Memorial Day Weekend in Willow Glen: Skip the Chain, Feast Like a Family
Memorial Day weekend in San Jose means long weekend plans, gatherings, and for most people — food that feels festive. The backyard grill has its place. But if you want a meal that matches the scale of a three-day weekend, something slow-cooked and deeply satisfying, there’s a better answer on Willow Street.
Casa Villa will be open through Memorial Day weekend, serving its full menu including the dish that San Jose locals have publicly called “the best pozole in the Bay.”
Why Pozole Is the Original Feast-Day Dish
Pozole has roots that predate the Spanish colonization of Mexico. In Aztec ceremonial culture, a version of this hominy-based stew was served at major feasts — it was a dish of occasion, not of daily convenience. The modern pozole that evolved from those traditions retained its association with celebration: it’s a dish Mexicans make for weddings, quinceañeras, Día de los Muertos, and major holidays.
A proper pozole is built on nixtamalized hominy — large, tender kernels of corn that have been treated in mineral lime to soften and develop a distinctive flavor. The broth is deep red (rojo) or milky white (blanco), depending on the preparation, and is built from slow-braised meat — typically pork or beef — that cooks in the broth until it can be shredded by hand.
The toppings are part of the ritual: shredded cabbage, sliced radishes, dried oregano, fresh lime juice, and tostadas on the side. Each person assembles their bowl to taste. The result is a participatory dish — customizable, communal, and deeply satisfying.
Casa Villa’s pozole has earned its reputation. Reviewers have called it the best in the Bay. That’s not a marketing claim — it’s what diners write on their own Yelp pages after the bowl is empty.
The Memorial Day Menu at Casa Villa
Casa Villa’s full menu is available through the long weekend. This isn’t a scaled-back holiday operation — it’s the complete kitchen:
Pozole — Slow-cooked hominy stew with all traditional toppings. The dish that brings people back.
Birria Torta — Slow-braised beef in a toasted roll. Rich, dark, and deeply flavored. A preparation that takes hours to do right.
Al Pastor Tacos — Marinated pork from the vertical rotisserie, served with pineapple, cilantro, and onion on housemade corn tortillas. Some of the best street-style tacos in South San Jose.
Torta de Asada — Grilled carne asada inside a bolillo, fresh and direct.
Steak Fajitas — Sizzling platter, fresh accompaniments, the full experience.
Carnitas Plate — Slow-rendered pork, fall-apart tender, served with rice, beans, and fresh tortillas.
Seafood Tacos — For the table member who wants something lighter.
Nachos with Housemade Chips — The chips are made in-house. It shows.
Villa’s Breakfast Burrito and Chilaquiles — The morning menu runs from 9 a.m. for those planning a holiday brunch before an afternoon gathering.
Memorial Day Weekend Hours
Casa Villa is open through the long weekend:
- Saturday, May 23: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Sunday, May 24: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day): 9 a.m. – 1:30 a.m.
Note: The Monday late-night kitchen is a Casa Villa standing commitment — Memorial Day or not.
Order for Your Gathering or Come In
Casa Villa accommodates both dine-in and takeout. If you’re feeding a group this Memorial Day weekend, online ordering at online-ordering.innowi.com/branch/casavilla is the fastest way to place a bulk pickup order and skip the wait.
For questions about large orders or group arrangements, call (408) 382-9491. The team can help coordinate a pickup order that works for your gathering size.
Dine in at 840 Willow St, Suite 400, San Jose, CA 95125 — in the heart of Willow Glen, accessible from Lincoln Avenue and Almaden Expressway.
