San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2024: New food, drink choices plus returning favorites
As jazz, blues and salsa return for San Jose Jazz Summer Fest from Friday through Sunday (Aug. 9-11), so too will jambalaya, barbecue, tacos and sweet potato pie, along with new booths selling West African jollof, lumpia, grilled and raw oysters, alligator bites and more.
Nearly 30 food and beverage booths will be located at and near downtown’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez, convenient to the Main Stage, the Blues/Big Easy Stage and the nearby Latin/Tropical Stage (on Park Avenue).
If you plan to frequent the Swing Stage, you’ll have plenty of San Pedro Square food and drink options at and near the venue.
Here are our picks for the top 10 musical acts to see. And when you want to plan your between-sets snacking, here is the vendor lineup for the festival, with menu details. You’ll find old favorites and some newcomers.
MAIN STAGE, BLUES STAGE and LATIN STAGE
>>>VENDORS NEW TO THE FESTIVAL<<<
Lillie Mae’s: This longtime South Bay favorite is making its festival debut with fried chicken, fried catfish, barbecue brisket, mac & cheese, fried okra, grape Kool-Aid and sweet potato tarts.
Saucey Oysters: Chargrilled oysters with seafood toppings (crab, shrimp, scallops), raw oyster shooters, garlic noodles and garlic fried rice
Uncle Papa’s BBQ: Ribs, chicken, tri-tip sandwiches or sliders, brisket sandwiches, jalapeno poppers, hot links, mac & cheese, potato salad
California Cheesesteak: Cheesesteaks, fries, baked potatoes, fried chicken, fried okra, onion rings, nachos, loaded fries, Kool Cup drinks
Hal’s NY Hot Dogs: Hot dogs, hot links, sausages, vegan dogs and chopped cheese sliders
Yummy Kitchen: Garlic shrimp noodles, fried chicken wings, egg rolls, noodle delight
La Fenice Pizza: Wood-fired pizzas
Street Stix: Filipino street food including barbecue pork skewers, lobster balls, pork lumpia, ube-glazed turon, melon juice
Paleta Planeta: Paleta popsicles
Saucey Oysters: Chargrilled oysters with seafood toppings (crab, shrimp, scallops), raw oyster shooters, garlic noodles and garlic fried rice
Louisiana Cajun Foods: Catfish, snapper, shrimp, gator bites, frog legs, jambalaya, hush puppies, po boys, lemonade, sweet tea
Shrimp’n Ain’t Eazy: Vampiro tacos (chorizo, shrimp), OG tacos, street tacos, chopped cheese
Grillzillas: Burgers, fries, Buffalo chicken sandwiches
Rosario’s Tacos: Quesabirria tacos
Jollof Kitchen: West African-style jollof rice bowls with assorted toppings
Checo’s Rescue Ranch: Slushies
Ohana Whip Wagon: Dole Pineapple soft serve, mini-doughnuts
Rainbow Italian Ice: Dairy-free, fat-free Italian ices
>>RETURNING FESTIVAL FAVORITES<<<
Lord of the Ribs BBQ: Ribs, brisket, pulled pork, hot links, Texas sausage, chili, potato salad, loaded nachos
Nita Bee’s Tastys: Salmon burgers, funnel cakes, pies (sweet potato, pecan), cobblers (peach, apple, berry), banana pudding, cookies
Poor House Bistro: Po boys, sliders, nachos, salads, bread pudding
Ribs N Things BBQ and Soul Food: Smothered pork chops, oxtails, meat loaf, ribs, links, gumbo, turkey legs, potato salad, sweet potato pie, banana pudding
Howard Gumbo: Seafood gumbo, fried catfish, gumbo fries
Old Tyme Kettle Korn: Kettle corn, caramel kettle corn and roasted peanuts in the shell.
Seymart: Catfish, snapper, chicken wings, shrimp, oysters, calamari, breaded okra and hush puppies, potato salad
Hot and Sizzling Grill: Greek gyros, Philly cheesesteak, sausages
Chick N Bros: Nashville-style fried chicken sandwiches
The Juicery: Frosts (lime, watermelon, mango, red hibiscus), fresh lemonade, iced tea and Arnold Palmer freezes.
Twisted K’s Soft Serve: Eleven flavors of soft-serve ice cream, plus a vegan option and Dole Whip