San Pedro Square Market: Taste World Cuisines in San Jose!

Among the many things to see and do in San Jose, you most likely need a place to eat as well. San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose is a favorite local hangout with a variety of eateries and watering holes to choose from. So, when you want to eat something and are not sure what exactly it is you want, the Market is a perfect spot.

Stir in some cool live entertainment (hello, Vinyl Replay 😊), with a side of California history, and Ta-Da! – you get San Pedro Square Market that will charm the pants off you. Well, at least, make you unbutton them after filling up on the delicious dishes!

Location

Smack-dab in the middle of downtown, San Pedro Square may appear hidden amongst the restaurants lining the sides of it, like the Old Spaghetti Factory or the Old Wagon Saloon & Grill.

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After parking at the Market & San Pedro Square Garage across from it (first 90 minutes FREE, then $1.00 per 15 minutes with a max of $10.00 on the weekends – great deal, right?), it took us a minute or two to find an inconspicuous entrance. TIP: If you can’t find the entrance from San Pedro St, walk half a block toward St. John St and turn left at the corner. You won’t miss THAT entrance. 😊

Follow in our Steps

When we entered the first hangar-like structure, we got the vibe of an elevated version of a food court, with an eclectic variety of restaurants to choose from. Some had seating right there, some were more like booths.

Speaking of booze, there are three cool bars to lounge around in at the market: Market Beer Co. offers craft and local micro-brews, Three Sisters mixes things up with unique cocktails, and San Pedro Square Market Bar has a vast selection of pretty much anything to wet your whistle with.

For non-alcoholic beverages, head to Urban Ritual for a specialty-brewed cup of tea (our must-stop next time, for sure) or Voyager Craft Coffee, which we strongly recommend to any coffee aficionado. Voyager has two other locations in neighboring Santa Clara, with a cult-like following. Every morning there is a line out the door, but it moves pretty quick.

It was a challenge choosing which restaurants to try first. Are you in the mood for French Crepes, Banh Mi, artisan Tacos, Sandwiches, or Pizza? Got a hankerin for a bowl of pasta or a plate of gourmet chicken wings? How about some authentic dishes from Peru? Maybe you like Pho? Have we mentioned sushi? Well, they have sushi! So many options!

In our case, Julia had her eyes set on Anchors Fish & Chips and Seafood Grill, while Dan was looking specifically for a place that was enthusiastically recommended by friends, but we didn’t see it in this particular building.

So, we exited the first “hangar” only to discover a gorgeous tree-lined courtyard with al fresco dining and ample seating. And off to the side is a humble authentic adobe house. That’s the history part.

History

Built back in 1797 by Manuel Gonzales, an Apache Indian, who was the very first resident and the second mayor of San Jose, it’s the oldest building in San Jose still standing. Later on, the house went to Luis Maria Peralta, commissioner of San Jose. Both men were in the Spanish Anza party. Today the house is known as the Gonzales-Peralta Adobe or Peralta Adobe.

Can you imagine that the third most populous city in California and the fourth-largest by land area started with simple structures like this? By the way, San Jose is the oldest incorporated municipality in the state (even if Sacramento and San Diego are trying to dispute it). San Jose is also the original capital of California. Just in case you were wondering.

And, if you pass through the gate to the right of the Peralta Adobe to St. John Street, you’ll see another historic home, the Fallon House. Captain Thomas Fallon served as San Jose Mayor in 1859. Remember the bar “Three Sisters” we mentioned earlier? It’s actually named after his three daughters Anita, Isabella, and Emma.

Join Us for Lunch at San Pedro Market Square

Behind the Peralta Adobe, we saw a second hangar-looking structure and went in. This is where our Holy Grail was hidden. Also known as Urban Momo. The one that we were told not to miss on our first exploratory culinary mission in San Pedro Square Market.

Urban Momo serves mouthwatering food rooted in Nepal. What are momos you ask? They are dumplings, originated in Tibet and Nepal. Dumplings are present in so many cultures across the globe, be it Japanese gyoza, Russian pelmeni, or Italian ravioli. Momos are steamed dumplings with juicy fillings. And they have to be made just right. And Urban Momo does it right.

Dan ordered a chicken Tikka Masala dish (extra spicy), accompanied by Garlic Naan, and chicken momos to share. Julia got a plate of fish and chips from The Anchors Fish & Co., and we sat down at a table shaded by a majestic tree outside.

The fish and chips were finger-licking good, and it was a really generous portion! Crispy light herb-infused batter, with a tangy tartar sauce on the side, and “cant-stop-eating’ em” fries 😊 . Dan’s Chicken Tikka Masala was prepared to perfection. Sweet, creamy, earthy, and very spicy! The aroma alone was attracting a couple seated behind us, who politely asked about our dishes.

We actually took our leftovers back home and had them later for dinner! Whether you order from a single restaurant or sample several dishes from a few places, you can’t go wrong.

In Conclusion

Digging into our flavorful finger-licking dishes, we were trying to figure out how to explain San Pedro Square Market to first-time visitors. This was our first time here too, by the way. And yes, we’ll be coming back many more times! You are reading the result of that discussion now.

Without having to wander too far out of the way, San Pedro Square Market gives patrons a chance to taste some of the best world cuisines while still immersed in the city’s infectious charm. We can’t think of a better establishment to eat, drink, and be merry in San Jose downtown. Before you go, don’t forget to check out their Events Calendar to enjoy live music, by the way!

Have you been to San Pedro Square Market? Enjoyed the post? We love hearing from you, so comment away below. And for more adventures in San Jose, check out the articles in our Local Discoveries section, like Alum Rock Park, Rose Garden, or Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum.