Silicon Valley Actually Has a Great Foodie Scene—Here’s Where to Go

Sunset’s Insider Guide series highlights seasonal diversions and secret travel tips from local experts. Follow along as we learn where to eat, drink, stay, and shop.

Galdones Photography

Meet the Insider:
Stephanie Izard, Chef-Owner of Girl & The Goat

Location: Silicon Valley, California

If you’re a fan of food TV, then you’ll hardly need an introduction to Stephanie Izard, whose bouncy curls and playful style of cooking have landed her wins on shows like Top Chef and Iron Chef. First finding success with restaurants in Chicago, she now lives in California, most recently opening Valley Goat in Sunnyvale. Here, she shows us that though Greater Silicon Valley is most famously known as the hub of the tech world, there’s a vibrant culinary scene worth exploring. 

Nick Podraza

EAT 

I’ve been lucky to explore a lot of awesome spots with Valley Goat’s chef de cuisine Ray Chi, who is a great tour guide. Some of my favorite visits have been Special Hainan Chicken in Millbrae for super tender and flavorful chicken, Broma in Mountain View for great tapas and even better pastries, Shancheng Lameizi in Milpitas for an awesome Chinese hot pot, 10 Butchers Korean BBQ in Sunnyvale for fluffy jeon and perfectly flavored beef, and The Second Wife in San Jose for delish noodles and great service. 

Hardy Wilson Photography

DRINK

Rossotti’s Alpine Inn is so pretty. It’s the perfect place to have a drink and a bite outside among all of the redwoods. I also love the selection at Barebottle Brewing Co. We serve a lot of their beers at Treehouse, actually. A Sunset favorite is Clark’s Oyster Bar, where you can pull up a seat at the smartly designed bar and people-watch while enjoying an excellent lobster roll alongside a Vesper martini.

© Salil Bhatt/Getty Images

DO

Mountain View Farmers’ Market is worth swinging through to shop and get inspiration. Northern California produce is in a class of its own. The Santa Cruz Mountains are great for hikes, especially Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

Four Seasons Silicon Valley at Palo Alto

STAY

Well, I’m a little biased on this one, because I always stay at the Treehouse Hotel when I’m in town. It’s an amazing spot, and I always feel right at home. Our playful, trippy styles match perfectly. I wish I had more time to swim in the pool when I’m there because the cabanas feel like an adult summer camp! Another great option is Four Seasons Silicon Valley at Palo Alto, which has a great brunch and a rooftop pool.