Mực nướng — grilled squid marinated in lemongrass, chili, and fish sauce — is the king of Vietnamese drinking food, and San Jose's Little Saigon has seafood restaurants that grill whole squid over charcoal until the edges char and the interior stays tender. Served with salt-pepper-lime dip and cold beer, this is mồi nhậu at its finest.
Ốc Cây Dừa top-pick
Mon-Sun 11AM-12AM
San Jose's premier Vietnamese seafood and drinking spot. Whole squid grilled until edges char and interior stays tender — not rubbery. Lemongrass-chili marinade is fragrant, and the salt-pepper-lime dip is properly pungent. Grilled squid the way it's meant to be enjoyed: with cold beer and friends.
Đạt Thành best-value
Mon-Sun 10AM-11PM
Whole grilled squid with the signature cross-hatch scoring that helps the marinade penetrate. The grilling produces a smoky char that complements the sweet-tangy lemongrass marinade. A convenient Tully Road stop for the East San Jose Vietnamese community.
Duyên Dáng Restaurant hidden-gem
Mon-Sun 10AM-10PM
Vietnamese seafood and home-style dishes with a reliable grilled squid — well-cleaned squid with a balanced marinade that doesn't overwhelm the natural sweetness. Grilled to a proper char with all traditional acccompaniments.