Best Cheap Eats in San Jose

“The garlic noodles was amazing.The fish and shrimp taste like it was cooked in fresh oil, no oil residue on my palate.”

“The shrimps are big and perfectly cooked. We ordered 2 pounds (shrimp, calamari, clams) with the captain Loui sauce, and we cleaned the bag empty lol it was delicious!!!!”

“There's beautiful lofi christmas music playing, clean bathrooms and $1 oysters to boot.”

“Half Hawaiian and half vegetarian, it was so delicious that I took a pic of my half eaten pizza”

“My family and I love this place they have the best pizza and wings 100% recommend!”

“Veggies are always fresh, sauce omg taste amazing my kids enjoy and love it they want to go back over and over”

“With the popular South Indian spots nearby usually packed with long wait times, this new restaurant is a fantastic alternative.”

“Best aloo masala in dosa ever, really liked the rava onion dosa and ghee dosa too.”

“An added bonus is its close proximity to Westfield Mall, so if you are ever visiting the mall, make sure to stop.”

“The chicken gourmet pizza has the perfect crust - crispy on the outside and soft inside, and the shrimp pasta dish taste homemade.”

“The owner was wonderful. He not only remade the order at no charge, he personally delivered it.”

“The food is always fresh and delicious and the staff are honestly some of the nicest people I’ve met.”

“This place has become a San Jose favorite of mine. Good food that is freshly made and good vibes.”

“Me and my twin saw thia on tik tok and it did NOT disappoint, the fish was so CRISP, shrimp SEASONED 10/10 recommend and will come again”

“One of the best places to get fried fish! The flavor, crispness, and tenderness is unmatched. It's fire!! Do yourself a favor and try it asap!!”

“We very much enjoyed the incredible vegan menu, the fermented foods and beers, such a welcoming and cool find in downtown San Jose!”

“They gave my Service dog and I wonderful treatment after getting refused service at MiniBoss because I only had my Service dogs digital ID and not a Physical …”

“I love that this place doesn't advertise that it's vegetarian, and as a devout carnivore, their offerings are fantastic.”

“The puttu and kadala curry is bomb. It’s best to eat it when it is freshly served at the place.”

“We ordered from Madhu Idiyappa Kadai, Santa Clara for my son’s birthday party, and it was a wonderful experience!”

“The combination of excellent service and delicious food is unbeatable! The food was absolutely amazing – we decided to try it based on online reviews, and it didn’t disappoint.”

“Always right on poin!! From the tacos to the Agua Fresca are always DELICIOUS!”

“That was the best pupusa I have ever eaten, I'm still trying to process how something so simple could be so delicious.”

“The food truck has a simple, welcoming vibe, perfect for a quick meal.”

“This place nails the pizza crispy crust, flavorful sauce, and the perfect amount of spice to make it stand out.”

“It was a great environment and really felt like home honestly, the best pizza in San Jose coming from Southern California”

“Been coming here for years never disappoints also thru DoorDash always comes home fresh best pizza in downtown for sure would reccomend 100%”

“Pho Nhat Minh is a hole in the favorite! And I mean that in the best way.”

“I’ve tried many pho places but this one is by far the best pho I have ever tasted.”

“Lovely staff and chill vibe. But most impressive was the broth and tender morsels of meat.”

“The customer service was amazing the lady working was very helpful and sweet and made everything quick and fresh even giving us …”

“I really appreciated that the person at the counter took time to explain all the food options available, and provided tasteful suggestions.”

“Wait time was barely anything and food was delicious plus loaded with toppings.”

“This place has the best pizza in the area! We gladly drive an hour and a half just to enjoy their incredible Persian pizza.”

“What makes this place special though is the people running it. The owners have incredible energy and genuinely make you feel welcome.”

“Excellent food! They even have authentic Persian style pizza, reminds me exactly of the pizza in Iran!”

“Also, for the first time we tried their gluten free whipped waffle with berries and it was just amazing”

“The service is always excellent, and even with such a huge menu, they somehow manage to nail every dish.”

“Tried their Vegetarian Bombay crepe this time and absolutely loved it”

“One of the best places to get fried fish! The flavor, crispness, and tenderness is unmatched. It's fire!!”

“This place hit the spot !!! I wish I had more room to try more things. Which is exactly why I will be back everything was delicious.”

“Huruy was brilliant – really friendly and super helpful, which made the whole visit even better.”

“This was truly the best Chinese food I’ve had in a while — it’s lighter and tastes more authentic than most Chinese restaurants in the area.”

“Every dish is so special and very delicious. Each dish has big volume of enough meat&veges, so tasty food but price is just less than $20 each, unbelievable👍”

“Insanely high quality Sichuan style food. The Mapo tofu is worth trying and if you aren't squeamish about organs get it with pork intestines.”

“Quality of fish was 5/5. We got oysters, dragon roll and sake maki. All delicious.”

“Amazing service and delicious sushi (very fresh and high quality).”

“The Toro and Tuna were both fresh, though the thickness of the cuts was very inconsistent.”

“It is a hole in the wall in a strip mall but favorite where you find the best Mexican food!”

“My family and I have been going to trinis for years. Because they serve the best of the best.”

“Been loving Trinis for years now. Great hospitality and great delicious food. Real Mexican food.”

“The owners son was such a sweetheart. The handsome blonde hair guy was the perfect addition to the amazing food I ate!”

“Amazing food and fantastic atmosphere! Bui Vien Street Food captures the true spirit of Saigon's street life. Highly recommended!”

“The chewy noodles and crispy crab makes this a for sure favorite.”

“Generous portions. Food is delicious - pancakes and omelettes are fluffy not dry, one of the best biscuit and gravy (biscuit not too big and starchy, just perfect).”

“The service was fantastic. We informed the server that it was our first time and she kindly took the time to share some popular dishes and combinations she recommended.”

“The food was delicious and the pancakes were 🤤🤤🤤by God's grace!”

“This place offers delicious and authentic Mexican food at very pocket friendly prices!”

“Pro-tip - Ask for extra avocado sauce. Thank me later.”

“The pastor is not greasy, the asada full of flavor and well chopped.”

“I don't know how they're in business with such low prices. Excellent value for your money.”

“Ordered the black garlic ramen. For $13.95 , I found it to be outstanding for the price.”

“Great service and ramen + price! Tonkatsu ramen quality is first-rate for the price and size.”

“Hard to find as it is tucked away. The best way is going northbound on N First street and turning into the parking lot, which was pretty big.”

“Service is fast and friendly. Ribs and candied yams are always amazing!”

“The fried chicken is juicy, flavorful, and fried to perfection. You won't be disappointed with any of the sides, either”

“The tonkatsu ramen and the charsu don are my favorites for being consistently delicious and flavorful.”

“This restaurant has a really lively atmosphere! I really enjoy the joyful vibes, and the food was really good, especially the katsu rice :)”

“Chef Jessie has just recently released a new book with his story and recipes that are what I could say Michelin level inspiring”

“Everything I've eaten here has been absolutely amazing. And don't even get me started on the fresh beef tacos, the pambazos, the quesadillas, everything! 😋 …”

“The owner his name is yair this guy is an amazing person with a good heart.”

“The guy at the counter is super nice and friendly! He is great at recommending the food and is excited to share good food.”

“This is honestly one of the best Indian vegetarian restaurants I’ve tried in the U.S.”

“The dosas here are simply outstanding: perfectly crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and generously slathered with that signature rich, creamy butter (“benne”).”

“We were a party of 4 and were highly impressed by the ambience and decor and cleanliness of the place.”

“The food was brilliant, and we thoroughly enjoyed the Awesome Melt (Grilled Cheese stuffed with Mozzarella Sticks).”

“The service was incredibly friendly from start to finish, and the food was absolutely delicious hot, fresh, and arrived surprisingly quickly.”

“Our server Israel was so awesome and handled our large party with compassion and pride in what he does.”

“Absolutely phenomenal experience at this Brazilian steakhouse. From the moment we walked in, everything was top-tier.”

“Amazing service as well as food, if you come ask for ricardo. What a handsome boy”

“The cheese bread are my favorite and the meats options have an excellent tasting …”

“The burgers are amazing, oh forget about the delicious grill cheese sandwich too.”

“We visited Campus Burger with our life skills class, and Jim was amazing.”

“The quality of the burgers are great. The price is amazing.”

“The pastor taco and beef tamale are the best I’ve ever had - given my decades of eating Mexican food.”

“The food is plentiful and the service is prompt and it tastes amazing! The price is well worth it and reasonable!”

“I ordered veggie burrito with fajitas veggies, it was really delicious, I also like the fact that they give you a free chip with your order.”

“The burgers were huge. Had the Tokyo and Kyoto ones. Always loved mushrooms and the stack with cabbage was crazy but all together was really yummy.”

“The taste and size are amazing! French fries dipped in wasabi sauce are also new. I’m very satisfied with this taste and size and this price! I‘ll recommend it!”

“Japanese inspired burgers with an interesting variety, generous portions, and delicious flavors.”

“Amazing vegan Vietnamese food! The fake meats are amazing - highly recommend the lemongrass vegan beef and vegan fish.”

“Super delicious Vietnamese food. Many gluten free options available - the tofu was so highly flavored in both dishes.”

“This is hands down the best vegetarian Vietnamese food I’ve ever had.”

“This must be the 4th time I’ve been here. Each time I have had an overall wonderful experience. What like most is the quality of their food.”

“Great food and wonderful service by Amit. He made sure that we had all we wanted.”

“Amit was excellent. His service was amazing just like the food.”

“I sure wish the owner that sings beautiful songs while you’re there was there”

“If you like soccer (fútbol), it is nearly always on the screen if something is going on somewhere.”

“The super quesadilla, breakfast plates, and super tacos continue to be delicious.”

“The mild spicy soup on the right was quite hot, though, so be careful! I loved how rich it was, though!”

“Service was great too — the server checked on us every 5–10 minutes to see if we needed anything.”

“Long Men Bay Hotpot in VN Town is definitely worth the visit for fans of Mala Tang soup.”

“Huy is polite. We were welcomed as soon as we got in the door. The food has great flavor. Huy was very attentive. I recommend this place.”

“Lastly given this place is so new, all the frequent celebrate are really suspicious. I honestly thought I had gone to the wrong place given the high ratings.”

“The ramen was great. The noodles were super fresh. The meat had a nice crisp. The portions were above average.”

“I left a $5. Tip still $20 for a wonderful meal. That is a bargained. I highly recommend this establishment.”

“Best Calzon ever and the marinara sauce just as good. And i don't even eat marinara.”

“The pizza here is fantastic. We got the meatballs too, so I was stoked.”

“The place could have 4 or even frequent celebrate but it was drag down because of parking availability - hit & miss but mainly packed.”

“The "banh beo” is delicious and price is quite cheap compare with other places I have visited.”

“Sometimes they get so busy, they take over phone order bu do not full fill it. Then it'll become first come first serve.”

“Injera, kitfo special, lamb tibs firfir and doro Alicia tibs - Everything were fresh and delicious with right amount of spices.”

“Amazingly delicious Ethiopian food at great prices! My partner and I have been here countless times and we've loved everything we've ordered.”

“We have been going to Mudai for about 20 years and it has been a consistent source of excellent Ethiopian food!”

“I was immediately greeted when walking in and treated like family. Superb customer service!”

“Tariq and Tanay were awesome!! Great friendly service and the pizza was amazing!!”

“Pizza was ready in a very short time and it was very delicious.”

“Catering from House of Tiffins was one of the best and most special parts of our wedding!”

“It is a small inconspicuous food truck serving delicious South Indian food at a gas station.”

“The service itself was very nice - the owner leaned in to check in on our order and also kept us informed on the status.”

“One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time, and one of the best Indian restaurants in the Bay Area.”

“This is one of the best, maybe the best, Indian place that I have ever tried.”

“The restaurant was very clean. The tables and chairs were comfortable with cups, water pitcher, fancy silverwear-all made of metal.”

“Absolutely incredible sushi. Had sushi in Japan and this place is equitable to that experience, minus the conveyor belt of course.”

“This is one of thr best hidden in plain site sushi places. Really good sushi and sashimi.”

“Great price for the value of the food, Sushis were delicious and service was excellent.”

“The service is Devine the cook is super cool and the deal of the day we like prawns and fish with the zucchini Loved it”

“This place always makes delicious cripsy (not dry) fish&chips with their homemade tartar sauce.”

“Great food! We typically get the fish and chips, and they are consistently fantastic.”

“Flying Idlis food truck offers an impressive array of dishes that are both flavorful and affordable.”

“The idlis with podi were next level. Soft, fluffy idlis coated generously with flavorful podi that had just the right kick.”

“The consistency was really amazing, I really love to come back here again and again.”

“Food was seriously so good. Best quality and fresh ingredients. Will come here every day if I can.”

“This is an excellent takeout place for South Indian tiffin. They make very tasty dosas, idlys and uttappam.”

“Customer service is outstanding. I would like to highlight kind and courteous service rendered by Ahmed (Almaden Location).”

“My favorite is the stir fry noodles, and had a good amount of spice and a bunch veggies and meat.”

“The staff were friendly and welcoming, the food is absolutely delicious, and the service is excellent.”

“Additionally, the ordering tablet had red spots that looked like jjampong splashes, and the screen itself felt a bit crusty/sticky.”

“The drawback is location. It is located in not very nice area and their staff doesn't speak much English.”

“Each time I host a party, folks ask where I got them and it's a huge hit!”

“This place deserves 5 stars just because of one thing: egg rolls.”

“The fish is always incredibly fresh and the rolls are consistently delicious.”

“This is my go to sushi spot whenever I am in the area. The food is fresh, well prepared and reasonably priced.”

“The restaurant is located in a busy mall area and parking can be a bit crowded, but there are lots of spots.”

“Maryann is hands down the best General Manager I’ve encountered at any Chili’s—from up and down California coast to Vegas to Texas.”

“We had an outstanding dining experience at this Chili’s location! From the moment we walked in, we were seated immediately with no wait time.”

“Joey is an excellent server! Very friendly, and accommodating. He has positive energy.”

“This place is fantastic I’ve had the falafel gyro bowl the Mediterranean bowl with falafel and the nicks fries with falafel OMG delicious!”

“Thank you, ( Nikhil ) for the excellent recommendation and good service Gyro Bowl Beef / Lamb it was delicious”

“I’ve been to 4 other locations and this one is the best by far. They are all great, but tge friendliness, space, and quality is superb here.”

“Our order was perfect and the staff was super nice even though it was crazy busy on Valentines Day.”

“At store this is the best pizza in the state without exaggerating, take out is average at best.”

“Amazing Pizza! Especially the vegan style! OMG best pizza I’ve tasted in my life!”

“The only complaint I have, which is not a huge deal, is that the music coming from the kitchen can be very loud.”

“The price for these rolls are pretty worth IMO especially when the food is delicious.”

“Beware rush hour though, Friday night is popping! I ordered my food at 7:40 pm, didn’t get it until 8:10 pm (30 minute wait).”

“My family and I came here with high expectations bc it was on Diners drive ins and dives”

“For 55 years Falafel's Drive In has consistently made the same great tasting food.”

“Came back recently and food still taste great and lamb is halal here.”

“Realllllly really delicious vegan food!!! Spring roll sampler and the crispy oyster mushrooms were a and the mango sticky rice was soooo fab”

“This is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants and hands down the best vegetarian restaurant in the area.”

“The food is tasty and very consistent. Typically worth the wait if you’re looking specifically for quality vegetarian or vegan food.”

“I have been eating from this place for over the years. It's my whole family's favorite pizza.”

“The 'Uncle Sam' is perfect for gatherings with a lot of people - especially kids!”

“We go there to celebrate birthdays, graduation, or just to eat delicious 🍕 pizza.”

“The meat is incredibly tender and seasoned to perfection, but the real star is the basmati rice—it’s the most fragrant, flavorful rice I’ve ever had.”

“Listen, Food 5 stars. Service? Service however, strong marks. You’ll beg for your food with the nonchalant waiters bruv💔.”

“The food takes atleast 45min to come so be prepared for a looooong wait. But it’s worth it.”

“The owner Sukhdeep is just wonderful to deal and very cordial. His recommendations in food choices were excellent.”

“Hole in the wall buffet place. Best for emergency food when.”

“Butter chicken was well balanced between sweet and spicy. Did not taste too tomato ish, and meat was lean and tender.”

“Oh the gyro plate. Perfectly crispy fries, soft pita, delicious gyro meat (beef/lamb), the fresh and cool Tzatziki Sauce. Sigh.So filling, so good.”

“This place is a go-to. The food is delicious. Best Gyros in San Jose.”

“Nice vegetarian options. Had Vegetarian Souvlaki - mushroom, bell peppers and onion on skewers with Pita bread, Fries and Tzaziki -, Lentil Soup along with an order of Fries …”

“Excellent fast service, close to the convention center, and very reasonable prices for lots of salmon sushi!”

“One of my new favorite spots while it's across san jose university in downtown San Jose.”

“Staff was immediately attentive and helpful, and sushi was delicious.”

“Parking is okay, but it can be a little tricky, especially on weekends when it gets busier.”

“It's a cute place but music is so loud it's like eating at a night club.”

“The food was very good and full of flavor! Lots of options on the menu.”

“My family loves Vietnamese pho and this place serves one of the best you can find.”

“Best Pho in South Bay hands down. The broth is so flavorful.”

“This restaurant is by Hwy 85 & almost at Hillsdale exit so it's really far away from the central Vietnam town/hub of San Jose.”

“Their bon bo hue or spicy rice noodle soup from Hue is superb.”

“I think their BBH here is average at best, but I’m strictly here for the appetizers.”

“The parking lot can be crazy with many cars getting in-and-out or waiting for a space.”

“The food is fantastic and taste delicious. Highly recommended if you are a vegetarian and like delicious food.”

“Hands down one of the best vegetarian/vegan restaurants in the Bay Area!!”

“I truly enjoyed the hot pot. Nancy helped us choose great options and they tended so well to our 9 months old daughter.”

“The diner? Amazing- they're pretty friendly and the food is good.”

“The food was good - I ordered a Chateau Sandwich which was very tasty, but quite a hefty lunch being 3 slices of bread.”

“The staff was awesome. The bartender was very nice and took care of us the whole time we were there.”

“Julio was the best server he made us feel welcomed and had a great sense of humor!”

“My partner and I had such an amazing experience ! I would totally recommend their chilaquiles and mimosas.”

“The waitress checked in as we got our plates before we could try it and didn’t come back until my hungry husband finished his plate.”

“But being lactose intolerant and fully allergic to dairy and I don't eat pork it was amazing to have a bomb vegan pepperoni pizza!”

“Amazing food and service. The owners are kind and talkative people, it was lovely meeting them and would definitely return again!”

“They definitely take their time making the pizza, which I don’t mind because it was delicious.”

“Me and my family have become regulars here for their brunch buffet. Food is amazing and service is always excellent!”

“This is by far the best place I have found for Gongura Paneer biryani.”

“The ambiance is warm and inviting. It's definitely worth trying spot for everyone, and I highly recommend it!”

“My favorite is the wonton soup I have literally had no better wonton soup than the one here.”

“The fish is crispy, but not overcooked. The authentic Hong Kong style black bean sauce is flavorful, and yet not overwhelming.”

“This is my go-to place whenever I pass by the Seven Tree area in San Jose, California.”