Located in Silicon Valley in the southern end of the peninsula between San Francisco and Santa Cruz sits the little American town of Mountain View. Formerly a sleepy little place, it’s now brimming with startups and the revitalization that new businesses often bring, including exciting dining options with a wide variety of cuisines, from Thai to Mexican to French and more. With so many options and so many price points, we’ve rounded up reviews of the 9 best Mountain View restaurants to help you decide where to eat.
The Midwife and The Baker
Run by a husband and wife duo, this little cafe might just become one of your favorite breakfast spots in Mountain View! It’s best known for its freshly baked bread made with milled-in-house local grains! However, they also make a delicious array of pastries, including award-winning butter croissants, seasonal sweet and savory danishes, and currant orange scones at their Independence Avenue location. You can also get many of their products at local bakeries and farmer’s markets, so keep your eye out! Their baked goods make a memorable quick breakfast, on-the-go snack, or part of a family picnic.
Vive Sol
Vive Sol has one of the most exciting menus in Mountain View, packed with crave-able Mexican eats and margaritas. Here, they serve dishes from La Cocina Barroca Poblana, the cuisine of the city of Puebla, in the central part of Mexico, believed to be chosen by angels and “heaven sent”. The colorfully decorated cantina has a large menu filled with a variety of enchiladas, burritos, and house specialties. If the weather is nice, grab a spot on the patio and a marg or two, and relax!
Amarin Thai
Expect to sit on cushions on the floor while you enjoy truly authentic Thai food in this traditional restaurant. The menu is expansive, but dishes are very reasonably priced, so make sure you order a variety so that you can try everything from the crisped spring rolls to the pad thai (and maybe share with the table!). It’s been voted “Best Thai in Mountain View” every year since 1999, so we can pretty much guarantee you’re going to enjoy yourself.
Cascal
Pan-Latin food is on the menu at this beloved restaurant in Mountain View, CA. The lively atmosphere, great service, and delicious food awarded it the OpenTable Diner’s Choice in 2020 and the #1 restaurant overall in the area according to Tripadvisor reviews! If you’re looking for variety, try their Spanish Tapa Sampler or option for a classic (but no less tasty) Cascal Paella with chicken, pork, chorizo sausage, shrimp, mussels, clams, peas, and piquillo peppers. The menu has many gluten free and vegetarian options, making it a great choice if someone in your party has dietary restrictions or allergies. There’s also a beautiful patio with outdoor seating that you can take advantage of if the weather permits!
Xanh
One of Mountain View’s trendiest restaurants, Xanh’s menu is a fusion of traditional Vietnamese dishes and Silicon Valley fine dining. In addition to their regular lunch and dinner offerings, they have a Happy Hour daily from 5:00 to 6:30 PM with drinks ranging between $5.5 and $9 each and $5-7 appetizers like Vietnamese tacos and steamed potstickers. Most of their menu items can be made vegetarian, making this Mountain View restaurant a good choice if you or someone in your party doesn’t eat meat. Presentation is top of mind, regardless of what you order, with dishes coming out of the kitchen elegantly plated and ready for you to snap a pic before you chow down.
Oren’s Hummus
This cozy Mediterranean joint offers drool-worthy authentic Israeli dishes in a relaxed setting. They offer a huge variety of hummus bowls (served with pita) with different toppings, including options like Moroccan spiced ground beef and pine nuts or marinated beets, feta cheese, chopped walnuts, orange zest, and balsamic reduction. In fact, many of their ingredients are imported from Israel to ensure an authentic Tel Aviv taste. Portions are generous and prices are quite reasonable, which makes this a great lunch spot, but we promise you’ll enjoy it just as much at dinner time!
Doppio Zero
Doppio Zero serves up comforting Neapolitan wood-fired pizza and Southern Italian cuisine in Mountain View, CA. In true Italian fashion, the food and wine are high-quality, but the atmosphere is relaxed and inviting with warm wooden tabletops, exposed beams, and rustic chandeliers. You may think pizza is just pizza, but the dining spot has won awards for it’s “double zero” flour pizza with options like their “Doppio Zero” with fior di latte mozzarella, burrata cheese, 2 year aged prosciutto di parma, arugula, shaved parmigiano reggiano, and E.V.O.O. If you’re craving good food and good company, this pizza joint may just fit the bill.
Chez TJ
Dine like kings and queens in Mountain View at this (extremely) fine dining, contemporary French restaurant, Chez TJ. This high-end restaurant received a Michelin star in 2019 and many ingredients come from the restaurant’s own garden, located in the area, which guests are permitted to visit. It’s located in one of the most historic Victorian homes in town, which was built in 1894. Like many Michelin star restaurants, the chef serves a surprise three hour, prix fixe tasting menu – an experience, not just a meal. We will warn you though, Chez TJ comes with a high price tag and though it does vary as the menu changes, it’s currently $225 per person (to give you a point of reference). Reservations are a must, so be sure to call ahead.
Sakoon
There are a surprising number of Indian restaurants in Mountain View, but Sakoon might just be the best one. Drive (or walk!) to its downtown area where they serve up “dishes that borrow from the past”, but are “reinvented with vibrancy and a modern flair”. The robust dinner menu is delicious, though many opt for the super affordable (about $15-18 per person, depending on the day) lunch buffet that runs everyday. This all-you-can-eat extravaganza includes a spread of over two dozen dishes as well as a “live-action” station where Indian street foods such as kathi rolls, chaats, dosas and uthappam are whipped up and served! If you enjoy Indian cuisine, check out this unique Mountain View restaurant.
