesome.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

21 Poor House Bistro

www.poorhousebistro.com 408.292.5837
91 Autumn Street at San Fernando, San Jose, CA 95110
Mon - Thu: 11AM - 9PM; Fri-Sat: 11AM - 10PM; Sun: 10AM - 8PM
Chicken Po Boy. You call to me. Across time. Across space. I must have
you again. The menu is large and full of wonderful po boys and Cajun faves. You
can also get a Muffaletta, a rarity in this part of the country. But none of them
fill the need for Chicken Po Boy. only the Po Boy is the Po Boy! There is also a
Sunday brunch, from 10 AM until 2 PM.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

Cambodian
22 Chez Sovan
408.287.7619
923 Oakland Rd. at Berryesa, San Jose, CA 95112
Mon-Fri: 11:30am-2pm
If you haven’t had Cambodian food, you’re missing out. Amok, Whitefish
wrapped in Banana Leaves, is tasty and they do it very well at Chez Sovan. There
are curries, there are wonderfully grilled meats and more coconut milk per
square inch than anywhere else in the state.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

Chinese
23 Bo Town
408.295.2125
409 South Second at San Salvador, San Jose, CA 95113
Mon-Sun. 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
At first, I thought that this was a Bo Jackson-themed restaurant, which
would have been cool. I mean, the guy was a two sport superstar! The food here
is OK. Hot ‘n Sour Soup is pretty good. Other than that, I’ve never been overly
impressed. It would have been better with Bo Jackson memorabilia all over the
walls. Or maybe Bo Derek.Yeah, just a continuous loop of her running to Bolero
playing on a TV.
Rating - Meh / Cost - $
24 Cathay Restaurant
http://www.thecathayrestaurant.com.sg/
408.453.8148
1339 North First St. at Gish, San Jose, CA 95112
4:30 PM-10PM, Daily
That may be a way to disguise the menu. It’s simple, and it’s one-note,
but it’s food and it’s available. Sometimes, you only need food, and this is certainly
matter which can be processed by your human digestive system.
Rating - Meh / Cost - $$

25 Chef P’s
408.729.4373
22 N Jackson Ave. between Alum Rock and Luz, San Jose, CA 95116
10AM – 9:30PM, Daily
You gotta love a Chinese place with a menu printed with both Spanish
and English. Beware: they use MSG!!! For those who are sensitive, stay away. For
those who are not, you will likely find the flavors pretty interesting. I will say that
the combinations they do are pretty smart and the prices are very affordable.
Rating - Meh / Cost - $

26 China Chen
408.294.2525
400 South 3rd St. between William & San Salvadore, San Jose, CA 95112
9AM – 9PM, Daily
Noodle soup is the specialty of China Chen. Stick to the noodle soup.
The Fried Egg Flour Cake has been praised by many, but I don’t see it. The place
has spotty service and it’s pretty much a Hole-in-the-Wall, but you cannot go
wrong with the Noodle Soup.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$

27 China Garden
www.chinagardensj.com 408.293.3149
1890 West San Carlos St., San Jose, CA 95128
Mon - Sat: 11:30AM – 9:30PM; 4:30PM – 9:30PM
Well, this place looks like a Chinese place should look. . The food isn’t
much to write home about, but the decor might help give it some of the flavor
it’s missing in many of the dishes. The Hot Pots are the best thing on the menu,
and there are three inexpensive Combinations that are fiscally responsible.
Rating - Meh / Cost - $

28 China Wok Restaurant

408.280.6688
9 North Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
11am – 9pm
The food is only so-so and the service is attentive, but unobtrusive.
There’s not a lot to China Wok, but it’s worth a trip if you’re in the mood for
Chinese.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $

29 E & O Trading Company

www.eotrading.com 408.938.4100
96 South First Street at San Fernando St., San Jose, CA 95113
Mon - Thu: 11:30AM - 10:00PM; Fri: 11:30AM - 10:30PM; Sat: 5:00PM - 10:30PM;
Sun: 5:00PM – 9:00PM
Another of the Asian Fusion places where the food is really good.There’s
a fine Roasted Black Cod with Matcha Tea Rice that is easily the best thing you’ll
find on South First Street. The bar is really good with strong bartenders slinging
awesome drinks.You can make a fine evening of drinks and their small plates. The
menu is somewhat limited, but you won’t find a bad dish on it! Good place to
bring a group for a nice meal.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

30 Edna Ray Chinese Restaurant

www.ednaray.com 408.280.7738
1181 Lincoln Ave. between Merideth and Willow, San Jose, CA
11AM - 3PM and 5PM - 9:30PM daily
The soups here are fantastic and the selection is strong. If you’ve never
had Hot & Sour Seafood Soup, this is the place to start your love affair with it.The
rest of the menu is kinda limited. The food is well-prepared and tasty, but there’s
just not the selection you’d look for in a place like this. Try one of their Family
Dinners if you brought a group.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$$ (Family Dinners - $$)

31 Hunan Taste
www.hunantaste.net 408.295.1186
998 N 4th St. at Hedding, San Jose, CA 95112
Mon – Sat: 11AM-8:30PM
San Jose lacks a truly awesome Chinese joint Downtown. Hunan Taste
is probably the best of the non-fusion types in this part of town. Start with the
Onion Cake. It’s really a nice start to a meal. Follow that up with the Hunan Spicy
Lamb and you’re on your way.The seafood menu is diverse and people rave about
it. Also, can you think of another place that does Polish Sausage Hunan-style?
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

32 P.F. Chang’s
www.pfchangs.com 408.961.5250
98 South 2nd St., San Jose, CA 95113
Mon-Fri: 11AM-11PM; Sat: 11AM-Midnight; Sun: 11AM – 10PM
This is one of those Asian Fusion chain restaurants, which are so popular
these days. You take traditional Chinese, throw in some European and American
and there you have it. The Lettuce Wraps are the favourite of all who come to
eat. The menu is solid, and they’re gluten-free, which is nice for those who have
serious gluten issues. Bring your group, because they’re used to it. The menu ain’t
big, but they are very accommodating to special orders, and aren’t we all just
moments away from asking for no onions in whatever it is we want to eat?
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

33 Taiwan Restaurant
www.taiwanrestaurantsj.com 408.289.8800
1306 Lincoln Avenue at Willow San Jose, CA 95125
11:30AM – 3PM and 5PM – 9PM Daily
The Party considers this a Chinese Restaurant, while the US thinks of
it as an Independent Eatery. Either way, its teams keep winning the Little League
World Series. This restaurant in Willow Glen has the kind of menu I like to see,
with lots of stuff you’re not likely to find at other Chinese places. The Eggplant
over Noodles has a lot going for it. They’ve got Family Dinners which are a good
deal and get you a sampling of their menu.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

34 Ume Chinese Restaurant

408.433.3333
2595 North First St. at Trimble, San Jose, CA 95131
Basic Chinese food.
01 print average menu
10 order average food
11 eat and find yourself bored
100 wonder why you came
101 goto 100
Rating - Meh / Cost - $

Cuban
35 Habana Cuba
www.988cuba.com 408.988.2822
238 Race St. near Park, San Jose, CA 95126
Tue-Thu. 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM; Fri. 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM; 5:
00 PM - 10:00 PM; Sat. 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM; Sun. 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Cuban food is a delightful way to remind yourself of 1/3 of The
Godfather Part II. The Bistec Empanizado is delicious and traditional and would
have gotten Fredo off the hook for conspiring with Johnny Ola and Hyman Roth.
The sandwiches are very good, but really, everything here hinges on the Meats.
They do some good meat.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$$
36 Los Cubanos Restaurant
www.loscubanosrestaurant.com 408.279.0134
22 North Almaden Ave. in San Pedro Square, San Jose, CA 95110
Mon. 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM; Tue-Thu. 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM;
Fri. 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM; Sat. 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM; Sun.
1:00 PM - 8:00 p.m
If you’re used to authentic Cuban food, you will feel right at home. The
wait staff acts like you’re family and they deliver food that is exceptional. The
Vaca Frita is great, with just enough garlic to make it a savory delight. There are
Brazilian Entrees on the menu, including Virado a Paulista Tutu, which is a pork
dish that piles deep and mystical flavors on top of each other. Some of the best
food you’ll find in San Jose.
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$

Dutch Cuisine
Nothing to see here. Move along.

Ethiopian
37 Ghion Ethiopian Restaurant
408.298.8681
1015 Park Ave. at Lincoln, San Jose, CA 95126
This is the newest Ethiopian place in San Jose, and it’s pretty authentic.
Of all of them, this is also the cheapest. It’s a favorite of the local Ethiopian
population. I like the food, and the atmosphere is nice enough to bring me back.
You can bring a group here and enjoy it together. Not great for vegetarians.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$

38 The Lunch Box

408.287.3511
1876 West San Carlos St. at Irving, San Jose, CA 95128
9AM – 9PM Daily
The Lunch Box is a strange name for an Ethiopian place, but believe me,
it’s not like they watered down their food to match the name. I’ve been there six
or seven times and I’ve been the only non-Ethiopian eating at the time at least
three of those times. The Foul (fava bean dip, in a sense) is very good and there’s
a bunch of heat that hits you just right.Their Gored Gored is tasty, but not overly
impressive.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $

39 Mudai Ethiopian
www.mudairestaurant.com 408.292.2282
503 West San Carlos St. at Josefa, San Jose, CA 95126
11AM – 10PM Daily
Ethiopian food is delightful, and it’s half about the process of eating. The
food at Mudai is layered and powerful. The Gored Gored is good good. The Kitfo
is the Ethiopian Steak Tartar and it can be done raw, rare or well-done.The entire
menu packs a wallop and the spice is what you walk away from Mudai with. It gets
a bit crowded, so come either before 6 or after 9. Not a place for vegetarians.
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$

40 Rehoboth Ethiopian Cafe and Restaurant

http://www.caferehoboth.com/
408.947.1717
655 N 6th St. between Jackson and Taylor, San Jose, CA 95112
Tue-Thu: 11:30AM – 9PM; Fri: 11:30AM – 10PM; Sat: Noon to 10PM; Sunday:
1PM – 8PM
If you can afford it, spring for the Mesob. You will find that it’s worth
every one of the 5000 pennies it’ll cost you for a fine family-style combination.
The meat combination is also excellent, especially for those not as familiar with
Ethiopian food as others. You may want to try the Yebeg Alicha Fitfit, which
sounds like the name of a Jedi Knight, but is actually delightful lamb cooked with
ginger, garlic and onion. Again, a great place for groups.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

French
41 Emile’s Restaurant
www.emilesrestaurant.com 408 289 1960
545 S 2nd St. between William and Reed, San Jose, CA 95112
Tues-Thurs: 5:30PM to 10PM; Friday – Saturday: 5:30PM to 11PM
Emile’s has a good reputation in San Jose, for good reason.They do good
food. I’ve always enjoyed the Three-Course Prix Fixe meals they offer, complete
with a glass of wine. It’s always good and affordable for the quality you’re getting.
The duck a l’orange has gotten rave reviews for ages. and draws converts every
night It’s open until 11 on the weekends, so head over for some late night eating.
It’s dressy and you might want to think about making reservations.
Review- Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

42 La Foret
www.laforetrestaurant.com 408.997.3458
21747 Bertram Rd., San Jose, CA 95120
Tue - Sat. 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM; Sun. 10:30 AM - 2:00 p.m and 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Fancy. That’s the word you’ll need to understand if you wanna get to
know La Foret. It’s fancy, serving fantastic, fancified food at extremely fancified
prices. The tasting menus are the way to go, even if they do run very pricey. Try
the wild game specials; they are always fantastic, as are the scallops. And the Kobe
Beef.And the Souffle. OK, just get anything and you should be happy! Reservations
are strongly recommended, though I’ve gotten in without them before.
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$$+

43 Le Papillon
www.lapapillon.com 408.296.3730
410 Saratoga Avenue off 280, San Jose, CA 95129
Mon: 5PM – 9:30PM; Tues-Wed: 11AM - 2PM and 5PM – 9:30PM; Thurs - Fri:
11AM – 9:30PM; Sat – Sun: 5PM – 9:30PM
This is a dressy place. It’s one of the few places I’m willing to put a tie on
to get to enter, and if I’m willing to put on a tie, I’m also willing to shell out 115
bones to get the Tasting Menu and the 55 bucks for the wines that they tailor to
go with each course. Get someone to take you there. That’s really the second
best way. First best: expense account. It also helps that each course is impressively
flavored and that the most refined palates will find much to love and those of us
who enjoy Hoagies and Fries might just have our eyes opened. Also one of the
few places you’ll find around San Jose that do venison. Reservations do help.
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$$+++

German
44 Gunther’s Restaurant and Catering
www.guntherscatering.com 408.266.9022
1601 Meridian Ave. at Hamilton, San Jose, CA 95125
Monday-Thursday 7am-8pm, Friday 7am-9pm, Saturday 7am-2pm
Gunther’s is a glorified lunch counter. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s
something to remember. The food tends to be pretty good, the meatloaf being
the highlight on the menu, but you might always want to try their burgers, wurst
or cold cuts. The strudle is exceptional. It’s a nice little Mom and Pop place that
is an enjoyable, highly casual meal.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

45 Harry’s Hofbrau
www.harryshofbrau.com/ 408.243.0434
390 Saratoga Ave. at Steven’s Creek, San Jose, CA 95129
11AM - 9PM Daily
Harry’s is a small chain native to the Bay Area that features good-sized
portions of roast meats and the fixin’s that go along with ‘em. For forty years,
this place has been serving up fine sandwiches and sliced meat plates. I highly
recommend the Reuben, or the Roast Beef.You really can’t go too wrong here. ...
unless you’re a vegetarian. They’ve got themselves a bar in there, too!
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$
 46 Teske’s Germania Restaurant,
SJ Attractions Nearby Bar and Beer Garden
with Food Available! www.teskes-germania.com
408.292.0291
Camera 12 Theatres- 201 255 N. 1st St. between Julian and St.
South Second Street featur- James, San Jose, CA 95113
ing Movie Food! Tue - Fri: 11AM - 2PM and 5PM - 9:
30PM; Sat: 5PM - 9:30PM
The atmosphere, she is
delightful. The beer? Wonderful, and
History San Jose- 1650 reasonably priced, for the most part.
Senter Road featur- The food? Solid, if not spectacular. The
Jagerschnitzel with Spatzle is probably
ing The Museum Cafe in the best I’ve had outside of Wisconsin,
O-Brien’s Candy Shop. and Rindsrolade is very tasty. You get
www.historysanjose.org a lot with your entree, soup, salad
and dessert, and for ten bucks extra,
you get an extra and two can split
San Jose Museum of Art- an entree. And the portions are big
enough that you can easily make that a
110 South Market Street, full meal for two with leftovers.
San Jose. Fine Art Mu- Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$
seum featuring San Jose
Museum of Art Cafe Too! Greek
www.sjmusart.org
47 The Castle Greek Cafe
408.456.0346
3730 North 1st Street Suite 150 at
The Tech Museum of In- Tasman, San Jose, CA 95134
novation, 201 South Market This place gets crowded at
Street featuring The Cafe. lunch. I’m talking opening night of
Twilight at a cinema next to a Girl’s
www.thetech.org Middle School crowded. The weird
thing is they use ranch dressing instead
of tziki in some of their wraps, which
The Winchester Mystery is odd, but actually pretty tasty. Not a
place to bring groups, but it’s a great
House- 525 South Win- place for a fast meal.
chester Blvd. featuring Rating - Nom / Cost - $
Sarah’s Cafe.
48 City Falafel
winchestermysteryhouse.com
408.947.8789
273 E. San Fernando St., San Jose, CA
95112
Mon - Thu: 10AM - 10PM, Fri: 10AM - 4PM
Greek food has a history of small-time places sweltering away like the
dusty memory of a John Belushi Saturday Night Live sketch. That’s not the case
with City Falafel, which is trying to be a serious fast food chain serving Greek
food. The food tastes good, not too many frills, which is nice, and the Chicken
Shawarma is pretty great.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $

49 The Pita Pit

www.getpitas.com 408.694.3200
151 S. Second Street, Suite 185 between San Fernando and San Carlos, San Jose,
CA 95113
Hours Mon - Wed. 9:30 AM - 12:00 AM, Thu - Fri. 9:30 AM - 3:00 AM , Sat. 11:00
AM - 3:00 AM, Sun. 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Let no man stand in the way of your Pita Enjoyment. Why should time
prevent you from going somewhere and buying a pita to eat. Yes, you can get a
pita at 2:30 in the morning, after you’ve closed out The Cinnebar or had your last
round at Billy Berk’s. You can head over, get a decent pita and that’s that. Do not
accept that you cannot both close out a bar and get an exceptional pita! Both are
possible! Not a place to bring a group though, and it’s very good for vegetarians.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $

50 Taza Bistro
tazabistro.com 408.292.8292
1 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95106
Prices are good. Food’s good. The atmosphere’s nice. What else do you
need to know? I mean, is it that important that I tell you that the Falafel Supremo
is filling and managed to make me, against 33 years of conditioning, enjoy falafel?
Is it significant that that the Pita Pizza is my favorite dish in the North Side of
Downtown? Am I required to tell you that the Mediterranean Platter is cheap and
a wonderful sampler of this place? Well, am I?!?!?!?!
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $

Hawaiian
51 Hawaiian Drive Inn
www.hawiiandriveinn.com/ 408.275.9888
304 E. Santa Clara St., Suite B at 7th, San Jose, CA 95113
7:00AM - 9:00PM, Daily
Though slightly out of the way out by the airport, this is a fine place to
grab a bite. It’s also completely unfair that I have to review it now, while I’m sitting
at work and unable to get out there for their Loco Moco (Hamburger Steak with
Eggs and Gravy) or the fantastically grease-o-rific BBQ Mix Plate. The BBQ Pork
Saimin is also better than most at sit-down Hawaiian joints.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $

52 Hukilau
www.dahukilau.com 408.279.4888
230 Jackson St. between 5th & 6th, San Jose, CA 95112
Tue - Wed. 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Thu-Fri. 11:00 AM - 2:
00 PM, and 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM, Sat. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 11:00
PM, Sun. 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Located in the heart of San Jose’s historic Japantown, this is the kind of
Hawaiian place that you think of when you think “Hey, I wonder if there are any
Tiki Bar-Family Restaurant Hybrids out there.” This is it, that unholy monster
created by slamming Trader Vic’s into an Chili’s. The reasons to go here are
decent drinks made by very nice bartenders, an excellent Hawaiian Burrito and
the Kalua Pork Cheese Fries are magnificent in the fact that they sound disturbing
yet turn out to be somewhat magical. Bring a group, though you might wanna call
ahead.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost -$$

Indian
53 Silk Road Bistro
408.286.3969
87 E. San Fernando St. between 2nd and 3rd, San Jose, CA 95113
I’m not the biggest fan of Indian Food, so I have, in a strangely appropriate
form of revenge, out-sourced my reviews of Indian restaurants to my buddy Neil
Hopkins, an ex-pat Brit.
Chris, this place is highly uneven. It’s almost two different restaurants if you
come during the week or the weekend.They’ve got a lot more during the week. I like the
saag paneer, spinach with cheese, and the chicken tikka is a lot like they do it in London.
The samosas are also very good.The weekend is strange, less impressive.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

54 Tandoori Oven
www.thetandoorioven.com 408.292.7222
150 South First St. between San Fernando and San Carlos, San Jose, CA 95113
11:30AM – 9:30PM, Daily
This is the one Indian restaurant in the world that I can stand, though I’ll
let Neil, who took me there the first time, have a couple of words-
That’s the place I take my Indian friends when they visit.
That should say something. The Seekh Kabob is very tasty, but the
king here is the Lamb Biriyani. It is only version of the dish I’ve ever been able
to tolerate. It’s got lovely spice and delicious flavor. It’s incredibly close to the
Fairmont, but does crowd up quite a bit around noon and five. Great for groups,
vegetarians and just about everyone.
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$

Italian
55 Antonella Ristorante
www.antonellasristorante.com 408.279.4922
1701 Park Ave. at Naglee, San Jose, CA 95126
Mon – Fri:11:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Sat – Sun: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM - 9:00
PM
If you’re walking down the street and find yourself humming Unchained
Melody, and you happen to be near Antonella’s, you’re in luck because you can’t
eat there without that song fitting your mood. The food matches it perfectly, and
the ambiance too! It’s good food, not over the top, but you can practically hear
the violins in the background as you’re enjoying your Chicken Marsala.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$$

56 Bella Mia
www.bellamia.com 408 280 1993
58 South First St. between Santa Clara and San Fernando, San Jose, CA 95113
Mon - Thu: 11:30AM - 9PM; Fri: 11:30AM - 10PM; Sat: 4PM - 10PM; Sun: 4:30PM
- 8PM
It’s not too pricey, but the tab gets fat quickly because of all the great
stuff. The Cioppino is the best thing on the menu (and of all the places on First
street, it’s among the best of all dishes!) and they mix seafood with pasta very
nicely. Lunch is good, dinner is better. A decent place for a bunch of folks to come
as a group.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

57 Il Fornaio
ilfornaio.com 408.271.3366
302 South Market St. in the Saint Claire, San Jose, CA 95113
Mon - Thu: 7AM - 10:30AM and 11:30AM - 11PM; Fri: 7AM - 10:30AM and 11:
30AM – Midnight; Sat: 8AM-Midnight; Sunday 8AM - 11PM.
She was sitting at a table at the window, alone, enjoying the Turtei
con Aragosta where the lobster was delightfully dense and fluffy and the leeks
added a note that brightened everything. She saw him walking by, alone, carrying
a briefcase and staying close to the building, hiding from the mid-day October
sun. She watched him walk by, enjoying her choice from their extensive wine
list and noticing the others around with their pastas and pizzas, all smiling at the
quality of food, the exceptional service, and the attention paid to the design of
the restaurant itself. She wondered what he was thinking and why she cared. The
delivery and first bite of the delicious zabaione washed the image of the lone man
with his briefcase away.
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$$
58 La Pastaia Ristorante
www.lapastia.com 408.286.8686
Hotel De Anza, 233 West Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA 95113
Mon-Thu: 11AM – 9PM; Fri: 11AM – 10PM; Sat: Noon – 10PM; Sunday: Noon
– 9PM
I love the hotel De Anza, which is where La Pastaia lives. The service is
exceptional, though they do find themselves swamped once in a while and that
can make waits slightly longer than you’d like. The carpaccio is delicious with
lovely fried shallots as a marvelous counter-point. I’m not a big fan of their pizzas,
but the pasta is exceptionally good. Of course, you should try their desserts. The
chocolate crème brulee is really nice take on a traditional brulle and I’d take it
over almost any other I’ve had!
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

59 Original Joe’s
www.originaljoes.com 408.292.7030
301 South First St. at Market, San Jose, CA 95113
11AM-1AM Daily
How many meals have I enjoyed nestled in the comfy, high-backed
booths of Original Joe’s? At least once a week for a couple of years I’d put myself
into one of those seats and enjoy an Italian meal that was neither ideal nor awful.
It’s dependably average, though you’ll get a miracle once in a while. The service
here is the real treat. It’s like those restaurants you see in movies made in the
1990s about the 1950s! Not the best choice for vegetarians.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$$

60 Paolo’s Restaurant
www.paolos.com
333 W. San Carlos St. just N of 87, Suite 150, San Jose, CA 95110
Mon - Fri. 7:30 AM - 10:00 PM, Sat. 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
This place has some decent food, and they’ve been around in one form
or another for 50 years. The Prawns in White Wine Sauce I had the last time I
was there was fantastic. I mean truly fantastic. It was as if it’d been designed to
give me a sense of somewhere else that never existed, could never exist, but for
that moment, in the flavors that mingled in my mouth, I was there. I came back
to reality when I got the check. A slightly harsh landing, indeed. The food is good
enough that it will almost certainly impress any date/client. Reservations can be
helpful, especially on the weekends.
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

61 Siena Bistro
www.sienabistro.com 408.271.0837
1359 Lincoln Ave. at Minnesota, San Jose, CA 95125
Tue - Thu: 11:30AM - 2:30PM and 5PM - 9PM, Fri: 11:30AM - 2:30PM and 5PM
- 10PM, Sat - Sun: 5PM -10PM
 Siena is delightful, though poorly sound designed. I never thought I’d say
that about a restaurant. Poorly sound designed. It’s not easy to have a good long
conversation when it gets busy. That said, it’s got really good food. I loved the
scallops salad, which made me happy. The Braised Beef Ribs were good too. High-
priced food, but very tasty. Friday and Saturday are good nights for reservations.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

62 Vin Santo Ristorante

www.vin-santo.com 408. 920.2508
1346 Lincoln Ave. at Minnesota, San Jose, CA 95125
Tuesday: 5pm-10pm; Wednesday-Fri: 11:30am-2pm and 5pm-10pm; Saturday:
5pm-11pm, Sunday: 5pm-8pm
Vin Santo is a lovely place to go for seafood. Cioppino, whole seabass,
Cernia Mediterranea and a lovely swordfish are all highlights.The wine list here is
delightful. The service is good, better for dinner than for lunch, honestly, but the
prices are slightly high for what you get. They’ve got a good wine list and know
how to recommend for your meal. That’s a big deal.
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

Japanese
63 Godzilla Express
www.godzillaexpress.com 408.297.0568
130 East Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA 95113
Mon - Sat: 11AM - 9:30PM
Ok, this should be easy.There are hundreds of Godzilla jokes to be made.
I’ve seen every Godzilla movie, so a gag on Toho shouldn’t be difficult. I mean, the
Godzilla Roll they have here is wonderful, and there should be something there.
Something funny... Maybe I could make a joke about the Ramen with Tonkatsu.,
which I have 3 out of 4 visits here. No, doesn’t fit the theme. Maybe I should note
that the place is tasty, can get quite crowded and loud. Good for groups, maybe
those who are fleeing the monsters that are attackign the city? Man, why isn’t a
joke coming to me?
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

64 Gombei Japanese Restaurant

408.279.4311
193 Jackson St. between 4th and 5th, San Jose, CA 95112
Mon – Sat: 11:30AM – 2:30PM and 5PM – 9:30PM
Gombei is a fairly significant part of San Jose’s Japantown. The place is
old school: cash only and no website. The food is good, but don’t go here looking
for traditional sushi. The Hotpots are good enough to call you the few miles out
of downtown into Japantown.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$$
 65 Kaita Restaurant
Bring You Friends: 408.287.5551
Good Eats for Groups 215 Jackson St. between 5th and 6th,
San Jose, CA 95112
Billy Berk’s - 99 South First Mon - Sat: 11:30AM - 2PM and 5PM
St. - 9:30PM
I was introduced to real,
The Blue Chip - 325 South traditional sushi at Kaita. You don’t go
First St. to Kaita for the complex rolls that so
many places have started to specialize
Britannia Arms - 173 West in, but you go for very fresh fish rolled
Santa Clara St. expertly and presented simply. The
gyoza’s very tasty and the tempura’s a
House of Siam - 151 South solid choice.
Second St. Rating - Nom / Cost - $$

Hukilau - 230 Jackson St. 66 Kazoo Restaurant

408.288.9611
Il Fornaio - 302 South Mar- 250 Jackson St. at 6th, San Jose, CA
ket St. CA 95112
Mon - Thu: 11:30AM - 2PM and 5PM
Kazoo Restaurant - 250 East - 9:30PM; Fri: 11:30AM - 2PM and 5PM
Jackson St. -10PM; Sat: Noon to 2PM and 5PM
- 9:30PM; Sun: Noon to 2PM and 5PM
Menara Moroccan Restau- - 9pm
rant - 41 East Gish Rd. This place is beloved. It’s like
El Santo in Mexico or Jerry Lewis in
Naglee Park Garage - 505 France. Kazoo comes as close as you
East San Carlos Blvd. can come to a Japanese restaurant
being sainted. It’s a lot of fun, and
P.F. Chang’s- 98 South Sec- the sushi is spectacular in that they
ond St. definitely try and put on something of a
show, and by that measure, the service
Pizz’a Chicago - 155 West can be theatrically rude. Still, it’s a lot of
San Fernando St. fun and the San Jose Roll alone makes
the place dine-worthy.
Red Sea Restaurant - 684 Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$
North First St.
67 Minato Japanese Restaurant
Sonoma Chicken Coop - 31 www.japantownsanjose.org/rest8.html
North Market St. 408.998.9711
617 North 6th St. near Jackson, San
Tandoori Oven - 150 South Jose, CA 95112
First St. Tues -Thu: 11:30AM-1:30PM and 5PM
- 8:30PM; Fri - Sat: 11:30AM - 1:30PM
and 5PM - 9PM
OK, I can’t do justice to this place. I’ve been going here for years. The
Teriyaki Spareribs are wonderful, and they call them World Famous, but do not
look over the Katsu Curry, which is very tasty. It gets busy, but they tend to have
great service. Try the Minato Dinner Box is a very good deal and offers most of
the best things of the restaurant.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

68 Tsugaru Japanese Restaurant

408.275.1493
224 Jackson St. between 5th and 6th, San Jose, CA 95112
Mon – Fri: 11:30AM – 2PM and 5PM – 9PM; Sat: 5PM – 9PM
Japantown rolls along, with another good sushi place. Tsugaru gets
overlooked, which is a shame because of the quality of their food. The prices are
strange, as some prices are high and some very reasonable, but the service is
among the best I’ve had in all of Japantown.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

69 Sushi Zen
408.453.1070
1305 N 1st St. at 880, San Jose, CA 95112
Mon - Fri. 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM; Sat: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
I really can’t review this place as I still haven’t managed to read the entire
roll menu. I mean, it’s huge. We’re talking George R.R. Martin writing in the style
of JRR Tolkien with the brevity of JK Rowling-type long! Spider Fantasy Roll?
Does anyone really have fantasies about spiders? Ecstasy Roll? Does it come with
glow stick and throbbing techno beats? Everything I’ve heard about this place says
that the rolls are fantastic. and the rolls that I’ve had have been great. You could
eat five differnet rolls every day and not have gone through the whole menu in a
year!
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

Korean
70 Omogari Korean Restaurant
Omogari.biz 408.288.8134
154 East Jackson St. at 4th, San Jose, CA 95112
11:30AM-9:30PM, Daily
There aren’t a lot of Korean places around, which is a shame for those
of us who love a good bi-bim-bop or have a hankerin’ for kimchi. This is a pretty
good place. The best thing on the menu might be the chap chae, though there’s
nothing bad on the menu that I’ve found.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$
Latin American
71 Nazca Peruvian Cusine
nazcaperuviancuisine.com
167 West San Fernando Street between Almaden and San Pedro, San Jose, CA
95113
408 295 2828
Tue - Wed 11AM – 3PM and 5PM – 9PM; Thu – Sat 11AM - 3PM and 5PM to
10PM
Alas, no capybara or guinea pig on the menu, but what you will find
is some of the most unique and delicious food you’ll find in San Jose. It’s tasty
seafood and wonderful meat. The ceviche is especially good, but the real highlight
is the Pastel de Choclo appetizer which features corn bread stuffing with ground
meat, raisins and onions. I’ve never had anything like it and once started out a
meal with two orders of it. It’s that amazing!
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

Mediterranean
72 Opa!
www.opawillowglen.com 408 998 8704
1384 Lincoln Ave. at Minnesota, San Jose, CA 95125
11AM – 11PM, Daily
I love a restaurant that has punctuation included in the name. Opa! It
reminds me of that episode of Three’s A Crowd where the Greek family comes
to Jack Tripper’s new restaurant and destroy all the dishes. The dips and spreads
here are worth of an exclamation point, while the Pork Souvlaki Pita is worthy of
!!!. If you like dessert, try the fruit souvlaki which is skewered fruit with nutella,
raspberry and caramel. It’s delicious.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $

Mexican
73 Bakery Mexico No. 2
408.920.2518
87 East Santa Clara St. near 3rd, San Jose, CA 95113
5AM – 3PM
This place is a little gem. The Torta Cubana is the highlight. It’s a semi-
traditional cuban sandwich, but it’s also amazingly awesome sauce. I mean really,
it’s great. I’ve enjoyed it several times and it plays wonderfully on the palate.
The Tortas are big and tasty, and the bread is exceptional. Plus, they’re open late
for the nighthawks among us. It’s wheelchair accessible, but can be difficult to
navigate tables.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $

74 La Victoria Taqueria
www.lavicsj.com 408.298.5335
140 East San Carlos St. between 3rd and 4th, San Jose, CA 95112
Mon - Fri. 7:00 AM - Midnight; Sat: 9:00 AM - 12:00 AM ; Sun: 7:00 AM - 12:00
AM
La Victoria, better known as La Vic, is the college eatery to end all college
eateries. The food is OK, though it’s probably been genetically enhanced so that
San Jose State students must eat it at least once a week.The quesadillas are good,
and the carnitas are very tasty, if a bit too greasy. In fact, you can say that about
almost everything in this place. The sauce, available on every table in the joint, is
pretty magnificent! It’s a walk-up Victorian, so it’s not wheelchair accessible.
Rating - Meh / Cost - $

75 Pedro’s Restaurant -y- Cantina

www.pedrosrestaurants.com
3935 Freedom Circle at Great Maerica Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054
408.496.6777
Hours- Mon - Sat: 11AM - 9PM; Sun: 10AM - 9PM
This is a bit further out than most of the places I’ve written up, but
Pedro’s is a classic joint where hundreds of folks go everyday. Luckily, it’s a great
place for groups and and there’s seldom a long wait for anything.The food is good,
not spectacular, but the building is a faux hacienda with a lovely internal courtyard
that looks like the kind of place where a gunfight should break out. The Sunday
Champagne brunch buffet is fantastic, and there are Mariachis roaming around
while you eat. To me, that makes the trip worth it!
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$ ($$$ for the Sunday Champagne Brunch)

76 Taqueria El Abuelo
408.293.4470
1005 Lincoln Ave. between 280 and Willow, San Jose, CA 95125
8AM – 11PM, Daily
There is nothing better than sitting down with a nice plate of tacos and
going to town.That said,Taqueria El Abuelo isn’t the best of places to do just that.
It’s decent, but it’s not great. The portions are nice, the prices are right and you’ll
be satisfied, though not too much more than that.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $

77 Taqueria San Jose

235 East Santa Clara St. near 6th, San Jose, CA 95109
8:30AM -10PM Daily
This is the kind of Taqueria that you’re friends who are always saying
how much better real Taquerias are than the Taco Bell you dragged them to are
talking about. Go and get an horchata and a burrito. They wrap their burritos
perfectly, which is the immediate sign of a good taqueria. The nachos are very
good too, and I’ve even done Carne Asada Fries, which is nachos replacing the
chips with fries, or as the Brits call them, chips.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

Middle Eastern
78 Gulzaar Halaal Restaurant & Bakery
www.gulzaar.net 408.292.2786
1880 West San Carlos St. between Bascom and Leigh, San Jose, CA 95128
Mon -Thu: 10:30AM - 8PM; Sat and Sun: 11:30AM - 7:30 PM
There’s almost nothing that’s as satisfying as Gulzaar. I enjoy the lovely
samosas, but the highlight here is the kebab. It does not get any better than that.
The service is also amazing.The waitstaff must be the nicest people I’ve ever met.
Seriously, I’m providing for them in my will.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

79 Casablancas Café
www.casablancascafe.com 408.993.8636
1185 Lincoln Ave at Willow, San Jose, CA 95125
Mon - Sat: 10AM - 9:30PM; Sun: 10AM -3PM
Please, only use cash here. That’s the warning I must give or you’ll find
me after you’ve gone, enjoyed some of their marvelous gyros and the massively
flavorful hummus but were then greeted with the owner who said ‘yes, I accept
debit, but it’s hard’ and then you complain that he was a big meany. I’m just putting
it out there. The food is very good, though the décor is stark and the service can
be a bit surly, as I said. The food is delightful. Get it to go, and PAY IN CASH!
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $

80 Menara Moroccan Restaurant

www.menara41.com 408.453.1983
41 Gish Rd. near 1st, San Jose, CA 95112
6PM-10PM Daily
You’re in the mood for dinner and a show. You yearn for something
exotic. Menara might be the place for you. The food is decent, the place looks
exotic, and the bellydancers are blast. The drinks are strong, the food is pretty
good, especially the Honey Lamb, the atmosphere is exceptional, but most of all,
it’s a lot of fun. It’s a great place for a group of friends to hang out, but call ahead
and make sure you have a designated driver!
Rating - Nom (though it’s FUN FUN FUN!) / Cost - $$$+

81 Morocco’s
www.moroccosrestaurant.com 408.998.1509
86 N. Market Street at St. John, San Jose, CA 95113
Mon: 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM; Tue - Fri: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM ; Sat - Sun: 5:00 PM
- 11:00 PM
The various tagines they serve at Morocco’s aren’t bad, they’re the
best things on the menu, probably. I just never leave satisfied and find my mind
wandering about all sorts of things as my stomach asks for some more.What will
I do without the twenty bucks I just spent to get myself only half-full? The lunch
menu is cheaper and they have this special for about 6 bucks that allows you
to choose three items from their lunch menu. It’s a deal and it’s OK. Good for
groups, wonderful for couples on a date.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$$ ($ for the Lunch Special)

Pizza
82 La Nostra Pizza Ristorante
www.lanostrapizza.com 408 995 0924
80 South First St., San Jose, CA 95173
Mon - Thu: 9AM to 10:30PM; Fri - Sat: 9AM - Midnight
Pizza is good, but it’s not great. It’s thin-style New York pizza, though it’s
not nearly New York enough for the tastes of someone who really enjoys New
York style pizza... and there is no other type of pizza! Still, the sandwiches are
decent enough and it’s an OK to go for lunch. Just don’t expect much.
Rating - Meh / Cost - $$

83 Nick’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant

www.nickspizzaitalian.com 408.286.9710
354 East Santa Clara St. near 6th, San Jose, CA 95113
Nick’s is a tasty joint where you can get a really good pizza and some
decent pasta at a price that’s not too bad. I love the Chicken Parm in a way that
might be unhealthy. I have a photo of it that hangs in my bedroom. While taking
off from San Jose Airport, I look wistfully out the window towards Downtown
thinking “Good-bye, Nick’s, I shall return to you soon.”
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

84 Pizz’a Chicago
www.pizzachicago.com 408.283.9400
155 West San Fernando St. at San Pedro
San Jose, CA 95113
11am-9pm Daily
Chicago-style pizza. That’s the best kind of pizza. Remember what I said
abotu New York Pizza? Well, forget it! The best things that you’ll find on the menu
are the calzone. They are delicious and the choose-your-own style is the way to
go. The pizzas are big and awesomely filling. Do not expect to go home without
a take-home box. It can get pretty busy, especially at lunch, but it’s worth a visit.
The place is good for groups, but don’t expect to be in and out fast. They make it
when you order it!
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$ SJ Bars & Lounges
Bamboo 7- 162 Jackson
Seafood
Street (featuring Karaoke)
86 McCormick & Schmick’s
www.mccormickandschmick.com Cinnabar-69 East San Fer-
408.283.7200 nando Street (with Pabst on
170 South Market St. in the Fairlomnt
Tap!)
Hotel, San Jose, CA 95113
Sun – Thu: 11:30AM – 11PM; Fri - Sat: The Caravan- 98 South Al-
11:30AM - Midnight
maden Ave.
This is a chain of high end
seafood places, but it has some Dive Bar- 78 East Santa
drawbacks. It’s expensive for what you
get, and the food ranges from very tasty
Clara Street (featuring Tues-
to pretty bland, but if they have the day Night Beer Pong!)
mussels, get them and love them. The
curry sauce they use is remarkable. The
Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge- 99
rest of the food’s pretty decent, but it East San Fernando
won’t knock your socks off.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$$
Goza Hookah Lounge- 18
North First Street
87 Scott’s Seafood
www.scottsseafoodsj.com
The Hedley Club in the Ho-
408.971.1700 tel DeAnza- 233 West Santa
185 Park Avenue. near Almaden, San Clara Street.
Jose, CA 95113
Mon-Fri: 11:30AM – 9PM; Sat: 5pm - 9 O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub- 25
PM; Sun: 4:30-8PM North San Pedro Street
The big deal about Scott’s is
the view. It’s on the sixth floor of 185 Smoke Tiki Lounge- 152
Park Avenue, so you get a lovely view. Post Street
I’ve never had a great experience at
Scott’s. The service is decent, though South First Billiards- 420
the waits can be long for food. While South First Street
there are things on the menu that
folks I know rave about (the Cioppino, Tanq- 301 South Market
the Blackened Snapper, the Almond Street
Crusted Sea Bass), I’ve always found
the food lacking in flavor. It high-class Toons Nightclub- 52 East
fancified, and you should think about Santa Clara Street
reservations.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$$
Spanish/Tapas
88 Picasso’s Tapas Restaurant
www.picassostapas.com 408.298.4400
62 West Santa Clara St. between 2st and Market, San Jose, CA 95113
408 298 4400
Lunch- Tuesday to Friday- 11:30am to 2pm; Dinner 5:30pm to 10pm 7 Days a
Week
I brought a six year old here. Some would say that bringing a kid to a
Tapas bar would be a bad idea, but she loved it. I did too. She enjoyed the scallops
and we both dug into the paella hard and fast. I love the tapas, and it’s a decent
place to take a date, as long as you both don’t mind a strong hit of garlic.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

Thai Cuisine
89 Fantazia Thai Cuisine
408.294.8424
1100 North First St. just south of 880, San Jose, CA 95112
Mon-Fri: 11am-3pm, 5pm-10pm; Saturday-Sunday: 11am-10pm
The Appetizer Combo was remarkable the last time I got it to go. The
Corn Cakes are a gift. The Prawns in Tapioca Wrappers manage to make me
forget my troubles, while the Green Curry is tasty, and the Garlic Chicken makes
me happy. All in all, it’ sthe kind of place that’ll make you glad you took the time.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $

90 Hanuman Thai Cuisine

www.hunumanthaicuisine.com 408.286.2482
1 E San Fernando St. at 1st, San Jose, CA 95113
Sun - Wed: 11AM-10PM; Thu - Sat: 11AM - 11PM;
Tom Ka Gai is a delicious soup with chicken in coconut milk and
the Roast Duck Curry was the favorite of everyone at the table. It really was
something to behold. The staff is really nice, some of the nicest folks you’ll ever
meet.Sadly, Hanuman is not wheelchair accessible.
Rating - Nom Nom Nom / Cost - $$

91 House of Siam
www.houseofsiamsanjose.com 408.295.3397
151 South 2nd St. near San Fernando, San Jose, CA 95113
Mon - Fri: Noon to 3PM and 5PM to 10PM; Sat - Sun: Noon to 10PM
House of Siam is a bit of a legendary place for Thai food. The ghosts
of hundreds of high school prom dates linger here with the delightful scents of
Angry Prawns, Pineapple Fried Rice and Sticky Rice with Mango. They do a lovely
Thai Iced Tea, and there’s a traditional Thai seating section is especially good for
groups. And yes, one of those lingering prom dates was mine.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$ for Lunch, $$$ for Dinner

Vietnamese
92 Bihn Mihn Restaurant
408.297.9868
1006 East Santa Clara St. near 21st, San Jose, CA 95116
Mon - Sat. 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Sun. 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Surprisingly, there ain’t a lot of places to get goat in San Jose. Bihn Mihn
is one of the places you can get it, and of all the places, it has the best goat you’ll
find.You’ll also locate some lovely rabbit dishes and the entire atmosphere is very
nice, better than most of the Vietnamese joints you’ll find in town. Lunch is the
most popular meal, but you’ll discover that goat is best enjoyed in the evening.
Also, it’s not a place for those who don’t enjoy the meat class of foods. It can be
difficult navigating the tables at Binh Minh with a wheelchair.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$$

93 Dalat Restaurant
408.294.6989
408 East William St. between 9th and 10th, San Jose, CA 95112
7AM – 8PM, Daily
Dalat is ancient when it comes to American Vietnamese restaurants. It
was founded in the 1970s and has gained a loyal following. The Glass Noodles
(rice vermicelli) is just about the best you’ll ever find. The place ain’t immaculate,
but you’ll be well taken care of while you’re dining on delicious Vietnamese food.
Not at all bad for groups.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $

94 Pho Lan Noodle House

408.298.5168
255 East Santa Clara St. at 6th, San Jose, CA 95113
9AM – 9PM
Pho is wonderful noodle soup and you’re not going to find better Pho
in all of San Jose. Pho Lan’s noodles are great, and the broth, oh the broth!, has
a deep flavor that mingles with the noodles as they soak in it. If you’ve never
had pho, watch the folks around you for the best way to enjoy this magical
combination of broth, noodles and add-ons. Me? I just slurp ‘em up!
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $

95 Tofoo Com Chay

www.tofoocomchay.com 408.286.6335
388 East Santa Clara street near 9th, San Jose, CA 95113
408 286 6335
Monday-Friday: 9am-9pm; Saturday: 10am-6pm
A fully vegetarian restaurant, Tofoo Com Chay isn’t perfect, but even
without meat to make it great, it’s still a decent place to stop for some fine food.
The taste of their tofu is pretty darn good, and the tofu drumsticks are wonderful.
I appreciate the service more than anything.They are super-nice. and I’m planning
on providing for them in my will.
Rating - Nom Nom / Cost - $$

96 Vung Tau Restaurant

www.Vungtaurestaurant.com 408.288.9055
535 East Santa Clara St. near 12th, San Jose, CA 95112
Mon - Thu. 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM; Fri - Sun. 10:00 AM - 9:00
PM
Vung Tau Restaurant is the kind of place that I tend to frequent and no
one understands why. It’s got a lovely little space, the food is delicious and I can
pack a book along, read a dozen or so pages while enjoying the Beef-wrapped
onions plate. It’s got good service and the prices, while high for a Pho place, isn’t
bad overall.
Rating - Nom / Cost - $$
The Best of Santa Clara Downtown Amenities
Introduced by Ed Stokke
I’m reviewing the special
restaurants of Santa Clara: San Jose’s Comedy Clubs
little neighbor to the left. By special, I Comedysportz
mean great food value and, with a few 288 South 2nd Street
exceptions, no large chains. San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 224-0842
Andy’s BBQ
408.249.8158 The Improv
2367 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA 62 S. Second Street
Mon-Thu: 11 AM - 9; Fri: 11 AM -10; Sat
San Jose, CA 95113
3PM - 10PM; Sun: 3PM - 9PM
(408) 280-7475
When Andy’s was a rustic dive
in Campbell it was my favorite BBQ
joint. Then Andy’s went out of business. Copies/Shipping
It has since been reinvented in Santa FedEx Kinko’s Office Print & Ship
Clara in nice new surroundings. The Center
food is still special but not as special as 93 East San Carlos St.
it once was. San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 295-4336
Birk’s Mon – Fri 7:30am – 9:00pm
w w w. b i r k s re s t a u r a n t . c o m
Sat 10:00am – 6:00pm
408.980.6400
Sun 12:00pm to 6:00pm
3955 Freedom Cir., Santa Clara, CA
Lunch Mon - Fri: 11:15 AM to 2:30 PM;
Dinner: Mon - Sat: 5:00 PM-10:00 PM FedEx Kinko’s Office Print & Ship
This fine dining establishment Center
serves Silicon Valleys’ elite on weekdays 975 The Alameda, Suite 40
and is usually loud and packed. San Jose, CA 95126
However, on weekends this is a quiet (408) 971-2409
and romantic getaway. The menu is Mon – Fri 7:30am – 9:00pm
surf and turf, the food is excellent, and Sat 10:00am – 6:00pm
the clam chowder is featured everyday
Sun 12:00pm to 6:00pm
of the week. Some of the best clam
chowder I have tasted and I love clam
chowder. Postal Annex
123 East San Carlos St.
Country Inn Café San Jose, CA 95112
408.244.6267 (408) 975-0893
2008 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA Mon – Fri: 9:30 am - 6:30 pm
Mon - Fri: 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Sat: 7: Sat: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
00 AM to 9:00 PM; Sun: 7:00 AM to 8:
00 PM
They serve American food
Drug Stores for breakfast lunch and dinner. This is
not health food. This restaurant serves
Downtown Pharmacy
the real deal, large portions of great
60 N 13th Street Suite A food. Here is a contender for the best
San Jose, CA 95112 breakfast in Santa Clara.
(408) 294-2757
Fish Market
Leiter’s Pharmacy www.thefishmarket.com 408.246.3474
1700 Park Avenue . Suite 30 3775 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA
San Jose, California 95126 Lunch Mon - Sat: 11:00 AM to 4:00
(408) 292-6772 PM; Sun: Noon to 4:00 PM; Dinner Sun
Mon-Fri: 9:00am06:30pm - Thu: 4:00 PM-9:30 PM; Fri - Sat: 4:00
PM -10:00 PM
Sat: 9:00am – 6:00pm
This is my old favorite fine
dining establishment. While seafood
Walgreen’s is the house specialty, there are other
5 S. 1st Street options. This is my entrant in the
San Jose, CA 95113 "Best Oysters Rockefeller on the West
(408) 283-0835 coast" contest, a private contest I have
Mon-Fri: 7:00am – 9:00pm been judging for years.
Sat: 8:00am – 9:00pm
Sun: 9:00am – 9:00pm Jaoa’s
57 Washington St. Santa Clara, CA(408)
244-1299
Grocery Stores
Tue - Wed: 7:30 AM - 1:30 PM;Thu - Sat:
The Market by Safeway 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM; Sun.:7:30 AM - 2:
100 S. 2nd Street 00 PM
San Jose, CA 95113 Fantastic home-style Brazilian food.
(408) 292-4010 Also a wonderful place to come watch
6:00am – 11pm Every day soccer when the Brazilians are playing.

Safeway La Paloma
1300 W. San Carlos 408.247.0990
San Jose, CA 95126 2280 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA
Mon - Thu: 11:00 AM to 9:30; Fri - Sat:
(408) 882 – 0999
11:00 AM to 10:00; Sun: 11:00 AM to
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week 8:00
This restaurant serves
Zanotto’s excellent, family-style Mexican food. It
38 South Second Street is a Santa Clara landmark, and a long
San Jose, CA 95113 time favorite.
(408) 977 – 1333
Mon – Fri: 7:00am – 9:00pm Mariani’s Inn & Restaurant
Sat – Sun: 8:00am – 8:00pm www.marianis.com 408.243.1431
2500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA
6:30 AM - 10:00 PM Daily
Liquor Stores
Chicken Marsala and Parmesan
Willow Glen Liquors & Wine Shop
are the specialties of the house. All my
life friends have insisted that this was the 1110 Lincoln Ave.
best restaurant in town. Writing these San Jose, CA 95127
reviews made me test those assertions. (408) 926-8180
They were right! The ambiance, service, Mon-Thu: 10 am - 10 pm
food, and presentation were four star. Fri-Sat: 10 am - 11 pm
The prices were two and three star. Sun: 10 am - 9 pm
Mariane’s is a Santa Clara landmark
having opened in 1953. Wine Galleria
377 South First Street
Peacock
www.peacockindianrestaurants.com
San Jose, CA 95113
408.247.9264 (408) 298-1386
2798 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA
11:30 AM - 3pm, and 5pm-10pm, Daily News Stand
My wife Sue gives this new Indian Saint Claire News Stand
Restaurant an excellent rating. She loves 311 South First Street
Indian food and raved about Peacock. San Jose, CA 95113
The Butter Chicken is exceptional. (408) 275-0242
Shindokdo
Post Offices
408.243.6000
USPS Downtown San Jose Collonade
2690 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA
(408) 243-6000 200 South 3rd Street
Mon - Fri: 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM and 5: San Jose, CA 95112
00 PM-10:30 PM; Sat - Sun: 4:00 PM-10: (408) 292-0487
30 PM Mon-Fri: 9:00am-4:00pm
This review comes from the two very
nice ladies at the Trade-A-Book in USPS Downtown Saint James Park
the Moonlight shopping center. They 105 North 1st Street.
eat there often and call it excellent San Jose, CA 95113-9998
Japanese cuisine. I concur. Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5:00pm
Smoke Eaters
www.smoke-eaters.com 408. 241.2582
Tobacconist
2565 The Alameda Santa Clara, CA Mission Pipe Shop
Sun - Thu: 11 AM to midnight; Fri - Sat 1205 The Alameda
11AM to 2 AM San Jose, CA 95126
The specialty of the house is (408) 293-5144
Hot Wings. There are seven levels of Mon-Fri 10 am - 7 pm
heat. The hottest one is dangerous. This Sat 10 am - 5:30 pm
is a loud sports bar that caters to Santa Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
Clara University. There are always
multiple games on including the X Box.

Su’s Mongolian BBQ

408.985.2958
1111 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA
Mon - Sat: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM-9:00 PM
During the Mongolian BBQ ubiquity Su’s was one of the first, is one of
the last, and continues to be one of the best. All you can eat buffet, bottomless
soft drinks, and soft ice cream cones. Build your own stir fry and watch them stir
fry it.

Thaibodia
www.thaibodia.com 408.248.8868
2155 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA
Sun - Thu: 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM; Fri - Sat: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thaibodia caught my eye while I was preparing these reviews. Thai
and Cambodian are two of my favorite cuisines. The fusion is unique in my
experience. The online reviews are as good as my own.

Thai Pepper
1045 Monroe Santa Clara, CA (408) 984-1931
Mon-sat lunch 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM dinner 5:00 PM-9:30 PM
This is my favorite Thai restaurant. It is a bit hard to find. It is down the
walkway through the Franklin Mall from the intersection of Monroe and Franklin.
Well worth the trouble.
For Those with Extra Time and a Car!

The Bay Area is legendary for being a great place to visit, and so if you’re
gonna be around for a little extra time, well, we figured we’d give you a look at a few
places that you might want to take a little side trip off to visit.
Thankfully, we’re lucky enough to have some experts to give us a look at some
places that you might wanna spend an afternoon, evening or even a full day hanging
around!

Berkeley
Introduced by David Bratman

Berkeley! Named in 1866 by a founder of the University of California

who stood on a hillside rock looking out over the Golden Gate and quoted a line
from Bishop George Berkeley, “Westward the course of empire takes its way,”
it’s been famous ever since for the university and all the cultural amenities that
go with being one of the most famous college towns in the world: bookstores,
restaurants, theatre and museums, and of course the history of protests and the
colorful street life. Berkeley is also famous for its fantasy literature. I’ve arranged
a short selection of sights by neighborhood. All phone numbers are area code
510.
A little guide like this must omit much. If you’ve been to Berkeley before
but not very recently, you may find its booklife sadly diminished. Cody’s is no
more, and Black Oak has gone into hibernation, we hope to re-emerge some day.
But many others remain. In most cities the list of bookstores is quickly told. In
Berkeley I have space to mention only half of them. And this doesn’t even pretend
to be a serious restaurant guide. I’m listing one personal favorite restaurant for
each neighborhood of the city. If you want more, the online newspaper listings at
www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/Restaurants and www.sfgate.com/restaurants are
good, and there’s useful advice at chowhound.chow.com and even the health plan
town hall of food websites, yelp.com.

Claremont/Elmwood
The easiest drive to Berkeley from San José is to take I-880 north to
downtown Oakland (about 42 miles from the Fairmont), then east on I-980 and
Highway 24, off at the Claremont Avenue exit, and turn left. This will take you
uphill directly towards the Claremont Hotel, the huge white wedding cake of a
building that was host to, among other things, the 1981 WFC. In the hills just to
the south is Greyhaven, the only private home to have given birth to an entire
school of fantasy writers and its own anthology (DAW, 1983; the back cover
blurb says its “exact location is known to a very special few” – actually, it’s in the
phone book).
Shops: On the way uphill you’ll pass the Groove Yard (5555 Claremont, at
Forest St., 655-8400), a used record store specializing in jazz LPs – yes, around
here such places still exist – and then, on the left between Woolsey and Prince,
at the Uplands traffic light, are no fewer than three book stores in one block.
First is Dark Carnival (3086 Claremont, 654-7323), Jack Rems’ rabbit-warren
of a fantasy/SF/mystery store, filled with colorful knicknacks as well as new and
used books in endless surprising alcoves. Also on the block are Afikomen (3042
Claremont, 655-1977), Jewish books and gifts, and Turtle Island (3032 Claremont,
655-3413, limited hours), a collectors’ used book store specializing in modern
mainstream literature and art books.

Food: Turn left on the side streets here, or at the next light at Ashby, and
immediately downhill on College Avenue around Ashby you’ll find the Elmwood
shopping district. Among the restaurants here is Shen Hua (2914 College Ave.,
883-1777), northern Chinese cuisine, noisy but clean with minimalist decor, with
some of the best shrimp dishes I’ve ever had in a Chinese restaurant.

Theater: A couple blocks north of Elmwood is the Julia Morgan Theater (2640
College Ave., 845-8542), a gem of a small performing space, named for its
architect.
South Campus
You can get here from state 24 by turning right instead of left on
Claremont and then a hard right on Telegraph Avenue, or from Elmwood by
continuing north on College Avenue to campus and turning left. Parking is
challenging here. There’s a public lot just east (uphill) of Telegraph between
Channing Way and Haste Street that costs $1/hour in machines that take bills
only, and the Sather Gate Garage just west of Telegraph between Channing and
Durant Avenue where you pay at a counter before leaving, and which costs more
but gives discounts through validation cards from local businesses.
The last stretch of Telegraph Avenue immediately south of campus is the
soul of Berkeley, with colorful shops and all the street life you can imagine, from
vendors selling tie-dye to the more exotic and less licit. Most Berkeley fiction,
including fantasy, is set in and around here. The House Between the Worlds in
Marion Zimmer Bradley’s 1980 novel of that title, for instance, is somewhere on
this part of Telegraph, and The Folk of the Air in Peter Beagle’s 1986 novel of that
title make their first appearance on the equivalent of this street.
Everywhere else in the city displays characteristic Berkeley qualities in
direct proportion to its closeness to Telegraph. It’s the Withywindle, the center
from which all the strangeness comes.
A tour of historic Sixties Berkeley would begin on the chunk of brick
sidewalk at the edge of campus on Bancroft Way at Telegraph. A dispute over the
right of students to set up tables supporting political causes here gave rise to the
Free Speech Movement of 1964. Just beyond it, on campus, is Sproul Plaza. Here
and on the front steps of Sproul Hall (the administration building to the right,
also home to a famous sit-in) were the famous rallies and speeches. Turn around
and walk three blocks to Haste Street. Across the street on the left is a mural
depicting the events of the era, and just up the street beyond that is People’s
Park, the university-owned vacant lot that was liberated into a park in 1969.
Much of the subsequent police-student battle took place around the intersection
of Telegraph and Dwight Way. On the far corner was the shop where Robert
Anton Wilson’s daughter worked and was killed in a robbery in 1976. Also near
that corner (but before the road was widened) was the Garden Library, where
Anthony Boucher and other members of the Elves’, Gnomes’, and Little Men’s
Science Fiction, Chowder and Marching Society met in the 1950s. Boucher lived
four blocks south of here, and set some of his stories in the neighborhood.

Shops: Moe’s, between Haste and Dwight (2476 Telegraph, 849-2087) is four floors
of Berkeley’s flagship used bookstore, with a separate antiquarian shop on the
top floor. Jonathan Lethem used to work here. Across the street is Shakespeare
& Co. (2499 Telegraph, 841-8916), also used and also good. At the Haste St.
corner is Amoeba Music (2455 Telegraph, 549-1125), a large and excellent used-
and-some-new CD store that also carries DVDs and LPs. Another block up, at
Channing, is Rasputin Music (2401 Telegraph, 848-9004), somewhat similar. In
the mall beneath the Sather Gate Garage is the Friends of the Berkeley Public
Library Bookstore (2431 Channing, 841-5604, limited hours); the back half of its
space was the original home of The Other Change of Hobbit, now downtown.
On Bancroft Way below Telegraph are several stores specializing in textbooks
(including one across the street on campus in the Student Union). A bit further
down is The Musical Offering (2430 Bancroft, 849-0211), just about the last
classical CD specialty store anywhere; it’s also a café.

Food: Some is good, but this neighborhood can be spotty. Between the mural
and People’s Park you’ll find Mario’s La Fiesta (2506 Haste St., 848-2588 –
recently moved from its old location half a block away), a long-standing Mexican
restaurant offering what I consider the canonical chicken and pork tamales. Caffe
Mediterraneum (2475 Telegraph, 549-1128) serves salads and sandwiches and is a
noted hangout featured in Diana L. Paxson’s contemporary urban fantasy novels.

The U.C. Campus

Central campus, past Sather Gate at the far end of Sproul Plaza, is
quieter than anything around it – an oasis of greenery and disparate buildings.
Much of Earth Abides by George R. Stewart (a U.C. professor) takes place in its
future ruins. At the center of campus is the Campanile; during limited hours you
can ride the elevator to the top for $2. Facing it on the uphill side is LeConte
Hall, the Physics building where Oppenheimer, Lawrence, et al had their offices.
(Their element-discovering Chemistry colleagues had labs just up the hill in Lewis
Hall.) The small building connected to LeConte, Birge Hall, then an empty space,
was where Ernest Lawrence set up his first cyclotron. Facing the Campanile on
the downhill side is the Bancroft Library, a rare books collection specializing in
California history, and connected to that on the far side is Doe Library, the main
library, designed by John Galen Howard. Doe’s Reference Hall, on the second
floor, has the most beautiful ceiling on campus.

Museums: The Hearst Museum of Anthropology (642-3682) is in Kroeber Hall

(named for Ursula K. Le Guin’s father, longtime professor in the department)
at the corner of Bancroft Way and College Avenue. The Berkeley Art Museum
(2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808) is across the street from campus between
Telegraph and College. High up in the hills above campus (drive up behind the
football stadium and take the road going up the canyon) is the Lawrence Hall of
Science (Centennial Dr., 642-5132), a good basic science museum emphasizing
children’s and general public education.

Downtown
Downtown is just west of campus, and Shattuck Avenue is its spine. If
you take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to the Berkeley station, you’ll arrive at
Shattuck and Center Street. Just behind you across the street as you emerge
from the main escalator is 2165 Shattuck (now a GNC health store), site of the
TV and electronics shop where Philip K. Dick worked in the 1940s, model for all
the small businesses in his novels, though the neighborhood has changed much
since then.

Shops: The Other Change of Hobbit (2020 Shattuck, 848-0413) is 2 1⁄2 blocks
north of BART on the left (west) side of the western branch of Shattuck. Dave
Nee runs this, the other fantasy/SF/mystery bookstore in Berkeley. Besides the
books, enjoy the classical music on the radio and the two cats, which (as of two
months ago when I wrote this) were still young enough to scamper across the
floor and underneath the bookcases in pursuit of any dust bunnies they could
find. Just down the street is Comic Relief (2026 Shattuck, 843-5002), a comics
bookstore of mindboggling size and stock. Round off your visit with Half-Price
Books (2036 Shattuck, 526-6080)

Food: There are some gems hiding here. Just around the far corner and half a
block down the street from the Other Change is Jayakarta (2026 University Ave.,
841-0884), a modest Indonesian restaurant that’s extremely inexpensive and
incredibly good.

Theater: These are located in the block of Addison Street west (downhill) from
Shattuck, a block north of the BART station. Berkeley Rep (2025 Addison, 647-
2949; www.berkeleyrep.org) is currently running a set of short plays by Tony
Kushner, collectively titled Tiny Kushner, get it? The Aurora Theatre Company
(2081 Addison, 843-4822; www.auroratheatre.org) next door is performing Neil
LaBute’s Fat Pig. The new home of the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse across the
street (2020 Addison, 548-7603; www.freightandsalvage.org) is ground zero for
acoustic music. Nightly performers offer folk, neo-urban folk, bluegrass, or Celtic;
occasional jazz, blues, western swing, or even classical; and sometimes the just
plain unclassifiable.

North Shattuck
Continuing north on Shattuck Avenue from downtown is the area called
the Gourmet Ghetto, with many upscale foodie places between Delaware and
Rose. If you want to eat at Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse (1517 Shattuck, closer
to Vine than Cedar, downstairs restaurant 548-5525, upstairs café 548-5049)
– which I never have – you’ll already have made a reservation. Right next door is
the affordable and lovely Cha-Am Thai Restaurant (1543 Shattuck, 848-9664) My
usual hangout in this part of town is Saul’s Deli (1475 Shattuck, just north of Vine,
848-3354). It’s not a patch on a good New York Jewish deli, and it may not even
be the best deli in the Bay Area, but it does have the best atmosphere. Across
the street from Chez Panisse is the Cheese Board (1504 Shattuck, 549-3183), a
fabulous cheese shop which probably would have Venezuelan Beaver Cheese if
you were crass enough to ask for it. On the cross street just above this corner
is the original outlet of Peet’s Coffee and Tea (2124 Vine, 841-0564).

Solano Avenue/Albany
As you keep going north past the Gourmet Ghetto, the artery changes
names a couple times and then dives into a tunnel. When you emerge you’re on
Solano Avenue westbound. In the mile-and-a-bit of Solano between here and San
Pablo Avenue, in this part of Berkeley and the adjoining town of Albany, are packed
what I consider the best restaurants in the area. There are several Chinese and
Thai places, literally half a dozen other Asian nationalities represented, and some
other things including Mexican and a few good varieties of basic American. I’ve
never finished exploring the depth here, so I’m not even going to try to make
recommendations, except to note the presence, near the tunnel end, of Zachary’s
Pizza (1853 Solano, 525-5950), deep-dish Chicago style, often considered the best
pizza in Berkeley. It’s also right next door to Pegasus Books (1855 Solano, 525-
6888), specializing in high-quality remainders, also offering new and used books.
Coming from Shattuck, if you skip the tunnel by turning uphill on Del
Norte, the last street to the right before the tunnel, this will curve around and
deposit you at a traffic circle above the tunnel. Running uphill from here is upper
Marin Avenue, once a streetcar line, barreling straight up at a terrifying incline
that will challenge your car’s transmission. It’s one of Berkeley’s odder sights.
San Jose’s 6 Best Downtown Santa Cruz
Happy Hours Introduced by M Lloyd
Let’s look at the city of Santa
Billy Berk’s- 99 South First Cruz.You’ve probably have heard of
Street, Discounted Appetiz- it, a legendary spot for surfers and a
beautiful city for all all visitors. The
ers and drinks.
beauty of Santa Cruz is that you can
see a gorgeous city coupled with a
Cinnabar- 69 East San lovely Boardwalk and several places for
delightful food.
Fernando Street, 2 Dollar There is no easier set of
Draft Pabst Blue Ribbons. directions than those from downtown
That’s right...Pabst, baby! San Jose to Santa Cruz. Hop onto
880 South (also known as Highway
17) and keep going until it dumps you
Johnny V’s- 31 East Santa out in the center of town. No other
way to do it, really. The road between
Clara Street, 2-for-1 Ka- Los Gatos and Santa Cruz is twisting,
mikazes, Cosmos and Sake mountainous and lovely. Those prone
Bombs to car sickness should sit in the front.
If you’re going to Santa Cruz,
you should start by setting some time
The Loft Bar & Bistro- 86 aside for the Boardwalk (400 Beach
South Second Street, An af- Street, Santa Cruz, 831-423-5590).
It’s a classic assortment of rides
fordable Happy Hour Menu and sand and bad carnival food. The
and Drink Specials served Giant Dipper is a legendary roller
by the nicest bartenders in coaster that is worth the trip over the
mountains. The place has improved as
town an amusement park, with mor erides
added every year. Currently, it’s the
new Haunted House dark ride that’s
McCormick & Schmick’s- all the rage. This is also one of the few
170 South Market Street, arcades left with actual video games
Large affordable Happy and pinball machines instead of those
Hour Menu ticket-delivery games that my kids are
always begging to play.
After you’ve spent some time
Tied House Brewery- 65 at the boardwalk, there are a couple
of lovely places that you might want
North San Pedro Street, to visit, like the Lighthouse Surfing
Half-off Appetizers, 3.25 Museum (809 Center St, Santa Cruz,
Draft Beers 831-420-6289). It’s a tiny museum with
a selection of legendary surfboards,
memorabilia, and photos from 100 years of surfing history. It’s a lovely joint, a
good place to spend an hour or so.You’ll learn a lot about surfing. Unless you
already know a lot about surfing. Then you’ll simply be in the best place to enjoy
your passion. Or perhaps you’re more of a natural history type, in which case
the lovely Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History (1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa
Cruz, 831-420-6115). They’ve got a giant statue of a blue whale out front that
kids love to climb on. They’ve got a big exhibit on bones right now. It’s a pretty
good one if you’re a bone fan, which I am. It’s the Goth in me.
After that, you’ll be hungry.You’re lucky, there are bunches of places. I’d
suggest starting with The O’mei (2316 Mission St., Santa Cruz, 831-425-8458).
For more than twenty-five years, this place has been doing Chinese Fusion and
is a fave with locals and families of UCSC students’ families. The small plates are
exceptional, and the calamari dishes are universally delightful. Café Brazil (1410
Mission St., Santa Cruz, 831-429-1855) is another great place, this one for lovely
Brazilian foods. If you get a chance, enjoy the Acia bowls. I’ve been to a number
of Brasilian places around the world and this is my favorite. Upper Crust Pizza
& Pasta (2415 Mission St., Santa Cruz, 831-423-9010) is one of the best pizza
places around. Highly enjoyable. If you like Greek, Vasili’s Greek (1501 Mission
St, Ste # A, Santa Cruz, 831-458-9808) and The Greek Authentic (435 Front St
Santa Cruz, 831-466-9990) are both great Mediterrean fare.
Late afternoon might be a good time to head over to Natural Bridges
State Park, where the monarch butterflies will have already started gathering.
They cover the trees in the park and it’s amazing. They close at sunset, so you
can enjoy a lunch and then head over.
If you’re looking to close-out the day in the area, try 99 Bottles of Beer
on the Wall (110 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 831-459-9999), which is right in the
middle of the lovely downtown area. Beers from around the world along with
a good smattering of bar food. It’s a great way to end a visit to a lovely sea-side
city.

Piedmont Avenue, Oakland

Introduced by Christopher J Garcia
To get there, take Interstate 880 north to Interstate 980. Veer off there
and head on the 51st Street ramp, turning right off the ramp. Go straight a mile
and a half, turn right at Piedmont. There are several small parking lots on both
sides of the street, but they are often packed on the weekends.
Starting on the Eastern side of the street, there’s Fenton’s. If you
remember the days when a trip to the Soda Fountain was a treat, then you’re in
luck because this place will take you back. The ice cream is delightful, and if you’re
interested, you should try the burger. Tasty, though slightly expensive. After that,
you’ll want to head up just a few doors to one of my favorite used book stores-
Black Swan Books. You can find everything from classic literature to postcards
from the 1939 World’s Fair to the Juliard School of the Arts Year in Review, 1966.
Well, you can’t find those anymore, since I bought them, but you get the idea.
 After that, there’s a lovely church on the corner that’s worth a look
and maybe a photo or two, but the highlight of this section of Piedmont
Avenue is the Piedmont Theatre (http://www.landmarktheaters.com/Market/
SanFranciscoEastBay/PiedmontTheatre.htm). It’s a lovely joint that shows Art
House fair. If you’ve got a few spare hours, there are far worse locations ot see a
flick.
Cross the street and you’re at the Park Avenue Bar & Grill
(www.parkavebar.com). It’s a lovely place for a meal, but even better during the
weekend brunches. Try the steak sandwich. It’s marvelous when fully-loaded.
If you cross Piedmont again, you’ll find four fantastic places, a wine
shoppe (Wine on Piedmont), a coffee/tearoom (L’Amynx Tea Bar), a marvelous
bookstore (Spectator Bookstore- www.spectatorbooks.com), and an old-skool
antique store (Lost & Found Antiques). All within a block of each other. You can
spend some good money in those four places, especially at Spectator, where you
can find recent best-sellers and hard-to-find paperbacks all in the same building.
Their selection of art books, both new and used, is fantastic.
Hungry again? Cross Piedmont AGAIN and you’ll find a similar run of
fantastic places to eat. There’s a magnificent burger place (Barney’s Gourmet
Hamburgers-www.barneyshamburgers.com/), a Mexican restaurant (Baja
Taqueria-www.bajaonpiedmont.com/) that does amazing Lobster Burritos and
Quesadillas, Simply Greek (www.simply-greek.com), a fine place for Souvlaki and
Gyros. If you’re there for breakfast, try Piedmont Cafe & Bakery.
I’ve been there every weekend for more than two years and I’ve not yet
found a bad restaurant.
Comic Books? There’s Dr. Comics & Mr. Games, which is a large, well-
stocked comic shop with plenty of back issues, graphic novels, games, toys and
what have you. You can find everything from Gumby to A Treasury of Victorian
Murder on their shelves.
You can find food stuffs of exotic and high-end qualities here too, with
two fine groceries (A.G. Ferrari’s and Piedmont Grocery Company) almost
exactly across the street from one another. Right next to Ferrari’s is Gregoire
(www.gregoirerestaurant.com), and if you hit there last, you can take a wonderful
boxed dinner away with you. The potato puffs are amazing. You can also find fine
dining at Bay Wolf a bit further down the street. It’s delicious and up-scale. You’ll
drop a good bit of wallet weight eating there.
All of that and marvelous clothes stores, shoes galleries, Starbucks, a
marvelous newsstand, and so much more.You can spend a few hours or repeated
visits over months and months and you won’t be sorry for the time spent.

University Avenue, Palo Alto

Introduced by Christopher J Garcia
Palo Alto means the Tall Tree.The tree which it’s named after is still there,
but it’s not nearly as impressive as you’d expect a tree with a city named after
it would be. Palo Alto has all the advantages of being a tech town and a college
town, what with Stanford being right next to downtown. University Avenue is, in
many ways, the heart and soul of Palo Alto.
To get to University Avenue, take 101 North to the University Avenue
exit and head towards Palo Alto (for the love of all the is holy, Don’t head towards
East Palo Alto!). You’ll pass through a couple o fmiles of lovely, expensive, huge
and expensive homes. You’ll pass across Middlefield and you’ll be in the business
portion of University.
Any visit to University Avenue will start with finding parking. Someitmes,
this can be a majority of the visit. It is never easy, and during peak dining hours
can be downright impossible. Do not be dissuaded! It is worth every second of
effort.There are also parking garages off of University on the side streets that are
well marked and can usually be counted on to have a few spaces.
Let’s start with shoping. There are hundreds of shops up and down
University, and it would be foolish to try and list them all. You want a Persian
Rug? Go to Hatami Rug Gallery (170 University). You want high-end art? Try
Modernbook (494 University). If you’re in the mood for in-line skating supplies,
Black Diamond Sports (162 University) is there for your needs. You could spend
all day walking up and into the shops all along the street. You really can’t go too
wrong.
Food is always my priority. You’ll find many exceptional restaurants on
University, including Tamarine (www.tamarinerestaurant.com), one of the best
Vietnamese places on Earth. There’s also Pluto’s Fresh Food (www.plutosfreshfo
od.com) a small chain specializing in Made-to-Order salads. I always try to make
room for La Strada Ristorante Italiano, (www.lastradapaloalto.com) which is as
tasty as Italian food gets in this part of town. Places like Loui Loui Steakhouse
(473 University) only add to the joy. Probably the most beloved restaurant on
the entire street, Miyake Restaurant (140 University) is usually packed and it’s
an absolute must for those who like having dinner surrounded by Stanford
students.
There’s a lovely pizza place called Patxi’s on Emerson, less than a block
off of University that serves amazing pizzas that tend to be big enough to feed
competitive eaters. The crust is a work of magic.
There are a few wonderful locations for architecture. While Border’s
may represent everything that’s wrong with booksellers, the University Avenue
venue is a lovely place for a cup of coffee to admire what was once the Varsity
Theatre, where many a high school kid first encountered Rocky Horror. The
courtyard area is a fine place.
Speaking of movie theatres, any description of University has to include
the Stanford Theatre.The Stanford has been around since the 1920s and has been
restored to the beautiful state that was once its calling card.They show a rotating
schedule of pre-1960 films, typically in double features. There’s also the Mighty
Wurlitzer which comes out between movies on the weekends. I can not stress
how cool it is. It’s a place that’s a lot of fun to hang out in, enjoy some popcorn
and watch a flick.
There’s also the Aquarius Theatre up the street and around the corner
on Emerson which shows current art house fare, which can make for a good
afternoon’s viewing.
You can enjoy frozen enjoyables all over the place in Palo Alto. With
the exception of Boston, there may be more frozen dessert action in Paly than
anywhere else on Earth. First, right across the street from the Aquarius Theatre
is some delightful gelato at Gelato Classico (435 Emerson St). You go around
the corner to Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Shoppe (203 University) and that’s never
a bad thing. Frozen Yogurt? Red Mango (429 University), L’Amour Frozen Yogurt
Cafe (276 University) and Michael’s Gelato & Cafe, which has amazing FroYo.
If you can make it down to University Ave., try and spend a little time
just walking around. It’s the best way to really understand Palo Alto.