The Most Delicious Breakfast & Brunch in San Jose

Uncle John's Pancake House - The Alameda

★★★★☆ 4.4 (797) • $$

"A diner in the Bay Area!! So unheard of! There are 2 locations with the newer one on Alameda closer to downtown SJ. Great brunch options with the all major griddle dishes offered, crepes, French toast, waffles, or pancakes. What more can you want? Also with Latino breakfast options like Chilaquiles and breakfast burrito. The Alameda location had a fun Valentine's Day menu to my surprise. I got the link coco which was fun and delicious. (See photo.) The outdoor seating also had fun old school jams playing and great service. Recommend joining the waitlist on Yelp ahead of time to avoid the lines on weekend brunch mornings/afternokns. Don't be dismayed by the prices, the portions are more than you can handle!"

Bajis Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (929) • $$

"Had the pleasure to try this place after touring the Google Visitor Experience Cafe! It's about a 6 minute drive from there. Lots of parking spots. We arrived around 12:30 pm and we were sat immediately. Not that many people at first, but it was packed when we left. A homey intimate diner with personality and class. There was a miscommunication with my order because I ordered the chicken fried steak entree but my waiter interpreted it as the side order. Not much a problem but I waited about 10 more minutes until my full order was fulfilled with the accompanying sides of French roll, cole slaw, and French fries. It was very filling that's for sure. The gravy on the steak wasn't gritty but had a smooth texture and creamy savory taste that made the meat easier to chew on and enhanced the flavor. The cole slaw was okay since I wished it had more seasoning. The French fries were a bit dry so I had to season it with lots of salt and pepper. The French roll was toasted to perfection with a good amount of butter on top. Great brunch/breakfast spot in Mountain View!"

Four Chairs

★★★★☆ 4.3 (788) • $$

"Four Chairs has been the hype of the neighborhood as the go-to brunch spot, but ultimately didn't stick out as a spot to revisit.For 2, we shared a mascarpone pancakes and Pacific Sunrise Benedict. Both were not particularly memorable and were fairly mid compared to other brunch spots in the city like Kitchen Story or Plow that I would prefer over Four Chairs. Appreciated the relatively simple menu and the staff were nice. If I were ever to revisit I'd want to try the drinks as they looked creative and unique."

Los Gatos Cafe Uptown

★★★★☆ 4.2 (825) • $$

"This is LOVE! Now voted my favorite breakfast/brunch spot in the Bay Area. That Raspberry Coffee Cake is amazeballs! The Shrimp Omelette is the best tasting omelette I've ever had! I'm pretty sure my BF's Flank Chimi Papa was bomb since he finished it.The server was super adorable and sweet and kept up with the jokes from our table. I was super glad that they had outdoor seating available since I had my dog with me and there's not a lot of outdoor seating space in San Jose so my dog enjoyed being outside. Def recommend!"

Baldie's Café

★★★★☆ 3.8 (991) • $$

"Excellent food & servers welcoming and efficient! Delicious breakfasts, (Omelets, Pancakes, Waffles,) Lunches, (French Dip, Burgers, Salads, Soups,) and Dinners (each day of the week they have different specials), my favorite - Thursday night Corn beef & Cabbage dinner--includes: Salad or soup, corn beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots & dessert!"

Metro City Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (955) • $$

"This restaurant had been here for a while and I've never been. I would highly recommend Metro for breakfast. Good portions, friendly staff and priced fair. Everything is made it order and super fresh. Country fried steaks in my opinion are hit or miss, but this one hit the spot. A good portion of hashbrowns and theirnorsnfe juice is really good too! I'll be back."

Roger's Deli & Donuts

★★★★☆ 3.8 (952) • $$

"It's nice to have a donut/sandwich shop nearby in your own neighborhood and this place is no exception. I've been frequenting Roger's for years now and have seen this business thrive. There are many folks from the neighborhood coming in on the weekends and workers mostly on weekdays. Their donuts are delicious and their croissants are not your regular type croissants but more of a doughy-donut texture but still good. What I really love is their sandwiches and my favorite is the hot pastrami. It can get chaotic though at times especially on the weekends. To order a sandwich, you must get in line near the cold beverages and place your order. The menu is large enough and easy to read. Choose your bread type and any cheese you want added. A ticket is then printed in front of you and you take that to the cash registers. What is confusing after that point is many people gathered around with no sense of organization. One way to notice if someone has already paid or yet to pay is by looking at the color of their receipts. If you see someone holding a white ticket, most likely that person hasn't yet paid for their food. If you see pink in their hands, they have already paid and is waiting for their food. They also have breakfast offerings but I have tried any of those items yet. Besides the chaos of people standing around, the food makes up for it. Best time to go here is after the rush hours."

Cafe San Jose

★★★★☆ 4 (851) • $$

"I arrived on a Tuesday morning around 8:30. Only one other table. It has a Diner feel and is located in a strip mall. staff was super welcoming. I ordered an Apple chicken with tater tots. I def recommend if you are in the area."

The Pantry

★★★★☆ 3.8 (915) • $$

"My family and I have been dining here for years, even when it relocated to current location.Service is excellent with an extensive menu of breakfast, lunch, dinner entrees!! Took us awhile to figure out!! Ordered the Filipino Tocino , chili con carne omelet, Truck stop special,Joe's special with an appetizer of Sigsig....! All with a generous portion of hash browns w grilled onions -a "must have" here!Just a typical "hole in the wall" (near Ross and Trader Joe's) but serving up delicious Comfort foods with a Filipino flare!!"

Plain Jane

★★★★☆ 4.4 (671) • $$

"I ordered the Coastal Benefit and overall I enjoyed it though it had some room for improvement. The crab meat was a bit dry and the miche bread was this super tough sourdough-like bread that had me chain sawing the crust. Wish it was an English muffin instead. However the shrimp was well seasoned and really delicious. The potatoes were also nice and crispy. The portion sizes here are huge! My friends ordered the Classic Benedict and Chicken and Waffles and they both really enjoyed their food. They close at 2pm but you should get in line latest 1:15pm as we arrived around that time and were one of the last parties they sat. After ordering our food, it did take a bit for the food to arrive but it wasn't anything crazy."

Southern Kitchen Coffee Shop

★★★★☆ 3.7 (941) • $$

"Simple homestyle meal! Quick service and humble ambience. Will be trying the menudo next time!"

LaLe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (697) • $$

"10am Saturday. Determined to see Flower Piano in Golden Gate Park, I skipped breakfast in order to find a parking space near the Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. Taking a day off from my perfect Avocado Toast quest I found LaLe, an easy walk. .Nice! They have a parklet, should it ever get warm enough. Inside, comforting dim lights, warm wood arched plank ceiling, like 1/2 a fancy giant wine barrel. Clever solution for a too high ceiling I'm guessing. Definitely a classy casual vibe, country-ish rock music, you can still have conversation. This is no laptop village, people are talking to each other! Wallpaper is enlarged French newspapers with giant tulips incorporated.Ordered a la carte 2 fried eggs, 4 strips bacon, muffin. Bummer the eggs not medium well as ordered, rather runny, more than made up for it with the homemade jam & muffin.By 10:30 folks were streaming in. MUNI N Judah on the corner.Destination worthy.Support Local!"

Coffee & Water Lab

★★★★☆ 4.3 (647) • $

"Picked up a dark chocolate mocha this morning. Hit the spot!Thank you for my beverage and helping me to start my day off right."

Mikayla's Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.6 (893) • $$

"I think niner fans would love this place and the food is really good. It's A bit small inside but there's seating outside and everyone looks so happy."

Sancho's Taqueria

★★★★☆ 3.7 (843) • $

"I just want to give a shout out to Fernando Perez for his great attitude and excellent customer skills!!! He always has a can do attitude and is always with a smile! I love this place and their food!!!Great Job to all and Thank you Sancho's for Hiring just right!!!Jim H."

Cabrillo Park Café

★★★★☆ 4.4 (596) • $$

"Our first time here. Such great food, great hospitality, and excellent service! Not as crowded or rushed as some of the other breakfast places in Fremont (where it feels like they're just trying to cram as many people in a space as they can). We didn't feel rushed to want to finish and leave. Our server was so friendly and helpful. The place feels like a friendly family run establishment. We can't wait to come back!"

Mangal Turkish Grill

★★★★★ 4.7 (517) • $$

"Yes! Food was great, service awesome and can't wait to go back. I had a chicken wrap and fries. Rest of my group had lamb wrap and chicken and we all loved it."

Superstar Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (597) • $

"This is such a hole in the wall coded restaurant. I have never seen such value of a meal exist in SF with portions like these. The prices for the meals here is enough to pay for a boba drink. CASH ONLYService: They're friendly and nice. Rush hour can make you wait for a while, I came right before the lunch hour. Waited about 20 minutes. After I ordered they were out of the pork chops so I am not sure if chops are out on a daily occurrence or it was just short on that dayAmbiance: It's one of those Asian restaurants that haven't changed in looks for over 30 years but it has its charm. There are no sit-down areas Hong Kong Style pork chop $7.50 (4/5): Oh my goodness the portions of this meal were colossal. There are two huge pieces of pork chops, garlic rice, tomato slices, and an egg. The pork chop was nice and crispy, one thing to note is that it had light flavoring so I whipped out my Chinese pepper salt seasoning to help it. Overall, the meal was really good for what you're paying. The rice was deliciousTapsilog $6.25 (3/5): Was pretty disappointed with the portions of meat provided for this meal, it's so small compared to what you're getting with the pork chops. I'd recommend having an extra add-on to this meal if you're trying to eat. It has a vinegar-like taste to it and a little dry. Not particulary fond of this Overall, it is fantastic. Paying a meal that is under $8 and enough to feed two people is unheard of in the Bay Area. It does get super busy during lunch hour so be aware of your timing. Definitely coming back here again"

The Garden Club

★★★★☆ 3.7 (797) • $$

"If you want an amazing dining experience with old world charm this is the place. It been a while since I have been here still the same great food . Will definitely be back . Thank you Garden club for an outstanding meal"

Jack Holder's Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (699) • $$

"OMG THE CLAM CHOWDER!!!Fresh, thick, full of tender clams, hint of garlic... PERFECT!!! Tim is a great server, too.These delightful dishes keep us coming back!"

Jack's Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (547) • $$

"Walking up to Jack's for lunch, I couldn't help but admire the vibe--this place knows how to catch your eye! The sleek design and inviting outdoor seating were calling my name. Stepping inside, I was greeted with a classy, spotless interior that immediately set the tone. I barely had time to take it all in before being promptly seated in the bar area.And wow, what a bar--elegant, with big, beautiful screens hovering like trophies overhead. My lunch order? A half-pound of all-natural beef perfection, nestled on a toasted sesame brioche bun, with crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, and red onion. At first glance, I thought, "Huh, this burger's a little small," but then I noticed how satisfyingly thick it was. Bonus points for putting the lettuce and tomato on the side (I like to DIY my burger toppings).Now let me tell you about that first bite. OH. MY. GOD. A flavor explosion of perfectly cooked medium-rare beef and that glorious, smoky charbroil goodness. Seriously, it's like the charbroil gods blessed this burger. It's been a long time since I've had one this good.The fries? Solid natural-cut classics--good enough to keep eating, but let's be real, the burger was the star of this show. Jack's, you've officially made my lunchtime legendary."

Big Joe's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (592) • $$

"It's a small place but the staff is extremely friendly and the food is pretty good. I got 2 eggs with bacon, potatoes and a side of the french toast. The kid got an order of buttermilk pancake and hot chocolate. Decorations are sports memorabilia but it's not in your face. Just a homey diner."

The Ultimate Deli Cafe and Catering

★★★★☆ 4.3 (563) • $$

"All I ever crave is a Turkey sandwich and now we have an amazing halal deli shop! Alhamdullilah! The menu is actually pretty extensive. They have gyros , falafel , paninis. I think I even saw orange chicken! But you can't go wrong with a sandwich! The Vietnamese coffee was also delicious! I'll be coming here again inshAllah! Definitely recommend"

Country Gourmet

★★★★☆ 4 (632) • $$

"Very good to excellent place for breakfast and lunch. Many healthy choices on their menu as well as some standard American fare. You order at the counter and they deliver to your table. You also get your own water. Very popular with locals. Many specials every day. They have both indoor and outdoor dining. We've been coming here for 20+ years now and have sampled just about everything on their menu."

Caffe Central

★★★★☆ 4.1 (600) • $$

"If you're in the heart of Burlingame avenue, Caffe Central is a must visit spot! That definitely holds its weight when it comes to delicious food. It offers something for everyone with their variety of breakfast, brunch, and lunch options. Not to mention their irresistible selection of pastries. I got the breakfast bowl after spotting it while walking past the restaurant and every bite was satisfying. Plenty of shops around to walk to after that add the overall experience. I'll definitely be back to try more of their offerings. Giving it a 4/5 only simply because the service could have been just a tiny bit better but it seemed to be a younger staff so I wasn't too worried."

Daily Bagel Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (514) • $

"Small little bagel shop (only 2 four person tables) that makes classic style sandwiches with them and also carries a variety of cream cheeses. You can also get croissant sandwiches too. Not overly awesome or anything, but it's really solid. Bagels are always soft and fresh and they toast them perfectly. The decor of the place is stuck in the 80's however. Charming if you are into that kind of thing."

Sara's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.6 (750) • $$

"Breakfast at a nice cozy diner was a very good experience for Saturday morning. I enjoyed the non-stop coffee and Denver omelette with hash brown and a pancake. The waitperson was kind and helpful. We stayed long after we finished eating but never felt rushed (we made sure no one was waiting). Will eat here again when in the area!"

UlavacharU Tiffins

★★★★☆ 4.3 (514) • $$

"This has turned into a must stop destination for us every time we are in the Bay Area. We used to hit this tiffins place for snacks on our way back home the past couple of years. However during our 2 most recent trips we physically dined here as well to check their tiffins section!Ian loves their Poori and their Rava Dosa.Punugulu, Garelu (Vada), Uthappam, etc. bring the taste from Vijayawada to the US! Love it!You seriously are missing out if Ulavacharu tiffins is not your frequent Andhra meal/snack destination!"

The Breeze Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (565) • $$

"- monkey waffles: 3.5/5 - so yummy, can't go wrong with nutella, banana, waffles, and whip cream but not anything special- breeze benedict: 4.5/5 - i was craving eggs benedict but i was also craving steak and eggs and this had tritip in it!! it was perfect and i would definitely come back here to try their other eggs benedict- iced cookie butter latte: 5/5 - i'm craving this right now as i'm typing this the biscoff cookie was so good dipped in the whip cream- strawberry mimosa: 3/5 - pretty good, but i think i shouldve listened to other reviews and got the rose gold onei had to ask the guys working at the front for our server's name because she was busy when we left, but her name was maribelle (i think that's how you spell it) and she was extremely kind and friendly! she was very attentive and even got us extra syrup/sugar for our drink bc my gf thought it wasn't sweet enough haha. give her a raise!!the interior was so adorable and very trendy, it was cozy and pretty at the same time! when i sat down in the booth i was a little startled at first because the seats were sooo cushioned and comfortable. should definitely give this spot a try, i'm surprised it's not as big as the breakfast club or bills cafe (unless it is then idk)"

Dino's Family Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (593) • $$

"Cute little diner with tons of options. Def worth the visit especially if you are out of state!I ordered the french toast meal which comes with two slices, eggs, and bacon. Very yummy and decently priced!I also ordered a vanilla latte but they brought me out this gigantic fun drink! Not what I was expecting at all and I would def order it again lol! So cute and yummy!! The service was super speedy. Very nice servers as well!"

Rick's Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.5 (773) • $$

"We called to see if we needed a reservation, they took my information, but when we arrived they did not have my name written anywhere! So, they tried to seat us in this back room, which looked like the back to the alley. Not pretty to seat. The host seemed a bit lost and difficult to understand so, a really kind waitress decided to seat us in a reserved booth as there were more to open to meet that reservation. My husband's egg Louis cayenne, which is crab cake Benedict order, was bland, savorless. My huevos rancheros were blah. It contains chicken, pretty odd protein choice and unfortunately with bo flavor at all. It is a loud ambiance and not that crowded for a Saturday morning. I did like the lighting and the booth seats are comfy. Will we come again? NO, says the husband who didn't drink his burnt flavored vanilla latte."

Beretta Divisadero

★★★★☆ 4.1 (563) • $$

"We've been back several times and in the past found the host to be rather unpleasant although we enjoyed the food. The place isn't large but nicely organized with good amount of tables.This time the host and guy behind the bar were all friendly and cheery.We ordered a fungi pizza, Caesar salad, and lasagna bolognese. We liked them all but especially the pizza and salad!"

Peanuts Deluxe Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (618) • $$

"Peanuts has been a tradition for me long before I knew I was a foodie, when I was just a college student looking for the cheapest meal and drink.... Just recently i started frequenting peanuts again and I tried their korean fried chicken and chicken teriyaki. Great portions and solid ingredients. Perfect for a quick lunch. During the pandemic peanuts closed and renovated... it looks so great and modern inside now! I'm so happy they kept the sorority and fraternity paddles. I'm happy to keep supporting them because they are a critical part of San Jose culture. whether you are there to drink some beer or fill your tummy with a hearty breakfast, you will always get great prices, portions and customer service. Love the new remodel and miss Minh."

ROOH Palo Alto

★★★★☆ 3.6 (707) • $$$

"This is a solid modern Indian spot with lots of good food options. It's a great place to bring your friends and family to introduce him to Indian food. The vibes are great. The ambience is great and the restaurant was packed. The service might be a little bit slow, but you will definitely get your food and drinks and we really enjoyed the chicken, tiki masala and all the appetizers. Try asking for recommendations on what's popular and you won't be disappointed."

Saratoga Bagels

★★★★☆ 4.4 (473) • $

"Saratoga Bagels is located in a small strip mall off of Saratoga Sunnyvale Road. Looks to be a family-own business.Charming little store with simple decor. They also sell their branded t-shirts. There are a couple of tables inside and outside to sit and enjoy your bagel and coffee/drink. The service was friendly and welcoming from all of the workers.Vietnamese coffee (3/5) - the cup size was a bit small for the price. Otherwise, the drink was standard, enough condensed milk to cut the bitterness from the coffee. A decent drink.#23 Cream Cheese & Lox: Cream Cheese & Sliced Nova Lox (4/5). I went with the combo bagel. Crunchy outside yet soft chewy inside. Flavorful from all the toppings. The cream cheese was nice and creamy, and the Lox was silky smooth."