What a great dining experience in Santana Row! I'm honestly surprised I walked past this restaurant so many times before finally trying it today. Everything we ordered was delicious, and a few dishes were truly outstanding. What we ordered: Uni Pasta: My absolute favorite, and it seems to be their most popular dish for good reason. The sauce was incredibly creamy, rich, and packed with umami flavor. I don't even want to think about the calories, but it was definitely worth every single one. Charred Garlic Oysters: My second favorite and the biggest surprise of the meal. I didn't have high expectations for this dish, but the moment the oyster hit my mouth, it just melted. Smoky, flavorful, rich, and absolutely scrumptious. Oyster Shooter: Also very great. It came with oyster, uni, and a quail egg yolk in soju. Smooth, briny and fun to eat. Tuna Tartare: Probably the most disappointing dish of the night. If I came back, I'd skip this one. It was the blandest tartare I've ever had and lacked the seasoning and flavor I was expecting. Lobster Garlic Noodles: Delicious, but cracking the lobster ourselves was the downside. We appreciated getting all the lobster meat, but breaking down the shell took so much effort that by the time we finished, we had already lost our appetite. We ended up leaving 2/3 of the noodles behind. Next time I'd rather skip this dish or just asked to have the lobster meat removed from the shell. Overall, there were some standout dishes that I'd happily order again and a couple that I wouldn't. Even so, it was a very enjoyable dining experience, and I'd definitely recommend giving this place a try! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Had a wonderful experience dining at EMC after a stroll on Santana Row. We sat outside! Luckily the weather was just right, just a little bit windy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We got the Vietnamese coffee, rainbow roll, truffle crab garlic noodles, seafood pasta, and the rack of lamb. FIrst of all, the vietnamese coffee was reallyyyy sweet, and the coffee was mostly watered down by dairy in my opinion. You gotta wait for the ice to melt to dilute the sweetness for a good sip. The rainbow roll was good! The sashimi was refreshing. Nothing special, but it was good. The truffle crab garlic noodles was a personal favorite. EMC was really generous with the crab meat and the truffle. Each bite of noodle had a good amounts of crab with it. One suggestion about this dish is about the scallions. There are so little, I would suggest to either put more or completely not use it at all. When this dished was served, there were around 4 pieces of chopped scallions.. it wouldn't even make a difference if they hadn't used it at all. The seafood pasta was again, good. There's nothing special about the taste, except for the fact that there were a lot of seafood. May seafood pastas I've had was probably 80% pasta, 20% seafood. This one is probably 60% pasta and 40% seafood. Lastly, the rack of lamb! I have one comment. It was super well done. I requested medium, but it fully cooked, which made it really dense. However, I love how there were three toppings on the side which you can choose to season your meat. And one last thing, the food took really long to be served. We waited for around thirty minutes, though it wasn't even a busy day. Despite all of this, it was a good experience overall. read more

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I checked out EMC's happy hour for the first time and was excited to try an assortment of their discounted bites. While the prices were great, the food ended up being pretty decent overall, but nothing truly blew me away. Here is how the dishes stacked up: Oysters: The highlight. Fresh, cleanly shucked, and paired with great sauces. Calamari: Pretty good, and I loved the unique touch of the pepper topping. I just wish they had been a bit crispier. Spicy Tuna Roll: Decent, but it didn't taste nearly as fresh as the oysters. Brussels Sprouts & Cajun Shrimp: Both were underwhelming. The Brussels sprouts lacked flavor, and the Cajun shrimp was watered down. Having had their regular dinner menu in the past, I know their standard options are tastier. I probably wouldn't return for HH unless it was strictly for cocktails and a dozen oystersz read more

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Salmon truffle roll was to die for. It was so good. The oysters are on the smaller side and not as fresh as I would have liked. Tuna tartare barely had any real flavor and the uni pasta is really creamy but skimpy with the uni. The service however, is the reason why I wouldn't come back. The server was only there to get our order. We had to flag down other servers just for things our actual server should have done. We didn't even know his name, he just wanted our order and was done with us. I would only get this place again if the servers got retrained or if under new management. Horrible service. read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

After reading mixed reviews for this place I was hesitant to give give it a try, especially with so many other restaurant options nearby. However, I'm a firm believer in experiencing things for myself. Pros: Friendly staff. We had dinner reservations, but when we discovered they offer Happy Hour seven days a week from 3-6 PM, we arrived early, grabbed seats at the bar, and ended up staying there for dinner. The food offered great value for the price, portions were generous, and everything we ordered was tasty. The drinks were also a fun surprise--super cute presentation, complete with a mini rubber ducky floating in my drink! Cons: As several other reviewers have mentioned, the service was spotty. [[HIGHLIGHT]]For a Sat night, the restaurant was only about 25% full throughout our visit, including when we left around 7:30 PM.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] IE: whenever we needed something at the bar, we had to flag down the bartender. When our food arrived, we still needed napkins, utensils, and plates. After requesting it took several minutes for it to arrive. That said, the positives outweighed the negatives. I'd return in a heartbeat. read more

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I'm giving this place five stars! I visited yesterday and was so pleased with my experience that I came back again today. The people here are very friendly, and the food is delicious. The staff is welcoming, the atmosphere is enjoyable, and everything I've tried has been excellent. I highly recommend this place, especially if you're looking to enjoy your meal and have a good conversation. Today I bring my niece, nephew and daughter so they can experience this place and we fully relax and enjoy the experience! read more

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All day happy hour on Mondays and Thursdays except on holidays! What a steal but the good sushi rolls arent on the HH menu. $2/ea oyster isn't bad though. We waited for a significant amount of time for a table and it took the staff a long time to give our table attention, I think they could've used more staff. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Dogs were allowed on the patio.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]But it was a shame there was an especially yappy French Bulldog who wouldn't stop barking at everyone who passed by[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Garlic Albacore Carpaccio, spicy Tuna Tuna Roll, Yellowtail Ceviche - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

I have visited this restaurant multiple times, and their food was consistently great! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Depending on when you go, there is plenty of seating inside and outdoors.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 4.5/5 Uni Pasta: I almost always order this dish whenever I come to EMC. It was very creamy, and you could taste the uni flavor with each bite. I highly recommend this pasta dish! Of course, I wish there was more uni, but it was a fair portion. It's worth it if you go during Happy Hour! 4.5/5 Garlic Noodles: It seemed very basic, so I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. It was absolutely delicious! It was super flavorful and I think this is my new favorite dish here. 3/5 Santana Roll (Sushi): It was good, but nothing to rave about. I would recommend going with another dish, as you could order sushi at any good sushi restaurant too. I don't think it's worth it for the price. I have also ordered their oysters on separate occasions, and it's amazing and high quality! read more

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Stopped by Saturday afternoon. Happy hour is every day from 3-6 pm with a good amount of choices. Ordered the salmon carpaccio, Manila clams, sashimi sampler and cucumber salad. Everything was pretty tasty, especially the clams. It would have been nice to have more bread to soak up the broth. I liked the carpaccio more than the sashimi as a way to present the seafood, but the sashimi was still pretty good. read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Cucumber salad, sashimi sampler and salmon carpaccio (clockwise from the top) - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

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My friend and I met here for lunch the other day. We enjoyed their signature Uni Pasta which was very creamy, the clam chowder and noodles. Service was friendly too. It was overall a pleasant experience but the food didn't particularly wow me. A solid lunch spot, though I was expecting a little more based on the reviews. read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

Spicy tuna roll was delicious! I let our server know for the drinks that we wanted well drinks for the happy hour pricing and he said okay. I reiterated that we wanted well drinks for our second round as well. When the bill came around we were charged full price and I brought it to his attention and he said that these drinks were not a part of happy hour. We also had to ask twice for more of the dip that came with the truffle fries. The main reason we came was for happy hour and it was a bummer that they didn't listen/honor the pricing. There's lots of happy hour options on Santana Row so next time we will choose another option although the tuna roll and drinks were good. read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

[[HIGHLIGHT]]They have indoor and outdoor seating options.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Every Monday and Thursday is all day happy hour! Enjoyed the margaritas, shrimp tempura rolls, uni pasta, fried rice, steamed Manila clams, and the truffle oil salmon roll. Always a solid place to dine at and our waiter was attentive and helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant as well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Come here for happy hour; but don't bother for a real dinner. The bar is lower for happy hour. Discounted drinks? Score! Basic sushi rolls for under $10? Awesome! Salmon carpaccio for $15? Amazing! But come for a real dinner and for some reason it's always disappointing. Maybe because I don't drink with my family (no one drinks but me). So paying 2-3x per dish when the foods mediocre AND I'm sober...that's where the 2 and 3 star reviews come in. Also to be honest; not every dish is good here. But if you know what to order, it's enjoyable! Uni pasta - awesome Any of the carpaccios - delish Garlic noodles - very buttery and flavorful Truffle salmon roll - not bad Almost everything else is meh. read more

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Fun fact EMC is listed on resy.com if you want to make a reservation easily :) Food: We got the uni pasta and the garlic shrimp pasta. The uni pasta was very rich. We could have probably shared it! The garlic pasta was more savory. I personally preferred that one. Parking: There are a few close parking lots. We went to the Hatton one. The first two hours are free. Service: Our server was very kind and anticipated our needs! read more

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If you're looking for fresh and delicious oysters, definitely make a stop at EMC in Santana Row! I've visited EMC a couple times specifically for their oysters and I've never been disappointed. The two types that I'd recommend would be Kumamoto and Miyagi! They also offer these oysters during happy hour so if you're able to stop by from 3pm-6pm, DO IT! Other dishes that my friends and I also enjoy are the salmon carpaccio, hamachi carpaccio and the cucumber salad! The cucumber salad is super refreshing and makes for a perfect appetizer or palate cleanser. I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoy seafood or those who are looking to explore! They also offer many other dishes such as pasta and a variety of sushi rolls that you would not want to miss out on :-) read more

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Came here for late lunch with a friend! We didn't realize that it's all day happy hour on Thursdays so a great surprise. We ordered the salmon truffle roll, yellowtail carpaccio, spicy edamame, and shrimp tacos. She got the house margarita and I got a guava mocktail. All items except the mocktail were on the happy hour menu. Everything was great, the seafood was fresh and service was good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was empty and we were able to sit outside as the weather was amazing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The edamame was pretty spicy with a lot of sauce which I wasn't expecting but still good. Will definitely be back! read more

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I always wrote EMC off as a trendy/expensive spot in Santana Row but this was great. This has become one of my go-tos for their Happy Hour menu, specifically. I love their spicy tuna roll, crispy tuna, and the truffle fries. Prices are super reasonable during Happy Hour for both food and fun cocktails. Service hasn't been extraordinary anytime I've been, always just standard. It can often be hard to get service outside, even if the restaurant isn't super busy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I do love the ambiance sitting outside "on the row" and enjoying a cocktail in the sun with the rolls.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely check this out for the good Happy Hour prices and seafood! read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Crispy tuna - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

Came here with family for lunch! I've been here multiple times as their selection and quality is decently good. I've always really liked their unique dishes. However I've always thought this place was overpriced. Cucumber salad (5/5): I really enjoyed how refreshing this dish is. The vinaigrette flavor was expanded by the water of the cucumber as my mouth was exposed by the citrus sour tastes of it. Hokkaido Scallop Carpaccio (4/5): I thought the pieces were very small. It tasted good, but nothing special. Truffle salmon (5/5): I love how the truffle just enhances the salmon and the ponzu. It just really brings out the best flavors. Sashimi Sampler (3/5): Definitely not the freshest as it was really slimy. I thought it was way too small to be this expensive. Spicy crabmeat tempura roll (3/5): Tasted like a typical spider roll, nothing too special. Seafood pasta (5/5); Comes with mussels, shrimp, scallops, and squid. I really liked how there was a decent amount of seafood. Overall tried some things I liked and so I didn't. read more

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Happy hour was really worth it here. Prices are very good and it is every day starting at 3PM. We didn't have to wait for a table on a Sunday afternoon. We ordered food, and things came out very quickly. We ordered many items, and I enjoyed the truffle salmon roll, chicken wings, and garlic noodle the most. Garlic noodle serving was bigger than I expected. It fed the two of us, and we took some home. Salmon roll had quality salmon, and the truffle oil was nice touch. The chicken wings were the salt and pepper style wings. Can never go wrong with ordering these. Hot sake is $9 as well. The glass poured about 6 shots of sake. Well worth it. read more

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I haven't been here in years and was shopping today around the area. Went in for happy hour at 3, and the experience was way below what you would expect from this establishment. First, the host told us we can choose anywhere we'd like to sit, rather than bringing us to a table. Sure, I don't mind that. Second, we were given menus and was left alone for the next 5 minutes. My table was ready to order after about 2 minutes and no servers ever checked in with us or made eye contact, NOR welcomed us to the restaurant. It was not busy and the service was curt. Servers acted like they did not want to be there and there was no warmth in the service. We ordered cucumber salad, truffle salmon roll, fish tacos and shrimp tacos. The cucumber salad had a hair and they were nice enough to get another one for us. Everything else was fine, and again, not one server checked in on my table at all throughout our time there. The servers need more training here on engagement, touching on tables, and looking busy even when it's not. Really sad to say that service is non existent here when the food was good. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]We love coming here with kids. Our kids eat when they come![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It works out well because we usually have dinner around 530 and their happy hour is until 6 daily. Their happy hour menu is great! It has everything I typically would get. Here's what I would order: The clams Salmon carpaccio Salmon truffle roll (maybe) Garlic noodles Cucumber salad Not a big fan of the Cajun shrimp or the firecracker roll. We tried the scallop carpaccio which was okay but the salmon one is a hit with our family. The cucumber salad has a little kick but my kids will eat it which is a win for me. They have a great wine and beer selection too for happy hour and I've only encountered nice servers here! One even gave small ducks to my kids who later played with them in the fountains by smitten. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great date/family or solo meal spot![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I think this might be my favorite place in Santana row. Just their front desk staff hasn't been the most friendly and sometimes they're slow to seat/and get service. But I don't mind it because the foods decent! read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

A fantastic seafood experience made even better by great service and happy hour surprises.We visited EMC on a Sunday evening, and as usual, parking was not an issue as the Santana Row parking gods were definitely on our side that night. Sergio was our host for the evening, and he did an excellent job taking care of us. A highlight of the experience was when, after we had already placed our orders and he brought the dishes out, he casually mentioned that several of them were part of happy hour, which instantly made the meal even more exciting. Always a win! Here's what we ordered: Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice: absolutely yummylicious; perfectly crispy with bold, balanced flavors Truffle Salmon Roll: rich, smooth, and indulgent Salmon Carpaccio: fresh, clean, and beautifully presented Cucumber Salad: light, refreshing, and a great palate cleanser Calamari: crispy, tender, and well-seasoned Couple orders of Fish Tacos: flavorful, fresh, and very satisfying Everything tasted fresh, well-executed, and thoughtfully prepared, making it easy to enjoy a wide variety of dishes in one sitting. Excellent food and Sergio's attentive service make EMC a solid go-to spot at Santana Row. Highly recommended for a relaxed evening out, especially if you can catch happy hour. read more

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Visited on Sunday afternoon for their HH. Their HH menu has lot of variety. Price for HH food is okay, but the HH drink is a bit pricey. We ordered the fresh oyster 12 per for $24, the oysters were decent size and fresh. We also had the truffle salmon rolls, it's great too. Overall, it was a great dining experience, except for the "surcharge living wage" that appeared in our bill later. Well, i realized later than it was printed on the menu but with a very fine print. read more

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We came during happy hour on Saturday. Ordered most of the items from raw seafood bar. Food was very good. Big fan of carpaccios! The only issue for me was there is no way to do Resy reservation for times between 2:30pm and 6pm. When you arrive they place you on Resy waitlist. Maybe there is a way to avoid the wait but I haven't figured out. Also, not 100% sure what counts as a holiday here. Federal holidays maybe? I walked by on Friday 6/19 and they had a big sign that happy hour is not happening due to that being a holiday. read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

Came in for happy hour on a Wednesday by myself. I think the waiter was on break so the busser helped me out and seated me, took my order. The miyagi oysters were plump and yummy. No complaints for the happy hour pricing. I ordered the truffle salmon roll and the crispy calamari. I would say it's just okay. Not something I would come for again but a good happy hour menu to come with friends to hang out. The crispy calamari was battered like a Chinese salt and pepper dish. Nothing special in my opinion. Restaurant had good ambiance it was quite empty around 3pm despite the happy hour. Most guests opted to sit outside. Towards the end of my meal, I had some left over calamari and the flys had found me. It was a little annoying because I wanted to read my book in peace, but I had to protect my leftovers for a good 10-15 minutes. The restaurant is an open door concept so I get it its inevitable to have flys. read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Truffle Salmon Roll Crispy Calamari - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

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I've been wanting to try this place for a while and am so happy the opportunity finally arrived. We happened to come during happy hour (every day from 3pm-6pm), which made it even better. There was soo much on the happy hour menu! Service was excellent -- we were seated right away, and the staff was friendly and attentive throughout our visit. We sat outside on the patio. It was a beautiful day and they had so many tables. The bartender even made an off-menu drink that I greatly appreciated. Food highlights: * Cucumber Salad: Refreshing and flavorful, with a little kick of spice. Perfect for palette cleanser. * Mussels: Cooked to perfection in a rich, buttery sauce. I loved the toast that came with it. If it came with another piece that would be even better. * Yellowtail Ceviche: Fresh but not as standout as the other dishes. I probably wouldn't get this again since so many other dishes were spectacular. * Garlic Noodles: Perfectly balanced -- easy to eat and not too heavy on the garlic. * Spicy Sea Bass Sushi Roll: Excellent crunch and great flavor combination. * Chocolate Bread Pudding: Absolutely incredible -- hands down the best I've ever had! It was rich and creamy. Loved the crunchy cookie sticks on top Overall, 100% recommend this place. Between the great service, delicious drinks, and consistently delicious food, I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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We booked EMC to celebrate a dear friend's birthday also to try out the $50 meal deal. Changed our mind and opted to ordered different dishes and drinks with more freedom. Service was friendly and efficient, ambiance was casual and comfortable; all the food we had were very yummy. The oysters on half shell were very fresh and tasty, fried oysters were well cooked with a slightly heavy batter. The Asahi on the tab went so well with both. Rack of lamb came with eight little ribs nicely grilled, seafood pasta with white sauce was loaded with shrimps, clams, mussels and calamari, over perfectly cooked and seasoned pasta; a substantial and delicious dish. The young women sitting next to us said the pepper beef mignon was excellent. We enjoyed our dinner so much, pleased with both the seafood as well as the meat and have already discussed about coming back to try out the happy hour specials. read more

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I came here with some friends to celebrate a birthday, and it was the perfect spot for a special occasion. The ambience felt upscale, and being right in the heart of Santana Row made it easy to get to with plenty of parking nearby. We ordered a mix of dishes to share, including the soft shell crab sliders, the trout, baked scallop roll, uni pasta, Manila clams, and crab garlic noodles. Everything was tasty, but the standout for me was definitely the crab garlic noodles--perfectly cooked, full of flavor, and just the right amount of garlicky goodness. Overall, I'd say all the dishes we tried were solid, easily a 4/5 or better on the "tasty scale." This spot makes for a great date night or celebratory dinner. Just be prepared--it is on the pricier side! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Food, service, and ambiance were great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will be back to try more from their menu! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were outdoors but it is was still very cozy due to all the outdoor heaters![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Even on Valentine's Day, everything was super quick. read more

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Solid spot for happy hour oysters. Their happy hour is everyday from 4-6 even on weekends which is unheard of! Of course we went to town and ordered a dozen of oyster per person. At $2 a pop it's truly quite a deal for how large and juicy they were. They were cleaned to perfection, sweet and so refreshing. The perfect way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon. We tried the Cajun shrimp but thought the sauce didn't really penetrate the shell but they did give you a good amount of shrimps. The uni pasta was something we knew we wanted to try but it fell short of expectations. The dish was soooo creamy more reminiscent of a Mac and cheese with a slight uni/seafood pop at end. Maybe it was too rich of a dish for us as we struggled to finish it. The portions are quite generous here! And the atmosphere is lively and fun. Great spot for a weekend hangout or happy hour! read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Came here on a Saturday around 8pm and was surprised that the place was pretty empty. Only a few tables were occupied, which felt a little odd for peak dinner hours.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]That said, the experience overall was still good.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Started with the EMC Martini, which is their lychee martini. It was decent. We also got the sashimi platter and the portion sizes were great. Thick cuts and very fresh overall. The only thing was the salmon had a slightly slimy texture that threw me off a bit. The oysters were super refreshing and definitely one of the highlights of the meal. We also tried the truffle crab noodles, which had good flavor but felt a little basic for a main dish. The fish tacos were solid. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall, good food and a nice experience, even if the atmosphere felt quieter than expected for a Saturday night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Solid happy hour! Their value on the happy hour menu is amazing, so I would always recommend you come for happy hour. We will be back! Pros: -great service! Forgot the man's name who helped us. He's bald with glasses and was very attentive. -Salmon truffle roll (hardly any truffle but a solid specialty roll) -edamame (can't go wrong) -fries (delicious sauce) -$8 well drinks, wine and sake -hamachi carpaccio Cons: -ceviche (more like pico de gallo with some shrimp). Chips luckily added value but not great dish overall -soft shell crab read more

Hadn't been to Santana Row for years, but finally returned to visit the Ghibli Studio/Totoro Pop Up Shop a couple days ago. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was so fun to shop at Santana Row for a couple of hours, then look at the options for HH dinner![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There were at least 3 restaurants offering HH, but I decided on EMC because I wanted to have some seafood and they had nice, tall heat lamps for outdoor dining! [[HIGHLIGHT]]LOVE outdoor dining and warm heat lamps![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The perfectly cooked fresh garlic noodles were my favorite of the night! It was a heaping, hot portion of gorgeous looking garlicky noodles that tasted and smelled amazing, it's probably the best I've ever had. Beats Thanh Long hands down any day! I would drive down here just for this! Just say YUM!!! :0) The truffle salmon roll was nice but I didn't care for the imitation crab inside the roll. I didn't taste any truffle flavor either which was a huge bummer because I LOVE truffles. I'll try a different roll next time for sure. Their HH menu is quite extensive and I can't wait to try other items on my next visit! I tried the Brussels sprouts, but felt like they were a little overcooked. I also ordered some delicious HH oysters. The cocktail sauce was much better than the other. I had 2 refreshing glasses of HH Rosé and the pours were very generous. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was so nice to relax and dine outdoors right next to the heat tower.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was attentive and my food and wine came out quickly during HH hours. Thank you so much for the wonderful HH. I'll return again soon! read more

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EMC is always a favorite of mine. As many times I've been there I've been served and treated well by the employees. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is always nice and clean, and I love the TV by the bar to watch sports[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is always great. I love the truffle fries, the dipping sauce is top notch. My favorite roll is the Truffle Salmon roll. Also, I've never had a raw oyster I didn't like! Mmm, Oysters!! They did change the calamari to salt & pepper flavor, I couldn't eat it due to the MSG, but the presentation was nice! EMC never disappoints. read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Fresh Oyster of the Day, Edamame, & Blueberry Twist - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

Decent happy hour. As you can see from the photos, we tried almost everything. (Some we just ate right away and didn't get a chance to take a photo). The soft shelled crabs were the standout, I personally enjoyed the soft shell crab sliders and wings. The way they played the wings and calamari was redundant. Deep fried topped with peppers and jalapenos. Oysters were good and fresh...horse radish would be nice, similar to LB Steak. Overall, would come back again, service was good considering that there were only a handful of tables when we got there. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance was nice, they have both indoor and outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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We came for the happy hour at EMC Seafood in Santana Row, and I'm so glad they offer it even on weekends! I went with a friend on a Saturday, and it was perfect sitting outside with chilled white wine and oysters to start. The $1.50 oysters were an amazing deal (compared to the $3.75-$4.75 on the regular menu). You can't choose the kind, but ours tasted just like Kumamoto--fresh, sweet, and absolutely worth it. Other happy hour highlights: Fish taco: Generous amount of fish inside the fritter--so satisfying. Scallop carpaccio: Not very memorable. Spicy crabmeat tempura roll: Creamy with a nice kick of spice. Garlic noodles: A bit too garlicky for my taste, but still flavorful. Every dish was reasonably priced and tasty--great value for Santana Row! Will definitely come back for the oysters and happy hour vibes. read more

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EMC never misses for me--it's one of my go-to spots. The food is always flavorful and consistently delicious. Our waiter Christian, was incredibly sweet and attentive, which made the experience even better. My group and I had such a great time overall. Definitely a place I'll keep coming back to! read more

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We popped into EMC (yep--Eat More Clams, if you didn't know) for Sunday lunch, and wow, it delivered. The clam chowder was so rich and savory. It's the best we ever had! Garlic grilled oysters? Charred just right with that buttery punch. And the seafood pasta? We tried both sauces--sweet basil and creamy white wine--and couldn't pick a favorite. Both were loaded with flavor and fresh seafood. Service was fast and friendly. We're definitely coming back for round two. read more

Took my niece out to EMC for Happy Hour on a Saturday. She lives inland and loves seafood, but it's tough to find a good seafood restaurant where she is. After a fun-filled day of shopping, I decided to take her to my favorite seafood spot and as always, EMC did not disappoint. Having frequented this location for several years now, I can confidently say the food is consistently great and the service is impeccable. We were seated instantly outside around 3 PM. The sun was shining brightly, but the waitress was kind enough to adjust the sun umbrellas for us without us even asking a small gesture that made a big difference. Here's what we ordered: Spicy Garlic Edamame ($9) - 9/10 Delicious flavor. Cooked perfectly and still had that satisfying snap. My niece compared it to Costco edamame with sauce. Hard to disagree. Simple, but really well done. Yellowtail Carpaccio ($14) - 8/10 My niece isn't a big fan of raw fish, so I figured this would be a nice entry point. She didn't love it, but I did. That said, the ponzu was a bit overpowering. Selfishly, I also wish there were more peppers on top. Steamed Manila Clams ($17) - 8/10 Very tasty and flavorful. I only wish they served it in a bigger bowl - it was hard to scoop up the delicious sauce at the bottom. Also, the garlic could have used a bit more cooking; it was a little too raw for my liking. Cajun Boiled Shrimp ($16) - 9/10 Cooked perfectly and packed with flavor. They weren't deveined, but I honestly didn't mind. I'm the type to eat the shell if it's cooked right, and this didn't disappoint. The sauce was rich but light. Just be sure to dip the shrimp again after peeling to get the full flavor. Crispy Pepper Calamari ($13) - 5/10 Unfortunately, not the best. While the batter had good flavor, it was way too thick. I felt like I was eating more batter than calamari. I had to dunk it in sauce just to make it more palatable. Overall, EMC continues to be a solid choice for seafood and happy hour. It's a great spot to bring someone new. While not every dish was a hit, the experience, service, and most of the food still make it a go-to for me. read more

EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Happy Hour - Seafood Near Me - San Jose, California

Hostess behavior ruined a family birthday dinner This review is specifically about the hostess, Irene, whose behavior completely ruined my mother-in-law's birthday dinner and left my two young children upset and afraid. Most importantly, she attempted to take my wife's cell phone out of her hands while my wife was seated at the table. That should never happen to a customer. Tonight, we brought our family (my wife and I, our two children under 7, and my mother-in-law, who is turning 80) to EMC Seafood to celebrate her birthday, which we noted in our Resy reservation. We arrived about 15 minutes early and were told to return at our reservation time, despite an empty table being available. When we returned, we were seated at that same table--meaning our kids and elderly family member waited outside in the cold unnecessarily. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were placed at a table directly by the entrance with constant foot traffic and cold air from the door. Not ideal for small children or a senior.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I later noticed a cushioned booth farther back and politely asked whether we could move. Irene said it was reserved for seven people. A few minutes later, she seated a party of four there. The most serious incident occurred shortly after. My wife took a photo near the entrance. Irene appeared to believe she was in the photo and, without warning, approached from behind and attempted to take my wife's iPhone out of her hands while she was seated. Irene then demanded that the photo be deleted and threatened to call the police. This all happened in front of our two children (ages 5 and 7), who became visibly upset and frightened. Threatening police involvement over a photo and attempting to take a customer's personal property--especially in front of young children--is completely unacceptable. I asked to speak with a manager, and Irene stated that she was the manager on duty. The incident occurred around 6:30 pm and should be visible on security footage. To be fair, the food was good, which makes the experience even more disappointing. We ordered the Hokkaido scallop, grilled shrimp tacos, fries with truffle and mushroom aioli, baked scallop roll, shrimp tempura roll, garlic noodles, and a whole charred branzino. Everything tasted good, and we especially enjoyed the fries and the branzino. The servers were professional and kind, including promptly helping when water was accidentally spilled. Unfortunately, the hostess's conduct overshadowed everything else. We left remembering the confrontation, not the meal. EMC Seafood could be a good restaurant, but no guest should ever experience this kind of behavior during a family celebration. Management and ownership should take this incident seriously. read more

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