This post is part of an ongoing series at Raj’s Coffee on coffee shops we think are worth visiting. If you’d like to read more of our (mostly Chicago-based) recommendations, click here.
In the heart of San Jose’s Japantown neighborhood stands Roy’s Station Coffee & Tea. Originally the site of a Mobil gas station, this independent coffee shop has been serving its customers for sixteen years. It’s one of the coolest places to grab a cup of coffee in San Jose. So much so that every time I’ve visited the city, I make a point to stop at Roy’s.
The Story
The shop is named after Roy Murotsune, the operator of the original gas station. After Murotsune closed the gas station in 1990, the lot sat mostly vacant. But in 2009, Murotsune’s children and grandchildren began running a humble coffee shop. Opening at an economically precarious time for San Jose, Roy’s has since become a mainstay of Japantown. It boasts coffee from specialty powerhouse Verve Coffee, tea from Satori Tea Company, pastries and bites from Oakland’s Firebrand Artisan Breads and San Jose’s Sweetdragon Baking Company, and even some delicious spam musubi from The Musubi Lady.
The Interior
Roy’s boasts a delightful space. The outside has a spacious seating area where, when the weather is good, lots of folks can gather for remote work, conversation, and socializing. While we visited, we spotted several people chatting and several dogs enjoying some unseasonably warm November sun.
Inside, Roy’s errs on the small side. In fact, I’d say most of the seating is outside. But what the inside lacks in square footage, it more than makes up in character. A vintage Coke machine, likely a feature of the original gas station, stands in between the point of service and the restrooms. Additionally, you can find a stack of books situated on a desk overlooking the outdoor seating.
What I enjoy so much about Roy’s space is its thoughtful inclusion of curios like these. If you’re rushing in and out to grab a quick cup of coffee, you’re liable to miss out. But if you take a minute to look around and take it in, you’ll find a café that knows just how much personality to add without crowding the seating or walking areas. Should you visit, I encourage you to spend some time looking around.
The Coffee
On our most recent visit, my partner and I stopped into Roy’s to grab a cup of coffee before a trip to Monterey. While I had already tried and enjoyed their mocha, I was eager to sample something more seasonal. Sure enough, Roy’s had a small selection of seasonal drinks to choose from. I went with the maple brown sugar latte, iced with soy milk.
This autumnal concoction is not an uncommon sight on seasonal café menus. But I still enjoyed my drink very much. The sweetness of the drink reminded me of a spiced sugar cookie. The syrup and sugar paired excellently with the soy milk. It’d be harder to do better than this if you’re looking for a sweet fall coffee drink.
I also couldn’t pass up the possibility of trying a spam musubi. For the uninitiated, spam musubi is a savory snack with Hawaiian origins that has three main components: rice, nori, and Spam. Yes, that’s right. A small slice of Spam is sandwiched between two blocks of rice and wrapped with nori. If you’re on the fence about trying a Spam-featured snack, I implore you to give it a shot. Even better if you can do it at Roy’s. The musubi included a delectable soy sauce in the middle, which gave the whole treat a nice zing.
A Feature of Japantown
More than just being a cool coffee shop, Roy’s is a point of welcome for its neighborhood, Japantown. Being one of only three officially recognized Japantowns in the United States, the neighborhood is an enclave of Japanese art, cuisine, and cultural celebration. Just down the street from Roy’s are streetwear shops, restaurants, karaoke bars, salons, and places of worship.
Roy’s may be a modern specialty coffee shop, but it celebrates its Japanese-American roots. You can see this in their commemoration of the shop’s namesake, himself a Japanese-American business owner, and in its collaboration with other businesses in Japantown. For those who have yet to visit this slice of the Bay Area, Roy’s offers a point of welcome.
Conclusion
Whether you’re visiting the Bay Area or a long-time resident, Roy’s Station is worth a stop. The coffee is delicious, the local pastries are plentiful, and the spam musubi is absolutely worth a try. (When it’s in stock, that is. They do run out!) Not only is Roy’s a wonderful café, it’s a great reason to check out the rest of Japantown. We at Raj’s Coffee love coffee shops that embrace their neighborhoods, and Roy’s does just that.