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Town & Country Village opened in 1953 as Palo Alto's first shopping center. It is a set of low ranch-style buildings under old oaks at El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road, across from Stanford Stadium and Palo Alto High School. For years it was a place for errands. Today it is one of the densest clusters of food in the city, with bakeries, counters and several full restaurants a short walk apart.
All the places below share one address, 855 El Camino Real, with different suite numbers. Each is listed in our business directory, which shows hours and services as each business published them in October 2026. Hours vary by season, so check before you go. For the shops and the center's history, see our Town & Country guide.
Getting oriented
The center is small enough to walk end to end in a few minutes. Low buildings sit among old oaks, with parking lots in front along El Camino Real and more parking behind. Trader Joe's anchors one side. Food is spread through the whole center rather than gathered in one court, so it helps to know what you want before you park.
If you are coming from campus, the center is about a 15 minute walk from the Oval at the top of Palm Drive. Our guide to eating near Stanford compares it with the other options near the university.
Morning: coffee, bagels and bread
Town & Country is one of the easier early breakfasts in north Palo Alto, with plenty of parking and seating.
- Peet's Coffee: the chain's coffeebar in Suite 77, opening at 5 a.m. on weekdays, with indoor and outdoor seats.
- Boichik Bagels: the Berkeley bagel company's shop, open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, with advance orders and catering platters.
- Hatched: an egg-focused breakfast and brunch counter that opened in January 2026, with an espresso and matcha bar.
- Manresa Bread: a bakery cafe that mills its own organic flour and slowly ferments its sourdough, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Our breakfast guide covers early meals across the rest of the city.
Lunch at the counters
Most of the center's food is fast and casual. These counters all list continuous hours from late morning into the evening, which makes a late lunch easy.
- Gott's Roadside: the Napa Valley burger stand's branch since 2013, with a covered and heated patio.
- Asian Box: Vietnamese rice and noodle boxes from a menu the company says is fully gluten-free.
- LuLu's: a family-owned Peninsula taqueria group founded in Menlo Park in 2005, open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
- Oren's Hummus Express: the quick-service outpost of the Israeli restaurant group that began on University Avenue.
- Poké House: salmon and tuna bowls from a San Jose-founded chain, with build-your-own options.
- Roost & Roast: Hat Yai-style Thai fried chicken, curry bowls and wok dishes, open late on weekdays.
Sit-down lunch and dinner
A handful of full-service restaurants make the center a real dinner destination.
- Telefèric Barcelona: a Catalan restaurant from a family group founded near Barcelona in 1992, known for paella, tapas and more than 200 Spanish wines.
- Wildseed: a fully plant-based restaurant and bar with weekend brunch and a weekday happy hour at the bar.
- Sushi House: a family-owned Japanese restaurant in the center since 1988, with a break between lunch and dinner.
- Howie's Artisan Pizza: chef Howie Bulka's hand-tossed pies and pasta, with about 60 seats inside and 30 on a heated patio.
- Mamahuhu: a Chinese-American restaurant from chef Brandon Jew's San Francisco group, with dine-in, takeout and delivery.
Telefèric runs a small Spanish market next door that sells olive oils, cheeses and paella kits to take home. Our Spanish food guide and vegetarian and vegan guide put these two in context.
Sweets and drinks
- The Penny Ice Creamery: a Santa Cruz ice cream maker with scratch-made seasonal flavors and house-made cones.
- Sweet 55: a Swiss chocolate shop selling small-batch chocolates made in Half Moon Bay.
- Antoine's Cookie Shop: about ten kinds of warm, crisp-edged cookies made from its own dough.
- Kara's Cupcakes: small-batch cupcakes with gluten-free and vegan options; order by 2 p.m. for same-day pickup.
- Boba Guys: milk tea made with organic tea and Straus organic milk.
The Penny lists Penny Hours on Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. Our ice cream guide covers other scoops around town.
Dietary needs and allergies
Town & Country handles mixed diets better than most places its size. Several businesses publish clear information about it:
- Plant-based. Wildseed is 100 percent plant-based, from brunch to dinner. Mamahuhu describes its takes on Chinese-American classics as vegetable-forward.
- Gluten-free. Asian Box says its whole menu is gluten-free. Kara's Cupcakes bakes gluten-free cupcakes.
- Vegan sweets. Kara's also lists vegan cupcakes.
- Sustainable seafood. Poké House says its fish is rated Best Choice or Good Alternative by Seafood Watch or carries an eco-certification.
Always confirm allergies at the counter, since kitchens share equipment. Our gluten-free guide covers labeled menus across Palo Alto.
Catering and group orders
Many of the counters here sell to offices and parties. Boichik offers catering platters and advance orders. LuLu's lists corporate catering and a taquiza cart. Hatched sells party trays and boxed meals. Roost & Roast takes catering orders for pickup and delivery through its website. For a meeting at Stanford or Palo Alto High School across the road, ordering here can save a long drive.
Timing your visit
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Weekday 5 to 8 a.m. | Peet's first, then Boichik and Hatched at 7 a.m. |
| Weekday noon to 1:30 p.m. | The busiest window. Lines at the counters and a full front lot. |
| Weekday 2 to 5 p.m. | Quiet. Counters stay open; Sushi House takes its midday break. |
| Evenings | Telefèric, Wildseed, Howie's and Gott's carry dinner. Most counters close by 8 or 9 p.m. |
| Football Saturdays | Crowds from Stanford Stadium across the road. Arrive early. |
Our Stanford sports guide lists home game dates worth planning around.
Parking
Parking is in surface lots in front of and behind the buildings. The lot nearest Trader Joe's is the most crowded, especially at lunch. The rear lot is usually the easier bet at peak times. In November 2025 the owner, Ellis Partners, proposed two apartment buildings on the parking lot behind the center. If that moves ahead, parking may change during construction.
Good to know
- Howie's takes no reservations. Arrive early on weekends.
- Wildseed lists group bookings for 2 to 22 guests.
- Boichik, Manresa Bread and Hatched close in the afternoon. Plan breakfast and lunch there, not dinner.
- Hours vary. Directory hours are as each place published them in October 2026.
If you want more choice
Stanford Shopping Center is about a mile north along El Camino Real, with steakhouses, seafood and more counters. Downtown Palo Alto starts about a mile away at the foot of University Avenue. Visitors who want to stay within walking distance of both campus and the center can compare hotels near Town and Country Village along El Camino Real.
Frequently asked questions
What restaurants are at Town & Country Village in Palo Alto?
Sit-down choices include Telefèric Barcelona, Wildseed, Sushi House, Howie's Artisan Pizza and Mamahuhu. Counters include Gott's Roadside, Asian Box, LuLu's, Oren's Hummus Express, Poké House, Roost & Roast and Hatched. Boichik Bagels, Manresa Bread, Peet's and several dessert shops round it out.
Where can I get breakfast at Town & Country Village?
Peet's opens at 5 a.m. on weekdays. Boichik Bagels and Hatched open at 7 a.m. daily and Manresa Bread opens at 8 a.m. Hatched specializes in egg sandwiches and avocado toasts with an espresso and matcha bar.
Is there parking at Town & Country Village?
Yes. Parking is in surface lots in front of and behind the buildings. The lot nearest the Trader Joe's entrance gets crowded at lunch and on weekend afternoons, so try the rear lot first at peak times.
Which Town & Country restaurants take reservations?
Wildseed lists group bookings for 2 to 22 guests. Howie's Artisan Pizza does not take reservations and seats first come, first served. Counters are order-at-the-register, so check each directory listing for the sit-down restaurants' booking methods.
What is open late at Town & Country Village?
Most counters close by 8 or 9 p.m. Roost & Roast lists hours until 10:30 p.m. on weekdays. Telefèric Barcelona and Wildseed serve until 10 p.m. or later on Friday and Saturday, as listed.