Restaurants in Los Gatos

The chef slices thick slabs of fresh salmon, meticulously arranging them atop beds of rice as diners peer over the traditional sushi bar to admire his work. As he forges his fish-laden creations, the rhythmic cutting of his knife accompanies the melodies coaxed forth from the piano in the dining room and the cheery chatter of the evening’s guests. So passes another dinner rush at FuruSato Sushi Japanese Restaurant.

In the kitchen, cooks whip up authentic Japanese recipes for lunch and dinner using ingredients such as fresh scallops, real crab, and fresh mango. Servers whisk the dishes into the dining room wherein sliding doors, blonde wood, and minimalistic decor evoke the feel of a traditional Japanese home. Four private tatami rooms can be rented by groups of 4 to 20 people eager to partake in a secluded meal away from the prying eyes and wandering forks of other diners.

At El Amigo, where a spacious, brightly colored indoors is met with an outdoor patio, patrons can feast on classic Mexican cuisine. Enchiladas arrive drenched in green or red salsas, or succulent mole sauce. Breaded pieces of fish fill tacos with coleslaw and chipotle sauce, while marinated chicken arrives with rice, beans, and pico de gallo. Soft French bread carries beef and chicken in tortas, as margaritas quench any underlying thirsts.

Wood- or charcoal-heated tandoors imbue traditional Indian dishes with smoky, yet succulent, flavor by roasting skewered meats and vegetables at temperatures as high as 750 degrees. At Emperor of India, the menu features a variety of tandoori entrees, including vegetable kebabs as well as yogurt-, herb-, and spice-marinated chicken.

At Mondo Burrito, cooks prepare every menu item in front of your eyes. They squash avocados to make guacamole, deep-try tortillas to create chips, and hand-trim each cut of meat to minimize fat. Although they take pride in their simmered pork tacos and mahi-mahi burritos, they also prepare several vegetarian dishes, such as grilled veggie burritos and cheese quesadillas. To elevate the dining experience, the restaurant’s hosts seat guests in an air-conditioned dining room or at an enclosed outdoor patio.

Above the counter at The Cheese Steak Shop there’s a sign bearing the warning, “CAUTION: MAY BE HABIT FORMING.” Once you’ve sampled the shop’s Philly-style sandwiches—made with thick-sliced beef loin served on an Italian roll—you’ll understand why. Guests can customize their sandwiches with different toppings, adding zest with chili peppers or the flavors of a summer cookout with barbecue sauce. Those with oversized appetites can take on the King of Philly sandwich, a hefty 10-inch cheesesteak loaded with 50 percent more meat and cheese than the shop’s classic offerings.