If you live in the South Bay and you’re tired of “Cal-Asian” menus that feel interchangeable, this is your shortlist. These are the kitchens actually crossing continents — Japan meets Italy, Mexico meets Jordan, Peru meets Japan, Silk Road meets California produce. Every one is worth the drive, and most are close enough to downtown Sunnyvale for a proper date night.
1. La Casa Mia (Santa Clara). A family-run wafu-Italian kitchen on Homestead Rd doing handmade tagliatelle in mentaiko cream, a wagyu bolognese crowned with a pork cutlet, and pizzas topped with mochi and mentaiko cheese.
It was featured on KQED’s Check, Please! Bay Area (Season 18, Episode 10), and a sister location in Milpitas means the concept has staying power. Book via OpenTable. 3548 Homestead Rd.
2. AJI Bar & Robata (San Jose). Nikkei — Japanese-Peruvian — is genuinely rare in the county, and this one lives in the Signia by Hilton lobby downtown.
Chef Joe Derla, raised on Hawaii’s Big Island, runs the robata grill; small plates like lemongrass chicken potstickers ($18) and Angus skewers with Okinawan black sugar ($25) are the move. The bar pours pisco, sake, and Japanese whiskey, with DJs on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. 170 S Market St.…