Super Bowl weekend calls for more than stadium snacks. Whether you want a quick meal before kickoff, somewhere to grab a drink with fellow fans or a proper dinner after the game, Santa Clara and nearby San Jose have plenty to choose from. From ramen just minutes from Levi’s Stadium to a San Jose institution that has been serving locals since the 1950s, here are seven spots worth adding to your game plan.
Clara’s Junction
Location: 2221 Tasman Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Best for: Pregame food and drinks
Price: $$
For a true game-day atmosphere, Clara’s Junction is hard to beat. Located just minutes from Levi’s Stadium, this indoor-outdoor restaurant and beer garden was practically made for pregame gatherings. Expect large-screen TVs, drinks, casual food, fire pits and lawn games, making it a great place to start Super Bowl Sunday before heading toward the stadium.
HiroNori Craft Ramen
Location: 4300 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Best for: A casual and more affordable meal
Price: $$
Not every Super Bowl meal needs to involve wings and burgers. HiroNori Craft Ramen is a convenient alternative close to Levi’s Stadium, serving tonkotsu, shoyu and vegan ramen alongside rice bowls and other Japanese dishes. It is especially useful if you want something filling without spending too much time or money on a long pregame meal.
Puesto Santa Clara
Location: 2752 Augustine Drive, Suite 110, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Best for: Tacos and margaritas
Price: $$
Puesto brings a little more energy to the pregame meal with tacos, guacamole, margaritas and a colorful setting that works particularly well for groups. It is close enough to Levi’s Stadium to remain practical on game day, but feels more like a proper night out than a quick stop for food.
Pacific Catch Santa Clara
Location: 3315 Coronado Place, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Best for: Seafood and a lighter meal
Price: $$
For something lighter before a long afternoon of football, Pacific Catch is a strong alternative to burgers and steak. The menu covers seafood, sushi, poke, ceviche, bowls and fish tacos, along with cocktails and happy-hour options.
Il Fornaio Santa Clara
Location: 2752 Augustine Drive, Suite 120, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Best for: Italian food
Price: $$$
If your group would rather sit down for pasta, seafood or steak before or after the game, Il Fornaio gives you a more traditional restaurant experience without sending you far from Santa Clara.
The Italian menu ranges from pasta and chicken dishes to seafood and steaks, making it particularly useful when everyone in the group wants something different. It is located in the same Santa Clara Square area as Puesto.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Location: 2762 Augustine Drive, Suite 110, Santa Clara, CA 95050
Best for: A Super Bowl weekend splurge
Price: $$$$
If Super Bowl weekend is an excuse to go all out, Fleming’s is the splurge option. The Santa Clara steakhouse specializes in USDA Prime steaks, seafood, wine and cocktails in a more upscale setting.
Its Santa Clara Square location keeps it within a short drive of Levi’s Stadium, but this is better suited to a relaxed dinner the night before the game or a celebratory meal than a rushed stop immediately before kickoff.
Birk’s
Location: 3955 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Best for: Steaks, seafood and a proper dinner
Price: $$$
A longtime Santa Clara restaurant, Birk’s has been serving the area since 1989 and specializes in hardwood-grilled steaks, chops and seafood. It offers another option for visitors who want something more substantial than casual pregame food.
The polished dining room and extensive wine list make it particularly well suited to a Saturday-night dinner before Super Bowl Sunday or a more relaxed meal during the weekend.
