The place is very low key. The mofongo was one of the best I've tried in the continental US. Is not dry!! Just needs a salt but you need to add to it to taste and a dash of garlic. Yet, that's my preference. The chicharrón de pollo was crunchy . The ambiance, I get kids are kids, but management needs to stand up and don't let high schoolers be disrespectful with unruly behavior towards the staff and harassing patrons when ordering. There aren't many chairs but I understand this is more of a grab and go kind of spot. Did I forget the alcapurrias? They reminded me of the ones that I ate at the school cafeteria back at home in Puerto Rico. Just hit the nostalgia taste buds. FYI, if you are looking for desserts to accompany the food sadly they do not provide it. This is more of a cafeteria than an actual restaurant type of place. That stated, if you are in the area by passing and want to grab something to eat this is a good place to stop. read more

This place use to be so good. now you go in there and the food look dry the panadas greasy; bring back the old cook because ya failing. price went up but food went down;sad. read more

Don Juan Cafe Restaurant - All that grease. Terrible. Don't serve food like this. I'll give ya a few months to get it right before I come back. - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

This place has amazing empanadas, I highly recommend the beef and cheese. The potato balls are also delicious like fried shepherds pie balls almost. The passion fruit juice is also a must have!!! Filling delicious food!! read more

Authentic Puerto Rican food. They give you a lot. You get way more than your money's worth. Delicious. I will definitely come back here. read more

Don Juan Cafe Restaurant - Baked chicken, rice and peas, plantains, beans. Plus I got a mango juice - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Great food and service, I just wish they served coffee, espresso, juice, guava pastries... etc

They have the best food in my book . I love there pull pork and beans. Even tho I can't eat it a lot like I would like due to my blood pressure when it's down I gets me some pull pork . read more

Don Juan Cafe Restaurant is one of only two Latin restaurants in the Syracuse area that I am aware of. I am not including Mexican cuisine as it is a different creature. This simple, plain looking establishment serves Puerto Rican cuisine. All of the food, with the exception of sandwiches, are prepared in advance and served cafeteria style. There is ample eat-in space and of course, everything is available for takeout. They have a limited selection of foods which include roast pork, steak and onions, beef stew, roast chicken, pepper steak, fried pork, fried chicken, yellow rice, beans, and tostones. The sandwiches offered included a Cuban, ham roast pork and others.You can buy a meal in two sizes: small or large. Generally the small costs $6.50 and the large is about $9.50. Their small is quite large. The food is prepared and served by an employee from a steam table. Each offering is made in small batches so, there is frequent turnover of the offerings. You probably won't ever get a ruined meal because it sat in a steam table for hours. There was a constant stream of food coming out of the kitchen re-stocking the front of the house for the steady flow of customers. I had the small roast pork with yellow rice and peas along with beans with an empanada and a soda which cost $9.50 with tax. The roast pork was presented as nice large juicy chunks of meat next to a generous portion of yellow rice and peas which I topped with beans. The meat was flavorful, tender, hot and fresh and quite satisfying. The yellow rice went well mixed with the beans. The food was nicely salted and the meat flavored with garlic. As I dined late in the day, I got an empanada which had probably been prepared well in advance and kept in a warming case. It wasn't stellar. If it had been fresh, I speculate it would have been better. The quantity of beef filling (ground beef) was rather sparse and plain. While they don't serve many typical Puerto Rican staples like mofongo, various seafood, alcapurria, pasteles, batidos, tembleque, etc... There is enough here to get my Latin food fix in Syracuse, although, you won't be mystically transported to PR...or even the El Bronx. read more

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Nothing fancy inside, but the food is delicious. We went for lunch on a Thursday and there was steady stream of customers. We tried the pork chops and the ribs, both with rice. The potato-rice ball was fantastic. You'll have to ask our dog about the empanada - we were full, so we took it home for later and he stole it right off the table. We'll have to go back and try them for ourselves. read more

Food is good but price change every time I go in. Last time I purchased food I asked for a menu. So I can be sure that I was paying the correct amount. But they didn't have any of course. Go back in 2 weeks later, mind you, I get the same thing all the time. Each time I find myself pay 2-3 dollars more. Today I was charged 20 dollars. Which was ridiculous. today my last time eating from there. I looked up the menu online and yeah, They Been Over charging me. read more

I go to Don Juan's about once a week for lunch because I work pretty close. The food is delicious and fresh. They offer everything from stewed, fried and baked chicken. Arroz con pollo and the best empanadas in the town. I prefer the beef and cheese because it has so many potatoes and so much meat its great as a quick lunch. They offer dinner but get there early before they close. You can call and order your food for pick up but you are bettter off just driving over and standing in line. If you manage to get there before or around 11am you wont have to wait to long but you can tell by how busy the parking lot is that the food is worth the short wait in line. Fresh passion fruit juice as well, love, love, love. Best Puerto rican Cuisine in our Town hands down! read more

Don Juan is great! Unique authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. Service is slow, but it's worth the wait. Huge portions, and very affordable. Meat is tender and falls off the bone. Make sure you get an empanada!!! Also try the homemade passion fruit juice. read more

Don Juan Cafe Restaurant - Roast chicken and chicken and cheese empanada. - Sandwiches Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Satisfies any Spanish food carvings. Decent prices Good service Good portion Indoor seating Empanadas made with American type cheese, they should use different cheese but, decent sized. Must try if you're in Syracuse. read more

Let me prefix this with I lived in Miami for 4 years. The food is ok very lightly seasoned and one note. It was lacking the depth that Puerto Rican food should have. We had white rice, yellow rice, beans, plantains, pork, steak, an empanada and A piña colada. The Frozen piña colada saved the day!! It was really good! I would definitely get another one if I'm in the area. There was no spice to any of the food and I found myself longing for a good kick but the only thing to put on the food was Franks Red Hot... read more

great food one the beat in syracuse go here! roast pork is delicious and very fast the line was out of the door !