New to San Jose? A Newcomers Guide
Welcome to San Jose, newbie! It’s a beautiful area with tons to do, but fair warning—it’s big and spread out, so get ready to rack up some serious miles. Weekday traffic can be challenging, with congestion often starting as early as 7 a.m. for northbound travelers and switching southbound around 3 p.m., typically lasting until about 6 p.m. or later. Fun times. So, plan your activities with traffic in mind to make the most of your day and avoid road rage
Luckily, this giant city is bursting with restaurants, bars, dessert spots, and much more. You can Google many popular places to see and eat, but this blog will highlight some of my favorite, perhaps lesser-known, hidden gems and farmers’ markets (who doesn’t love a good farmers’ market?). Now, here are my recommendations separated by neighborhood:
JAPANTOWN:
One of three remaining authentic Japantowns in the U.S., it offers cute shops and delicious Japanese and Hawaiian food. Check hours, as many places are closed on Mondays.
SUSHI: Sushi Maru- 262 Jackson Street
HAWAIIAN: Hukilau- 230 Jackson Street
POKE: Santo Market- 245 E Taylor Street
MEXICAN: La Corona Taqueria – 601 N 4th Street
MOCHI & SHAVE ICE: Shuei-Do Manju Shop- 217 Jackson Street
SHAVE ICE: Pau Hana Shave Ice- 248 Jackson Street
KARAOKE: 7 Bamboo Lounge- 162 Jackson Street
FARMERS’ MARKET:
Sundays 8 a.m.-Noon until October (check the website)
Gordon Biersch Brewery-357 E. Taylor Street
DOWNTOWN:
Downtown San Jose is a lively urban hub with cultural attractions, diverse dining, vibrant nightlife, and a mix of tech innovation and historic charm.
EATS & ENTERTAINMENT: San Pedro Square- 87 N San Pedro Street
OAXACAN STYLE MEXICAN: Mezcal Restaurant- 25 W San Fernando Street
SANDWICHES: Freshly Baked Eatery- 152 N 3rd Street # 101
KOREAN: Danbi- 1092 N First Street
BAR: Rec Room- 1 E San Fernando Street
THE ALAMEDA:
This area features historic homes, tree-lined streets, and local boutique shops.
MEXICAN: Luna Mexican Kitchen- 1495 The Alameda
WINERY: J.Lohr Winery- 1000 Lenzen Avenue
BOOKSTORE: Recycle Bookstore- 1066 The Alameda
THE ROSE GARDEN
The Rose Garden neighborhood is a picturesque area known for its early 20th-century homes and the iconic Municipal Rose Garden.
GARDEN: Municipal Rose Garden- 1649 Naglee Avenue
MUSEUM: Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum- 1660 Park Avenue
*BREAKFAST: The Breakfast Club at Midtown- 1432 W San Carlos Street #80
*MIDDLE EASTERN: Falafel’s Drive In- 2301 Stevens Creek Boulevard
*Just right outside the Rose Garden neighborhood
FARMERS’ MARKET:
Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Year-round
577 Dana Street
WEST SAN JOSE:
Home to the famous Winchester Mystery House and two mega shopping hubs, Santana Row & Westfield Valley Fair, this area is always buzzing.
BBQ: South Winchester BBQ- 1362 S Winchester Boulevard
UDON: Udon Mugizu- 1072 Saratoga Avenue
JAPANESE MARKET: Mitsuwa Marketplace- 675 Saratoga Avenue
ICE CREAM: Smitten Ice Cream- 3055 Olin Avenue #1055
Client Recommendation:
CONTEMPORARY INDIAN: Fitoor- 377 Santana Row #1140
FARMERS’ MARKETS:
Santana Row– Wednesdays, 4 p.m.- 8 p.m. from May to September
Between Olin Ave & Olsen Dr., Santana Row
*Saratoga- Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Year-round
West Valley, Parking Lot 3 Fruitvale Ave & Career Way, Saratoga, CA 95070
*Campbell- Sundays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Year-round
Along E. Campbell Ave., between Central Ave and 3rd Street
*These are technically not in San Jose, but they’re both nearby and worth a visit, so I didn’t want to leave them out.
WILLOW GLEN:
Tree-lined streets, historic homes, and the lively main street, Lincoln Avenue, offer a small-town, family-friendly feel in the middle of San Jose.
BREWERY: Hapa’s Brewery- 460 Lincoln Avenue #90
DESSERT: Mariette’s Chocolates- 1268 Lincoln Avenue
HALAL CUISINE: Halal Amigos- 1100 Lincoln Avenue
ROOFTOP DINING: Copita- 1098 Lincoln Avenue
SANDWICHES & RAVIOLI: Bertucelli’s La Villa- 1319 Lincoln Avenue
HOME GOODS: Saguaro Home- 1314 Lincoln Avenue #1a
FARMERS’ MARKET:
Saturdays, 9.a.m.-1 p.m. Year-round
Willow Glen Elementary- 1425 Lincoln Avenue
LITTLE SAIGON & SPRING BROOK:
Little Saigon is rich in Vietnamese culture, offering a variety of authentic restaurants, shops, and markets.
VIETNAMESE SANDWICHES: Duc Huong- 1020 Story Road # C
DESSERT: CA Bakehouse- 979 Story Road Unit 7066
RICE PLATES & MORE: Cơm Tấm Thiên Hương- 909 Story Road Unit 100
PHO (Vietnamese soup): Pho 90 Degrees- 999 Story Road Unit #9090
VIET MUSEUM: Inside History San Jose- Pacific Hotel Building, 1650 Senter Road
GLASS ART/GLASS BLOWING:
Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI)
Inside History San Jose- 635 Phelan Avenue
BERRYESSA/ALUM ROCK
Berryessa is located in northern San Jose, between Milpitas, CA, and the Alum Rock neighborhood. Alum Rock is known for its rugged hills, natural beauty, and expansive Alum Rock Park.
CAJUN SEAFOOD: The Kickin Crab- 2675 Cropley Avenue
BAKERY: Peter’s Bakery- 3108 Alum Rock Avenue
PHO: Pho Tick Tock Restaurant- 399 N Capitol Avenue
Client Recommendations:
HAWAIIAN: Olioli Hawaiian BBQ- 1657 N Capitol Avenue
BREAKFAST: A Bite of Wyoming- 2227 Alum Rock Avenue
KOREAN: Big Spoon Korean Bistro- 255 N. White Road #102
SUSHI: Sushi Pro- 1078 E Brokaw Road
FARMERS’ MARKETS:
Alum Rock Village: Sundays, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Year-round
James Lick High School 23 N. White Road
Berryessa Farmer’s Market: Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1p.m. until November 16, 2024
Piedmont Middle School 945 Piedmont Road
EVERGREEN:
With rolling hills, lush greenery, and sweeping Silicon Valley views, Evergreen is a go-to spot for families and professionals.
BREAKFAST: Evergreen Inn & Pub- 3273 S. White Road
SUSHI: Trifecta- 5665 Silver Creek Valley Road
DESSERT: Cafe 86- 4055 Evergreen Village Square
ROLLER SKATING: Aloha Fun Center- 2190 Eastridge Loop #1402
WATERPARK (seasonal): Calibunga- 2333 S. White Road
FARMERS’ MARKET:
Wednesdays & Sundays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Year-round
4055 Evergreen Village Square San Jose, CA
SOUTH SAN JOSE:
South San Jose has suburban appeal, diverse neighborhoods, and a friendly, community-focused vibe.
BREAKFAST: Southern Kitchen- 3378 Monterey Road
SUSHI: Cha Cha Sushi- 547 W Capitol Expressway
CRAFT COFFEE & BEER: Pour Decisions- 5700 Village Oaks Drive #20
DRIVE-IN MOVIES: West Wind Capitol Drive-In 3630 Hillcap Avenue
Client Recommendations:
THAI: Oros Thai- 6177 Santa Teresa Boulevard
SUSHI: Kampai Sushi & Grill- 171 Branham Lane #3
FARMERS’ MARKET:
Kaiser Permanente San Jose
Tuesdays, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Year-round, 250 International Circle
That’s all for now! San Jose is huge, and even after living here forever, I still haven’t tried everything. If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them. Thanks for reading, and as always, travel beautifully!