San Jose’s food scene has leveled up fast—especially in and around downtown, Japantown, and Santana Row.
Alongside old-school taquerias and pho joints, you’ll now find chef‑driven tasting menus, sleek izakayas, and buzzy brunch spots.
These five relatively new or newly buzz‑worthy restaurants are some of the best ways to taste modern San Jose right now.
1. Petisco Kitchen
Petisco Kitchen brings a fresh, modern Portuguese twist to downtown San Jose, and it feels like the kind of place you’d stumble upon in a small European city—cozy, warm, and full of good smells from the open kitchen…