The Best of Silicon Valley 2014

Food & Drink | Reader Picks

stephanie loller BEST RAMEN: Orenchi Ramen Photograph by Alex Stover

Best Restaurant (Culinary Excellence)

Alexander's Steakhouse

10330 N. Wolfe Rd, Cupertino

Arcadia

100 W. San Carlos St, San Jose

Nick's Next Door (formerly Nick's on Main)

11 College Ave, Los Gatos

Best Food Truck

MoGo BBQ

mogobbq.com

Sam's Chowdermobile

samschowdermobile.com

BBQ Kalbi

http://bbqkalbi.com/

Best Coffee Roaster

Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company

101 W. Main St., Los Gatos

Barefoot Coffee Roasters

15567 Union Ave, Los Gatos; 1819 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell; 2475 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara

Chromatic Coffee Co.

5237 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara

Best Chocolate Maker

Schurra's Fine Confections

840 The Alameda, San Jose

Sugar Butter Flour

669 S. Bernardo Ave, Sunnyvale; 1875 S. Bascom Ave, Suite 152, Campbell

Snake & Butterfly

191 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell

Best Tea Room

Lisa's Tea Treasures

Santana Row, 1145 Olsen Ave, San Jose; 1875 S. Bascom Ave #165, Campbell

Satori Tea Company

37 N. San Pedro St, San Jose

Mountain View Tea Village

275 Castro St, Mountain View

Best New Restaurant

Blackbird Tavern

200 S. First St, San Jose

SP2 Communal Bar + Restaurant

72 N. Almaden Ave, San Jose

Ciano's Modern Latin

280 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell

Best Chef

Nick Difu,Nick's Next Door (formerly Nick's on Main)

Scott Cooper, Le Papillon

Thomas Ricci, LB Steaks

Best Cajun Restaurant

Poor House Bistro

91 S. Autumn St, San Jose

Lillie Mae's House of Soul Food

1290 Coleman Ave, San Jose

Crawdaddy

779 Story Rd, Suite 1, San Jose

Best Seafood Restaurant

Fish Market

1007 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose; 3775 El Camino Real, Santa Clara; 3150 El Camino Real, Palo Alto

Hawg's Seafood Bar

1700 W Campbell Ave, Campbell,

By Th' Bucket

4565 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara

Best Ramen

Orenchi Ramen

3540 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara

Kumako Ramen

211 Jackson St, San Jose

Maru Ichi Japanese Noodle House

368 Castro St, Mountain View

Best Small Restaurant

Naglee Park Garage

505 E San Carlos St., San Jose

Henry's Hi-Life

301 W St. John St, San Jose

Nick's Next Door (formerly Nick's on Main)

11 College Ave, Los Gatos

Best Thai Restaurant

Krung Thai

640 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose; 580 N. Winchester Blvd, San Jose

Thai Orchid

866 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell

House of Siam

150 S. First St, Suite 151, San Jose

Best Korean

Burnt Rice

121 Curtner Ave, San Jose

SJ Omogari

154 Jackson St, San Jose

Korean Palace

2297 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose

Best Ethnic Market

Mi Pueblo Food Center

1731 E Bayshore Rd, East Palo Alto; 1745 Story Rd, San Jose; 235 E. Julian St, San Jose; 40 S. Rengstorff Ave, Mountain View

Ranch 99

10983 N. Wolfe Rd, Cupertino; 1350 Grant Rd, Mountain View; 1688 Hostetter Rd, San Jose

International Food Bazaar

2052 Curtner Ave, San Jose

Best Pearl Teas

Tapioca Express

multiple locations

Fantasia Coffee & Tea

10933 N Wolfe Rd, Cupertino; 528 Barber Lane, Milpitas; 3969 Rivermark Plaza, Santa Clara; 39055 Cedar Blvd, Newark; 378 Santana Row, Suite 1115, San Jose

Quickly Tea Cafe

multiple locations

Best Dim Sum

Dynasty Chinese Seafood Restaurant

1001 Story Rd, San Jose

China Stix

2110 El Camino Real, Santa Clara

Dim Sum King

824 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale

Best Latin American Restaurant

Cascal

400 Castro St, Mountain View

El Chalateco Salvadorian

multiple locations

Isabella's Restaurant

700 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose

Best Cuban/Caribbean Restaurant

Habana Cuba

238 Race St, San Jose

Back A Yard Caribbean American Grill

80 N. Market St, San Jose; 1189 Willow Rd, Menlo Park

La Bodeguita del Medio

463 S. California Ave, Palo Alto

Best French Restaurant

Le Papillon

410 Saratoga Ave, San Jose

La Fondue

14550 Big Basin Way, #3, Saratoga

Left Bank

377 Santana Row, Ste 1100, San Jose; 635 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park

Best Italian Fine Dining

Original Joe's

301 S. First St, San Jose

Il Fornaio

302 S. Market St, San Jose; 520 Cowper St, Palo Alto

A Bellagio

33 S. Central Ave, Campbell

Best Moderately Priced Italian Food

Maggiano's Little Italy

3055 Olin Ave, Suite 1000, San Jose

Giorgio's

1445 Foxworthy Ave, San Jose

Buca di Beppo

1875 S. Bascom Ave, Suite 155, Campbell; 643 Emerson St, Palo Alto; 925 Blossom Hill Rd, Suite 1529, San Jose

Best Mediterranean

Dishdash

190 S. Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale; 736 N. Mathilda Ave, Sunnyvale

Cafe Artemis

1875 S. Bascom Ave, Suite 300A, Campbell

Thea

3090 Olsen Dr, San Jose

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant

Falafel's Drive-in

2301 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose

Dishdash

190 S. Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale; 736 N. Mathilda Ave, Sunnyvale

Kabul

833 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale

Best Greek Restaurant

Opa!

1384 Lincoln Ave, San Jose; 276 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell; 27 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos; 325 Main St, Los Altos

Yiasso

10660 S. De Anza Blvd, Cupertino; 2180 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell

Dio Deka

210 E. Main St, Los Gatos

Best Malaysian Restaurant

Banana Leaf

182 Ranch Dr, Milpitas

Straits Cafe

333 Santana Row, Suite 1100, San Jose

Layang Layang

1480 S. De Anza Blvd, San Jose; 181 W. Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas

Best Pho

House of Pho

5353 Almaden Expy, Suite 50, San Jose

Pho Wagon

1712 Meridian Ave, San Jose; 1627 Hollenbeck Ave, Sunnyvale

Pho 24

747 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose

Best Steakhouse

Alexander's Steakhouse

10330 N. Wolfe Rd, Cupertino

Forbes Mill

206 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos

Henry's Hi-Life

301 W St. John St, San Jose

Best Barbecue

Smoking Pig

1144 N. Fourth St, San Jose; 3340 Mowry Ave, Fremont

Blue Rock BBQ

3001 Meridian Ave, San Jose

Sam's Bar-B-Que

1110 S. Bascom Ave, San Jose

Best Hawaiian

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

multiple locations

Hukilau

230 Jackson St, San Jose

Grub Shack

93 E. Santa Clara St, San Jose

Best Asian Fusion

Straits Cafe 333 Santana Row, Suite 1100, San Jose

Elephant Bar

19780 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino; 499 E. Hamilton Ave, Campbell; 39233 Fremont Blvd, Fremont

Blowfish Sushi

355 Santana Row, San Jose

Best Asian Vegetarian

Blue Mango

635 Coleman Ave, San Jose

Good Karma

37 S. First St, San Jose

Vegetarian House

520 E. Santa Clara St, San Jose

Best Vietnamese

Khanh's Garden

335 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose

Pho Wagon

1712 Meridian Ave, San Jose; 1627 Hollenbeck Ave, Sunnyvale

Pho 24

747 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose

Best Vegetarian Overall

Good Karma

37 S. First St, San Jose

Falafel's Drive-in

2301 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose

Vegetarian House

520 E. Santa Clara St, San Jose

Best Restaurant Patio

Aqui Cal-Mex

1145 Lincoln Ave, Willow Glen

El Burro

1875 S. Bascom Ave, #570, Campbell

Gordon Biersch

33 E. San Fernando St, San Jose

Best Desserts

Icing on the Cake

50 W. Main St, Los Gatos

Nothing Bundt Cake

multiple locations

Kara's Cupcakes

multiple locations

Best Donuts

Psycho Donuts

288 S. Second St, San Jose; 2006 S. Winchester Blvd, Campbell

Stan's

2628 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara

Manley's

1592 Meridian Ave, San Jose

Best Pizza (Regional Group)

Pizza My Heart

multiple locations

Blue Line Pizza

415 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell; 146 Castro St, Mountain View

Patxi's Chicago Pizza

1875 S. Bascom Ave, Suite 405, Campbell; 3350 Zanker Rd, Suite 30, San Jose; 441 Emerson St, Palo Alto

Best Pizza (Independent)

Tony & Alba's

3137 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose

A Slice of New York

3443 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose; 1253 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale

Jake's

1074 Lincoln Ave, San Jose; 12175 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Rd, Saratoga; 174 E. Fremont Ave, Sunnyvale

Best Burger

The Counter

3055 Olin Avenue, Santana Row, San Jose; 369 S. California Ave, Palo Alto; 2580 El Camino Real, Mountain View

St. John's

512 Lawrence Expwy, Suite 110, Sunnyvale

Mojo Burger

6041 Snell Ave, San Jose; 1401 Foxworthy Ave, San Jose; 1411 Bird Ave, San Jose

Best Ice Cream/Gelato

Dolce Spazio

221 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos

Palo Alto Creamery & Grill

566 Emerson St, Palo Alto

Snake & Butterfly

191 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell

Best Frozen Yogurt

Willow Glen Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Company

1100 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Yogurtland

multiple locations

Pinkberry

multiple locations

Best Sushi

Kazoo

250 Jackson, San Jose; 10 E Hamilton Ave, Campbell

Yuki Sushi

1140 Lincoln Ave #8, San Jose; 1827 Pruneridge Ave, Santa Clara

Sushi Confidential

247 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell

Best Deli/Sandwich Shop

Ike's Love & Sandwiches

multiple locations

Bertucelli's La Villa Gourmet Delicatessen

1319 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Zanotto's

1421 Foxworthy Ave, San Jose

Best Late Night Eats

La Victoria

140 E. San Carlos, San Jose; 131 W. Santa Clara St

Original Joe's

301 S. 1st St, San Jose

Taco Bravo

5469 Snell Ave, San Jose; 1950 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell; 43472 Grimmer Blvd, Fremont

Best Microbrewery Food

Los Gatos Brewing Company

multiple locations

Rock Bottom

1875 S. Bascom Ave, #700, Campbell

BJ's Brewery

multiple locations

Best Dining Value

Aqui Cal-Mex

multiple locations

Blue Rock BBQ

3001 Meridian Ave, San Jose

Bill's Cafe

302 N. Bascom Ave, San Jose; 1115 Willow St, San Jose; 2089 The Alameda, San Jose

Best Family Restaurant

Sonoma Chicken

multiple locations

Bill's Cafe

302 N. Bascom Ave, San Jose; 1115 Willow St, San Jose; 2089 The Alameda, San Jose

Aqui Cal-Mex

multiple locations

Best Caterer

Blue Rock BBQ

multiple locations

Sam's BBQ

1110 S Bascom Ave, San Jose,

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

795 S Second St, San Jose

Best Local WInery

Testarossa Winery

300-A College Ave, Los Gatos

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

1000 Lenzen Ave, San Jose

Mountain Winery

14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga

Best Microbrewery

Gordon Biersch

Restaurants: 33 E. San Fernando St, San Jose; 640 Emerson St,Palo Alto; Brewery: 357 E. Taylor St, San Jose

Rock Bottom

1875 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell

Los Gatos Brewing Company

130 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos; 163 W. Santa Clara St, San Jose

Best Wine Bar

Tessora's Barra di Vino

234 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell

Wine Affairs

1435 The Alameda, San Jose

Grapevine

1389 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Best Romantic Restaurant

La Fondue

14550 Big Basin Way, Saratoga

Plumed Horse

14555 Big Basin Way, Saratoga

Le Foret

21747 Bertram Rd, San Jose

Best Cupcakes

Frost Cupcake Factory

199 E Campbell Ave,Campbell

Kara's Cupcakes

Santana Row, 3055 Olin Ave, Suite 1010, San Jose; 855 El Camino Real, Suite 50, Palo Alto

Sprinkles

393 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto