Highest-rated restaurants in San Jose by diners
Highest-rated restaurants in San Jose by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.
Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in San Jose, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily reflect each restaurant listed.
#14. Churros La Guadalupana
- Rating: 5.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2020 East San Antonio St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Spanish
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Tacos Molina
- Rating: 5.0/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 1170 Blossom Hill Road San Jose, California
- Categories: Tacos, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Goodtime Bar
- Rating: 5.0/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 30 Fountain Aly Ste 160 San Jose, California
- Categories: Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Thai Soul Kitchen
- Rating: 5.0/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 6471 Almaden Expy Ste 75 San Jose, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#10. La Costeñita
- Rating: 5.0/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 377 Royal Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Pizza Wings El Buen Sabor
- Rating: 5.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 301 North Jackson Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Pizza, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Cadence Energy & Nutrition
- Rating: 5.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: Monterey & Branham San Jose, California
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Waffles, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Little Wine House
- Rating: 5.0/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 350 West Julian St. Bldg 4 San Jose, California
- Categories: Wine Bars, Beer Bar, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Raoof's San Jose Bean Pies
- Rating: 5.0/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: San Jose, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Food Stands, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Jojo's Hot Chicken
- Rating: 5.0/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1587 Kooser Road San Jose, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Kadhai Kitchen
- Rating: 5.0/5 (91 reviews)
- Address: 2678 Cropley Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Aina's Vegan Banh Mi
- Rating: 5.0/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 449 East Santa Clara St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Vegan, Sandwiches, Beverage Store
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Salsita Tacos
- Rating: 5.0/5 (41 reviews)
- Address: San Jose, California
- Categories: Caterers, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Tulip Lolly Catering
- Rating: 5.0/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: San Jose, California
- Categories: Caterers, Persian/Iranian, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.
