Bar Tako
San Pedro Square, San Jose
Restaurant in San Jose, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$30–50per person
Dress
Business Casual
Why go
Bar Tako is worth considering for a downtown San Jose group that wants Mexican-Japanese crossover, raw bar and robata options, plus tequila, mezcal, and Japanese whisky in one place. It is less compelling for purists or quiet business meals, but useful for flexible diners who want a lively shared-table format.
About Bar Tako
Bar Tako is a San Jose venue with a temporary Mexican-Japanese format. Its concept includes a raw bar, robata grill, tequila, mezcal, and Japanese whisky, so it is best understood as a crossover option rather than a single-lane dining or bar stop.
Bar Tako is in San Jose, follows a business-casual dress code, and is open Tuesday through Sunday, with Monday closed.
Mexican-Japanese crossover makes sense for groups, less so for purists
The pitch is not “Mexican restaurant” or “Japanese restaurant” in the narrow sense. It is a temporary Mexican-Japanese format with raw bar and robata elements, plus tequila, mezcal, and Japanese whisky. That makes it a useful pick for diners who want one San Jose stop built around more than a single cuisine lane.
That also means diners looking for a more conventional category may want to compare it with other options. La Victoria Taqueria and Sushi Confidential San Jose are useful names to consider depending on the direction of the meal. Bar Tako is for the table that is specifically interested in the Mexican-Japanese crossover.
Use it as a San Jose crossover pick, with details confirmed before booking
For planning, the safest read is direct: Bar Tako is a San Jose concept with a Mexican-Japanese focus, raw bar, robata grill, and drinks that include tequila, mezcal, and Japanese whisky.
Compared with The Farmers Union, this is the more crossover-cuisine-driven choice; compared with Taurinus Brazilian Steakhouse, it is a different style of meal built around Mexican-Japanese elements. If the priority is a conventional bar atmosphere, The Pressroom belongs on the same shortlist.
For broader San Jose planning, these pages can help if this slot needs a backup: restaurants and bars. Other San Jose dining options can also help round out a shortlist depending on what the group wants.
If the draw is cross-cultural drinking and eating, keep the comparison general: Bar Tako's angle is Mexican-Japanese food and drink in San Jose, with raw bar, robata grill, tequila, mezcal, and Japanese whisky as the core elements.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: Closed · Tuesday: 12–9 PM
- Location
- 17 N San Pedro St, San Jose, CA 95110
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- bartakosj.com
- Phone
- (408) 493-2722
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Bar Tako presents a focused, chef-driven fusion that reads energetic and refined without being formal. The downtown, street-level location on North San Pedro Street situates it among independently minded concepts, and the program (Mexican-Japanese plates, a raw bar and a robata grill) favours technique and punchy flavors. The bar leans heavily on tequila, mezcal and Japanese whisky, so the room feels animated and social, with a culinary seriousness that keeps things elevated. Overall it balances neighborhood approachability with a sophisticated sense of craft, making it feel both lively and thoughtfully composed.
Best For
Bar Tako is best suited to evening outings where a lively bar program and shareable plates are front and center. The combination of raw crudo, aguachile-style preparations, grilled robata items and tacos makes it well suited for group dining and celebrations, when guests want to order a variety of plates to share. Its downtown San Pedro Square setting and spirit-forward focus also make it a reliable after-work stop or a casual date-night option for diners who appreciate technique-driven, flavor-forward small plates paired with tequila, mezcal or Japanese whisky.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the venue's strengths: start with the raw-bar and crudo formats and sample with an eye to contrast and texture: signature items like the hamachi crudo and salmon tartare showcase the cross-cultural emphasis on freshness and acid. Move on to smoky, grilled offerings from the robata and the togarashi shrimp tacos for savory smoke and spice. Pair those plates with the bar’s spirit program: tequila and mezcal for smoky, earthy matches or Japanese whisky for a cleaner, umami-forward counterpoint. Plates are shareable, so order a few to pass and taste across the menu.
Venue details
Ambiance
Lively atmosphere centered around a traditional robata grill with smoky, caramelized flavors and a dynamic raw bar.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Business Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
- Kitchen
- Fusion
- Menu Format
- Small plates, A la carte
- Drinks Focus
- Tequila, Mezcal, Japanese whisky
- Private Dining
- Available
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
Signature Dishes
- hamachi_crudo
- salmon_tartare
- togarashi_shrimp_tacos
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 17 N San Pedro St, San Jose, CA 95110
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- 12–9 PM
- Wednesday
- 12–9 PM
- Thursday
- 12–9 PM
- Friday
- 12–10 PM
- Saturday
- 12–10 PM
- Sunday
- 12–9 PM
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- La Victoria Taqueria, Notable alternative
- The Pressroom, Notable alternative
- The Farmers Union, Notable alternative
- Taurinus Brazilian Steakhouse, Notable alternative
- Sushi Confidential San Jose, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How Bar Tako compares in San Jose
Choose Bar Tako over La Victoria Taqueria when the night needs a broader drinks program and a more exploratory Mexican-Japanese format. Choose La Victoria Taqueria when value, speed, and a classic taqueria mood matter more than raw bar, robata, tequila, mezcal, and Japanese whisky.
Sushi Confidential San Jose is the better fit for diners who want the decision to stay in the sushi lane. Bar Tako is stronger for mixed groups because the format gives seafood fans, grilled-food people, and cocktail drinkers more ways into the same meal.
For groups, The Farmers Union and Taurinus Brazilian Steakhouse are safer when the brief is familiar and filling. The Pressroom is the cleaner bar-first alternative. Bar Tako is the pick when ambiance and crossover cooking matter more than predictability.
Explore San Jose
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Bar Tako guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Bar Tako
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Tako | San Jose | Temporary Mexican–Japanese (raw bar, robata grill, tequila/mezcal/Japanese whisky) | No published awards |
| La Victoria Taqueria | San Jose | No published awards | |
| The Pressroom | San Jose | No published awards | |
| The Farmers Union | San Jose | No published awards | |
| Taurinus Brazilian Steakhouse | San Jose | No published awards | |
| Sushi Confidential San Jose | San Jose | No published awards |
How Bar Tako San Jose compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bar Tako good for solo dining?
Bar Tako can work for a solo diner who is specifically interested in a San Jose Mexican-Japanese format with raw bar or robata elements. Its hours are Tuesday through Sunday, with Monday closed. If you want another San Jose option to compare, Sushi Confidential San Jose is one name to consider.
Can Bar Tako accommodate groups?
Bar Tako may be a fit for groups interested in a Mexican-Japanese crossover meal in San Jose. Taurinus Brazilian Steakhouse is another San Jose option to compare for a different kind of group meal.
Does Bar Tako handle dietary restrictions?
Because the format includes raw bar and robata elements, diners with restrictions should check directly with the venue before going. La Victoria Taqueria is another San Jose option to compare for a different dining direction.
What is Bar Tako known for?
Bar Tako is a temporary Mexican-Japanese format in San Jose, with raw bar, robata grill, tequila, mezcal, and Japanese whisky.
