The 11 best restaurants in San Jose right now

When Adega, a Portuguese restaurant, earned San Jose’s first Michelin star back in 2016, it was a big deal for the city. A dutiful seven years later, the owners closed the restaurant in favor of opening a more casual tapas spot called Petiscos. And it’s been a hit ever since it opened in early 2024, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand thanks to its approachable, home-style, flavor-packed Portuguese cooking.

Like the city of San Jose itself, the cuisine served at Straits is diverse and eclectic. The food is inspired by the country of Singapore, which often blends flavors from Malaysia, Indonesia, China and India. The result is a mouthwatering and vibrant Asian fusion menu from Chef Chris Yeo, served in dishes meant to be shared among the table. Settle into this trendy, contemporary atmosphere restaurant and get ready to experience flavors from around the world. 

Housed in a charming creekside boarding house built in 1848, La Forêt is surrounded by a lush forest on the outskirts of San Jose. In late 2017, the classic restaurant reopened under new ownership. Its retained much of the same staff and old world elegance, with a la carte dishes, as well as tasting menus and hearty dishes like poached lobster tail in lime beurre blanc or rack of lamb in garlic, rosemary and tarragon mustard.

An iconic San Jose institution, Falafel Drive-In is an old school, fast-food stand serving Middle Eastern fare through a take-out window. The city is hooked on their authetnic falafel, gyros, kabobs, hummus, foul (a fava bean dip with jalapeños, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil) and tabbouleh. 

Zona Rosa is a popular, modern Mexican restaurant in the Alameda neighborhood of San Jose. It serves cheery and flavor-packed brunch and dinner daily. The menu includes mouthwatering tacos, enchiladas and salads. For brunch, expect fun twists on classic Mexican dishes like the ZR potato hash that mixes potatoes with burnt carnitas ends and queso fundido. 

Aqui Cal-Mex was one of the first fast-casual concepts to open up in Silicon Valley, back in 2010. Since then it's opened several locations, including this one in San Jose in 2019. Here, you'll find a smattering of Mexican dishes – from burritos, to bowls, to tacos – with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The location is quite large, with indoor and outdoor space, and a "Swirl Counter" where you can order the restaurant's signature "Industrial Strength Swirls," which are essentially fruit mixtures swirled with the restaurant’s signature margarita.

Back A Yard serves chef Robert Simpson’s authentic Jamaican comfort food. While downing Jamaican Ting (grapefruit soda), fill up on tender curried goat, jerk chicken and sides like plantains, coconut rice and beans and honey-sweet festivals (a Jamaican staple somewhere between a doughnut and cornbread). Daily specials feature Jamaican specialities like escoveitch (grilled whole fish) or saltfish and ackee, Jamaica’s national dish. 

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Naschmarkt offers upscale Austrian food from Austrian-born chef Matthias Froeschl. The menu features European classics like wiener schnitzel, Hungarian goulash and kraut rouladen (a cabbage roll filled with beef, pork and smoked bacon in mushroom demiglace). Save room for Salzburger Knockerl, a warm, souffle-like dessert doused in warm berry sauce.

With spongy injera “bread” as the base, scoop up yemisir wot (red lentils in berbere spice mix), kikil kitfo (finely chopped beef in herbed butter sauce and chili powder) or kik alitcha (yellow peas in turmeric, garlic and ginger) at this tasty Ethiopian restaurant. Sip Ethiopian coffee or honey wine, and for the full experience, go for the traditional floor cushion seating.

The focus at Black Sheep Brasserie, a French-American concept, is on quality cocktails (like A Postcard from Japan, made with black sesame-washed Japanese whisky, oloroso sherry, Licor 43, black sesame bitters) and fare like the oxtail rillettes, Burgundy snails in Pernod parsley butter and pan-roasted duck breast, lentils and herb salad.

Le Papillon is a San Jose fine-dining destination. Chef Scott Cooper worked his way up from dishwasher, holding nearly every position in the industry before eventually becoming executive chef. His international travels are reflected in modern Cal-French dishes like a ragout of Burgundy snails with fennel panna cotta, linguine and prawns in Cognac truffle cream, and braised duck breast with sour cherry, sage and black forbidden rice.