• Original Joe's, 301 S 1st St, 292-7030. A San Jose classic, having been in business for almost 50 years. Very good food, if not a bit pricey. 70s decor. Always (!!!) busy and one of the few places open late in the downtown core. You may end up waiting for half an hour for a table, but it'll be worth it.

Mexican

 • Aqui Cal-Mex Grill, 1145 Lincoln Ave, 995-0381. This place serves Mexican food as if it had passed through a fun-house mirror. An early place that used gourmet burrito wraps, what's inside the wraps can come from anywhere on the Pacific Rim: salmon, yellow fin tuna, or plantains. Inexpensive, filling, and unusual!

 • La Victoria, 140 West San Carlos Street, 298-5335. An inexpensive but good taqueria that is open very late. It is well known for its fantastic hot sauce. The recipe of the sauce is a well-guarded secret for good reason. Order the "Super" versions of most items to get all of the extras like guacamole, sour cream, and salsa fresca. The Super Carne Asada burrito is a good place to start.

 • Taqueria Corona, 601 N 4th St, 925-9336. This bright taqueria in Japantown is a traditional, leisurely, sit-down Mexican restaurant. It has good seafood plates, chimicangas, and al pastor. It also has a nice selection of domestic and Mexican beers. The various shrimp combination plates are quite tasty. Inexpensive.

American

 • Amato's Restaurant, 1162 Saratoga Avenue, 408-246-4007. This tiny hole-in-the-wall shop in the West San Jose neighborhood serves the best cheese steak sandwiches this side of Philadelphia. In addition, 34 other sandwiches are on the menu, between $6 and $30.

 • Gordon Biersch Restaurant Brewery, 33 East San Fernando Street, 408-294-6785. This is a lively downtown restaurant that serves good California fusion cuisine. It has freshly-brewed .5 liter beers, and you can dine outside in the courtyard in the (usually excellent) San Jose evening weather. Also, Gordon Biersch is located a quick walk away from the newly-opened Century 12 theaters. Moderately priced.

 • Hawg's Seafood Bar, 150 South Second Street, 408-287-9955. Voted the best seafood restaurant in the South Bay by Metro Silicon Valley readers in 2005. Located near the San Jose Repertory Theatre.

 • Sonoma Chicken Coop, 31 North Market Street, 408-287-4098. Very good California fusion cuisine at downright inexpensive prices. Very informal. Most entrees are under $10. As an added bonus, they brew their own beer and have a nicely sized covered patio area. Their daily specials are usually very good.

 • Scott's Seafood Grill and Bar, 185 Park Avenue, 408-971-1700. Excellent seafood and a great bar. Some non-seafood items also available. "Business casual" during the day; a little dressier at night. Fantastic location with a great view over downtown and Silicon Valley.

Japanese

 • Restaurant Kazoo, 250 Jackson St, 288-9611. A Japanese restaurant in Japantown with good sushi, friendly service, and excellent prices. They have a sushi boat bar, which can be a lot of fun, and removes some of the mystery of ordering sushi for the uninitiated. The sushi ranges from traditional to very Californian. There is a large selection of great sushi rolls to choose from.

 • Gombei, 193 Jackson St, 279-4311. Lunch 11:30 AM-2:30PM, Dinner 5:00PM - 9:00PM. Closed Sunday. Another very popular Japanese restaurant in Japantown. The teishoku lunches are popular, so try to schedule your lunch a little early or late to beat the crowd. Moderately priced.

Other

 • Krung Thai, 640 S Winchester Blvd, 260-8224. In spite of the building's nondescript exterior, some of the best Thai food in the area. If you tell them to make it spicy (or even medium spicy), you had better mean it. The newer Krung Thai North, at 580 N. Winchester Blvd (248-3435) is managed by the same family, has the same menu, and is less than a mile away. Decently priced.

 • White Lotus, 80 N. Market St, 977-0540. A relaxed, laid-back vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant with great prices. Favorites include the Eggplant Clay Pot and Deluxe Stuffed Tofu dishes. The spring rolls and the soups are also good. It's the kind of place you can go alone and read a book in, and nobody will blink an eye.

 • Zeni, 1320 Saratoga Ave, 615-8282. An Ethiopian restaurant that shows off the complex flavors of the cuisine. Meals are served Ethiopian style, on injera. Ethiopian coffee ceremony is available, but you should phone ahead to give them time to prepare. Moderately priced.