Guidebook for San Jose
Food Scene
Roy's children and grandchildren have converted his service station into a great neighborhood meeting place for coffee and tea.
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Roy's Station Coffee & Tea
197 Jackson StRoy's children and grandchildren have converted his service station into a great neighborhood meeting place for coffee and tea.
Ben & Jerry's
115 E San Carlos StIt's a Ben & Jerry's scoop shop, what else do I need to say?
The same folks who own Roy's Station run Gombei. It's crowded, but fun, and serves great Japanese food.
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Gombei
193 Jackson StreetThe same folks who own Roy's Station run Gombei. It's crowded, but fun, and serves great Japanese food.
You'll notice a lot of Hawaiian influence in Japantown's business district. We eat here often, and it's where we bring guests who desire something beyond Japanese food.
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Hukilau
230 Jackson StYou'll notice a lot of Hawaiian influence in Japantown's business district. We eat here often, and it's where we bring guests who desire something beyond Japanese food.
A neighborhood hangout at the east end of Japantown. Coffee, of course, but it's better known for its Hawaiian shave ice, Asian milk teas, smoothies, and other drinks. Try the crepes for fun snacks.
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Banana Crêpe
248 Jackson StA neighborhood hangout at the east end of Japantown. Coffee, of course, but it's better known for its Hawaiian shave ice, Asian milk teas, smoothies, and other drinks. Try the crepes for fun snacks.
The Vietnamese community contributes much to San Jose's culture. Lee's Sandwiches (banh mi) are all over town, but here's our local one next to City Hall. Sandwiches on baguettes and strong coffee!
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Lee's Sandwiches
260 E Santa Clara StThe Vietnamese community contributes much to San Jose's culture. Lee's Sandwiches (banh mi) are all over town, but here's our local one next to City Hall. Sandwiches on baguettes and strong coffee!
This is where my daughter always wants to go for dinner in Japantown. Cozy and quiet.
Tsugaru Japanese Restaurant
224 Jackson StThis is where my daughter always wants to go for dinner in Japantown. Cozy and quiet.
A very typical sushi place, with plastic food displays out front, and sushi riding in little boats around the bar.
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Kazoo Japanese Restaurant
250 Jackson StA very typical sushi place, with plastic food displays out front, and sushi riding in little boats around the bar.
An old-school Foster's Freeze. This is on the way home from my daughter's school. We stop here when someone deserves a reward.
Fosters Freeze
698 N 4th StAn old-school Foster's Freeze. This is on the way home from my daughter's school. We stop here when someone deserves a reward.
Essentials
A full-service grocery store so close! Everything I've bought here is good. The whole roasted chickens are convenient, the produce is good, It's fully equipped for anything Mexican you might desire.
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Cardenas Markets
320 N Capitol AveA full-service grocery store so close! Everything I've bought here is good. The whole roasted chickens are convenient, the produce is good, It's fully equipped for anything Mexican you might desire.
A second grocery store in the neighborhood, another culture to explore! We shop here a lot. You'll find lots of fresh Japanese bento lunches, the produce is always great, and the cute Japanese snacks!
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Nijiya Market
240 Jackson StA second grocery store in the neighborhood, another culture to explore! We shop here a lot. You'll find lots of fresh Japanese bento lunches, the produce is always great, and the cute Japanese snacks!
If you need to play it safe with groceries, you can't play it any more safe than Safeway!
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Safeway Market
If you need to play it safe with groceries, you can't play it any more safe than Safeway!
If you have a car, you can get to our local Trader Joe's. It's at the west end of a large shopping center full of the same restaurants and big box stores you'll find all over America.
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Trader Joe's
635 Coleman AveIf you have a car, you can get to our local Trader Joe's. It's at the west end of a large shopping center full of the same restaurants and big box stores you'll find all over America.
Arts & Culture
Besides the 12 screens here, you'll find their three-screen art house theater a little further south on 2nd Street. We see new films here all the time for $6.00, using their 10-movie discount card.
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Camera 12 Cinemas
201 South Second StreetBesides the 12 screens here, you'll find their three-screen art house theater a little further south on 2nd Street. We see new films here all the time for $6.00, using their 10-movie discount card.
One of the last remaining old-school bowling alleys near downtown San Jose. All the leagues bowl here. The bar has great karaoke, and the coffee shop is good at any hour.
4th Street Bowl
1441 N 4th StOne of the last remaining old-school bowling alleys near downtown San Jose. All the leagues bowl here. The bar has great karaoke, and the coffee shop is good at any hour.
Drinks & Nightlife
It's kind of a dive, but it's well-known all over the Bay Area for evening karaoke. I've sung "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" here.
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7 Bamboo Lounge
162 Jackson StIt's kind of a dive, but it's well-known all over the Bay Area for evening karaoke. I've sung "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" here.
Everything Else
Built in the 1930s, the interior is fantastic! And you can mail a package pretty effortlessly here.
United States Postal Service
105 N 1st StBuilt in the 1930s, the interior is fantastic! And you can mail a package pretty effortlessly here.
The cheapest gas in town is usually at Rotten Robbie's. It's where I fill up my Prius.
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Rotten Robbie
4200 Williams RdThe cheapest gas in town is usually at Rotten Robbie's. It's where I fill up my Prius.
Japantown / Ayer Station (1)
Our local light rail stop.
Lots of men in the neighborhood get their hair cut here. My daughter and I go here too. Usually not hard to get an appointment, prices reasonable, friendly staff.
246 Studio Spa
246 Jackson StLots of men in the neighborhood get their hair cut here. My daughter and I go here too. Usually not hard to get an appointment, prices reasonable, friendly staff.
The Santa Clara Mission church is lovely but not original, built about 100 years ago. Some adobe walls in the courtyard are all that remain of the original site.
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Santa Clara University
500 El Camino RealThe Santa Clara Mission church is lovely but not original, built about 100 years ago. Some adobe walls in the courtyard are all that remain of the original site.
Sightseeing
An extensive rose garden maintained by volunteers. I think it has many more varieties than the more well-known Municipal Rose Garden.
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Parque do Rio Guadalupe
438 Coleman AvenueAn extensive rose garden maintained by volunteers. I think it has many more varieties than the more well-known Municipal Rose Garden.
It's lovely, and so well-known in San Jose that the local neighborhood is named for it.
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Municipal Rose Garden
1649 Naglee AveIt's lovely, and so well-known in San Jose that the local neighborhood is named for it.
A lovely garden and park to explore. All the buildings are done in an Egyptian style. Used to be the world headquarters of the Rosicrucian Order. If you end up here, ask me about its history.
Rosicrucian Park
1342 Naglee AveA lovely garden and park to explore. All the buildings are done in an Egyptian style. Used to be the world headquarters of the Rosicrucian Order. If you end up here, ask me about its history.