Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Skewers & Brew

    4.3 (146 reviews)

    Skewers & Brew Photos

    Business Info

    SKEWERS & BREW ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Skewers & Brew

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Beef Skewer - on the house!
    Sonya E.

    The boyfriend and I stumbled across this hidden gem by accident -- and, we're so glad that we did. For starters, we were able to grab a seat immediately upon walking in on a Saturday night. Our bartenders were absolutely fantastic -- very fun, engaging, and entertaining. I wanted a cocktail but didn't care for the way it's traditionally made so they got creative for me, and the drink was soooo good. Refreshing, and very light -- even the boyfriend was impressed. He had a couple beers on tap and shared that they were also good. The menu is unique in that there are skewers of all kinds offered. It's not something you see all the time and the variety is pretty cool. We even got to sample one on the house, and it was really good! Here are the options offered as of October 2022: Lamb Skewer $2.85 Chicken Skewer $2.85 Beef Skewer $2.85 Hot Link $2.85 Green Chili Skewer $1.95 Mushroom Skewer $1.95 Eggplant Skewer $1.95 In addition to the skewers, the menu also offers small bites to pair with your drink of choice. Corn on the Cob $2.85 French Fries $3.95 Chili Fries $7.95 Garlic Fries $4.95 Chili Bowl $495 Dumplings $4.95 Cucumber w/ garlic $4.95 Vegetable Egg Rolls $4.95 Onion Rings $4.95 Must admit, the prices are more than fair for small bites in downtown San Jose. We had a few drinks before Ubering home. Shout out to this joint for an incredible experience. We'll be back to visit soon!

    Crystal H.

    They tried to pass sauvignon blanc with moscato. They think I'm stupid. One of the guy said sometimes sauvignon blanc is sweet. No one apologized. Wow that's just insult to me. The owner also said you should be drinking a cab instead of white wine. Uh I drink what I want and feel like! We also ordered some skewers. Beef is fatty and lamb is more leaner. They are stingy on letting u try beer. The owner let us try one ipa beer. I asked to try another beer on tap and he was reluctant. We also heard the other guy call out some guy who used the restroom. The guy gave a $20 or something right after. I mean it's understandable that the restroom is private. But damn

    Order at the counter
    Evangelene G.

    This was a good compromise (we almost went to CREAM). Plus is wasn't busy on a Saturday night. We just got out of the Sharks game, so we wanted to go somewhere not as clubby. The skewers are a bit on the spicy side (I could taste the Chinese 5 Spice). This place also serves wine/beer as well.

    Christine B.

    Customer service: 5 Stars. The only guy working was friendly and attentive. He gave samples to my friend who wanted to try most of the beers on tap. He also put on the basketball game I wanted to watch. There are many skewer options. However, they were out of most of them. I ordered two of the vegetarian options: eggplant and mushroom. They were out of the eggplant. Again, the customer service was good because he brought out extra mushrooms but on a Friday night at happy hour time, they shouldn't have been out of one of the only vegetarian options. They were also out of two of the meat options. We were the only ones there for over an hour. It wasn't very busy the entire time. I hope they figure things out, but if things stay the same with the limited food options, I don't see this place being able to compete with the other bars/restaurants around here.

    Yoon C.

    This place is okay to be honest. Service: the guy was nice. He seemed he genuinely was interested in serving good customer service. No complain about this Food: well..... Fries are pretty average, skewers are kind of dry when I tried it. Pretty chewey and not so juicy. I'm not sure if I'd come here for food Beer: well..... They have an okay selection. It's honestly money better to go across to another bar or paper planes. Atmosphere: ehh... Not impressed. Very mediocre. I wish I could give these guys more stars but I really don't think I would have another reason to come back.

    40 minute wait for this???
    Richard K.

    If you're in the area and you're starving and there isn't anything else open, sure, stop in here. But if there are alternatives, I'd move on. We stopped in because of all the great reviews and we're lovers of meat on sticks, but I haven't experienced service this poorly in a long time. Upon entering, we received an awkward, loud, HELLLLLOO from the guy behind the bar, who aside from that, was engrossed in a conversation with his friend and couldn't be bothered after taking our order and serving us our drinks. 30 minutes later, drinks finished and sitting around waiting for our food order, I had enough and asked if our food was being prepared. Mind you, the place was empty except for said friend and 1 other table. Oddly enough, the chef was talking with that other table THE WHOLE TIME. I was given some BS excuse that the onion rings take long because they're being air fried. 30 minutes? I think not. Miraculously, after asking, the chef goes into the kitchen and 10 minutes later, our food arrives. The food itself wasn't half bad, they season a lot with cumin and I happen to like cumin. It's for this reason and this reason only that they earned a 2nd star. Seriously, skip.

    The mushroom skewer next to the chicken. That is all the came on it! Complete rip off!
    Food M.

    DONT EVEN TRY THIS PLACE! Bad service and attitudes even worse food. Guy at front says. We don't have any sodas or non alcoholic drinks cause there fridge went out there all warm. They had one chicken skewer left so we got others. The mushroom skewer which costed $2 buck had no mushrooms by time it was cooked. See pictures. All the meats were seasoned exactly the same with some spicy tandoori type seasoning so bad you could not tell what was beef and lamb. When the owner came out of kitchen and asked me what i thought. I was honest. I said i don't really like cause it all tastes the same. I did not get to enjoy what meat i was trying. I also pointed out the mushrooms were nothing. Even though i was direct i was not mean about my opinion. He got upset and just walked away talking crap. This is the type of place you would find on Gorden Ramseys Kitchen nightmares. The same type of owner who believes his food is made so amazing and Gorden ramsey would spit it out! DONT WASTE YOUR TIME! This place sucks. I am giving one of my worst reviews ever mainly cause the attitude and the fact they should warn you the skewer meat is spicy tandoori flavoring nothing else no matter the meat. ZERO STARS!!!!

    Colin C.

    Great good and snacks, beer selection is solid and available late night. Owner and staff are very friendly and willing to chat, authentic, you could say a breath of fresh air in the cluttered downtown scene.. Keep up the good work ;)

    Peihong W.

    1st Time here. Lamb Skewer is surprisingly good, and large. Shrimp is large too, and tasty. Everything is great, not too spicy, not too salty. You can try beer here if you are not the super fan of Asian BBQ. Will definitely come back again.

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Frank C.
    183
    21
    18

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J R.
    11
    20
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Phish P.
    83
    87
    60

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Sonya E.
    682
    1390
    28345

    4 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 2

    10 months ago

    Everyone was super welcoming! There was dancing and the drinks were strong ! Would go again

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Helen S.
    160
    55
    68

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Food M.
    2
    74
    94

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Manuel M.
    195
    46
    8

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenny H.
    690
    361
    353

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kim T.
    91
    38
    77

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eesha D.
    242
    66
    40

    7 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mark R.

    Mark R.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of enoch c.
    1140
    22
    40

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah C.
    171
    17
    3

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bobby Z.
    428
    17
    7

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Skewers & Brew

    Is this only 21 and above?

    Yes

    View All 2 Questions

    You might also consider

    Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG

    Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG

    4.4
    (301 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Pet friendly

    Alter Ego and Still OG might just be the most cleverly conceived bar concept in the city. Small and…read moreintimate, yes -- but every inch of it is intentional. Let's start with the drinks. The cocktail menu is inspired by records, and you can feel the creativity in every sip. These aren't your standard bar pours -- they're clearly thought out and crafted with personality. If you're someone who appreciates a drink with a story behind it, you'll be in your element here. The live DJ on weekends takes the whole experience to another level. The music isn't background noise -- it's part of the atmosphere, and it hits right. What makes this place truly special is that you're getting two completely different vibes under one roof. Walk into Still OG up front and you get a casual, laid-back energy -- easy conversation, good company, no pretension. Then slip into the speakeasy in the back and the whole mood shifts. Alter Ego is a proper intimate lounge with their full bar, and it feels like a world away from the street outside. The transition between the two spaces is surprisingly seamless and genuinely fun to experience. And they're open late, which puts them in a rare category of places actually worth staying out for. Whether you're there for a chill night out or a proper evening, this place delivers both without making you choose.

    Vibe: A Had to make…read morea quick pit stop before a show that night and wandered into OG. Haven't been to this location in a minute. Can still remember the gourmet dogs and duck fat fries back in the days... Awesome what they did to the place. The new set up with the dim lights and neon menu is noice. Ended up chilling at the front bar. Definitely will return to explore the back at a later time. Food: A We got to sample a variety of goodies and drinks from the menu, which definitely hit the spot. The skewers were cooked just right with a kiss of smoke from the grill. The takoyaki were good as expected--yum. We ended the excursion with the milk bread; it was surely a crowd-pleaser. It was fluffy goodness, topped with furikake, and served with a side of decadent house butter. Drinks were perfectly crafted and refreshing. Service: A We were chilling at the bar and got to hang with staff. Cool folks, will be back. - John

    Photos
    Silk Sheets and Sweets $19
    Silk Sheets and Sweets $19
    Asteroid Blues
    Asteroid Blues
    6/21/2024 symphony in black (mocktail of kyushu coffee) SO GOOD BEST BLACK SESAME COFFEE EVER wish i could drink this every morning

    See all

    6/21/2024 symphony in black (mocktail of kyushu coffee) SO GOOD BEST BLACK SESAME COFFEE EVER wish i could drink this every morning
    Haberdasher

    Haberdasher

    4.5
    (755 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Walking into haberdasher always makes me feel like I'm going back in time. It's beautifully…read moredesigned and has amazing staff. My husband and I had a baby free night out to celebrate my birthday and haberdasher did not disappoint. We went soon after opening so there was no line but I know they tend to have one later in the evening. We were greeted warmly at the door by the attendant who checked our ids. I was even wished a happy early birthday. When going into the bar, you walk down a staircase into a space that makes you forget you're in downtown San Jose with beautiful reds and burgundy decor. The staff is all smartly dressed; the bartender and bar back were both sweet and funny. I ordered a jack rose (my all time favorite), their seasonal watermelon waltz (this may be a new favorite for me, nice and refreshing) and one of their zero proof cocktails called a Mariposa which was soooo good as well. My husband ordered a couple old fashioned and a watermelon waltz for himself. We had an amazing time and look forward to coming back in the future.

    My friends and I went to several bars down the street and none really stood out but we saw…read moreHaberdasher and needed to check the place out. There was about a 10 min wait. And they don't allow outside food in even if the food was leftover in Togo bags from dinner. The place was busy when we finally went inside. But the bartenders were fast and we got two rounds of drinks as far as we could order. The dim lighting did look reddish. The large tables were reserved but there plenty of smaller high tops around. Memorable drinks were the perfect pear and the Andean Ascent. Perfect pear was not fruity at all and had a nice aroma and spice to it. The Andean ascent was a nice drink to start with, refreshing with a bit of fizz.

    Photos
    Prohibition style speakeasy here we come! Hee
    Prohibition style speakeasy here we come! Hee
    Back bar
    Back bar
    Their bathrooms fit the theme very nicely.

    See all

    Their bathrooms fit the theme very nicely.
    Blossom & Bourbon

    Blossom & Bourbon

    4.2
    (697 reviews)
    6.4 mi
    $$$

    We had such a wonderful experience celebrating our anniversary dinner here. From the moment we…read morewalked in, Serene made us feel incredibly welcome. She was warm, friendly, and genuinely hospitable, setting the tone for a fantastic evening. The food was excellent and arrived surprisingly quickly, which we really appreciated. Throughout our meal, Serene checked on us regularly to make sure everything was perfect, and her pleasant demeanor made us feel truly valued as guests. The atmosphere was great, the food was delicious, but what really made the evening special was the exceptional service we received from Serene. Her kindness and attention to detail turned a great dinner into a memorable anniversary celebration. We can't wait to come back!

    I came here for weekday dinner and had no wait…read more The pizza was surprisingly unique and very tasty, and definitely the standout of the meal. The diavola pasta had a great texture and a flavorful sauce, although it felt a little simple since there weren't many other ingredients mixed in. The crispy brussels sprouts weren't for me, not very crispy and a bit hard. The gelato was much better than I expected and ended up being a nice way to end the meal. The service was great though and the lighting inside nice! Overall, the meal was a bit hit-or-miss, but I'd come back to try more of the pizzas since those were definitely the highlight

    Photos
    The far left side of the restaurant- bar is directly in the middle.
    The far left side of the restaurant- bar is directly in the middle.
    Fries that come w/ the French Dip
    Fries that come w/ the French Dip
    Mexican Coke®($6)

    See all

    Mexican Coke®($6)
    Goodtime Bar

    Goodtime Bar

    4.7
    (237 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I am completely obsessed with Goodtime Bar. I can appreciate their unique selection of wine, as…read morethey focus on natural wine. Not my personal cup of tea, but they do also offer sake and a few beers also. The first time we went, we ordered the arancini, bucatini, and the heritage pork katsu. I am a big advocate for trying new things every time I go to a restaurant, but it was so good I ordered the same thing the second time I went. Arancini is flavored with Japanese curry with creamy fontina in the center topped off with kimchi mayo. Holy f. These quite literally put the traditional Italian ones to shame (sorry not sorry). Next was the bucatini. It had tom yum butter, lime, basil- all the fix ins of what you want from tom yum flavors with the luxuriousness added from the butter. It was sinful. Last and certainly not least, is the pork katsu. I cannot even remember the last time I ordered a pork katsu, but something told me to order it. Thank God I did, as it quite literally changed my life. If they ever take it off the menu I am not sure I would be OK. It is crispy and is swimming in this koji butter, but the key is that it is NOT greasy. I quite literally think about it all the time. To the point where I had it twice in a week. Service was great, bartenders are so friendly. The place is cute and vibrant. Keep in mind it is small- limited seating inside and a small patio outside. But so worth the wait. It aint called Goodtime for no reason!

    Ambiance 5 Wine 5…read more Service 5 Food 5 So why the 4 rating... TBH there's a good chance that I'll adjust it soon, but if I could give a 4.5 I would. First the knock, and to be fair, it's probably just an opinion / idea. Given the birth of natural wine and the South Bay, it would be wonderful to see a curated selection of tasting flights, no more than two or three options with anywhere from 3 to 6 wine wines each, priced accordingly. Maintaining a proper wine menu when all you do is natural wine can certainly be a challenge. If you wine flights depending on what you have would certainly elevate the customer experience by educating more people natural wine and helping them make better choices when it comes to a bottle purchase. I paid $61 for a bottle that was recommended, and at that price point I wonder how many people who are new to natural wine might be turned off. Chris was a wonderful host and certainly the right person to engage with customers around their various wines. Given how small the space is and how busy it can get, a weekly tasting flight menu might be a good way to engage those customers who are waiting to order at the bar and perhaps even spark a more productive conversation with Chris. We ordered the peach and ricotta dish with Thai basil... wow, a wonderful surprise. Peaches are always battling in and out of the top spot on my summer fruit list and this combination was downright dirty and delicious! We also ordered the raw oysters with watermelon mignonette. Another wow! I didn't expect the little spice kick and it was a perfect pairing to the sweetness of the watermelon. If anyone knows the recipe let me know, I'd bottle that mignonette and take it with me wherever I have oysters!! Overall, a great experience and I most definitely look forward to going back!

    Photos
    Indoor seating area
    Indoor seating area
    Pork Belly w/ caramelized oyster sauce, peach salsa, ngo gai, jimmy nardellos ($24)
    Pork Belly w/ caramelized oyster sauce, peach salsa, ngo gai, jimmy nardellos ($24)
    A rich sparkling white that's not too dry

    See all

    A rich sparkling white that's not too dry

    Skewers & Brew - chinese - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...