Juan's Place strikes the balance between authentic and accessible Mexican cuisine This is very much a first wave Mexican restaurant, the kind you see dotting LA, Chicago, Texas and other places the Mexican community has had a long history in. A never ending bowl of complementary tortilla chips type of place. Expected tortilla forward titans of the cuisine like burritos, tacos, nachos, flautas and tostadas mingle on the menu with sauce and chile forward dishes flanked with rice and beans reminiscent of Mexican home cooking like mole, chiles both colorado y verde, chile rellenos, and birria. There is no rule that says if two people get the nachos one person can't eat all the fully loaded ones, so watch your plate with company. read more

Juan's Place - Two 2 Matadors Flautas with Deep Fried Flour Tortilla - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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

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

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

So my husband and I came here on a whim after going to a Yelp event right around the corner. It was open and it was Mexican food need I say more!? My husband has been looking for a place that has good Wet bean and cheese burritos! Most places around Oakland either don't have wet burritos or don't use refried beans so the fact that this place had both earned them their first star! They also had really great service so that earned them 2 stars! I ordered the cheese enchilada and it was really good. Not the best I ever had but if we came back I would order it again. They only lose a star because they don't have street tacos! That was sort of weird for my husband and I especially being from SoCal and Mexican food lovers! No street tacos!!? Meh it's fine we will go back for the other stuff lol If your in the area give it a try. read more

See all

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 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

See all

We were in the area and craving some good Mexican food. If I hadn't looked up this place, I'm not sure if I'd known it was here! The ambiance is very fun and I love all the decorations. The chips are just so divine, so crispy and huge! The salsa was spicy and had a tangy kick to it. I really enjoyed my burrito and it definitely was filling. The staff was friendly and really attentive. read more

See all

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

¡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

OKAY rockin with Uncle X again and we came to his Mexican spot. We started with chips and guac and a pitcher of wine margarita. I had one just cause I couldn't leave unc hanging with a whole pitcher to himself LOL talk about peer pressure since I don't drink usually but it was tasty. And I only had one so no stumbling out and I could still drive. We got flour chips and He was right, per usual. So Good! I ordered shimp diabla and my goodness my soul was set on .. the waiter said nothin that a lil milk can't solve. He got his usual steak and ate pretty much all of it. We had to get boxes for the chips and my meal because we were running late for an appointment. Definitely would double back for more as they have outlets and wifi and it's ideal place for posting up and enjoying the ambiance. read more

See all

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 returned to this very nice local Mexican restaurant after an absence of several years. Nice atmosphere, very nice and attentive service, reasonably priced, and quite tasty. After starting with some excellent tortilla chips, I had two very good enchiladas (one chicken and one beef) with a mild mole sauce. Also liked the accompanying beans and rice. Also enjoyed the lime margarita. Plenty of street parking. read more

My family has been eating at Juan's Place since it opened and it absolutely never disappoints. The Chili Verde is perfection--every bite tender and flavorful. The wine margaritas are so good that I probably drink it too fast! The guacamole and salsas are so fresh--and the chips are always warm and on the table as soon as you sit down. Since it is a family restaurant you see the same faces. Linda is amazing and always comes to say hello. Everyone is just so kind. The food is so good. You will not be disappointed! read more

Juan's Place - Chili Verde is amazing! - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

East bay burrito #45 Initial taste 3/7 Meat 2/7 Beans 3/7 Cheese 3/7 Rice 3/7 Onions and cilantro 3/7 Tortilla 5/7 Overall 3/7 Overall a pretty bland burrito. Huge portion, but I'd rather small with higher quality ingredients. The chips were very addictive though. read more

The best food and service for over 40 of my years. And still serving the flour tortilla chips! Thank you Juan's.

I've driven past this low-key spot a million times. It's really hard to miss and almost looks like a private residence. Very unassuming! Another Elite member tipped me off to this, so finally got over here for lunch. The inside is so cool! Lots of history on the walls and photographs everywhere. I'm sure the bar has made some great memories over time. It makes you feel part of the past. We were quickly seated and supplied with fresh tortilla chips and 2 salsas. I'm a sucker for free house-made chips n salsa lol. Always extra points for me there. Service was prompt! Now for the food, the portions are absolutely out of this world lol. My super burrito was massive, easily 3 normal burritos. My friend's taco plate was also quite generous. The flavor was good. I would have liked more sour cream/cheese in my burrito, but the steak itself had great flavor. Pricing per portion was very reasonable. read more

See all

I had not been to Juan's Place for at least 20 years but I wanted to show my wife what the old time Mexican restaurants were like. I called to see if I needed a reservation, and they said that they closed at 8pm. When we arrived, it was dark with few customers at 6:30 pm. They were only using one room out of three for service. It had the old memorabilia of bygone days which can be charming, but really dates the place nowadays. The food was mediocre. The rice was old and not fresh. I had the Chile Rellenos and my wife the beef fajitas. Meh..There are a lot better Mexican restaurants available these days. A restaurant that uses only a third of its serving rooms and closes at 8pm on Saturday night is not a thriving restaurant. We will not be returning. read more

I haven't been there in years but I have a soft spot for the place because the first date with my wife happened there in 1989. I don;t remember what the quality of the food was, but do remember that it was good enough to want to come back. So why my low rating? As we were eating our meal, a cockroach climbed the wall right next to our table! To this day i don't know how a restaurant can stay in business when they have cockroaches. Back then we did not have cell phones or Yelp so i guess there was no incentive to clean the place up. I just hope they have cleaned it up by now. read more

Wonderful restaurant! Amazing atmosphere, service, and food. We had lots of leftovers! read more

Juan's Place - Amazing atmosphere, serving sizes, and food. - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

COVID-19 service was on point!! I had the cheese enchiladas and my family had carnitas burritos. The super carnitas burritos are AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD and can easily satisfy a growing teenager with enough left over for breakfast the next day. "A million times better than Gordo's" was the quote." read more

See all

One of my favorite Mexican places in the Bay Area! It's a great spot to visit with friends, family, or even for date night. The staff is very friendly, and the food is delicious. We appreciate your service! read more

My girlfriend told me she knew an amazing place for Mexican food in Berkeley. I was like really? Haha. Note.... I never write reviews but this place is another level of Mexican food. Wow. They blow authentic out the water. And the large portions are just ridiculous. My wet burrito with the green sauce was so amazing. The pastor was amazingly moist and the rice and refried beans were so fresh tasting. I highly recommend this place read more

Huge portions of hot, delicious, simple Mexican food, for a reasonable price. I've been going to Juan's Place for years, and I've never left disappointed. The menu is extensive. The vibe is great. I don't think they serve spirits but they do have beer and wine. The staff are authentically friendly, especially once they get to know you, which is as it should be. It's a local institution and a must for any visit to the real Berkeley. Eat at Juan's. read more

Advantages of Juans: * Delicious homemade all-you-can eat chips with two salsas for free * Easy parking * Great food * Clean bathrooms * Offer 1/2 portions at a 30% discount * Food comes out quick Disadvantages of Juans: * Service is okay * Gotten very pricey read more

Piping hot enchiladas with delicious refried beans. Crispy chips with good red and green hot sauces. Only bummer is wine margaritas, but I get it. Go for the food!! Staff was superb. read more

Real authentic mexican food (hard to find North of LA) family owned (good folks). A bay area favorite and one of my personal favorite restaurants for sure. Prices kinda high these days (same as everywhere else)! but the food is well worth it. Definitely check it out read more

The food was hit and good, a lil expensive ... great portions tho Great customer service, and Homestyle restaurant read more

I tried the super steak burrito and i rate it in the top 3 burritos in the Bay Area (number one will always be la taqueria) but damn this is seriously super good!! read more

Generous food. Great waiters. South of the boarder style food. Long time establishment. Big groups ok with everyone served at the same time. Flour and corn chips given right after seating and they are warm too Been going to this family restaurant forty years. read more

Love love, love me some Juan's place the Mejias are great people ! I've been going there for years great service five stars

Juan's Place is an established "Old School" traditional Mexican restaurant. The service, food and ambiance is very good. The salsa and chips are excellent. read more

This was the only open lunch place I could find at 2pm on a Saturday so I decided to give it a try. I got one Chile relleno and it came with refried beans and red rice. The chile was disappointing as it looked big, but it was mostly egg. The green pepper was tiny, maybe 2 or 3 bites, so I felt like I was just eating eggs and cheese. I don't like refried beans, so unsurprising, I didn't enjoy these. The rice was really good though! I'm not sure if I would come back, but if I did I'd try the super burrito (it's huge!!) and stay away from the plates. read more

Juan's Place - Half Order Chile Rellenos - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Someone asked for recommendations on NextDoor for Mexican restaurants and many people suggest Juan's Place so I had to give it a try. I had the combination plate of a chile relleno, pork tamale, and chicken enchilada. The plate comes with beans and rice. It was a good-sized portion and very good. Each had its own flavor and didn't taste the same as it does at some places. The chile relleno had a lighter egg batter than what I normally see at other places. It was very good. When you get seated, they bring tortilla chips and salsa. They gave use corn and flour chips. They are addictive. Service is fairly quick. We went on a Sunday in the early afternoon. There was no wait. There was street parking right in front. read more

Juan's Place - Combination plate of a pork tamale, chile relleno, and enchilada. $19.99. - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

On August 20 me and partner we walked in on a Wednesday afternoon around 4pm. We walked in to the restaurant and nobody greeted us or seated us. On our right there were 2 employees talking and laughing and didn't bother to seat us so my partner starts yelling so they could seat us a guy from the kitchen came and told us to be seated. The server I think his name is Carlos was really mean and serious when I ask him what type of drinks they had he just pointed on the menu really strong showing me without even talking. Food was disgusting no flavor and meat was hard never in my life had Mexican food hard looks like sauce and beans and rice were made days ago ! Server didn't care to check on us if we needed more water or lemonade or even chips but to the other people he was serving them good. Throwing our food at the table and stuff bad service I will not come back ! You guys can keep you're miserable Mexican dishes because I'm not coming back ! read more

This place is not shabby. AT ALL. What's the reason for 3 stars, then you ask? Because it can be a little pricey despite a huge portion, and the flavors are not much to rave about. My friends and I hopped on over to Juan's after checking out the Rare Barrel, and were immediately seated and served two kinds of chips, and two kinds of salsas. We were super hungry so we ate a lot of chips and salsa (which are 4+ stars in my opinion). But mayyybe we filled ourselves up a lot, because I was not prepared for a whole order of nachos to myself (which was around $18 total after tax and tip). The chicken in the nachos were so-so, and it didn't even come with guacamole :( Service was friendly though- the waiters continually checked up on us and even refilled our chips and salsas. My friends had ordered two kinds of enchiladas each and wanted to mix their order, and were advised they could order a combination of enchiladas (Pro-tip!) I would return, but would probably split an entree given the price point and the portion. read more

See all

Been a destination of choice for many a year! Food and service above par. Menu offers wide choice of what are generous meals!

If you know you know, this spot is for the OG's in the area. My parents brought me and my brother here growing up and coming back as an adult just brings so much nostalgia. The interior hasn't changed and still encapsulates a home-like feeling, which goes hand in hand with their homemade tasting food. This is just a spot you can't not go to especially if you're a local. read more

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