Santa Clara County opened MEHKO permits in 2023, and San Jose — the largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam, plus deep Mexican, Indian, Filipino, and Ethiopian kitchens — is where the county's home cooking lives.
Meals near San Jose
Afghan Biscuits, 8 pieces
Eight crunchy chocolate cornflake biscuits from New Zealand, with chocolate icing and a walnut on top.
$16.00
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(4)
Alfajores de Maicena, 8 pieces
Tender Argentine cornstarch cookies sandwiched with dulce de leche and rolled in coconut.
$20.00
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(3)
Chinese Almond Cookies, Dozen
Twelve crumbly almond cookies made with lard, each topped with a whole almond.
$14.00
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(5)
Eggplant Parmigiana, Half Pan
Fried eggplant layered with San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parmigiano and basil. Serves six.
$40.00
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(14)
Lasagna Bolognese, Half Pan
Eight layers of fresh egg pasta, slow-cooked bolognese and béchamel. Serves six; bake from the fridge, covered, for 45 minutes.
$48.00
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(8)
Sunday Meatballs in Sugo, 12 pieces
A dozen beef and pork meatballs simmered in tomato sugo, with extra sauce for your pasta.
$32.00
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(8)
Croquetas de Jamón, 12 pieces
Twelve creamy béchamel croquettes with jamón serrano, breaded and fried. Re-crisp in the oven for 8 minutes.
$24.00
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(11)
Paella de Marisco for Four
Saffron bomba rice cooked in a wide pan with prawns, mussels, clams and squid until the bottom turns to crackly socarrat. Serves four, with lemon wedges.
$64.00
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(3)
Tortilla Española
A thick potato and onion omelette, slow-cooked in olive oil and flipped once, just set in the middle. Good warm or at room temperature.
$22.00
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(5)
Birria de Res with Consomé
Chile-braised beef with plenty of consomé for dipping, corn tortillas, onion, cilantro and lime.
$32.00
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(2)
Chicken Tamales Verdes
A dozen tamales with shredded chicken in a tangy tomatillo and serrano salsa verde. Steamed and ready to reheat.
$30.00
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Pork Tamales in Red Chile
A dozen tamales filled with pork shoulder slow-cooked in guajillo and ancho chile, steamed in corn husks. Cooked and ready to reheat.
$30.00
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(2)
Permitted home cooks in San Jose
“Cookies from everywhere my family has lived: Buenos Aires, Guangzhou and Auckland.”
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(12)
“Willow Glen's unofficial Italian grandmother. Lasagna on Thursdays, meatballs on Sundays, since 1982.”
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(30)
“A retired chef from Alicante. I still cook paella every weekend; now the neighbours get the extra pans.”
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(19)
“Tamales and birria from my hometown of Guadalajara. I toast and soak every chile by hand.”
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(6)
“Sourdough baked at sunrise on weekends: a country loaf, seeded rye and focaccia.”
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(14)
“North Indian home cooking for busy families. Everything from scratch, nothing from a jar.”
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(19)
“Northern Chinese dumplings, folded fifty at a time and frozen on the tray so they never stick.”
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(17)
Makers post the dishes they're making on specific days, with a pickup window.
Every listing shows the maker's permit, ingredients, FDA top-9 allergens, and reviews from completed orders.
Pay by card online, or arrange to pay the maker in person — no service, delivery, or small-order fees.
Pick up at the maker's door, or get maker delivery where offered. Say hi.
Home kitchens in San Jose are permitted and inspected by Santa Clara County under California's MEHKO law (AB 626). Makers hold a Food Protection Manager certificate and can sell up to 30 meals a day. Makinson Street verifies every permit before a listing goes live and shows it on the maker's profile.
How to Get a MEHKO Permit in Santa Clara County: Steps, Cost & Timeline (2026) →San Jose questions
Where can I find home-cooked meals in San Jose?
Makinson Street lists permitted home cooks within 10 miles of San Jose, including Downtown, Willow Glen, Japantown, Alum Rock. Each maker posts the specific dishes they're cooking each week for pickup at their home or maker delivery.
Is it legal to buy home-cooked food in San Jose?
Yes. San Jose home kitchens are permitted under California's MEHKO law through Santa Clara County. Every maker on Makinson Street holds a verified permit, shown on their profile.
How much does a home-cooked meal cost in San Jose?
Most single-serving meals from home cooks run $14–$22, and family portions $35–$60. There are no service, delivery, or small-order fees on Makinson Street — makers pay 3% on card orders and nothing on in-person payments, so the listed price is the price.
How do I become a home cook in San Jose?
Get a MEHKO permit from Santa Clara County — Food Protection Manager certificate, standard operating procedures, application, and a home kitchen inspection, typically 3–8 weeks — then apply on Makinson Street with your permit number. See our guide: How to Get a MEHKO Permit in Santa Clara County: Steps, Cost & Timeline (2026).