The Blue Chip

probably a three but they get an extra star for being open on news years day when everything else around was closed. went there to watch the rose bowl just because we didn’t want to stay at home and we could afford to otherwise.
good selection of draft beers. had a couple of bloody marys with the wife. pretty good tasting for a sports bar. we were having dinner at il fornia so we didn’t want to eat too much so we just got a appetizer sample. it had three chicken wings, three poppers and three potato skins and came with sour cream and ranch on the side. i thought it was a decent deal for 11 bucks. piping hot when it was picked up. poppers were ok, how many ways can you do them? wings were hot but not too hot and really tasty. skins were really good too. had some crow also with a coke back. lots of cool sports memorabilia and down there. i’m sure the place is hopping when the sharks are on tv.

Safe family fun where you can watch the football games with family and friends. They also have a nice range of food for everyone including the kids. There is a game room for the kids if they get bored watching the games also very strongly suggest getting there early to get a table because it does get packed quickly I do love that they don’t allow people to get out of control so parents the kids are safe

Watch the Super Bowl here and get the BLT with the paprika fries. As you may know I have an french fry authority complex and if you need something good and hot these fries are the way to go. Additionally if you are a Cowboys fan it is okay to come here as well as a 49er fan and others.
Enjoy a great beer, nice appetizer and be sure to check out the painting classes. this is the spot to go to watch the Super Bowl… really way better than levi’s :)

The cheese steak was AWESOME. I had the combo cheese steak. A small downside of this place is the fact that I had to leave my seat to order anything. And also pick it up from the kitchen. So, if it was a game you are really into you will miss some action.
A major disappointment was the bathroom. The floor was covered in some liquid. and there was a pool of «something» around a drain in the middle of the floor. VERY poorly maintained. There was also a smell I didn’t recognize that was unpleasant.

Love this place. The Californian Philly Cheesesteak is my favorite. Being that I’m from Dallas I’m super excited that it’s a Cowboys bar so they show all the games there and all the geared up Cowboys fans show up! Management seems pretty cool. One time an employee accidentally spilled ketchup on me but they were kind enough to comp me 2 drinks. Really said a lot to me. I still go back as often as I can.

A great place to watch sports as it is packed with TVs in every room and is quite spacious! The bartenders are friendly and fast. Beer happy hour deals are available.

Hmm… it’s hard to rate this place since I came for a Paint Nite.
As a Paint Nite venue, it’s okay. I wasn’t expecting a sports bar when I signed up, though. The room we were in was big, but kind of cramped. I guess most Paint Nites are.
Now for my general thoughts: the place seems fine. However, there’s almost zero cell reception, as the place is in the basement of a building. I love that there’s a huge Steelers room, cause I’m a big fan! Although, there’s a big painting of Joe Montana in the Steelers room, and that sticks out quite a bit. Shouldn’t he go with all the other 49er stuff? Anyway. Seems like a decent sports bar. They must get quite a bit of action on game days, cause there are a number of TVs all over. It was slow on a Wednesday night, though.
I didn’t have any food or anything to drink, but the food I saw looked decent, and it seemed like they had a lot of drink options.
Parking is street or public (paid) lots.

So this place is a very typical sports bar, as far as the food goes. Definitely not a place I would crave food from, but it’s also my new first-​stop if I ever plan to watch any games. With over 35 TVs, they will be playing pretty much any game you can/​want to see.
The service is pretty good, the server was very friendly.
As I said, the food is very typical, but I was very happy to see they had a sandwich made like a pizza?!
Also a little overpriced, but what can you do? They gotta pay those outrageous electric bills somehow.

Obnoxiously loud during football. Measured sustained decibels at 89, topping out around 115.
Hope they clean up their act, because we need a good sports bar around here, and blue chip isn’t it.

Came here for the first time this past Thursday. I wanted to watch the Patriots lose (mostly Brady) but their asses won. I was planning on watching the game no matter what but my coworkers joined me and it made my night more eventful.
It was relatively dead for a Thursday night but I heard that this place is THE place during football Sundays. What seemed to be the main section is all decked out w/​Dallas Cowboys flags, banners, wall decals, license plates, etc. You know what that means, right? I’m taking Gavin there tomorrow for some football!
The food ordering and pickup setup is a bit awkward but it is more effective than places like The Brit where servers take a long ass time to get back to you especially when they know you do not drink. You order food by the bar, pay, grab your pager, seat yourself, and pickup the food in the back once your pager goes off. If you want iced water, get it at the time you pay so you don’t have to run back up to the bar for it. I did that and the guys sitting at the bar kept asking if I was OK. If only they knew I don’t drink!
Prices are extremely fair and food was subpar. Skip the salads and skip the tacos. I enjoyed the super nachos very much. Their potato skins are decent, I guess. I would not order it.
— Cobb Salad had fresh avocado, fresh spinach, and fresh pico de gallo (I opted that instead of ranch). I asked for no bleu cheese and what I got was shredded cheddar cheese. I wanted no cheese!
— Chicken Taco was very filling but tasted just ok. probably because of the shredded cheddar on top. I can actually eat just one and be content for the evening.
— Potato Skins were huge and cooked to perfection.
— Super Chicken Nachos were huge and super delicious. The chicken was tender. Just look at the picture. Thanks to my coworker for treating me to this. though we shared it but I ate most of it.
I’m coming back tomorrow.
Go Cowboys!!!
Go Raiders!!!

I guess what they say about never judging a book by it’s cover is true because this bar has some great food/​beer. It doesn’t look like much, typical bar atmosphere, bar foods, Tv’s, sports themes, and bar games. The wings I had were better than a lot of other bars I’ve been to. They gave me a good amount of a food for the price as well and I even got a free beer because they accidentally gave me the wrong one.
The interior isn’t very modern or fancy, but for some reason I still like the feel of this place. Maybe because it’s familiar to me. Being a sports fan this is a great place to hang out with some friends. I’ll be back here at some point for sure.

Came here for paint nite! The place is just like any bar. Nothing special. It is spacious and they’ve got bar food. Pizza, sandwiches, beer, cocktails etc. Located on the ground level which is pretty cool.
Drinks are good and strong. I didn’t eat any of the food as I prefer Asian food but overall, decent place to hang out.

Five stars for the owner who I chopped it up with several times during the evening who opened their doors and rolled a red carpet down their stairs that led to this check in with more T.V.‘s I’ve seen since ol’skool Sam Jose live. This family restaurant/​sports bar has plenty for the eyes to enjoy. Their taps include some quality burrs and their liquor is respected.
I came here for one reason… THE WOODY SHOW; and glad I did because i never marinate anywhere down town and I found a door that had all sorts of t. v’s with any game on at that given moment. This evening their was a UFC fight on that was a added treat. Rudy the owner and I spoke of his restaurant and now from just a couple of 2 guys talking about nothing and enjoying it turned out to the creation of patronship.
Parking across the street was the easiest way to avoid wasting time which was 10 Unilocal bucks which i don’t mind cause my time is worth more than driving around looking to find a safe spot DTSJ mainly because i came here to get TURNT UP something I rarely do as a parent/​hubby and «THE WOODY SHOW» was my attraction. So long Unilocal short come find a home literally in the ground drink BURRS and enjoy any sporting event you have a fancy for!
A big PHUK YOU TO LIVE105.3 for forcing me to (which I don’t mind) get a data package that revolves around these degenerates. I came here to the blue Chip not knowing what to expect since the show came up from L.A. I had to come hang out and look forward in attending THE BLUE CHIP during the NFL season
Unilocal OF APPROVAL

This place, I like. Usually something off on someone’s order when I go and sooo so slow. But I still like it. Maybe because it has a local, small town bar good vibe.
It’s kind of a maze. In the basement of a building. Then order in front. Pick up in back. And exit door is dead center of restaurant.
I’m vegetarian and was surprised to find a veggie philly steak sandwich. Super good. Peppers, mushrooms, lettuce, tomato and lots of melted cheese. Sandwiches come with chips. Extra for fries. Came in last week and my friend ordered fries. But we both got them. I should have checked the receipt closer. I much prefer the chips. Kind of sad. The fries are good. But I like to take the chips to go so I don’t feel like I’m being to unhealthy at once. But as always sandwich was delicious.

The Cheese steak Sandwich (and I don’t like cheese, so opt out of the cheese, to create just a steak sandwich) is excellent.
When they offer you french fries with the cost upgrade for the side to replace the chips… do it! The french fries although previously frozen crinkle cut, are not fresh cut, they’re tasty!
The location is nice and service is counter style, where you order from the bar, then they give you a buzzer coaster that lights up and vibrates when your order is ready, then you pick up your food in the back area.
They have sports on TV there of course too, so it’s a nice place to come to.
You’ll spend $ 10 – 15 maybe up to $ 20 (or more if you like to drink) for a meal.

I can’t stress this enough: POZOLE, POZOLE, POZOLE.
This is all I order from Blue Chip. This is the reason why I even come here because it’s the best thing ever. It’s not the sports or the ambiance for me.
During off seasons, aka non-​football seasons, this soup takes forever to come out of the kitchen so beware of the wait! It’s definitely worth the wait to me so I can’t complain.
Get it, get it!

Eh, this place is chill. Nothing special. It is a bit harder to find if you are driving around because it is downstairs and the sign does not stick out next to its surroundings. However, if you are strolling about, you will definitely stumble upon it. Maybe it is the fact that there are not any windows and it’s underground but this place can get stuffy and musty — not too enjoyable. Fun, vibrant environment but the ventilation could be better!
They have a good variety on their menu but nothing far from the usual — salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, a couple desserts. I would say the best ones worth trying are the Jalapeño Chicken Sandwich, Trio Combo (appetizer) and Original Cheesesteak.
I am not sure if they validate parking — every time I have been here, I ask the bartender or server and they give me attitude then direct me to someone else. I basically have given up on that question. :(Service is usually pretty solid but whenever I ask about parking, it seems to be an inconvenience.
​I will say that this is absolutely the perfect place during NFL season because it gets rowdy on Sundays! You’re not worried about food that much — you’re mostly drinking and having fun with everyone else.

Excellent Cheesesteaks! Always served piping hot with warm gooey American-​Swiss cheese mixed throughout. See my previous review for details.
As previously mentioned, parking in this area can be a nightmare; expen$ive or difficult to find. Not any more, I discovered the solution! The Blue Chip participates in the City of San Jose’s parking validation program. Park in a City of San Jose garage and take advantage of two FREE hours during weekdays and FREE parking evenings and on weekends. Cheesesteaks, beer, and free parking… what’s not to love about that!!!
Here’s how it works. Take the parking ticket from the dispenser and keep it with you. Show the parking ticket to the bartender and they will give you a rose-​colored validation coupon to be used in conjunction with your parking entry ticket. When you return to the garage, insert the parking entry ticket into the yellow automated payment cashier machine in the entry area. The machine will ask you to pay a balance or insert a validation coupon before returning the ticket.
The nearest parking garage is the Second and San Carlos garage located at 280 South Second Street, just a block away. It’s a 3 minute walk and will help you burn off the calories from the delicious cheesesteak. ;)
WITH validation at Market and San Pedro, Second and San Carlos, Third Street, and Fourth Street garages:
– Weekdays until 6 pm: Two hours of FREE parking
– Evenings after 6 pm: Parking is FREE until 6 am the next day
– Weekends: Parking is FREE from 6 am Saturday or Sunday until 6 am the next day
4.5 stars rounded to 5 for fixing the parking situation. Thanks Blue Chip !!

Although this seems to be a popular sports/​game destination, I’ve only come here for lunch during work hours. The cheesesteak sandwiches here are delicious and I’m always sad that I get so full I can’t finish eating their bread because the bread is really good as well. I haven’t tried anything else because, well, it’s a cheesesteak place, so I don’t see a reason to get something else here.
It can be a bit confusing navigating the restaurant. You order at the bar, but then pick up food when your buzzer sounds by going in the opposite direction towards the kitchen. But totally worth it for the food.

My friend had mentioned frequently The Blue Chip could be a game watching destination for our group, and while I’m not too familiar with this side of Downtown, I figured let’s give it a shot. The place touts itself as the best cheesesteaks in San Jose, a claim I was cautious of as most of the cheesesteaks I’ve had in San Jose have been lacking. So that was another reason to check it out.
You can find the place from the exterior sign and listening to friends say «it is downstairs» as the whole bottom floor of the building is Blue Chip. From front to back you have the bar with a few craft beer options and a few liquor options, seating, more seating, and the kitchen. TVs and memorabilia are everywhere, and one room is a designated Steelers room, while 49ers, Cowboys and other teams have their wall art. For the Green Bay-​Seattle game, the place was packed, but with TVs in every corner, no one could miss the game.
So the bad is the ordering system. You go up to the line at the bar to order your food and drink. No servers at all. And really only one person taking orders so expect a line, and if the line does get long, woe onto the person stuck in front of a speaker. You then get a buzzer, wait fortunately not a long time and then pick up your food at the other end of the restaurant. Kind of weird, and people get lost, but the staff is very helpful pointing people to where they need to go. Oh, and while they have a selection of beers, you better be good at identifying tap handles, because they don’t have a written list. That or have no problem delaying the line more by asking what each beer is.
So the good is the food. This was the best cheesesteak I’ve had in San Jose. The meat and cheese were mixed perfectly together. It was warm, greasy, and you have to control yourself from not wolfing it down. If they used amoroso rolls, it would be perfect, but the bread here was a lot better than Amato’s.
So if craving a cheesesteak or want to watch the game, I can recommend The Blue Chip.
Side Story: the day we went, after the Green Bay-​Seattle game when most of the crowd dispersed, a camera crew and a model (or waitress, or cheerleader, still not sure) decided to have a photo session. Everyone could see the flash, it was obnoxious. They couldn’t have done this on a Saturday instead of the AFC championship game?

We came here on a Monday night around 5 pm, so it was pretty dead. There were a few people in there watching Monday Night Football and having drinks. You order food and drinks at the bar, and the bartender gives you a buzzer to let you know when you’re order is ready. You have to pick your order at the back of the restaurant.
My husband ordered Burger and Fries and a pint of Lagunitas. I ordered the Jalapeño Cheesesteak with Fries and a pint of Corona Light. All that for $ 30. Not bad! Food is decent. My husband liked his burger and my cheesesteak was fine. Both were very generous portions and came out piping hot. The fries were the skinny kind which is the kind I like.