In part two of our Bay Area blog series, I showed you iconic parts of the San Francisco Peninsula. In part three, I can’t wait to share some of the staples of South Bay’s food scene. Let’s get to it! 

Where the Peninsula stops and the South Bay starts depends on who you talk to. While many would say that the Peninsula ends at Mountain View and the South Bay starts in Sunnyvale, others would say that the line between the two regions runs along the county divide, separating the areas right between Palo Alto and Los Altos. Regardless of who you talk to, everyone agrees that the South Bay is synonymous with “Silicon Valley” and is centered around San Jose, the largest city in Northern California. In San Jose, the weather is relatively warmer and the cities are more spread out and suburban. 

Sleek, modern, concrete, and cool, Dr.Ink is where you’ll want to start your day. Dr.Ink’s extensive list of seasonal coffees (hello, Caramel Apple Latte), crystal boba drinks, and everything in between will make you want to stay here all day just to try everything on the menu. It's a perfect place to set up your laptop to work for the morning or to try if you're only in the South Bay for vacation or while on assignment. Although you won’t leave Dr.Ink thirsty, you’ll most likely leave hungry. 

Head right across the street to Mochinut and pick up a Mochi Donut (or a dozen); you won’t be disappointed. As you cruise away from Downtown San Jose, head up “the Alameda,” a street and historical residential corridor of San Jose. 

You’ll have to flip a coin to decide where to eat lunch. Try Zona Rosa, which boasts a wide range of Mexican Fusion dishes, or Luna Mexican Kitchen, which serves fresh, authentic Mexican food daily. Regardless of your choice, you’ll leave happy with a full belly. Travel up to El Camino Real, a 600-mile road that stretches from San Diego all the way up to Sonoma and connects all 21 Spanish Missions in California. You’ll find Mission Santa Clara and the University of Santa Clara just a bit further up the road. 

After lunch, veer slightly off of El Camino Real and head over to the Westfield Shopping Center — also known as “Valley Fair” by the locals — for some shopping. Don’t leave without eating at Din Tai Fung, home of the “perfect soup dumpling; the xiao long bao.” This isn’t a lofty claim; since Din Tai Fung’s opening in Taipei in 1958, the restaurant has earned the Michelin star five times. Din Tai Fung chefs learn over three years how to meticulously handcraft each dumpling to measure between precisely 4.8 and 5.2 grams at conception and contain exactly 18 perfect folds.

After a day of authentic cuisine in one of the most racially diverse cities in the country, you’ll head home with a full and happy belly. You'll also have a new understanding of why more than a million urban dwellers and suburbanites find the right neighborhoods and housing in the South Bay.

Thanks for reading part three of our Bay Area blog series, and be sure to check out our latest Relocity market spotlights on:

• San Francisco (part one)
• The Peninsula (part two)
• The East Bay (part four)
• The North Bay (part five)

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