My go to Restaurants in the South Bay
There is always such an air of excitement and expectation as you go out to try a new place to eat. Will the location lead you to new adventures, will the ambiance inspire you, will the service have you recommending the place to your friends, or will the the flavors keep bringing you back for more. Most of these new restaurants will always be judged on places you already love and go to. Along that vein, I’d love to share some of my favorite places around my neck of the woods, the South Bay, of the Bay Area in California.
Back a Yard (chain) in downtown San Jose
This Jamacian Restaurant was something that my friends and I randomly went to once, and could not stop going. They have a hot sauce that is so flavorful and out of this world, I had to order it separately so I could take it home and put it on everything. If it were not for this place, I would have no appreciation for plantains, and hands down they are just so amazing. I highly recommend the ox-tail, just the best. I’m drooling just thinking about it.
Mi Chalateca Pupuseria in San Jose
A bit of a hole in the wall kind of place where you could easily just have a beer and watch a soccer game, or just stuff your face with best pupusas. They have all the assortments you would expect, but my usual is a variety of three, one has to be cheese and jalapeno, one has to be el pastor, and the last I change up for variety. It’s just a great place to chill and have great food with friends.
Happy Lamb Hot Pot (chain) in Cupertino
As one of my friends has stated, “It’s the ritziest hot pot place I’ve ever been to,” and I would have to agree. I love soup, it is hand on heart my favorite type of food. Anything that is a soup or has a soup base in it, just has to get in me. If you were looking for a great soup base, this place delivers. You can choose up to two, and my friends and I usually go with the standard and spicy soup stocks. Then we order a ton of delicious veggies, meat, and fish balls to simmer away as our mouths water and eyes grow ever bigger with anticipation.
Zeni in San Jose
Just simply amazing Ethiopian food. There is never enough injera when my friends and I go. I feel bad taking that last roll as I scoop up more lamb, lentils, or chickpeas, but not that bad. Thankfully the large plate of injera gets replaced and we can return to over bloating out stomachs. I will also mention that this place introduced me to Enat Tej, Ethiopian honey wine, and it has always been an absolute delight when it’s a Tej night. Tej has prolonged bad relationships and helped spark new ones, it is a very drinkable drink. In my mind Enat Tej is what Mead should taste like.
El Guapos in downtown Campbell
I used to write this place off as I would walk past it, but after going once, it has become a weekly meet up place for friends. The place gives me a, hole-in-the-wall college eatery vibes, except with a full bar. They have a great variety of food, but I pretty much always go for their quesadilla. It is so simple but so perfectly executed. I always leave the place half regretting that I had eaten way too much.
Aqui (chain) in Cupertino
It is just the perfect Cal-Mex staple. I have had so many amazing things here, they make perfect salmon, tender beef, and the most amazing French onion soup. Even when I go for something new or slightly different it is always an good experience. I might not always absolutley love what I ate but I also have never hated or had a bad experience with their food. I always leave feeling healthy and happy. It also has my Father’s seal approval, which very few restaurants have.
New Mongolian BBQ in Mountain View
The best all you can eat in the South Bay. You pick all the food yourself, whatever meat, all the delicious veggies, noodles if you’re a heathen, and add all the delicious sauces and other flavorings to your bowls. Then you hand it over to some very unappreciated workers cook your choices on a furnace level hot plate, hand it back to you within 2 minutes, and you then sprinkle your plate with some sesame seeds and sesame oil to perfection. Then eat and repeat until full, and finish with some soft serve ice cream. A perfect meal every time.
Aappa Kadai (chain) in Santa Clara
If you like spicy Indian food, welcome to paradise. They have a goat soup that is so spicy and flavorful, I could just live in it, not caring about any dirty bathwater. They also have something called Manchurian Baby corn, which is honestly the best vegetarian chicken nugget substitute I have ever had. I need to go more and put more of this deliciousness in me.
Jake’s of Saratoga (chain) in Saratoga
My go to local pizza place that is never disappointing. They also do all the American staple foods so well, I love all their various fries, they do burgers, sandwiches, but most important of all, deep fried ravioli. If you have not tried this utterly mind blowing experience, treat yourself. I first heard of it as, “toasted ravs,” from my brother-in-law when visiting my sister in St. Louis. When I found a place that did them locally, I found a way to make it a part of my usual restaurant rotation. The place does make seriously pizza, the sauce is a perfect balance of sweet and savory, and my topping choice is, or course, the best. Anyone knows the best pizza is pepperoni, linguica, mushrooms, and jalapenos (which I have substituted for garlic when I am entertaining friends who don’t like flavor). I will say, in general, pizza is overrated. But Jake’s and Zachary’s Chicago Pizza are pretty much the only places I eat pizza, take that as you will.
Boiling Crab (chain) in San Jose
Mouth-watering seafood and Cajun fries galore. You can’t come here and not have a scary corpse pile of fish remnants, cause if you’re not, you’re doing it wrong. I tend to go for the shrimp by the pound with cajun fries and sausage for the table. I always leave so happy and full. Depending on your spice level, I’m going to recommend washing your hands twice, maybe a third time, if you’re gonna be touching sensitive things, and yes, those sensitive things. Also keep in mind how spicy your mouth will be.
I hope some of these spots are places you know and frequent already, if not, what the hell are you waiting for?
