San Jose

Even the local carnivores find something to love at this hipster vegan deli. The food is filling and flavorful, and the owners are friendly, mellow guys who donate what little wall space they have to local artists. They have a weekly bingo night, beer on tap and free internet access. They even offer vegan turkeys made-to-order during the holidays. Their menu is revolving, so there's always something new to try.

Vietnamese, Japanese and Malaysian-inspired dishes, with a good selection of vegan items. They also serve an assortment of teas and drinks with tapioca pearls. You'll get a satisfying vegetarian meal for less than the price of a matinee movie ticket.

A brick BBQ and steakhouse popular with local guys on their way to or from a Sharks game. Located close to the Shark Tank as well as the Guadalupe River, the restaurant has survived floods of both hockey fans and water.

A lively downtown restaurant serving Californian fusion cuisine. Try a freshly-brewed beer and dine at a courtyard table in the usually excellent San Jose evening weather. Gordon Biersch is just a quick walk away from the Century 12 theaters. Don't forget to try their famous Garlic Fries. French fries smothered in garlic, and parsley these fries are the perfect dish for any garlic lover. They go great with a quick beer from one of their many taps and bottle options.

Rotisserie chicken and California fusion cuisine in a casual atmosphere. As an added bonus, they brew their own beer and have a nicely sized covered patio area.

San Jose's "New Orleans Joint". The Poor House is close to the Shark Tank and serves a variety of New Orleans-style food including gumbo, red beans & rice, jambalaya and po' boys. They have live music on Fridays and Saturdays and a regular Jazz Brunch on Sundays.

This famous burger chain has "Quality You Can Taste" and is highly regarded by fast food-loving locals. They've expanded throughout the state since their 1940s inception in Southern California, but it's still a quintessential California burger experience. The "secret menu" lists items that aren't advertised but are available at every location. If you don't know what to ask for, someone else in line will probably be happy to share their secret recommendations.

The perfect place for a weekend or weekday brunch, Bill's is known to get pretty packed, and for good reason. They offer an overwhelming selection of breakfast crowdpleasers like omelettes, Belgian waffles and a dozen different styles of eggs Benedict. For lunch, they serve homemade soups, meal-size salads, burgers, sandwiches and wraps. There's also a full bar, low-carb menu options and outdoor patio seating.

A San Jose classic, in business for over 50 years. Hearty American and Italian food and 70s diner decor. Always, always busy and one of the few places open late in the downtown core. Be prepared to wait for a table and leave with a full belly.

Located at the Sainte Claire Hotel on the same block as Original Joe's, Il Fornaio offers a true Italian experience, often importing chefs from different parts of Italy and featuring special dishes from their region. Part of a California chain, they also have a bakery, which offers specialty coffees, unique baked goods, and authentic Italian artisan breads. San Jose's Italian natives have been known to pick Il Fornaio as their top eatery for Italian food. Il fornaio 's menu has select Italian pastas that will have you leaving with a full and satisfied stomach. Although probably the most picked, pasta isn't the only thing on the menu. Customers come with a ready appetite because of the appetizers and desserts that follow their entree's of chicken, veal, fish, steak of pasta and salad. Il fornaio is one of the few places in San Jose where a customer can find true and delicious Italian desserts.

This place serves Mexican food as if it passed through a fun-house mirror. One of the first places to use gourmet burrito wraps. Inside the wraps you'll find fish and fillings from anywhere on the Pacific Rim: salmon, yellow-fin tuna, or plantains. Satisfying, fresh and creative.

Taqueria Corona

This bright taqueria in Japantown is a traditional, leisurely, sit-down Mexican restaurant. Choose from seafood plates, chimichangas, al pastor and more. Their tortillas are homemade, and there's a nice selection of domestic and Mexican beers.

La Victoria stays open late to cater to the local late-night revelers, who love their classic taqueria fare. Their claim to fame is their Orange Sauce, but don't bother asking for the recipe: they'll never tell.

An offshoot of Henry Chung's original Hunan Restaurant on Kearny Street in San Francisco the one with eight tables and a counter space which was once hailed by New Yorker magazine as "The Best Chinese Restaurant in the World". A quintessential hole-in-the-wall, but the service could not be nicer, as is the hot, garlicky cuisine, if you're so inclined. Beer and wine are available.

Often dubbed "The Asian McDonalds", King Eggroll offers a variety of fast-food style Asian dishes, dim sum, sandwiches and combination plates. As the name would imply, though, most come here for their famous egg rolls!

This Japantown restaurant has friendly service and a large selection of fresh sushi. Try sitting at their sushi boat bar, which can be a lot of fun and remove some of the mystery of ordering sushi for the uninitiated. The menu ranges from traditional to very Californian.

An inexpensive homestyle Japanese restaurant in Japantown. The udon and teishoku lunches are very popular, so try to schedule your lunch a little early or late to beat the crowd.

Minato Restaurant

Good inexpensive traditional Japanese food in Japantown; favorite among locals and visitors. Only problem is that it is closed Sundays and Mondays.

This restaurant offers an exciting Teppan experience, where master chefs skillfully prepare meat, seafood and vegetables right at your table which is also a six-foot-long grill. Great for families. They also offer sushi, and there is karaoke on Wednesday nights.

In spite of the building's nondescript exterior, it's some of the most loved Thai food in the area. If you tell them to make it spicy or even medium spicy, be prepared to eat some VERY spicy food. The newer New Krung Thai Restaurant is managed by the same family, has the same menu, and is less than a mile away.

A family-run local favorite, there is always a line at the drive-in. They offer authentic Middle Eastern cuisine including falafel, hummos and gyros as well as hamburgers, fries and homemade milkshakes.