Passing through San Jose’s Japantown, I noticed work underway at the former Kubota Restaurant & Bar at 593 North Fifth Street. When I moved to San Jose more than 25 years ago, I lived in Japantown, and Kubota was a frequent destination whenever guests came to town.
After sitting empty for several years, the old restaurant is being partly demolished, renovated, and expanded into a dental office. A familiar place with personal memories, beginning a new chapter in the changing neighborhood
Originally shared on Explore San Jose · October 20, 2026