Henry's World Famous Hi-Life

Steak house · Little Italy

Henry's World Famous Hi-Life

Steak house · Little Italy

5

301 W St John St, San Jose, CA 95110

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Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by Henry’s World Famous Hi-Life
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Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
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Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
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Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null
Henry's World Famous Hi-Life by null

Highlights

A beloved San Jose staple, Henry’s Hi-Life serves hearty, fall-off-the-bone ribs, classic steaks, and killer garlic bread in a cozy, old-school bar setting.  

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301 W St John St, San Jose, CA 95110 Get directions

henryshilife.com
@henrys_world_famous_hilife

$30–50 · Menu

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301 W St John St, San Jose, CA 95110 Get directions

+1 408 295 5414
henryshilife.com
@henrys_world_famous_hilife

$30–50 · Menu

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Jul 31, 2025

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@eater

25 Essential South Bay Area Restaurants

"As another long-time Bay Area restaurant, Henry’s World Famous Hi-Life has been cranking out slabs of dry-rubbed, hot-smoked barbeque since the 1960s. The restaurant is known for its juicy, flavorful meat, sure to satisfy carnivores and barbeque fans. Visitors rave about the baby back and spare ribs, and the USDA-choice New York steaks are also a popular choice. For those seeking poultry, barbecue chicken and teriyaki chicken are solid options. Dinner orders are accompanied by a medley of sides, including a salad, baked potatoes, and garlic bread, plus there are plenty of beers on tap." - Octavio Pena, Cathy Park

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-san-jose-south-bay-area-restaurants
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@eater

A Meat Lover’s Guide to the Best Barbecue Joints in the Bay Area

"Henry’s has been around for more than 50 years in San Jose, and for good reason: the food here is great. The steaks are certainly a draw, but the ribs are worthy in their own right. While you can certainly get a rack, the pro move is to get the combo chicken and ribs plate to maximize your dinner options. All dishes come with a baked potato, garlic bread, and salad, so arrive hungry." - Eater Staff

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-barbecue-san-francisco-oakland-bay-area-restaurants
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@eater

A Meat Lover’s Guide to the Best Barbecue Joints in the Bay Area

"Henry’s has been around for more than 50 years in San Jose, and with good reason: the food here is great. The steaks are certainly a draw, but the ribs are worthy in their own right. While you can certainly get a rack, the pro move is to get the combo chicken and ribs plate to maximize your dinner options. All dishes come with a baked potato, garlic bread, and salad, so arrive hungry." - Lauren Saria, Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-barbecue-sf-bay-area-takeout-delivery-san-francisco-oakland
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@manvfood

Adam visits the historic San Jose landmark for the beloved finger-licking baby back ribs.

Man Vs. Food - California
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@eater

How Tiki Bars Have Avoided Reckoning With Accusations of Appropriation - Eater SF

"After three decades behind the bar, James Dillsaver retired from Henry’s Hi-Life, a nearly 60-year-old San Jose bar." - Eve Batey

https://sf.eater.com/2019/12/2/20991744/tiki-racist-hina-yakatori-paper-cup-ban
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julian liu

Google
Their check-in process is a bit unusual, but make sense. When we arrive, we had to get a number. When our number was up, the host came to take our order and we continued to wait at the bar. Then when the table was ready, we got seated and the food came quickly. Unusual, but quite efficient process. I went there specifically for their prime rib. I would say it was average. The pork belly side order was very good! Their Long Island Ice tea was quite strong.

Regina Rimes

Google
So the hi-life has been there my entire life and it never fails even back in the day when flooding used to be a problem they would rally and become even more awesome. Every time I come to town it's my very first stop I literally go from the airport to the Hi-Life and as always they deliver amazing food and a fabulous atmosphere with super great employees! This will continue to be in my very first stop anytime I travel into the state and back home as long as they exist 😊

Mike K

Google
This place is great. Very laid back while maintaining strong quality. Came here for dinner after my flight got canceled and I had to spend an extra night in san jose. The bartender, Ryan, was awesome and had great banter. Got the ribs and ribs plate and it was fantastic. Smoky and tasty. Excellent beer and booze selection as well. If you want a relaxed venue that delivers great meat and alcohol, this spot is tough to beat.

Ekaterina Terekhova

Google
As always, great service and food. Authentic american bar and restaurant. We ordered: 1. $29 Half rack of baby back Ribs + salad + baked potato 2. $29 Pork Chop + backed potato + salad The portions are huge. Thank you!

ramos95023

Google
Second time back, first time many years ago. This time not the same. Some items and sides off the menu, food was just ok. I had a sirloin, others loved the tri-tip sandwich. Bartender couldn't make a drink, said didn't have ingredients but who doesn't stock lime juice, sugar and ice - the main liquor was seen on the counter. Make sure to grab a number if you visit.

yeoreum kim

Google
That was my best steak I’ve ever had!! And the server was kind and nice even I wasn’t good at eng. I’ve ordered fillet mignon and new york(12oz). I was good for two person.

Dan Kim

Google
Went on a friend's recommendation and it did have some good, the bad outweighed it a bit. For the good, their bread is nice and the baby back ribs were fine. For the bad, the pricing is pretty high for what it is but beyond that, Friday's are prime rib day and I'd 100% avoid it. I asked for it medium and basically got rare, no seasoning either. At these prices your better off at random chain steak houses.

Nate Rock

Google
Ok this place rocks! They were out of pork chops, porterhouse and another of my favorites and much is a testament to how good the food is. It was during Nvidia GTC and they got absolutely SLAMMED. However their system of ticketing + queuing that allowed folks to hang in the front while their tables were being prepared, paired with the fact that you would order a beverage from the bar actually worked very very well. I ended up getting a half slab of ribs which was the perfect size. The bread they brought out paired with a sweet marinara sauce was a great way to prepare for the main course. Interestingly, the ribs had very little wet sauce on them, which is exactly the at I like them. There was just enough to give you the tangy BBq flavor without it overpower the meat itself. I wish more chefs would prepare ribs this way! The meat was perfectly cooked, falling off the bone and hot but not scalding and dry (overcooked) like you might find at less discerning establishments. I can see why this place has a great reputation.
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Anna-Marie C.

Yelp
This building is so unique, may have been built in the 1800. Have been here before. Menu is on wall on wall in bar, You put your order in. Then you are seated in dining area. Salad was very tasty. Garlic bread excellent. We ordered 10oz. Filet mignon. Cooked to perfection. It came with nice fluffy baked potato with butter and sour cream. Will definitely return
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Yuki K.

Yelp
The ordering system is a bit chaotic for a first-timer but they explained quickly. We were led to the bar area with the menu high up on the wall where our orders were taken. We then waited around 5 minutes to be called on the intercom for a table. From there, it was another 5-10 minutes total before all of the food was brought out. Overall the steak is fairly average, as is the rest of the food. We ordered the 20 oz ribeye, cooked medium rare, and cut it against the grain, but even though there were tender pieces, there were also some overly chewy ones. All entrees come with a baked potato with chive butter, a side salad (of which you can choose your own dressing), some garlic bread (though it just tasted like soft buttery toast), and some overly sweet tomato soup to dip the bread in. Additional sides can also be ordered. We got an extra side of pork belly - it came as three slightly crispy but also chewy pieces, none of which were particularly flavorful.
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Lina A.

Yelp
I haven't been here in 7yrs but the food here is still cooked to perfection. Hubby ordered the ribeye steak with baked potato. He asked for the plain butter. I forgot they have a special garnish mix margerine with chives on their baked potaoes. I wasn't a big fan of. I ordered the chicken and baby back ribs which was delicious. I couldn't finish it all. I understand the price of inflation but $70 for a ribeye steak! Thats something you pay at a Mortons Steakhouse. Service and food was great.
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Rachel Y.

Yelp
This restaurant is tucked away near little Tokyo at the end of the street! When you go inside, there is a waiting area so make sure you get your number as soon as you go in! Someone will be there to take your order there before you actually sit in the tables! He did super well explaining all the amazing dishes that we ate and it was all so good! We got the New York 12 oz, Ribeye, cheeseburger, and baby back ribs! As soon as you sit down, you get bread and that melts in your mouth, especially with the sauce! I'd definitely come back for all the fun times and for the quality of food!
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David M.

Yelp
Get there early on Shark game nights. This place is small. You wait in line to put in your name to wait in line to put in your order. Absolutely not vegan friendly. What a beautiful thing. Awesomeness meats await. Service was remarkable and the whole process moved along quickly. Delicious and delectably prepared meat that's freshly prepared. Prices are on par. An absolute gem worthy of repeating frequently.
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Alicia N.

Yelp
Went during the prime rib Friday special around 7pm..Waited almost 45 mins- 1 hr to be seated .. as expected bc this place is yummy and really busy !! Service: nice, outgoing Decor: western Texas vibes Free appetizers- butter bread and some type of tomato dipping sauce : 10/10 - soooo gooooooood and addicting - Honestly got me halfway full before the rest of the main course came because we kept asking for more bread Grilled bbq onion : 10/10 - simple but good - they only serve 5 of these per night . First come first serve Mac and cheese: 10/10 - love the wheel shape pasta noodle - the cheese was perfect Chicken and broccoli Alfredo pasta : 10/10 Prime rib with loaded potato and chilli : 10/10 - medium rare :) - love the butter they used in the loaded potato Overall the food was yummy ; every dish was solid ! Would come back! FYI: by the time they call you in to be seated, your food order is less than 5-10 mins ready. You order while you wait for your turn to be seated
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Arthur T.

Yelp
Came by for my mom's birthday, and it was extremely underwhelming. First off, super unorganized ordering system. It is hectic and crowded. Take a number, then wait for staff to call and then you order first...then wait for them to call again to be sat. It is a lot of chasing around for the person taking orders (he was very friendly), but just extremely inefficient. I understand wanting to control who comes in and out...and when folks are sat, food can come out faster, but there's definitely a better way of doing it. Ordered some beers while we waited... -had a Barebottle IPA that was a bit on the flatter side for $10 4 of us ordered: -2 prime ribs 12 oz $46.95 ea -1 prime rib 16 oz $61.95 -1 porterhouse $61.95 -half rack baby back ribs $26.95 -mushrooms $6 Including tip, it was almost $350... Only one prime rib was cooked ok. All others were over cooked and undercooked... I personally had the 16 oz prime rib and it was over cooked, but I didn't bother sending it back, but just told them it was over cooked. The porterhouse was overcooked for a medium rare. We definitely had to send it back for a new one...and when we let them know, someone from the back tried to explain to us that it was "their" medium rare. So we asked for rare...and at that point, it was barely cooked...so we had to send it back again to be cooked, then it came out overcooked again. For an established restaurant, I'm a bit shocked service for the meats was that poor, and the quality control was that bad. Baby back ribs and one prime rib were good. Everything else...really not good. 1.5 star meal...rounding up to 2 to be nice. Parking is extremely difficult in the area.
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Rosie W.

Yelp
A friend of mine told me about Henry's and how they have a good prime rib deal on Tuesdays. Well, it was a Wednesday, so no deal but we wanted to try it out anyway. The location of this restaurant is tucked away, next to a dark underpass so its easy to miss. It's in a brick building with not many windows; it almost looks like a dive bar really. When you enter the restaurant, you first enter the bar where you pick what you want to eat, then you're seated further inside the restaurant. I ended up getting a new york steak, which was good, but not great. It was like $30, which includes garlic bread (with mysterious red sauce, didn't like it) and also a salad. We also got the prime rib (which wasn't on sale) and it was also good, but not great. If you've ever had Cattlemen's, youll know why this place is good, but not great. Also for the price, I didn't think it was a good deal. Great drinks though, full bar. Great customer service and food came out fast.
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Kevin L.

Yelp
I had the cheeseburger....and it was delicious, just like everything else on the menu. I typically get the prime rib or the baby back ribs, but decided to change it up this time around. Definitely worth a visit if you haven't been - good meat, no fancy-ness - just a great meal.
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Jason H.

Yelp
The same 'ol Henry's. Nothing's changed. A perfect Filet Mignon, accompanied by a simple, yet nicely baked potato. And don't forget the sauce. Gotta have the sauce. Expect a 90 minute wait on the weekend. That hasn't changed either.
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Patrick S.

Yelp
Cool building with deep roots in the local community. Before it was a restaurant this building was a boarding house for newly arrived Italian workers. I only stopped at the bar. I'll have to try the food next time.
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Scott M.

Yelp
Simple menu, fast service, great tasting food... love it. Had the prime rib love the house dressing ... blue cheese vinegarette. Experience was awesome.. Will be a regular.
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Kat E.

Yelp
Best bbq spot in town. While you wait, start with a few drinks or too many drinks. Once seated orders are taken quickly and food comes out pretty quickly. Portions are generous and fun times. Only down side is parking and can be difficult but you can do it
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Michael M.

Yelp
Although there was a "crowd" when we arrived (before a Sharks game so that is to be expected) it only took about a 20 minute wait between taking our order number and being seated. The prices have gone up significantly since our last visit, but that has become the norm. The BBQ was excellent and plentiful - we had to box leftovers but that gave us something to snack on during the game. We were seated in a quiet spot in the "back room" which we thought was great.

Molly V.

Yelp
The ribs and Mac and cheese were amazing. Great service even when it was super crowded definitely recommend eating here.
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Wesley C.

Yelp
Henry's Hi-Life used to be pretty renowned for their BBQ amongst my friends, but once I tried it out, I think the price is a little too much for the food that you're getting. You order at the door when you get in line which is nice so they'll serve you when you sit down. I really have nothing against the service, I just think the food is... not great. The sauce they have is better than the meat, which is kind of dry. But personally I don't love when I have to cover up meat with sauce, rather than relying on the meat itself. It's unfair to compare it to Texas, but I can only say it's serviceable. The ambiance itself is pretty nice as it's like an old timey place but it still manages to stay clean. I think it's serviceable and the portions are large which are great...

Paul D.

Yelp
I just ate at Henry's in June 1965. The food is outstanding, portions are large and the wait staff is very attentive I have fond memories of this Place. In 1965 it was where Highway 280 is now. It had a tree growing through the roof. I highly recommend Henry's. You wonted be disappointed.
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Briana V.

Yelp
1 word! AMAZING. It was a little bit of a wait but worth it in the end. This is one of the oldest restaurants in SJ so I definitely needed to try it. They start you off with this amazing bread that you just can't stop shoving in your mouth. They made their menu very simple so I went with a steak , loaded bake potato and some Mac. I left feeling full & satisfied. I will be returning and highly recommend

Phil D.

Yelp
Food David the bartender Ambiance Price Drinks Chicken Baby backs Location
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Linda C.

Yelp
Came here with colleagues after a work event. We were craving BBQ and needed a "do-over" after the horrible bbq we had over the weekend a different places. You definitely get your monies worth here. The platter was fairly large and very reasonably priced. The place I tried over the weekend charged $30 for 3 pieces of ribs, some fries and a can of coke. Here you get so much more. The ribs were favorable and not dry. The baked potato was delicious and the garlic bread is one of the best ever. My salad was a little bit too wet, mixed with the dressing it was almost soupy... so I had to pass on the salad. Everything else was good!
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Rich D.

Yelp
Great place . Come here all the time Frodo is always good and servers are on point ! The bar staff is always friendly even at the busy times !

Dora L.

Yelp
So annoying this the 3rd time I come when it's supposed to be open and it's closed I even call and no msg saying they are closed it just rings! I'm 30 mins away and this is what I get!
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Bob N.

Yelp
Poor House Bistro has no opened right next door to Henry's. (See my 5-star review of PHB) Poor House has good food, reasonable prices, friendly service, and live music on weekends. It is SO MUCH BETTER than Henry's! Do yourself a favor - skip Henry's and go to PHB, or to Paesano.
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Tina K.

Yelp
This feels like you've traveled far far away from San Jose despite being right down the street from SAP. There is street parking with meters, but it can get pretty busy in the area. As far as I know, they don't take reservations. When you walk in, it feels like you walked into a western dive bar - lots of wood and pretty dark. You check in with the host or bartender and put your name on the list. When they call you, you order your food with a person that comes to you and then wait until they call you to take you into the dining room. The menu is on the wall - so pretty straight forward. While you are waiting, you can grab a drink at the bar and hang out. They have a full bar. Their menu is simple, but everything is good! Steaks, chicken, ribs, etc and all the entrees come with bread, a salad, and a baked potato. Their ribs are delicious and I love their chicken. Portions are generous so be ready to take home leftovers. Service is great in the dining room - they are efficient and friendly.
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Paolo B.

Yelp
A quintessential and long time establishment located in San Jose that's my go-to in the area for all things baby back ribs, prime rib, and the strongest margaritas. I've been coming here for over a decade, and I can't believe I've never written a review before. I've tried a bunch of things here, but the baby back ribs are the star of the show. Fall off the bone, cooked to perfection, it's just perfect and the way I like em. All dinners come with a house salad, bread, and a baked potato. Fridays and Saturdays are prime rib days. They offer a 12oz and 16oz. Amazing tasting crust, classic prime rib, really enjoy this. My friend and I both got the 12oz which was plenty, and we got an a la carte 1/2 rack. We were stuffed. The things I'm not a huge fan of is their bread, it's borderline burnt half the time, but the bbq sauce is good. The bbq onion and mushrooms are also a skip for me. It's all about the meats Ordering can be confusing, but to simplify, walk in and grab a number. When they call your number, they'll take your order and then you'll continue to wait until your table is ready. Once it's ready, your salads will be waiting at your table, and food orders come out within 10 minutes. While you wait, definitely grab a margarita. These are hella strong and get the job done. With drinks, it's an easy $60-70 dinner but for me totally worth it. Whenever I'm craving classic bbq, this is the spot that comes up first. If you've never been, definitely recommend it.
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Derek L.

Yelp
Finding good barbecue in the Bay Area is really tough and I'm glad I finally found this institution in San Jose. Granted, it still can't beat the stuff I've had in Texas, but it satisfies the soul enough. Both times I've had the meal to go as I don't get too much time to eat lunch during the work day. The move is to call 30 minutes in advance so it's ready for pickup when you arrive. I got the spare ribs once and the baby back ribs the second time. The spare ribs are dry-rubbed and smoked without any glazing. They give you a tomato-based barbecue sauce in a large cup but my favorite is their molasses-based sauce which they gave to me upon request at no extra charge. I appreciate it when barbecue joints don't charge for sauce. Spare ribs are a great deal with about 5 long ribs for under $18.54 which is a steal! The baby back ribs came out to be about $35 so I'd definitely stick with the spare ribs. Also the meal comes with a slab of garlic bread, the most perfect baked potato (with garlic/scallion butter, sour cream), and salad with choice of dressing (I always choose vinaigrette). All in all it's enough food usually for 2 meals and I highly recommend giving them a visit.
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Evangelene G.

Yelp
LOVE-LOVE-LOVE THIS PLACE!!! We were introduced to it when we were youngsters in college at SJSU. We always said one day we would come back when we had a little more money. It's a very popular place to go to before a concert or Sharks game at SAP. If you are not familiar with it, you have to go inside, get a number and wait until your number is called. Once your number is called, you place your order. There's the original menu bard on the wall for reference. Then you indicate where you want to sit: Inside, outside, first available. While you are waiting, belly up to the bar and order a drink. It's very cozy so you can't help but be sociable. Salad and bread comes with your main entree. We tend to order the steak sandwich because it's a good deal. We'll be back whenever we're in the area.

Amanda L.

Yelp
Great BBQ! Loved how our salads were waiting for us when we got seated. Delicious food after a long travel day for us!
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Jason Y.

Yelp
Very old school place. Usually packed and sometimes can be a wait. When our son was younger it quite wasn't worth the wait. Now that we're all old enough to sit at the bar you usually can get in quicker. Fast service and super friendly bartender. The food has gotten a bit more $$$ since I've been going but what hasn't. Can be a little popular/"touristy" I still recommend trying it at least once. Lots of meat options.
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Amanda C.

Yelp
We have been here before, but this time our service was even more outstanding than usual. We started with a couple of drinks at the bar where Dave served us. Dave was quick and made a great drink! Casey took our order and sat us at our table. He was very communicative and gave a good suggestion for the chive butter for my baked potato. We both had the prime rib which as always was fantastic. We were of course served the bbq/marinara with the bread and our salads as well. They were very nice at confirming I could have the sauce since I have a weird allergy to un-cooked tomatoes. Our waters were kept full and everyone was super attentive!! Would highly recommend!!
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Doris Y.

Yelp
My husband and I have been wanting to come here for a while, he's not from the South Bay so had never been to Henry's so in the past month we have had lunch and dinner there! He finally had his prime rib and it didn't disappoint him, he even went as far as to say that it was better than The House of Prime Rib . We have seated at the bar and bar tenders and server were super friendly, we can't wait to be back!! I love the cozy feeling of the restaurant it has great ambience.
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Andres M.

Yelp
The food was good,can't say it's the best BBQ I've had but it's good. The complementary garlic bread was really good and the Cesar dressing was bomb! The whole layout and how you ordered is really bad and unwelcoming. "Take a #, wait in the bar, hurry up and order, wait more, and rush to eat." Not really a kid friendly location for us parents. Although they have a very small kids menu and no French Fry's. (My kids love Fry's) So overall Its an "ok" please
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Nick A.

Yelp
One of my favorite places in the Bay Area. Old school BBQ... I could eat there everyday! I love Henry's !

Nikki D.

Yelp
I came here for lunch on Friday and got food poisoning from the BBQ chicken. I do not recommend this restaurant. The food tastes ok, but getting sick from the food is unacceptable. I'm contemplating whether I need to go to the hospital because of how sick I am. In addition, they were out of multiple types of drinks and it just felt really disorganized.
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Sandy W.

Yelp
The BEST BBQ in San Jose and the entire Bay Area! Get the baby back ribs (a half rack is enough to get full), they are excellent. The garlic bread with special tomato based dipping sauce is very tasty as well, it comes automatically with every meal. This is NOT a FANCY place, but this is a DELICIOUS place!
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Jennifer R.

Yelp
It never disappoints. Great service and food. You know you're winning when your kids don't disagree with your dinner choice . It's a favorite of our entire family.
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Mary N.

Yelp
First time back at Henry's since the pandemic and it brought back so many memories this past weekend. My family and I use to eat here often, so it felt really nostalgic coming back. The interior design still looks the same, haha. You'll order first and then get seated after. We ordered our usual full rack of baby back ribs to share. It will come with a baked potato and a salad to complete your meal. If you are sharing the full rack, you'll have to order additional baked potatoes and side salads (if you want your own). While you wait, they bring out this garlic bread with this marinara sauce that is to die for. So so so much butter on there, but I guess that's why it's so good huh? Haha! The ribs were pull apart and tender. Didn't taste dry at all. Baked potato wasn't anything extraordinary, but was a good addition to the meal. I wish the BBQ sauce had a little bit more tang or spice to it, but I still really enjoyed our meal. If you are in the downtown area and are craving BBQ, check this place out!
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Yun C.

Yelp
We finally came back after many years and we were glad we did. Henry still had the same charm as before! Parking is free on the street on Sundays, but otherwise it's mostly metered parking due to the location In Downtown San Jose. You got it and the host came to get your order before you got seated. They prepared your table and called your name once your table is ready. We forgot that prime ribs were only Fridays and Saturdays only, so we opted the teriyaki steak (sirloin 16 oz) $29.95 came with garlic bread, bbq sauce, salad, and baked potato. Generous portion. Smaller stomach usually would have leftovers. We also like their mushroom (cooked in white wine, really tender and juicy good) and the bbq onion (whole onion slowly cooked in their bbq so it's juicy sweet), great as add on sides. Service was efficient and friendly and now they have both indoor and outdoor seating. We like seating indoor (sj summer is too hot for us to be outside) and we love seeing they prepared the food as their kitchen is open. I hope despite the many hipsters eating places around, Henry's will continue to thrive and become local favorites.
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Jeremy G.

Yelp
Food is excellent here. You definitely need to order steak if you come. That's their specialty, and they serve quality meat. Waaay better than that other place downtown. The service is always friendly. I will be back soon

S H.

Yelp
Wow...how things have changed. I am a big steak guy and the last time I went the ribeye was bland, dry and a bit overcooked. Fast forward 5 years and I thought I would give it another try before the Sharks season opener. The service was outstanding, prices have gone up considerably and the ribeye was just as bad as last time. Maybe steaks aren't their thing.
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Manny C.

Yelp
Been hearing about Henry's for years even saw it on tv finally went yesterday. Excellent all around the service I had the sirloin so good and my friend had the pork chops the best
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Monday G.

Yelp
This review causes me pain. We've been coming to the Hi-Life on and off for over 10 years for the awesome steak. On our most recent visit in Feb 2025, we were stunned to find that ribeye steaks are approaching $60 and are now *sniff sniff* average. The ribeyes used to be cause to make Hi-Life a destination when in the San Jose area. Now, the steaks are thinner, less flavorful, under seasoned and less tender. They used to be 1.5 inch to 2 inch steaks and now they're closer to .75 to 1 inch. So sad! Perhaps we just caught them on a bad night? I hope that's the case and I hope get back to the standard that made them famous.
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Kerry G.

Yelp
This is not a barbecue place in the way I think of barbecue places. The food is barbecued but they don't have a pulled pork sandwich or plate. I couldn't find collards on the menu either. My baby back ribs were fantastic and the chicken was great too. It was a lot of food. It would be nice to have smaller items and some vegetables on the menu. The way my order was placed is kinda weird too. I picked what I wanted from a menu on the wall, gave my order to the host and when my table was ready I was seated. I met my server who brought toasted sub rolls and took my drink order. I never got a beer list so I had water. My food arrived shortly after I was seated. My server checked on me a few times and took my plate when I was finished. I asked about dessert but they didn't have any.
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Chris A.

Yelp
For the price you are paying, I must say, it is not worth it and many places I know I'm paying less but the food is way better. Now for drinks at the bar, I will go for that.

Joey D.

Yelp
Food was great, they're always good with the orders and the kitchen staff is on top of everything. Thank you for the dining staff and cooks. However, the service and respect in the bar was not there. The jukebox was "out of service" but still took my money and the bartender told my brother in law "ohh im sorry we don't play trash music" in a very rude and condescending tone. Other people around were very confused about his response as well and looked at my brother in law in pity. The bartender was extremely rude and not helpful. He only made the drinks he wants to and nothing else. It may be awhile before we come back, fix the attitude bartender.
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Amelia R.

Yelp
Normally Henry's is a staple in our book, but oddly enough this experience was off. Overall the food was good , for whatever reason on a PARTICULARLY SLOW DAY took over an HOUR to be seated? They were fully staffed and forgot about our table. We waited and asked the host to check in with us with an idea of the wait time , we understand things happen but over an hour and half of waiting to be seated doesn't make sense especially when we were there right when they opened. While we waited in the bar area I overheard the bartender Dave being particularly rude to customers, saying we don't serve particular items that were clearly on the menu. Why have such a variety of drinks and hardly have any that are on there? I hope Henry's bounces back, it would be a shame to lose business over rude bartenders and bad service .
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Kevin T.

Yelp
There's street parking only and most are metered until 10pm everyday (free on Sunday). You order with a staff member and they'll seat you once your food is ready. I got the Top Sirloin. All entrees come with a side salad and baked potato. And the table gets a basket of garlic bread and small bowl of barbecue sauce. BBQ Sauce wasn't really bursting with flavor. And the bread was okay. It's kinda pricey but the beef was cooked and seared perfectly. I'd recommend doing family style so you can try a bit of everything.
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Bob D.

Yelp
I started going to the Hi-Life when I was in college at Santa Clara University in the early 1990s. It was nice to stop in for a visit when coming back home. I sat at the bar. Great service, food was excellent. The room was busy enough to keep it interesting but not so loud you couldn't think. I'll definitely need to stop in again the next time I'm back in town.

HP C.

Yelp
Been a long while since I've been to this San Jose institution, and it was just as wonderful as I remember. I love the old victorian style of the building. You walk in and order a drink and peruse the menu. You place your dinner order and when your table and food is ready they seat you. I recommend their house dressing which is blue cheese and little oil on your salad. It is a wonderful dipping sauce for your bread. I had the ribeye which was perfect and my son had the 12oz New York. They were both cooked just how we liked. The baked potato is always perfect, and comes with a perfect amount of butter. We also tried the Mac and cheese, not necessarily my favorite style, but it was good. I haven't been here since oh about 95-01, and Henry's is still perfect. Great service, very welcoming, excellent food. Definitely worth a stop in! It can get busy, so have patience. They do have outside seating, which is new to me, and plenty of people were enjoying the great weather. Look forward to my next visit...just hope it doesn't take me 20 years to get back!