Juan's Place - Berkeley

Juan of Juan's Place may be 95 years old, but this iconic Mexican restaurant continues to thrive. This truly hidden gem offers delicious food, although the atmosphere could use some improvement.

The food at this restaurant is delicious. What stands out is the flavors. Dishes have real soul. They are not messing around. Highly recommended

Juan's Place has been a favorite restaurant of ours since arriving in Berkeley in the early 80s. My husband and I love it because the atmosphere is friendly casual, the waitstaff is on top of everything, but we like it most because the food is fresh, homemade and delicious. We come every Saturday night after sailing or during the week after an adventure on bike trails or parks or taking our dog to obedience training at Berkeley Humane Society. It feels like we are eating at grandma's house for dinner. Everyone has their favorite dish but mine is the shrimp enchiladas with green sauce, which includes guacamole and sour cream. The shrimp are always perfectly prepared and never overcooked. Now don't go in expecting something like a Chevys. But if you love authentic delicious Mexican food in a casual friendly environment, try Juans and you will be joining regulars who have been coming there for decades.

Decently priced food, came with a large party. Served us a variety of complimentary or so we thought salsas, hot sauces, tortilla chips, and guacamole. Food was great not pictured ranging from classic burritos to Mole and quesadillas. Their flan was also a good deal, around 3. Food and service aside, the off putting event of the night was when we realized we had gotten significantly overcharged at the end of the night. Perhaps our fault too for over trusting and not calculating, but this may be the reason I may not come back, although aside from this the food was good. D Food taste good deal? 4 5 Service 4.5 5 Realizing charges don't add up 0 5

Juan's is our favorite restaurant, and not just in Berkeley. Why? It's because good fresh homemade authentic Mexican food is so hard to find these days. Juans pays attention to every part of their delicious food. Don't believe me?Consider something as simple as black beans. I thought stupidly! that they just used large size cans of black beans. Or maybe also added some seasonings after perhaps. But Juan's makes them the old fashioned way from scratch starting with dried beans and then slow cooking them for hours with garlic and their own concoction of special herbs including epazote. Say what? Apparently epazote is used in everyday cooking in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca and the Yucatan Peninsula and has notes of oregano, anise, citrus and mint. Epazote is also purported to reduce the gas and bloating experienced by many when eating beans and cruciferous vegetables. How many other restaurants would think of slow cooking with an ingredient as tasty and beneficial as this aromatic herb to their black beans?! These loving details run through all of their cooking from the chili rellenos with lots of egg to the garlic shrimp with tons of garlic. Even their chips are homemade with both corn and flour chips. But be sure to get a side order of guacamole made from ripe avocados. And of course you get corn and flour tortillas with every meal. Lastly, we've never been to Juans without getting a pitcher of blended margaritas. These are wine margaritas, since Juan's only can serve beer and wine but we like the tangy lime flavor much better. Cheers, and see you there!