If you’re looking for a bite to eat in San Jose, you’ve got lots of options. Whether it’s a bite to eat at happy hour or a fancy sit-down meal you’re after, you can find it here. Check out some of our favorite San Jose restaurants.
Smoking Pig BBQ — 1144 N. Fourth St., San Jose, CA
The West Coast isn’t exactly famous for barbecue, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find great options if you go looking. If ribs, pulled pork, Cajun sausage or brisket sound good to you, be sure to check out Smoking Pig in downtown San Jose. Can’t choose just one meat? No problem — there are combo plates, as well as appetizers with evocative titles like “chicken lollipops” and “potato grenade.”
Smoking Pig will soon open a second San Jose location in on Coleman Avenue, near the airport, so keep an eye out for that if you’ll be closer to that area.
The Farmers Union — 151 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA
The Farmers Union is located in an 1874-built building downtown. The decor is heavy on brick and pleasing historic aesthetics, but the Farmers Union isn’t a pretentious place. The most expensive entree — salmon, with summer succotash, clocks in at $22. We encourage you to try to pork & ricotta meatballs.
You’ll find impressive list of rotating craft beers on tap, including several taps devoted to small Northern California breweries, as well as a solid list of wines from Napa and Sonoma counties.
Mezcal — 25 W. San Fernando St., San Jose, CA
Mezcal serves Oaxacan cuisine in an upscale dining room filled with brick, plants and Mexican artwork. Even the mezcal they serve is made in Oaxaca, so if you’re new to the drink, this is good place to get educated about it.
Start with some guacamole for the table or chicken nachos. For your entree, we love the chile-rubbed pastor tacos or the enchiladas suizas, with Oaxacan herbs and chicken, pork, beef or chorizo. The enchiladas are also available vegetarian, as are many items on the menu. Finish it off with flan or your favorite Mexican desert.
(On the topic of Mexican food…if you’re feeling daring, downtown is home to Iguanas, a Mexican fast-food joint known for its five-pound, 18-inch-long Burritozilla.)
The Grill on the Alley — 172 S. Market St., San Jose, CA
This upscale steakhouse is located in the Fairmont Hotel. The standard dinner menu is extensive, offering great appetizers like oysters and ahi tuna tartare. You can never go wrong with filet mignon. On the seafood end, the pan-seared Faroe Islands salmon is a great option.
If you’ve got a big budget, consider ordering your entree from the “Prime” menu, where you’ll find a one-pound, bone-in ribeye steak or filet medallions with roquefort sauce, among others.
The Grill is the type of place you’ll want to make a reservation for, which can be easily done online.
Teske’s Germania — 255 N. First St., San Jose, CA
At first glance, you might think Teske’s Germania is just a German-themed bar, but that would be a mistake. The food menu here is both authentic and extensive, and you should give it a try if you like German cuisine.
Start with the vesperplatte, a plate of assorted meats and cheeses. On the entree front, it’s a tough choice, because most of these items you won’t find on a menu anywhere else in the city. There’s the Paprikagulasch mit Spätzle und Rotkohl, which is cubed beef in a spicy paprika sauce with pasta, or Schwäbischer Sauerrahmbraten mit Spätzle und Rotkohl, a sour beef roast with pasta and cabbage. Whatever you chose, pick something you haven’t had before and enjoy the vibe at Germania!
The food scene in San Jose is great and always getting better as new spots pop up around town. The next time you’re in San Jose, be sure to check one out.
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