GOTTA CATCH ‘EM ALL…and maybe a bite to eat later.
by Alexander Quebec
As many of us know, Pokemon Go is in full effect as many people all over the world have been searching for the strongest and rarest of Pokemon. However, all that hunting sure makes one hungry! Perhaps, you’ve seen a few new places around some Pokestops, but haven’t yet tried them. I decided to venture out of the game and go to some of the most popular places near Pokestops (thanks to a little help from Yelp and my own experiences around the area). Check out our list of the hottest spots near Pokestops in the South San Francisco Bay Area.
Calaveras Ave. – Milpitas
Milpitas tends to be where everyone goes to sleep at night and nothing more, a sleeper town near one of the most popular food cities in the U.S.: San Francisco. What many don’t know is that there are some kick ass eateries and restaurants right here along Calaveras Boulevard, a perfect spot for catching Pokemon. Be forewarned, unlike most of the areas here, it’s a long road; therefore, you may need to stop and park elsewhere unless you have a comfortable pair of walking shoes and a few hours to kill.
What’s good to Eat: Naan and Masala, Mikonos Grill, Sendai Sushi, Jang Su Jang, So Gong Dong Tofu House.
What you can find: Parasect, Venonat, Machamp
Downtown San Jose – San Jose
Downtown San Jose has some decent spots, but the best seem to be concentrated around San Pedro Square area. With that in mind, there are many great spots in and around as well. Since there’s a lot of nightlife in and around the area (Think of Temple, Gold Club, etc.) you might be in competition for some of the more uncommon Pokemon at almost all hours of the day.
What’s good to eat: afk, Konjoe Burger (pictured), Treatbot, Blush, Old Wagon Saloon, Olla Cocina
What you can find: Magnemite, Persian, Exeggcute, Abra
Wolfe and Stevens Creek – Cupertino
The home of Apple and other Silicon Valley tech giants, this area is packed with the lunch crowd so beware of parking at the wrong time of day. The restaurants, however, are all centered in one location, so while there might not be much in the way of walking, you will definitely have lots of food options.
What’s good to eat: Aloha Fresh Poke (pictured), Red Hot Wok, One Pot Shabu Shabu, Kong Tofu & Korean BBQ Cusine, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
What you can find: Charmander
Castro Street – Mountain View
Competition is fierce for the Pokemon on this street, as it is a popular place during lunch and dinner. The Pokestops are fairly close to one another, so replenishing your supply of Pokeballs and other essentials is easy. Replenishing your energy at some of the fine restaurants is also easy to do. Another feature is the retail shop Therapy, which has an amazing assortment of pop culture gems and other items too cool to pass up.
What’s good to eat: Asian Box (pictured) Oren’s Hummus Shop, Crepevine, Poke Bar, Gelato Classico, Sushi Tomi, Shezan, Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot.
What you can find: Abra
California St and University Ave – Palo Alto
I couldn’t decide, so I figured I share them both. These two are only a few miles apart, but both have some amazing places to dine and catch Pokemon as well. California Ave is dead after 9PM, while University Ave has some amazing bars and other late night venues filled with college kids, housewives, and brogrammers alike. Both streets offer an amazing play area to catch Pokemon, and all you need to do is decide how late you want to be out at night.
What’s good to eat
California St: Terun, Pastis (Pictured), La Bodeguita Del Medio
University Ave: Zola, Mediterranean Wraps, Tamarine
What you can find: Magmar
So, what did you think? Are there any places we missed? Any places we need to check out? Let us know in the comments below.
Oh, and help us help you and other trainers, let us know what you’ve found in these areas (Aside from the pidgeys and zubats, we know they are there) so we can complete the list in the comments below.
Cover Photo Credit: trustedreviews.com