Cancel

Open app

Search

AJI Bar & Robata

4.1 (71 reviews)
Open • 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
Updated 1 month ago

About AJI Bar & Robata

Loading...

Read the full summary in the app

AJI Bar & Robata Photos

Business Info

AJI BAR & ROBATA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
DJ
Live music
Trendy
Intimate

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - AJI Bar & Robata

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Sunil R.

AJI Bar & Robata was the best part of the Signia stay. The food was genuinely good...we tried the potstickers, wagyu sliders, and sushi, and everything was flavorful and nicely presented. The Japanese-Peruvian flavors and robata-style menu make it more interesting than a typical hotel restaurant.

Passion Fruit pisco sour drink, steak frites and Ahi California roll.
Monica H.

First time there and the service was fantastic, our waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly. Food and drink were great but pricey. Ambiance was excellent

Leana A.

Cool vibes & good food. We had a sushi roll & appetizers & enjoyed them esp the Bao Buns. Cocktails were delicious too.

Lucas K.

I was staying at the Sigma Hotel in San Jose, and I was told to go to the bar called AJI bar and robata and try their Smoked Old Fashioned. I decided I would as this is my favorite cocktail. I've had a lot of great ones, some mediocre ones, and unfortunately some bad ones. This was truly sublime! This Smoked Old Fashioned was made with Legent bourbon, amaro averna, an orange, and angostura bitters. This was perhaps the best Old Fashioned I've ever had. I did try this both smoked and unsmoked. I will say I liked the smoked one better. It was a perfect balance of flavors, just the right amount of bourbon, and a surprise ingredient of amaro averna. During my stay at the Sigma Hotel, I think I had five of these and was never disappointed. But one can't survive on bourbon alone. I did need a snack. I went with the Bao Buns. This is made with gochujang bbq fried chicken, aji verde, pickled cucumber, and toasted sesame seeds. These tasted outstanding! This bar has great ambience. There are TVs on the wall, but they don't take away from the elegance of this bar. The service here was outstanding as well. The bartenders even spending some time talking with me about their Smoked Old Fashioned. Whether you live in San Jose, or are visiting, do yourself a favor and head over to the Sigma Hotel. Walk inside and go straight until you hit the AJI bar and robata. Sit down and order a Smoked Old Fashioned. You will not be disappointed.

Menu
Breanna T.

I was here for thanksgiving and we got to choose 2 things off the menu. I got the steak and sushi. Both were pretty tasty! The fries were really good. The service was really slow but I think it was because it was the holiday it was a lot of people there. The holiday decor looked really good as well! So we also had the free dessert and it was molded!!!! Do not recommend

Once they correct the order but not the flavor
Natalia B.

Warning DO NOT order the chicken tortilla soup , so gross, super thick and no flavor whatsoever, to be honest the worst I have ever had plus the service at that point turned out to be so rude and seem like didn't care of my comment about the soup! First I asked for tortilla chips on the side which was ignored , then called the server and asked to please take it off my bill because was to thick he said that's how it's serve and he was going to get me another one with the chips on the side , which he did but nothing helped the disgusting flavor (well no flavor at all) So if you come over here I am warning you DO NOT order the chicken tortilla soup Omg Have to add more , ceviche : they called leche de Tigre , well nothing to do with that , it's all sweet , no a regular ceviche for sure , yeh don't order that either

Veronica P.

Found this place via yelp for another birthday dinner with friends. Based on the reviews, it caught my eye as it was located in the Signia by Hilton in Downtown SJ. The photos showed the decor, lighting etc, and the fact that this was a 5 min drive from my apartment, I immediately chose this place. What surprised me was that this "restaurant" is actually a lounge area combined with a lobby. I enjoyed this place as the atmosphere has a more sophisticated and modern feel, but also a stylish yet relaxed environment. It was nice but kind of surprising as the vibe of people were mixed, both dressy and casual. A note to make is that this place does not make reservations anymore. It does get busy during the weekend, especially at night, but they are open and accepts walk-ins. The food was appetizing, but the portions are small for the price. Whether it's sushi, tacos, or other dishes, you can easily rack up a bill if you're really hungry. What contributes to my 3-star rating was our server's oversight. When we asked about the Wagyu sliders, she mistakenly took it as an order without confirming with us first. For my meal, I tried the King Prawn roll, which was decent but didn't make up for the other issues. The drinks, however, were the highlight. I had the Lychee martini, which struck a nice balance between sweetness and alcohol-- HELLA GOOD. Don't think I'd come back, but it is a nice social area and a great place for photos, especially the bathroom lol

Lamb Chops & Wagyu Sliders
Stephanie L.

I had won a gift certificate here, so I brought my whole family to check this place out! First of all, the hotel is classy and beautiful. Whatever scent they put throughout the hotel, it smells great the moment you enter inside. It seems like this is a popular hotel since there was a lot of guests coming in & out, which is convenient since it's located in downtown. For our food, I ordered the wagyu sliders, angus beef skewers, lamp chops, and teriyaki salmon. As for drinks, I got the tsurai and the nazca lines cocktail. Looks wise, the food seems to be on a smaller side, but since this isn't an actual restaurant rather than a drink/snack/talk environment, I get it. Regardless, all of the food we ordered was delicious especially that wagyu sliders. We shared amongst four people and we had to order another one because it was that good. Honestly, after eating a few dishes, it was a good portion amount. We felt extremely full after, and the drinks were good as well. My family will definitely come back for that wagyu sliders though.

Bao
Le T.

For this location being in a hotel, the food and drinks were really good. The restaurant is situated in the middle of the lobby area of the Signia by Hilton Hotel. Parking is not easy so expect to pay for parking nearby. The sushi was surprisingly very tasty and the rice in the sushi wasn't too sweet which is good. The potstickers were my favorite. They were very well steamed and had a nice sauce on top. The bao had almost like a sauced chicken tender which was new to me. However the veggies in the bao made it taste moist and flavorful. The drinks were really well made. The colors in the drinks were so pretty! One even had a bubble on it. The lychee martini however was my favorite! The service was friendly however it did take a while for the drinks to come out.

Murasaki Empress
Elizabeth T.

So this hotel is gorgeous! It has some good bones. But...there are tells of stress and wearing down throughout. I feel like the bar and restaurant is the same way. The food was pretty good. Overpriced but it is a hotel. Their happy hour was decent. The staff were over worked and over run. Nice but busy. The food was good but it took awhile. Recommendations: truffle fries (omg), salmon tartar tacos (in a fried wonton wrapper). Delish. The drinks? They shined. There was a lychee martini and it was, well, amazing. The food and drinks are like the bones of the hotel: amazing. But clearly there are stress points all around. Overall awesome but I wish there was more support for the staff. So if you want to feel swanky and have a drink, this is the place.

Gingle All the Way: gin, st germaine, cranberry juice, lime juice ($18)
Elena N.

Date: Thursday, December 21st, 2023 Time: around 5:45pm for about 1.25 hours Meal: Dinner / Drinks and Snacks for 2 people How: Walked in and sat at the bar A friend and I were heading to the Sharks game. Decided to drop by Signia beforehand for a quick drink. (I also had a credit I wanted to spend.) We fully intended on only having a drink at the lobby bar. Found out it was actually the restaurant Aji, so in addition to a round of drinks, we decided to grab a few dishes. *Potstickers: lemongrass chicken, aji amarillo, ginger citrus miso sauce ($18) *Chicken Wings: yuzu kosho honey glaze, chilli flakes, lime ($18) *Shishito Peppers: lime & salt grilled shishito, jalapeño yogurt, roasted garlic streusel ($12) *Gingle All the Way: gin, st germaine, cranberry juice, lime juice ($18) *Whiskey Wonderland: Jameson, angostura bitters, orange, house-made cinnamon simple syrup ($20) First off, our server / bartender Eric was wonderful! Attentive without being overly so. I asked for easy on the syrup in the winter wonderland and he was happy to oblige. Even tho the cocktail wasn't really my jam (I'm more of a spirit forward kind of girl), I wanted to try something from their holiday menu. The gin drink was fine if you prefer a lighter mix. The food was pretty good. A little pricey, but that's to be expected from a hotel restaurant / bar / lounge. The pot stickers / gyoza were the best out of the three. Good meat to wrapper ratio. The sauces, peppers, etc, paired well. The wings were cooked nicely, but too sweet for my palate. I asked for a bunch of hot sauce to balance it out. The shishitos unfortunately were drowning in sauce, so you don't really get to experience the flavor / texture of a nice blistered pepper. The ambiance is less restaurant and more bar / lounge which was fine with me. A little swanky, but I enjoyed the atmosphere. We were able to have a conversation and catch up without music blasting in the background. Definitely more my vibe in my old age. If you have the mid tier Hilton CC, this is a nice spot to spend your quarterly credit as food and drinks are charged under the hotel name. Recommend if in downtown for a quick round. Will probably be back to try their classic cocktails.

Angus skewers
Lily Y.

Food 10/10 Service 9/10 Ambiance 10/10 Came here on a Friday night, wasn't busy but we had reservations anyways. Love the classy lounge atmosphere, great for kickbacks with friends or love ones. The cocktails are delicious and pretty. Try the old fashion with less syrup- very good and strong. Can't go wrong with any dishes on the menu. Save room for dessert, try the matcha cheesecake, it's so good! It's at the Signa Hilton, so you can stroll downtown after your meal. Enjoy it!

Holiday Cocktails (from left to right): Jingle (whiskey base), and Santa's Helper (coffee, kaluha, tequila and baileys)
Ratna J.

This place is more of a lounge setting in the middle of the hotel than a restaurant setting. To get the waiter's attention it's best to sit at the bar and order your drinks/food. Otherwise, if you sit on one of the couches, you will have a hard time getting a hold of any of them. That being said, we love the cocktails and the appetizers here. They have their holiday cocktails around this time of year (Santa's Helper and the Tsurai with 2 shots of vodka is my favorite). It's strong and flavorful which is the right combination you want to have if you want to get your money's worth in cocktails. We ordered the potsticker and the wagyu sliders to pair with our drinks. I love the wagyu sliders, I think they cooked it really well (9/10). For the potstickers, the sauce is really good, but I found the potstickers themselves to be a bit dry. It seemed like they used frozen potstickers, in my opinion. For that, I have to give it a 7/10. I'll be back for the cocktails for sure.

a view of a bar and lounge area

See all

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 2
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 day ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Sunil R.
1137
10702
37461

8 days ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

12 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Leana A.
2
206
572

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 2

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ryan S.

Ryan S.

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 0
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 1
Love this 7
Oh no 0
Photo of Olena V.
0
308
132

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ryan S.

Ryan S.

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Hole N.
0
12
20

6 months ago

We came here total of 3 girls. Drinks really good, food was delicious and nice presentation. Love the ambience. Would come back again.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ryan S.

Ryan S.

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 4
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ryan S.

Ryan S.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ryan S.

Ryan S.

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Joe P.
0
22
9

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ryan S.

Ryan S.

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0
Photo of Lori N.
720
821
5619

4 years ago

Helpful 74
Thanks 1
Love this 69
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ryan S.

Ryan S.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ryan S.

Ryan S.

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 8
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ryan S.

Ryan S.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Mikey M.
85
51
15

2 years ago

Excellent service best French fries in the world! The sliders wer also amazing fast friendly and accommodating service .

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

I tried their Dragon Roll and it was really good, so good I ordered a second roll. Sushi was fresh and tasty. Staff was friendly too.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ryan S.

Ryan S.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Bill M.
28
191
53

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - AJI Bar & Robata

How late do you serve food?

AJI Bar and Robata offers dining service daily until 11 p.m.

Do they take reservations?

AJI Bar and Robata has open seating. We offer private dining options for special occasions. If you're interested in learning more, please call (408) 998-1900 and ask to speak to our private dining sales team. We open at 4:00 PM every day. See you… 

View All 4 Questions

You might also consider

Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG - A Mexican gin to make a bartender special

Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG

4.4(311 reviews)
0.2 mi•Downtown
•$$
Locally owned & operated
Pet friendly

Me and my co worker did the happy hour in the front which is Still OG…read more This place is for those that dig the vinyl era because they play the albums and place the cover in front of the turntable. The drinks are named after actual songs which is which is cool. I really enjoyed the So fresh So clean which was refreshing and not so sweet. Each drink is made with fresh ingredients. Their food menu is small but still has enough to choose from to snack on. The bartenders are knowledgeable about the drinks they serve and willing to help you pick the best drink for your taste. We did not get a chance to try the Alter Ego which is behind the curtain but next time.

Wow, I don't think I've written a review of a bar/lounge in like 10 years lol. Aging + having a kid…read morewill do that to you. Anyway, I met up with some friends here last weekend and we had a reservation at Alter Ego. I guess it's technically 2 places with Still OG. I have to say, I have really fond memories of Original Gravity from back in the day (ah, the days of my youth...) so it's nice that it's still sort of around though.. technically completely different since there's no more craft beer or duck fat fries lol. We hung out at our table for the whole night, like 4 hours. We all ordered cocktails off the menu and later on ordered some stuff off the menu based on the bartender's suggestion. I first ordered a Calabrian Spritz from the menu which hit the spot for me. Personally, I am not a hard alcohol fan but I enjoy wine and fun lil cocktails that are slightly sweet/not super strong lol. So this drink was nice because it wasn't too sweet and had a lot of volume (I like just sipping on stuff in general and it sucks when you order a cocktail that's like 3 sips of liquid and the rest is ice). The next cocktail I ordered was off the menu and called Like This or That (I think). I think it was some sort of passionfruit + vodka mix and very delicious! We also ordered the cold soba noodles and fries. Fries were crinkle cut and nicely crispy, no complaints. Soba noodles were also good, though some component of it was really spicy, I think the cucumbers. Overall I had a good time here and look forward to coming back, though given how little I go out, who knows when that will be haha.

Photos
Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG - Asteroid Blues

Asteroid Blues

Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG - Silk Sheets and Sweets $19

Silk Sheets and Sweets $19

Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG - Gin at the 2'd bar.....

See all

Gin at the 2'd bar.....

Eos & Nyx - Dining Room

Eos & Nyx

4.2(723 reviews)
0.1 mi•Paseo de San Antonio, Downtown
Locally owned & operated
Takes reservations

Hands down my favorite restaurant in San Jose. The food is always excellent, and their cocktails…read moreare delightful. I have never once been disappointed with a dish, and I love trying new dishes on their menu. The staff is awesome, and the place has a cool astehtic vibe. I highly recommend, just know that it is a bit pricey but the experience is totally worth it. P.S. they give you palate cleaners snack in between courses for free. I had hibiscus herbal tea and and an adorable mini waffle cone, filled with crème fraîche, and topped with caviar (honestly never thought I'd like caviar before trying out this place for the first time).

Sitting firmly at a 3.5, but rounding down to a 3 because the kitchen doesn't quite match the…read moredining room. Aesthetically, the space is gorgeous... though in hindsight, it feels like the budget went into the decor rather than what's on the plate. Tuna Crudo: A standout. Fresh, balanced, and easily the highlight of the meal. Lobster Tagliatelle: Good, but stingy. The flavors worked, but hunting for lobster in a lobster pasta shouldn't be part of the experience. The two bites with actual meat were great; the rest was just pasta. Beet Risotto: The biggest disappointment. Maybe the concept was just too avant-garde for my palate, but the earthy beet and pungent goat cheese felt at odds rather than harmonious. Worth a visit for drinks and crudo to enjoy the atmosphere, but the rest of the menu left me wanting.

Photos
Eos & Nyx - Dining Room

Dining Room

Eos & Nyx - Dining Room Staircase

Dining Room Staircase

Eos & Nyx - Mezzanine Bar

See all

Mezzanine Bar

Haberdasher - Prohibition style speakeasy here we come! Hee

Haberdasher

4.5(761 reviews)
0.3 mi•SoFA, Downtown
•$$

Here is one of the coolest gems in Downtown San Jose. This…read moreis not your standard bar this is the place to get drinks made properly. Every ingredient is fresh not pre made unless you get the on tap cocktails. When you walk in it has an inviting atmosphere and the Kaylen who is the bartender is welcoming to both regulars and those who are new to the bar. I had a drink called the Macintosh which is so refreshing but not overly sweet which I enjoyed.

Walking into haberdasher always makes me feel like I'm going back in time. It's beautifully…read moredesigned and has amazing staff. My husband and I had a baby free night out to celebrate my birthday and haberdasher did not disappoint. We went soon after opening so there was no line but I know they tend to have one later in the evening. We were greeted warmly at the door by the attendant who checked our ids. I was even wished a happy early birthday. When going into the bar, you walk down a staircase into a space that makes you forget you're in downtown San Jose with beautiful reds and burgundy decor. The staff is all smartly dressed; the bartender and bar back were both sweet and funny. I ordered a jack rose (my all time favorite), their seasonal watermelon waltz (this may be a new favorite for me, nice and refreshing) and one of their zero proof cocktails called a Mariposa which was soooo good as well. My husband ordered a couple old fashioned and a watermelon waltz for himself. We had an amazing time and look forward to coming back in the future.

Photos
Haberdasher - Kentucky Buck

Kentucky Buck

Haberdasher - Back bar

Back bar

Haberdasher - Their bathrooms fit the theme very nicely.

See all

Their bathrooms fit the theme very nicely.

Blossom & Bourbon - House Dip Trio ($16)

Blossom & Bourbon

4.2(733 reviews)
6.2 mi•Blossom Valley
•$$$

We've had this place on our list for a few years and only just checked it out this summer. This was…read morean overwhelmingly good experience, and the vibes were really great. Definitely an upscale elevated version of a family restaurant, including the warm hospitality and generous portion sizes. The decor and size of the restaurant were awesome too, and great for all sorts of celebrations. Large comfortable waiting area as well. Everyone from the host, to server, runners, and bussers provided exceptional hospitality and service. Food was well balanced and flavorful, with good plating Steak and sides were decadent and tender and flavorful in all the ways you want steak and carbs to be. The Brussels salad ended up being a sleeper hit and great palette cleanser throughout the meal. Cauliflower was lowkey S tier, crispy, saucy but still light. Cookies and cream did the final KO into the food coma on the way home. Drinks were well crafted as well. Overall, instant hit for us

Blossom and Bourbon has an amazing ambiance that made our night a wonderful dining experience…read more The service was incredible, our server was super attentive, helpful, and made sure we had everything we needed. He even gave us great recs and all came out as advertised. The food was delicious, and the drinks were great as well. Overall, a lovely experience and definitely worth visiting! Things we liked, the ribeye (4/5), the lamb chops (5/5), the skirt steak (3/5) was good if you like it more on the tart side (lots of lime). The fries (4/5) were good and big portions to share as well. We also got the chips trio (3.5/5) and thought it was a great app to share as well. Drinks: pretty and dangerous (4/5 - think lychee martini but better) Blossom passion fruit (4/5 - nice presentation and if you like it more tart you'll love this) Bourbon flight (5/5 - if you want a taste of diff bourbons) Old fashion (5/5- if you like it STRONG... it was very strong, but bourbon was great)

Photos
Blossom & Bourbon - The far left side of the restaurant- bar is directly in the middle.

The far left side of the restaurant- bar is directly in the middle.

Blossom & Bourbon - Fries that come w/ the French Dip

Fries that come w/ the French Dip

Blossom & Bourbon - Mexican Coke®($6)

See all

Mexican Coke®($6)

Paper Plane - Mushroom Empananda

Paper Plane

4.1(1.7k reviews)
0.1 mi•Downtown
•$$

It was my first time visiting this bar, would definitely come back. Vibes were great, lighting and…read moreambience was good, service was amazing. Janay (lead bartender) took care of us and was inviting and welcoming. You can tell she knows what she's doing in terms of mixology, and offered me a complimentary strawberry shochu (japanese pepper) shot to celebrate my first time in SF! Vibes were great, service was great, and the line wasn't long at all. Will definitely be coming back in the future.

I have gone to Paper Plane for ages but had never written a review (a few pictures immediately auto…read morepopulated for this review but I think they might be from a good 3+ years ago!) Recently, we've gone a few times for their Tuesday Prime Rib Dinner and for their Halloween menu. The prime rib dinner is honestly a pretty good deal ($19.99 with purchase of a full priced drink - can't be a HH drink) and it's delicious! All three of us cleaned off our plates! For drinks, my favorite is still probably the milk punch. Their regular drinks menu can sometimes be a little hard to go through since they use some pretty specific ingredients that you won't regularly encounter (like, what is RinQuinQuin from Luck of Lucien?) but they've always put their drinks in quadrants (adventurous, refreshing, comforting, spiritous) to give you a sense of where the drink will fall. The Halloween menu is a little bit more straightforward. Speaking of Halloween, their Halloween decor is super cool and definitely provides a spooky vibe! Drinks came in themed cups - I had to point the clown one to face the wall bc I don't need to keep looking at it lol. They check your bags on the way out (cup thefts?? I don't need that clown in my life no thank you). It's always worth checking out what Paper Plane is up to, and would definitely come back for their Prime Rib dinner!

Photos
Paper Plane - 2026 World Cup game day crowd

2026 World Cup game day crowd

Paper Plane - Drinks + appetizers

Drinks + appetizers

Paper Plane - SUnrise Negroni: Singani 63, rinquinquin, Campari

See all

SUnrise Negroni: Singani 63, rinquinquin, Campari

Goodtime Bar - Deviled eggs

Goodtime Bar

4.7(255 reviews)
0.2 mi•Downtown
•$$

A hidden gem for the food, wine, AND company…read more Goodtime Bar is one of those spots I'm always recommending to people before they even ask for recommendations. Any place can serve wine, but it's the food, atmosphere, and community that make Goodtime Bar always a good time. The menu has creative flavor combinations that make it fun to try a little bit of everything. The serving sizes vary from smaller bites to sharables, so it works out great. My favorites I order every single time are the tom yum bucatini, steak frites, and tostadas. As for other items I've tried: oysters are flavorful and thoughtfully put together. The crispy fingerling potatoes with seaweed mayo are criminally addicting. I think the chips and dip are made fresh in house so they have that great real potato texture and flavor. Pro tip: GET THE BREAD. Perhaps a secret menu item. An order comes with a few slices of perfectly toasted buttered bread. You'll want it to dip into the tom yum bucatini sauce. TBH it can be used for all the sauces... in the prawns is great. The chef is a master of sauce. And don't skip dessert! The creme brulee is my guilty pleasure at the end of the night, with a perfectly crisp, crackly sugar crust every time I've had it. The steak frites and a bottle of wine make for a perfect girls' night. There's a nice selection of wines at different price points, and the staff are friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. You can even taste their house wines before committing to a glass, which is a great as someone who doesn't know much about wine. The space works for different moods, too. Inside feels intimate and lively, with a fun buzz that adds to the atmosphere. Outside is lovely when you want open air while catching up with friends over food and wine. Disco ball nights inside are especially vibesy! One of my favorite things is the community here. Their Monday 6 PM run club brings together a welcoming crowd, and the post-run wine-glass offer is such a fun touch. It's a great way to meet people, and the friendly energy makes it easy to feel included even if you come solo. I've gone a couple times when time permits and everyone is sooooo friendly. All paces are welcomed and they have a few people appointed to help direct and make sure no one gets left behind. They also have options beyond wine, including a yuzu cocktail and nonalcoholic drinks like Hiyo. There's a few nearby downtown SJ lot with 90-minute free parking. TL;DR: Come for the food, stay for the wine, and leave loving this DTSJ hidden gem. Whether it's a girls' night, a necessary glass after work, or a Monday run-club meetup, Goodtime Bar is one of my favorite spots in SJ. Rightfully deserved my first Yelp food review.

Cute little resto/bar/wine bar. Tried the pickle beer with a deviled egg topper. The pickle beer is…read morenot as bad as you would think. The deviled egg was AH-mazing. A must try. The apps were yum and omg the fish filet sandwich is crazy. Like an entire dish between buns. The batter is a little too salty and I wish there was more slaw tho. Really like this place but wish the patio seating was a bit more comfortable.

Photos
Goodtime Bar - Indoor seating area

Indoor seating area

Goodtime Bar - Arancini

Arancini

Goodtime Bar - A rich sparkling white that's not too dry

See all

A rich sparkling white that's not too dry

AJI Bar & Robata - restaurants - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...