Best Restaurants Near the Convention Center

Mezcal's cool bar is part of its appeal.

You’ve only a short food break before the next session starts at the convention center. Head out the door and into one of these walkable downtown restaurants.

Arcadia
Arcadia, chef Michael Mina’s sole South Bay restaurant, is the closest to the convention center. It’s also the spendiest on our list, but it’s one of San Jose’s top dining spots with a creative take on American cuisine and steaks.

Dakao
San Jose has the largest Vietnamese population in the United States outside of Orange County and we’ve got the variety of Vietnamese food to prove it. Dakao specializes in quick snacks and super cheap banh mi sandwiches to go.

La Penita
A local’s secret, La Penita serves homestyle Mexican food under the shadow of the 280 freeway. The caldo de res is good as is the chile colorado. Good horchata, too.

Mezcal
Mezcal would shine in any neighborhood, but the Oaxacan-style Mexican restaurant is a standout downtown for its traditional menu of regional classics and urbane bar. As you might guess, the restaurant has a great list of mezcal.

San Pedro Square Market
While not all the food vendors have opened in this new marketplace modeled after Pike’s Place and the grand markets of Europe, the market is already drawing food lovers from across the city.

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