If you don’t know, I happen to live in San Jose where we have a new comic convention (only in it’s third year) taking place downtown this weekend (Friday, April 6 -Sunday, April 8). Silicon Valley Comic Con is an upstart convention, unaffiliated with any of the other big names like SDCC or NYCC, that was started with the backing of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Marvel legend Stan Lee. We’ve previously talked to the CEO of Silicon Valley Comic Con to get some behind the scenes information, but that’s not why we’re here today. No, we’re here because I want to drop some knowledge of the local sights and sounds for those of you coming in for the convention. Welcome to your Silicon Valley Comic Con 2018 events, food, bars, breweries, and more party guide!
Oh and if you use the hashtag #destroysj or #destroysvcc when checking out these places I’ll be forever grateful and try to retweet you too!
Events + Things to Do
ANYDAY
See Local Murals + Public Art on the Heart of the Valley Map
Multiple Locations Around the South Bay
FREE More Info
A project created for the Code for San Jose initiative that aims to bring volunteer coders and local government together. You can create your own self guided tour of local murals and public art installations to fill out your Instagram account.
Our Valley of Heart’s Delight (Santa Clara Valley, or the South Bay Area) has so many incredible murals and public art. This open source project visualizes and maps data about local public art and murals. We hope that this will help community members discover the beautiful murals and public art that make our communities vibrant. We also hope the map can help community members discover local artists and creatives in the South Bay.
This project came out of a discussion with community members and Empire Seven Studios, a local art studio located in Japantown, San José, California. Data sources come from public data on art and murals, or from community input. The data is updated as of March 28, 2018. The map is made with Mapbox GL JS, a JavaScript library that uses WebGL to render interactive maps from vector tile and Mapbox styles.
THURSDAY – 4/5
Comic Trivia Night at AFKgg
AFKgg Gamer Lounge, 163 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, California 95113
FREE Tickets + Info
San Jose’s very own gamer lounge is downtown and they’re hosting a trivia night for all us comic geeks. Test your comic knowledge while drinking some booze.
Chill at AFKgg with fellow comic fans on April 5th! Drink specials, prizes, cosplay is welcome!
7:00pm seating opens + drink specials
8:00pm Comic Trivia (Marvel/ DC/ more) w/ host DJ BitDrink specials:
Captain America
Black Panther
Wonder WomanPrizes: Funko Pops, comic books,
Entry fee: no cover, all ages welcome
BAR Con Season 2: Episode 4
Back Bar SoFa, 418 South Market Street, San Jose, California 95113
$8 Tickets + Info
In town early for SVCC? Like Anime? Looks like you can drink while watching Anime at this party featuring karaoke, J-rock, a live band, and games.
BAR Con: Booze. Anime. Rock.
Con season never has to end! Located just across the street from San Jose Convention Center, BAR Con is the monthly destination for Anime, gaming, and J-rock fans to meet up between cons! Join us for specialty drinks, Anime on 2 screens, retro gaming, and live band performances!
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Featuring in this episode:Open mic KARAOKE & drink specials: Health Potion, Mana Potion, and Elixir!
Anime:
-Soul Eater
-Ranma 1/2Retro Game:
-Rampage (NES)Acts:
-The Koopas
-Danny GonzalesLive DJ:
-Lawbster
FRIDAY – 4/6
South FIRST FRIDAYS #ArtWalkSJ
Multiple Venues Around South 1st Street (SoFa District), San Jose, California
FREE Tickets + Info
Ignore the questionable naming of South 1st st as SoFa district and take a walk through the galleries and other venues in the neighborhood, grab some wine, watch some performances, and enjoy the art. All the venues usually have music playing and people to mingle with so you can get cultured as f*ck.
South FIRST FRIDAYS presents #ArtWalkSJ
Friday April 6th 7pm–11pm
SoFA District (& beyond) downtown San JoseThe South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk is a self-guided, nighttime tour through galleries, museums, and independent creative businesses featuring eclectic art exhibitions and special performances. All ArtwalkSJ venues are FREE admission & open to the public.
First Friday Fiesta April 2018
MACLA / Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana, 510 S 1st St , San Jose, CA 95113
FREE Tickets + Info
Get your fiesta on at this local Latin-American art museum down the street from the convention center and a prominent stop during the First Friday art walk with an entire smorgasbord of activities, performances, and art going on for their party.
In the DMCStudio at MACLA: Youth Showcase & Open Mic, 5:30-7pm
Come kick it with us for our young community’s monthly Youth Open Mic and Art Showcase! We welcome all MC’s, Spoken-word Artists/Poets, Singers, Musicians, Comedians, and all performers. Enjoy live music, a showcase of downtown San Jose, CA photography and watch the public premiere of youth short films.Must be ages 13-20 to perform in the Open Mic. Sign up list opens at 5:30 pm; open Mic/Poetry Slam from 6–7pm. Each performer will be allowed to perform 2-3 pieces OR a 5 minute set.
In the MACLA Gallery: 20th Latino Art Now! Auction and Exhibition
Apr 4, 2018 – May 19, 2018
20th Latino Art Now!: A wonderful array of contemporary Latino art from the Bay Area and beyond. Auction proceeds support MACLA’s programs.Outside at Parque de los Pobladores (across from MACLA): Carnaval Sud Americano by Bolivian Dance Team, 8-10pm
As part of #FirstFridayFiesta, MACLA presents Carnaval Sud Americano by BDT – Bolivian Dance Team / Espíritu Andino! Join Bolivian Dance Team alongside friends of Kantuta Ballet folklorico de Bolivia dance Studio, Danza Venezuela Bay Area and Valverde Dance as they explore the rich diversity of South America’s vibrant music and dance traditions. Move with Us!
Tournamentertainment!
Forager Tasting Room & Eatery, 420 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
FREE Tickets + Info
Here’s a twist on a competition–an artistic competition between different performers and genres in a large space (seriously, Forager is huge).
Hosted by Adira Sharkey & Mighty Mike McGee. Backed-up by the legendary Rebelskamp house band!
Three musicians vs. three poets vs. three comedians!
Three poets will perform one piece in their round. Then the audience will select their favorite performance by applause and that poet will advance to the final round. Then three comedians will perform and the audience will select one to advance. Then three musicians will perform and the audience will select one of them to join the poet and the comedian in the final round.
AFK Rock Band
AFKgg Gamer Lounge, 163 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, California 95113
FREE Tickets + Info
Play Rock Band with a bunch of other Rock Band connoisseurs, the League of Extraordinary Rock Banders, and rock out like it’s 1999.
This is an all ages event.
We’ll also be streaming –
http://www.twitch.tv/nogoodnickgames
Follow us on Twitter! –
@LofXRB
Preview a majority of the songs on the Spotify –
https://open.spotify.com/user/venomexa2/playlist/5c6nttu5u7NdzFhE6wXayz
SATURDAY – 4/7
Coffee Meetup During SVCC
Sofa Market, 387 S 1st St, San Jose, California 95113
FREE Tickets + Info
Want to get some business done? How about an early bird networking meetup for all you comic industry and media people?
Let’s get caffeinated before the first full day of the convention. Whether it’s your first time at SVCC, first time at any con, or you’re a veteran, come have some coffee and get to know someone.
Feel free to bring your business cards for your website, blog, podcast, YouTube Channel, etc.
I know it’s an early meetup, but I hope to see a few of you there!
Star Wars Cosplayers Group Photo & Meet Up
San Jose Convention Center (In the pit area to right of the entrance), 150 West San Carlos Street, San Jose, California 95113
FREE Tickets + Info
Bring your Saturday finest aka your Star Wars costume for a group photo op outside of the convention center entrance.
Silicon Valley comicon Star Wars group shot to be held in the pit! All Star Wars costumes are welcome, hope to see you there~
Real-Life Mario Kart
Cabrillo Middle School, 2550 Cabrillo Ave, Santa Clara, CA
$12 Tickets + Info
This isn’t actually in San Jose, but it’s such a ridiculous thing I thought I’d still share it. Mario Kart IRL!
We’ll race each other, 6 people at a time, on little swivel cars (see image and video), Mario Kart style. There will be a variety of silly items players can pick up along the route that activate and attack others in a similar fashion as the regular game. Items include things like: Bullet Bill, Green Shell, Mushroom, Banana, Star, etc.
Join us a for a fun afternoon reliving our childhood in real life! Come dressed up as Mario characters or other costumes (onesies highly encouraged)! There will be snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic). We’ll get dinner afterwards for those who want to stick around.
SJSkateNight – Downtown Street Skate
Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, California 95113
FREE Tickets + Info
I hope you brought your skates because SJSkateNight is running a colorful, music filled skating-the-streets mobile party around downtown streets and plazas.
This is a Roller Skate Social using Downtown San Jose Streets, Sidewalks, Bikelanes, Paseos and Plazas. Together, we will skate through downtown to iconic downtown locations accompanied by the #sjskatenight music runner – Dancing, cheering, and enjoying our beautiful growing city.
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WHERE: Hammer Theater – 101 Paseo De San Antonio, DTSJ, 95113
WHEN: April 7th, 2018
MEET: 7:30p >>> ROLL: 8p
SKILL LEVEL: intermediate (Just be comfortable street skating and crossing over train tracks)
ROUTE: TBA
MILES: Approx 6 miles with 4 stops
Comedians at Crema
Crema Coffee Roasting Company, 1202 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
FREE Tickets + Info
Catch a free comedy show in the evening down the street a bit, at a local cafe, if you’d like to take a break from the convention.
Join Kevin Wong, host and Bay Area comic, for [email protected]. Come out, get caffeinated, and be entertained! Performers have appeared at the Punch Line, Cobbs, San Jose Improv, Tommy T’s, and all around the Bay Area.
Bring your friends and get ready to laugh!
FREE SHOW.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert
325 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
$45-95 Tickets + Info
Symphony San Jose is putting on a screening of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire accompanied by a full live orchestra. Get fancy and nerd out, you’re a wizard Harry! Two showtimes on Saturday, 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm, with one more show on Sunday at 1:30pm.
Grab your broom and get ready for the tasks ahead! The Triwizard Tournament comes to Hogwarts™ in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ — in Concert. Relive the magic of Harry Potter™ soaring across the big screen in high-definition and experience the music of Symphony Silicon Valley performing Patrick Doyle’s unforgettable score.
Grand Opening of Camino Brewing Co.
718 S. First Street, San Jose, California 95113
FREE Tickets + Info
I’m a sucker for craft beer and lucky for me (and you) a new brewery is opening just down the street from the convention center.
Funkranomicon will be playing the last set of the night at the Camino Brewing Company’s Grand Opening! Three other bands on the bill….so get there early, enjoy some live music and some delicious brews….and dance with Funkranomicon until we close the place down! We have Jackie Turner singing with us too!
Free Admission to The Tech Museum of Innovation for Bank of America Cardholders
The Tech Museum of Innovation, 201 South Market Street , San Jose, CA 95113
FREE* Tickets + Info
If you’ve never been to the Tech Museum and you like hands on exhibits related to science and technology (duh) then you’ll want to grab your nearest friend with a Bank of America ATM card and make him take you here.
Bank of America members with a valid ATM card and photo ID can get one free admission ticket (galleries only) on the first full weekend of every month.
Comedy & Improv Workshop with Frank Ferrante
3Below Theaters & Lounge, 288 S 2nd St., San Jose, California 95113
$20 Tickets + Info
Are you a theater geek? Well come on down and learn youse some real good funny business at this practical workshop with a theater veteran.
Between his performances of An Evening With Groucho, actor and director Frank Ferrante will offer a master class for 3Below fans! Teens and adults are invited to learn from the master of comedy in this 60 minutes master class in comedy and improvisational performance. Ticket holders for An Evening With Groucho can enjoy $10 registration; regular registration is $20 for the class.
SUNDAY – 4/8
The Geek Fashion Show at SVCC
Room 220BC at SVCC in the San Jose Convention Center
FREE* Tickets + Info
If you already have an SVCC pass, you can check out your very own geek-centric fashion show.
We want you to get in touch with your inner geek! The Geek Fashion Show where geek meets chic! Anime meets Steampunk, Gaming meets Superheroes…you never know what you will see on the catwalk at the Geek Fashion Show! We bring together some very talented designers from all across the nation and feature beautiful models pulled from the comic/sci-fi community of fans, cosplayers, and celebrities. We believe everyone has something about them that is beautiful. The Geek Fashion Show is here to help you find a way to show that off!
Maid Cosplay Café at AFKgg
AFKgg Gamer Lounge, 163 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, California 95113
FREE* Tickets + Info
Yeah, you’ll want to order something if you go to this you cheap bastard. It looks like they’re encouraging reservations, they do say walk-ins are fine. It’s your time to live out your notice-me-senpai fantasy!
AFKgg Maid Cosplay Café | Sunday, April 8th | NOON – 6PM
Walk-ins accepted | Reservations: 408-766-0235 [email protected]✰ AFKgg is very excited to bring back our marvelous Maid Café, by popular demand, for one day only on Sunday, April 8th from NOON – 6PM! Join our maids & butlers as they serve delicious food, play games, snap photos and watch anime with you! Cosplay is encouraged!
We’re bringing back omelette rice and some other treats for one day only.
San Jose Punk Rock Flea Market – Spring Fling
The Ritz, 400 S 1st, San Jose, California 95113
$5 Tickets + Info
Rock out with your…clock…out at this punk rock party and flea market inside a popular concert venue near the convention center.
The San Jose Punk Rock Flea Market is back! The SPRING FLING will host 35 vendor tables, 3 bands, punk DJ’s, 2 bars and enough fun to last you….until our summer event! We will be raffling off a $300 tattoo from Paco Excel/Death Before Dishonor Tattoo and MORE!! Pabst Blue Ribbon has partnered up with us to make this a great one. See you there!!!
After Con Party!
Local Color, 27 South First St, San Jose, California 95113
FREE Tickets + Info
Looking for an after party when the convention ends? How about an art and makers market party?
After Comic Con come on out to Local Color for an amazing time! We will have con and sci fi themed art and makers market, live music by Dj Bryan FreeUs & the Amazing MSTIZA. Come dance and have a drink with us and wear your best constume 🙂
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert
325 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
$45-95 Tickets + Info
Symphony San Jose is putting on a screening of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire accompanied by a full live orchestra. Get fancy and nerd out, you’re a wizard Harry! Two showtimes on Saturday, 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm, with one more show on Sunday at 1:30pm.
Grab your broom and get ready for the tasks ahead! The Triwizard Tournament comes to Hogwarts™ in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ — in Concert. Relive the magic of Harry Potter™ soaring across the big screen in high-definition and experience the music of Symphony Silicon Valley performing Patrick Doyle’s unforgettable score.
Food
I’m not the master of all that is good to eat in San Jose, but I think I do know some of the good spots. This list isn’t meant to be exhaustive; it’s more of a guide to some cool spots that I’ve eaten at and are somewhat unique to San Jose. There’s plenty of other great restaurants I’ve omitted here so don’t get your panties in a bunch if your favorite spot isn’t here.
I’ve separated the restaurants into those that are downtown and those that aren’t to make it easier for those who choose to walk to their next meal.
Downtown
SoFa Market
The most recent addition to the upscale food hall trend in San Jose that has fancy food courts opening up around the country. It’s walking distance to the convention center and it houses a variety of eateries to satisfy the different tastes in your group. There’s also a bar here if you want booze with your food. I’ve heard good things about the VietNom’s stall here.
They have eateries offering poke, sandwiches, pizza, salads, superfood bowls, popsicles, and more.
SoFa Market, 387 S First St, San Jose, CA 95113
San Pedro Square Market
The flagship hangout spot and the first food hall in downtown San Jose featuring multiple bars and restaurants inside. The whole thing takes up multiple buildings with a large outdoor seating area on the property where you can imbibe or eat in the open air. This food hall usually hosts live bands to entertain visitors every day of the week.
You can find pasta, wood fired pizza, poke bowls, pho, burgers, arepas, ice cream, coffee, and more here.
San Pedro Square Market, 87 N San Pedro St, San Jose, CA 95110
Metro Balderas (Truck on 1st St.)
Metro Balderas is a taqueria that does authentic spit roasted al pastor and serves up some tasty tacos. It’s not far from downtown, but they also have a taco truck that parks in a parking lot right past the 280 overpass, just a few blocks down the street from the convention center. The taco truck is equipped with a mobile spit roast so they can slice the flame charred al pastor meat freshly into your tortilla. It’s there in the evening, not sure if it’s also there for lunch, but I’ve seen it there at 3pm so it might be open at lunch. If not, you can always go to the restaurant located on Almaden Blvd.
Metro Balderas Taco Truck in Parking Lot Around 72 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Metro Balderas Taqueria (The Restaurant) 688 S Almaden Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Ike’s Love and Sandwiches
Originating in San Francisco, Ike’s sandwich shops have expanded throughout the Bay Area as a homegrown original. Every shop offers a diverse array of tasty California inspired sandwiches made to order with the house dirty sauce. Each shop also has their own local sandwich exclusives–collectibles, if you will. Try your sandwich on the dutch crunch bread and get a bag of Zapp’s chips to go with it. Every sandwich comes with a caramel covered apple lolipop too!
I give high commendation to the Speed City DTSJ exclusive sandwich. It’s salami, it’s slaw, it’s incredible hulk sauce, and it’s as tasty as the hulk is ANGRY.
Ike’s Love & Sandwiches, 75 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
The City Fish
One of the best deals in downtown and maybe even the whole city. You can get big piece of fried fish with a side of fries, cooked perfectly crispy, for $6. Now that’s a deal! The seafood is all very fresh too. They have other staple seafood dishes like clam chowder, fried shrimp, fried scallops, grilled salmon, oysters/oysters Rockefeller, and seafood cocktails. The only reason I don’t go here more is because parking is a pain here. Their happy hour also makes for some killer deals and it runs from 3-6pm Mon-Friday.
The City Fish, 30 E Santa Clara St, Ste 140, San Jose, CA 95113
Back A Yard
Eating at Back A Yard was a revelation because it was my first experience with Carribean cuisine. If you haven’t had it before, it’s hard to describe, but expect hearty fare spiced with fragrance and citrus, served with rice and beans. It’s satisfying fare that’ll keep you going on a hot day with much to see and do. The Jamaican jerk chicken is always a good choice, but the oxtail is a succulent, tender masterpiece.
Back A Yard, 80 N Market St, San Jose, CA 95113
La Peñita
Right down Market St/S 1st st from the convention center, just before the 280 overpass is a very solid option for Mexican breakfast, desayuno, and soups. It’s a bustling hole-in-the-wall place on with tasty food prepared in a homey style. It’s not a fancy place; it’s a place for real people to get a hearty meal. Their chilaquiles and huevos rancheros are great breakfast choices. The beef soup, caldo de res, is simply fantastic, but their menudo and posole are also popular choices.
La Peñita Restaurant, 601 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Dac Phuc
This is pretty much the only authentic Vietnamese restaurant in downtown that’s easy walking distance from the convention center. If you come in here, expect your typical Asian level service–efficient and no frills. If service is what you care about coming to a pho place (what is wrong with you?), you can go on over to the Americanized Pho 69 on 1st St. If you want actual Vietnamese flavors, come here. Their pho is a solid choice for nursing a hangover, but many visitors like to get their pho ap chao, a crispy fried noodle bunch with stir fried meat, veggies, and sauce poured over it.
Dac Phuc Restaurant, 198 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
Agha’s Gyro Express
This small cart may just be a stall in a lot next to a former McDonald’s, but they serve up big flavor. If you’ve ever been to New York City, you’re probably familiar with the Middle Eastern carts everywhere hawking kebab over rice with salad and sauce. This is the same concept, executed superbly. This isn’t your healthy Middle Eastern place, this is some quick street food built-to-satisfy-your-hunger meat plates over saffron rice. And it’s covered in sauce for good measure.
Agha’s Gyro Express, 300 S 2nd St, San Jose, CA 95113
Hom
Bibimbap is a great Korean contribution to the foodscape–simple, flavorful, nutritious. It’s just rice with a variety of vegetables and proteins thrown together, than kicked up with a sweet korean red chili paste. Hom specializes in this dish, but done in the Chipotle assembly line style of fast casual. I like it because sometimes I want a balanced meal where I get my veggies in. It’s just a few blocks walk down the main street in downtown, Santa Clara St.
HOM Korean Kitchen, 76 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
La Victoria Taqueria (La Vic’s)
You knew this was coming. No list of San Jose food ever leaves off La Vic’s and their famous (legendary) orange sauce. It’s spicy, creamy, roasty, and even vegetarian friendly! They’ve expanded their empire throughout San Jose, with 3 locations in downtown alone. La Vic’s is the main late night option downtown as they’re open to 3am on the weekends. The original is in a former house on San Carlos, but the closest location to the convention center is just a couple block, on Santa Clara St. Honestly, I think their burritos are hot garbage so I always order their carne asada quesadillas which are pretty good. Combined with their signature orange sauce, it’s a match made in drunchies heaven. By the way, they sell their sauce by the bottle if you want to take one home.
La Victoria Taqueria, 131 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
Angelou’s Mexican Grill
Another local favorite, but flying way under the radar compared to La Vic’s. They have solid mexican food with fresh ingredients. I’d say their specialty is their only-in-California carne asada fries. It’s a dish that hits the perfect proportions between meaty, salty, saucy, fresh, and crispy. They also have their own rendition of orange sauce which has a distinct flavor different from La Vic’s rendition. La Vic’s orange sauce has more appeal to the masses, but some prefer the way Angelou’s makes it.
Angelou’s Mexican Grill, 21 N 2nd St, San Jose, CA 95113
Iguanas
Another budding empire, Iguana’s is the slicker, more youthfully branded cousin to La Vic’s. If you don’t want to deal with the line at La Vic’s (there’s always a line late night), this is a solid alternative. They have a special Burritozilla challenge that involves a nearly 2 foot long burrito if you’re a hungry man. They specialize in more munchies style stoner Mexican food with small bites, a happy hour for food, and California burritos (a burrito with fries in it) on the menu. They also have their own riff on La Vic’s orange sauce (San Jose sure loves orange sauce) that I’d characterize as smokier and more coffee-like than La Vic’s.
Iguanas, 330 S 3rd St, San Jose, CA 95112
Earl of Sandwich
Newly opened in downtown, I’m adding this for all you people who have been out in Las Vegas late at night and Earl’s was the cheapest/only thing open at 4am. They make decent hot sandwiches with warm meats and melty cheese. Go get yours if you’re in the mood for something simple and straightforward.
Outside Downtown
Mariscos & Taqueria La Ceiba
My favorite place for marsicos, Mexican seafood, where you can get a tasty ceviche tostada mixta. They also offer great tacos with the option for handmade tortillas made with fresh masa. This is actually kind of walkable from the convention center, being only a few blocks past the 280 overpass on S 1st.
Mariscos & Taqueria La Ceiba, 799 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Tortas GDL
Have you had a wet torta before? These are Guadalajaran style tortas served in a plastic lined basket because it’s soaked in a spicy meat juice. They also offer some of the best menudo (very meaty) I’ve had.
Tortas GDL, 226 W Alma Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Maiwand Kebob
Usually you’d have to go all the way to Fremont’s Little Kabul for good Aghan food. No more. This place serves up the juiciest chicken and steak kebabs over basmati rice. Their potato bolani is also excellent.
Maiwand Kebab, 1202 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95116
Wings Dip
These are the crispiest wings and fries ever, tossed fresh, with tons of flavor. Their signature style dry wings are combined with sauteed onions and jalapeno, then served with fresh seasoned shoestring fries. Just solid technique all around.
Wings Dip, 910 Meridian Ave, San Jose, CA 95126
Phat Tri (aka Banh Mi Oven)
I go here semi-often for a well made and very affordable Vietnamese sandwich, also known as Banh Mi. Apparently they recently renamed the place to Banh Mi Oven. This place is special because they use extra long baguette for your sandwich, effectively giving you 2 sandwiches. The price per sandwich is little more because of this, but I think you still come out ahead. They even cut it in half for you to make them into regular portion sized sandwiches. I suspect they recently made some changes to their bread recipe because their baguettes are a lot softer now. If you’re like me, you’ll probably just get the Phat Tri Special, but the barbecue pork is also good.
Banh Mi Oven, 1210 Story Rd, San Jose, CA 95122
Bun Bo Hue An Nam
The best Bun Bo Hue in San Jose. This place is somewhat famous for their noodles. Bun Bo Hue is like pho’s lesser known brother who’s spicier and punchier in the tangy broth. The noodles are thicker too, with different meats in the bowl. If you’re cool and down, eat the nice chocolate cubes (pork blood) in your bowl and get the pizzle (beef penis) with your meal.
Bun Bo Hue An Nam, 740 Story Rd, Ste 3, San Jose, CA 95122
Grand Century Mall Food Court (Good for Thai and Vietnamese)
If you want variety, you can have all the variety you want at Grand Century Mall’s food court as long as it’s Southeast Asian food. If you don’t know, this mall in a bit famous for being the “Asian Mall”. The food court is also different than what you’re used to in American malls. Instead of macrochains, you have specialty food hawkers that create a scene reminiscent of street food stalls lining a pathway. Each stall seems to specialize in a certain kind of dish or style of dishes. I give high marks to the Thai Lovers stall for their good value Thai plates and all you can drink Thai Tea you pour from the communal pitcher. You can get pho, bun bo hue, Vietnamese beef stew, banh xeo (this egg wrap thingy), vermicelli bowls, com tam (grilled meat rice plates), grilled pork spring rolls (nem nuong cuon), vietnamese shave ice with various toppings (che) and a million other things I don’t know about.
Grand Century Mall (Food court inside mall, to the left), 1111 Story Rd, San Jose, CA 95122
Carnitas Huandacaroe Truck
I hesitate to share this because I don’t want it to blow up with lines. This is my absolute favorite place to get carnitas–Mexican style fry-braised pulled pork. Setting up on a street right next to a Home Depot and a Chase bank, in the heavily Mexican east side of San Jose, this truck works wonders with their pork. I’d say this place can hang with the great carnitas I’ve had in LA. You drop huge chunks of seasoned pork in hot pork lard, doing a fry-braise that keeps the moisture in the meat (oil and water repel each other, remember?) and the pork flavor too, as long as you keep using that same pork fat to fry in since it picks up all the pork flavor from every batch. Get the carnitas tacos to be wowwed or get the burrito for food coma city. They have pickled onions and 3 kinds of salsa (including orange, big surprise there right?) for you to garnish your taco with. You might need to speak a little Spanish, but that’s okay, just try your best. Surprisingly, they take credit cards. Sorry for you early eaters, this place is dinner only.
Carnitas Huandacaroe, 1151 Mcginness Ave, San Jose, CA 95127
Pho Kim Long
My favorite pho place in the South Bay and it’s not even in San Jose, but right on the border between San Jose and Milpitas. They have absolutely stellar chicken pho, but I actually think their regular beef pho is my standard to measure all other pho by. The broth is great and the noodles are usually perfectly cooked.
Pho Kim Long, 2082 N Capitol Ave, San Jose, CA 95132
Jubba
As far as I know, there’s nowhere else in the Bay Area you can get Somalian food. When I first came here, it was barely known and usually empty. Nowadays it gets very busy and Ramadan time will see packed houses during the night. Come with a friend and order the sport plate for two with goat and beef over their uniquely spiced rice. Make sure to load up on their flavorful green chutney because it makes everything better. Wash it all down with their sweet and spicy hot tea, on the house and dispensed by you into a foam cup.
Jubba Restaurant, 5330 Terner Way, San Jose, CA 95136
Boba/Coffee/Dessert
I’m really not a big sweets fan, nor am I big coffee drinker. Still, I have been to a few places in San Jose, mostly from being dragged there. Boba or coffee are things where, if others are getting some I’ll order, but it’s never something I crave or seek out on my own.
Downtown
Boba Bar
One of those more upscale, hipstery boba places in downtown that nonetheless still makes a decent boba drink. Fun fact, they have a resident cat that’s lived there through the past 3 businesses at this location.
Boba Bar, 310 S 3rd St, San Jose, CA 95112
Caffe Frascati
A classical kind of coffee shop with Italian influences. They have 2 floors where you can sit around and they’re located an quite conveniently close to the convention center.
Caffe Frascati, 315 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Gong Cha
An international name in the boba industry. Many people are crazy about this Taiwanese premium bubble tea chain. Perhaps if I liked sweet thing more I’d also be hyped.
Gong Cha, 140 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95112
iJava Coffee & Eatery
This is my favorite coffee shop when it comes to studying. Their claim to fame drink is the Tiger Chai, which is a pretty tasty drink and strong if you ask for an extra espresso shot in it. The paninis here are also pretty good.
iJava Coffee & Eatery, 387 Delmas Ave, San Jose, CA 95126
Philz Coffee
Philz is an institution that has built their empire on one drink: the Mint Mojito. It’s a refreshing coffee drink, but they also have some great coffee beans all around.
Philz Coffee, 118 Paseo De San Antonio Walk, San Jose, CA 95112
My Milkshake
Walking into this shop is like walking into a superhero themed diabetes ambush. Perfect for your nerd interests. The walls are filled with candy for those with sweet teeth, but their specialty is blended milkshakes with all manner of confections in them.
My Milkshake,151 S 2nd St, Ste 199, San Jose, CA 95113
Forager Tasting Room & Eatery
I actually don’t know how the coffee is here because I’ve only ever had a beer here. It looks totally fine though. It’s more about the space here–it’s a colossal room that emphasizes wood and industrial vibes. Great place for meeting up with a bunch of people due to the size and number of tables. They often have events on their stage here too.
Forager Tasting Room & Eatery, 420 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95172
Outside Downtown
Shuei-Do Manju Shop
Located in Japantown (San Jose has one of only 3 Japantowns in the US), this place produces handmade mochi desserts. That’s a sweet glutinous rice wrapping some kind of sweet filling according to your fancy. They also offer shave ice.
Shuei-Do Manju Shop, 217 Jackson St, San Jose, CA 95112
Los Mangitos Paleteria Y Neveria
If you’ve never had a Mexican ice cream popsicle aka a paleta, then you definitely need to stop by this place. Even if you have had a paleta from a grocery store, you should still stop in here because these ones are made fresh everyday. The way you make one is some variation of fresh fruit juice sweetened with sugar, sometimes with cream added, then adding pieces of the fruit into the popsicle mold and freezing it on a stick. Actually, there are also non-fruit ones too, like pecan. Personally I like coconut (coco), pecan (nuez), watermelon (sandia), and guava. This shop is located in one of San Jose’s prime Mexican shopping plazas–plenty to see culturally here.
Los Mangitos Paleteria Y Neveria, 1668 Story Rd, San Jose, CA 95122
Tea Lyfe
Located in the new Vietnam Town plaza, this boba shop is one the upscale trendy side. To my nondiscerning boba palate, they seem to have pretty good drinks here. One of my friends who is on the boba hype train likes this place too, so it must be decent. The atmosphere is nice for sitting a bit in the small shop. They’re menu is smaller and more focused on specialty drinks. Their tea tastes high quality–I usually just get Early Grey, but they have fancier things like horchata boba or Vietnamese coffee.
Tea Lyfe Drinks, 989 Story Rd, Ste 8018, San Jose, CA 95122
Beer & Breweries
Craft breweries used to be a rare sight in San Jose, but just like every American city, the craft beer renaissance has taken hold. There’s a decent selection of breweries and beer focused pubs to whet your appetite now. I’m kind of a beer person so I dedicated an entire section just to beer.
Downtown
Uproar Brewing Company
A new addition to downtown, it’s the most convenient craft beer brewery when walking from the convention center. Quite a large space and they also serve food. They do seem to favor their bittering hops in the beers here.
Uproar Brewing Company, 439 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
This used to be the only option for non-macro brews in San Jose. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case because they never really made any beer that I loved that much. Their amber is probably their most decent beer. Still, they’ve got a large sit down restaurant so it’s good if you want to dine and beerify at the same time. It’s also a good transitional brewery for those just getting into craft brews.
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, 33 E San Fernando St, San Jose, CA 95113
Floodcraft Brewing
A paradoxical place, they’re the only brewery with a view in the city. It’s on the second story with their taproom open to the outside overlooking the SAP center and downtown. It’s also located in a Whole Foods. Weird right? The taproom is on the small side, but on the plus side anything you buy in Whole Foods can be brought up to the brewery to consume.
Floodcraft Brewing, 777 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
ISO Beers
A great craft beer bar lined with fridges selling bottles and several rotating brews on tap at the bar. They also have a patio seating area. It’s clean and modern inside. They also usually choose one beer to be on special at all times, which means a couple bucks off.
ISO Beers, 75 E Santa Clara St, Ste 120, San Jose, CA 95113
Market Beer Company
Located inside San Pedro Square Market, this bottle shop stocks many rarer beers. They also have a few rotating taps of craft brews from all over. Seating is limited just because you’re sharing with everyone else in San Pedro Square Market. It’s on the pricey side, but that’s how San Pedro Square is.
Market Beer Company, 100 N Almaden Ave, San Jose, CA 95110
Original Gravity Public House
In Los Angeles, there’s a well known pub called Wurstkuche serving unusual meats in sausages and a large variety of beers on tap. This place is essentially a direct copy of that concept with a sausage counter and plenty of taps. Sit in the front, back, or the back patio.
Original Gravity Public House, 66 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Vino Vino
And now something that’s not beer. This bar offers wine on tap–crazy, right? This wine bar is attached to San Pedro Square Market.
Vino Vino, 87 N San Pedro St, Ste 105, San Jose, CA 95110
Outside Downtown
Camino Brewing Co
Lucky for you and me this brewery is having their grand opening on Saturday of Silicon Valley Comic Con. It’s barely past the 280 overpass on Market/S 1st St so its technically outside downtown, but very easily walkable.
Camino Brewing Co, 718 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Clandestine Brewing
I guess they’ve been a little too Clandestine because I just barely found out about this brewery’s existence. It’s a little further down the street than Camino Brewing, but it’s still possible to walk from the convention center.
Clandestine Brewing, 980 S First St, Ste B, San Jose, CA 95110
Santa Clara Valley Brewing
Currently my favorite brewery in San Jose. Their brewery is in a funky little office park building. A window let’s you see the production. They offer some board games for groups to have fun with. They make some really killer IPAs here. In the summer, their session IPA is a true beast of the style, floral and crisp.
Santa Clara Valley Brewing Co, Inc, 101 E Alma Ave, San Jose, CA 95112
Hermitage Brewery
A brewery with a nice outdoor ambience utilizing wine barrel tables and a more refined atmosphere. Their beer is decent, if (too my tastes) a little unbalanced. Good thing Strike Brewing is literally a block away.
Hermitage Brewery, 1627 S 7th St, San Jose, CA 95112
Strike Brewing
I love coming here because the tasting room is basically right in the middle of the production room with just a railing separating you from the magic. They offer a ping pong table too, along with free popcorn. Their blonde ale, brown ale, and pale ale are all quite refreshing. In fact, I’d say all their beers offer a certain refreshing crispness that not all breweries have.
Strike Brewing, 2099 S 10th St, Unit 30, San Jose, CA 95112
Hapa’s Brewing Company
Another relative newcomer to the San Jose craft beer scene, they have a huge wood-heavy space and some of your favorite hipster games. They have cornhole and shuffleboard for their drinkers. The beer feels a little heavy handed on the bittering hops, at least when I last tasted them.
Hapa’s Brewing Company, 460 Lincoln Ave, Ste 90, San Jose, CA 95126
The Cider Junction
If you’re tired of all this beer or you have someone along who wants something mild and sweet, you can check out this recently opened craft cider bar. They have many kinds of ciders on tap here, ready for people who can’t handle the bitterness of beer.
The Cider Junction, 820 Willow St, Ste 100, San Jose, CA 95125
Bars + Nightlife
The nightlife options in downtown San Jose have slowly expanded over the years, with an accelerating boom in craft cocktail places in recent years. Though there’s only one really good place for being a nerd, there are still many other vibes going on in other bars.
By the way, if you want something a bit unique to San Jose (due to the large Vietnamese population) you can try going to a Vietnamese coffee shop or bar. You’ll basically enter a questionable establishment with girls in lingerie serving you. It’s somewhat of a San Jose kind of thing to do though it might not be your thing, but I may as well let you know about it.
Downtown
AFKgg Gamer Lounge
If you like games, you’ll like this place. There are free play systems hooked up with classics like Mario Kart and Smash. You can also rent a console to play with friends while grabbing drinks from the bar. They also have board games to rent. The downstairs portion is a full on LAN party with various gaming tournaments always going on. They host many events relevant to my nerdy interests here. Play some games with friends as a night out while getting sloshed on video game themed drinks!
AFKgg Gamer Lounge, 163 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
Five Points
A newcomer to the craft cocktail scene downtown, they boast some excellent mixed drinks and a laid back refined western theme. They also have a small, eclectically decorated back room with the ultra top shelf rare liquors for purchase by moneybaggers.
Five Points, 169 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
Cafe Stritch
A great chill bar that focuses on live jazz and bands. They also serve some decent food and have an outdoor patio. It’s just basic drinks here, though they do have decent beers on tap.
Cafe Stritch, 374 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Haberdasher
The artist previously known as Single Barrel, this former speakeasy is still pretty much a speakeasy style bar. You walk in, down the stairs, and feel intimately holed into a decent sized underground room. They used to interview you then mix you a customized cocktail (in their Single Barrel days), but now they have more of a regular menu with classic and experimental cocktails. It’s a strong candidate for a classed up date night.
Haberdasher, 43 W San Salvador St, San Jose, CA 95113
55 South
A staple hangout and one of the first craft cocktail bars in downtown, it led the way in revitalizing the nightlife on 1st St. You can get a mixed drink, a craft beer, or have yourself a little dance on their small makeshift dance floor in front of the DJ. Most people here mostly just lounge on the booths or stand around chatting, though there’s always some people dancing around to the music. A small anecdote–I once sold a Bottlerock Music Festival ticket to one of the owners.
55 South, 55 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Nomikai
A bar with a Japanese theme, you can get Japanese beers or sip some Japanese whiskey. People do try dancing here, despite the small size of the place and the cramped conditions.
Nomikai, 48 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Paper Plane
This bar is at the forefront of being cool and part of the “being seen” scene. It’s still fairly trendy with a library style shelf behind the bar that houses liquor bottles going up to the ceiling. They have some interesting and unusual craft cocktails here as well as some more gourmet style food options. This happens to be the first place I tried mezcal.
Paper Plane, 72 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Myth Taverna & Lounge
I’m not one to go to clubs 99% of the time, but out of the clubs in downtown I’ve been to, Myth is probably the most decent one. A lot of that has to do with their main dance floor area being in an outdoor patio in the open air so you don’t feel like you’re just cooped up in a big room. Yes, it’s a club so expect all your typical club hassles–paying cover, pricey drinks, waiting in line, dealing with bouncers, people bumping into you, spilled drinks, etc, etc, etc.
Myth also hosts a dayclub on Sundays if you want your sunday funday.
Myth Taverna & Lounge, 152 Post St, San Jose, CA 95113
Grande Pizzeria
What’s this? Why is a pizzeria here? Well I’m going to tell you right now it’s not for their food. This place just happens to have one of the best happy hours if your goal is getting wasted. They’re right across from SJSU, so they know their audience. Back in my college days, you could get a pitcher of Sierra Nevada, Stella Artois, or Blue Moon for 6 bucks during happy hour. Nowadays, it’s $8, but that’s still the best price on non-Bud light piss beer you can find. Their mixed drinks are cheap too–how about a $6 AMF? Even the regular prices aren’t that bad–their pitcher prices are comparable to the happy hour price at other places. One of my fondest memories is biking here with a friend and ordering 2 pitcher of beer and several mixed drinks. We were unable to bike back that night.
Grande Pizzera, 150 E San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95112
The Continental
Newer than many places, yet since eclipsed by many recently opened establishments, The Continental has a laidback, urbane, yet trendy vibe. They tend to play deep house, soul, jazz, and nu-disco–kinda funky stuff. There’s a main bar area and a back patio. On warm nights, they’ll have the tall front windows open, letting some air and the view in. Drinks are average from a trendy spot in the Bay Area, so on the expensive side. They also host day parties when the weather warms up
The Continental Bar, 349 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Tres Gringos / San Jose Bar & Grill
I put these two together because they’re right next to each other and they’ll often connect their patios so people can flow in between each place. These are more popular with the younger, college age crowd because of their cheap drink specials. I have many memories of being here on Tuesdays for their infamous $2 Tuesday specials (well drinks and Rolling Rock). On a Tuesday, it’ll look like it’s a Saturday based on how packed these places get. People usually drink and lounge at San Jose Bar & Grill, then walk to Tres Gringos to get sloppy, wild, and dance.
San Jose Bar & Grill, 85 S 2nd St, San Jose, CA 95113
Tres Gringos Cabo Cantina, 83 S 2nd St, San Jose, CA 95113
Temple Bar & Lounge
This is where you go when you want to go out on a whim, don’t want to pay cover, don’t mind some ratchetness, and don’t feel like getting dressed up. Temple has been around for a long time so it’s kind of an old, reliable place you can always expect to be there. People come here just to dance to mindless top 40, get drunk, and not pay a ton of money. For those reasons, it’s also popular with the (aZn) college crowd. After the club closes, 9 times out of 10, an alcohol induced argument or near-brawl will happen outside so keep that in mind.
Temple Bar & Lounge, 52 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
The Old Wagon Saloon and Grill
When you just want to chill, but still be somewhere full of hustle n’ bustle on one of the main nightlife drags, you go to Old Wagon. It’s somewhat old west themed, but the most notable feature is their large outdoor patio replete with fire pits and beer pong tables. This place is actually kind of reasonably priced, at least for beer. You can get either a regular sized pint for $6 or their extra large glass for $10. I’d say the extra large is worth the $10 because it looks (to my eyes) like you get 2 beers in a big mug. This place has been here for years and it’s conveniently located near San Pedro Square Market–fairly walkable from the convention center.
The Old Wagon Saloon and Grill, 73 N San Pedro St, San Jose, CA 95110
Outside Downtown
7 Stars Bar and Grill
The only bar I know that is completely Star Wars themed. It’s a bit divey, but they offer karaoke every night on the weekend! They also offer Star Wars themed food.
7 Stars Bar & Grill, 398 S Bascom Ave, San Jose, CA 95128
7 Bamboo Lounge
A Japantown center of nightlife, they feature a KJ and karaoke stage where you go up and sing in front of everyone. There’s some regular show offs here, but fret not because there’s a lot of normal people singing (badly) too. Order a hot sake and beer so you can sake bomb your pre-performance anxiety away all night.
7 Bamboo Lounge, 162 Jackson St, San Jose, CA 95112
Got any suggestions for this SVCC 2018 San Jose guide? Let me know in the comments if I missed anything!
Sunny Mui
He's the lead in everything technical when it comes to Destroy the Comics. He built it on WordPress, hardened the security, optimized the page speed performance, implemented search engine optimizations, set up marketing automation tools, and customized the design. When something breaks, he's the guy that either broke it or has to fix it (usually both). He's also the guy coordinating the author team, handling marketing, and sourcing guest content--not to toot his own horn too hard.
A graduate of SFSU with degrees in Marketing and English Literature, he's got experience working in digital marketing agencies, startups, and in his own freelance ventures wearing a multitude of hats in every role. He's currently upping his technical game with a Udacity Nanodegree program in front end web development.
