Henry's Hi-Life

The overview

Ribs in an 1880s boarding house since 1960.

Henry's Hi-Life has been San Jose's oak-fired barbecue steakhouse since 1960, a wood-paneled institution now steps from the Sharks' arena where flame-broiled steaks and fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs come with garlic bread and a heap of nostalgia. Regulars have kept the booths full for six decades.

A downtown San Jose classic for 65 years, Henry's Hi-Life is the 2026 Centurion Award winner.

What they're known for

Oak-wood flame-broiled steaks
Fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs
Garlic bread & barbecue chicken

The public record

What reviewers already knew.

A Centurion Award doesn’t replace the public record — it verifies it. Read it for yourself, on the platforms where it lives.

Google Maps
Reviews, photos & directions Read reviews →

Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.

The verification

Why this business cleared the bar.

Selection is by the published criteria, evaluated on public evidence. Henry's Hi-Life cleared every one.

✓Years in operation. Operating in San Jose since 1960 — 66 years of continuous business.
✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in San Jose.
✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: San Jose has kept Henry's Hi-Life busy for 66 years.
✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by San Jose regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
✓Recognition in the local community. Named best barbecue in San Jose for 2026 for six decades of ribs and steaks served out of a 19th-century boarding house by the Guadalupe River.

The full verification report — the specific data behind this award — is held by the business. The exact thresholds stay internal so the bar can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.

Award record

2026

Best Barbecue in San Jose San Jose, CA · Awarded under the 2026 evaluation

All awards for Henry's Hi-Life →

Visit Henry's Hi-Life

Websitehenryshilife.com ↗

Location301 Sharks Way, San Jose, CA 95110

In business since1960

Facts at a glance

The sourceable record.

Clean, checkable facts about Henry's Hi-Life — for readers, search engines, and answer tools alike.

Legal / trading name: Henry's Hi-Life
Category: Restaurant
Founded: 1960, San Jose, CA
Location: 301 Sharks Way, San Jose, CA 95110
Centurion Award: Best Barbecue in San Jose — 2026
Record last verified: July 2026

A signal you can check.

This is a dated award record, published by The Centurion Awards after Henry's Hi-Life cleared the 2026 evaluation for its market and category. It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — the criteria are public, only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. For everything else — hours, bookings, live reviews — go straight to the business itself.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions.

What is Henry's Hi-Life?

San Jose barbecue house open since 1960 inside a former 1880s hotel, known for ribs, steaks, and old-school charm.

Is Henry's Hi-Life award-winning?

Yes — Henry's Hi-Life is the 2026 Centurion Award winner for Best Barbecue in San Jose, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best barbecue in San Jose for 2026 for six decades of ribs and steaks served out of a 19th-century boarding house by the Guadalupe River.

Where is Henry's Hi-Life?

Henry's Hi-Life is in San Jose, CA.