Super Bowl LX is just about to touch down in the Bay Area on Sunday, February 8, taking over TV screens and causing wing sales to spike. This year’s big game between the Patriots and Seahawks takes place at Levi’s Stadium — notably located in Santa Clara, not San Francisco, which is 42 miles away — and tourists and locals alike are gearing up to eat and drink around the Bay Area ahead of the game. If you’re looking for an amazing gem to visit in the days leading up to the Big Game, here are some options.
Bookmark this link for the most up-to-date options on where to eat and drink inside Levi’s Stadium, arriving on Wednesday, February 4.
Where to Eat Outside of Levi’s Stadium
The more moneyed crowds looking for a classic steakhouse experience have some options about town, but for something a bit different (with high-quality meats) check out 10 Butchers Korean BBQ. The restaurant offers premium meats, such as an A5 rib-eye or U.S. wagyu short ribs, all primed to hit the gas grill at the table. Round out the dinner with other dishes such as the dolsot bibimbap or kimchi jjigae. The restaurant also offers cocktails and wine by the bottle, all in a contemporary setting. 595 East El Camino Real, Sunnyvale
For a dim sum experience less than a 10-minute drive away from the stadium (assuming there’s no traffic), Saigon Seafood Harbor might be your best bet. Go for the classics like shu mai and shrimp dumplings in that translucent wrapper. And if you’re looking to shell out (pun intended), the crab is worth looking at and comes in various preparations, such as a version that’s pan-fried with egg yolk. End things on a sweet note with an egg custard tart or sesame balls. 1135 Lawrence Expressway, Sunnyvale
Roasted oysters at Valley Goat Nick Podraza
Valley Goat is the Silicon Valley location of chef Stephanie Izard’s “Goat” restaurants, a beautiful, plant-filled space inside the Treehouse Hotel. Izard’s food zips through different cuisines with ease, such as a wood-fired chicken served with tzatziki, or Brussels sprouts with a yuzu kosho vinaigrette. Diners certainly won’t be bored, and they’ll be front and center for a very Silicon Valley experience, seeing as how it’s sandwiched near the biggest tech companies with plenty of employees dropping in for a meal, but it should make for good ear hustling. 1100 North Mathilda Avenue, Sunnyvale
Looking for a football player-approved restaurant? Look no further than HiroNori Craft Ramen: The LA-based ramen chain has an outpost in a strip mall just outside Levi’s Stadium, and it’s a favorite of Niners safety Ji’Ayir Brown. He gave the restaurant a shoutout on the You’ve Got Mail podcast, saying it’s such a favorite, he’s ready to franchise HiroNori on the East Coast. The restaurant offers three types of ramen — shoyu, tonkatsu, and vegan sesame miso broth, plus a cold dipping noodle option — but there are other non-ramen dishes. For those who are looking for something other than soup (or something to accompany the soup, as a growing football player or fan), there are also some rice bowls with pork, chicken, spicy tuna, or salmon poke. HiroNori also has locations in Cupertino and San Mateo. 4300 Great America Parkway, Suite 180, Santa Clara
A quick 15-minute drive from the stadium, LeYou is “an ode to contemporary Ethiopia,” per the Michelin Guide writeup, and a local favorite. Go for the combination plate if you’re looking to explore the slow-cooked stews, which lets diners try two items such as key wot with diced beef. Tibs are bits of meat spiced with berbere, such as boneless cubes of lamb. Make sure to add on kategna to the order, it’s a toasted injera filled with a spiced chile powder and comes with a side of yogurt. 1100 North First Street, Suite C, San Jose
Liang pi from Tarim Garden Octavio Peña
Tarim Garden is one of the few opportunities in the Bay Area to try food from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of Northwest China. Owner Lei Han hails from Xinjiang and is a third-generation chef serving halal food based on family recipes. The specialty dish is laghman, a hand-pulled noodle that Lei makes daily. You can’t go wrong with ordering one of those dishes, or try the cold rice noodles, another specialty of the region. The restaurant also serves a few special dishes from Monday to Thursday, such as the beef chives laghman or a laghman with tomato, egg, and green pepper. 2135 El Camino Real, Santa Clara
Where to Eat and Drink in the South Bay
Santa Clara is located at the tip of the South Bay, but there’s plenty more to explore nearby.
Where to Eat Elsewhere in the Bay Area
Head up the freeway to San Francisco and Oakland for a food-filled adventure.
Where to Eat Elsewhere in the Bay Area
Explore some of the world’s best bars in and around San Francisco.
Download the Eater App for iOS to get even more great food recommendations in the Bay.
Super Bowl Events Around Santa Clara
Tight End University is throwing a little soiree with Sports Illustrated on Thursday, February 5, at Public Works. Dubbed Tight Ends & Friends, the event features musical performances by Loud Luxury and Frank Walker. The event also features “interactive games” and other things to keep you occupied. A limited number of tickets are available via Sports Illustrated Tickets. Tight Ends & Friends at Public Works, 161 Erie Street, San Francisco, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursday, February 5
For something a little more fun and unserious, Mission Loteria is throwing a Bad Bunny Lookalike Contest on Thursday, February 5, at Tacolicious. Put on your best Bad Bunny look and enter the contest (there’s a $100 cash prize plus a Tacolicious gift card included), or go to gawk at all the Bad Bunny lookalikes, but either way, there will be a Bad Bunny-themed food and drink menu to indulge in. Let’s hope Benito pulls a Timothée Chalamet move and shows up to his own lookalike contest. One can dream, right? Bad Bunny Lookalike Contest at Tacolicious, 741 Valencia Street, San Francisco, from 5 p.m to 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 5
We’re big fans of R&B and Ribs and they’re hosting a huge party for Super Bowl weekend — on Saturday, February 7, T-Pain and Sean Paul will perform at Pier 80 for the 21-and-over crowd. Tickets are dwindling, but there are some general admission tickets still available for $150 at Tixr. R&B and Ribs at Pier 80 Warehouse, 401 Cesar Chavez Street, San Francisco, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, February 7
Family Style Food Fest is turning up in Oakland on Saturday, February 7, promising food and musical performances at the Oakland Arena. LaRussel and Karri are on deck for performances, while restaurants like Hyphy Burger, Bodega, Señor Sisig, Bigface Coffee, and more hold down the food. General admission is free with registration via Tixr, with VIP tickets available for $275. Family Style Food Fest at Oakland Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 7
Guy Fieri hosts the fourth annual Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate at the Cow Palace, tapping a pretty decent roster of local restaurants to help support. Places like Waterbar, Slanted Door, Tacolicious, and China Live will all be on hand selling food, and there will be performances by Loud Luxury and Tucker Wetmore. It’s notably an all-ages event, and while all the free tickets have all been snagged, there are still tickets available for purchase for $55 and up. Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate at Cow Palace Arena, 2600 Geneva Avenue, Daly City, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, February 8
Things to Know While Attending the Super Bowl
Parking and Transportation
Those attending the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium — or just trying to get to the surrounding events — should plan their transportation strategy in advance. Bay Area Super Bowl organizers have guides to everything from Santa Clara, San Jose, and SF road closures to emergency alerts tied to game day to help travelers navigate safely. Official parking is available by reservation online (note that tailgating is banned in parking spots), with additional parking spaces available at 2346 Calle Del Mundo and 2311 Calle Del Mundo through the ParkWhiz and SpotHero apps. Those planning to take rideshares such as Uber or Lyft can check their app to select a designated “load zone” for the Super Bowl. Valley Transportation Authority also has light rail routes running; you’ll want to download the app for iOS and Android to pay for fares. Train service is also available into Santa Clara with Capitol Corridor; the rail line has modified service during Super Bowl weekend.
What You Can and Can’t Bring Into the Stadium
Security is tight at the stadium during the Super Bowl for obvious reasons. Ticketholders are permitted to bring clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags not exceeding 12x6x12 inches. Non-clear bags are also allowed provided they’re not larger than 4.5×6.5 inches. Then, of course, there are the obvious prohibited items: outside alcohol, non-service animals, banners and signs, battery-operated clothing, chairs, recording devices, beverage containers… the list goes on and you can find it on the NFL website. There’s also an FAQ, if you want to get into the details.