Everyone knows this is the best place to get poke in San Jose! My boyfriend and I always get their Spicy Tuna Poke by the tub ($46 for large), make rice at home, and get to enjoy their poke for the next few days for our meals! We come often and get a large amount of poke and their quality always meets expectations every time. It's only window ordering (and not a sit down restaurant) so wait times can get a little lengthy with many people coming during lunch breaks and with it just being a popular place. I definitely recommend to order through their website online before you start driving! I always get to skip in front of the pick up line and just pick up my food when I arrive. Their parking lot only has about 7 spots and is almost always full but the spots can open up quick with everyone coming in and out. There's a lot of street parking too. The environment is great here. They also have many snacks and Hawaiian Sun drinks! I would love to try their mochi in the future. Always happy to come and get Santo Market! read more

Santo Market - Large Tub Spicy Tuna ($46) - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

Ordered 2 poke bowls, a shrimp plate, and one of their rice cracker snacks that all came up to roughly $50-$55 bucks in total (not including the strawberry mochi; we came around 10ish in the morning, which was about 25 minutes or so AFTER they were sold out, otherwise it might've been over $60ish in total). Price is pretty steep for something like this. The owner or person taking our order seemed like a confident or very straight forward / strong type personality, which I'm fine with because I naturally have a bit of a strong personality as well so it didn't bother me, although it would've been better if he smiled or something so it doesn't seem like he's coming off like a New Yorker. Just sayin. But I also know that he's simply doing his job so it's nothing personal. Anyhow, the food he talked a good game on it being the best in the Bay Area turned out to be quite mid IMPO. The shrimp was 100% overcooked, the side Mac salad was actually *not* good at all and it sucks because that's something I feel like you can't mess up but it was gross unfortunately, I spat it out even tho I hate wasting food. It just didn't taste freshly made whatsoever. The poke bowl wasn't comparable to Hawaii since he mentioned it's just as good... but honestly I think everyone's taste buds are different because to me, the poke bowl was totally mid, but it could taste really good to someone else and that's certainly OK! Also -- I like salty things esp when I crave for it but this was quite heavy on the salt, which made my experience the way it was. Even though it could've been better, I came with no expectations and just wanted to see what the fuss was about. That said, the only thing that was good was the rice cracker snack we bought and that's it. Glad I still gave this place a try, but personally for me, it's definitely my last visit. Maybe I'll come back at an earlier time to get one of their strawberry mochi but other than that, I think I'll rest my case here. read more

Legendary as it's reputation hypes it up to be. Grab one of their poke bowls and it's hard to be disappointed! Fish and octopus very well marinated and supremely tender. Great value for the money. It's a takeout only spot but that's part of the charm. Grab and go, with even a text system to ping you right when it's ready. Combined with very pleasant ordering experience, even for a slow first timer, it's hard to argue this place doesn't deserve all the props. Tried their bbq tritip platter as well! It's on the plainer side with simple salt seasoning but well seasoned. I personally prefer more sauce but you can get pretty far just rice and meat. Ample rice btw and hard to beat at the price point. Comes with a small side salad. Cucumber with seaweed is a nice combo I'll need to use myself. read more

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There are a lot of good poke spots in the area and this is definitely one of them. They have a decent variety of poke to choose from. I stopped by around lunchtime on a weekend, and a good portion of the menu was already sold out, so I would recommend going a little earlier if you want to try more. I ended up getting their ahi poke, which was fresh and had a nice texture. It was a little saltier than I personally like on its own, but it would be perfect over a bowl of rice. They have a small parking lot, but it fills up fast because this place gets pretty busy. read more

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I've been keeping my eye on this place for a while now, and honestly if you're wanting a taste of Hawaii but from a local business, you've definitely GOTTA try Santo Market forsure. Their poke plates are one of the best not just in the South Bay, but one of the best throughout the Bay Area. Not only are you able to choose from shoyu or spicy seasoning, you're also able to do a combination of tuna and tako as well (tako is octopus). I love the ambiance everytime I come -- it's like a fresh breath away from home, and especially from work, and it just feels like COMMUNITY everytime I'm here. My personal favorite is the shoyu tuna -- which their tuna is caught FRESH and does not disappoint. I like especially when they add the furikake flakes onto the rice, because not only does it give such a rich taste to it, but also, it enhances the shoyu sauce coming directly from the I believe this market used to be open to the public (and sold poke from inside physically), but since the pandemic, they've only been functioning in take-out mode. At times, especially approaching lunch-time, this place CAN get very crowded and busy, so it's best to order ahead using the Toast app, or to go early to secure your plate of poke. read more

Santo Market - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

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Great bang for the buck. I came during lunch on a weekday and the line was pretty long, which honestly felt like a good sign. They had two kiosks and one cashier taking orders, so the process still moved along at a decent pace despite the crowd. At first glance, the regular portion didn't seem like that much food, but it ended up being surprisingly filling. I added an avocado on my own, which definitely made it even more substantial, and I still couldn't finish everything in one sitting. Ended up saving the rest for later. This is one of those affordable poke spots that's been around forever, and I can see why it's lasted. It's solid, reliable, and satisfying without breaking the bank. I ordered tuna with spicy mayo, so it was a little hard to judge the freshness of the fish underneath all the sauce, but overall it tasted good and hit the spot. read more

Santo Market - Top: large spicy poke, bottom: regular spicy poke (avocado did not come with the order and it was added on by myself) - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

The poke is good, but unfortunately the customer service completely overshadows it. The staff was rude, dismissive, and made me feel like I was inconveniencing them for simply asking questions. At one point, they even hung up on me mid question. No matter how good the food is, it's hard to enjoy it when you're treated that poorly. There are plenty of other poke places with good food and much better service. read more

Had a great time! Strawberry mochi on Saturdays! They sell out in two hours so be fast. We got the spicy ahi and shoyu ahi plates -- $16 each and service was fast and sweet. The flavors were great and the rice was warm with the poke cold. I preferred the spicy for more savory but it was nice otherwise! See menu for pricing. We will be back for sure. Not much places to eat aside from the tables by Kazoo. read more

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We didn't get there early enough to try the famous strawberry mochi so we ordered the popular Poke. This is a small grocery store with an order window. Apparently the line for the mochi is really long and they run out in 45mins of opening. We had the spicy poke bowl and the shoyu/spicy poke bowl and the garlic shrimp. The poke is fresh and is high quality fish. But I can't say this is rated 5 when it's a small portion with a large portion of sticky rice. It is tasty but I do miss all of the fixings that are available at most Poke places. For the price, you probably get 1/2 lb of actual Poke. The shrimp was a disaster. You get around 12 small shrimp that is pan fried served with a lot of rice. Rice is cheap. So are the small shrimp. The shrimp were totally overcooked and way too chewy. But they have a large following on social media so patrons keep patroning. For me, it's mid. Probably not going to come back unless it's to try the strawberry mochi (if the Saturday craze ever dies down) read more

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Ordered: Large Tuna Poke (~$16): half shoyu & half spicy with rice & furikake Aya's take: The next best place after Hawaii to get poke is definitely California, and this was my first stop off my flight. The price-to-portion ratio is solid, the tuna is super fresh and both the shoyu & spicy are delicious. I don't know which one I liked more, so I would say just get both. The spicy actually had a kick to it but the creaminess mellows it out a bit. The rice was warm & fresh and the furikake was a nice touch that I typically don't see offered. There's no seating and they operate out of a window. Staff was friendly and there was no line midday on Thursday. read more

Santo Market - Large Tuna Poke (~$16) - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

Santo Market is a San Jose staple. This is my go to poke place as of lately. I love their shoyu and spicy ahi poke with the tofu and cucumbers because their rice can be a hit or miss sometimes. I highly suggest ordering in person and lining up early on a Saturday morning to try to get their strawberry mochi. I have not tried their hot plates but want to try this in the future. read more

I haven't had too much poke since moving to the Bay, but this is by far my favorite poke spot (and one of my favorite Bay Area finds altogether). It's got a cute and apt vibe, given that you order and pick up at windows. The staff moves things along very quickly, so don't be intimidated by any lines. It's connected to a small goods store, but it looks like that part has been inaccessible since COVID-19; nonetheless, you can still purchase some snacks and goodies through the window and from their small display out front. The menu is quite extensive for all of their dishes, but their poke is limited. I tried their 50/50 shoyu and spicy tuna, and I really enjoyed the latter. The shoyu was a little too salty for me, but the quality of the fish was fantastic in general. The serving size was generous and the price was fair. I would probably just stick to the spicy tuna in the future, but I'm definitely interested in trying more items off of their menu. Would absolutely recommend if you're looking for good poke and other akin goods, but be mindful that there is no seating available. read more

Santo Market - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

YES! YES! And YESSSSSSSS! The hype surrounding Santo Market and its poke is sooo damn real!!!! Being a huge poke lover, I've lost count in the number of people who recommended Santo Market. I kept brushing off the suggestion because 1) I hate driving downtown 2) parking downtown is almost always guaranteed to be terrible 3) the poke couldn't be THAT good. Could it?. I've had|tried a number of poke spots and I have been very unsuccessful in finding something that remotely comes close to what I enjoy in Hawaii. Not only can this particular dish get a bit pricey but splurging on something that ends up being mediocre is the WORST, hence me not being in any rush to visit SM. First things first, while Santo is widely known for their poke, there is so much more to them. The menu also offers rice plates with: garlic shrimp, lau lau, kalua pork, teriyaki steak, teriyaki hot dogs, barbeque, sandwiches, breakfast plates, noodle soups, and steamed buns. All transactions/ordering is done via the window. The gentleman behind the register is all about business so step aside and review the menu if you aren't ready to place your order. Lunch: * LARGE TUNA POKE (HALF SHOYU, HALF SPICY) W/ RICE AND SEASONING * LARGE 1/2 TUNA, 1/2 TAKO (BOTH SHOYU) W/ RICE AND SEASONING There is no seating available aside from your car. Either take the time to enjoy it fresh or plan a drive + location accordingly. The plates come out with piping hot rice so handle with care. Fish is fresh and is seasoned well. The only slight complaint was the rice being a bit wet. 5/5 star, I'd come back in a heartbeat. Santo absolutely embodies all of it's well deserved hype and then some!!! read more

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santos market is a staple in the bay area for good poke. i used to come here every week to get the spicy tuna and tako with rice topped with furikake. their tuna and tako are so fresh, and their sauce is absolutely delicious! i've also tried their strawberry mochis, which are only sold tuesdays and saturdays i believe. the strawberry mochi is just as good as the poke, with the mochi being super chewy and the strawberries super sweet. they sell out fast so get there early if you ever want to try them! read more

Santo Market - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

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If you're looking for some fresh poke bowl, I would highly recommend. The flavors here are so good! I would suggest ordering the food ahead of time online since there tends to be a wait. They are also known for their mochi which sells out quick so get them as soon as they open! You pick up and order the food through a little window. read more

Finally got to try Santo Market after all the hype! Parking can be a little difficult but they do have a small lot and there's street parking if you're willing to walk a bit. Came here with a friend and she got the spicy tuna and shoyu tako while I just got spicy tuna. I was surprised to find out they only have two options for seafood proteins (tuna and tako) and no salmon. The fish was fresh and overall tasty, however for me the fish to rice ratio is a little off for my personal preference. I do prefer the poke sauce from other restaurants more, however this is definitely worth a visit for their quality of fish. They do have daifuku only on Saturday's which I do want to try eventually. I would recommend to check it out! read more

Santo Market - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

Decided to line up early at 8am and got lucky with their last set of Mochis!! Usually, I just come for their poke (which is delicious,) but I NEEDED to try their house-made mochi. It is worth the hype!! I am not the biggest fan of red bean (I wish there was a cream option) but the mochi was great nonetheless. I got there ten minutes before 8, and got to snag a mochi ($7 for 2.) I recommend coming a bit earlier, and there also is not a limit on how many you can order! This shop is located in downtown SJ in Japantown, so there are tons of different stores and local businesses around to support! read more

Santo Market - Strawberry Red Bean Mochi - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

We arrived here during a Friday past the 11 opening. Plenty of parking with no line. Can't complain about that. Found out that Santo Market was limited to outdoor orders only as the main door has been closed to public access since the pandemic I'm guessing. We waited a good 20 or so minutes for our food to be ready. Never got a text or call until the cashier waved at me as I was passing by the counter. Upon reaching home, I couldn't wait to taste our to-go haul. Loco Moco. Delicious eggs over hamburgers over smothered with tasty gravy Breakfast Plate. Spam with 2 eggs and rice. Can't get wrong with that combo. Our son's favorite. The Shoyu Tuna, Spicy Tuna, and 1/2 Spicy Tuna & 1/2 Shoyu Tako with furikake topped rice were all fresh and savory. The octopus was a little chewy but it was delectable nevertheless. Surely returning for the sandwiches and specialty plates next time. read more

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Best poke in the Bay Area! Reminds me poke from Hawaii. Came on Tuesday lunch and was only few people in line. Food came out right after I ordered. No seating, but there is a park near by where you can sit. Parking is also limited so expect park on street. Had large half and half poke, and tuna was very fresh ! The sauce was a bit salty but tasty too. They give same amount of rice for large or regular but more tuna. I will come here regularly ! read more

Santo Market - Half & Half, large - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

- Spicy ahi 4/5: saucy, could be spicier, love the fresh onion - Soy ahi 3/5: needs to be saltier, could use some acidity - Mac salad 1/5: too much vinegar and mayo, no veggies - Salad 3/5: fresh, ample portion, good sauce read more

Great spot for traditional Hawaiian poke. Fish is marinated and seasoned so well you won't need to rely on toppings. Portions are very generous. read more

The strawberry mochi here is divine! Reminds me of when benkyodo in SF had fresh fruit mochis. They only offer strawberry mochi on Saturdays now and you'll need to line up early. We got there at 8:30am and they opened at 9am. Limit of 3 orders a person and they come in 2/package. Wish they made more mochi since the mochi here was delicious. They also have poke bowls and Hawaiian food. I plan to come back with an appetite so I can purchase more food! Takeout window only and they have a small parking lot, but likely you'll need to park on the street read more

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The spicy ahi poke was creamy with a nice little kick. The shoyu had a good salty flavor, although the sesame oil was a bit overpowering. Both poke's tasted fresh and didn't leave any fishy aftertaste. The rice was also cooked perfectly, not too dry and not too wet. read more

Santo Market - Half shoyu poke and half spicy ahi poke - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

Such a close walk to our place and that makes it soooooo dangerous! My husband and I go here to get poke by the pound and we've taken everyone who visits us here! There's no sit down area, so it's all to go order (which you can order online, in person, or on a kiosk in person) they are fairly quick with service! They can get pretty busy during lunch rushes or on tuesdays and saturdays before they even open since those are the only days they serve the strawberry mochi! We were able to snag one one time and it was 100% worth it. If your goal is to buy a strawberry mochi, FYI, lines start forming around 0830 so be prepared to come earlier or for them to run out. We've waiting in line many times and they usually ran out around 0915-0920 so if you're still in line past that, you won't be able to get any and they'll for sure run out. It's an outdoor area but they have a little awning so it's not too bad waiting. read more

Santo Market - 1/2 and 1/2 poke with tofu and cucumbers - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

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Amazing (not so hidden) gem. There was a line at lunchtime, and I can see why! Some of the best poke I've tried in the bay! We had the spicy ahi and tako poke. The plates were fresh and tasty. I had read about the mochi, sad to say that they sell out fast! The guy at the window laughed when I tried to order one, and said that they sold out at 10am (they open at 9!). There is no real ambiance as there is no seating or bathrooms, and parking can be tricky. There's about 5 spots and the rest is residential street parking. You can order at the window, or there's a separate line to order from a kiosk. read more

Stopped here today for the first time to get lunch. I got the regular size 1/2 tuna poke with tofu and cucumbers and a mini side of seaweed salad. Flavor was spot on! Both types were generously seasoned with sauce that was thick enough to cling to the fish. It tasted fresh and buttery, absolutely no complaints. The cucumbers and tofu on the side are served plain. I enjoyed pairing these up instead of rice and I really like that there was a substantial side option besides a carb or mixed greens. The seaweed salad is also very good and had some cucumbers added to it which was a nice touch. So really, the food was great! They have a kiosk you can order at or there was a gentleman at the window who took my order. He was very polite and made a point to mention there is a tree nut product in one of the poke flavors. Food was out in like 3 minutes! They seem like a well oiled machine. It's like an outdoor walk up window so don't expect to sit down and eat. read more

Santo Market - Regular tuna poke with cucumber and tofu (couple bites taken already) - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

- takeout window, there is a kiosk outside to order - service is quick! (1) 1/2 and 1/2 tuna poke rice ($14): we chose shoyu and spicy mayo tuna and it was so fresh! Fish was so nicely marinated and the rice came steamy and fluffy. The tuna was slightly salty but it paired perfectly with the rice and the ratio of rice to fish actually came out even read more

Santo Market - 1/2 poke (shoyu and spicy mayo tuna) - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

We ordered the spicy tuna poke bowl to-go. The fish was fresh, cut into generous pieces, and well-coated in sauce. The spicy sauce had a slight kick, nothing too intense, but still enjoyable. The downside was the rice. It was hard and lacked the soft, fluffy, slightly chewy texture you'd expect from good sushi rice. It tasted like it had been sitting out too long and had dried out. Overall, the poke itself was solid (4/5), but the rice really brought it down (2/5). Averaging out to about a 3/5. read more

I actually crave the poke at Santo Market because of how fresh it tastes and it just hits the spot every time. My husband and I order the large half and half plates with Shoyu Ahi Tuna and Spicy Tuna. We like to have one of the plates with rice and the other with tofu and cucumber which is a dollar extra. Having options besides rice is always nice haha, I do wish the cucumber and tofu had some kind of light seasoning since it's pretty plain. We came here on a Wednesday around noon and it was pretty busy. There are two lines, one for self checkout and one at the window with the cashier. Each line went by pretty fast, I think cashier line went a bit faster though. Regardless, we didn't have to wait long either to pick up the food. Santo Market has a tiny little parking lot, maybe 5-6 spots? There aren't any outdoor tables. If you're looking to try their strawberry mochi, I highly suggest showing up when they open. I still have yet to try it but every time I've gone between 10am-12pm, they've sold out. read more

Santo Market - Large plates: Shoyu Ahi Tuna and Spicy Tuna - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

4.7 stars. Really good value for poke! The large gives a generous amount of tuna and a huge mound of rice. There isn't the ability to customize like many poke places and there are only tuna and octopus to pick from. But it still tastes extremely fresh and the sauce they use is well balanced. There's no seating in this area and it's mainly a grab and go spot. Parking is rather limited but there's street parking near by. Overall, I highly recommend getting their tuna poke. read more

Santo Market - 1/2 1/2 tuna poke with rice - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

Probably some of the freshest tuna you can get in South Bay. We get lucky to not hit lines very often when we go but I've seen them. That line could get really long on the weekend. I haven't gotten the mochi yet but I'll get that next time. J probably would only stick with the tuna as the tako was just alright. It's also nice you can containers of just the tuna to take home as well. Food - 5 / Price - 4 read more

Santo Market - Tuna and Tako - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

Santo market has one of the best poke in San Jose! I usually prefer salmon over tuna, but their tuna is so fresh and delicious that this is my go to everytime! You have to get cucumbers and seaweed salad on the side also. Tried the teriyaki beef sandwich last time and it was pretty good, but wasn't anything more special than just a sandwich. This place gets pretty busy so ordering ahead is recommended, and you pick up your food from an outside window. read more

Santo Market - 1/2 Shoyu & 1/2 Spicy Tuna with Rice - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

PRO-TIP: The strawberry daifuku is only sold on Tuesdays and Saturdays and they do sell out, so make sure to come early and try it! An absolute must if you're in the San Jose area. Luckily I was still in the area after Fanime so we were able to swing by. When I visited, it was only to go ordering from their little window and on a Tuesday mid morning there was a small line. There's some parking to the side and there's a mural on the side of the building, perfect for photos. You can order at the window or order online for pick up. We got the: 1) Strawberry Daifuku: -Delicious. A MUST if you're lucky enough to snag some. -Super juicy large strawberries. Perfect sweetness that goes great with the red bean. -Softer more gooey mochi layer on top. It's so good that I brought it from NorCal to SoCal and even a day later my brother had it and was like "OMG this is soo good!". 2) Regular 1/2 and 1/2 Poke Bowl: -You get your 2 choices of poke fish, and rice with furikake. -For the poke proteins, I got the spicy tako (octopus) and spicy tuna. -Nice creamy spicy sauce throughout. -Fresh and delicious fish. Sometimes tuna comes out a bit chewy or with a weird pink fluid, but NOT HERE. Very fresh and tender. -You know a place is confident in their food when they don't super offer too many options. That's the same thing here. Not a huge list of poke proteins because they're so good at what they serve. -Sesame seeds added a lovely crunch as well as the furikake and the sprigs of seaweed brings in the taste of the ocean in the most perfect way. 3) Beef Teriyaki Plate: -Sliced rib eye beef with teriyaki sauce. Comes with a small side salad. -Friend who doesn't eat seafood loved this. Nice filling lunch. Tender beef, perfect level of sweetness in the sauce. 4) Portuguese Sausage Sandwich: -It's a Hawaiian style sandwich, cut in half, and quite large. -Can never go wrong with sausages and the same can be said here, especially with the sour tang of the mustard, crunchiness of the cabbage and cucumber. A must if you want a sandwich. Definitely will come back again in the future. Probably the next Fanime for sure. read more

Santo Market. The internet told me that they have the best poke in the area. With that in mind, I headed to market. They are a market that isn't a market. You can't go in and race down the aisles in a shopping cart. The only thing you can do is wait in line outside until it is your turn at the window. With many people behind you in line, you should know what you want before you get into line. I ordered their tuna poke. It came with lots of rice and half spicy mayo tuna poke and shoyu poke. I wasn't able to see them at work. But, I think the poke is premarinated, not like the stuff at other places where they mix it for you when you order it. It was good and tasty. But, not enough to share for lunch with a hangry wife. It's a good place. I wish they were a real supermarket where I could roam the aisles. The poke was good. I need to go back to try their other offerings. read more

Santo Market - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

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fish quality is great. they only have two options for protein: tuna and octopus with the combo of 2 sauce choices: shoyu (soy sauce) and spicy mayo. There's no seating so we walked to a local park. 9/10. read more

Santo Market - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

Incredibly fast service, even better poke. The portions are large, the rice is served hot, and the price is great. I'm friend and I couldn't even finish, so in hindsight if you're not too hungry, you could definitely share. we loved it and will definitely be back!!! read more

TLDR: decent poke, overhyped mochi I've been here twice now, both times on a Saturday: First time coming I arrived 5 minutes before opening and the line was already so long. I should have just left but for some reason decided to just wait. I wasn't able to order until around 9:40. They had unfortunately sold out of strawberry mochi by then so I just got their Shoyu Tuna, Spicy Tuna, and Shoyu Tako. They were all pretty good, albeit quite salty (4/5 stars). If you just want poke you can skip the line and order via the kiosk. I still wanted to try their mochi so I went again, this time arriving at 8:35 (25 minutes before opening) and there were already 15 parties ahead of us. I was able to place my order around 9:15 and was finally able to get some mochi. I'd rate their mochi 3/5 stars. The mochi skin is very thick and the red bean is quite sweet and the strawberries they used are a bit sour. Not horrible but definitely NOT worth the hype or the wait IMO read more

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Santo Market is a bonafide San Jose Japantown institution, so any less than 5 stars feels wrong! It certainly has its quirks - before COVID, you could walk into the store, do your grocery shopping, and place orders for food at a counter in the back. Nowadays though, there's just a window where you order everything through someone or on a touchscreen kiosk. We've stopped wondering if they're ever gonna open up the store again. The strawberry mochi is definitely the ever-elusive star of the Santo Market show. Since it's only available on Tues & Sat and has been made SUPER popular by IG reels, it sells out super quickly. Peep the line at 8:45am on Tuesdays & Saturdays - everyone is there early because if.you try to go past 9am, it'll probably sell out by then. There WAS.a time where you could leisurely waltz into Santo Market at 10am and still have a chance at the mochi, but the hype will have to die down for that to happen haha. It is super WORTH though....the strawberries they use are so big and sweet year-round! Combined with the red bean and mochi, it's such a treat. We always try to get it when we have visiting friends in town. The poke is also the star here, way easier to get it though! No frills, just fish and a side of rice. I always do half shoyu, half spicy. I believe you can order ahead online for this! Overall, Santo Market has a special place in my heart, and it always feels good to support a family-run business. read more

Santo Market - 06-16-2025 There will be no strawberry mochi on June 21 Saturday 2025 - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

TL;DR: A local fixture of Japantown for a reason--tasty poke and a delicious fresh strawberry mochi, albeit difficult to get. The Details: Service is amicable; ambiance doesn't apply because it's not a walkthrough market, but the outside paint job and canopy are nice. I tried their shoyu tuna, spicy tuna, and spicy tako. You can tell they go a little bit heavy on the sesame oil, but other than that, I was pleased with each variety. Their spicy marinade doesn't have a lot of upfront heat, but it'll sneak up on you and build a bit over time, though not to the point of being unbearable. I also liked the texture on the octopus--tender and chewy without feeling over cooked. As for their strawberry mochi it is indeed delicious--chewy mochi, not too much red bean with the right amount of sweetness, and a delicious strawberry in the center. However, is said mochi worth lining up for so early and risk getting your hopes dashed three times like I did? My personal take is probably not... I didn't even get to try one because I was successful in purchasing one; a stranger saw me disappointedly strolling my baby away and decided to show me some kindness. While Santo Market is one of maybe just two places in the South Bay that sells strawberry daifuku, the extremely limited quantity (they sold out after like 10 orders on a Tuesday morning, i.e. 20~ mochi) means high competition and needing to line up early, sometimes 30 minutes to an hour early from what the storekeeper said. All this to say I might stop by again for their poke, but I think the bitterness of competing for the strawberry mochi outweighs the sweetness. read more

Santo Market - Strawberry daifuku--delicious, but not worth the high competition in my opinion... - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

Ordered #5 1/2 tuna, 1/2 tako and a loco moco with added Portuguese sausage. Everything was good, but what stood out the most was the poke. I liked how saucy, soft, and fresh everything was and enjoyed the kick of spice which had the right amount and not too overpowering. The tako had the right amount of chew and wasn't over. The loco moco was good and typical, but the burger patty could've had more seasoning. The added sausage was an additional $8. I'd def come back again for the poke if I'm in the area though. read more

Santo Market - Loco Moco with added Portuguese sausage - Delis Near Me - San Jose, California

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