Guidebook for San Jose
Food Scene
Tac-oh! San Jose
Excellent all-around Mexican fusion menu.
La Victoria Taqueria
140 East San Carlos StreetPhilz Coffee
118 Paseo de San AntonioCafe Stritch
372 S 1st StCaffe Frascati
315 S First StSan Pedro Square Market
87 N San Pedro StPhở Công Lý
460 E William StVietnamese restaurant with very friendly staff and a broad noodle selection.
One of the 3 remaining historic Japantowns in the United States. Beautiful architecture and cute restaurants and storefronts that would make a nice setting during a walk on a day off.
107 locals recommend
Japantown
One of the 3 remaining historic Japantowns in the United States. Beautiful architecture and cute restaurants and storefronts that would make a nice setting during a walk on a day off.
Bottomless mimosas and a delicious brunch selection. Get there early to avoid the crowds on weekends.
11 locals recommend
Mo's Campbell
278 E Campbell AveBottomless mimosas and a delicious brunch selection. Get there early to avoid the crowds on weekends.
Light foodie-oriented brunch & lunch fare with tons and tons of room to spread out. Seriously the largest coffee shop I've been to...maybe ever. Open late for a coffee shop too.
Forager Tasting Room & Eatery
420 S 1st StLight foodie-oriented brunch & lunch fare with tons and tons of room to spread out. Seriously the largest coffee shop I've been to...maybe ever. Open late for a coffee shop too.
Delicious fast-food greek fare near San Pedro Square. Very budget friendly. Careful on East Santa Clara Street at nighttime, however- some unhappy people camp out in front after dark.
Nick the Greek
Delicious fast-food greek fare near San Pedro Square. Very budget friendly. Careful on East Santa Clara Street at nighttime, however- some unhappy people camp out in front after dark.
Very cute and affordable mom & pop Japanese restaurant downtown. Great decor and happy hour. Huge selection of rolls that it takes us longer to pick one than to scarf it down.
Fuji
56 W Santa Clara StVery cute and affordable mom & pop Japanese restaurant downtown. Great decor and happy hour. Huge selection of rolls that it takes us longer to pick one than to scarf it down.
Ice cream sandwiches to the max. Open late for all the surrounding nightlife. Enough said.
10 locals recommend
CREAM San Jose
49 S First StIce cream sandwiches to the max. Open late for all the surrounding nightlife. Enough said.
All-you-can-eat sushi. Better for volume sushi-eaters than serious gourmands, but a great deal nonetheless. Go for lunch before 4pm.
9 locals recommend
Sushi Infinity
10271 Torre AvenueAll-you-can-eat sushi. Better for volume sushi-eaters than serious gourmands, but a great deal nonetheless. Go for lunch before 4pm.
Delicious Tonkatsu ramen in a mom & pop setting in Japantown. You know they're doing it right when the majority of the staff and the clientele speak English only as a necessity. Tiny, so you may be waiting a bit during the rush.
8 locals recommend
Kumako Ramen
211 Jackson StDelicious Tonkatsu ramen in a mom & pop setting in Japantown. You know they're doing it right when the majority of the staff and the clientele speak English only as a necessity. Tiny, so you may be waiting a bit during the rush.
Some of the best noodles I've had in the South Bay. Try the Tom Yum, you won't regret it. There's another location on 2nd and San Carlos as well.
6 locals recommend
SA-BY Thai Cuisine
346 E William StSome of the best noodles I've had in the South Bay. Try the Tom Yum, you won't regret it. There's another location on 2nd and San Carlos as well.
Drinks & Nightlife
55 South Market Street
55 South Market Street Dark, atmospheric hipster-y bar. Excellent drinks and desserts.
Nomikai
48 S First StExcellent wings and a longer-than-average happy hour.
The food is decent, but we love the outdoor terrace at happy hour. Nice downtown views overlooking Cesar Chavez Park.
12 locals recommend
Scott's Seafood
185 Park AveThe food is decent, but we love the outdoor terrace at happy hour. Nice downtown views overlooking Cesar Chavez Park.
Veggie oriented, with an enormous selection of craft beers that's ever-changing. Cute decor and a small outdoor patio that's nice for warm days.
Good Karma Artisan Ales & Café
37 S 1st StVeggie oriented, with an enormous selection of craft beers that's ever-changing. Cute decor and a small outdoor patio that's nice for warm days.
Sightseeing
San José State University
1 Washington SqHistoric university just down the street.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph
80 S Market StArts & Culture
MACLA
510 S 1st StSan Jose Museum of Art
110 S Market StEssentials
Staff is really friendly and place is well-kept (for your average laundromat) and has various sizes of washers/dryers. Just across from House of Bagels, convenient for grabbing a bagel and a coffee while you wait.
Quickwash Laundry Inc
485 E San Carlos StStaff is really friendly and place is well-kept (for your average laundromat) and has various sizes of washers/dryers. Just across from House of Bagels, convenient for grabbing a bagel and a coffee while you wait.
Parks & Nature
Cesar Chavez Plaza
1 Paseo de San AntonioThe heart of downtown.
Our favorite park for furry friends. Well-maintained & divided up into little/big dog sections with a modern playground for kids.
Del Monte Dog Park
Los Gatos Creek TrailOur favorite park for furry friends. Well-maintained & divided up into little/big dog sections with a modern playground for kids.
A huge park with a trail that spans much of downtown San Jose.
31 locals recommend
Guadalupe River Park
438 Coleman AvenueA huge park with a trail that spans much of downtown San Jose.