Where to eat in Willow Glen

Willow Glen feels like a small town that happens to sit inside San Jose. Its main street, Lincoln Avenue, has big street trees, low storefronts and sidewalk tables. On weekends it fills with families walking dogs between coffee, lunch and the bookstore. The restaurants are mostly small and owner-run. Several have been on the street for decades.

This guide names only places we confirmed on their own websites in late October and early November 2026. The Downtown Willow Glen Business Association keeps a longer directory, but parts of it are out of date, so we checked each business before listing it. For the neighborhood's history, events and transit, see our Willow Glen neighborhood guide.

How Lincoln Avenue is laid out

Downtown Willow Glen runs along Lincoln Avenue from about Willow Street south to Minnesota Avenue, roughly half a mile. The 1100 block, near Willow Street, holds the densest run of restaurants. The 1300 block, farther south, has the deli, the chocolate shop and Taiwan Restaurant. Willow Street crosses at the north end and adds two of the best-known places on this page. Everything is walkable, so pick a parking spot once and stroll.

Breakfast and brunch

Bill's Cafe

Bill's Cafe calls itself a family-owned tradition since 1977. The chain now runs several South Bay and East Bay locations. The Willow Glen cafe at 1115 Willow Street is a daytime place: its website lists 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Expect omelets, pancakes, fresh orange juice and the bread pudding the cafe is known for. Weekend mornings bring a wait, so arrive before 9 a.m. See our Palo Alto breakfast guide for morning spots closer to home.

The Table

The Table opened in August 2012 at Willow and Lincoln. It describes its food as contemporary American built on seasonal ingredients, with craft cocktails and a strong wine list. In fall 2026 its site listed brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday to Sunday, lunch on Wednesday and Thursday and dinner Wednesday to Sunday. It is closed Monday and Tuesday and on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Groups of six or more need a card on file.

Dinner on Lincoln Avenue

Burma Roots

Burma Roots serves Burmese food with a full bar at 1100 Lincoln Avenue. The menu runs from Shan tofu and nan gyi thoke to coconut noodle soup, palata with chicken curry and garlic noodles. Its website lists lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 4:30 p.m. daily, running to 9 p.m. most nights and 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Our Burmese food guide covers similar dishes in Palo Alto.

Sushi Arashi

Sushi Arashi has two locations: 1181 Lincoln Avenue and 240 Castro Street in Mountain View. The menu covers sashimi, nigiri and specialty rolls in a simple room. The site lists 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day and takes online orders for pickup. For more sushi near home, see our sushi guide.

Taiwan Restaurant

Taiwan Restaurant at 1306 Lincoln Avenue says it has served Willow Glen for 45 years. It describes its cooking as Chinese fusion and lists past awards from the San Jose Mercury News and Metro. Its site lists lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 4:30 p.m. every day, with an 8:30 p.m. close Sunday to Thursday. It is the longest-running restaurant on this page.

Aqui Cal-Mex

Aqui Cal-Mex is a local mini-chain with its Willow Glen restaurant at 1145 Lincoln Avenue and a second San Jose branch on Snell Avenue. It bills itself as natural, wild and organic whenever possible. The fall 2026 menu featured dishes such as grilled wild sea bass enchiladas. Aqui is also known for its blended frozen drinks, which it calls swirls.

Willow Street Pizza

Willow Street Wood-Fired Pizza has been a Willow Glen standby for years, with a second restaurant in Los Gatos. The Willow Glen branch at 1072 Willow Street lists hours from 4 p.m. on weekdays and from 11:30 a.m. on weekends, with a weekday happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. It takes reservations and large parties, which makes it a solid family dinner. Our pizza guide lists pies closer to Palo Alto.

Deli, takeout and sweets

Bertucelli's La Villa at 1319 Lincoln Avenue is an Italian delicatessen that makes its own ravioli. Boxes of 48 come in beef, cheese, chicken, feta and lobster, with meat or marinara sauce by the pint or quart. The counter also sells sandwiches, hot foods and salads. Its site lists Tuesday to Saturday hours from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and notes that the shop closes from Thursday, November 26, through Monday, November 30, 2026. Order ravioli ahead for holiday meals.

Mariette Chocolates at 1268 Lincoln Avenue calls itself the Willow Glen chocolate shop. It sells house truffles and assorted chocolates by the box and takes custom orders. Its posted hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., closed on major holidays. Our chocolate and candy guide covers Palo Alto shops.

Eating with kids

Willow Glen is one of the easier South Bay food streets to visit with children. Sidewalks are wide, traffic is slow and most restaurants have simple kids' options. Bill's Cafe and Willow Street Pizza are the classic family picks. Pair lunch with Hicklebee's children's bookstore on Lincoln Avenue or with the Saturday farmers market at Willow Glen Elementary, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. rain or shine. For more markets, see our farmers markets guide.

Events that affect dining

The business association runs street events through the year. Its site listed a Holiday Bubbly Walk on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 2 to 5 p.m. On event days restaurants fill early and parking is scarce. In October an Oktoberfest takes over part of downtown. Aqui noted that its delivery service paused that weekend. Check willowglen.org before a weekend trip.

Planning your visit

• Go on a weekend morning for the full neighborhood scene, then stay for lunch.
• Mind the closing days. The Table, La Villa and Mariette each close one or two days a week.
• Park and walk. Side-street parking fills on Saturdays. The association posts a parking map on its site.
• Combine with Santana Row. It is about ten minutes by car. See our Santana Row food guide for dinner there.
• Stay over for an event. Downtown San Jose hotels are close. You can compare San Jose hotels if you plan a late night.

Frequently asked questions