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    Fox Tale Fermentation Project

    4.8 (206 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Fox Tale Fermentation Project Photos

    Business Info

    FOX TALE FERMENTATION PROJECT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Fox Tale Fermentation Project

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    pretzel
    Minh-Chau D.

    Make a reservation if you have a larger group since seating is limited! Favorite dish was the mushroom potato special. Super unique and delicious. Nachos are good for sharing in a group. Also like their breads; very soft! For drinks, the lemonade one was pretty good.

    Angel L.

    Got the full spread and fox sando. The sandwich was the better of the two, as it had a nice flavor from the garlic and sunflower seed spread. The bread and side vegetable portion for the dipping was generous, which we appreciated. The Green Retreat (jasmine tea with osmanthus) didn't have any defined flavors; it tasted like floral water and had minimal jasmine tea flavor and no osmanthus flavor.

    GET THE SOUP WHENEVER IT APPEARS

    Fox Tale Fermentation Project is like a home away from home with excellent food, caring service, and COLD BEER. When I began ordering at Foxtale I went for the burgers, nachos, and pretzel (always the pretzel) and I have found that the more interesting/unfamiliar the ingredients seem, the more blown away I have been. Polenta & Succotash? Sign me up. Tzic de seta tostada? You know it. Get the special, you will not regret it. Aside from the unique and delicious food, don't sleep on the beer. This spot hits for light beer, imaginative brews, and proper mocktails. I come here when I want to see a friendly face, and, people watching on Santa Clara pairs oh so good with a drink in hand. SUPPORT LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. It matters.

    Half portion of Funky Nachos
    Sonia S.

    I thought this place couldn't get any better and it did! I was here on a Saturday night around 7 pm and Fox Tale was very busy but we managed to find a table fairly quickly. The food took a little longer than usual to come out but that was normal considering how busy they were. Our order included the Funk Bowl and Funky Nachos, these are our go-to's because they're so good and filling. This time around we decided to also try the Otoño tacos, this is officially my favorite dish here and I'm hoping it never goes away! The ingredients in this dish work perfectly together and the crema is absolutely delicious, I would definitely buy a jar of this if I could.

    tacos, full spread, and half nachos
    Michelle V.

    Finally got to check off FTFP after years of having it in my bookmarks! My date and I went here at 6:40pm on a Thursday night. The place was quite crowded! It's a tight, cozy spot in downtown SJ. There's plenty of street parking as well as ParkSJ garages in walking distance. The service was amazing. The cashier helpful in giving suggestions and also noticed when we dropped some utensils. Everyone who came by to deliver our food was attentive. We got a half order of nachos, the full spread, and the tacos to share. It's plenty of food for 2 people, and we ended up having leftovers of the nachos. Nachos (nachos with mole sundried tomato, black beans, cashew queso, pepita salsa macha, habañero crema, jalapeño garlic kraut, & guacamole): Even the half size was huge! Very shareable, and the chips were kind of drowned by the massive amount of toppings. Full spread: We chose the baek kimchi, jalapeño garlic sauerkraut, and sour szechuan cabbage. This spread is enormous; it has a ton of veggies so you're going to get your fill in fiber. The plate is gorgeous too. The baek kimchi had too much of a seaweed flavor for my liking. The sour szechuan cabbage had a nice kick, although I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. The jalapeño garlic sauerkraut was my favorite by far. The texture was more shredded than the others, and the garlic taste was addicting. Tacos (blue corn tortillas with roasted royal corona bean crema, achiote golden beets, scarlet runner beans, chanterelle carnitas, salsa macha, jalapeño garlic kraut): Once again, this was huge. I loved the flavors and how the texture of the beans messes everything together. The mushrooms didn't taste like they were trying to be meat, but trying to be great mushrooms. For drinks, we got 4 sampler-sized (5oz) beers. We got the Ume sour, King Dragon (Umeboshi Inspired Sour Ale with Carbonic Macerated Ume, Purple Shiso, Umeboshi Salt Brine), Flower Bed (Grisette Style Belgian Ale with malted sunflower seeds & rose scented geranium), and Zombie Army (Black Rice Lager with Cordycep Mushrooms). The sours weren't super sour, which was nice on the stomach! The Flower Bed and Zombie Army have distinct flavors based on their ingredients. I really like that you can try drinks with ingredients that you can't find anywhere else. We had leftovers for the nachos because this was all a lot for 2 people. Overall, I really enjoyed eating here and can't wait to come back next to try more of their drinks and other items!

    Menu
    Christina W.

    Absolutely one of the most unique spots in downtown San Jose. Fox Tale Fermentation Project somehow manages to feel like an experimental brewery and community gathering space all at once. The fermentation concept is woven into everything from the beers and botanical mocktails to the food and it actually works incredibly well. The drinks are creative without feeling gimmicky, and the flavors are layered and thoughtful. The food was surprisingly memorable too, especially how vegetable-forward dishes still felt rich and satisfying. The atmosphere has this warm, artsy, almost hidden-gem energy that makes you want to stay for hours. What really stands out is that the place feels intentional. You can tell the owners care deeply about craft, community, and creating an experience instead of just another brewery. Easily one of the coolest and most distinctive food/drink concepts in San Jose right now.

    Michele R.

    This was such a fun place to have a date. It was extra busy which we found out was because they were on two TV shows that day, but it was still wonderful service. It was delicious food that I wouldn't have prepared for myself and all the flavors were just so full and rich. It was helpful that we split everything so that you didn't get bored.

    Griffin B.

    This is for sure one of the most unique breweries I have ever visited. And I've told other folks on the hunt for unusual beers to definitely keep Fox Tale on their radar. So when passing through San Jose, I just had to take the opportunity to jump over and see what was on tap. They specialize in both a bunch of sours beers, as well as others that don't really easily fit into your typical beer classes. The Tundra might be one that is most approachable to a lot of people, being a rustic ale with Juniper, it sort of "scratches the IPA itch", and is my personal favorite here. The King Dragon is a very smooth and tasty sour, flavored with umeboshi. The Zombie Army is quite and interesting black-rice lager. The Head Space is another one most folks could enjoy, being an ale infused with herbs, lemon, and jasmine tea. And then there's the "Fung Shui", which is a mushroom beer that will certainly not be to everyone's liking, but I found it intriguing and definitely worth giving it a taste. Many of these beers are available in bottles to-go, too. Plus, for those wanting something non-alcoholic, they also have a selection house-made kombuchas, teas, and mocktails. Should you be hungry, they do serve food here. The fare is MOSTLY vegan, with just a few exceptions. I wound up having the Fox Sando, which is loaded with grilled veggies, pickled stuffing, and a cashew spread. I really recommend this one, as it was incredibly delicious. And do make sure to look in their fridge case for some of their sauces, pickles, and preserves you can also purchase. Prices are ok, being about $7-9 per pour, depending on which beer you get. Though keep in mind you are getting smaller pours (12 oz. is the usual) for the price you pay. Service was outstanding, being very prompt and friendly in the extreme. Plus, this place is in such a cool hole-in-the-wall sort of building, and has a fantastic vibe and atmosphere to it. Can get rather crowded on busy nights or when hosting events, but almost every time I've been here it's been rather chill. And being downtown, it is easy to get to despite lack of parking spot right at hand. All told, Fox Tale remains one of my favorite brew spots in the Bay area, and I try to visit every time I come to San Jose. Hope anyone else passing through stops by to see for themselves. Cheers, all!

    Interior- order at counter
    Annie K.

    Came with my gal friend for dinner and it was soo good!! Service is so homey and heartfelt here. U can taste the love oozing from the dishes. We ordered 1/2 plate nachos and the taco salad and polenta dish. Everything was amazing!! The sour kraut on the nachos was so good makes me wanna buy it. Nachos are warm and have such quality ingredients and very filling! The taco bowl salad was soo fresh and tasty. The polenta dish is so creamy like a warm bowl so good for winter. Has beans and veggie sauces so good!! I wanna def come back and try more things and maybe buy their kimchi and sauerkraut.

    The Funk Bowl (w Baek Kimchi) and Fluorescent Brown beer
    James S.

    Unique, healthy, and mostly very delicious. Fox Tale Fermentation Project creates wonderfully creative meals in their open kitchen, and has several beers that they produce, too. The TLDR: I loved the food and the relaxing environment; the beer didn't really work for me. True, they have several different beers to choose from, and it's entirely possible that the one I picked (a seasonal dark Belgian ale variety that featured beets) was simply not the right one for me. In hindsight, the beer was under the category of Sour/Funky Beers -- so maybe I wasn't paying enough attention. No, you can't ask for tastes ahead of time, which is understandable as these beers are super specific and require a lot of energy and resources. I totally respect that, and I might try a Flagship beer (as opposed to Sour/Funky) at some future visit. But the Food! I love the Funk Bowl that I had. It was pretty huge, and it included a choice of Ferment. Mine was a white kimchi that sat atop my Main, the Funk Bowl. (Black rice, mixed greens, seasonal vegetables, Black chickpeas, and avocado with cultured seeds, house vinaigrette. Wow ! Tons of flavor, massive textures like crispy crunch, smooth and moist, too. So much going on - in a good way. It was filling and satisfying yet I did not feel stuffed or uncomfortable. Great combination. Nice vibe there, too. They had an Open Mic night on the Wednesday I was there. The food is a great change of pace, and I definitely recommend this Project.

    Lovely fox art
    Jewlia S.

    Some places feel like a lucky find. This one feels like something you imagined and then somehow stumbled into in real life. A friend and I both drove about 40 minutes to meet here for lunch and it ended up being completely worth the trip. The space is colorful, creative, and relaxed--an artsy little nook that feels very intentional without trying too hard. We each ordered Funk Bowls with different fermentations. I went with the Szechuan, and the combination with black rice and black garbanzos was outstanding. Deep, earthy flavors with that layered fermented tang that keeps every bite interesting. It's the kind of bowl that tastes nourishing but still exciting. We also shared the chips and queso, which were genuinely great--rich, flavorful, and perfect for grazing while catching up. The surprise highlight was the mushroom coffee. Smooth, creamy, and balanced with just the right touch of sweetness. It had depth without tasting overly "mushroomy," which I appreciated. The chefs were friendly and welcoming, which added to the whole experience. You can tell there's real care behind the food. This is absolutely the kind of place I'll return to--and next time I'm bringing more friends.

    pumpkin tacos, pumpkin polenta. SO GOOD
    Jocelyn S.

    Absolutely loved my meal here. We stumbled upon their open mic night, which they'll do every other week on Wednesdays going forward. They had a lot of seasonal fall specials. We got the tacos with pumpkin and mushrooms, and the pumpkin polenta. Also the love potion kombucha. Everything was DELICIOUS! The vibes were high too for the open mic. Lots of great energy! Eager to try the rest of their stuff!

    Bravo Taco Salad
    Lindsey T.

    Great place for healthy vegetarian food! Came here on a Wednesday and it was busy! The place is a bit small and there's some table / bar style seating. When we went, they had a live singer which really enhanced the ambiance! The food was pretty good. They have a great diversity of fermented foods and the taste is good as well. I ordered a salad and enjoyed it. The chips were a bit spicy and I loved the generous serving of beans and avocados in it. It is also a HUGE salad and generally their portion sizes are large, which is nice.

    Ginger soup with noodle. Very nourishing

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    Aw thank you Marisol!! We’re always so happy to have you visit!!

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Fox Tale Fermentation Project

    Do they allow dogs?

    We are a restaurant so we can only allow service animals inside, and we have a patio that is dog friendly!

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    Food: 4 Service: 4.5…read moreAmbiance: 4 Love the happy hours here. Wine all day happy hours. Kapookies taste okay, wish the cookie's more moist. I would be back again for the HH menu choices.

    Came here on a friend's recommendation, and since she was treating the three of us, I couldn't say…read more"no"! I used to visit the BJs near my house in the North Bay, but that closed a few years ago, and I was actually looking forward to a BJs Reunion! , We got there just after opening and were promptly seated by the hostess, and then greeted by our server, Hector T., who took our drink orders - we already had a plan for those! The drinks included a "lucky ducky," served in a little white bathtub and, of course, with a yellow rubber ducky floating in it. This tub held at least six types of liquor! The person who ordered seemed to really enjoy it! The ambience here is clean, very traditional BJs decor with the bar visible and attractive with lights and colors and textures of all the bottles on the wall behind. We ordered a few items, including a Blonde fish 'n chips (but subbed a fruit bowl for the chips, so more like a "fish 'n fruits" dish!), a strawberry fields chicken salad, and honey sriracha Brussels sprouts with a side wedge salad (no bacon, extra dressing!). The food came quickly and was well-plated, and looked too good to eat. But eat we did . . . The salad was a big wedge, very fresh and crispy, with diced tomato, red onion, and crumbled blue cheese. The fish was fresh and light, and the strawberry salad was fresh as well, with just enough protein to balance out the veggies. I love these Brussels sprouts, lightly charred and drizzled with a tasty, slightly tangy sauce. And, of course, we had to try the "new" (limited-time) blue Monster pizookie. Yes, blue! It was vanilla bean ice cream, with a hard chocolate shell (like the old-fashioned ice cream cones were dipped in) on a hot, chewy brownie base. All the food was great, the service was excellent (thank you, Hector), and the meal was very relaxed. A great time overall.

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    Bar area from dining room
    Bar area from dining room
    Blond fish 'n chips with subbed fruit bowl for the fries
    Blond fish 'n chips with subbed fruit bowl for the fries
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    Beer Campaign…read more Locally-owned brew pub that was formerly just a tasting room before beginning food operations sometime during Covid. We arrived starving after a long hike at nearby Corte de Madera, and were craving some comfort food and beer to appease our appetites, and Ghostwood hit the spot! The Good: * Street, lot, and garage parking available, but more on that later. * Outdoor dog-friendly seating * Game room in the back with pool, pinball, and other forms of entertainment. * 50% off all drinks Fri & Sat night from 9 p.m. until closing. * Happy Hour Mon - Fri 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. * QR code menu ordering and payment through Toast, which is our favorite. * Service was friendly and efficient. * Fresh housemade beers and full complement of spirits and mixed drinks. * Chicken Tacos were a pleasant surprise, as they were delicious and packed with chicken and toppings. * Redwood Rodeo Burger was an outstanding smashburger! So much flavor and the meat-to-toppings-to-bread ratio was perfect. Definitely hit the spot! * Special big ups to the Beef Tallow Fries that were crispy and just fantastic. The Meh: * It is a family-friendly establishment, so prepare for unsupervised kids running amok in the game room while the parents get plastered. -_- * I thought the Fried Pickles were pretty good, but Carissa felt like they needed more batter or something. The Ugly: * Downtown Redwood City can be extremely popular, especially on weekends, so parking can be a real hassle. I'd recommend finding the Jefferson Avenue Garage which gives you the first two hours for free. Conclusion: Come for the beer but stay for the food. Highly recommended.

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    Redwood Rodeo Burger ($23 + $2/Beef Tallow Fries)
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    Fox Tale Fermentation Project - gourmet - Updated June 2026

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