Best Cheap Eats in San Jose

The pho is well-regarded for its rich, flavorful broth and fresh ingredients, with specific mentions of tender beef and fresh noodles.

“Amazing food 😋 and staff”

Service is frequently described as outstanding, attentive, friendly, and professional, contributing to a positive dining experience.

“The staff provided first-rate service.”

The atmosphere is noted as quiet, nice, spacious, comfortable, and relaxing, with pleasant decor.

“Great vibes and food”

The price is considered unbeatable for the portion size and quality, offering great value.

“Price is unbeatable.”

The food is well-regarded for its authentic flavors, freshness, and generous portions, with many dishes highlighted as outstanding.

“Best meal”

Service is frequently described as great, fast, friendly, and attentive, with robot staff adding a unique element.

“Amazing service”

The atmosphere is generally perceived as welcoming, comfortable, and having a good vibe, though some find it a bit loud.

“Good vibe”

Diners consistently find the restaurant offers first-rate value due to large portions and reasonable prices, especially with monthly specials.

“Great value”

The dumplings, particularly the soup dumplings and chili oil wontons, are well-regarded for their texture, flavor, and juiciness. Other dishes like the beef noodle soup and bbq pork buns also receive positive mentions.

“The dumpling skins have a fantastic texture”

Service is generally described as friendly, attentive, and fast, with some diners noting a positive shift to table service.

“Great service that was attentive and fast”

The atmosphere is described as simple and cozy, with a small but not crowded space.

“Have a cozy time”

The restaurant is frequently highlighted for its outstanding value, offering generous portions and delicious food at affordable prices.

“Priced very well”

The dumplings, particularly the soup dumplings (xiao long bao) and house dumplings, are well-regarded for their outstanding texture, flavor, and quality ingredients. Other dishes like noodle soups and bao are also well-regarded.

“Nothing short of amazing”

Service is frequently described as friendly, attentive, and fast, with some noting a positive transition to table service. One diner specifically mentioned feeling welcomed and accepted.

“Great service that was attentive”

The space is noted as small, but generally not crowded, offering a cozy atmosphere for sharing food with friends.

“Cozy time”

Diners consistently highlight the first-rate value, with generous portions and high-quality food offered at very affordable prices.

“Priced very well!”

The pizza is well-regarded for its generous toppings, large portion sizes, and unique, satisfying flavor, often described as a childhood go-to. The crust is noted as being medium-thick, chewy, and well-cooked.

“Best Pizza of all time.”

Service is frequently described as friendly, personable, and hospitable, with many long-term customers feeling like family. However, there are isolated instances of slow or passive-aggressive service.

“They really went above and beyond for us!”

The atmosphere is generally described as a casual, family-owned, no-frills establishment that evokes nostalgia for many long-time patrons. It's not considered fancy but is comfortable and familiar.

“Not the fanciest but isn’t terrible”

The restaurant is widely recognized for its affordability, with large pizzas and massive slices offered at prices significantly lower than competitors. Portion sizes are consistently highlighted as a major draw.

“Cheaper and better than pizza hut.”

Burgers are generally known for being juicy, flavorful, and well-cooked, with fresh ingredients and good portion sizes. Some find them comparable to or better than In-N-Out, while others note they are good for the price but not outstanding.

“The burgers are juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right.”

Service is frequently described as fast, friendly, and efficient, though one diner noted a specific instance of slow and inattentive service at night.

“Great Service, fast and very clean atmosphere.”

The atmosphere is described as having an old-school, modern, or vintage vibe, with a distinct building aesthetic. However, limited indoor seating and the presence of homeless individuals in the vicinity are noted drawbacks.

“Love the quirky location, the building is very distinct”

The restaurant is overwhelmingly known for its first-rate value, with prices significantly lower than competitors for good quality food.

“Best burgers in the bay, hands down.”

The restaurant is known for its fresh, flavorful tofu and soy products, with many dishes described as delicious and a good alternative to meat.

“Best vegan lemon grass chicken”

Staff are generally described as polite and friendly, with efficient service, though one diner reported a negative cash handling experience.

“The couple were very polite”

The atmosphere is described as cafeteria-like with no seating, emphasizing its function as a takeout-only establishment.

“This place is like a cafeteria”

The restaurant is consistently lauded for its extremely affordable prices, offering significant value for the quality and quantity of food provided.

“Prices are super cheap”

Tacos are well-regarded for their authentic flavors and quality ingredients, with specific highlights for al pastor, cabeza, and tripas. The tortillas are noted for good texture, though one diner found the carne asada too salty.

“Absolutely delicious!”

Service is frequently described as friendly, great, and going above and beyond, contributing to a positive customer experience.

“Super nice and friendly.”

The food truck offers a good vibe, described as friendly and outstanding, fitting for a neighborhood spot.

“Great vibe.”

The food is considered a great value, with generous portions and reasonable prices, especially for the quality offered.

“Unbelievable price”

The restaurant offers fresh, high-quality fish with generous portions, often described as delicious and outstanding, though some minor inconsistencies in preparation have been noted.

“The sashimi cuts and nigiris were big, and fresh.”

Service is generally regarded as friendly, attentive, and efficient, with staff often going the extra mile, though one instance of slow and seemingly ignored service for takeout was reported.

“Servers was also very attentive and they were always checking up on us”

The interior is unexpectedly pleasant and clean, offering a nice atmosphere that contrasts with its external appearance.

“A very nice new spot! Unexpected inside and decor for the strip mall outside but don’t be fooled!”

Diners consistently highlight the outstanding value, with large portions and high-quality ingredients offered at very reasonable prices.

“Insane value for money, the portion sizes are huge!”

The food is well-regarded for its outstanding flavor, generous portions, and high quality, with many dishes described as incredible, perfectly seasoned, and tender.

“Absolutely incredible. Everything was bursting with flavor”

Service is a mixed bag, with many positive mentions of friendly and helpful staff, but also instances of slow, nonchalant, or even rude service.

“Nonchalant waiters bruv”

The atmosphere is generally described as basic, outdated, or lacking, with some noting it's not a fancy place, though some find the colorful seating or window views pleasant.

“A little outdated interior”

Diners consistently find the value to be first-rate, citing huge portions and high-quality food at great prices.

“Huge portions, high quality food, and GREAT prices!”