My first attempt to try the food here on Sunday - I stopped by after a work event but was informed by a staff member that the kitchen was closed until Tuesday. At work today, I ordered the surf and turf burrito via Doordash and I've got to say, one of the best burritos I've had in San Jose! Flavorful and generous with the fillings! Would definitely recommend! read more

Best fish tacos and surf n turf burrito we've ever had! The chips were warm and I think freshly cooked. They had a watermelon lemonade was delicious, too. Next time we're in town we're definitely coming back read more

OMG!! We were drawn to Abve by their Yelp reviews, and more specifically the photos. It was AMAZING!! Being a foodie I look for flavors, lots of flavor! And Abve went beyond our wildest hopes! You have to have the pork belly tacos! Trust me on this one, you will not be disappointed! And don't be thrown off by the venue, it's a bar! Abve has a window in the back. The food so outshines the venue! read more

Not sure what it is about Stevie's, but they continue to get good food in their rental kitchen (I assume). Previous burger place was good, this may be better. Got their carnitas bowl. Good amount of food. Almost tilted a bit towards a smoky pulled pork than a carnitas, but stayed on the Mexican side I think. Rest of the ingredients were fresh and tasty. Wife got fish tacos, which she said were also really good. And side of fries, were a good side of fries. Well seasoned and cooked right. Seemed like only 1 guy back there, but we came at a time when the place was pretty empty. Even so, took our order, food came out fast and everything was correct. We'll be back. read more

Amazing barbacoa tacos The meat was fall apart tender and juicy. The tortillas soaked up all the rich flavors. Paired perfectly with their spicy salsa. One of the best Ive tried read more

There is outside seating in tents and the inside is sort or like a bar. I got the cali steak fries here. The fries are actually curly fries instead of regular french fires. That was a nice touch as they were super crispy. There was a lot of meat and toppings. The ratio of toppings to fries was good. I thoroughly enjoyed the food. It was loaded with guac, pico, sour cream, and was extremely flavorful. Will be coming back to try the other menu items in the near future. read more

ABVE The Basics - Cali steak fries - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Jose, California

Ambience sucked was inside the bar and had no idea thought it would be a nice restaurant and the food was small and not good but overly expensive for what it was. One and done, not coming back Owner is rude af to paying customers be warned ‍ read more

This place was a pleasant surprise and am so glad I stumbled upon it. It is located inside 'Stevie's Bar & Grill'. I ordered the Pork belly tacos and deep fried corn (alote) but omitted the cojita cheese and sour cream. WOW, my taste buds were happy dancing! Fresh made corn tortillas with fried Monterey Jack cheese infused together then topped with pork belly and sprinkled with pineapple tidbits topped with an arugula sprig and some kind of delicious sauce. Best taco I've ever had. The corn chips were puffed and crispy and went great with their salsa. Now for the corn, I have never had deep fried corn before so I was so impressed at how delicious and lightly crunchy it was. Add some lemon juice and you have a lip smacking meal to brag about. I can't say enough good things about the excellent customer service. This is a hidden gem that is worth the treasure hunt read more

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The pictures looked amazing but I wasn't sure what to expect when I followed my GPS to the location inside a bar. Walked in and to a window in the back with some friends to place our order. The food is presented just as beautiful as the photos and I'm so glad I didn't let the location deter me because the food was amazing! The fish tacos are crispy, huge and just YUM. The shrimp was also sooo delicious. Everything was super fresh and our first visit went so well that one of my friends actually hired them right away for a catering gig (spoiler alert, it went awesome and the food was just as amazing at the event). I dream of the fish tacos and have gone back already -- this is officially a regular on my rotation. read more

Thought we were walking into a restaurant but, it ended up to be a Dive Bar but, the food is provided by this restaurant. Located inside Stevie's, they have a variety of food to choose from & the food was very yummy with its own twist. The guy who took our order was very friendly & helpful with any questions we had regarding our order. Free water so you don't have to ask for any. They sell different flavors of lemon aid. They give you a buzzer for when your food is ready but, they are nice enough to come out, look for your table & bring your food out to you. Prices for some of the food is a little pricy. Located inside a plaza but, parking SUKS!!! it's so busy in the plaza because there's a lot of other business that are busy. WHYYY was there only 1 Bar Tender on a Friday you legit have to stand in a line to get a drink read more

Tried the shrimp quesadilla at the Panana Night Market in downtown SJ (mini night market to be exact). Ordering from the food truck was quick and easy, about a 10 minute wait for my order, and the quesadilla was massive, and overflowing with melted cheese and grilled shrimp with a nice marinade that wasn't overpowering. It came with chips and salsa on the side, the sauce slightly spicy, but the quesadilla was already too much food, so the chips were totally unnecessary. Good experience overall. read more

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Good food but lost a customer today. No one answers the phone after calling for 20 minutes.. sad

Their corn and tacos are amazing! I don't think I would bring my kids In there though since it is located in. Bar

Food is so amazing!! The customer service great - all the workers very professional & Happy work environment.. the place is very clean .. Fun place for the whole family from pool tables to darts to delicious food and drinks read more

ABVE The Basics - Loaded chicken nachos - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Jose, California

D E L I C I O U S. Found this hidden gem for a quick bite after work and was not disappointed. Tried out their fish tacos and pork belly bowl and I wish we would have gotten more! There was a really long wait for the food to be made, but I didn't mind bc it's a good place to just catch up with friends-- they even have a pool table. Definitely will come back and looking to try their other taco options as well as the burrito! The hand fried tortilla chips and fresh salsa were the cherry on top. read more

ABVE The Basics - Pork belly bowl - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Jose, California

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i travel all the way from Fremont just for the Pork Belly Tacos and their chips and salsa. and im a picky eater. this place deserves more business! read more

My friend and I came here early on a Friday evening. It is located inside Rec Room. Since we got here early, it wasn't busy at all. We sat at the bar to order our food. Food: I ordered the cali vegetarian tacos. These tacos were so good. I initially ordered only one since I wasn't too hungry, but I had to have a second one because they were so good. My friend and I also ordered deep fried elote to share. This was also amazing, and I think about it often. My friend and I finished one order and decided to order a second once our third friend showed up. My friend ordered the pork belly tacos. She also initially ordered only one but had to have a second. Service: Because it was definitely before the night time scene, it wasn't busy at all. We ordered at the bar with the bartender. They were always only a few steps away when we needed anything. Our food came out pretty quickly as well. TL;DR - Delicious Californian Mexican food, located upstairs in Rec Room. read more

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3.5. would have been 4 but all the food came out cold. I think the issue is that the kitchen is downstairs and the staff never knew when it was finished so the food would just end up sitting there. I actually did like the all the food. The surf and turf burrito is pretty damn good along with all the tacos. The burrito was huge. I split it with a friend so that we could finish it. One burrito and two tacos was enough for both of us Overall did like the food and would recommend but def come early or maybe wait downstairs so you can get your food at optimal freshness! read more

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So this place is actually located inside Stevie's Bar & Grill. There's a parking lot and there's also Street parking in case the parking lot gets full, which is where we had to park. I got the Cali shrimp taco and the Cali fish taco which was 7 bucks each, which I think for the size and for what comes on in is pretty worth it. I really enjoyed both tacos. The shrimp was perffectly cooked and so juicy. The cod for the fish taco was nicely breaded. I love how there's perfect amounts of guac, crema, pico, and this chipotle garlic aoli. My partner got the Surf and Turf burrito, which was 17 dollars I believe, and before you come at the price, it does come loaded with your choice of meat, shrimp, fries, cilantro lime rice, guac, and everything else that they put on the tacos. We also got the churros. We enjoyed the churros and how fluffy they were on the inside even after sitting out while we were eating our main foods first. Most churros get so dry, and hard aftter a few minutes and is hollow on the inside. But thier's didn't dry out, and stayed fluffy and airy on the inside. I just wish they had chocolate dip that would have completed it! That's just me though. They were super friedly and chill, they kept checking on us, plus gave us some coupons to use the next time we go! This is def a little hole in the wall. I would come check this place out. So good, so savory 10/10 P.S. I thought I had a picture of the burrito, I remember taking a picture of it.. but I guess I got too excited that the picture ended up blurry LOL read more

ABVE The Basics - Shrimp and Fish Taco - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Jose, California

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WOW! Hidden gem in Stevie's Bar and Grill. Took a while to get the order but when it came out the food was amazing! The Steak Tacos are next level flavorful and 2 is plenty! Be sure to grab a beverage for the wait. I'll be back again and update with photos. Amazing Job! read more

What a great hole in the wall. I got the carnitas street bowl and it was amazing. The cilantro rice was such a nice addition and the carnitas were cooked amazingly. The worker was also very attentive and checked on us multiple times and made sure everything was going well. A great visit! read more

I've been dying to try their food ever since I've seen pics on Instagram! Food looks fireee. They have a location in DTSJ. * I came here for Cultural Night Market at Oakridge Mall* My friend and I each ordered a taco. She got the Cali shrimp taco ($7) and I got the Cali fish tacos ($7). They mistakenly gave me steak tacos but were nice enough to make me a new taco. However, when I got my fish taco there wasn't any salsa to my chips (which was included in the price). My friend said she got 3 shrimps and didn't think it was worth the price.. Overall, I'd say the taco was good, it was just too messy and fell apart too easily. Not sure if it's worth the price tbh. Kinda small. I also got the cherry limeade ($5) which the color reminded me of Pepto Bismol lol. It was on the sour lemon-y sweet side. I'm not saying it's bad but I'm willing to give it another try in the future. Perhaps try something else. Overall it's a 3.5 for me. read more

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What a hidden gem inside Steve's Bar and Grill. I had the carne asada and shrimp tacos, which also comes with a side of chips and delicious salsa. The carne asada was meaty, tender and flavorful, while the shrimp taco packed a flavor bomb. The corn tortillas were laced with a thin layer of crispy cheese on the inside and grilled nicely, not sure if they're home made. Highly recommend for foodie style tacos similar to Puesto, yet easy on your pocket. read more

ABVE The Basics - Carne asada and shrimp - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Jose, California

Great tacos! My friend and I tried the pork belly, shrimp, steak, and carnitas tacos. There was a bit of a wait between ordering and getting our food but good things are worth the wait. We chowed through the tacos faster than the time it took to get to our tables. The pork belly taco was nice and flavorful. The shrimp taco had a nice char smoky flavor to it. The steak taco was just the right amount of cook so it wasn't over done and the avocado in it balanced the flavors well. The carnitas in comparison was a bit lacking in flavor and was a little dry. The only thing we didn't quit like were the chips and salsa. The salsa was a bit too acidic and the chips came across a bit too savory when the two paired together. We order the churros donut separately after we stormed through the tacos. The churros donut was a great finish to the meal. It was hot and fresh and once again, worth the wait. The texture was flaky yet it still tasted like a churros with all the sugar and cinnamon goodness. Even with the caramel it didn't seem too sweet. I wished there could have been ice cream to pair with it. Overall a great experience. read more

ABVE The Basics - Remembered this too late and bought my own churros - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Jose, California

I had their Downtown SJ Location bookmarked for awhile, but I have not been able to check it out, Luckily they have a food truck, so I was able to finally check it out. Cali Fish Taco - Delicious taco covered in sauce. All the ingredients went well together. Would get again. Cali Pork Belly Taco - The pork belly had the perfect amount of meat and fattyness and everything was well seasoned and again, delicious sauce. Bay Area Surf N' Turf Burrito - The burrito was huge!! They didn't skimp on the meat or ingredients! Even the rice they used in the burrito was good! Chips and salsa that came with the meal - I usually don't comment on the chips and salsa, but I have to for this place as they have the best chips and salsa I ever had. My friends also agreed. The salsa was reallllly flavorful and had the perfect amount of spice. I also took a sip of my friends ube coconut horchata. I do not really enjoy cinnamon, but I actually liked the drink. The ube coconut was strong, in a good way! I would order this next time! Service: Very efficient! There were a couple of orders ahead of mine, they managed to get the orders out in a timely manner. Overall: My new favorite spot for tacos and burritos! Portions were great! Delicious sauce!Everything tasted as good as it looked. Would love to check out more of their menu. read more

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We've been all about ABVE the Basics for years, like when they would host one pop up, so this review is long overdue! Food is amazing and I think what makes it even better is the people. They are solid, warm, and super personable. We had an event this weekend and the kids asked for ABVE The Basics to cater. It was a hit with every person in attendance! And Xander was the best! Striking up convo and just making the process feel so easy! He was prompt and engaged. We couldn't have asked for more!! This whole establishment is WAY ABVE The Basics read more

The tacos I ordered were amazing! Protein was full of flavor, cheese nice and crispy. The chipotle sauce on the tacos was my favorite part! Constructive criticism: - nobody was at window when I originally wanted to order. - the tortillas when delivered were a little cold :( - salsa was too acidic not enough spice - fish in the fish taco lacked salt (for me personally) read more

Did a classic double dinner with the gf after a disappointing trip from eating from another place and I'm so glad we did. The location is under a sign called the Rec room. It has a downstairs and upstairs where you're able to order cocktails and enjoy the various televisions playing a variety of anime and cartoons. There's also a dj booth at the end of the room where I assume they have events on the weekends. Super chill spot and totally love the ambiance. The service is impeccable as well. The waiter manages the bar and also walks around the tables to ensure you're having a great time. I really appreciate the extra mile our waiter took in making sure we were enjoying our food. Food came fast and we even stayed a bit later to enjoy a cocktail. We ordered 2 Cali pork belly tacos, fish taco, shrimp taco, fried elotes and churros for checking in. The pork belly tacos were amazing. On your first bite, you'll notice how marinated the meat is. Your other bites, you'll get to appreciate the different flavors bouncing off each other: sweetness from the pineapple, freshness of the vegetables, and held altogether with some vinegar. The shrimp tacos were some of the best shrimp tacos I've ever had: charred to perfection with a green sauce that I can't name. The fish tacos were really good as well. Lastly, we ordered the aloe you very much cocktail and the let's get mezzy cocktail. They tasted so great and the alcohol taste was quite masked. You'll definitely still get quite the buzz. Overall, this spot is awesome. After coming here, I consider this a staple to downtown San Jose. If you're ever in the area and looking for a place that's relatively pretty chill in the late afternoon/early evening, abve the basics is the spot. Easily 5/5. read more

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The food was really good. They are located inside a sports bar, but it seemed pretty family friendly. The one downside was that both my partner and I smelled like deep fried foods when we left, it saturated all of our clothing and hair. They might need to upgrade the ventilation, because that is actually something that will keep us from returning. read more

Food was good! Cashier was very friendly and nice. We ordered tacos and churros. Inside has a bar, pool tables and a few arcade games. read more

ABVE The Basics - Pork belly taco and shrimp taco - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Jose, California

Eating my smash burger now,WOW damn Awesome burger ordered it with deep fried pickle chips. One of the best burgers I've ever had.Thanks Orlando,the cook. read more

The Tacos here are so good. I ordered Pork-belly and Fish tacos. They both were good and tasty although I liked the Pork-belly better. The Pork-belly is a little bit salty but I like it. I also ordered the steak burrito for to-go. My boyfriend said it was good, but it was too spicy for him. The service was a little slow. I had to wait for about 20 minutes to have my tacos ready. They said they had a lot of orders ahead of me. I got confused when I arrived to the restaurant. It is located inside a bar called Steve's bar. I ordered a drink at the bar while waiting. It is a casual place to hang out with friends. You can have food and drinks here. There are a few pool tables and many TVs that you can watch sports. read more

Food quality was poor. Taste was lacking and it felt everything including chips and fries were deep fried.

This is a restaurant in a restaurant! At first we didn't see the sign in this little shopping mall so we thought we had the wrong place! I was a little nervous after I saw it was in a bar but it was worth it! A little pricey for a taco but it was a very large taco! The carnitas was very flavorful! The service was also great the lady who took our order at the window was helpful and really nice! We didn't stay for drinks, pool or darts but it looked like a fun local spot with lots of regulars. Next time! Oh and the salsa was delicious we asked for a little extra to go! read more

ABVE The Basics - Fried elote with a fish taco - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Jose, California

Fantastic quality and delicious food. Only odd bit was it was in a bar, we had our kids but it was fine. The food was worth it but I think it would have been a bit more enjoyable eating outside at a food truck or of course in a restaurant, but I understand the overhead in the bay is out of control for a restaurant. We had the carnitas tacos, fish tacos and a couple things off the kids menu and fried Oreos for dessert. All 100% delish. Could hardly get enough. read more

10/10 Amex cuisine, periodt. Caught this place at the Culture Night Market, which they frequent a bit (@culturenightmarket). Heard a lot of hype but definitely worth it, try these: -Cali Steak Fries 10/10 (tator tots weren't bad) -Pork Belly Taco 10/10 (duh it's pork belly + extra nachos) Follow their IG (@abvethebasics) to see their whereabouts. read more

ABVE The Basics - Upper right going clockwise: Cali Steak Fries, Chicken Street Bowl, Cali Pork Belly Taco - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Jose, California

Best fish taco and Surf and turf burrito I've ever had. Amazing taste. Should get his own spot and not in the atmosphere he's in. Nasty barber smell isn't great for food, and just a window like a food truck almost. No shade to the owner of the food spot, gotta start somewhere. You're gonna be big buddy. Your food is awesome!! Keep working to get out of the current spot and on your own. read more

My boyfriend and I were in the area and were craving something quick and filling, and we were lucky enough to find ABVE The Basics through a quick Yelp search. Finding the place can be a little confusing for first timers since it's located in the same building as Stevie's Bar & Grill. To order food, walk straight in pass the bar and there will be a small window. My bf ordered 2 shrimp tacos, and 2 fish tacos. He said that he really liked it, and that it was flavorful. I ordered the surf and turf burrito, and I really enjoyed it as well. The meat and shrimp didn't taste dried out, and there was so much flavor in it. The portion was pretty large for me, so I only had half the burrito for lunch and saved the other half for dinner. Also, to order drinks (even nonalcoholic) you would need to go to the bar. Lastly, the service was great as well. When ordering, they helped with answering questions and even gave recommendations based on our cravings. Also, when my bf and I were chatting, one of the servers was attentive and even offered to grab me a box with out having me to call him over. He was also really friendly and enjoyed checking in with other tables around us. Will definitely come back again! read more

ABVE The Basics - 2 Shrimp Tacos and 2 Fish Tacos - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Jose, California

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From the service to the food, this place was outstanding. I'm not from this city and I came here with a friend and this little hole in the wall spot was read more

ABVE The Basics - Mid taco sorry not sorry for the screwed up photo - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - San Jose, California

Be sure to check their IG story for their current location, their yelp location is incorrect. After seeing pictures of their food online, my bf and I knew we had to try. Even after driving to the wrong location (yelp) we were determined to find them and ended up catching them at their popup at a local event. They have a fairly small menu right now, but it's because they're transitioning into a full blown food truck soon. My bf and I got the surf and turf burrito, fish taco and carne asada taco. The tacos were definitely the star of the show-- especially the fish. The fish was battered and crispy-- so good! But I would've enjoyed both of the tacos better with about half the sauce they put on. The sauce was overwhelming and made things messy. They also gave chips along with our tacos and burrito. These chips with their salsa is BOMB! The salsa is the right amount of spicy and sour, I couldn't get enough. The staff was super nice and made everything right in front of us. Overall I had a great experience and I'm looking forward to trying their food truck menu in the future! read more

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