Juanita’s Café

I got the #12 combo– taco and enchiladas, and let me just say it was the best taco ive ever had. Allow me to repeat, this was the best taco I’ve ever had. And no i don’t live in iowa or alaska, i live in california, so I’ve had plenty of tacos to choose from. At juanitas rather than serving those hard premade yellow shells or serving on a cold flour tortilla like most street tacos, they fry the tortilla so it is that perfect combo of hard and chewy, like you and your mama try to do at home but can never get right. And unlike street tacos they put cheese on it, oh joy! And the chicken is cooked and seasoned to perfection.
Regarding ambience, this place is absolutely adorable, very small with an indoor/​outdoor setup. The folks working there are super sweet and add to the experience, they both wait on you and cook the meals. I don’t know what the trolls on here are talking about re Costco and frozen food, they have a completely open kitchen and i watched them frying my tacos and preparing my entire meal. If it actually is costco then that is the most expert preparation of frozen food I’ve ever seen, they definitely get kudos from me!
Seriously though, it definitely comes across as authentic like you are in a family member’s backyard in mexico. And at $ 10 you can’t beat it!

Four of us had lunch here. Great tamales, enchiladas and sweet bread. Very friendly service! Look forward to coming back!

This place is average at best. With all the restaurants competing for business you would think the food would be better. I guess they cater to tourists that have no clue what good Mexican food is.
Everything tasted bland. There was no heat in the salsa. They put a salad on top of the beans. You don’t cook salad, so why put it on top of hot food. The only good thing was the price. I think I will pay more and look for a more authentic restaurant.

I would first like to say that you could never go wrong planning a trip to Olvera Street but if you plan a trip here and don’t come to Juanita’s Café you are missing out. The customer service is EXCELLENT and the food doesn’t fall short of that. I always order the Taquito plate which comes with a taco and you don’t have to get just chicken or beef they actually have potato taco’s here! Yaaaay! What I love even more is that you can order Taquito’s to go and you could ask for them uncooked to prepare at home :) My grandma loves when I bring her home taquito’s from here. I love this place and so will you :)

Amazing service! Good people, great service. They took the time to get to know me and provided EXCELLENT food. I ordered some taquitos and tamales. I must recommend that everyone tries them! You won’t regret it!

Juanita’s café is an all time favorite of ours! Located on the historic Olvera Street it has the world’s greatest taquitos, avocado sauce and refried beans! My husband has been going since he was a baby and he and I drive there regularly from Huntington Beach. Carlos and Edward are a staple and are as gracious and welcoming as ever! Go and enjoy a taste of historic LA with a touch of class from the owners! You will not be disappointed!

I have been eating here since I was really little. My father actually help build Juanita’s roof many years back. I have to eat here at least 3 – 4 times a year, as I crave it. I live 30 miles away and its not easy to come as often as I would like. The taquitos are out of this world and such a great price. Every December for my Dad’s Birthday I come here and get at least 10 dozen with the sauce and cook them at home for his party. Been doing this for years. I would recommend you come and try their great food. The best on Olvera Street.

This place is barely ok, I can find better Mexican food almost anywhere. It’s too bad I sat in the front and had a direct line of sight into the «kitchen» because I saw the cook microwave every order, meaning that the food they serve is not fresh like it should be :(. I’ll go elsewhere next time I’m at Olvera St.

I work just a couple of blocks away and have lunch here a few times a month. The food is always consistently good and the service is great! Oh and did I mention that it’s reasonably priced?

Great little shop on historic Olvera street in the heart of downtown LA. Went there for breakfast and had the chorizo with egg burrito. It was delicious. They also have great tacos and killed tacos. The cook was nice and the service was great. Really friendly people. If you’ve never been down to Olvera street I would highly recommend it on one of your stops when in LA. Great food and great environment. Try to get there early because it does get packed later in the afternoon and sitting is limited.

Valentines day and we were working together — no time for a nice sit down dinner and hell no to fast food! It was just after 9pm and I took a chance — I called and they answered! I begged and he said sure! 2 dozen taquitos 4 burritos and 2 quesadillas with 2 large avocado salsa and one medium red! I tipped homeboy $ 20 just cuz he was friggen awesome. This has been our ONLY place to eat when we go to Olvera — (20 years worth) we will continue to be loyal until we die or move!

No idea how this place is almost 5 stars. Orchata is from a machine and is watered down. We ordered enchiladas and they are ok at best. Not like some reviews on here. We also ordered a torta. And it came in a subway style bread. What? They don’t have rice, and they don’t have Carne asada. Only shredded beef. I think all the positive reviews are probably family members. The staff are nice but that is it. Avoid this place. I’m amazed how people rave about this place. Stay away

So the folks who own and work at this place could not be any nicer or more helpful if they tried. The vibe here is so friendly and welcoming. The food is delicious. Their house made hot sauce is sooooo good. They have the best sopes I’ve ever had in my life. The taquitos, beans, etc., are very good. Occasionally, there is live entertainment by way of the street performers which is always fun to watch. The ambience of seeing the neighborhood kiosks, vendors, stores, tourists, etc., is just awesome people watching while you dine.
I’m sure there is all sorts of good food on Olvera Street, but this place is about more than just good food. They make you feel like family, they welcome you in and remember who are you after just one or two visits and always go out of their way to take care of you. It’s a special little place.

This small Olvera Street restaurant/​stall is now serving breakfast! Their BURRITO DE CHORIZO is awesome. The chorizo and eggs are done so well and coupled with the beans and hot sauce it’s now one of my favorite breakfast burritos in LA. It’s a good size too and cheap! Also, you must try their CHAMPURRADO. Great texture and sweetness.

Best place in olvera street. The green sauce is to die for. My family has been coming here for years and it’s been 4 generations of us enjoying their wonderful taquitos. Our usual order is 4 order or taquitos in the green sauce. Highly recommended

Juanita’s is good/​not great Mexican food, and I’ve definitely had better in LA. I ate here for lunch today for the first time and ordered the #12 Chicken Enchilada and Chicken Taco Combo with a Salad, Beans and a separate side of Rice. Is it unusual that the best part of this meal was the salad? Yes, the salad. Whatever dressing they put on it was terrific. The taco was pretty decent too but the enchilada just didn’t do much for my taste buds. And the beans were just passable, as well as the rice. Maybe I should have ordered the Taquitos everyone is raving about? Even the table behind me.
They do get extremely crowded, but my habit of early lunch arrivals thwarted the crowds once again. Pre11:30 everyone, works for me every time.

My girlfriend and her family introduced this hole in the wall to me and it has become a must visit when we go to plaza olvera. The only thing I’ve ordered is the taquitos (3) plate and the taquitos are smothered in a homeade guacamole sauce, beans and a salad. They also have salsa/​hot sauce that is pretty good. When I’m really hungry, we’ll order an extra 3 taquitos but for the most part the first plate will do the job. There’s valet parking, parking lots nearby so take cash and parking meters about 2 blocks away. Check this place out if you’re in the area ;)

This place isn’t what I remember it to be :(Our tacos were still somewhat frozen today which surprised me because I didn’t even know they used frozen tacos! It was super empty so I’m not sure why they rushed to cook them. :shrugs: We paid $ 21 for 1 enchilada combo, 2 sets of taquitos ($ 2.75 each) and 3 drinks. Aside from the high price for low qualify good… something else bothered me. A lady, who looked homeless/​beaten (or maybe it was her costume IDK today was Halloween) asked for a small coffee. They charged her $ 2 though the menu said $ 1.75. The lady questioned it and the guy said «there’s tax.» IDK but .25 tax on a $ 1.75 coffee seems a little high. She paid it and walked away. If the frozen taquitos wasn’t going to stop me from coming here watching him treat her that way sure will.

Best place to eat on Olvera Steet! They serve champurrado year round, their taquotos are the best and they have delicious rice and beans. The owner is kind and the staff is always fast.

Another little Mexican food hole in the wall (Surprise, surprise) in Olvera Street. Food is OK & service adequate — our waiter was attentive, even when it got busy or we had to keep bugging him for stuff, but he was friendly.
I deducted stars for a few reasons listed below and still not a bad thing, just observations:
Prices on the menu doesn’t reflect what they actually charge — if they raised their prices, they really should update their menus, even if it means crossing out old prices w/​the new ones.
Water you normally have to ask for and get for free was ridiculous. Definitely lets you know that they are hard up on saving every inch of penny & nickel. Course now that DWP rates will being going up for people like them conserving to the max, will be rewarding with increasing rates (heard on news on 10÷23÷15). So, you might just want to bring your own water bottle for this one or keep asking them to refill the cup size of cup you get at the dentist used for spitting.
They don’t give you anything complimentary (aside from the water you ask for), so don’t expect free chips, salsa or guacamole like the other restaurant down the way from them offers their customers.
But, their food is delicious, service was good and if you get there early, you’ll get a table — even with a small group, but it gets crowded fast — a good sign that it’s popular — we usually go there when tiny Noche Buena is all taken up with seating.

Juanita’s Café might just be one of L.A.‘s best kept little secret treasures. My friends and I have been faithful fans for over four decades, and the quality is as good as ever. Their taquitos smothered in a heavenly salsa verde has been a staple item of this fan since day one. Their tacos are also too good to describe, you just have to try one, smothered in their incredible red salsa, truly a delicious treat.
I’ve never had any bad food in all the years I’ve come here. I trusted Juanita’s so much, I brought my wife here on our first date, no lies! My wife liked it so much, she had our wedding rehearsal dinner here; now that’s being a fan. That was nearly 20 years ago, and she still looks forward to each visit.
Drop in, wait for a table if need be, and enjoy some authentic Angelino cuisine. Watch the people passing as you dine, enjoy an Orange Bang, and become a fan as well. Just leave me some red sauce…

Fast friendly and authentic! Just flew into town was switching on to the train at union station so I had to run across the street and get some real Mexican food as I live in the south these day and there’s no such thing hahaha I had two taquitos with green sauce deep fried to perfection in lard I’m sure was spot on!!! I also had a soapas with beef again spot on! The only thing I would of preferred would of been for it to have pickled cabbage on it vs lettuce I don’t k ow why I’m bitching its was so dang good! Now if you like a little kick or should I say a lot of kick put some of the red sauce on it spicy smokey and just so dang good reminds me of the stuff my stepdad used to make. If you happen to be passing through make the stop you will be glad you did!!!

Friends have told me to try this historical restaurant. Open since 1944, incredibly friendly staff. All are very upbeat and welcoming. Simple tables and décor. Taquitos with a great green sauce, perfect. You could put that green sauce on anything and I would be happy! Enchiladas and tacos good choices too.
Have to try the huge burrito that walked by next time.

Of course im gonna give 5 stars. Me n my family have been coming for years. They know my grandparents, uncles, especially the «fireman». Whenever we come to placita olvera we always stop at juanitas n get taquitos. Awesome food, great service.

The food was really good!!! Not only was it good but they were quick in getting out to us. The place is very small but comfortable. The staff was very friendly.

Best tacos & taquitos in town!
Always come here before the dodger games!!!
Eat here! Support their business!
It’s the best food for cheap!