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    Nomikai

    3.9 (361 reviews)
    Open 6:30 pm - 1:30 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Nomikai Photos

    Business Info

    NOMIKAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    DJ
    Loud

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    Recommended Reviews - Nomikai

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    Reviews With Photos

    Nori Fries with Seven Spices
    Michelle W.

    Nomikai has the best food out of all the bars SJ downtown! Not pictured by the duck pizza is my favorite, but you can't go wrong with another pizzas. The fries are also super good and flavorful. The spam musubi and shishito peppers were also solid. Sake bombs are a must and are great for groups. There's a live DJ and the place was decorated for Christmas! They had fun decorations. The servers were super nice and attentive. One comment is the pizza is made to order and take a while, so I recommend order drinks and apps while waiting.

    Tien N.

    The night was a hit, all thanks to Nomikai. From the outdoor bouncer to the indoor waitstaff and bartenders, they nailed the customer service. I had a killer cocktail that was super unique -- I could actually taste the ube and other flavors, which is a rare feat for me since I'm not exactly a connoisseur, haha. One thing we definitely messed up was not pregaming. Huge regret, considering we ended up blowing a ton of cash on shots. Each Royal Crown shot ran about $15-$20. Oh well, unlike me and my group, make sure you get yourself a buzz going first, and then keep it rolling with their awesome cocktails ;)

    Menu
    Quoc H.

    Located in downtown SJ, this bar is pretty small but has a decent amount of tables and seating. It was not packed on a Friday night so I was able to get drinks in 10min. Vibes are pretty chill and good music. Good spot to hang with friends. 9/10 Green Jamison Shot $16 - not exactly on the menu but you should ask for this. It is pretty steep for a drink but it tastes really good surprisingly. The green tea is strong and the drink isn't too strong. 7/10 Biko Monk $16 - Pandan flavor was prominent but the drink was pretty strong. The blend was not that good but still worth a try.

    Buko Monk cocktail
    Emily W.

    Not too busy on a Thursday evening. The bartender was extremely friendly. I ordered a Buko Monk cocktail ($16). It was pretty delicious! I usually don't like a strong alcohol taste and I'm pretty picky with alcohol, but this was impressive. It was creamy, sweet, and didn't have too strong of an alcohol taste. Ambiance is pretty nice. Dimly lit and chill vibes. Overall good spot for drinks and food. Would come back to try other drinks and try the food.

    Adobo Pizza
    Anna R.

    Nomikai was a great late night stop after our comedy show ended. They are open late and have some good options to catch a bite and some drinks. We had a punch bowl drink which was quite literally a punch bowl. It was colorful and decorated festively and brightly, plus it tasted good. Six people could share one for sure. We curiously tried the adobo pizza, which didn't quite taste like adobo to me, but it was really good. The crust was nice and thin and there was something baked into it that added an extra touch. Not sure what it was. Kept trying to figure it out in the dark lol, but couldn't make it out. The Nori Fries were your typical fries with a seaweed topping offering, but with a little kick. That was good to munch on too for a late night bite. The space isn't too big, but we had a nice booth/table area which was perfect for our party. The space is cozy and there are board games to play. I'd come back here again for a night cap.

    Lychee Martini yummy!
    Fiona T.

    I love bringing people here to enjoy the lychee martini. Everyone's loved it! It's a great place to start the night. There's usually seating and a DJ.

    Rock N Rum Ube Milk Punch = super strong, no milky flavor at all!
 Candy Cane Penny Lane - not pepperminty but was fruity, still good!
    Jennifer L.

    My friends and I have been to Nomikai before and wanted to stop by during our Christmas bar hop. We went around 6-7 PM so it was still pretty empty. The place was beautifully decorated with Christmas lights and decorations; def a good opportunity to sit down to hang out or top stop by for a quick photo op! FOOD - Miso Mac N Cheese (3/5): It was pretty good mac n cheese, but there was no miso flavoring which was a tad disappointing and also the whole reason we wanted to try it. - Five Spiced Duck Pizza (2.5/5): Interesting concept but the hoisin sauce was overpowering all the other flavors. Probably wouldn't order it again. - Trio Mushroom Pizza (3.5/5): As an avid mushroom lover, I always come back to Nomikai for this very pizza but admittingly it is not the BEST mushroom pizza I had. Still always a solid option. DRINKS (holiday edition) - Rock N Rum Ube Milk Punch (0/5): It was not what we expected! Presented similarly to an old fashioned, it was really strong. There was no milky taste and seemed like just a shot (or even less) of pure alcohol. Do not recommend unless you are into that kind of drink... - Candy Cane Penny Lane (3.5/5): I was looking for something peppermint-y but it was actually more of a fruit based drink with a baby candy cane on the side. it was a pretty good drink regardless. - Billie Holiday (3.5/5): It was pretty good, but definitely on the sour side. Overall, Nomikai is always a chill place to go for quick dinner and drinks but nothing special with the holiday menu. I would go again but not necessarily during the holiday season but more for the chill vibes.

    Menu
    Priscilla R.

    Nomikai has some of the best Lychee Martinis, I highly recommend them. Their Ube Rum Milk Punch is also really good. We tried the gyoza and enjoyed them as well. The service was pleasant and fast. Overall ambiance is also great, good vibes all around. I like that they play anime on the screens above the DJ booth. The music is also enjoyable! I'll definitely be coming back to try more drinks and menu items.

    Sweet Chili Chicken Wings with Dynamite Sauce
    Elsie Y.

    I was looking for a place to get drinks and stumbled upon this place on yelp. Once I saw that they have happy hour it sealed the deal. We got the Tokyo Cloud and Mugi Mule to drink. Both drinks are great but I'm always disappointed in a mule that's not in a copper cup even if it's not a classic mule. For food we tried the fried chicken wings and the chicken adobo pizza. The fried chicken was pretty tasty but the dynamite sauce is not a necessary addition. When I dipped the chicken in the sauce the flavors ended up being all over the place and honestly made the chicken worse for me. I don't think I would get the wings again though if I came back. The chicken adobo pizza had amazing flavor but when my boyfriend was eating it he noticed a chicken bone that he needed to spit out. So be careful when eating it. This place is mostly a bar and not a restaurant so I'll give it 4 stars since the drinks themselves tasted great.

    Pandan Old Fashioned
    Shayla T.

    Came here on a Thursday for some snacks and drinks with my group for a birthday celebration. The bartenders were attentive and friendly. Their cocktails are some of the best we've tried in DTSJ. Fun little board games to play at the tables as well!

    Nori Cal - SO GOOD
    Jenny N.

    Had some high hopes- I really liked this place. Friends got a reservation for a birthday and we got there early for food. I really liked the pizza- sausage fest and the duck one. I love me a thin crust and the Asian flavors. Would be back for the pizza and wings! Drinks - There was such a variety to try. We tried- nori cal, yuzu raddler, ruby sapphire, peach sparkler and the lychee one. I'm in love with the nori mezcal drink- it was strong but such a smooth finish. Parking - downtown so limited street parking and garages near by. Didn't go to the bathroom but should be in the back past the bar

    Linh T.

    Server was great but all the food was barely warmed. We order Brussels sprouts, adobo pizza, sausage pizza, fries and spam musubi. Everything was pretty much room temp and the drinks were pretty much no alcohol and all juice. For $17 per drink ... I'd definitely go somewhere else. Alter Ego, Still OG, or even paper planes is the place to be. Unfortunately for our girls night they were all unavailable last night.

    Gyoza
    Julie L.

    One of my favorite bars in dtsj - good drinks, super chill, not crazy crowded. Staff is alwaysssss friendly, too! Nomikai is ALWAYS one of my stops when I'm frequenting dtsj, particularly because of the good vibes and great drinks. My friends and I always end here with many rounds of sake bombs. This past week, I went here for dinner. I'd never think to come here for food, but it was actually pretty good. Most of their menu consists of flatbread pizzas, which our server informed would serve 1-2 people with appetizers... but I think we're just fat because we ordered a million appetizers and practically one pizza per person, LOL. My favorites out of it all were def the roasted duck and sausage pizzas. I thought their appetizers were average at best, but our group really enjoyed their wings. S/O to our server, Amanda! (:

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    6 months ago

    The food was quite good, but the drinks were okay. The service was extremely slow--they took what felt like forever to bring out our order.

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    1 year ago

    Friendly staff modern twist on a comfy family bar and food is legit....great place to meet up and catch up

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Nomikai

    What time is happy hour?

    6:30 to 7:30 pm

    What time does the kitchen close?

    10:30 PM

    Is there bottle service there and the price for Henny Priv?

    Is there a minimum amount of people needed to order the punch bowls?

    Hi Emily P., there’s a minimum of 3 people to order a punch bowl.

    No more punch bowls?

    Hi May, Yes we do. Punch bowls are offered Thursdays until 12am. Thank you.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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

    Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG

    4.4(295 reviews)
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    Pet friendly

    This place is absolutely fantastic! I happened to stumble across it when looking for a cocktail bar…read morewith a good vibe. Not only are the cocktails special, the small bites menu is super tasty including the Shishito pepper skewers and the Takayoki. The staff are also super friendly and the bartenders are some of the best mixologists in town.

    Alter Ego and Still OG might just be the most cleverly conceived bar concept in the city. Small and…read moreintimate, yes -- but every inch of it is intentional. Let's start with the drinks. The cocktail menu is inspired by records, and you can feel the creativity in every sip. These aren't your standard bar pours -- they're clearly thought out and crafted with personality. If you're someone who appreciates a drink with a story behind it, you'll be in your element here. The live DJ on weekends takes the whole experience to another level. The music isn't background noise -- it's part of the atmosphere, and it hits right. What makes this place truly special is that you're getting two completely different vibes under one roof. Walk into Still OG up front and you get a casual, laid-back energy -- easy conversation, good company, no pretension. Then slip into the speakeasy in the back and the whole mood shifts. Alter Ego is a proper intimate lounge with their full bar, and it feels like a world away from the street outside. The transition between the two spaces is surprisingly seamless and genuinely fun to experience. And they're open late, which puts them in a rare category of places actually worth staying out for. Whether you're there for a chill night out or a proper evening, this place delivers both without making you choose.

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

    Silk Sheets and Sweets $19

    Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG - Asteroid Blues

    Asteroid Blues

    Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG - 6/21/2024 symphony in black (mocktail of kyushu coffee) SO GOOD BEST BLACK SESAME COFFEE EVER wish i could drink this every morning

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    6/21/2024 symphony in black (mocktail of kyushu coffee) SO GOOD BEST BLACK SESAME COFFEE EVER wish i could drink this every morning

    Eos & Nyx - Dining Room

    Eos & Nyx

    4.2(651 reviews)
    0.2 miDowntown
    Locally owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    I'll give the food 4 stars and service 2.5. We went for brunch. Although the restaraunt was…read morerelatively empty, we had to wait for almost an hour. Once seated, it took the waitress a good 10 minutes to come over to our table. When she finallty did, she was going to leave without asking if we wanted to order drinks, we had to call her back. The food took a while also. Not once did she come back to check on us to see if we wanted another drink while we were waiting. She was nice enough, and maybe this is her first wait job, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. However, we noticed quite a few of the staff were just standing around. Hats off to the person who does their Instagram - they make the place look huge, but it's not. Everyone at the table said their dish was very tasty. You HAVE to try the ftench toast a try. It was absolutely delicious.

    This restaurant has to be one of the most elevated dining experiences in downtown San Jose. The…read moreingredients are primarily farm-to-table or imported from Europe based on the chef's search for the finest quality ingredients possible. I was completely blown away by the service. The team moved seamlessly throughout the restaurant, all working together effortlessly -- wiping tables between dishes, making sure drinks were never empty, and offering thoughtful surprises along the way like an amuse-bouche and palate cleanser that made the entire experience feel truly special. The restaurant itself is stunning inside, and the atmosphere was perfect. We had such an intimate and fun date night here. One of my favorite touches was that the chef personally came to our table to introduce several of the dishes, explaining where the ingredients were sourced and how each dish was prepared. We ordered an insane amount of food and were impressed by every single dish. The short rib rigatoni, filet, Brussels sprouts, and patatas bravas were all incredible. We also tried the risotto of the day -- a pea risotto with strawberry balsamic -- which was unique and absolutely delicious.

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    Eos & Nyx - Dining Room

    Dining Room

    Eos & Nyx - Dining Room Staircase

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    Dr. Funk - Zero's Hero

    Dr. Funk

    3.9(446 reviews)
    0.2 miDowntown
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    The vibes were fun! The drinks funner it was a Friday night, around 8 - it wasn't too crowded but…read morethere was an amazing DJ playing a mix of oldies, millennial vibes and newer tracks - made it super fun! We sat outside by the fire pits. We tried so many drinks but the waiter suggested Paradise Lounge was the best one I tried. We did try the Phoenix Rising... hard pass on that one - something tasted rank to me. They were kind enough to remake it, and after the second version it still tasted weird. I do think it was something off with me. Ultimately they brought out another PL. Really appreciated that and they didn't make me feel bad for being picky. Overall great drinks, great vibes, awesome staff - highly recommend!

    Tiki Bar located in Downtown San Jose in San Pedro market. There's parking around, the garage or…read morestreet if you get lucky. They offer a selection of craft mixed drinks. We got the Mai Thai and punch. Came in a plastic cup. We also put an order for fries, but $10 is a lot for a decent amount of basic fries. Unfortunately, they did not have happy hour when I visited. There's plenty of water stations to self serve a drink break. There's a lot of seating inside and outdoors. Inside has tables, booths, and a large television to watch the basketball game. Outside, it face the inner street of San Pedro. The day I went as a fun surprise because I got the stroll through free photobooth, and other activities for the event in the area.

    Photos
    Dr. Funk - Cocktails

    Cocktails

    Dr. Funk - Paradise Lagoon (left) and Saturn's Sunrise (right)

    Paradise Lagoon (left) and Saturn's Sunrise (right)

    Dr. Funk - Interior for Galentine's/Lunar New Year 2026

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    Interior for Galentine's/Lunar New Year 2026

    Paper Plane - Mushroom Empananda

    Paper Plane

    4.1(1.7k reviews)
    0.0 miDowntown
    $$

    It was Friday around 10-11pm and the line to get in was super short. It was busy but it wasn't so…read morepacked that we couldn't get around comfortably. Also, it had a New York type vibe with the brick walls and it wasn't too dark so we weren't struggling to look at menus or anything. The bartenders were quick and got to us within minutes. I'm currently not drinking any alcohol, so I ordered a Coco L'Orange, which ended up tasting like a sweeter Orange Julius. I really enjoyed it like a dessert drink since I just had dinner. I also appreciated how it didn't just taste like straight sugar syrup, which is my usual experience with spirit free cocktails. However, it was pretty tart, so I suggest just sipping on it. It helped a lot with feeling like was drinking with everyone the whole time without having to order multiple drinks. Regarding seating, we somehow found a table in the back where our party of 18 guys could hangout, and it wasn't so loud we couldn't hear each other. I barely go out anymore, but in this area I now prefer this establishment since I could sip on a good non-alcoholic drink without worrying about someone accidentally running into me and spilling on me. There were also plenty glass water bottles going around to keep everyone hydrated.

    Stopped by at 10 pm on a Saturday night and it was busy! Luckily, we were able to find a table…read morepretty quickly and ordered drinks at the bar. The cocktails are good and very overpriced in my opinion. Nice bar, nice location, and good service. It's a great place to stop by if you are hopping at bars in San Jose or even catching a comedy show at Improv.

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    Paper Plane - Beautiful!!

    Beautiful!!

    Paper Plane - Drinks + appetizers

    Drinks + appetizers

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

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    Goodtime Bar - Pork Belly w/ caramelized oyster sauce, peach salsa, ngo gai, jimmy nardellos ($24)

    Goodtime Bar

    4.7(230 reviews)
    0.1 miDowntown
    $$

    I totally understand how they made the top 100 in the SF Chronicle list, it's so well deserved!…read more I have only heard golden reviews of goodtime bar through peers and thought it was a great time to finally check it out! I came here with a friend on a weekday for dinner and it was not packed at all. The atmosphere was very minimalist and clean, with a cute disco ball in the corner. This establishment requires you to order at the bar (makes sense it's a bar), and then they did you a number for the table so they can deliver your food. Any drinks you order they will make it right then and there for you to bring over. In terms of food, here is everything we ordered and my thoughts! *Deviled eggs: You would think since it's deviled eggs, there wouldn't be anything too special about them but I appreciated the small pops of salmon roe that added a nice textural play with the creamy eggs! * Bluefin tostada: Absolutely delicious with fresh tuna, paired with mango, on a crispy wonton chip. What a rich treat. * Arancini: The twist of fusion flavors was great. I love how the Japanese curry added a nice mix of umami, paired with the sharp creamy kimchi sauce. Definitely a favorite! * Pork belly: Pull apart, juicy, and tender! These paired actually really well with the arancini for a good balance of rice and meat. * Red miso crème brûlée: interesting sweet and salty flavor combination between the red miso and Madagascar vanilla. Not too overpowering tho. A lovely meal was had here!

    goodtime keeps me in San Jose. What more is there to say? I…read morewish I could come more often than I already do! Food staff and wine are all the best

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    Goodtime Bar - Indoor seating area

    Indoor seating area

    Goodtime Bar - Arancini

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    Nomikai - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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