Juanita’s Restaurant Cafe
Juanita’s Restaurant Cafe
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
1 review
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
As one of Sunnyside's least known secret gems (#1), Juanita's offers Mexican comfort food in a cafe bakery type setting. There are only a handful of tables here, anymore than 8 peeps will fill up the place. Most patrons are locals buying up the various types of Mexican pastries (i.e. pan dulce), making this one of the only Mexican panaderias in the neighborhood.
The pan dulce variety seems pretty decent. I've only had the campechanas and conchas, but I've seen a cuerno / oreja or two. Most of my conchas have had just the right amount of sweet, which might go well with a cafe con leche. I'm not sure if they're baked on premises but I do know they tend to run out during the evenings. Hence, be sure to stop by in the mornings for the best possible selection.
Speaking of the mornings, breakfast is an ideal time to sample their food. The chilaquiles ($9) are decadent, wiped bits of eggs and tortillas, topped nicely with crema and tomato sauce. Go simple with a classic huevos rancheros ($7) or a huevos con chorizo ($7.50), the latter being my favorite dish in the house. The chorizo has a nice spice to it and the eggs are wonderfully complemented by the tortilla + rice + beans.
Apart from the popular breakfast hour, their pricier but heartier Mexican platillos for dinner are always worth the consideration. They have a good selection of enchiladas (even a king crab stuffing for $20!) and quality quesadillas. They are also one of the few places that I know one can order a decent cochinita pibil ($14). I'm not terribly fond of the chile rellenos de queso ($12) or their "crispy" tacos dorados, but I do like that their cheese is queso fresco instead generic shredded cheese. I am certain one can never do wrong with their mole poblano ($14), which is about as Mexican as one could ever want.
On the weekends they offer pozole, a regional soup that is usually only sold in specialty spots (aka pozolerias). They'll also offer barbacoa in goat form (cabrito fans, take note) and tamales for a cool $1.50 each. Hardcore Mexican sopa lover? Shoot for their panza de res ($12), which for the uninformed is scaled tripe soup, which is most definitely atypical of Mexican in these parts.
They offer delivery and the ladies at the counter are super friendly. Spanish is preferred, though not completely mandatory. Ever since their expanded dinner menu, they also now (thankfully) accept credit cards.
____________
(#1) There are many, I assure you.