Great place to get a drink and watch the 49er game and the back Patio is awesome
Tamara Gibbs
Didn't eat but Great drinks and great folks! Perfect neighborhood bar!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Roshan Isaac
Jack's is a hidden gem of a bar. From the outside it looks like your typical dive, but once you enter you'll notice the modern decor, a wide variety of excellent top and mid shelf liquors in a well organized bar shelf, a spacious outdoor patio and a second bar in the back. The service is excellent and the bar staff know how to make solid drinks. Q and Michelle, the bartenders were friendly and awesome. Brian, the manager took care of us and ensured we had a great time! They have a lot of TVs as well to watch games.
Come here if you like a chill spot to have cocktails, beer or watch the game. Lots of friendly local folks in the late afternoon. Dog friendly until 9pm! You can order food at the bar (or QR code), which will be delivered quickly from a neighboring restaurant, J-Town pizza.
Will visit again. 🍻
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Sage Logan
Where everybody knows your name
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rick Silva
This is one my favorite haunts!
If you want legit Cajun-Creole Cookin' see Mr C ! This is a literally Mom & Pop Restaurant with occasional Zydeco live entertainment c/o Mark St Mary and others. The food here will not disappoint!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scott W
A True Neighborhood Gem with Deep Roots
Came here with my best friend on a Friday afternoon (around 5 PM) for the first time after leaving 10th Street Distillery (review of that place coming another time), not expecting much. From the street, the place looks like your typical hole-in-the-wall pub. But we realized almost immediately that Jack’s Bar in San Jose’s historic Japantown is much more than that. It's where neighborhood history and modern-day good energy come together. From the great staff (talking about you Q, Brian, and Monica) to the patrons themselves (shoutout to the guy randomly singing at the bar), this place was a really cool surprise.
After doing a little digging, I found that Jack's is housed in a building with roots going back to the early 1900s, right in the heart of one of only three remaining Japantowns in the U.S. Before it became the bar we know today, the building at 167 E. Taylor Street hosted early Japanese and Filipino businesses and even served as a community bulletin board on its brick wall before World War II. The Kogura family’s ownership helped shape its identity in the 1960s, and since 2007, new ownership and thoughtful renovations have carried that legacy forward with great distinction.
Today, it is the local spot to watch a game, especially if you're a fan of Arsenal or the Outlaws. With multiple big-screen TVs indoors and outside, Jack’s is a go-to for sports lovers. The large back patio is a standout. It is dog-friendly until 9 PM and features TVs, heaters, and plenty of seating. It’s perfect for game day or a relaxed night out.
The full bar offers a strong lineup of beer on draft and in bottles, including local brews. There is also a wide selection of top-shelf whiskeys, bourbons, tequilas, gins, and just about anything else your palate may crave. Hungry? Grab some pub bites or order from Jtown Pizza just down the street. They deliver straight to the bar, and your order gets added to your tab. A digital jukebox on the wall lets you queue up your favorite music, adding to the laid-back vibe.
Jack’s Bar and Lounge also knows how to host a good time and bring people together. From beer pong and DJs to themed events, big sports nights, and even the Silicon Valley Roller Girls' after-parties, there is always something going on.
So, whether you’re here for the sports, the community, the history, or just a quiet drink (a proper old fashioned with a single spherical ice cube) with locals and friends, Jack’s Bar delivers an authentic Japantown experience with a modern twist. A true San Jose treasure. We’ll definitely be back. Come one, come all!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Brooks Hornstein
Awesome bar! Best service in the Bay Area.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Mark Sousa
Chill vibe, great cocktails, and friendly staff. The smoked Old Fashioned was a standout—smooth and balanced. The place feels upscale but relaxed, with quick service even on a busy night. Prices are fair, and the crowd is cool without being loud. A solid spot for date night or catching up with friends
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Matt Brown
Decent local hag out. Bartender was friendly and pretty efficient. Sometimes she seemed to pay more attention to the local crowd but that's understandable. The food was decent however it is not made on site it comes from a restaurant down the street. Don't let that discourage you though it shows up piping hot and in short order. All in all a very decent lunch or after work hangout spot I'll be back if I'm in the area.
Eddie Hernandez
Didn't know how to make my drinks for nothing The drink stays a two watered down and there are two pricey that amount
Awesome local hangout. Very welcoming to my group from out of town. Can order food from a pizza place nearby and there's also a hot dog place right next door that's open until midnight.
Miquela
Chill neighborhood bar, always great vibes. Staff has always been nice and inviting . The people that come in here are here for a good time and to unwind. During games it gets pretty exciting, they offer deals when local teams play so there definitely is a fun crowd. 10/10 recommend stopping by, this bar has been here for many years and has been a favorite for the neighborhood. I would also like to add how clean the place is! I've never seen a bar so clean and I really appreciate that.
Pat Baker
Jacks I a great place to have a drink and watch the games
Kathy Arlaud
Friendly local pub, food by J Town Pizza. Yum! Friendly bar tender, too.
B. A. Law
Bartender Brian was fun for my brother and me to hang with on a Saturday afternoon after just getting into town for the Chiefs at 49ers game on Sunday. Really wanted to go back but didn't make it work - will most definitely go back again if in San Jose/Japantown! The price per person includes a few beverages and highly recommended (which became obvious WHY) pizza and the Duchess sandwich from nearby J-Town Pizza! Absolutely delicious and ate the leftovers for every meal between Saturday and Monday morning! Thank you, Brian, for your hospitality and local's recommendations!! And for breaking out the Red Horse by San Miguel brewery in the Philippines - a blast from my past!
Great place to get a drink and watch the 49er game and the back Patio is awesome
Didn't eat but Great drinks and great folks! Perfect neighborhood bar!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Jack's is a hidden gem of a bar. From the outside it looks like your typical dive, but once you enter you'll notice the modern decor, a wide variety of excellent top and mid shelf liquors in a well organized bar shelf, a spacious outdoor patio and a second bar in the back. The service is excellent and the bar staff know how to make solid drinks. Q and Michelle, the bartenders were friendly and awesome. Brian, the manager took care of us and ensured we had a great time! They have a lot of TVs as well to watch games.
Come here if you like a chill spot to have cocktails, beer or watch the game. Lots of friendly local folks in the late afternoon. Dog friendly until 9pm! You can order food at the bar (or QR code), which will be delivered quickly from a neighboring restaurant, J-Town pizza.
Will visit again. 🍻
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Where everybody knows your name
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is one my favorite haunts!
If you want legit Cajun-Creole Cookin' see Mr C !
This is a literally Mom & Pop Restaurant with occasional Zydeco live entertainment c/o Mark St Mary and others.
The food here will not disappoint!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A True Neighborhood Gem with Deep Roots
Came here with my best friend on a Friday afternoon (around 5 PM) for the first time after leaving 10th Street Distillery (review of that place coming another time), not expecting much. From the street, the place looks like your typical hole-in-the-wall pub. But we realized almost immediately that Jack’s Bar in San Jose’s historic Japantown is much more than that. It's where neighborhood history and modern-day good energy come together. From the great staff (talking about you Q, Brian, and Monica) to the patrons themselves (shoutout to the guy randomly singing at the bar), this place was a really cool surprise.
After doing a little digging, I found that Jack's is housed in a building with roots going back to the early 1900s, right in the heart of one of only three remaining Japantowns in the U.S. Before it became the bar we know today, the building at 167 E. Taylor Street hosted early Japanese and Filipino businesses and even served as a community bulletin board on its brick wall before World War II. The Kogura family’s ownership helped shape its identity in the 1960s, and since 2007, new ownership and thoughtful renovations have carried that legacy forward with great distinction.
Today, it is the local spot to watch a game, especially if you're a fan of Arsenal or the Outlaws. With multiple big-screen TVs indoors and outside, Jack’s is a go-to for sports lovers. The large back patio is a standout. It is dog-friendly until 9 PM and features TVs, heaters, and plenty of seating. It’s perfect for game day or a relaxed night out.
The full bar offers a strong lineup of beer on draft and in bottles, including local brews. There is also a wide selection of top-shelf whiskeys, bourbons, tequilas, gins, and just about anything else your palate may crave. Hungry? Grab some pub bites or order from Jtown Pizza just down the street. They deliver straight to the bar, and your order gets added to your tab. A digital jukebox on the wall lets you queue up your favorite music, adding to the laid-back vibe.
Jack’s Bar and Lounge also knows how to host a good time and bring people together. From beer pong and DJs to themed events, big sports nights, and even the Silicon Valley Roller Girls' after-parties, there is always something going on.
So, whether you’re here for the sports, the community, the history, or just a quiet drink (a proper old fashioned with a single spherical ice cube) with locals and friends, Jack’s Bar delivers an authentic Japantown experience with a modern twist. A true San Jose treasure. We’ll definitely be back. Come one, come all!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Awesome bar! Best service in the Bay Area.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Chill vibe, great cocktails, and friendly staff. The smoked Old Fashioned was a standout—smooth and balanced. The place feels upscale but relaxed, with quick service even on a busy night. Prices are fair, and the crowd is cool without being loud. A solid spot for date night or catching up with friends
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Decent local hag out. Bartender was friendly and pretty efficient. Sometimes she seemed to pay more attention to the local crowd but that's understandable. The food was decent however it is not made on site it comes from a restaurant down the street. Don't let that discourage you though it shows up piping hot and in short order. All in all a very decent lunch or after work hangout spot I'll be back if I'm in the area.
Didn't know how to make my drinks for nothing The drink stays a two watered down and there are two pricey that amount
Restaurantji Recommends
Awesome local hangout. Very welcoming to my group from out of town. Can order food from a pizza place nearby and there's also a hot dog place right next door that's open until midnight.
Chill neighborhood bar, always great vibes. Staff has always been nice and inviting . The people that come in here are here for a good time and to unwind. During games it gets pretty exciting, they offer deals when local teams play so there definitely is a fun crowd. 10/10 recommend stopping by, this bar has been here for many years and has been a favorite for the neighborhood.
I would also like to add how clean the place is! I've never seen a bar so clean and I really appreciate that.
Jacks I a great place to have a drink and watch the games
Friendly local pub, food by J Town Pizza. Yum! Friendly bar tender, too.
Bartender Brian was fun for my brother and me to hang with on a Saturday afternoon after just getting into town for the Chiefs at 49ers game on Sunday. Really wanted to go back but didn't make it work - will most definitely go back again if in San Jose/Japantown! The price per person includes a few beverages and highly recommended (which became obvious WHY) pizza and the Duchess sandwich from nearby J-Town Pizza! Absolutely delicious and ate the leftovers for every meal between Saturday and Monday morning! Thank you, Brian, for your hospitality and local's recommendations!! And for breaking out the Red Horse by San Miguel brewery in the Philippines - a blast from my past!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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