San Jose Essentials

By Kim Boatman Nauman, FrontDoor.com | Published: 1/29/2009

Pick up fresh vegetables and fruit at San Jose's Downtown Farmer's Market. San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau

Food and Drink

BEST PLACES TO BUY GROCERIES

Cosentino's
2666 S. Bascom Ave. and 5667 Silver Creek Valley Rd.,
A homegrown, two-store chain with terrific fresh produce.

Zanotto's Downtown Market
38 S. 2nd St.
Zanotto's stocks an impressive selection of Italian products. It's also a great place to pick up a tri-tip sandwich for lunch.

BEST ETHNIC FOOD

In a city where more than 50 different languages are spoken, you can satisfy cravings for almost any ethnic cuisine. Japantown, near downtown, offers an array of Japanese restaurants, plus intriguing stores that stock Japanese groceries or sell homemade tofu. Feel like Vietnamese? Try Vung Tau, 535 E. Santa Clara St. With its sleek, soothing decor and fresh takes on Vietnamese cuisine, the restaurant is popular with San Jose's many Vietnamese-Americans. A menu written in Vietnamese and English makes it accessible to non-Vietnamese speakers. Aqui, 1145 Lincoln Ave., marries gourmet cooking with a fast-food concept, all with a Mexican accent. It's always good to check out Aqui's website for daily specials such as winter veggie and lentil enchiladas. Love Chinese? Head north a few miles to the suburb city of Milpitas, with its many Asian-influenced strip malls. In Milpitas Square, the largest Asian-themed shopping center in Northern California, try Darda, 296 Barber Ct., for the clam soup with ginger or the luscious black cod.

BEST PLACE TO GET A BEER

Tied House
65 N. San Pedro St.
Tied House pours its own fine-crafted beers. Want a deal? Check out $2.25 pints "Hoppy Hour" pints at the Mountain View location, 954 Villa St. Walking distance to San Jose Sharks games makes Tied House a hangout on game nights.

BEST PLACE FOR A LATE-NIGHT BITE

Original Joe's
301 S. First St.
A San Jose institution actually imported from San Francisco more than half a century ago. The restaurant serves no-nonsense Italian fare, steaks and the like in a retro atmosphere until 1 a.m.

BEST PLACE FOR AN ESPRESSO

Mission City Coffee Roasting Co.
2221 The Alameda
Custom-roasts its own blends and sells sandwiches and other fare, to boot. It's the kind of place where locals hang out using the free Wi-Fi during the day, then check out local performers at night.

BEST PLACE TO BUY CALIFORNIA FISH

Many Silicon Valley cities host organic farmers' markets. Visit the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association Web site for locations. In San Jose, San Pedro Square fills with farmers and their wares every Friday from May through December.

BEST PLACE TO BLOW YOUR DIET

Homegrown doughnut shops are something of a fixation for San Joseans. Get there early on weekend mornings if you want to enjoy a raised glazed from Stan's Donut Shop, 2628 Homestead Rd., Santa Clara.

BEST PLACE TO IMPRESS A DATE

Manresa
320 Village Lane in Los Gatos
Showcases the genius of chef David Kinch. Manresa scores romance points for its tucked-away location on a side street. Perhaps the Silicon Valley restaurant most likely to give San Francisco foodies pause for thought, the establishment has specially grown veggies delivered daily.

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