As jazz, blues, salsa and funk return for the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 7-9), so too will barbecue, catfish, tacos, noodles and more.
Festivalgoers will find plenty of food and beverage booths located at and near downtown’s city plaza and the Main Stage, Blues/Big Easy Stage and Latin Stage.
If you plan to frequent the Swing Stage at San Pedro Square Market, where the music is free, you’ll find plenty of food and drink options.
Andrew Reynolds, of San Jose, plays congas during the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose in 2023. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Here are our jazz critic’s picks for the top 8 musical acts to catch. And when you want to plan your between-sets snacking, here are highlights from the festival’s global food lineup:
Lord of the Ribs BBQ: Hot links, pulled pork, ribs, loaded nachos and macaroni and cheese. Tip: The ribs sell out quickly, so order early.
Fiya Spice Caribbean: Bowls with oxtail, curry goat, curry prawns or jerk chicken, plus Rasta Pasta, wings, plantains and mac and cheese.
Hot and Sizzling: Greek favorites, including gyros (chicken, lamb), falafel, sausages and fries.
Saigon Street Food: Banh mi, garlic noodles and rice plates.
Roux: Fried fish plates with hush puppies and okra, plus slaw, fries or potato salad. For dessert, lemon icebox pie.
S&E’s Food Team: Barbecue ribs on a stick, stuffed turkey legs, brisket or pulled-pork nachos, burritos, and sandwiches. Six lemonade flavors.
El Bombero 408: Tijuana-style tacos, quesadillas, burritos, mulitas, papa loca and aguas frescas.
Yakitori Yado: Japanese barbecue and chicken skewers.
Grillzillas: Burgers made with Black Angus beef.
Chubby’s Chick’n: Nashville hot chicken sandos, sliders, wings, tenders and waffle fries.
Uncle Papa’s BBQ: Prime brisket and tri-tip sandwiches, rib tips, hot links, mac-and-cheese bowls and potato salad.
La Fenice: Wood-fired pizzas: cheese, margherita, pepperoni and dulce picante (soppressata, fresh mozzarella, crushed tomato, basil, Calabrian oil and honey).
3 Hermanos Mexican Grill: Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, alambre, enchiladas, hot dogs, nachos, tortas and aguas frescas.
Luv’s Brownies: Freshly baked brownies, ice cream and Cuban coffee drinks.
Yummy Kitchen: Garlic shrimp noodles, fried chicken wing noodles, egg rolls and rainbow jelly juice.
Drae’s Lemonade: Freshly made lemonades in unusual flavors like watermelon yuzu.
Olde Tyme Kettle Korn: Kettle corn, caramel kettle corn and roasted peanuts in the shell.