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    The Dive Oyster Bar

    4.1 (355 reviews)

    The Dive Oyster Bar Photos

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    THE DIVE OYSTER BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Dive Oyster Bar

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    POPCORN CRAWFISH
    Mehrnaz H.

    We came here on a Saturday for dinner. Party of two, arrived at 6PM and were seated right away. We had reviewed the menu in advance and decided to come specifically for their house specialty pan roast entrée -- but they were already out of it. At 6PM?! A bit disappointing. We opted instead for the cioppino, popcorn crawfish, and loaded fries. The cioppino was flavorful but runny and lacked that rich, hearty consistency you'd expect. The popcorn crawfish and fries were tasty but definitely on the heavier, fried side. Service was friendly and attentive throughout the meal, and the casual, coastal vibe makes for a comfortable setting. Prices felt fair for seafood, but for a place that promotes its pan roast as a signature dish, running out so early was a letdown. Overall, decent food and a relaxed atmosphere, but not quite the standout seafood experience we were hoping for. Might give it another try, but I'll call ahead next time to make sure they have the pan roast.

    Brenda L.

    A great spot for happy hour oysters!! I heard about their $2 oysters online and instaaantly knew I had to go. We came in pretty early, so we only had intentions of grabbing an oyster "snack" lol and some clam chowder. The oysters were fresh and plump! The clam chowder was also rich and delicious, it's definitely on the thicker side of most chowders that I've had. Service was amazing! Our server was super attentive and checked in on us regularly. They have a good number of tables indoors, and a few tables outside too. Their happy hour is M-F from 3-6 PM!

    SOFT SHELL CRAB
    Annie C.

    Came here for my mom birthday. Left disappointed. The service was really nice, our server was attentive and even gave us a free dessert for her birthday. The ambiance felt a bit flat, maybe music or TV would help with the overall vibes. Furthermore, the food left my mom very disappointed. At almost $40, the lobster roll she ordered only got two dry claw meat. She was disappointed as lobster meat is the best from their bodies, not their claws. (We were able to return them). We also ordered soft shell crabs as appz, but the presentation of it on the tray left us little to desired, and it was very oily (and the oil tasted old). It came with some greens, but idk it felt really stale on the cold tray. We also got gumbo, which is the only thing i like, it was very flavorful. I don't know if i'll be back.

    Tina N.

    Hi! Tinathaotravels (from Instagram) The Dive Oyster Bar in San Jose is a must-visit for seafood lovers! From the moment we walked in, the staff was welcoming, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the food did not disappoint. We started with 1/2 dozen fresh oysters--they were perfectly chilled and briny, a true highlight especially during their happy hour ($2 oysters Mon-Fri 3-6 PM). The Cajun Truffle Fries were addictively crispy with just the right amount of seasoning. I also loved the Lobster Roll + Bowl of Clam Chowder combo--the lobster roll was buttery and generous with lobster, while the chowder was rich and comforting. The Grilled Cheese & Pan Roast was a pleasant surprise, pairing gooey cheesy goodness with a flavorful seafood stew. We also enjoyed the Steamed Clams & Mussels, which were tender and well-seasoned, and the Hot Cheetos Truffle Mac & Cheese--a fun, bold twist that delivered on flavor! Tina's Tip: Book your reservation through @OpenTable for convenience and don't miss out on their $2 oysters during happy hour. Also, take advantage of their drink specials--Monday 50% off draft beers and Wine Wednesday 40% off after 5 PM. Thank you for the invite, @thediveoysterbar_sj!

    Oysters
    Jess B.

    My husband and I decided to try The Dive Oyster Bar for one of our first dinners in San Jose. Overall, we had a really solid experience. I ordered the Shrimp Louie Salad, which was generously portioned and had a good amount of shrimp. We also shared the Brussel sprouts, which were nicely roasted and packed with flavor. I liked the added flavors of feta cheese and red onion. My husband had the clam chowder in a bread bowl, which was one of the standout dishes of the night. It was creamy and well-seasoned. He also went with the fish and chips, and while not groundbreaking, they were crispy, well-cooked, and hit the spot. The only letdown for us were the oysters. They didn't taste quite as fresh as we'd hoped, which was a bit disappointing considering it's an oyster bar. That said, everything else we ordered made up for it. What really made this visit memorable, though, was our server. She was really friendly, attentive and made sure we had everything we needed.

    Danster L.

    I absolutely love The Dive Oyster Bar. It's the only place in the Bay Area that I know of that serves pan roast. I was first introduced to pan roast way back in the day at Ritter's Steam Kettle Kitchen in Santa Ana. Sadly, Ritter's Steam Kettle Kitchen closed down. But there were other pan roast restaurants in Southern California and Vegas that were equally good. I moved back to San Jose a few years ago and missed eating pan roast so much that I would travel to Southern California just to eat it. I have tried so many different items at The Dive Oyster Bar including the popcorn crawfish, cajun truffle fries, tangy buffalo chicken wings, pan roast and the s'mores bread pudding. Everything is absolutely delicious. All of the appetizers are very filling and they help you get a good start on your meal. I mainly come to the restaurant to eat the pan roast because that dish is so delicious. I usually just get the chicken and sausage pan roast and it's loaded with lots of chicken and sausage. So much flavor. It's creamy, spicy, lots of tomato flavor and feels so comforting. Service is top notch and the staff is always checking up on my friends and I every time we dine there. If you've never had a pan roast, I highly recommend it and hopefully it will make you crave it all the time.

    Panroast
    Hannah W.

    Panroasts are popular and their clam chowder is a family favorite. Full of flavor and fresh, quality seafood! Our kids love their Mac and cheese kids meal and I have to agree. (And I am not a Mac and cheese person) They have the option to add a protein like chicken or shrimp for just a few bucks more-we always add the shrimp and it's worth it! The main draw here seems to be the happy hour menu that is served only between 3-6pm on M-F. Come check this place out!

    Fish and chips, but substituted clam chowder for the fries.
    Nat S.

    We ordered the food via DoorDash and everything arrived hot, which was good. The Dasher was there a while and constantly texted me to let me know they were still waiting, so I tipped them a little extra because I felt bad that they had to wait so long. But I am thankful it all arrived hot. If I was eating this just based on the clam chowder it would be 5 stars. But the rest of the order kind of bombed, unfortunately. We ordered a couple of different items, so we could try a few things. Clam chowder - (5/5) A bowl is a good amount. The chowder is creamy and the clams were really fresh. They weren't chewy at all. A lot of clam chowders are a bit too rich for me. While this was rich, it wasn't overwhelming. I thought it was just right. We actually ordered this a second time. The first time we had the fish and chips, but subbed the clam chowder for the fries (this is the way to go). The second time we ordered it as a side. Fish and chips - (4/5) The fish was cooked well. It was nice and flaky, and fresh tasting. The crust wasn't that flavorful, but it worked and it was nice and crispy. The first time we ordered this we also ordered (and paid for) a second side of remoulade. They didn't send either one. The second time we ordered this we did the same. They only sent one. So, both times we paid for an extra side that we never received. The fries were a big no for us. They supposedly had a Cajun seasoning on them, which you really couldn't even taste. And they were cold and soggy, yet the fish was hot and crispy. Seems to me they were left to sit while the rest of the order was finished. The rest of the food... Grilled cheese and pan roast - (-5/5) They set the grilled cheese in the box with the burnt side down, so that wasn't the first thing you saw. The cheese tasted like the Lucerne shredded mixed cheese you get in the store...flavorless. The cheese also wasn't melted all the way, so you could still see the shreds, yet somehow they burnt one side of the toast. The toast was ok, maybe a little thick for the lackluster amount of cheese they added. The pan roast was like a thick, tomato-y, kind of Cajun glop. There is supposedly a "trinity" of veggies in this, but do they puree them? Because there wasn't anything but this weird, gravy stuff they call pan roast. Not a fan at all. Cheesy shrimp and grits - (-2/5) The grit's were flavorless and the cheese was over the top. And I say this as a massive cheese lover. It was swimming in grease. It was so gross. It comes with (4) large shrimp that aren't even seasoned well and they can't even hold up against the greasy, mushy flavorless grits. Not a fan. S'mores bread pudding - (-5/5) It was a huge portion of bread pudding, but it was flavorless. It was just like getting a giant cube of soggy bread. It comes with (4) marshmallows on each side. They apparently heated them just a bit because they were soft when they arrived. By the time you eat them though, they were already really chewy. Then it comes with a tiny plastic cup with a little bit of chocolate sauce and another tiny cup with crumbled graham cracker. It wasn't even one full cracker crumbled up. And neither was enough to pair properly with the huge cube of bread. Super disappointing. I will go back, but only for the fish and chips, but with the clam chowder substituted for the fries. If they didn't have those two items I wouldn't return.

    Jenny T.

    This place has a large variety of oysters to choose from and it was nice trying so many in one place, I've had only the Kumamoto oysters at other seafood restaurants and was unaware of how many different types there were. The oysters were fresh and nice to see the difference between each one from being more briny or sweet. The oysters were paired with lemon, cocktail sauce, horseradish, and Tabasco which was already on the table. I'd like to come back and try their other entrees on the menu but this time we just had an oyster feast.

    House BOWL OF PAN ROAST
    Kara M.

    I never knew this place popped up here in the Bay Area. I've tried this spot down in SoCal before. Loved the seafood pan roast, but the spice was not in the room with us. The flavor was so good though. We got a platter of oysters, some happy hour, some regular price. They were okay, at best. My sister and I both ended up having to run to the toilet about an hour after and my stomach kept screaming at me throughout the remainder of the evening. This doesn't usually happen to me after I eat oysters, so I knew something was a little fishy. Pun intended. Service was good, nonetheless. The chowder was also very good, with tons of clams.

    Next level pan roast
    Janan D.

    My reference point: oyster bar in palace station out in Vegas. It was literally my favorite meal and I've been longing for something like that in California, same portions, and same flavor, and I believe I've TRULY FOUND THAT WITH THIS PLACE. The pan roast is reasonably priced given it's smashed with a ton of seafood from crab, shrimp, mussels. It's insane. They give you so much food!!! Do you see the depth and width??? Yikes, I'm gonna lose it. Meaning I'm gonna lose my mind if I don't go back here. It's so good try it to believe it

    Menu March 2025
    Emily W.

    Lots of people dining in on a Saturday evening but we were seated right away. Outdoor seating available too but no heaters so we sat inside. Food came quickly and service was friendly. We shared the lobster roll (with upgrade to clam chowder) and 6 oysters (pay per individual oyster). Oysters were nice and fresh! They came with a green sauce and a spicy sauce with horseradish inside - loved both. Servers gave good recommendations on which ones to order - we got 2 patron petite oysters, and 4 Virginia oysters which were bigger and described as creamier. Lobster roll was pretty good but small. I appreciated how the lobster was well-seasoned which I haven't run into often in the past for other lobster rolls. Clam chowder was good but barely warm so I would've enjoyed it more if it came warmer. Overall not a bad seafood spot! Prices were fairly steep though, lobster roll was $34 for a pretty small portion and lobster pasta (didn't get this) was a bit over $55.

    Truffle Mac n Cheese with Hot Cheetos
    Danny N.

    Checked out the Dive Oyster Bar and instantly loved the place. The service was fast and very friendly. Multiple servers checked in on us throughout our visit. The inside was small but had ample seating and there is outdoor seating as well. We went with the bacon wrapped shrimp, white Truffle Mac and cheese with a hot cheeto crumble, and the jambalaya. They were all packed full of flavor and absolutely delightful. All the dishes coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled amazing. We can't wait to go back and experience this again!

    HOUSE PAN ROAST HOT CHEETOS TRUFFLE MAC

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - The Dive Oyster Bar

    Can I come in and get a large quantity of the clam chowder soup to go? ( to feed eight people. ) FS

    Hi, we don't have any issues with that. We would pack them individually.

    When is the happy hour / hours?

    We added happy hour to our menu from 3pm-6pm Monday-Friday, see you soon!!!

    Can you accommodate large parties?

    Kind if small for a big party

    Do you guys take to go orders and will there be an option to order online at the San Jose location?

    Hi Nancy, DoorDash is live for delivery service!

    Do you take reservations?

    Hi Michelle, as of right now we're not taking reservations. We are working on a platform to make our wait-list and reservations more efficient. Please check on us later and hopefully we'll have that service ready for you. Thank you

    What are your happy hour hours?

    Hi Melissa, we added happy hour to our menu from 3pm-6pm Monday-Friday, see you soon!!! Thank you for your patience!

    View All 8 Questions

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    This was my go-to seafood boil spot for the past five years. I'd always recommend this place to…read morefriends because it was consistently one of the better seafood boil spots in SJ. After today's visit, though... I finally understand why the second location closed. Ordered: Shackie's Sauce (Hot) Shrimp & Mussels Combo Snow Crab Clusters Garlic Noodles Garlic Fries The seafood boil was nowhere near the quality it used to be. The corn tasted old, the shrimp and snow crab didn't taste fresh, and the snow crab clusters had barely any meat. By the time I cracked everything open, it felt like there was more shell than seafood. The mussel shells even had barnacles on them, which I've never seen here before. It made the seafood feel like it hadn't been cleaned as well as it should have. The garlic fries were crispy, but that's it. It was weird--I could see the garlic and was literally eating it, yet there was no garlic flavor. The garlic noodles used to be one of my favorite items because they were bold and packed with garlic. Now they've definitely toned the flavor down, and they're just not the same anymore. It's honestly disappointing because this place used to be one of my favorite seafood spots. The food quality has clearly declined while the prices have continued to go up. I hope they can get back to what made this place so good, but based on today's experience, I can't recommend it anymore.

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    Just ate here for the second time in a few months. Unfortunately both times there has been hair in…read moreour meals. Second time was 1 hair, so it was remade, then came back again with 3 hairs. If there wasn't any hair in the food it would be great! But disappointed.

    What a wonderful treat! I was visiting friends out in San Jose and we were looking for a Cajun…read morespot. Fortunately, it was open late and was next to some boba as well. We went in at 9 pm on a Friday night with a group of eight of us. Please note that the restaurant is tiny so it did take sometime while we waited for our table, but we did not wait too long. There was plenty of parking spots in the plaza and the restaurant was a little loud, but it was a small place for a bunch of people dining in on a late evening. The service was great. They were checking in whenever we were ready to order and answering all of our questions. Because our group was so large, we did have to squish into a small table, but it did not make the food any less delicious. They had a special where we could choose 4 pounds of any types of shrimp, mussels, crawfish, clam. This was a great deal, and I wish I knew to order more. Once we were finished with this 4 pounds... We ordered some more. I believe we ordered with the Louisiana sauce at medium and it was to die for. We also tried the sweet California, but I thought it was just OK. To be honest, it was a little bit too sweet for me, but everyone's taste differ. We also ordered the basil clams and they were also delicious but they did come pretty late into a meal. My friends that don't eat seafood, enjoyed the lamb chops, the chicken wings, the garlic noodles and some other dishes. All in all, I would definitely recommend coming here. It's a great spot to enjoy with friends and I am so grateful that it was open late night. I am already thinking about the next time I come to visit San Jose to eat some more.

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    Free parking
    Large group friendly

    This restaurant is one of the last seafood boil restaurants in the South Bay that we have not tried…read moreyet. We decided to finally check them out. We arrived on a Saturday evening for dinner. The restaurant is located in a nice newer plaza area in Cupertino off the Vallco Parkway close to where Vallco Shopping Mall once stood. Parking is available in the parking garage in the plaza. The restaurant is medium size but maximizes the space efficiently with plenty of booths and tables for dine in. The modern decor is nice and sleek. Whereas the vibe is bustling and welcoming. We ordered the combo of 2 pounds of shrimp with heads on, garlic noodles, and 2 steamed rice. The seafood boil came out in a large silver bowl instead of the usual large clear bag. I found this to be much better in presentation. Everything was so delicious. The captain Loui sauce was so flavorful and sweet. The shrimp were plump and juicy. Garlic noodles were tasty. A couple of saucy yummy corn and potato were found in the bowl which was a good surprise. Overall we enjoyed our experience at Cap't Loui. The staff were friendly and accommodating. The combo options were a great deal. Free Ice cream popsicles for dessert were a nice surprise at the end. We will definitely be back as their seafood boil is one of the better options in the South Bay.

    Misa is a really cute server. I wrote this in my drafts so long ago, I don't even know if she's…read morestill there. Anyway. Garlic noodles, great

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    Cap't Loui
    Cap't Loui
    Cap't Loui

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    SJ Crawfish

    SJ Crawfish

    4.2(316 reviews)
    9.9 mi•Cedarville-Giannotta, Alum Rock/East Foothills
    •$$

    It's been a long time since I've had a seafood boil and decided to try this place out. A lot of…read moreseafood boil places are closed on Monday but I was lucky to find this one and quickly got seated. I was greeted by a really nice young guy (didn't get his name) who handed me a menu to look at. I combed over the menu and decided to order shrimp and added corn, potato, and side of steamed rice. You're able to choose from a variety of sauces and can choose your own spice level. I decided to go with their house sauce which i felt was a fusion of Cajun and garlic butter sauce; with a medium spice level. I do want to add the shrimp doesn't have a set price. The price is dependent on the Market price which turned out to be 15.99 for a pound of shrimp. You don't get to choose headless, the shrimp comes in its full form; which is fine by me. But I know some people prefer shrimp without the head on. I'd like to add this place has very reasonable prices for their boils; compared to a lot of their competitors Ie. Boiling crab. The boil it's self was a 4/5 with the house sauce and all the added sides. The shrimp were cooked to perfection and wasn't overcooked. Service: 5/5 The young guy with glasses who served me was very kind and attentive. Overall I give this place a 5/5 I will definitely be returning.

    I've had a love and hate relationship with SJ crawfish for at least a decade -- mostly because of…read moretheir service. The servers can be extremely rude and for no reason, but I try to be tolerable and understanding. It's no wonder there is such high turnover because I never see the same service staff twice. Anyway, I think these guys recently had a change in ownership because the food tastes better than what I can remember. During our most recent visit, our party of 3 ordered an entire spread of crawfish, clams, shrimp, garlic noodles, raw oysters, fries, etc. and just went in. You can elect for your choice for sauce, and spice level -- and add any preferred extras like corn, sausages, and potatoes. The sauce and flavors have drastically improved compared to previous dine in experiences. This would be a good choice for a Cajun crawfish and seafood boil treat, but I can't stand on the service you'll receive -- hit or miss. Bonus: bring your own seafood dipping sauce. My girl made a spicy tamarind sauce perfect for seafood and I took a bottle with me for dipping.

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    SJ Crawfish
    SJ Crawfish
    SJ Crawfish

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    The Kickin' Crab - No sauce , little to no meat in crab.

    The Kickin' Crab

    3.6(2.3k reviews)
    9.9 mi•North Valley
    •$$

    Always love coming to Kicking Crab! The shrimp is my absolute favorite. One thing I've realized…read moreis that their spicy is REALLY spicy for me, and I don't enjoy it as much. The mild is perfect, though! This is just a reminder to myself: always order mild!

    Here's a version that keeps the disappointment clear without sounding like you're just ranting:…read more My wife and I used to be loyal Kickin' Crab customers before we moved to the city, so I was really looking forward to having it again. Unfortunately, today's experience was nowhere near what we remembered. We ordered a pound of king crab, snow crab & shrimp, and snow crab with Cajun fries -- definitely not a cheap order. We were also told we couldn't order or pay over the phone because of the cost, which was already a little frustrating. But the food was the real disappointment. The sauce was extremely watered down, to the point that the seasoning wouldn't even stick to the shrimp, crab, potatoes, or corn. The crab itself was flimsy and somehow tasted dry like it wasn't fresh, and several of the claws had little to no meat in them. Being a pescatarian, and I can honestly say I've never thrown away a pound of king crab until today. For what king crab costs, that says everything. We used to love this place, which is why this experience was especially disappointing.

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    The Kickin' Crab - So cool that they allow us to all leave a mark of our self's here. Here's a sticker of me

    So cool that they allow us to all leave a mark of our self's here. Here's a sticker of me

    The Kickin' Crab - The heads of my enemies, haha.

    The heads of my enemies, haha.

    The Kickin' Crab - Coconut sea snails

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    Coconut sea snails

    Poor House Bistro - Chris and Patt

    Poor House Bistro

    3.7(1.4k reviews)
    6.1 mi•Downtown
    •$$

    This is our go-to spot after a Sharks game!…read more Perfect for decompressing after a game-can stuff our faces as a source of comfort after a hard loss, or grab a few more rounds of drinks after a win. This visit, my husband and I ordered the crawfish pasta and the jambalaya. We also got the shrimp po'boy to go for my in-laws to try. The crawfish pasta was delicious and had a fair crawfish to pasta ratio (like 5 pasta shells to each crawfish bite, which is perfect for me as I was craving pasta that week). We also got drinks which was an interesting ordering experience since you have to order and pay at the bar before you get to the register where you can order your food. I think the bartender did a good job managing the crowd and checking in as best as she can to make sure people got their drink orders in! Jambalaya was flavorful (and I got it again on my next visit so I was def happy with it). No A/C inside and only fans which was rough after this particularly hot heat wave of a week we had. Outdoor was vibey if you were able to secure a spot. They had a live band playing so we were not able to secure a spot in that area. We decided to stay indoors where we were able to eventually cool down with our drinks. I can absolutely see this as a spot we go to before and after games. Already thinking about the next time we go with our friend group. And I'm noting that there's a speakeasy underneath I want to check out!

    This review is specifically for a DoorDash order and is based solely on the food. I can't speak to…read morethe customer service, ambiance, or dine-in experience at Poor House Bistro. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with both the Jambalaya and the Red Beans & Rice. Both dishes were surprisingly bland and lacked the depth of flavor I was expecting. The jambalaya was missing the bold, layered seasoning and richness that normally makes this dish so satisfying. The Red Beans & Rice was similarly underwhelming...very mild and without enough seasoning or complexity to bring everything together. I really wanted to enjoy the food, but both dishes fell flat for me. When I think of Cajun and Creole-inspired food, I expect bold, savory flavors with plenty of character, and unfortunately this DoorDash order missed the mark. If you're craving red beans and rice and don't have the time to make it at home, make the trip to The Bywater in Los Gatos. Or, if you just want a punch of flavor... go to Popeyes. LOL. Honestly, either would satisfy the craving more.

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    Poor House Bistro
    Poor House Bistro
    Poor House Bistro - Outside seating area

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    Outside seating area

    The Dive Oyster Bar - seafood - Updated September 2026

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