Community Corner

Take the Food Network Tour of Santa Clara County

Local restaurants have been all over TV. We've got a comprehensive rundown here including a huge burrito, incredible Brussels sprouts and more.

Television networks have made a habit of featuring Santa Clara County on their food-themed shows. By our count, at least 12 different local restaurants have made the airwaves.

Want to tour all the restaurants? Here's the rundown:

1. Los Tapatios, 354 N White Rd., San Jose, CLOSED (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives) 

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Unfortunately, if you didn't get a chance to check out Los Tapatios in the past, you won't in the future either as it has officially closed. But Guy Fieri gave the place some fame once upon a time when it was still a food truck and not yet a doomed full restaurant. Even though the restaurant closed, you can still watch the episode here. Fast forward to the 18 minute mark. 

2. Naglee Park Garage, 505 E San Carlos St., San Jose (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives)
The good news is that Guy Fieri has visited enough local haunts that they're not all closed. Naglee Park Garage is a former auto shop with a super diverse menu that features home made sauces and some say the best burger in the city. 
Click here to watch the Food Network clip on Naglee Park Garage.

3. The Original Falafel's Drive-in, 2301 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives)
DDD stopped by another local staple a few years back, Original Falafel's Drive-In. The drive-in has been run by multiple generations of the same family since 1966. Sure the falafel is great, but don't forget the banana shakes, chosen because the fruit is available year-round. 
Click here to watch the Falafel's video clip.

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4. Evvia Estiatorio, 420 Emerson St., Palo Alto (Best Thing I Ever Ate)
Have you ever heard of soutzoukakia? Translation: lamb meat balls. Food Network personality marked the dish at Palo Alto's Evvia Estiatorio as one of the best dishes he has ever eaten. The moussaka at the eatery is also highly-touted.

5. Cool Cafe at Cantos Arts Center, 328 Lomita Dr., Stanford (FoodNation with Bobby Flay)

One of Bobby Flay's first shows on Food Network, back around the year 2000, was called "FoodNation with Bobby Flay" (not to be confused with "Man vs. Food Nation). Flay visited Cool Cafe back in the day to check out sustainable cuisine in a time when that was more a novel idea than it is in 2013.

6. Frost Cupcake Factory, 199 E Campbell Ave., Campbell (Cupcake Wars)
Just a couple weeks ago, Frost Cupcake Factory from Campbell brought home the big prize on Food Network's "Cupcake Wars." Owner Andrea Parks won $10,000 for her supreme baking on the show. 
You can watch Frost Cupcake Factory's audition tape for the show here.

7. SmokeEaters, 2625 The Alameda, Santa Clara CLOSED (Man vs. Food)
Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food" showed up in Santa Clara to see if host Adam Richman could eat 12 habanero hot wings in 10 minutes and then wait another five minutes before eating or drinking anything. The Santa Clara location is now closed, but you can still check out SmokeEaters in San Jose and Cupertino.
Click here to watch the video of the chicken wing challenge.

8. Manresa, 320 Village Ln., Los Gatos (Iron Chef America)
So the restaurant wasn't actually featured, but Head Chef David Kinch sure was, beating Iron Chef Bobby Flat in Battle Cabbage back in 2009. The restaurant is among the highest-rated in the state, but be prepared to spend plenty of money on dinner there. 
Click here to watch the end of Chef David Kinch's episode of "Iron Chef America."

9. The WOW, San Jose food truck, (Eat Street)
The WOW is a big part of the Bay Area's thriving food truck scene. Food Network's "Eat Street" profiled the truck's Filipino rice plates in November of 2011. Follow the truck on Facebook andTwitter to find out where it is located on any given day. 
Click here to watch a short clip on WOW from "Eat Street."

10. Original Joe's, 301 S First St., San Jose, (Food Paradise)
Travel Channel's "Food Paradise" showcases some of the best restaurants around the country. In November of 2011 they checked out Original Joe's on the episode titled "Manliest Restaurants."
Click here to watch the entire episode, which features the San Jose classic.

11. Iguana's BurritoZilla, 330 S Third St., San Jose (Man vs. Food)
Travel Channel Host Adam Richman and competitive eater Joey Chestnut returned to San Jose to attempt to eat the massive five-pound, 18-inch, multi-tortilla burrito.
See video of the burrito eating challenge here. 

12. Henry's World Famous Hi-Life, 301 W St. John St., San Jose (Man vs. Food)
The final stop on the San Jose "Man vs. Food" tour was at Henry's World Famous Hi-Life, where the host attempted to eat a mammoth rack of ribs. Henry's is also known for steaks, pork chops and chicken.
Check out a video of the episod at Henry's here.

Did we miss any that you remember on the Food Network? Are you a big fan of any of the restaurants above? Tell us in the comments!


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