- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Juanitas Taco Shop
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
290 N Coast Hwy 101Encinitas, CA 92024
Neighborhood: Encinitas
(760) 943-9612
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 7 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 7 am - 3 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
168 reviews for Juanitas Taco Shop
Review Highlights
"Great burritos in a great neighborhood."
(in 40 reviews)
"The tacos, Carnitas, & tortas are really great."
(in 29 reviews)
"The best bean and cheese burritos ever."
(in 4 reviews)
Loading...
168 reviews in English
-
Review from Melissa W.
Elk Grove, CA
11/11/2011
Best breakfast burrito I have EVER had! We found them through Yelp on a drive home from San Diego and it was worth the stop.
The exterior doesn't do this little taco shop justice. If you are in the mood for unpretentious Mexican food then this is the place for you. -
Review from ChoBay I.
Del Mar, CA
12/11/2011
A little out of the way, but this is what post surfing mexican food is all about. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My wife and I love the fish burritos.
I have been going here since high school in the mid 80's and it never gets old. -
Review from Ann Beth C.
Glastonbury, CT
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place doesn't look like much, you order at the counter and wait in one of the booths, but the food is very good and very inexpensive. Chicken enchiladas, enchilada sauce was delicious. Would be 4 stars except the filling was just lukewarm.
Definitely worth another visit. -
Review from Steven C.
Encinitas, CA
Updated - 2/7/2012
Don't park in the back at night. No lights and you might be robbed/attacked by street people. Always park on coast hwy for your safety.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/14/2011
We used to go to Juanitas frequently, but had not gone for awhile. The food takes awhile… Read more »
-
-
Review from Khalid N.
Fullerton, CA
1/28/2012
Solid big tacos. Good for late night gorge. Good price and quality corn tortillas
-
Review from L W.
Goodyear, AZ
10/19/2011
Fed a family of five for less than 20 bucks!
We took ours to-go and ate it on Moonlight Beach... awesome-ness!!!
Beats the overpriced over hyped Union restaurant down the street.
Yum. :-) -
Review from James G.
San Diego, CA
9/16/2011 9 Check-ins Here
I can't drive past this place without stopping here for a California burrito and large Horchata. My goodness gracious this place allllwaaayyyysss hits the spot. Now granted, the parking isnt too great here but you just have to be creative. There is street parking in front of the building, on the side of the building and a few spots in a lot behinf the buikding. If those don't work out, there is also plenty of parking in the neighborhood behind the resturant as well. And YES, its worth it in my opinion.
The burritos here are made with a warm floury shell and the wait time isn't long at all. The price of the food here is also fairly inexspensive. The owners and workers her are also friendly no matter waht time of day or evening it is. Over all, this is one of my top chioices for fast food burritos. Highly reccomend this place. -
Review from Ian P.
Fayetteville, NC
12/23/2011
Get the carnitas!!!
-
Review from Chris B.
San Diego, CA
9/23/2011
Aaaah Juanitas. Staple growing up in North County.
This is where I first discovered flautas (you should probably discover them too... yeah, they're good). -
Review from Elle H.
Encinitas, CA
8/26/2011
I love this place. David from Pittsburg - you just don't know your Mexican food. What are you comparing Juanitas to - Taco Bell?
This place is real, almost as good as a street vendor in TJ, shabby as hell but if you aren't totally bourgeois, you get it.
You're in Mexico. -
Review from David K.
Pittsburgh, PA
8/17/2011
Well, after getting an earful from Californians left and right about how the Mexican food is just oh so much better in California, it became my mission in Encinitas to see what all the hype was about.
Juanita's at first glance appeared to me, someone with very little west coast experience, to be kind of dirty and just not generally appealing. I wondered if they were going to take my card, and I was starting to be concerned about the quality of the food.
Fortunately, the food was of just fine quality. But I dunno, flavor-wise, it was kind of lacking. It was just a sludge of various things that tasted vaguely Mexican. I mean, okay?
At least the price was right. And it wasn't BAD, but I wasn't at all compelled. The Mexican food mission continues. -
Review from jeff l.
7/10/2011
Inconsistent.
I can see why people like this joint.
Let's face it, it is hard to find a decent meal in Encinitas without dishing out some coin.
The food is good not great.
So in essence it is a fairly good value.
Is it the type of place that you would drive 50-100 miles for?
Nooooooooooo.
This place has a reputation and usually I reserve judgement and have low expectations and want to see for myself if it is for real.
I ordered the carnitas plate.
There is some good: the tortillas seem freshly made.
The guacamole was very good.
Portions good.
The bad:
Carnitas is a dish that in my opinion is rarely done correctly unless that is all that they make and noting else.
Nearly all the time it can be dry and kind of tough since it is best when it just cooked and not reheated or saved for the next day.
The best carnitas are juicy and moist inside and slightly crusty outside but NOT dry and overcooked and hard.
Juanitas had some moist pieces but a good portion of it was dry and hard and not nearly tender enough.
Very few places have mastered carnitas.
Maybe if I tried some when they just took them off the stove in the morning but these were not 5 star material at all.
In my opinion the hype did not meet its mark. -
Review from Jerrica S.
San Diego, CA
8/9/2011
Ew. Really?
Burritos come with guacamole, the end. This place doesn't include guac AND the fries are old... It was like eating an old burrito. The service was kind of terrible, the lady at the front (Juanita??) must have been having a bad day (maybe her fries were old...).
I am sure that Juanita's makes the Burrito gods cry. -
Review from Tom N.
Oceanside, CA
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Their flautas combo is the bomb.
-
Review from Caitlin S.
Philadelphia, PA
7/31/2011
After an afternoon at swami's beach, we were starving. Yelp led us to Juanita's and we couldn't have been happier! We split carne asada, pastor, and fish tacos, with horchata. Fish was ok but nowhere near the asada and pastor. Totally delicious.
There was a short line and a brisk but friendly cashier. Cafeteria style booths inside and picnic tables outside. Great place. -
Review from Monica S.
10/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love dive-y Mexican joints and was stoked to come across Juanita's in Encinitas! I live in North County where it's tough to find decent Mexican food! This place has great food and super reasonable prices! Be sure to check this place out next time you are craving real Mexican food!
-
Review from Gabriel S.
Los Angeles, CA
7/16/2011
They have a good bean and cheese burrito for a great price. It's worth having if you like bean and cheese burritos.
http://Bombbeanandchee... - Rating the best bean and cheese burritos in California! -
Review from soulshine i.
San Diego, CA
9/19/2011
Hadn't eaten here in several years since moving from North County back down to SD, but yesterday the fam and I were taking a nice coastal drive and decided to stop for some lunch. The chicken tacos are just as delicious as I remembered them being, as were the beans and rice. They REALLY need someone to clean the dining room up though, that was straight up disgusting.
-
Review from jimmy g.
Oceanside, CA
10/10/2011
Order a taquito burrito and thank me later.
-
Review from Kacy L.
Santa Monica, CA
9/30/2011
OMG. My gf and I made a road trip down to San Diego to visit some friends last weekend and we were starving while on the road. I pulled out my phone to find somewhere to eat and Juanitas was coming up literally right on PCH so we decided to hit it up. Now I'll admit, I'm usually not one for roadside taco shops, but this place was phenomenalllllll! I've never been so satisfied with food that I paid less than $10 for. I got a bean and cheese burrito and if I were on death row I would be ecstatic if I got the same burrito for my last meal! So good, so cheap, such nice people, what more could you want? If you're ever in the area and have the munchies, you gotta hit up Juanitas...you can thank me later.
-
Review from Linda S.
Laguna Niguel, CA
10/15/2011
Really good Mexican food, LARGE portions, excellent rice and beans, don't be put off by exterior! Little scary looking on the outside, we almost didn't go in!
-
Review from DB C.
San Diego, CA
4/19/2011
Juanitas you never let me down. I can't let 10 good years of infrequent burritos at this hole in the wall go to waste from one bad meal but this was a meal so poor that I couldn't get through 3 bites!
I don't eat at Juanitas a lot. I live in central SD so my visits up to north county are far and few between. When I am up in the area though I make it a mission to stop by Juanitas. It's always good, even at 10AM after coming back from a wedding in LA super hungover.
My last carne asada at Juanitas may have been last one, ever. To put it short after 3 bites of the carne asada I put in in the garbage and opted for Ralph's brand pizza rolls instead. I think that pretty much sums it up. BTW, the pizza rolls were cold and over nuked yet still more edible than whatever Juanitas served. -
Review from Leah A.
Encinitas, CA
12/12/2011
This is the best "dive" taco shop in North County! I am HUGE fan of their fish tacos and cheese enchiladas. If you only have 6 bucks and want to get filled up--come here! Cash only people---but worth it every time. PS: this is a total local place. No dressing up required!
-
Review from Trip T.
Mission Viejo, CA
5/11/2011
Love Juanitas. I swing by there whenever I'm in San Diego.
I only order one thing - the Carne Asada Burrito with not one but TWO wraps. It is the epitome of perfection. It's not that I don't want to try everything else, I'm just fixated and have been for almost 20 years.
The only reason I don't give 5 stars is that my incredibly limited palate
doesn't want to be selfish. -
Review from Evan G.
Portland, OR
12/17/2010
Like the hand of god, a juanitas taquito must be cradled with the knowledge that you hold the very power of your future and well being.
The carnitas are seeped in grease, the pastor leaked its oils, and my stomach hasnt known such pleasures since the dawn of time. -
Review from Richard R.
Indian Wells, CA
9/30/2011
The best Burritos on the block!!!!
-
Review from A. E.
Henderson, NV
2/10/2011
I pray at the Juanita altar
I eat of Juanita's manna
This is probably one of the best mexican spots in N.America
I don't care if you have a C, B, or A rating from the health department
I will still eat of your flesh
and drink of your horchata. -
Review from Clayton A.
Las Vegas, NV
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's Juanitas! WHat more can you say?!
-
Review from Jasmine C.
Phoenix, AZ
7/28/2011
Been going here since I was a kid. The restaurant is dirty and layed out poorly. You have to pay in cash. The food is just okay as far as I can tell- nothing special. I do love a large tamarindo to drink though. Hate when I get there and the line is all the way through the restaurant and out the door.
-
Review from dan a.
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
great san diego mexican food! stopped by after a trip to the beach, and got nachos, 3 rolled tacos w/ guac, flautas, one pastor taco, one carnitas taco, and a side of rice, one large jamaica, and one small pina fresca, ALL FOR $20!
as a san franciscan, i depend on SD to get my true mex food fix, and this hit the spot! -
Review from Paddy O.
Pasadena, CA
10/15/2010
Juanita's is a legend. All we ever get here are the rolled tacos and carnitas; the carnitas by the pound. The carnitas used to be a little crispier on the outside, but they are still dreamy; never dry. The place is a dump. Who cares? That's part of the charm. The marinated carrots are the schizzlenit. I've never noticed a salsa Nazi. This is one of the few places in the world where I'll order a Pepsi with my food. The best tip, however, is to take it home and consume with large quantities of cold Mexican beer.
You can use your ATM card. -
Review from Alex G.
Encinitas, CA
8/20/2010 3 Check-ins Here
If Juanitas were in any other city than THE mecca for mexican food it could easily be the best.
I've been going to this taqueria from my high school days and I have never been disappointed. The burritos are all excellent--I usually order either the carnitas or the carne asada. The california burritos are pretty good as well but it's not hard to find a better one in Encinitas. Recently breakfast burritos were added to the menu, so I'll have to give those a try soon. Also available are plate combinations, but I usually only turn to these if I'm starving.
Juanitas also provides bottles of hot sauce that I'm impressed with. The flavor is solid, but I especially like how they don't puss out on the heat.
Open til midnight Sun-Thurs and 2am on Fri & Sat, this is definitely a late night destination for bar hoppers and high school kids. -
Review from Pancho V.
Los Angeles, CA
6/3/2010 5 photos
So after my first stop from "KC O." recommended places that have "The BEST" and Authentic Mexican tacos were horrible I was strongly debating to give this place a try or not, well since it's on the same street and only a few blocks down, Why not!, at least it'll give me something to talk crap about.
It seems that they have expanded a little bit since "Jason B." has written his review, because they now have two lunch table benches like you'd find at a School, that sit curb side and that's where I ate cuz I'm street like that!, and for all you High Rollers they still don't accept Credit Cards, but that's cool with me I've always got cash at hand because most of my eating is street food and that's CASH ONLY.
So really getting the gringo taco vibe from this beach town and definitely not the Authentic Mexican tacos I was told they were, my Wife passes and opts to play one of the video games while I try two of their tacos http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Beef - Oh No, What do my eyes see?, Yes... Yellow Cheese! Wow I thought Tito's @#& Tacos was in Culver City, Yeah the sign says Juanitas! maybe they are related?. Come On "KC O." are you trying to Punk me?, seriously DUDE like Mexican's don't put yellow cheese on top of Tacos! Bro......well it does have some flavor, I'll give you that and it is better than Tito's, but seriously this is a WH-Exican taco http://www.yelp.com/bi... http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Pollo Asado - *(Flame grilled Chicken) after removing 1/2 pound of chopped tomato, onion & cilantro the Chicken is actually pretty good http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Based off the two tacos I had here:
Karinas 2-Stars
Juanitas 3.5-Stars
I think I'll listen to "Jason B" for taco spots in San Diego area, Screw you KC O............. -
Review from Mike H.
Herndon, VA
1/13/2011
Late night Taquito spot - Check
This place is a classic, enough said. -
Review from N K.
Cerritos, CA
8/28/2011
I dined here a year ago and couldn't stop thinking about its food since.
Came back last week and was quite disappointed. The food was not up to par. Though the price is low compared to many other places.
Carne asada nachos: the nachos were like a day old hard topped with a tiny mushy pile of what-I-thought was a mix of sour cream + beans and bits of asada. Very disappointed with this order.
Carne asada burrito: more than half of the burrito was filled with rice and refried beans. It was 7pm and I didn't think they ran out of asada at this dinner hour. Plus, I forgot to ask or if they offered black beans for the burrito. The burrito tasted bland and it needed the help of some spicy salsa.
Carne asada tacos combo: which came with rice and beans. I didn't try it but my friend said the tacos were not bad. However, he didn't finish the rice and beans which usually were the first to be finished.
Won't be back. Especially, I have found this little gem, Los Primos at H.B. -
Review from Bridgyn O.
Sherman Oaks, CA
6/28/2010
I never tried a California burrito, and someone said the best California burrito ever. Not having eaten any others I can not compare but this one was not that good. It was ok nothing out of the ordinary. The meat was a little weird and some bites taste like ground beef and not carne asada.
Picked up a couple pollo asado taco's too those were pretty tasty, place is a little run down but the food was good. Pretty sure I can find a better California burrito somewhere else though. -
Review from David M.
Carlsbad, CA
5/3/2010
Update:
Very disappointed with my "carne asada" plate. The meat was old and cold when it came out. I complained and the woman at the register stuck her finger in the meat to test it. My plate came back with hot but greasy chucks and I was turned off. Reverting back to carnitas in the future and backing off to 3 stars.
Original:
Busted a gut here on Sunday with the carnitas plate. Huge portion of meat (not overly greasy sadly) along with gigantic flour tortillas. I would have preferred whole beans but that is minor and I didn't ask. Good value, satisfying and served ultra fast.
The place is not all that filthy although I stayed out of the toilet. It appears to gets huge traffic from the beach crowd, some of whom are not customers, that have apparently been storing up for hours. The tats covered white trash and their dumb girlfriends were annoying to listen to but not hostile.
I am looking forward to going back to try a burrito. I think people opinions very much depend on what they order so choose carefully. -
Review from Shelly R.
Boston, MA
1/26/2011
Best taquitos in the world, hands down! The tacos are about as good as it gets as well.
Although I like just about everything here, I think the jug of spicy carrots, the warm flour tortillas, savory guac and the horchata make it a destination for me every time I visit my home-town.
I do remember the days when they had a "C" health-rating and the burritos were cheaper and bigger, but how much can you really complain when the compromise is for cleanliness??
You can find better burritos elsewhere, but their tacos are #1. -
Review from Bear F.
Carlsbad, CA
7/8/2011
If you're looking for greasy late night Mexican food, Juanita's is the best of it's kind. Although the staff is not very friendly, it seems like they are just focused on cranking out the orders. And they do a great job on the food. Not too expensive, and served up pretty fast. Great hot salsa and spicy carrots. Highly recommended if you need a Mexican food fix.
-
Review from Melissa S.
San Diego, CA
6/21/2009
It doesn't matter where you are, as long as you're in San Diego County you'll find GREAT Mexican food.
Quality over Quantity.
Short, Long, Fat, Skinny.
At Juanita's the carne asada burrito is short and fat compared to other tacos shops I've been to in SoBay. But remember QUALITY over QUANTITY. The meat inside is delicious and not 'cheap' looking. And it's mixed well with the guacamole and tomatoes and onions, rather than having the meat on one side and the guac on the other.
So half a carne asada burrito and an order of 3 rolled tacos, I had one.
I HATE when rolled tacos are just served with guac and cheese. But Juanita's rolled tacos are served with guac, cheese, tomatoes&onions, and lettuce. yummy in my tummy. And a large pepsi to share.
The salsa is good too, spicy.
Conclusion: As for authenticity ... let's just say you don't have to drive to SoBay for GREAT Mexican food.
I'll have to try the tacos next time, for they look delicious.
