The food was really good. We were also greeted with respect and good hospitality. The lady that owned the place made sure we tried whatever that was on the menu before we bought it. Also my mom had a full Samoan conversation with the owner. I forgot to get a picture of our food but it was good enough portion and also cheaper than any Pacific Islander food spot in the Bay Area. They've been serving the community for 13 years. Will definitely recommend this to all my family and friends. Will also try to go back again. read more

Love love love Juanita's. I started coming here about a year ago and have found Juanita's shop to be such a nice experience, getting to try a culture of food I have never come across before. The food is consistently delicious, I've tried her garlic chicken, turkey tails, ribs, curry, palusami, taro, chop suey, and corned beef. The meat is very high quality and very worth her prices as she charges by weight, but make sure to get some of the other foods that she puts a lot of time and effort into. I personally love the taro, chop suey, and palusami. Juanita is very nice and easy to talk to. The interior is clean and welcoming as everyone there is nice. Highly recommend visiting to support! read more

Juanita's Polynesian Delights - chop suey, rib, palusami, taro - Polynesian Near Me - Newark, California

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VINTAGE MEAL About three years ago I ate at a Polynesian eatery at Hayward. At that time I was craving for corned beef and turkey tails. Corned beef weren't provided that day but turkey tails were. I also ordered lamb, which was gamey. I read reviews and saw pictures of Juanita's Polynesian Delights. Several pictures included corned beef and turkey tails. I came to Juanita's last week for lunch. The price isn't based on per item but $6.75 per pound of food on your plate. For corned beef I approached it like brisket. I ordered two types of corned beef: lean and fatty. I selected two turkey tails. There was no pork sausage so I got beef sausage. Lastly for carbs I choose taro. In total I almost ordered two pounds of food. I ate inside this eatery. When I sat down I noticed a distinct smell of corned beef. I was concerned the corned beef could be gamey, but I never had bad corned beef before. I took a bite of the beef sausage. It was bland. However the more I ate the beef sausage it became pasty for me. The turkey tails weren't heavy at all as the fat was rendered well. I ate the two cuts of corned beef. The lean cut wasn't dry but was flavorful. The fatty cut was really moist. What really helped cut the richness is the fatty corned beef was the taro. The only item I didn't like was the beef sausage. After eating I was full but not bloated. Words like old-school and traditional are overused. Another word I would like to use to describe Juanita's Polynesian Delights is vintage. When you enter Juanita's the table setting reminds me of a mom-and-pop joint from the 1980s. Also what is listed on the menu that day is what is served. Unlike buffets you don't have to stuff yourself at Juanita's to make yourself full. A plate less than two pounds of food with a combination of protein and starch is filling enough. If I'm craving for corned beef and turkey tails I'm heading to Juanita's Polynesian Delights. read more

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Ok 1st off my photos do a great disservice to the food. I let my curiosity get the best of me. My 1st time ever having Polynesian food. The super sweet lady who I want to call Grams.(Grandma) was the sweetest person I've encountered in a while. Her lvl of patience with my questions and mispronouncing of some of the dishes was above board. She gave me samples of just about everything. To be honest thats part of the reason my eyes were bigger than my stomach The food 5/5 Lamb, corned beef, and turkey tail was tender, and flavorful basically delicious. The Taros leaves were so good. I didn't even know turkey tail was a thing. But hot dang it was good. I definitely have to go back with some self control. read more

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I came for the Poly beef pie and ended up ordering more like the turkey tail and corned beef. This place is run by a sweet elderly couple. The food and the vibe hit all the right spots read more

Juanita's Polynesian Delights - Turkey tail with corned beef and taro - Polynesian Near Me - Newark, California

(1/5) I really wanted to support this business because I enjoy supporting local Polynesian restaurants. My family and I have visited Juanita's Polynesian Delights several times and we usually place large orders because we're buying food for our whole family. Unfortunately, every visit has left us feeling unwelcome. Whenever we order a larger amount of food, we're told not to order too much because food needs to be saved in case more customers arrive later. As a paying customer, it's frustrating to feel discouraged from ordering the amount of food we want. In my opinion, a restaurant should serve customers on a first-come, first-served basis. If demand is consistently high, I believe increasing food preparation would be a better solution than limiting what customers can buy. Another disappointing part of our experience has been the customer service. We've rarely been greeted with a smile or a friendly welcome. On one visit, the owner looked at us and said, "Oh, it's you guys?" That comment made us feel uncomfortable and as though our business wasn't appreciated. We left wondering what we had done wrong when all we've tried to do is support the restaurant. Personally, I also didn't find the food to be exceptional, but we continued going because we wanted to support a local Polynesian-owned business. Sadly, the customer service has made that difficult. Finally, during our visits, the restaurant did not appear as clean as I would expect. From what I personally observed, the floors, food warmers, refrigerator, tables and chairs could have been maintained better. I truly hope the owner takes customer feedback seriously because I believe every customer deserves to be treated with kindness, respect and appreciation. Based on my personal experiences, I cannot recommend this restaurant. read more

This place is a hit or miss. Some days the lady is a good mood somedays she is in a bad mood. Very disappointing to come and either the food is not ready or it's run out. Like if you know its the weekend and you expect more people then cook more. Stop disappointing your customers. For all the people saying it's clean and vintage. Obviously you need glasses because its dirty as heck. It's a graveyard for appliances not working, torn seats, things just falling apart. I spotted 1 big fridge behind another fridge, old stove and display case all dirty broken and not in use. Big ole dirty broke stove, garbage and recycling bin greets you as soon as you walk in. Purses and sandals right behind the food on the shelves and ground, which is strange. Honestly surprised it hasn't been inspected by health department. read more

The ambiance may not be much for bay area standards but you know what Frick that it reminds me of traditional. Besides whatever they lack in decor trust me its all about the food and the flavors. The owners are super nice kinda hard not to love this place. read more

The food is pure deliciousness! I makes me miss the islands. I got the lamb and it was super tender! read more

Juanita's Polynesian Delights - Polynesian Near Me - Newark, California

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Awesome hole in the wall place with a lot to offer! It's easy to miss since it's hidden in a bigger shopping complex across from Grocery Outlet. Lots of parking available, especially during the weekday lunchtime. I stopped by to try it out after reading a friend's review and was able to try corned beef, lamb, and chop suey (like pancit) - it was all great and the prices are good too! They weigh everything by the pound so you can mix and match as needed - very home cooked family-style meal feel, and everyone was super nice (it's family-owned). I wish I had gotten to try their pineapple custard but they only make it select days of the week or you can call in an order (not sure if there's a minimum). I'll be coming back to try that someday! read more

Juanita's Polynesian Delights - Polynesian Near Me - Newark, California

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I I walked miles looking for a place to eat. I was looking for the perfect place. I settled upon this place and this is definitely that authentic vibe and best prices around. This place definitely satisfied my taste buds. The foods really flavorful. read more

Bet you haven't had authentic home style Polynesian food prepared for you before (unless of course you grew up with it)! And if you haven't, you need to give your tastebuds a mouth opening experience! At Juanita's, you'll be introduced to fresh meats and stews seasoned and slow cooked to perfection. The aroma will lull you into this little gem found in the easily overlooked mall while you're on your way to more central locations in the city. Inside, you'll see a dimly lit dining area next to an open kitchen where you can see all the meal items being prepared. If you haven't had a chance, these Polynesian dishes are worth the stop. Flavorful, affordable, and abundant, you'll be fed enough for the meal you came in for and then some. The meats like their corned beef, ribs, and lamb can be heavy on their own and pair them with some side of chop suey, sausages, turkey tail, and taro, you'll have an extremely hearty meal. Also, don't pass up on the opportunity to try their desserts. The owner and staff (mostly family and friends of the owner) are super friendly and knowledgeable in the Polynesian cuisine, the food of their homeland. Their love definitely show through their food! Overall, Juanita provides a great experience into the Polynesian culture through its cuisine and while some flavors may be new to some, the home cooked feel of this comfort food can quickly grow on you. read more

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Not bad, not bad at all. This place can easily be over looked. If you aren't actively looking for it. It's a small mom&pop shop with limited seating. Keep in mind their to go boxes don't have separators so all the food gets placed together and the flavors will all meld together. I don't necessarily like when all my dishes run into each other and I didn't want to bother having them place each of the dishes into individual containers. Nonetheless, the food was still good. It reminds me of going over a family members house for dinner. Nothing too over the top, but has a sense of comfort. There were a couple dishes listed on the menu that I didn't see in the warming trays but we arrived as soon as they opened so I'm sure they would have had it out if we waited a bit longer. read more

Juanita's Polynesian Delights - the front of the building - Polynesian Near Me - Newark, California

Delicious Polynesian food. Everything was home cooked and Juanita was very friendly. We will definitely go back ! read more

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Truly an unprecedented delight! It's rare in the Bay Area to find anything resembling affordable food - and yet here we have a combination of affordable food, tasty food, and incredible Samoan hospitality! Anyways, a quick description of how it works. You get food in a take-out box, they weigh it, and they charge you something. I am not exactly sure what the price is, but it's not really expensive at all. For basically a massive box worth two meals with all of their dishes, I ended up paying $13, including tax. So very affordable! Anyways, here are the food options they had on the day I went. 1. Taro Leaves - tasty and vegetarian, I think. Very flavorful, reminded me of a Filipino taro leaf dish I had once. Definitely something to load up on, because normally vegetables aren't as tasty to have. 2. Corned Beef - surprisingly not as salty and jarring as I normally find corned beef to be. Although quite flavorful, you can taste the beef more than you would if say, you ordered corned beef at an American restaurant. Also recommended with the caveat that you already get some in the chop suey - which is amazing! 3. Taro and Banana - I didn't try the taro and I didn't meant to try the banana, but the owner gave me a complimentary banana out of hospitality, and I couldn't turn that down. Much to my surprise, the banana was nowhere as sweet as I expected. In that sense, it actually acts as a perfect "staple" food to pair with the other dishes. Highly recommended! And I will try the taro next time! 4. Chop Suey - probably the favorite chop suey I've ever had. The origins of chop suey are actually quite unknown though presumably it was some Chinese person (probably Cantonese) living abroad. Presumably, the dish found its way to Polynesia eventually and became greatly improved! It's extremely flavorful with various vegetables (peppers, onions), comes in a highly flavorful broth, and has bits and pieces of corned beef, which further adds to the flavor. I highly recommend getting this or even taking a big platter out to bring to a party. 5. Lamb Shanks - Very interesting food. I didn't really associate lamb shanks with the Pacific Islands, but it was fantastic. Well-cooked, extremely fatty and rich, and very flavorful as lamb usually is. Very much one of my favorite lamb products. 6. New Zealand Sausage - A very interesting product. It was actually not as dramatically flavored as sausage normally is - which actually means it can be eaten by itself (without any kind of staple to pair it with). However, still decently flavored and filling. Definitely recommend getting one or two. 7. Turkey Tail - The MVP food. I have never ever had turkey before that I actually liked - I have historically associated turkey with being bland white meat that people punish themselves with in hopes of being "healthy." I will admit, the turkey tails are probably not very healthy, but they are incredibly rich, bursting with flavor (both inside and the outside glaze), and a delight to eat. Not only was it my favorite dish here, it was probably my favorite turkey dish I have ever had in my entire life - you must try it, especially if you do not normally like turkey. Anyways, all of this was $13. Highly recommended to everyone, especially if you want a large and filling lunch or early dinner. read more

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Always feels like home entering this restaurant to Juanitas warm greeting! Got some tasty and filling lu that always does the job in providing the island sustenance one often misses but the belly won't forget. We were fortunate today that there was dessert (pani popo) and baked bread to share with family. Super grateful to support this small business so that it may continue dishing out local favorites, laughter, and love. read more

Great food. I like their taro and green bananas. There prices are a lot lower than a Tongan bakery I went to.

Some of the best Samoan food I ever ate, like straight off the island. Juanita and Brian are so kind. They work really hard and still have time to conversate about cooking and stories about where Juanita learned to cook. We bought catering pans from them that are really affordable. Just overall an awesome family who is making some good food! Thank you Juanita and Brian! read more

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Such a delightful hole in a wall place. Been living in the area for a while and I been wanting to try this place out. The owner is a sweet Polynesian aunty, she gave such a warm welcoming. Her cooking is freaking amazing. The lamb, duck tail, corned beef, sweet potato, chop suey, and banana leaf were to die for. It is cafeteria style and the food is weighed instead by item. Everything was delicious, I can't wait to go back. I highly recommend! (: read more

Juanita's Polynesian Delights - Corned beep, chop suey, taro, sweet potato, lamb, duck tail, banana leaf - Polynesian Near Me - Newark, California

Hole in the wall kind of place. If you are close by or visiting like us out of towners and have a craving for meai samoa (that would be my twins after a golf tournament) then this is definitely where to go. We did drive to "The Polyneisan Luau" which is closer to us but it was closed til August. So on to the next location. Area is kind of run down but the meai sure does make up for it. Open at 12 but it wasn't ready yet. Waited for about 1/2 hr more and the lovely lady brought out juicy cold watermelon while we were waiting. I didn't get her name but I do remember her son name, Joseph who served us. He is like a gentle giant whom by the way just graduated College YAY!! Anyways, it's about less than an hour from Peninsula Country Club where my twins were competing for the California Womens Golf Amateur Championship. The food started coming out one by one and my girls already making their own plate‍..they were craving Palusami, fa'i, sapasui and mamoe. Well we chatted it up with the owner (once again i don't know her name unless its her Juanita) but they are very friendly and we would definitely come back and visit. Oh yeah she gave us a loaf a bread. I had that for breakfast at the hotel using there butter hehe. Overall not a bad place to try and support Local. Fa'afetai and Until next time Eat Palusami... Fa'afetai lava mo meai Samoa Sapasui Fa'i Talo Povi Masima Sosisi Pua'a Luau mamoe Baked Mamoe Rice Homemade Bread read more

Juanita's Polynesian Delights - Patiently Waiting for the meai.. - Polynesian Near Me - Newark, California

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Wasn't that great. Everything was boiled. Tasted gross tbh. We did get there at the end of the day tho. Idk I wouldn't try them again.

The Food was excellent ! My favorite was the Turkey Tails. Everything was perfectly seasoned. Juanita is so Friendly and welcoming , even though she was busy she engaged with each and every customer. It felt like eating at home. read more

Juanita's Polynesian Delights - Sausages, Mamoe Luau, salted beef w/ cabbage, Sapasui, Turkey Tails, Baked Lamb, Taro, Green Bananas, Fresh Baked Samoan Bread. - Polynesian Near Me - Newark, California

Found in the Newark plaza as Jade Plaza, Juanitas is a local landmark that'll bring you right off the Mainland and into a place you'll find on the Islands. We went at a weird afternoon off-time on the way to visit my brother and were super happy a lot of the food was still available. Inside it's not going to be super fancy and modern, it'll look old and dingy but don't let that fool you. The message board on the left next to the cash register will show you what's being offered. The food itself is in heated trays with drinks, etc in a big freezer on the right. The meats we got were all delicious, both ribs were so soft we could easily remove from Bone using a fork to just push it off. At the same time they still retained their meat-texture and were not overcooked like you would get in a slow cooker. The whole ride home it made the car smell incredible. Palusami is like a coconut collard greens, super rich but delicious. The Chop Suey is like Japchae (glass noodles). These were a little salty but it was probably from the Corned Beef. read more

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I love supporting Polynesian businesses so when I saw Juanita's a few months back, I bookmarked it but it wasn't until I was dropping off takeout from my area to our aunt who lives in Newark that we finally stopped by.  They are open limited hours because of the SIP so call to find out what time they close before heading over.  It was closing 6pm when we went one Saturday so we made it with about 10 minutes to spare.   Their food is charged by the weight so since they were closing I ordered an extra container of their palusami, some lamb, and taro.  Even though their palusami is with lamb, it was surprisingly much saltier than either of us expected and really needed the taro to cut down on that saltiness.  So personally I prefer the palusami with corn beef at Katalina's.  Overall though a good price for the amount of food you get and the owners are really sweet.  Next time I have to try some of their other offerings like the turkey tail and go early enough for their version of the otai. read more

Juanita's Polynesian Delights - Palusami, taro, lamb - Polynesian Near Me - Newark, California

Was always curious to try this place and I'm glad I did. A bit similar to Hawaiian food; lots of stews and starches, big portions, and everything tastes home made in a good way. I got a bit of everything, but the turkey tail was a stand out. Super tender and melts in the mouth. read more

Little hidden gem located inside of the grocery outlet parking lot in Newark. This doesn't get any more traditional and homemade. Auntie Juanita, packs a punch in all over her dishes. Me and the boys hit the joint up today and had a feast. This is real deal authentic home made island food. Reminds me of when I'm eating in the islands. Food is made fresh daily. I would call prior to see the selection and whatever she had left. We went around the afternoon time. Check it out, you won't be disappointed. read more

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Disappointed ;( I know it's a hole in the wall place but the food was left uncovered and there were flies galore...How did they get 4 stars? The place is extremely unhygienic. Walked in and walked right out again. read more

Everything is so delicious reminds me of back home so happy i found this place every-time i pass by i have to stop by.

The food was amazing!!! Service was well done and overall everything was good . Nice to have some Polynesian food around the Bay Area. I highly recommend it it's delicious!!!! read more

Walking in you are greeted with smiles. The store is clean and well lighted. Juanita and her husband are a great team servicing the customers. The food was so yummy and she gave us a good and reasonable pricing on all the food she prepared. I especially liked the taro, fasipovi, mamoe, and the palusami casserole. I would recommend them. read more

I am very sad to post this but because I would like others to know my experience and let them determine it on their own. It was a rainy day and we didn't want to drive all over to look for half moon pies, so I called this store at 11:30am and was told by a woman that the pies would be ready later. I called back around 1:30pm and a gentleman answered and said "pies, should be ready in an hour" We showed up about 15mins after an hour, and they told us "Omg we're all out" but I don't even think any were made. So, since we were there, I decided to purchase some food. I bought 2 Okas (really good), Taro (under cooked) Lu Sipi (ok) Fasi Povi (ok) Sausage (good) and Turkey Tails (didn't enjoy the flavor at all) overall...my plate was ok. I honestly don't think I will be visiting this store again. Everyone has their preference of Polynesian Food, so feel free to check it yourself. read more

Turkey tail yesssss please!!! Nothing fancy just yummy Samoan food, polosami and pani popo. Lamb ribs are good too!

this no-frills hole in the wall for polynesian food that is a must-go if in Newark! Juanita is very friendly and offered us some complimentary taro, banana, and lamb to try while deciding what to get. ask her what she suggests!! food is by weight, so you just point at what you want in the hot plates (much like Filipino turoturo joints), Juanita puts it all in one box together, then weighs it on the scale in front of you to determine price. pretty affordable considering a $20-25 priced box can feed 2 people (keep in mind that the yummy taro is pretty dense and heavy). looks like there is a good community that Juanita has built up around her too, which is lovely to see. come here for her home-style meals!! read more

I'm just really happy there's island food in the east bay. Juanita's is definitely the place to go if you love island food. Especially, since there's not much out here in the Bay Area. I'm lucky that I grew up with this kind of food. My family is from the Fiji Islands. Very similar foods. Let me just say her palusami, both non meat & lamb; beyond yummy!!!! Omg...another level of yumminess compared to my mother's. (Psst. Don't tell my mom. LOL) Her sausages are also my fave to get, along w/ the corn beef. All this w/ some rice & I'm set!! Every time my husband and I come here, Juanita has been very friendly/helpful. Same goes for her family members. We ordered food from her spot for our wedding. Same foods I always like to get, plus, we added sweet potatoes & taro. Oh ya. My guests loved everything, especially since more than quarter of them were islanders. LOL I was also happy, that she labeled everything. This is definitely a go to spot for island food; my fave! Deserves more than five stars if I could give it. read more

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I would say that this place is one of the most authentic food I have ever had, the guy in the front is the son of the owner and he was really nice and knowledgeable about the food and the making. Definitely I would go back again. Decent space I would extend a little bigger for people to eat inside ! read more

Food was amazing here! First time ever having Samoan food and it did not disappoint! I highly Recommend the turkey tails and the lamb ribs! Juanita is the sweetest lady too and really makes you feel at home! 5/5 would recommend and am coming back! read more

I visited this hidden gem in the Northern California's East Bay. I was surprised to learn that there was a Polynesian restaurant standing in the midst of Newark! Juanita's Polynesian Delights offers a piece of the South Pacific with everyday Polynesian delights. Walking into the restaurant, the aroma hits you with nostalgia of a Saturday evening dinner or a Sunday afternoon barbecue. The walls are decorated with pictures of Polynesian heritage through old pictures and paintings. We ordered two plates of the day's choices which included mamoe (lamb), fa'i (broiled green bananas), kalo (broiled taro root), pisupo (salted beef), and muli pipi (turkey tail). The food is charged by weight and served conveniently in styrofoam "to go" trays. The owner served us. She said she'd been in the area for six going on seven years. If you are in the Newark area or close by, and you'd rather not make the trek up to the Cow Palace for the only other Polynesian restaurant, I encourage to check out this little piece of "back home". My rating is based off of the taste of the food, general organization, and cleanliness of the restaurant. There were a few eye sores in the restaurant including items that were set out that looked like they were for sale (boxes of mangos and pineapples) but were left out in front to ripen. This place has a passing grade but it was hard to see what that grade was on the door. Hours are posted but the low light made it challenging to know if it was open or not. Natural light and better ventilation would be a great start to making this little gem brighter and more appealing. I look forward to see how things progress for this little piece of the South Pacific. read more

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We got there right after 12 when the food was finishing. We took home a little bit of everything. Turkey tail, lamb, pulasami, sapasui we're all delicious, like home cooked! Wish they would have some sweets. read more

Juanita's Polynesian Delights - a tray of food - Polynesian Near Me - Newark, California

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Juanita is a gem and her turkey tail adobo is the best! I always buy it all every time I'm there. The owner is super friendly and reminds me of all my friend's nice aunties. It's a small hole in the wall spot so don't expect to be wowed by the interior. The food is mostly take away so that should speak for itself. Definitely stop by if you get the chance. Plus, it's the only polynesian spot in the east bay that's not a L&L or Ohana. read more

Came back for a 2nd time, expecting the food to be just as good as the first time and it definitely didn't hit the mark. Everything looked good, but there not much flavor at all. We also ran into a situation. The tall young man serving was very friendly. He conversated with us and made us feel welcome. My Dad needed to use the restroom and the young man allowed him to use their restroom. 5 minutes later, a short lady came from the back of the kitchen and started banging on the bathroom for everyone to hear; demanding that my Dad get out now. She claimed the toilet was flooded in which it wasn't. She was absolutely rude and obnoxious the whole time! What a way to make a customer feel embarrassed in front of everyone walking out that restroom! I'm not blaming the young man for being so kind for letting my Dad use their restroom, but they should have daily communication so that every employee is on the same page. Never going back there again! read more

Juanita's Polynesian Delights - Lamb, corn beef, NZ Sausage, Lu, Taro, and Plantain. - Polynesian Near Me - Newark, California