A Berkeley staple! Been coming here since 1976! Really attentive staff. Good salsas and chips (also flour chips available). The Matador flautas are the best always. They play las mañanitas on the jukebox for you on your birthday! Feels like having a meal at your abuelas house on Sunday! A must visit if you're in Berkeley or beyond. read more

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Good and attentive service. I stopped in for dinner because I was in the area. I had the chicken taco plate. If I return I'd try something else next time. read more

First time here. My Berkeley native friend suggested it. I had a delicious Grilled Al Pastor Quesadilla & my friend had Chicken Mole. We ate everything, including the chips & salsa! Juan's opened in 1972, and it has a casual old school vibe. Our waiter has been here since it opened & was very helpful & efficient. I hope to come back soon! read more

Juan's Place - Grilled Al Pastor Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

I got the fish fajitas today! Really good! My partner ordered a super chicken burrito and it was enormous! This place is always known for their generous portions and the delicious food! read more

Juan's Place - Fish Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Berkeley staple. Lunch menu is awesome, especially the Mexican street tacos. Plus the salsa is still fire.

TLDR; This place delivers exactly what you expect in all ways (which is a good thing). Will be back. Food (of 5) Combo Chile Relleno, Beef Enchilada, Pork Tomale - 3.5 [free] 4x Chip baskets + 2x Red Salsa + 2x Green Salsa - 4.5 Matador (Flautas) and Green Enchilada seemed to please family members. Service (sitdown) Quick, efficient, anticipated needs, bit of a slowdown on the check Ambiance Very comfortable lived in old school (40 yr?) mexican joint, cafe style tables, dimly lit Combo plate wasn't standout, but it was exactly what one expects at a classic joint like this. Although I prefer thin corn chips ala Chevy's of 20 years ago, I still really loved the 2 style of chips and both salsas. Green had nice kick, red had some heat but had more complex flavors going on. read more

Juan's family has really ramped up the food and service at this old favorite Mexican restaurant in West Berkeley. The classic chips (flour and corn tortilla) with both green and red homemade salsa haven't changed in the thirty-plus years I've been coming here but the food was better than I can remember in years. I had the chile verde plate and it was tender and flavorful. The two orders of grilled shrimp salad were also over the top. This place is like a Time Machine with old posters, photos, and a juke box with music from a bygone era. There is a small memorial to Juan near the front door, who died in 2022. Seriously, we are losing too many of these classic restaurants lately. If you want to keep Juan's around, please come out and give them another try. You will not regret it. read more

I've been to Juan's many times over the years but my most recent meal and experience was so bad I can't stop thinking about it. Their prices are so high. The food is bad. Just bad. I had chicken tamales and my kid had rice, beans, and steak. The food was lukewarm. The tamales had bits of gristle and the meat tasted off. The steak was inedibly overcooked. The beans were soup. The waiter was unpleasant and I had to get up and find him to get our check. And the prices! $65! At lunch! read more

I absolutely love the food here. Good, authentic Mexican food. (my most favorite food in the world) I ordered a Wet Salsa Verde Steak Burrito. It was so damn good. The service was amazing. It feels nice and warm inside. Feels like I'm at abuletias read more

Juan's Place - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

The ambiance is laid back, spacious & chill. This restaurant has been here for 52 years serving the Bay Area family owned. They're all very attentive and nice, it's like attending a big family outing. Food is delicious like you're eating a home cooked meal right out of your kitchen. We had steak Ranchero and fish tacos absolutely delicious. The meat is tender cooked to perfection and the fish tacos, are light and tasty. You have to try chips, salsa and guacamole. If you're ever in Berkeley, you have to stop by and give this place a try, you will not be disappointed!! read more

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I now know why it was empty on the evening I was there. Multiple folks serving. A very confusing menu without proper explanations. I wasn't hungry, so I explicitly stated I didn't want the meal -- just two chiles rellenos. Out came the plate with 2 chiles, rice, beans, tortilla, etc. I tried to refuse it, explaining I didn't want it. 3 different people came to the table explaining to me how I should have followed a very convoluted way of ordering. Ultimately, the didn't charge me for the rice and the beans, but it was a ridiculous formula for ordering just a couple of items and not a plate. And the food was just okay. Let me end by saying that though the various folks were insistent and in some ways unhelpful, they were also kind. read more

Don't come here. Highway robbery. My co worker went to eat here and the menu gave him one price and they added extra 20 then has the odacity to ask for a tip read more

I think what's really special about Juan's Place is the history and atmosphere. What your tasting on the menu is the recipe of several generations of a family. The people who work there are descendants of Juan. You can see photos of the family as it were in the '70s, their home probably upstairs. A snapshot of real opportunity and new beginnings in a different era. With all the dishes that make this place great, it's really the experience of being welcomed into their house. There's so much love and history adored all of the walls. I tried the Mole which was great. Highly recommend. read more

Quite literally the worst meal I've ever had, i got chicken tacos, the rice was dry like it had been sitting out for hours, the black beans were hard like they didn't boil them properly, the chicken and ingredients of the tacos all tasted old and the plate looked sad There was one other table of people in the whole restaurant, no music playing, dingy atmosphere, how is this place still in business?? The service was good but I want good food. It costs 25$ for two tacos and beans and rice, I wouldn't mind paying that if the food was good..... I left my leftovers on the street outside My life is forever altered I now have the pleasure of knowing definitively what the worst meal I've ever had was. read more

Juan's Place - Crispy Shell Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

I went there today for a special event. It was my first time there, and was very please. I decided after the event, to order a to-go plate. Wow, I love enchiladas with beans & rice, and they did not disappoint. I will certainly take that drive from Richmond to Berkeley to get the enchiladas! My favorite Mexican restaurant is permanently closed in Richmond, so JUAN is the Place!!!! read more

The best to get Mexican food people have heard of. Eventually I ordered stuff at this restaurant. There are pictures of famous boxers on the wall. The Berkeley Humane Society is right across the street. Nachos are the best thing on the menu if you have the money. read more

I've been here twice. Both times I had the same older female waitress and both times I felt like I was being served by the Soup Nazi. She starts off by nagging you over and over to buy a drink. "I need to look at the menu." "The drinks are right there" she says. The place was empty with only one other customer but she comes back less than a minute between to ask what I'm ordering. I'm sorry, I'm still dealing with the sticker shock of $25 for 2 tacos. Don't worry, a single taco is available for $20 if you want to save money. Asking a question about getting something on the side? Just a rude, "no". Any question you ask her feels like she takes it as a personal attack. Ask her what she suggests? "No, I don't do that" is her reply. Ask for more salsa for the chips? "Do you want the $1 or the $5 size?" I explain that I'm not asking for salsa to go, I'm asking to eat salsa with my chips. She replies, "$1 or $5?" Ok, never mind. Just every single interaction with her is awkward and rude. Part of eating out is the enjoyment of the meal. Instead of enjoying the meal you sit there wondering if you did something wrong by asking for water. For a restaurant that charges $20 for a taco and $14 for rice and beans you would expect them to make up for it with top notch food and service. But all you get here is below average food, canned salsa, and misery. read more

I've been coming to Juan's Place since I was a little girl with my family and every time I comeback I'm filled with such nostalgia. Although Juan is no longer with us, his amazing staff is still holding the standard of my vote for the best Mexican comfort food in the East Bay, specifically Berkeley! My go to is hands down always the cheese enchiladas with red sauce, refried beans/rice. This dish is everything you want as a cheese lover, a sauce lover, a no calorie count until Monday lover and everything in between. If you're a guac fan, they don't skimp out on portions as a starter. The food is simple yet delicious, never leaving here without anything but a good and full belly time. Some of the servers have remembered me since I was a little girl, so not trying to date myself by any means, but that's a few decades ago! Just showcasing the commitment and passion they have for this restaurant, Juan and the family. With plenty of parking, warm indoor vibes, friendly wait staff, all the yums for great value, I love taking friends here that have never tried before. I think it's safe to say we all have our go-to favorite spots and for me, this is it! Thank you for all the memories shared here, Juan's! read more

Juan's Place - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've been going to Juan's for a very long time. They never disappoint. If I lived closer, I would go more often, but I go whenever I visit Berkeley Humane Society, which is two great places in one visit! I love their mole so much! I have to admit that I haven't been really experimental with their menu, but everything I have tried has been really good. It's one of those old-school places that feels very comfortable and is a fun place to have a little party or a few drinks with friends. The bar opens up pretty early in the morning. The food is really solid and although I'm usually very adventurous, I just cannot help but get the mole almost every time. I really like the staff, the ambiance, and their to-go game as well. read more

I went to Juan's at about 5:30 in the afternoon. It was almost empty and I don't know why. I hope it's the hour because I received excellent service and they have Molay and the prices are reasonable. They had very good chips and green and red salsa that was different from what you usually get a little bit thinner and really good. I ordered the shrimp enchiladas, but asked for mole sauve on them and they did that and they were scrumptious. I will definitely be going back and I encourage anyone else to go there too. Very traditional, almost Tex-Mex style. I'm from Texas and I missed that for a long time! read more

We were starving and stumbled upon Juan's Place. It struck me, that back in the day, this was probably the happening place in the neighborhood. There were two dining areas separated by a wall and there were three tables occupied midday on a Monday. A very unfriendly man was sitting at the cash register and couldn't be bothered seat us. We ordered two simple meals that came within a reasonable time. The burrito was soggy and lackluster. It had approximately 1/3 of a cup of runny beans in it. The tostada had approximately three pieces of yesterday's chicken in it and an inordinate amount of lettuce. It was cold and flavorless. Save yourself the time and move on to another Mexican restaurant. There are so many more delectable places to eat in Berkeley. read more

"Absolutely phenomenal! The food was bursting with flavor, the service was warm and attentive, and the atmosphere made the whole experience unforgettable. Easily one of the best dining experiences I've ever had--five stars all the way!" read more

We Highly recommend 9 Juan Juan's! - tempted to buy the t-shirt to help promote their business! They're surrounded by the run-of-the-mill fast food chains. What a great option to have in Ontario - or anywhere, for fresh and flavorful food from a welcoming and friendly family business. And, the food actually looked like the website photo! My husband, who said he wasn't hungry, tried to eat about 1/2 of mine. Great for to-go, or outside seating, with a few inside tables, and great condiments bar. read more

I have returned for their Carnitas special on Fridays. I use to come here regularly 10+ years ago because their carnitas were legendary. Lost track then they closed for a while during the pandemic. The carnitas were still good but I don't think it lives up to my memory of how good it used to be. The family still enjoyed both the corn and flour tortilla chips like we use to. A disappointing experience however is that the bar only sold margaritas from a wine mix. Other than that, I still appreciated the family and friends feel of this business. I hope they continue to grow and prosper in this community. read more

Very old school Mexican restaurant. No frills, just really tasty food! I have been going to Juan's my entire life and have created loyal customers out of friend that I have taken there. Highly recommend the green enchiladas!!! I can also basically drink the salsa straight it's so good! They have both corn and flour tortilla chips which is nice. Just go! You won't regret it! read more

So delicious! Amazing service! Feels like you are in your grandma's kitchen. I had enchiladas and my daughter had a quesadilla. Both were great! read more

I would give this place 3.5 stars. Kept hearing of Juan's place so we had to try it out! What a cool spot. Easy parking outside. Very cool ambiance and clean bathrooms. Very tasty complimentary chips and salsa - loved the spicy salsa Verde. Among 2 adults and a 5 year old we shared: - combo plate beef enchilada, chille relleno, pork tamales comes with rice and black beans - half portion pork Verde with rice and whole beans comes with tortilla Food is very good. Not super flavorful but quite tasty and very well priced. I found the tamale dry so maybe pass on that but enjoyed the pork Verde dish. Food was quite enough for us quite full in the end. Would love to come back to try the burrito! Service is friendly and quick :) read more

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Food was good, tasty and spicy. Great, personalized service. When asked what I thought of the salsa, I said it was good but could be hotter. 2 minutes later, he showed back up at my table with a small bowl with some nice and spicy. Quite delicious! read more

Great food with great people! Authentic Mexican dishes. Generous portions. Family managed. Established many years ago in Berkeley. This is a "don't miss" restaurant. read more

This place is a hidden gem found in an industrial area of West Berkeley. In fact, I've walked by this restaurant so many times that it's been on my to go list but never thought of visiting during my lunch breaks. It can really be over looked while driving by but I can assure you they've got some solid food worth the buck. My coworkers and I decided to grab lunch from Juan's last week and checked our their menu via yelp (third party through uber eats) and noticed that the prices are inflated because of this additional service of convenience. We were on a budget so we decided that we needed to order through the website it self for next day order and that helped us save a lot of money in the end. We were able to order five large burritos and I got myself a 1/2 order of their quesadilla. While peeping at the burritos, I noticed not only are they huge but they were obviously delicious because they were easily consumed. My quesadilla was perfect. The meat was tender, the cheese nice and gooey, and the salsa was fresh. It's a great decision for lunch but I'd recommend buying directly from Juan's to save a buck and tip directly to the establishment. read more

Juan's Place - 1/2 order of pork 1 Quesadilla with pork, Rice and Beans - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Can't believe my most recent, several orders' errors. Things missing in every order!, It seems that person overseeing is not checking to see if order is correct. Even missing the receipt. The most recent goof included him telling me that his workers are the reason the order was missing items. no receipt, no sour cream, no chips, no beverage. This is the second time in a row??? When the person IN CHARGE starts blaming others for repeated bad orders, claims that the menu isn't listing a basic correctly, (al Jesus without jalapeños?), expects the client to come in person for a rerun, etc. one wonders. I guess I'll not send friends there (all 3 of them in one recent visit complained about taste and errors) -- and stop patronizing there myself. Such a sad decline of a once great place that was my once a week delight for decades. The waiters are the same but not the person in charge. Sad farewell. I'll not try again. read more

This place was absolutely wonderful! Quick service, great food, and a very comfortable and enjoyable environment. I loved the complimentary tortilla chips (there were two kinds - a lighter, puffier one and a more crunchy one), red & green salsas, and guacamole. I got a fajita burrito and the meat was sublime. Every ingredient stood on its own - tortilla, fajitas, steak and sauces. Prices are reasonable - about $23 for a giant plate of food with fresh, warm rice and beans. I will definitely be going back here! read more

Haven't been here in a while decided to give them a try again. We were seated right away. Very nice server. Chips and Salsa were brought out right away. Two kinds of chips the flour ones are extremely tasty. Only two other couples eating in the restaurant. I decided to try the blackberry margarita which was very good but not very strong. I got the combo with 2 enchiladas and a tamale, it also came with rice and beans. The food was ok but not as good and seasoned as I remembered. The rice had some crunchy parts. My husband enjoyed his burrito. I had a bite and it was good. Not sure will be coming back soon. read more

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A classic that's managed to stay in business amid a sea of other Mexican eateries for decades. It must be the family pride & loyalty to tried & true recipes & cocktails. This has been a magnet for family special occasions and for former East bay residents returning for a familiar taste of their past. The courteous staff is just the cherry on top! read more

I highly recommend Juan's place for authentic Mexican food. I ordered the chicken mole enchiladas, which came with rice and beans, and I was not disappointed at all regarding the food portion and the quality of the taste. The staff was very attentive to our needs and they were generous with the chips and salsa. This restaurant has been a staple of Berkeley for more than 40+ years and is family owned and operated. Juans Place definitely gives home cooked Mexican food vibes. read more

Food wasn't tasty at all. Even the chips and salsa were bland. The bar turns out to be beer and wine only, so not really a bar. I expected something quite different in terms of authenticity, and I was disappointed. Service was OK... read more

Love this place.... (Nostalgia) this place hasn't changed.. Menu hasn't changed and but they did use to serve you two type of tortilla chips and now they don't ... but still amazing food and service ... read more

¡Delicioso! An old-school, unpretentious, good-as-it-gets family-style style restaurant serving hearty, delicious, and authentically right-from-mamacita's-kitchen Mexican cuisine. The portions are hot, hearty, and generous. The baskets of crisp, hot homemade tortilla chips and servings of savory salsa are endless. And menu prices are surprisingly affordable. I've been coming here for years for enjoyable meals with family and friends... and expect to continue to do so for years to come. Highly recommended for a casual, tasty, fun, and filling Mexican lunches and dinner. read more

Efren the chef amazing food family owned business small but worth the wait. Had been there since 1984 a bridal shower party was hosted there. read more

I hadn't been to Juan's Place in decades. The food holds up well. Huge portions at reasonable prices. The service was deplorable though. The staff was very rushed and rude. Downright offended when I asked questions. I won't go back but it was a great memory jog. read more

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