Juanitas Taco Shop

Went with bacon breakfast burrito as recommended by the kind man behind the counter and it was phenomenal… perfect ratio of ingredients and perfectly soft but toasty tortilla. Large but manageable size! Overall very satisfied and will be back!

I've waited 15 years to try this place .. because I'm always rushing. Well, today I finally went in and had a meal. There is some front street parking, side parking and rear parking. There's also a bus stop less (101) than a block away but I walked to it from a nearby hotel. The notion of authentic food is obvious by the cashier's and cooks I had the opportunity to thank for such a delicious meal. I was fortunate enough to have my lunch to myself because no one was eating inside during my brief 1 hour there.. however there were non-stop to-go orders the whole time. I ordered my usual test food of Carne Asada Nachos and a Coke. The coke tasted like a coke should. It wasn't flat. The carne asada nachos were made with the exact amount of chips and fixings and meat. There was no chip eaten without something on it which is rare. Usually most places put too much chips. There was a good serving of guacamole, sour cream, unmelted cheese, pico de gallo and meat. It could easily feed 2 but I only ate 1x in the morning so this was my lunch and dinner. I opted for both red and green salsa .. which were both delicious. The red was slightly spicier but not too much. I have 1 before and 1 mid photos so you can see the balanced portions. In my opinion the cooks were nice and know how to cook in my humble opinion. The food was delicious and I'm definitely coming back tomorrow to test their breakfast burrito. I highly recommend coming in and trying their food. There's plenty to do in the area to walk off your meal afterwards. All in all .. definitely a monthly meal for me worth the extra 5 min drive from my office.

It has been over 30 years since coming here during high school. Still a very tasty carnitas burrito after 10pm in north county. Pass down to kids ownership. A must try.

Went on the recommendation of a friend. However, he always went after surfing and we went closer to closing around 9pm. The carnitas burrito was VERY dry. The Chicken burrito was decent but not spectacular. The carne asada was also just average. The woman at the counter was not very happy. The seating area was typical for a hole in the wall place. It was clean. Maybe we hit it at a bad time.

Really good carne asada, carnitas and fish tacos. We have been going for years and never disappointed. Service is fast and food is good.

Best Mexican food in Encinitas!!! Always come here when we are in town. Coming here is always a highlight of our trip! Can’t wait to come back!!! 🌯🌮

Quick service and friendly employee. I got a burrito for dinner and it was almost enough for two meals. Great location as I took my meal to the beach to watch the sun set.

Been eating here for 30 years, I grew up on this food and it still hits. There's a simplicity to it, it's the flavors I crave when I come home, and it's a flavor that I haven't found elsewhere. My favorite is to get both a carne asada burrito and a veggie burrito to split with someone so we can each have half of each.

When out-of-town visitors wanted burritos and other Mexican food for their last morning in San Diego, we headed to Juanitas! Lucy was very welcoming ... and patient while eight of us placed our orders. I finally tried the Huevos Rancheros (4/5). The eggs were perfect, but the rancheros sauce was a pico de gallo. The flour tortillas were great. My wife had our favorite here: Carnitas Burrito (5/5). In fact, we refer to this restaurant as "Juanitas Carnitas" ... the best Carnitas Burrito in San Diego County!

Best Chile Relleno I think I've ever had in my life. To me, this is the test of a Mexican place - can they do the Chile Relleno right? Juanita's Taco Shop passed the test! I ordered a Chile Relleno + Taco plate and got the carnitas taco. Also grabbed an orange Jarritos since I don't regularly get these at home. Food was prepared quickly and the guy at the counter was pleasant and efficient. Plenty of seating was available, but I decided to get take out and brought it back to where I was staying. Food stayed hot after a short walk, and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. There was honestly TOO much food, and I had enough for a late night snack and early breakfast bite as well. I would definitely come back to try something else on the large menu!

My husband, daughter and I came here and our food was delicious! Best shrimp tacos my husband ever had! Al pastor custom burritos made to our specific perfection! The ambience and authenticity this restaurant has!!! Thank you!!'

I saw this place on Instagram. I happened to be staying at the Alila Marea down the street. It is easy to get to. Parking is on the street. I came on a Saturday afternoon. They were not busy at all. The guy at the counter was helpful but not real friendly. The decor art their indoor dining is ocean themed. Someone hand painted the wall and it just works. The place is small. There's outdoor seating. I love that they have a water cooler instead of tap water. I got the fish taco and Carne asada street taco. The street taco costs less and is supposedly smaller but it was a good amount of food. I've had better Carne asada tacos. The fish taco could've been crispier. This taco shop is probably the cheapest food in Encinitas so I'm not going to complain.

Everything was excellent. I'd definitely go back. I think it was a late night stop too.

This review is long overdue. We stopped at this place for breakfast. The food was horrible. My husband ordered the machaca, it was bland. I thought I'd order the chilaquiles, not a difficult dish to make. They were soggy, and tasteless. I honestly had to throw them away, along with the cold rice and beans. The unmelted cold cheese on the beans was a sad sight, ugh! We paid a total of $29.14! I would not recommend this place.

Best hard shell tacos I've ever had! 10/10. Tia and Tio have been working together for 22 years and the quality speaks for itself.

I first judge a tacoria on their crispy chicken taco and salsa verde. Juanita's gets a gold star based on that criteria. The carnitas is also worth the trip. It's pretty much the best tacoria I've been going to for the last 23 years. Always consistent, always good. The rice and beans are also worth getting a combo plate. Highly recommend!

Delicious Mexican food so close to the beach that you can also taste the ocean. Discovered this spot because it's walking distance from where we stay when in town and just a few blocks from the ocean. Love taking our food to the beach and enjoying it while listening to crashing waves. My order is always some crispy chicken tacos that are filled to the rim and even stay crispy until getting devoured at the beach. Rice and beans are great too and don't forget some of their delicious and spicy salsa to basically put all over everything. Service is friendly and fast. Indoor and outdoor seating available. I'll be back to try a breakfast burrito next time.

Excellent burritos! Cute little taco shop that is a must do when I'm in Encinitas!! The staff is so friendly and you won't be disappointed with the food!! See you in a month!

Very friendly and fast service. Easy parking in the lot out back and they have indoor as well as outdoor seating. Both the red and green salsa were tasty, the green is spicy. Prices are pretty high at almost $5 per taco and over $10 a burrito. The crispy tacos were not very good, though large in size the shell was stale and both the chicken and beef were not great and lacked flavor. The burritos are definitely the way to go here.

Stopped for the surf and turf. It was good tasted freshly made. Plenty of shrimp and meat. 100% will come back if ever in town.

If not paying attention you'll drive right past Juanita's on the 101. A small taco shop serving up delicious tacos. This was some of the better carne asada tacos we've had. The carnitas was good as well. I had a surf and turf burrito to round it out which was a great mesh of flavors and the right amount of spice. I definitely recommend and it provides a good value for a meal.

Embarrassing to admit that after decades, I finally pulled into Juanita's and had a meal. Then I came back a couple times more. That this small taco stop on the 101 is so quintessentially Old Guard Leucadia--an honest-to-goodness hometown institution--compounds my crime. And in principle, I like everything about the place. The family working there, the spartan quality of its establishment, the controlled menu, the friendly and expedited service: everything about JTC feels right. The prices are perhaps a bit high, but not so much so that I found myself objecting. But that said, it didn't greatly impress. I have now had an opportunity to try several dishes here and they just don't quite add up. The food is well prepared and cooked with a fair degree of skill. No objections there. But the actual materials used are where this small taqueria falls short. The meat is gristly, and both taste and texture leave something to be desired. The cheese seemed to be of a coarser quality. Lastly, the various sauces available in their small fridge also seemed to be made of cheap ingredients. I hate to land so hard on a local fave. It wasn't that I have not enjoyed my meals. But if the owners hadn't skimped on quality, Juanita's would be 5 stars in my book and arguably the best spot in town. As it is, it's an OK place for a carb load after a night of drinking or a surfing sesh. 3.5 stars.

Been years since visiting this Leucadia staple - a spot always known for carnitas. California burritos were awesome this time. Great ratio of every ingredient - and no pico is a plus! Red and green sauces are addictingly spicy. Not to mention decent prices relative to the area. Thank you Juanitas!

Hidden gem. I wish I had known how good they are years ago. Friendly, speak English and Spanish. Agua frescos are perfect.

We stopped by on the way to Del Mar for some breakfast burritos; burritos didn't disappoint! The cashier behind the counter was great and gave us extra salad on our way out. Super cute side room with an ocean mural as well. I knocked off one star because I picked up an Al Pastor taco to try with the burrito, but the meat was a little dry. Pretty sure it was meat from the day before, since we came in around 10. Not bad, just definitely not as great as the burritos.

This taco shop came at the recommendation of a friend. We came to get takeout for lunch on a Tuesday and got four tacos and a burrito. The food was ready very quickly, within about 10 minutes. After getting our food, we took it home in to-go boxes. I had gotten two fish tacos without properly looking at the additions. When I tried it after getting home, I realized that they had a good deal of mayonnaise on them. I don't like mayonnaise and especially not on tacos, so this dampened my lunch experience that day. I tried one of my husband's meat tacos and his burrito and liked those a lot better. Overall, didn't think this was a bad place, but my food here was not to my preference.

Had to try this staple Leucadia Mexican spot! I've heard the locals rave about it, and flavor wise I really enjoyed my cali burrito with rice and beans. I am biased and usually judge Mexican joints based on their rice and beans, which definitely satisfied my craving for them. I liked that the burrito opted for cream cheese instead of sour cream - same flavor, better burrito consistency. I was a little disappointed in the high prices given that it's a mostly take-out spot, but that's the world we're living in I guess... prime real estate and ingredients come with a cost! Alternatively, I'm happy to spend my money on a local business, especially a classic 101 Leucadia spot.

carnita taco was flawless. both green and red salsas are great. would definitely come back. cant wait.

This is a small, casual, local spot, that has been here for years. It's simple and basic Cal-Mex food. Service is friendly and accommodating. The red and green salsas add spicy punch to the food. Most people get food to go, so no shortage of seating. Parking in back is a plus for the location.

Wait, why did I wait so long to come to Juanitas?! Stopped in for a machaca breakfast burrito on a weekday and it was DELICIOUS. Plenty of machaca with great flavor, the tortilla was the perfect texture, and yes it was super filling. Lots of locals say that Juanitas has the best burritos and I really can't argue with them!

Just picked up some breakfast from here this morning at 8:30am! We tried to call in our order, but the phone didn't pick up -- kind of strange because when we walked in it was empty. We ordered a Bean & Rice burrito and a Bacon/Egg/Cheese/Potato burrito. The price was fair for the breakfast burrito, but a nearly $9 bean & rice burrito was pretty ridiculous-- especially considering how small it ended up being. My boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his breakfast burrito, and while my burrito tasted good, the beans and tortilla were a bit dry and I would have needed two to consider it a meal. The hot sauce was pretty good; 4/5. Service and wait time were just fine. If the bean & rice burrito was either half the price or double the size I would definitely be coming back.

This is OG Leucadia at its finest. Used to come here after a day of surfing and it never disappoints. Their carnitas are the thing to get - can't speak to anything else. If it says carnitas on the sign...you order THAT. Don't come here for a vegan tostada. My go to is a carnitas burrito with refried beans, sour cream and pico (I'm allergic to guacamole). It's usually the size of a baby's arm and just as juicy! It's a dive, to be sure. Small, a few tables, religious calendars for sale, a menu board from the 1970s. But you go there for the food, period. Pro tip - they have a small parking lot in back since parking on PCH is generally a challenge.

We were in Encinitas visiting for the day and are craving fish tacos! Found this place through Yelp which has quite a high rating but also mixed reviews. LOCATION: it's a small shop located on the main road but just a few blocks away from the beach. WHAT WE GOT: a fish taco, carnitas taco, and a California burrito The California burrito was huge and filling. The crema they use is more on the sweeter side that's why I think one of the reviewers here mistaken it for mayo. I'm personally not a fan of the kind of beef cut they use but it wasn't bad... not my favorite burrito in SD but also not the worst. The fish and carnitas tacos were also just okay. The batter on the fish is overwhelming to the palette. The carnitas is a little bit bland on the flavor. Overall just an okay experience.

So I actually googled to see if Juanita's changed owners. I have been going here since I was a kid (I'm almost 50 now). Not sure what has happened but the carne asada is not the same. I had the California burrito and I thought I was at Roberto's. Their carne asada use to be sooo flavorful and it just melted into your savoring mouth. Now it's just ok. I'm actually in disbelief and hoping it was just a bad day or they got a new chef. Juanita's, go back to your roots and we will keep coming! I don't mind the new high prices but make it worth it! Salsa is still hot and good! Until next time....

You know, this place has gone down I mean down. Service is horrible and the food is not fresh like it was before. You should pass.

Was a solid California for decent pricing. I would have had pick included in cali which is usual for me. Salsa was good. If in area again I would stop by and try other stuff.

came here on a friends local recommendation. walked in and was greeted warmly by the owner. ordered two burritos - one shrimp one pollo asada. we were here on our way back from sdsu to bay area and wanted some fuel. the burritos were excellent - fresh ingredients, crunchy lettuce and tasty protein. The ambiance was a classic taco/burrito joint with lots of seating and cold water if you don't want to purchase drinks. i would highly recommend eating here and if they weee local i would be a regular.

I come here for the fish tacos. The fish is flaky, crispy, and fresh. The simple pico and lettuce on top is what complements the crispy fish so well. I get full off of just 2 tacos. Best to eat the fish tacos there and with the green sauce (my personal preference). They are limited on parking in the back but they also have street parking.

Look at the sign on the front of the restaurant. Big bold letters scream CARNITAS. Got it? Don't go and get the carne asada and then complain about it, that is not their specialty. The CARNITAS are terrific! Someone complained that the prices are high. A carnitas taco costs $5 but it's a meal (for a normal sized person) so I don't call that high at all. You want overpriced, go down the street to The Taco Stand where you have to wait in a long line to get a smaller serving. Get the carnitas taco or burrito. Best in North County. And no line.

this place is usually good. However, I got 2 al pastor tacos & there was a rock inside of it. When I took a bite I almost chipped 2 teeth. I have eaten here before & I ABSOLUTELY loved it. But this time I was very disappointed! please be better

I say that this place is kinda bad, when we went here the worker at the cashier was very rude and yelled at my friend when we asked for a fork! The food tasted like nothing and the quesadilla tasted a little like chemicals, and the salsa was watery, but the fry's were good. The sitting area was cool but the air conditioner had a bunch of weird stickers all over. When we sat down the tables were dirty! There were boogers on the walls and food on the eating surface. Also, when my friend asked for a drink refill she said we had to pay extra and then just took her cup very impolitely and gave us the drink without asking us if we wanted to pay or not.So there are a lot of reasons why i wouldn't recommend this place. my favorite part out of this whole experience was definitely the taco on a fishing pole. Overall the whole experience was horrible. I would NOT recommend EVER going here

Almost 9 bucks for a bean and cheese burrito that's so small. I won't be going back there.

Tried the carne asada and carnitas tacos here. The tacos were pretty big, which was nice, but overall it was just okay. The carne asada was good, and the carnitas were greasy. Nothing really stood out flavor-wise. On the plus side, service was quick, so it's an easy stop if you're hungry and in a rush

I've been away, way too long. I don't even know what else they serve because their Carnitas is stll the best in San Diego, bar none. I won't wait so long before I visit again. If you live anywhere in San Diego County, Juanita's is well worth the drive...yum, yum, yum.

One of my favorite Mexican shops in Encinitas. Maybe my favorite. Not sure! When I lived in the area, this was a weekly go to! The carne asada is ridiculously good and so is the Al pastor. Worth checking out! Great stuff

I got the surf and turf burrito and it had about 5 shrimps in it and maybe some steak? I honestly couldn't tell because it was such poor quality meat. The burrito tasted like one of those microwaveable beef burritos. There was so much sauce in there you couldn't taste the meat. Nothing tasted fresh besides the limes they gave us. We also tried their enchilada and beef tacos. They were dry and flavorless. The service was mediocre at best. It was as if you were annoying them when you were trying to order. The prices on the board were not accurate as well. I had high expectations for this place but was severely let down.

First time here. Cheese on my breakfast burrito wasn't melted. Tortilla wasn't warm. Overall was just a dry burrito. This place was a huge disappointment. Side note: AnyMexican spot that does automatically put onions and cilantro in their burritos is a huge red flag!

Maria is the best!! She's always very friendly and has great customer service. The food is always outstanding here when we go. Definite bang for your buck!

Great authentic Mexican food. We've been coming here for decades. They have the best Mexican food. Fast and friendly service, the prices are fair. The food is fresh and delicious. The flying saucer has been a long time favorite. They also have the best California burritos around!

I've been coming here for over 15 years when I come into town. It's hands down the best authentic Mexican hole in the wall around. When I say hole in the wall , that means small hidden gem with low prices and quality authentic food. Must try. Don't forget to ask for the pickled carrots and onions.

Sigh. All good things must come to an end. There are now far better taco places in the area.

Juanitas is that place you just have to keep coming back to. Despite there being so many other taco shops this is just the OG on the 101. I've been coming here since i was 14 (I'm 27) so yes I love Juanitas. I love that it's family owned and you can tell because the staff are so nice and always welcoming. I did want to show that they are following at COVID guidelines and it's a strict mask policy. I went with the rolled tacos per usual. Their rolled tacos are unmatched, no sour cream because i have self control(sometimes) i usually get 5 but i went with three because again self control. They taste just as they did 1: years ago and i hope they never change. I really miss sitting inside especially where the mural is in the back. But you can sit outside on the bench with is nice. I will be back because helloo ive been loyal for this long I always come back. Love you Juanitas.

Worst Mexican food ever. Restaurant is dirty, overpriced, and meat was gross. Would not recommend it.

the rolled tacos had ZERO meat all tortilla. They give u this big scoop of horrible liquidy guac.

Expensive burrito for such a small size. Californias used to be the best. Seems like they get smaller and smaller. Lady is always rude at the register.

I was fortunate to try a machaca burrito at Juanita's 30 years ago...tried again yesterday. Just as fabulous!

All good things come to an end, I suppose. The last time I was in town (2019), Juanita's was still retaining some of the glory that made it so great in the 90s. Back then, it was THE PLACE (besides Alberto's in Carlsbad) to get consistent Mexican food with quality preparation and ingredients. Fast forward to 2023... $11 for a chile relleno burrito? Did I step into some janky parallel universe when I got off the plane? $6 for three (3) rolled tacos with guacamole? Ouch. $14 for a combination plate with flavorless beans and room temperature rice? Yikes. I understand hyperinflation and high cost of business in a premium area these days, but... these prices are insane. My chile relleno burrito was tragically stuffed with a filler of pico de gallo and lettuce. The chile itself had a decent flavor, but was anemic in appearance, mostly for the lack of cheese filling, and any overall enjoyment was ruined by the constant cronching of working my way through endless bites of pico and lettuce. The rolled tacos were hot and crispy, but the flavor was bland. The entire time all I could think was, "These little SOBs were $2 each...Used to be like $3 for a plate of these..." I now understand why ordering this time around was so easy, compared to the last few times I was here and there was a line out the door and alongside the front of the building. I know you cannot live in the past, but its just sad to see a place like this go downhill and lose what made it so unique.