Had the best little unexpected gem moment at Bar Tako in downtown San Jose. It's a super cute Mexican pop up that somehow feels both low key and perfectly put together at the same time. The menu is small but intentional, which honestly makes everything feel like a safe bet (and it was). We ordered the trio of fish tacos, the ceviche, and the elote, and every single thing hit. Drinks. Elite. I got the Hana Fresca and it absolutely delivered, refreshing, flavorful, and one of those drinks you immediately want another of before you're even halfway through. The staff was friendly and knew their stuff without being over the top. Food came out fast, drinks came out fast, and it wasn't overly busy which made the whole experience feel easy and relaxed. The space itself is really open with huge barn style windows, tons of indoor and outdoor seating, and just a great airy vibe, especially with warmer nights coming in. Also worth noting, bathrooms were clean and fully stocked. Just a solid experience all around. 10/10, would absolutely come back and do it all over again. read more

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Had the best little unexpected gem moment at Bar Tako in downtown San Jose. It's a super cute Mexican pop-up that somehow feels both low key and perfectly put together at the same time. The menu is small but intentional, which honestly makes everything feel like a safe bet (and it was). We ordered the trio of fish tacos, the ceviche, and the elote, and every single thing hit. Drinks. Elite. I got the Hana Fresca and it absolutely delivered, refreshing, flavorful, and one of those drinks you immediately want another of before you're even halfway through. The staff was friendly and knew their stuff without being over the top. Food came out fast, drinks came out fast, and it wasn't overly busy which made the whole experience feel easy and relaxed. The space itself is really open with huge barn-style windows, tons of indoor and outdoor seating, and just a great airy vibe, especially with warmer nights coming in. Also worth noting, bathrooms were clean and fully stocked. Just a solid experience all around. 10/10, would absolutely come back and do it all over again. read more

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Great first impression! Came for a late lunch in a weekday (1:50pm). Pretty empty, quick service, yummy fusion foods. The tako was a little soft, doesn't have the texture of octopus I'm used to, but ok favor. The tartar has some sweetness to it, which i don't mind. The chips are super good, I think they make it fresh. A little pricy, but super unique. Bartenders pretty attentive (and handsome too). All and all 4/5. Would have gotten a 5 if the octopus had more texture (I mean they're called "Tako" after all!) read more

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Ambience: Good, nice and breezy sitting near the open storefront, so long as you don't mind the closeup view of bland offices/storefronts across San Pedro, lol (not their fault). Spacious and pretty comfortable. Tako Tropic cocktail: This was really good. Would definitely order again. Not quite sold on the mochi-bits-on-a-stick garnish, though, since it was immersed in the drink and thus got cold and hard. Would be better if it were just laid across the rim. CDMX Mule cocktail: A mule, but pink. (hibiscus) Looked cool in its tall glass. Quite gingery, and I like ginger so that's not a problem, but it obscured the fact it was Japanese whisky and not vodka in it. I couldn't really tell the difference. Yakitori: The chicken was fine, but not very memorable. Could have used a third tortilla given the portion size of chicken on the skewers. Taco trio (Cinco de Mayo special): I didn't get to taste any of this but my husband said that the seasoning or sauce on the carne asada taco was "the bomb". No remarks on the carnitas or pollo but the carnitas looked good to me, at least. Sides of cilantro rice and refried beans were tiny scoops served in condiment cups so that was a little strange. (Not that we wanted a ton, but it was little more than garnish at that point. ) Also the rice had completely stuck together. Not sure if that was intentional. We agreed that the housemade tortillas were quite good. read more

I believe this is a pop up restaurant or just a temporary project. The inside was really nice and spacious. I really liked the exposed wood and high ceilings. We only decided to visit Bar Tako on the drive over while browsing Yelp and hit the reservation button just in case since it was a 6PM seating. There was no need, I guess the place is still too new to be busy. We dropped in and the host was very friendly, just looked confused about what to do. Gave us a table without checking res but we had to remind him just in case we got charged for no show. We asked for a table inside since it was kinda getting cold, yet we were sat next to the half wall opened to the large open patio. Our waiter was friendly and helpful with a couple recommendations for drinks and food. We ordered the hamachi crudo as an appetizer, shoyu short rib tamal, fish tacos, tako skewer, and yakitori chicken thigh skewer. There was an option to order rice but it didn't make sense with the entrees options and other dishes. For drinks we ordered the Momo Mode, Tako Tropic, and Umi Martini. They do meats very well here. The Tako was so tender but held. Yakitori was nicely done and chicken meat was still juicy. The meats on the skewers slid off without the usual fork on plate fight. The fish tacos were delicious, something to order again. The tamal was bland and flavorless which was unfortunate because the dish looked the opposite. Another unfortunate thing was the crudo came out last. It was fresh but it was supposed to be the appetizer/starter. All 3 drinks were ok. Too sweet for my preference. The serve-ware were unusually large for some reason. Our server and waiter had a difficult time placing the food on the table between our plates and glasses. We had to help move our own plates and glasses out of the way. Sitting by the open space had a hazard of bugs landing in the sweet drinks as well. This was an evening of hit or miss with food and cocktails were disappointing. The staff were great, friendly, and helpful. read more

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Rip Olla Cocina. Let's see what this new Japanese-mexican fusion pop up is about. Fish tacos were fabulous 10/10, an order comes with 3 tacos, the fish is pretty substantial and the cole slaw was classic. Our server recommended the asada skewer, and he was right, it was my favorite item we tried! Tender and flavorful. The shrimp was good but the beef was better. The salmon tartare was good but we wished it had a sauce on top or on the bottom. At the end of the meal, we had some sticker shock because we realized each taco was about $5-7 for some nice tacos. The server mentioned the chef was planning to expand the menu which is a good move!! If they offered larger entrees, I can see this place being popular before a sharks game. Ambiance was ok since the interior was the same as olla cocina read more

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A solid place for dinner and wonderful concept that I'd like to see more of. The space was airy and would be great on a warm day. Drinks were tasty. I had the cdmx mule and it was really refreshing. Service was friendly and standard. For two people, we split several dishes. Salmon tartar - a tasty mango salmon tartar but didn't pick up on the shiso in the pico Tuna tataki - the tamarind and tuna pairing with the jalapeño was innovative and good. The menu said there would be furikake on this but we did not see any Hamachi crudo - beautiful presentation and flavors Furikake elote - the flavor was delicious but there was barely any furikake. This was also a difficult dish to eat as the corn was still on the cob but not finger friendly due to the sauce. Tako taco - the octopus were tender and nicely done. Not sure about the bean puree on the side Togarashi shrimp - on their own, kinda meh but the accompanying mole aioli took this dish up a notch read more

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I recently caught wind of Bar Tako on Yelp and noticed this restaurant had taken the place of Olla Cucina. Loved that Bar Tako had the atmosphere and vibe that I liked about the previous place. Their food concept was also much more unique as they fused Mexican and Japanese flavors. I made dinner reservations for 5pm on a Friday, but my husband and I could've gotten away without one during the time. I chose a standard table when I made the reservation, but I appreciated that we were given the choice to sit indoor or outdoor. The weather was beautiful, so we opted for a table along the street. Service was fine. The wait staff was friendly and helpful, but I felt like there was a lot of waiting around to get a server's attention. I had a refreshing cocktail called Momo Mode that I would highly recommend. Made me feel nostalgic for my time in Japan because of the sweet plum wine. Do not sleep on the naranja ice. It was actually a delight eating it after consuming the drink. We ordered the grilled shrimp, furikake elote, and fish tacos and received them in this order respectively. I thought that each dish got better and better - the grilled shrimp being my least favorite and the fish tacos being the best. The furikake elote was delicious and flavorful, but I thought it was a bit pricey on the dinner menu for just being corn riblets. The tacos were excellent. Loved their fresh, house corn tortillas. The fish was lightly battered and the sauces were great. I ultimately enjoyed trying Bar Tako at least once, and if anything I'd be more inclined to come back and try more cocktails. I was informed that Bar Tako was a pop-up for the time being, so check it out before it transitions to the next thing! read more

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4.5 STARS *Stabs corn rib with fork* "Is this how you eat it?" *Cue in Three 6 Mafia* "Slob on my knob like corn...". *Spits out corn kernel* In all seriousness, don't sleep on the furikake elote (corn ribs) at Bar Tako! Last Friday, Bar Tako softly opened inside the former Olla Cocina space. Walk-ins only. Indoor and outdoor seating. M E N U Mexican Robata, Mexican flavors with Japanese grilling techniques. Skewers are binchōtan charcoal grilled. Full bar. On Shark game days, they have a special: beer + shot + breakfast carne asada taco (forgot to ask the price). F O O D * Hamachi Crudo w/ salsa verde, blood orange ($19): https://tinyurl.com/337ywaf6 Buttery hamachi, thinly sliced and lightly dressed with mildly tangy salsa verde, complemented by sweet blood orange segments. A crunchy component like bubu arare (Japanese rice cracker) would elevate the crudo. * Furikake Elote w/ kewpie, lime, chili, cotija ($9): https://tinyurl.com/2f76dvua Juicy corn kernels (served as corn ribs) with bold tangy, sweet, creamy, umami-rich flavors. Loved the smoky char from the grill. * Shoyu Short Rib Tamal w/ ancho chili sauce, pickled ginger ($15): https://tinyurl.com/2ma75vja Fluffy, moist masa generously filled with meltingly tender shredded short ribs, topped with a rich earthy sauce and pickled ginger for a tangy sweet contrast. * Carne Asada w/ skirt steak, tamari stewed tomatoes, cotija, tortillas ($22): https://tinyurl.com/5aa2xv9x Our fav robata, the [medium rare] steak was hella tender and juicy with a clean smoky flavor. The accompaniments were not needed. Served with soft housemade masa tortillas. * Togarashi Shrimp w/ beer glaze, mole aioli, tortillas ($18) Large, firm shrimp with a deeply earthy mole for dipping. It was good but the shrimp could use more togarashi for spice. * Tsukune: Pork, chicken, shiso, yuzu kosho, tortillas ($18): https://tinyurl.com/yk5bzun4 Least fav, the "meatballs" were dry and very salty. I think incorporating a dipping sauce with egg yolk would provide moisture. * Fish Tacos w/ white fish, lemon aioli, jalapeño, cabbage slaw (3 pc-$15): https://tinyurl.com/3zk55czb Best value dish, I liked the flaky fish and flavor + texture of the fixings but found the batter overly crunchy. S E R V I C E Awesome hospitality, staff were friendly and attentive. Prompt food service. A M B I A N C E Trendy, spacious indoor-outdoor space with several dining areas. Front patio is partially covered and great for people watching at the historic San Pedro Square. Overall, a strong soft opening with just a few tweaks needed to push it to a perfect five. Giving 4.5 stars, rounded up for exceptional service and for offering something unique in Man Jose. read more

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Stopped by Bar Tako for happy hour on a Friday evening. We were quickly seated as a group of 4. All of the happy hour items are decently priced and nicely portioned to share. The initial drink I wanted to order was out of stock, so our waiter suggested the Momo mode and I'm so glad I went with his rec. it was a well balanced cocktail! I'd come back to try more from their regular menu. read more

Bar Tako - House margarita and Momo Mode - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

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Great new spot to have opened up in San Pedro Square area. Definitely needed something that wowed me! The ambiance in here is nice, warm wood tones and high ceilings, with good indoor/outdoor seating. Our server Jeffrey was exceptional, though the restaurant just opened, he was very knowledgeable, and the host was very friendly and inviting as well. Cocktails are inventive and flavorful, I had a hard time choosing! For food, we shared the hamachi crudo(refreshing, not reinventing the wheel but a goood staple app), tender and fresh. Sweet potatoes had good texture and accoutrement. Shoyu short rib tamal was insane. Silky, warm, rich in flavor, good pairing with the mole. We also shared the carne asada yalitori, which it came with 3-4 tortillas instead of 2. For 2 drinks and 4 food items our bill was about $100 after tax and tip. I would say the quality, presentation, flavor, and service made it worth it, though the portions are on the smaller end. Clean bathrooms too. I can't wait to come back here and try a bunch of their other offerings! read more

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Service was great - they were good about bringing water and clearing the tables. Came on a Tuesday evening and it wasn't that busy which made the space more open. It's simple decor but still felt high end with the lighting. Food was 10/10 - surprisingly the Purple potato was our fav dish but not one is the dishes were disappointing. The drinks were really good. Momo mode and Coco con Matcha were so refreshing. read more

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I came here on weekday with my friend and was excited to try the food here but left a little disappointed. I ordered the Robata veggies listed at $16 dollars on the menu, but was charged $18. Additionally, the menu specifically said the Robata vegetables included mushroom but my order didn't have mushrooms. The service was slow which would've been fine but they brought the wrong dish for my friend so they had to take it back. We ordered chips and salsa + guac, which came with a very small plate of chips, then was charged extra for more chips (I think that's a little greedy, but that's just me). On the plus, the margarita pitcher was worth it. Unfortunately because of the up charge on my order and slow service, I wouldn't recommend. read more

Bar Tako - Receipt - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

It's a nice modern feel with a touch of class. There's even sidewalk seating so you can people watch. The staff was nice, polite and greeted me and sat me promptly. The waitress mentioned that each dish is kind of small so typically people order three or more items.I had the Salmon Tartar mango shiso pico de gallo, chips. The salmon part was delicious, the pico de gallo was mid. I then had the Togarashi Shrimp Tacos beer, mole aioli, onion, cilantro. The shrimp were a nice size but were not that sweet/flavorful. The spices they used sort of made up for what the shrimp lacked. All in all it's a bit on the pricey side for my taste. read more

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We ordered everything on my list and only two dishes were good, the corn and sweet potato. Fish tacos, pumpkin dip, and short rib tamal were all dry. Either overcooked or there wasn't enough sauce. I know they're new, but the food was extremely underwhelming. read more

Was super excited to try this restaurant since it was a popup, but found the food so-so. The great- service was super friendly, and dishes came out super fast! Dishes ordered: Sikil Pa'k- this pumpkin seed dip was amazing. I could eat it with lettuce, with any vegetable, and with bread or rice. It was just that addictive and the best dish of the night. Fish tacos- fish is perfectly fried, crispy and moist Tako- so-so. Octopus is wonderfully tender, but dip and beans are pretty salty Togarashi shrimp- shrimp nicely grilled, and mole aioli is delicious. But otherwise so-so Elote- most disappointing dish of the night, because although it's beautifully charred it came out cold, which could only mean they batch cooked (which is fine), but didn't bother to heat it up before serving. Overall the tortillas weren't that great, which is what detracted from the tacos. They were thick and a bit soggy...so not the nicest texture... Drinks: Momo Mode tastes like candy! Get this one! Tako Tropic- still pleasant but not as nice as Momo Mode. Shisloma- not much shiso flavor but definitely heavily smoky from the mezcal. Verdict: Glad I visited but won't be back, unless it's purely for the pumpkin seed dips. read more

Bar Tako - Tako Fish tacos - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

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Such a fun night at Bar Tako! We went with a big group and basically ordered half the menu so we could try a little of everything, and wow, it did not disappoint. The elote corn and the twice-cooked Okinawa sweet potato were personal favorites. Everything tasted super fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully put together. There was truly something for everyone at the table. The drinks were just as good, great Japanese beer options and really creative cocktails. The Momo Mode with CA Amaro were both light, refreshing, and easy to love. Downtown San Jose feels more alive with this spot in it. Such a cool, vibrant vibe. We'll absolutely be back and really hope it's here to stay! read more

Great food! Great drinks! Lovely atmosphere.... 10/10. We did not know this was a new restaurant till I opened yelp. It's lovely here. The fish tacos were delicious, it was 3 fish tacos for $15, amazing deal, My partner got the shrimp skewers. The menu should mentioned the grill section of the menu are skewers and smaller in size. The portions were a smaller than anticipated and it was a bit of a disappointment but I gave him one of my fish tacos since 3 was too many for me anyways. We also got the ceviche and it was.... AMAZING!!!!! I loved it! I will definitely be dreaming of it again. I got the Hana Fresca and Tako Tropic cocktails. The Hana Fresca was my favorite I would love to try it again jt was the perfect fusion of Mexican and Japanese flavors in a drink believe it or not. The flavors are to die for and I 100% recommend that one. I loved it so much. The Tako Tropic was good, not mind blowing like the Hana Fresca was though. 9/10, Mochi was good. Service was great, attentive, polite and knowledgeable. Shame I don't live him SJ and can't come here often. Since I'm from Monterey, I like trying new places in SJ when I do come so I can't imagine coming back here till I've tried all other places in the area first. read more

Had a great time at dinner here. The cocktails are unique and delicious. The fish tacos were insanely good. Cute decor and attentive service at the bar and in the dining room. Can't wait to go back! read more

Chef Frank is currently heading up this project, and the food is incredible. Also, cheapest beers in town. $4 Tecates. Enough said. read more

Bar Tako - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

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New spot in San Jose!? Hell yeah. As a major foodie I'm always on the look out for a great new eating adventure. Bar Tako did not disappoint. Clean open air with lots of light. Walking in takes me back to being on a Tijauanian playa, where they bring you $2 dollar drinks and all the street food your heart desires. The drink menu keeps the vibes alive with its refreshing choices and light touches. I'm glad I was on foot that day, because I tried them all. Menu is small, but quenches your appetite. It has all the clean, raw tastes of Japan while still leaving room for the spicy, earthy flavors of Mexico. I can never say no to fish tacos and they did not let me down. No room for dessert this time, but I will certainly be back and will make sure to leave room next time. If you need a fun night to transport you away from downtown San Jose, Bar Tako is your new spot. read more

Bar Tako exceeded expectations. We went with a large party and everyone had something they enjoyed. The meal started off with excellent service and delicious cocktails. The corn, chicken/pork skewer with shiso leave and tortilla, the skirt steak, and fish tacos were our faves, but everything was good! This meal and experience hit on all levels. Highly recommended. read more

Bar Tako was such a great surprise. The space has a fun, energetic vibe, but the food and drinks are what really stood out. You can tell there's a lot of thought behind the menu, and everything we tried felt unique without being overdone. The Coco Macha was one of my favorite drinks of the night. It was smooth, refreshing, and had a really nice balance of tropical flavor with a subtle kick that made it memorable. For the food, the Hamachi Crudo, Purple Sweet Potato, and Short Rib Tamale were all standouts. The Hamachi Crudo was fresh, bright, and really well balanced -- a perfect way to start the meal. The Purple Sweet Potato dish was beautifully presented and packed with flavor, with a rich, slightly earthy quality that felt creative and elevated. The Short Rib Tamale was incredible as well -- comforting, flavorful, and refined, with tender short rib and perfectly balanced masa. Overall, Bar Tako feels fresh, different, and well executed. Great atmosphere, creative cocktails, and food that actually delivers. Definitely worth checking out if you want something new in downtown San Jose. read more

The food and drinks were a 10/10. We loved them. Jen is welcoming and amazing. Definitely worth a try read more

Bar Tako - Chicken yakatori taco and fish tacos - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

First all the charm has been extruded from this place. The esthetic as well as a very nice happy hour were our draw added by Mexican food. I love Japanese food but this restaurant is too big to feel excited to dine on little plates. It is also expensive for the offering. Too many ideas- really depressing beige walls too. read more

Very good food and drinks. I came in on a Tuesday and was the only person that night. Glad I ignored my instinct to take the empty restaurant as a bad sign. Hana Fresca and yakatori were on point. Highly recommend read more

Honestly I don't understand the reviews here, fish tacos were like fish sticks not fresh, the pork and chicken tacos.. essentially taste like to tacos with meat loaf for 20 bucks, the shrimp was the same.. not fresh and over priced. Basically it's an over priced appetizer restaurant. All fluff. read more

We stopped by for appetizers and drinks and had an okay experience. The atmosphere and drinks were great, however the menu is very small with very average food. The short rib tamale was bland and the ceviche tasted fishy. Wanted to like it but would only go back for the drinks! read more

We were lucky to hear about Bar Tako opening recently and we were very impressed with the food and cocktails. We had all of the meat skewers which were all fantastic - everyone had a different favorite. The sweet potato, corn and tamal were also favorites! I had the mezcal cocktail which was amazing but everyone said theirs was good too! We'll be back!! read more

Went Bar Tako on its opening night. The elote and shashimi was fantastic. Drinks were very good and spirit forward. Great atmosphere and attentive staff read more

I really wanted to like this; the concept of Japanese Mexican fusion is right down my alley. Sadly, it just didn't quite get there. The hamachi was fine. Not bad, just not in any way special. Elote tasted great but execution of the dish didn't work. The center of the corn should've been cut out so you could eat it without getting sauce everywhere. Or less sauce tho it did taste good; just too much to make it a dish you eat with your hands. Short rib tamale was a total miss for me. I found the whole dish too sweet, not savory enough and the addition of pickled ginger didn't work at all inmho. Chicken tacos were bland even with the salsa. Chicken itself needed more seasoning. And the homemade tortillas felt as if they'd been made the day before. Cold and texture was not that of fresh, homemade tortillas. We ordered one dessert but they were out so we had the sundae which was ok. Lastly, the atmosphere. The decor is charming but it happened to be cloudy and 62 degrees on this day and the doors were wide open. It was cold, not warm and inviting which made the whole meal less pleasant. The server was very nice. Probably the best thing about the meal. I think this was a soft opening so maybe they can up their game. I'd like for it to succeed. read more