A taste of New Orleans in San Jose with live music and vibrant vibes.
Poor House Bistro offers a lively dining experience with Cajun and Creole-inspired American cuisine in San Jose. Known for its festive atmosphere, the restaurant features live music, outdoor seating, and a welcoming courtyard. Customer reviews highlight flavorful dishes like jambalaya, crawfish pasta, gumbo, and fried shrimp, along with friendly staff and quick service. It's a popular spot for those seeking a fun, communal environment with authentic Southern flavors.
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Enjoy authentic dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, po' boys, and crawfish pasta in a casual setting.
Experience festive nights with live bands playing jazz, blues, and Creole music in our courtyard.
Relax in our shaded courtyard with ample seating for dining and socializing in a vibrant atmosphere.
Sip on cocktails, wine, and beer, including vodka shots and other drinks to complement your meal.
Order your favorite Cajun dishes to-go for convenient enjoyment at home or on the go.
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Overall rating
Dan Kim
Been meaning to come here for a while and finally managed to today. All in all it was a decent experience. Had a bunch of stuff and their gumbo was their stand out item personally. The fish was ok but had a few pieces that were a bit too fishy. Rest of it was fine but nothing spectacular, still at their pricing I'd visit again and try something else on their menu.
Susan Bocchini
Great food. The fish was so flavorful and crispy. Really good clam chowder in large bowl. Coleslaw delightful. Wonderful creole music. Outdoor seating. Good shade.
G Lee
I’m no expert on New Orleans and Cajun food but I like the food here! I personally had The Poor House which comes with ham and roast beef. Great of you like a ’meaty’ sandwich. Be prepared this thing will fall apart all over you. But messy be good too! I shared some of the crawfish pasta with someone. Creamy and yummy. AMA this is the best way to eat crawfish cuz otherwise they’re too hard to peel! Shrimp po boy was good but I prefer grilled instead of this mattered and deep fried way. And the fries were hella top salty. They actually got my order wings which I didn’t realize till the food was ready after 15 minutes. So I had to order again! But they made it the next priority so I’ll give them service points for that. Had a few drinks… vodka shots and wine. I know weird combination right? About $10 bucks each. And I enjoyed their live band. Cool courtyard and festive atmosphere. In fact, a few folks dancing. Mostly older folks here. I’ll come back on the right occasion.
Shannon W
Oh my goodness!!! This place is my new favorite local gem! The atmosphere alone is a reason worth going! I came here on a whim because I wanted to get a carryout. While standing there I had some help with what to chose from the menu and got invited to join a lovely table of amazing people including Jay the owner. Amazing human beings here and I wish I lived locally to come here more! The music is a great experience and the food is soo good! Highly recommend the crawfish pasta and jambalaya. I got to learn the history of this restaurant which was so fascinating. Definitely stop by for a good time!
Talia Karasinski
Had dinner here on a Friday night and there was a live band! Seating was easy to find, the staff was so friendly and the vibes were great. We tried the jambalaya and the fried shrimp. Both were pretty good! The food came out quickly. Overall a great experience and I’d definitely visit again.