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I used to go to Tia Juana quite often because it was close to my old work place. The food is pretty good too, better than average.
The best Mex food in the neighborhood without having to drive too far at lunch time, and definitely better than chain restaurants like El Toritos.
This place has very simple, good Mexican food. My girlfriend and I ate here for lunch the other day. We were seated quickly, served promptly, and received our food within about 6 minutes of entering the front door. It's almost like a sit-down taqueria but with much better quality good. The ambiance is very "taqueria" in its purples and reds, but the menu reads much better. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone craving a good tamale but wants a meal surrounding it. Their tamales are delicious. I've also had enchiladas, huevos rancheros, and flautas, and not been let down.
Just be careful in the parking lot, it's kinda weird, small, and annoying to navigate.
I have gotten several good burritos and a dinner at this place. I ask for the Mohado Chili Verdi Burrito and keep coming back. Not sure if I spelled that right, but I am talking about how they served it "wet" with sauce on top.
This is the BEST Mexican food in the Bay Area. They used to be in Fremont and we drive all the way out to Sunnyvale to eat there.
Armando is the best cook anywhere! The kid can cook.
I truly can not say enough about Tia Juana's, Armando, Maria and Greg!
Love this place!!!!!!
Highly recommended
Very good, yet watered down, Mexican faire. Their Chicken Mole is to die for. Carnitas are good, yet not as juicy. Burritos for lunch not bad. What I like about the place is that it's packed with Mexicans during off hours, either watching soccer game, just hanging out with friends or drinking at the bar.
The last time I was here was a decade ago when I worked in the area, we'd come here for lunches.
The place hasn't changed.
The food is as great as I remembered. So much so, I had to return twice in two weeks for a carnitas burrito for ~$7.
Food and ambiance are great, but minus one star for the prices which arent taqueria prices, more like a sit down restaurant, which it is.
I got a shrimp burrito to go one day. It was quite tasty i must say. With grilled pepper and onions and spicy.
Then I came back for lunch with a friend. The waitress wasnt too friendly, but she was busy so whatever. The food came out in 3 minutes, seriously. My fajitas were tasty, although the beef was a tad tough. One complaint is that they give you a little scoop of rice. Its the cheapest thing on the plate, i dont see why they would skimp. All in all, good meal.
Orchata is tasty!
This place is walking distance to my office but never tried it until today when some of my coworkers invited me to try this place out for lunch. They have pretty standard mexican fare, but it's pretty decent. The chips were nice and crispy, but the salsa was just ok, I've had better. Also, they didn't refill the chips even after the four of us devoured the basket in less than 5 minutes (we were hungry, ok?)
For my entree, got the chicken fajitas. The portions aren't huge, but I thought it was just right since I always feel guilty when Mexican restaurants give me ginormous portions that I can't finish. I thought it was a good size for lunch. Again, it didn't blow me away, but decent and also reasonably priced. The corn tortillas on the side were of good quality and served piping hot.
I normally like to linger when eating dinner, but today we were in a hurry and had to get out of there quickly. I was thankful that the staff was quick and efficient in hustling us in and out of there without being too brisk. It is a workday lunch after all.
I'd probably come back, especially considering how close this place is to my office.
I had dinner with my family at this place. I than had a take away a few days later.
I had the Chili Verde Burrito. The first time, I had it dry, the second time I asked for it "Wet". My brother suggested I get it with sauce on top. I think that is the right choice. Both times I enjoyed the food. In the take away, they gave me a small side of Guacamole and some salsa. I Also got the chips and salsa. The red salsa, they give with the chips is too generic for my taste. I like the salsa, as some other places a lot more. Possibly a thing they can work on...
Still, the food was good enough for me to go back a few days later.
Thinking of places that have memorable salsa, I think a place called Fiesta Del Mar, In Mountain View, had very good salsa. It has been a few years since I have eaten there, so I do not have a review of this place, but the food was just a little above average as I remember. (But if I was one of the owners of Tia Juana, I would slip into that place, and see how they make the salsa). I remember they made 3 types, all that I liked. I think, a good salsa, helps bring back repeat customers.
This restaurant is located in an old, run down little strip mall, but it somehow shines as they serve up the best Mexican food in Sunnyvale (and the opposite end of the strip serves up the best Armenian cuisine in Sunnyvale).
When I worked in Sunnyvale, I used to come here at least once a week. Sure, the lunch crowd was huge, but thanks to Tia Juana's speedy lunch service, great tasting food, and good prices, it was always worth it.
I may not work close by anymore, but I still salivate over their carne asada burrito, shrimp burrito, and shrimp enchiladas. Oh yeah, the complimentary chips and salsa while you wait are really awesome too.
As it is a sit-down restaurant, I have to mention that the service is always stellar. The kitchen serves up the best portions with quality ingredients that fill you up, but won't leave with a food coma.
My litmus test for any Mexican restaurant is their rice. Spanish (it's actually Mexican, but whatever), should have a certain flavor and consistency. The closer it tastes to my dad's rice, the more I will like it. Tia Juana's practically stole my dad's recipe. It's that good.
Please do yourself a favor and come visit Tia Juana's to see how Mexican food is done.
From the reviews, I was hoping this place would be a nice find, especially since it's just down the street from me. But unfortunately, my hopes were dashed with the dinner we had.
When we arrived there was a light dinner crowd, perhaps 12 people with one waitress serving everyone. The service was prompt. We got our menus, order drinks and dinner, and had chips and salsa on the table within five minutes.
The chips and salsa were fair. I prefer my salsa more chunkier than they offer. My wife had the Carne Asada burrito and I ordered the Carnitas burrito. When the plates arrived it looked promising. Unfortunately, after the first bite of my burrito I could tell the meat was still partially cold - most likely from refrigeration I suppose. I found out later that my wife's Carne Asada was partially cold as well.
If a meal cannot be properly heated during a light dinner crowd, then I wonder how they manage a busy lunch crowd. I'm not sure I'll be trying this place again.
Came here for dinner the other day with a friend, and was a bit wary when I went into the restaurant, only to see one other seated table (granted, it was close to 8, and I figure most people go there for lunch). Went ahead and ordered a chile verde burrito though, munching on the chips and salsa while we waited. While not the best chip salsa I've ever had, it wasn't bad - reminded me a bit of Pace salsa.
The first thing I noticed about the burrito was that they actually attempted to prepare the plate a bit - they cut the burrito in half and stacked one half on top of the other. Neither a good nor bad thing, just something which surprised me because I was expecting just a plain whole burrito. The second thing I noticed was that, for the price, it was on the small side (I finished it and didn't feel particularly stuffed). And also that it seemed a bit lacking in other fillings like celery, tomatoes, etc. All that aside though, it was delicious. Giving it 3.5 stars for now, because I don't quite remember the price to size ratio here, having been out of the country for so long.
Back today for lunch, have been here a few times but this was by far the best because I decided to branch out:
Sopitos- veggie with beans- these were SO GOOOOD- flour crunchy goodness topped with beans, cheese, guac
Veggie Tamales- $2.50 can't beat the price, came smothered with red sauce, sour cream and cheese
Sangria- still hanging tough, this house-made concoction is the BOMB
And despite "the economy" and this being a slow work week, the place was full by noon
This is my second time here, it's right near my office so I can see myself becoming a regular.
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Love this place!! Everything is sooo good.
Yesterday I went to a party where the folks from Tia Juana catered the event. Wow! Loved it all: the guacamole, the ceviche, the grilled fish, carne con papas, frijoles, arroz even the salad. The food was fresh and the servers were super friendly. I really enjoyed it and would use them when I need an event catered or if I'm in the area. Gracias!
Shrimp quesadilla and fajitas? Heck yes! I went here by referral and now I an see why so many of my friend in silicon valley love this place. This restaurant was great. If you are a fan of Mexican seafood you'll like this place. The generous portions of shrimp had just the right amount of spice. Everything was very fresh. Though I went here for lunch and had very little trouble being seated I have heard that the lines can get pretty long for dinner. Other than that the service and atmosphere are great.
My dad swears by Tia Juana and it's his first stop everytime he's in the Bay Area. We used to live down the street from here, so Tia Jauna has become a regular stop in our Mexican repetoire.
The food here is comparable to what you would get homecooked in a Mexican home. My father always goes for the Menudo which he absolutely adores. I think they have Menudo only on Saturdays and Sundays. I usually go for the Sopa Pollo or Chicken soup if I'm there early in the morning. The portion is perfect with nice chucks of potato and carrot and usually a leg and a thigh for meat. The broth is clear and very tasty.
If I go later in the day, I usually for for Tacos which are great. I usually only get 2 since the portions are fairly large.
Tia Juana will always remain a spot for me and my family!
SURPRISINGLY delicious. i went here with the family on a thursday night around 8-9p. it was slow. they serve chips and salsa for free. freshhh! 2nd round has a charge though! oh well, it was worth it. everyones struggling these days and thats how they make business. i had the chicken quesadilla. it was very juicy, which i liked =D the bf had their carne asada burrito. it was huge and very good as well. i wish i couldve tried other things on the menu but i was FULL! i'll have to come back and try the other entrees.
Nothing memorable about this place but the service. Lightning fast, that would make your head spin.
Chips, OK, funny seasoning, quite odd, salsa fresh from the 5 gallon can. Fish tacos that were over sauced. Im not sure it was even fish, the portion inside the taco was so small ($12.00). A lump of rice? I think that's what it was and beans. I have had wall paper that taste better.
Good lunch crowd, not much else close by that is this fast. I guess folks just dont know any better. No really good Mexican food within a 10 mile radius. This place has survived soul on its location. Good for them.
Consistent Quality and Service in Sunnyvale! I take everyone I know to Tia Juana! I even had my birthday dinner there once. The food is spectacular! The maguritas are at a perfect price for my budget! I always get their enchiladas (best red sauce ever!) and tostadas. The staff is friendly and attentive. You don't break the bank and you leave with a full belly, too!
Authentic Mexican restaurant. Every woman I know loves the Sangria. Chile verde is so tender. Salsa is ok, the chips are even better. Weekend mornings are a lil busy, but the breakfast is worth it. Quick, hot, and good portions..
A little gem in the corner of a run down strip mall that has seen better days...Tia Juana is located off Duane in Sunnyvale. Most people will just drive by as I did many times before and not think about going there until someone recommended it to me.
The prices are very reasonable and there is plenty to choose from on the menu. When i go to a Mexican restaurant I always try their beans and rice...in my mind, if they can do those staple items well, then the other food must be pretty good.
I've tried their burrito, enchiladas, crunchy tacos and of course their beans and rice. All have been very good and I have brought many coworkers to this place since it is only 5 minutes away from work. My coworkers have also enjoyed what they got, and they have been impressed with how quick the service is.
Lunch time can be quite busy, but as noted the service is quick so the time you have to wait isn't very long.
4.5 stars, minus .5 stars for the mediocre chips and salsa that they have on the table. However, the other stars are because of the food, service and selection. I will definitely come back here again!
Some friends took me to lunch out here the other day, and recommended that I try the chile verde burrito wet with green sauce. It was definitely big, and definitely tasty. I knew it must be good since we got there around 11:45, and there was already a huge line out the door! Luckily, my friends ran into someone else they knew there who were a party of 4, and luckily, these guys were smarter than us, and we joined forces together to get ahead of the line to take the big table in the back as a party of 7!
I was thinking of giving a 4-star review at first because of the line and such, but then bumped it up another star because it is the first time I have had such a large burrito for lunch, and did not fall asleep in the afternoon.
Used to go to Tia Juana when it was in Fremont. Now I make the trip to Sunnyvale. It's that good.
Greg the owner's a great guy and knows how to be a true, gracious host. The ceviche on Fridays is fresh and very tasty. I've had a number of different items from the menu. All are good -- yet my favorites are the fajitas. Reasonably priced, good sized portion -- and very well prepared.
Maria the server's a real sweetheart. Funny to watch all the male customers check out her butt while she works.
A great low-to-medium priced Mexican restaurant. Tell you what, it blows Consuelo's over in Santana Row into the weeds -- yet it costs a fraction of their price.
Love this awesome hole in the wall. Cute set up, Wednesday evening dinner with pops..no wait....
3 seconds and we get amazing chips and salsa. We ask for some guacamole for the chips and she gives us a bowl complimentary. Pretty good stuff.
We both ordered the chili verde...my dad introduced me to this place and said this is their best dish and he's been coming for years.
5 minutes later the food comes. Their portions are not ridiculously huge...enough to savor and kill if you are hungry enough.
The chili verde was out of this world, the meat is so tender and flavorful. Came with rice, beans, guac, salsa, and your choice of tortilla.
Can't wait to come back and try other things on the menu. They also serve drinks, I'd like to try the sangria sometime.
Definitely recommend this place! The prices aren't bad for the quality, portions, and atmosphere.
I've been here twice and have had a good experience both times.
First time was a bean and cheese burrito. Hard to mess up!
Second time was the Tia Juana salad which was DELICIOUS! Crispy fried flour tortilla bowl filled with mixed greens and a light tangy dressing topped with cotja cheese, tomatoes and grilled chicken breast. It was soooo good!
My coworkers go nuts over the chicken tacos.
Salsa is good, but not the best *I* personally have had. Chips are good.
Service is prompt and your food arrives quickly . Prices are decent for the amount of food you receive.
It can get *very* crowded at lunchtime so aim for coming for an earlier lunch or later lunch if you don't want to take a chance at having to wait for a seat.
I'm a little surprised at the reviews for Tia Juana. This is one of my favorite Mexican places in the Bay Area! Nothing about the food here is bland. In fact it's very unique - You can tell everything is from an authentic and original recipe. The salsa, the chicken, the rice, the refried beans...They all have a distinct taste to them that I find myself craving often.
My favorite is here is a chicken burrito with an extra side of rice & beans. Their beans are smooth, and not runny (but not dry!) and very clean. Not greasy or too mushed. The rice is a little dry, but I like it like that. And the chicken is spiced perfectly that if you're not careful it can give you heartburn later! Oh, and their chips and salsa are very fresh. The salsa is chunky with a little cilantro. Not spicy but not mild either.
Overall this is one restaurant I swear by!
Visit this place with co-workers once a month on average. This place gets very packed during lunch so try to get here before 11:45am or else theres a long wait at the door.
Service is so so. They have screwed up my order once or twice, but fixed it without much of a fuss.
Burritos here are pretty good...aside from the chili verde...the meat isn't cooked long enough and theres something about the texture of the meat that makes me avoid it. Their chicken and shrimp burritos are bomb! Not greasy like some places.
If you order a burrito "wet" you'll get it covered with a layer of a spicy red sauce. Friends love this option.
One issue I have with this place is that they cut your burrito in half and drizzle sauce and sour cream on top of it by default....since I like to eat burritos with my hand and not with a fork and knife this ruins it for me.
Will upload some pics after my next visit.
Nice, friendly service. Clean.
Cold, lifeless chips that were WAY too salty. Not sure why they add red pepper dust on the chips -- is that supposed to distract you from 200% salt content?
Portions kind of small for the price. A $8.00 burrito entree should be the size of my forearm. I can get that much for $6.50 in the Mission.
Food was delicious in general but also WAY too salty. I had the enchilada california, chili verde. Good cooking if they would just make the sodium level reasonable!
3.5 stars.
This is a restaurant, not a taqueria, so full service is part of the cost. The burrito was smaller than your average burrito. The flavor was quite gringo-friendly, almost americanized, but not bland. The cream and salsa and guac were not in the burrito proper, which was frustrating. It was good, no doubt, but in a different class. The clientle is clearly more American than your average taqueria.
As a cheap burrito place, not really the best pick. Perhaps it would score higher as a restaurant.
Tia Juana supplied the Mexican food fuel for our office White Elephant gift exchange today.
The chips were good (though cold) and sprinkled with magic paprika dust. The guac was yummy as was the salsa.
The chicken enchiladas, rice, and refried beans were all pretty good though nothing to write home about.
The beef (I think?) tacos were soggy and falling apart. This was no doubt a result of them being delivered and sitting around an additional 20 minutes. Thus, I can't really blame Tia Juana, but I'm not a fan of sloppy taco (which sounds like a sexual position). My sloppy taco was also a little light on the filling (I'm not sure what that implies sexually speaking).
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020208 update
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Tia Juana catered my aunt's birthday party. The service, staff, and food was great. The Chicken soup on weekends is good. Meat, ground, is not my favorite here. However, they have solid selections...and I am about supporting the non chains.
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12/07 update
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thanks to yelp...I now realize this place gets 3.8. There are places where the meat is not served within 5 minutes of ordering..and the food is not greasy. Sorry Tia Juana's!
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Mexican food is hit or miss, like Chinese. However, this place does it well. Super fast(great for lunch), and yummy food. I like the chips, but we warned-extras are going to cost you some of that change in your pocket. I am a fan of the crispy taco/enchilada via the combo plate. There is something good about there ground beef...it's kinda like it has pieces of potato. The rice and beans are solid...but a little greasy for my standard. Overall, this place is numero uno with me!
!
What a hidden gem! I go to the nearby Fry's all the time and have never discovered this restaurant until this weekend. We arrived with a noisy baby for dinner and were quickly seated. There is only one waitress but she was an EXPERT at multi-tasking; she handed us the menu, chatted with customers sitting at the bar, refilled other people's water cups, gave us chips and salsa, AND took our order all in one swift motion. The restaurant got a little busier but her flow was never affected, she was always friendly and courteous and explained questions we had on the menu. That alone deserved 3 solid stars.
A fourth star was added for the food. I ordered Carnitas and my wife ordered Chili Verde. Both dishes came in no time, but I was surprised that the food was not just slapped onto some plate and handed to us. The carnitas was freshly grilled and pan seared just before reaching our table, the meat was tender and soft on the inside, and slightly crispy on the outside, delicious! The Chili Verde was ok, we will perhaps try something else next time. The rice and beans that came on the side of the entrees were actually quite good. We haven't had such a satisfying Mexican meal in a long time. We liked the nachos and salsa, it was a good started and the food filled us up.
We will certainly be back to try other dishes, and perhaps I will upgrade the ratings to 5-stars next time.
Very tasty food...tastes homemade. Service was quick, warm, and friendly. Mix of locals & non locals.
We had the chimichanga and asked if we could have it with carnitas, which the waitress was very accommodating about. We also had the chile relleno, which was delicious, not overly cheesey or battered. The food was not too rich or greasy, just the right amount of carb & fatty goodness.
The strawberry margarita was good, but the sangria was awesome. I could have had 5 more of those! Yum!
Overall we only spent $26 for two people, had good mexican food, but didn't have that stuffed, "i'm gonna puke" feeling, afterward.
Their service is really what sets them apart from other Mexican restaurants in the area. I went there for a business lunch at noon. The place was packed, we told them we had three people and they quickly cleared a table for us in less than a minute. It took longer for us to order then it did for them to prepare and bring us our food (10 minutes or less).
I highly recommend their Carne Asada (grilled piece beef) plate. Their carne asada is the size of both of your hands put together served with beans, rice, really good guacamole, and spicy dipping sauce (Mexican version of A1 steak sauce).
Their kitchen is called SPEEDY'S Kitchen.
Their enchilada sauce, chili relleno sauce, and salsa appears to be out of a can, but is okay.
I stumbled across this place for lunch, and have frequented it often since. The chips usually aren't warm, but I like the fact that some of the chips have something spicy (like paprika) on them. The salsa is flavorful and tends to disappear quickly. The burrito supreme is large and comes with melting sour cream on top. (roasted pork 'Carnitas' and chicken are my favorites) The shrimp is also good--especially the garlic shrimp and shrimp enchiladas (with verde sauce). My husband loves their chili rellenos, shrimp burritos, and the a la carte items too.
I love their mango margaritas when in season. The blended regular margarita is also good. The on the rocks one are a bit sweet for my taste, but it's something that can be easily remedied with an extra shot of tequila.
The prices are cheap for a full service restaurant, and the staff is great. Although they can be a bit slow, they have always been friendly and fun. We usually go for dinner when it's less crowded.
So my last review was on TAKE-OUT and this time we dined in. We came in at around 11 and I went with my 2 younger cousins 13 and 14 and my son in his carseat. The girls looked at us HEEELLLAA rude even while we smiled. Sat around for about 10 mins before they took our drink order or order at all. A group of 3 businessmen sat behind us 5 minutes after we walked in and were assisted right away!! I hate when people criticize based on peoples look. I WOULDN'T COME HERE IF I COULDN'T AFFORD YOUR DAMN FOOD. The least you could do is give me good service like anyone else! Jesus Christ.. So then people started filling in from all the companies around us and we were not even asked if our food was okay and everyone left and right were being helped. Seriously, it pisses me off.. I'm 20 years old! I should be treated just like everyone else and even with that regardless of how old you are, everyone should get fair service. And even with all of this said, I still left a tip because I know that's where waitresses and waiters make their money and I understand that.
OHHH and we were leaving while I was carrying this heavy carseat and there was this guy cleaning a window and he didn't even TRY to open the damn door.?!? ASSHOLE. Geeeze.
MMMMMMMMM. Okay, so I've lived about 5 blocks down from Tia Juana for about 10 years and I haven't… Read more »
Awesome!!!!
Okay I went on a Thursday a 11:30 and when we got there it was empty, maybe two or three tables with people. All the tables had salsa and chips on them, begging to be eaten. I went here with my wife and our daughter. My wife order a combo plate (tamale and enchilada) and I ordered the shrimp burrito. (we share with our daughter) I got the shrimp burrito because I needed to get the horrible memory of the one I ate at Fiesta Del Mar out of my mind. This place has a very comfortable atmosphere. It is very clean, especially in the bath room. (of course I could have been there a bit early.) The food came fairly quick, which should be expected for lunch crowd. (everyone hates to take a lunch break and come back late because of the restaurant)
My burrito was awesome. Great flavor and great shrimp. In fact they cut the shrimp into smaller pieces, instead of leaving big single shrimp. This allows the entire burrito to have some shrimp throughout. NICE!
My wife's food was awesome as well. She didn't tell me I tasted it all. The beans were great and the rice was fresh and fluffy. The prices are really good too. The two of us for lunch ( could have easily been dinner) with tip $20 (we only had water to drink) When we left around 12:00 pm, the place was packed. This one of my new favorite places. I am looking forward to finding my favorite item here. I have driven by and never gone in until now. Thank you Yelp. You have redeemed yourself.
I really like the "small restaurant" atmosphere and food here. It's not the best I've ever had, but it's consistently good, and I'm treated with a smile and a nod from the cook every time I come here. The Carnitas are very good, as is the Chili Colorado.
I spent a lot of time out here on a contract two years ago, and both my server and the cook recognized me the first night I walked back through the door (and no, I didn't eat there _EVERY_ night during that last contract... :)
I go back regularly when my jobs bring me out here to Sunnyvale (except on Sunday's because it's closed)..
One comment about the habanero sauce a previous poster mentioned: It is very good, very hot, and a little goes a LONG ways...
The atmosphere was friendly and family. Went on a Saturday evening around 7pm and got seating easily, a large party of 12 were next to us.
Ordered the Carnitas dinner, Veggie enchiladas, the Shrimp wrapped in bacon and Mixed Fajitas, average plate prices were $10-14. Only down side, only get a little scoop of rice. Everything was good and homemade.
In a strip mall. Has a bar. Medium sized with plenty of seating. Orders were brought promptly. Asked for the spicey sauce on the side with the shrimp and had to be taken off, they forgot.
Sunnyvale, CA
Category: Mexican
Sunnyvale, CA
Category: Greek
Sunnyvale, CA
Category: Mexican
Sunnyvale, CA
Category: Mexican
Santa Clara, CA
Category: Mexican
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