Suggestions for South Bay Ethnic Dives

[maxeats]

Hi - New to the board. This may have been covered many times, but we are looking for new ethic places to add to our weekly repoertoire. Would love suggestions. Love all ethnic except Chinese food. Thank you!

[nikinaka]

Los Cubanos (downtown san jose)...best cuban in town!! please try the vaca frita!!!

[Cary]

Sumiya yakitori http://www.sumiyakitori.com/

[KathyM]

Paradiso Deli--old skool italian deli, not really ethnic but great
Dakao--vietnamese sandwiches
The Lunch Box--Ethiopian

All 3 are around downtown San Jose. I hope your definition of dive is close to mine.

[wchane]

huge 2nd on Dakao

there is also dakao 2 in milpitas.

[Melanie Wong]

Hey Kathy, could you please tell us more about The Lunch Box? I've been curious about it since spotting it last year.

My inquiry -
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[KathyM]

I have to admit I haven't been here in over a year so my memory is a little fuzzy. I've tried a bunch of dishes, both meat and vegetarian and liked them all. One dish that stuck out on my mind is this spicy beef tartare dish (forgot the name) that I was really apprehensive about. Not that I don't like raw meat but the place is such dive, I wasn't quite sure about the quality. Needless to say, it was delicious and no stomach ache. Portions are big for the price. Seems like lots of ethiopians hang out here to drink beers, or what seems like beers.

[katya]

That sounds like beef kitfo. I've had this dish before (not at The Lunchbox), but my favorite rendition is the chicken rendition (Ye doro kitfo) at Zeni in San Jose served with housemade cheese.

[steven4490]

For GREAT tasting Thai in the South Bay, try:
Krung Thai
640 S Winchester Blvd.
San Jose

You may have to ask a waiter to explain some of their menu items, but I have never been dissapointed with anything I've ordered. One of my favorites is their mussaman curry beef.

[Sebby]

Chaat Paradise in Mountain View. It's hidden in a corner of a strip mall on El Camino (165 El Camino)
Very good Indian chaat..preety divy with service to match. But the chaat is really good!

[katya]

-Sabor Salvadoreno, Santa Clara - Salvadoran (pupusa, plantain empanadas)
-Kabab and Currys, Santa Clara - Pakistani (chicken malai kabab, chicken tikka masala)
-Rose Market, Mountain View - Persian
-Triumpathi Bhimas, Milpitas - South Indian (dosa, uttapam, idly with sambar)
-Swathi Tiffins, Sunnyvale - South Indian (epitome of hole in the wall)
-Bua Thai, Milpitas - Thai (in an old Taco Bell to boot)
-Real Ice Cream, Santa Clara - Indian chaat (sev puri, ragada pattis)
-Gourmet Express, Milpitas - Greek/Mediterranean (weekday lunch only)
-Garcia's, San Jose - Mexican (tortillas, tacos)

[wchane]

rose market - persian/kabobs - mountain view
falafel drive in - greek - san jose
house of falafel - greek - cupertino / sunnyvale
spice hut - indian - sunnyvale
gombei - japanese - san jose (not really a dive, but inexpensive enough)
la victoria's - taqueria - san jose
iguana's - taqueria - san jose
st john's grill - burgers - sunnyvale (more of a bar/pub)
yiasso's - gyros - san jose / cupertino
hot bite kabob - persian kabobs - santa clara

[Judith]

Saigon 75 -- Not a dive, but inexpensive compared to comparables up the peninsula. We ate there tonight, particularly enjoyed the duck salad, eggplant with crab and the long beans. Total for six including tip was about $130.