Jack's — Restaurant in San Jose

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...

What's great about this dive bar?

Let me break it down:

Orange Tic Tac Cherry Bomb Jaegar Bomb Irish Car Bomb

Get the picture? Ok....the bartenders, Nicole, Jordan, and Matt....I blame you guys!! Thanks for the drinks and my horrid hangover the next day! It was all in good fun with friends and the diverse crowd that got me booty-shaking and downing all those drinks.

Cool choices of music, DJs are awesome, NO COVER CHARGE, beer pong, and drum roll HAPPY HOUR!! How could you not love this place?! Far from the middle of downtown but walking distance from Japantown, come here and show your face, grab a couple of drinks, dance, mingle, and enjoy the night. Doesn't matter when is the best day, because it's downright awesome! Parking is easy, looks a bit sketchy outside, but don't hold yourself back because you're safe....SJPD is everywhere. HAHA!

Happy hour: Sunday $1 off everything from 3pm to 7pm. During the week, 3pm to 9pm

FYI....Everyday from 11am to 3pm, catch their $8 Lunch Combo - Cheese Steak, Chips, & Beer when you check-in on Facebook. Hurry before it ends soon! Ask and find out for this promo! How's that...

I went to this bar because I got an email about their Taco Tuesday nights and it seemed to be a promising time. There really isn't any parking available directly around their building so I can do park on the nearest street to them. When I went in, it looked really dive bar type with the main bar taking up almost half of the rooms' size. The rest was filled with bar stools and tables with a wall mounted juke box player. I was able to get a drink within the first minute I entered partly because I was only the 5th person there. While I was sitting down,I saw something moving on the floor from the corner of my eye and I thought it was a napkin being blown across the room but when I looked again, it was a RAT!!! This RAT was immediately pushed out with a broom by one of the staff. I've never been here before but that was just my experience with this place. I wish it could have been more of a pleasant one...