We’ll take a local neighborhood gem over a tourist-trap hotspot any day. Before you start defending those flashy downtown spots, hear us out. You won’t have to fight for reservations months in advance, and the atmosphere is far more authentic. And you’ll usually be surrounded by passionate food lovers instead of Instagram posers. Whether you’re planning a special occasion, exploring new cuisines, or just craving an exceptional meal, here are Mountain View’s finest.
Queen House Chinese Restaurant
$ | (650) 960-0580 | WEBSITE
With its clean, unassuming storefront, Queen House feels like a neighborhood secret, but that’s also because it’s kind of a secret in general. The downtown Mountain View crowd somehow hasn’t discovered this spot yet, so parking is the only real challenge. The food is what you might expect from a reliable local Chinese place: sausage fried rice with a pleasingly dry texture, beef noodle soup that’s tasty even if the lean beef can get stringy, and 红烧牛肉牛筋面 that’s impressively tender.
But you’re here for the best fried rice in the area: the sausage version comes in a perfect mound of grains that we’d be happy eating like a main course.
Clocktower Coffee Roasting Company
$ | (650) 210-8032 | WEBSITE
Sunday mornings might be the best way to experience Clocktower Coffee Roasting Company. Things are so quiet, you can stroll straight up to the counter and order your cold brew with banana syrup without waiting in any line. You might even get a seat by the window with sunshine filling the room. The chocolate croissants are great, but our go-to is always the fresh roasted coffee with a donut chaser.
Coffee is the most important drink of the day, and we are ready and willing to take advantage of that.
Baskin-Robbins
$ | (650) 940-9831 | WEBSITE
At Baskin-Robbins, the air smells like sugar, there are colorful toppings galore, and you’ll probably see a five-year-old wearing the contents of a Cotton Candy scoop on her face. This is the kind of cute, comforting ice cream shop you want on a weekend afternoon. Order something simple like the classic Strawberry cheesecake, the patient staff will let you taste several new options, or the special photo cakes they create on short notice that are still impressive in the details.
Super Tacos Food Truck
$ | (650) 452-8527 | WEBSITE
Calling Super Tacos Food Truck a taco spot is a total understatement—we’d be happy eating at this Mountain View institution any time of day—but something about a street-side meal is especially authentic. Even on your average Tuesday afternoon, you’ll find an eclectic cast: office workers grabbing lunch, families with kids in tow, and regulars who haven’t glanced at the menu board in months.
Speaking of the menu, the carnitas and carne asada tacos are particularly praised, we suggest coming with an appetite plan. Here’s ours: al pastor taco, super burrito with extra red salsa, chicken taco with free tortilla chips, and a satisfied walk back to the car.
Boba Bliss
$$ | (650) 390-6556 | WEBSITE
Boba Bliss is one of those spots you step into and immediately picture yourself settling in for the afternoon. This modern Bay Area tea shop is a straight-up boba destination and kind of bright, airy hangout where you grab a seat by their sunlit window, sip some Lemon Green Tea, and watch the students at nearby tables dive into their textbooks. You come to Boba Bliss entirely for the vibe, but leave realizing the drinks were seriously impressive too.
Round Table Pizza
$ | (650) 961-0361 | WEBSITE
There’s something about a classic pizza joint that brings people together. Maybe it’s something about the bubbling cheese and the crust crisping that gets people to relax. Whatever it is, Round Table Pizza has it. Come to this Mountain View spot to sit in a comfortable booth that supports you just right.
It’s an ideal place to catch up with friends or plan a casual dinner over absolutely killer pizzas, consistent favorites, and comforting slices that satisfy every time, including those slightly higher-priced pies that are worth every penny.
Happy Lemon
$ | (650) 282-5288 | WEBSITE
In a hypothetical Boba Olympics scenario, we’d nominate Happy Lemon to represent Mountain View. This popular boba tea spot is catnip for tea-loving locals who stop by on weekday afternoons to study in their notebooks and chat with every friend that walks past. Arrive before 5pm to order off the tea-heavy menu, including the standout Okinawa roasted milk tea with its rich, slightly sweet flavor and a refreshing mango matcha smoothie that balances mango and matcha perfectly.
Happy Lemon has ample indoor seating, as well as stools at their counter, where you can watch bubble waffles being cooked while waiting for your boba tea. The boba is consistently soft with the right amount of chew, and the chocolate bubble waffle is praised as perfect—not too sweet and cooked to perfection. Though the taro milk tea may be too milky for some, the overall cute atmosphere and reliable service make Happy Lemon a go-to choice for boba enthusiasts.
Momoya Sushi
$$ | (650) 967-6166 | WEBSITE
Something about Momoya Sushi casts a magical spell over Mountain View locals. This hidden gem on the edge of town is the kind of place where sushi enthusiasts go every Friday after work to feast on fresh rolls until they can barely move. And after years in business, that authentic, family-owned feel remains. Everyone at one of the warm wooden tables is savoring the Ace roll, chatting with fellow regulars, or filling up on the Blogger roll.
Yes, it’s actually called the Blogger roll on the menu, and it’s an accurate description.
Mochi Waffle Corner
$ | (650) 567-3737 | WEBSITE
This compact waffle shop is one of the few spots in Mountain View that’ll remind you there used to be techies coding in garages instead of ordering from kiosks. You’ll be hit with modern simplicity once your friendly staff member arrives with a chewy pandan waffle, ube coffee, and lemon tea. The menu—and flavors—are bold, so it’s best to show up with a craving. Or just get to know the group of students sharing boba toppings at one outdoor table.
Crepevine Restaurants
$ | (650) 969-6878 | WEBSITE
Sure, most of us can manage a simple crepe at home. But sometimes you just want to hand off the griddle work, and Crepevine is one of the best spots in Mountain View for it. They’ll stuff your crepe with a spiced Bombay filling (yes, you read that right), or our favorite, the standout Tuscany. There are heartier options like the savory crepes served with two generous sides, and the whole process is a lot calmer than the very bustling atmosphere that fills this place during peak hours.
Sushi Jin
$$$$ | (650) 386-5885 | WEBSITE
Sushi Jin is an exceptional upscale restaurant tucked away in a Mountain View shopping center with a large free parking lot. It’s pretty lovely in here, with simple yet elegant Japanese decor that creates an excellent ambiance. Walk in any evening, and you’ll find a bunch of people enjoying the omakase tasting menu, which provides around ten small plates that leave you completely satisfied.
The standout dishes include the grilled ebodai butterfish, the soft and flaky black cod in the soup course, and a unique uni tasting that lets you appreciate different types of sea urchin. The hojicha panna cotta is a delightful dessert option that rounds out the meal perfectly. The pieces of nigiri are a good size, with exceptional freshness and tender textures that celebrate the fish’s natural flavors.
At $155 per person, it’s reasonable for such high-end sushi, and the friendly, knowledgeable staff adds wonderful hospitality, including complimentary champagne toasts for special occasions. While the service pacing could improve at times, the overall experience makes this a must-visit destination for sushi lovers looking for a unique, high-quality dining experience.
Ume Tea
$ | (877) 361-7354 | WEBSITE
Ume Tea is a charming bubble tea spot in Mountain View serving fussy-sounding drinks that actually aren’t that fussy. Think brown sugar boba milk tea with perfectly chewy pearls, oolong teas with floral notes, and new summer peach drinks like the peach yogurt drink with its creamy swirl. The menu is accessed through an iPad kiosk. Drinks happen in a pink-decorated space filled with tech workers and other customers that look like they were built for a Saturday night crowd.
Taqueria La Espuela
$ | (650) 969-1464 | WEBSITE
When this cozy traditional shack in Mountain View first opened years ago, it catered primarily to the local neighborhood crowd, but these days, it feels like the entire community is gathering at the outdoor tables. Firefighters and military members grabbing carnitas tacos squeeze into benches next to families who are banking on fresh carrot juice to get them through the morning.
The signature Chile Verde Burrito is one of the best in the area, but if you’re feeling more breakfasty, go for a standout breakfast burrito, fajitas, or chips and salsa.
Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea
$ | WEBSITE
Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea goes from total chaos on weekends to almost zen quiet on a weekday afternoon. The Mango Pomelo fruit tea and some of the best boba in the neighborhood taste so much better when you haven’t waited in line and then battled with a tech worker for a spot at the counter.
Chili’s Grill & Bar
$$ | (650) 941-2227 | WEBSITE
Chili’s Grill & Bar serves up the kind of all-American family fantasy you’d see in a Friday night sitcom rerun: sports on TV, cheerful chatter, and parents who look like they just finished coaching Little League ordering triple dippers. The good news? It can be your fantasy, too. This lively Tex-Mex spot is perfect for casual dinners, so grab a booth in the clean, friendly dining room where you can debate game highlights while sharing big mouth bites and sipping a frosty margarita.
Jack In The Box
$ | (650) 964-0937 | WEBSITE
It’s not unusual to grab fast food from a strip mall, a highway exit, or while rushing between errands. But a drive-thru that actually works? That’s a rare find, or actually, a classic one. Jack In The Box has been a staple in the Sunnyvale/Mountain View area for decades, serving as a reliable late-night option, presumably for people who need to satisfy cravings after a long day. The food is better than you’d anticipate.
Pull up to the efficient window, order the deep-fried tacos, and let the friendly staff hand you something that’s actually hot and crunchy.
Everest Cuisine-Mountain View
$$ | (650) 282-5958 | WEBSITE
Mountain View is ground zero for authentic Himalayan flavors. Which is why we’re all about Everest Cuisine, a (you guessed it) Himalayan-focused spot on Castro Street. And when we say Himalayan-focused, we really mean momo platters. Sure, you can get tandoori salmon here, but if you’re not loading up on these best-in-town veg momo platters, then you aren’t doing this place justice. They’re also open until 10pm, ideal for those dinner-for-later situations.
Veggie Garden
$ | (650) 961-6888 | WEBSITE
Veggie Garden is a Mountain View institution and a favorite among locals looking for a great vegan or non-vegan meal. Come lunchtime, the place will be full of people enjoying fresh potstickers and delicious chow mein. If you want to skip the crowds, head over in the late afternoon when the dining room empties a bit and finding a seat is almost guaranteed.
Pizza My Heart
$ | (650) 938-4200 | WEBSITE
Weekend pizza at Pizza My Heart is the restaurant equivalent of that one friend who’s always got the perfect casual spot. The welcoming Mountain View location has huge slices at the counter and thin-crust pizzas that the tiny devil on your shoulder will try to convince you to order extra. That vegan pepperoni pizza is going to immediately convince you to abandon your salad aspirations.
There will likely be a crowd during peak hours, but the friendly staff moves things quickly, and you can always stare at the vegan options while you wait and wonder if it’s weird to come back later for the Big Sur. (It’s not.)