Juan's Place - Berkeley

Cosy family own restaurant food was delicious great portions their chips and salsa a choice of red and green I loved the red one not spicy but an addictive tast... read more Cosy family own restaurant food was delicious great portions their chips and salsa a choice of red and green I loved the red one not spicy but an addictive taste. Lots of memorabilia on the walls to look at jukebox for music small bar. They make you feel like family. Service: Dine in Meal type: Lunch Price per person: $50–100 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Meal type: Lunch Price per person: $20–30 read more Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Meal type: Lunch Price per person: $20–30

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 p... read more 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!

Great family owned restaurant that caters to customers and the community. Great food well seasoned and drinks are delicious read more Great family owned restaurant that caters to customers and the community. Great food well seasoned and drinks are delicious

The bar selection is impressive, offering a wide range of choices including major brands like Corona and Tecate, available in bottles, cans, or on draft to comp... read more The bar selection is impressive, offering a wide range of choices including major brands like Corona and Tecate, available in bottles, cans, or on draft to complement your meal. I enjoyed thick corn tortillas to make my burros. Interestingly, the waiter mentioned pork among the meat options (which I don’t recall seeing on the menu), and it paired excellently with the green sauce enchiladas. I should note that I might be a bit biased; my wife and I used to dine at Juan's regularly when we were younger. When I told my brother about my visit, he was pleasantly surprised: “Wow, they're still around? I used to go there all the time when I was at Cal!” The place remains fantastic and comes highly recommended, especially if you're an active person. I visited during a quiet afternoon, but I plan to return in the evening to enjoy the lively atmosphere filled with happy chatter and perhaps share a pitcher of Corona with friends alongside our meals. While it’s not the cheapest spot, the food is authentic and nourishing—perfect after a day of helping friends move, engaging in sports, or if you just want to take a break from other California dining experiences that seem to prioritize presentation over substance.