Juanita's Cafe

For the price, this small eatery made some really good Mexican food. The only complaint I had was the air quality in the stall (a bit too much smoke), but they provided very friendly service and tasty food.

Juanita's Café delivered a truly satisfying meal with their taquitos and taco combo. The taquitos were perfectly crispy on the outside and filled with flavorful meat that was both juicy and well-seasoned. The taco had a great balance of texture and taste, with a fresh tortilla, tender filling, and just the right amount of toppings to bring everything together. What really stood out, though, were the sides. The beans were hearty and rich, a comforting complement to the main dish that added depth to the overall meal. The salad, though simple, was fresh and crisp, providing a refreshing contrast to the warm, savory items on the plate. It's clear that attention to quality and flavor is a priority at Juanita’s. Overall, Juanita's Café is a spot worth returning to. The service was friendly, and the food came out quickly and hot. If you’re looking for a meal that hits the spot without being overly complicated, the taquitos and taco combo is a solid choice. I’ll definitely be back to try more from their menu.

Best guacamole sauce and very good red sauce to go with the taquitos and shredded beef tacos. My dad has been going there since the early 90's but don't confuse it with el rancho a few spots down (south).

No exaggeration, best taquitos I’ve ever had. Homemade crisp tortillas, moist shredded beef, and delicious avocado sauce. Started with two and ordered two more! Ambiance was unique as well. Heads up.. tips are cash only!

Great place to stop for a quick bite. Carlos welcomes you with a smile and happily answers questions. He recommended the taquitos and they were great! Perfect texture and temperature, with a sauce that has just the right amount of bite to it. Will definitely will be going back and recommend it to anyone looking for authentic flavors at reasonable prices.

Amazing food and service, been coming here since I was 8 and i am a much older man now but nothing has changed in terms of how every time i come is a great experience. The gift that keeps on giving =D.

We got here early, so we were able to talk to Eddie. What a beautiful experience. This quaint little spot has been around since 1944. The food and atmosphere were great. Got a chance to share our cultural similarities with him and the parking attendant and even got a little musical serenade.

So delicious, great price point, and service was so welcoming. They sat us quickly and served us quickly. Their servings are huge and worth it! I got the Mike Wet Burrito and let me say I had leftovers for later. Hope to come back again and try their different dishes. My bf liked their taquitos.

Took a solo trip to Olvera Street to get some street photography in and walk the street. As I was there, I decided to treat myself to lunch at this spot my late mother and I ate at many years ago. So glad I did. I had the number one combination plate, which was two taquitos and a tamale with rice and beans. So glad that I did. The food was on point. The customer service was outstanding! The price was also very reasonable! I was also able to do some people watching as I ate. If you are in the area, then you have to give this place a try!

Of all the restaurants on Olivera Street, we were drawn to Juanita's by the tables with the painted tile art. The place felt like one in Latin America - open air, a few tables, and full view of the kitchen. We were greeted by Carlos, who noticed my attention to the tables and proudly told me that Juanita's had been open since 1944. If those same tables had been around then, they will then be more than twice my age now! I asked for recommendations, and he suggested the Taco and x2 Taquitos combo. Loved the meal and the purity in it's simplicity. Just a homemade Taco and Taquitos with beans and salad as sides. They weren't dressed up or made to look fancier than what it needed to be, just good cooking. If you are checking out Olivera Street and hungry, Juanita's is a good a spot as any for Mexican food.

The best food on Olvera period!! The staff is awesome also! 80+ years says something.

We came to Olvera street for the Dia de Los muertos 5k run and stopped here after. We decided to try the chicken burrito and the shredded beef burrito which was the best decision we could have made! Both had a generous amount of meat and delicious!!!! I liked and felt like the shredded beef burrito had more flavor but the chicken burrito was also good. Service was awesome and our food literally came out within 5 minutes. The restaurant is very small with 4 little tables inside and 2 tables outside but the place is very clean and great food is being served! I will definitely be going back for that shredded beef burrito!!!!!

Solid place, exactly like I remembered it. We used to come here a lot for lunchtime, easily walkable and fast service. Lots of different combo plates to choose from. Friendly setvice too! Stop by if you're ever in the area!

I had about 45 minutes to kill between a bus and a train at Union Station, so headed out to Olvera St. to grab a quick bite. There must be a dozen tiny little restaurants at the base of Olvera; this time I tried Juanita's. Tiny is the operative word to describe Juanita's; I'd guess the place is about 800 sq. ft., including the kitchen. Somehow they packed 6 tables into that space! And you know it: there's a bit of jostling when the place is full. I heard precious few English words when I was there (a good sign). I ordered 2 chicken tacos and an horchata. Food came fast! I was a little disappointed that the tacos were hardshell, but the shredded chicken filling was quite tasty. I'm sure I'll come back to try some of their other offerings. But not before I try some of the other tiny restaurants on Olvera.

This was our first time taking the kids to Olvera street. We were actually visiting Union Station and Olvera was an added bonus! This restaurant is a short walk from Union Station and it was on the end of Olvera. It's a small hole in the wall type of deal. They have a few small tables and food is served on disposable tableware. We got to try: Chicken Enchiladas - My husband like the sauce and meat on this so much that he ordered another. Cheese and Chicken Quesadillas- My kids loved these. They were filled with cheese and meat respectively. Refried Beans - These were so good. They come out HOT! They are flavored well and hearty. Crunchy chicken taco and crunchy potato taco - Both were filled with their filling then topped with plenty of cool lettuce and cheese. Jamaica Drink -Nice and sweet. It wasn't quite as tangy as I like. But it was still good and refreshing on this super hot day. The service was friendly and very homey. It literally felt like we went to a friends house and they were serving us some food. Sometimes the man working would just hand a plate to a customer while he was talking to someone else. Made you feel like you were just chilling. The food came out quick, hot, and fresh. Parking is a hassle as is anytime you're downtown. Also the restaurant doesn't have ac (it's basically just an open room. So it was pretty warm but comfortable. We would definitely go back when we're in the area.

Juanita's is located near the opening of Placita Olvera in L.A., nestled between quaintly arranged vendor booths features tschotsky's galore (picture: mexican stuff n things, pantuflas that look like mexican sweet bread, keychains, bracelts, amulets...and more) is this gem of a place. While Juanita's can easily blend in with other similarly situated venues, what I most appreciated about this establishment -- besides its existence since 1944! -- is the sheer simplicity of it all: paper plates, styrofoam cups, plastic utensils and a menu that features similar ingredients (beans, cheese, lettuce, meat: chicken or beef) configured in a variety of ways -- all equally flavorful and reminiscent of eating at your friend's grandmother's house (nostalgic and "just like home"). The owner who is understated and friendly, was attentive and to the point. He takes your order and your food comes to you hot and ready for consumption. This was a most welcome thing as we were hungry and parched after our dance performance. I had the 2 taquitos and taco plate (w/ guacamole sauce) which came with refried beans and a humble salad with italian dressing. I ordered a small coke -- which was a TRUE small (not a LARGE, small as is custom these days). Prices are within the $10 range and you come away satisfied. The venue is small and may need some TLC as the tile is old, but I say no to that. All of this adds to the character of this venue as does the owner who is generous to all -- even to the homeless person who stopped in and was given a cup of water. It's clear that there are regulars at this place -- many dropped in to pick up their already placed orders and had nice banter with the owner.

Juanita's Café on Olvera Street serves just-right portions of solid Mexican food. I ordered the 1 chicken enchilada, 2 taquitos combo, which came with salad and refried beans with melted cheese. I ate on a late Wednesday morning in front of the restaurant. I liked eating there at the time since Olvera Street didn't have a crowd. I thought the food was filling for a good price of $9.55. The ambience at the time felt peaceful, and I could listen to my headphones. They have only a few patio table seating and a couple tables in front of the restaurant. Note that if you'd like to tip, they only accept cash.

Must have in Olvera Street. Friendly fast service. Food is good! Boyfriend got a burrito and it was huge! Love the potato tacos. Gotta keep Olvera Street alive so come and support. Grab some lunch and support the vendors.

Great hard shell tacos! I had the potato tacos!The salsa was perfect and hot! Just the way I liked it. And customer service was excellent. Highly recommended

Fantastic food and the guys are great to talk to. I have been going here for years. The taquitos are the bomb. Been here for many years. Still going strong.

Amazing place to eat with " Authentic" Mexican food! No trip to downtown LA is complete without it! Served by the owner....ordered cheese quesadilla combo with a Chicken Burrito. Amazing to say the least! Fresh...made in his restaurant. Homemade tortillas too! Very nice ambiance, clean, fresh food and a real taste of Olivera Street! Thanks for a wonderful authentic experience!

Mikes beef burrito was sooo good and massive you have to get it!!! Such great service completely recommend if you are in the area 100 percent worth it!

Pretty bomb & authentic taquitos dorados. Fast service. Plenty of seating. Both the cook and the waiter were friendly.

This is an excellent, tiny restaurant with authentic Mexican food at a great price that is very close to Union Station. Service was excellent when I arrived at the end of the day. A combo dish with a chicken tamale and 2 enchiladas, with beans and rice, was a very satisfying dinner. There was a choice of green or red salsa. I look forward to returning the next time in the area.

I recently dined at Juanita Cafe and I can confidently say it was an unforgettable experience! From the moment we walked in, the warm and inviting atmosphere set the tone for a fantastic meal. Best taquitos and avocado green sauce.

My wife and I stopped here by chance. We first tried the tacos with green salsa from Cielito Lindo, they were purty good. As we walked past Juanita's Cafe my wife noticed the papa(potato) tacos so we tried a couple...they were AMAZING! Healthy serving of papa and topped with cabbage, cheese, and tomatoes. But then the owner gave us a sample of his tacos in green salsa and we were once again amazed of how tasty they were. I gotta say they were much much more tasty than Cielito Lindo's. The green salsa over the generous serving of beef in the crunchy taco is a fantastic treat for the soul. Both the cook and the owner on duty provided an enjoyable experience, made us feel welcomed and appreciated. I highly suggest all try Juanita's Cafe or both and you be the judge.

My bride suggested I "Yelp the heck out of this place." Don't want to disappoint the Mrs., so here goes.... This month's activity for the Cub Scout pack my wife and I support was a trip to Olvera Street via the gold line. Most of our scouts and families, despite living in Arcadia, have never actually ridden on the Metro, let alone been to Olvera Street. Despite rumors that the area was overrun with homeless encampment, we threw caution to the wind, hope for the best, and got our group together at the Arcadia metro station. After helping a few folks navigate the TAP card machine, we were southbound and down, watching the world fly by in the windows. Before we knew it, we had pulled into Union Station, The train came to a stop, the doors opened, and we were on foot to the Pueblo. I have to say the area is a lot cleaner than the last time I was there, and it seems most of the folks who had created quite the encampment here have either accepted other housing options, or moved along. Considering how this whole place got rocked by Covid closures, it was nice to see the tourists heading back to the area, and walking around in relative comfort. Our group navigated the narrow street between the vendor stands, as the kids poked and prodded at various wares peddled by the merchants. I can't help but stop at the Lucha libre masks, but I stopped short of buying one... Not because I don't want one, and not because I wouldn't wear it to school, but because my head is just too big for these little things. Maybe someday they'll make an Andre the giant size one. Obey. Anyway, after a quick tour of the Adobe, the family was feeling a bit peckish, and, not wanting to drop 20 bucks a plate at one of the sitdown restaurants with a large group, we all sort of split up and sounds a little taco shops and cafés that dot the street. I had never been to Juanita's before, but the timing was right; two tables opened up in the tiny dining room, and we swarmed in quickly. Another group was finishing their meal, so boom Dash - three tables for everyone to sit down and eat. For my family of five, I ordered up two Mike's burritos, two number fives (2 taco combo plate), and Mrs. Picante ordered a chicken tostada. My youngest smartly ordered the Horchata, while I settled in for a really good Coke. Food here is hot, and it comes out fast. Seriously, our plates are on the table in about three or four minutes. Made to order too. I'm usually not a big fan of lettuce in a burrito, but my large burrito was really delicious: the beef was very tender, and balanced well with the rice and beans, red sauce, and cheese. Perfect flour tortilla, grilled all translucent and chewy. My favorite kind. The kids all scarfed down their food, and my wife, who thought her tostada was going to be a little bigger, helped me with that giant burrito. My eldest son only got through about 3/4 of it before he was done, so plenty of food to go around. The proprietor was very kind to my children, and despite running the front end, still checked in on us for drinks and took care of everyone. We all ate really good for under 60 bucks, A steal by Los Angeles prices, especially in this economy. I like to throw these guys an extra Andy Jackson on top-- especially when they're nice to my kids and Mrs. I don't frequent over that ass street like I did when I was in college, and brought University students here on a somewhat regular basis as an RA. No, those days are gone, and I suppose I only have a few years left with my little ones to cherish Sunday afternoons in the sun at a decidedly tourist trap kind of place with a healthy side helping of history and culture. But as long as I do, I will keep frequenting places like Juanita's, that have shown resilience, courage, and kindness in the face of everything the world has thrown at small businesses. Looking forward to my next trip, whenever that will be.

I came here to break my fast I'm on day 5 of no meat and I had my first meal of the day here. I got a no meat Tostada it came with lettuce cheese tomato and sour cream. I was too hungry to take pictures but it looks like how a tostada would the beans were good and hot and all of the veggies were fresh. I didn't eat anything else but I do plan to come back to try other items. From the taste of the tostada this location may have the taste I'm looking for.

The Champurrado at Juanita's is delish. The food is really good as well. The location is excellent . Right at Olvera plaza. We had the chicken enchiladas. The service was excellent. Highly recommend.

They had me at potato tacos! We came to Olvera Street to do some shopping. The kids got hungry and I saw the sign for potato tacos and knew we had to stop here. I'm so glad we did! The owner was so friendly and welcoming and the prices were fair. The food was absolutely amazing though and will have us coming back again and again. We ordered potato tacos, taquitos, a bean and cheese burrito, and champorado. Everything was made to order and reminded me of a home cooked meal. So delicious! We loved it all! My daughter loves their beans so much, that she wanted to order some to take home. The taquitos come with an avocado salsa that I wanted to pour on everything because it was that good. And the champorado was perfect for the cold, drizzly day. We will definitely be back very soon!

Been here since 1944! Come some support a local small business! Great taquitos de carne desebrada!

Located just off of Alameda on the east side of Olvera St. Don't go by the unit numbers to find this place as it's not where unit 20 should be it's on the other side. Place is small. Maybe 8-10 tables. Food is served quick, it's tasty, and cheap. 2 combo plates, order of taquitos, and their chocolate drink will cost you $29. Service is friendly. They don't have AC but they do have powerful fans that work great although it wasn't a super hot day. Tables are around the kitchen so it does get hot. There are several Mexican restaurants on the street (which is really a shop filled alley). Not sure if this is the best spot but they certainly are not bad and stayed busy. The area is colorful. A trio stood out front and played music singing a song about a lady in a pink dress. It's a low key place. No a destination restaurant but I recommend it. Probably 4 stars but let's support local shops serving handmade food from authentic recipes.

I love a side of beans, rice, and cheese burrito with my salsa. Taquitos, tamales, and tortas are all delicious! Breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros available too. Please come and enjoy yourself.

This hole in the wall Mexican restaurant is an absolute gem tucked away in the middle of Olvera Street. I've been coming to this place since 1995 with my parents and my order really hasn't changed since then. I order the taquitos with the green sauce, which is the absolute best. I usually eat at 3 orders whenever we stop by. Something about the green sauce makes me wish they bottled it and sold it. The friendly and attentive staff, along with the owners, add to the repetitiveness of visits over the years, making you feel like a cherished guest.

We just love this place. Just wish the street would open so the hours would be better. We do our best to work around it! Their food never disappointed my go to is Taquitos and cheese enchiladas. This is our go to restaurant before and sometimes after the dodger game.

Service is Awsome fast friendly not a lot of grease on the hard shell tacos and friendly vibe

Juanita's Cafe is located in the lovely Olvera Street walk area in Downtown LA. You can get take out right now. I don't think they allow use of the small seating area because of Covid. It is located outdoors which is something I like when grabbing my food to go. They have great rice and beans and tacos. Their burritos are not the best in the area, but their tacos are quite good. The service is super friendly and pretty fast. They are not a large storefront and could really use the business, so go there.

Been coming here weekly ever since I moved back to the city and haven't looked back! TikTok kinda sent me on a quest to go to Olvera's again and it has been a treat. With probably the best Flautas in the city and imo a magical Jamaica this place is it. Everything hits on the menu and the Mikes special is built for those willing to go hard in the paint. It's a three meat wet burrito that easily should be a challenge by itself to tackle. Food is brought out fast and we're very much taken care of. Everyone we met coming here is super friendly and we love seeing them everytime we come back! Love you guys!

Favorite food spot in Olvera Street!! Always get the #2 and add and extra item - yesterday was chicken enchilada on side. Yum! Service is great & friendly. Took the train to Union Station so didn't have to deal with crazy parking prices ($15).

Visited Juanita's Cafe for lunch - my kids ordered the potato tacos and the cheese enchiladas; both orders were delicious. My kids are picky with food and they loved it; the authentic Mexican flavor is a plus! I ordered the combination sopes; they were so good! Felt like I was eating in somewhere in mexico; and also the aguas frescas are so good! Their service was really good and friendly staff. Their prices are great - we will definitely come back to try other plates! Total recommend.

At this point I'm not sure if I'll ever have kids. I've gone back and forth on them so many times. I thought we'd have four in the last relationship, one shy of a basketball team. I'm of the "let Jesus take the wheel" camp now. While I can't predict if that's in my future or not, I'm blessed to never have had to deal with co-parenting and even worse, alimony. Thank God! I finally met my brother's first little meathead on Olvera Street in LA. What us in technology call the "alpha" release. You know the one you try to work out all the bugs with. Yeah, that was my job for my parent's releases. My brother loves tacos as much as me so he knew where to go. If you've never been here before, the shops remind of times I raged in Cancun Mexico. The food, omg. We sampled up and down the street but my favorite by far was Juanita's. Not only was this spot super authentic, the family running it was hilarious. You know I always love meeting the craftsman, the legends, behind the forks and knives creating our feasts. I could have devoured these tacos until I passed out. We almost did! Beyond the food, I'm beyond happy for my brother. I think he'll be a great father. I'm a bit jealous of him for this. No matter how many feasts I down, concerts or countries I go to, clubs until 6am, I haven't felt that feeling of watching a life you helped create enter this world. I am afraid that after my past decision of an abortion back in Boulder a ways back, God won't grant me a second chance. I have no regrets tattooed on me. If life takes me this way or it doesn't I'm happy. I do hope my brother lets me babysit so I can take the kid to the gun range, and jump out of an airplane! One can dream! Love you Danno!

Came here for breakfast. Excellent service with personable, friendly staff. The taquitos were incredible and so were the potato tacos. I'm stuffed after the chorizo burrito!! Nice quiet vibe.

Some goood comfort Mexican on Olvera St. One of a few on the street to sample. Comfort food. Good crispy hard shell tacos. Love the hot sauce, and beans are good. Do it.

Yes the food is delicious but the service is amazing too. Being Filipino, it's always intriguing to find something "Filipino" in the Latin culture (we do have similar Spanish histories). Today I found Champirado here. I asked if theirs came with rice. They said no AND offered me a trial. WOW. Soooo good. It's a must try. We appreciated that they let us try the other agua fresca. We had an exchange student who appreciated the trial. I also found the taquitos to be amazing amazing as were the other dishes. Thank you so much for your hospitality

A family favorite anytime we pass threw LA. The #2 is my go too, one taco and two taquitos with a orange drink but everything in the menu is good. Park across the street at Union Station or the parking lot behind the restaurant.

My grandfather started the tradition whenever we come to L.A we come to Olivera St. and to Juanita's and there will never be a tym we come down to L.A and not come here to eat. We will ALWAYS continue our tradition great food, great service, the best!

Some of the freshest and most authentic taquitos I've ever had. They were hot and crispy and right out of the fryer. Made to order and the workers are so friendly and nice. Also need to try the sopes, which were also very delicious. Can't wait to go back.

The owner and staff are very rude! They even attack food vendors because their food is better then

I usually run to the taquitos place nearby... cielito lindo. I told my husband let's give this place a try even though we drove down for cielito lindo. Did not disappoint! Really nice friendly service. Full service.

I highly suggest not just passing by best food hands down in the whole ally my favorite are the potato tacos great customer service & you get your food pretty fast thank you for always serving the best homemade dishes

Best spot to stop for some early morning breakfast. We had the chorizo burrito and huevos rancheros, absolutely delicious. Fast friendly services. Highly recommended =)

The food was pretty good but the service of the older gentleman left a lot to be desired. Happy with the taquitos that my son ordered, although they did not ask if we wanted sauce on top so we had them remake it. I am sure that is why our server was less than thrilled with us. If the menu had listed sauce, we would have asked for it to be without... I got a couple of sopes which were tasty.

This is not the restaurant where the attack occurred. Stay aware of where you post this which could potentially be harmful to a good business part of LA history. Been here plenty of thine the food is great and you can't beat the price. The environment is lively and energetic from opening to closing; service is great as well. Doesn't make sense how people can randomly attack places of business especially when they don't know where or what actually happened.

I had one beef and one potato taco ... Very good I highly recommend. My grandmother and mother had enchiladas plate also gave a 10/10.

Food was delicious and service was superb. We will definitely be back. The taquitos with the green salsa were delicious. Potato tacos were great!

A must when we make it out to Olvera Street. Been coming here with my family since a young girl now being a wife and a mother I've introduced my husband and daughter to this yummy authentic food. Nothing has changed! It's always the same hospitality and fresh food.

The food is really bad, it tastes like 5 day old vallarta food. They microwave everything and then fry the taquitos. Made me really sick. Avoiid