Best Casual Restaurants in Sunnyvale

Food is great! But servers keep checking on up like rushing us away while the place is not full.

Puesto in Santa Clara is definitely not your average taco joint. This place leans upscale, perfect for business lunches or a more refined taco experience. The vibe is modern and polished, with comfortable seating and a setting that’s great for conversation. Now, be warned: the tacos are $10–$12 each and come à la carte. No sides, no combo plates. If I were just grabbing a quick bite, I’d be annoyed paying nearly $30 for two tacos without rice or beans. But in the context of a business meal or nice lunch out, it makes more sense. I tried the short rib tacos and they were incredible. Rich flavor, well-balanced, and clearly made with attention to detail. So while I still love my $2 roadside tacos, Puesto fills a different need—one that involves good food and a nice setting.

The food was unique, delicious, came out quickly and served and explained perfectly. Jose our server was excellent, knew the menu front to back and helped us make excellent choices!! The whole staff from start to finish were wonderful. This is a Gem in Sunnyvale!

Service staff are very attentive and friendly. Enjoyed meeting up with a couple of staff people from another restaurant I used to go to and closed. They remembered me which is a nice welcoming.

We were there on a night with street music on Murphy so more crowded than usual and maybe a bit understaffed. They created additional seating for us outside which was great. Food was ok and the menu was eclectic but sufficient to offer many choices with a large wine and beer selection. They looked to have a full bar inside but only served wine and beer which was fine for us. Service was a little slow but there were a couple of large parties that took up time. Overall we were happy with our experience.