El Sombrero
157 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK, 99801
El Sombrero Menu
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Address :
157 S Franklin St
Juneau, AK, 99801 - Phone (907) 586-6770
- Website https://www.elsombrerojuneau.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Derek B.
This place is a bunch of fucking bullshit. I hated the service, the food and the building it was in. I will never ever go back there again. Me and family got extremely sick from eating there. I'm considering going to the BBB about them. When I complained to the owner about the food, he just sat on his stupid fucking ass and said it wasn't is problem. Everyone working there are a bunch of worthless fucking douche bag
(1)Jessica H.
This restaurant is very overpriced, even for Juneau. We had to actually ask someone to be our waiter after a good 10 minutes of no service. Once we had a waiter, the service was adequate however. As for the quality of the food, unfortunately there is no taste differentiation from item to item. My halibut tacos ($25) tasted exactly like my nachos. They were a serious disappointment as I was looking forward to fish tacos - but it did not even get served with a lime, and they had cheese in them. Sorry but cheese + fish = gross. The jalepeno poppers were the best item we ordered, but we are convinced they were frozen and out of a bag. It is clear they do not make the chips fresh as they come out cold (and need salt) and I am sure the salsa is also premade. This is basically a pricy version of a low quality everyday mexican restaurant geared towards quantity not quality. The ingredients seem to be of the least expensive variety. An example would be the tasteless cheese or the strangely uniform chips. Also to note: they do not have a full liquor liscense. They only serve beer and wine and a "wine margarita" which comes out of a bottle. So if you are expecting a delicious frozen margarita - you have come to the wrong place. Overall, as someone from Colorado - I would have to say PASS on this restaurant. It is not worth the wait for service, and certainly not worth the food.
(1)Molly W.
It's been a long time since I have had Mexican food this good. Friendly service, we will definitely come back next time we are in town.
(5)Nathan B.
So I don't think three stars gives them true justification. I would probably give them 3.5 stars. I was told by some locals that I should go here since I was in the downtown area. I sat downstairs and immediately moved away from the front door because I was already cold and didn't want to freeze. I recall being told to sit upstairs. I think I should've listened. I ordered the tamales meal. Overall it was good but didn't stand out as anything special. The one thing that I found that I enjoyed the most was the actual flavor of the tamales. They had a great taste. But there texture was slightly offputting. On another note the salsa was extremely hot and looks like it came from a can. Give them a try you won't be over joist but it's a fair meal. A little on the expensive side.
(3)Maria B.
For years this has been my favorite place but my last several visits has made me change my mind. The prices has crept up for less the entree and the flavor and care of the meals is very half a@@. The only saving grace is one or two staff that is friendly and attentive. I would not proudly recommend the place.
(2)D H.
We ate here while at a port stop in Juneau during our Alaskan cruise after stumbling upon the place while in search of some lunch. We had one order of the beef fajitas & it was plenty of food for two people. it was delicious! It also came with rice & beans (refried, although I would have preferred black beans), along with the trimmings of salsa, guacamole & sour cream. We ordered a generous portion of a salad & had some good jalapeno salad dressing which they sold in a bottle. I didn't buy one because I didn't want to have to carry/pack it in my luggage. The salsa that came with the tortilla chips was tasty & spicy/flavorful. If I lived in Juneau I would definitely be a regular here!
(5)Sara L.
I was surprised to find Mexican food in downtown Juneau, and decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did! It is delicious!!! I had the cheese enchiladas with rice and beans - they were fresh and authentic! It's a small place, but every order is made fresh & is super hot. The soup and rice and beans are on point, as well. I was pleasantly surprised by how much this Mexican food reminded me of the food from Texas!
(5)Virginia L.
Excellent salsa, great enchiladas, and a superior burrito!! This place exceeded this picky Texan's expectations!
(4)Gregory A.
Best Mexican food I've had in my life, no. Best Mexican food I've had in southeast Alaska, hands down, no doubt about it. The enchiladas are amazing!!!
(4)John N.
ok we went there and to start with they asked us if we wanted upstairs or downstairs. We chose upstairs hoping for a view. There was a bit of a view. There was chips and salsa out on every table. So we tried our chips and they were dry, cold, just not good. They obviously bring all the chips upstairs from the downstairs kitchen all at once. Only a couple people at a couple tables upstairs. Who knows how long those chips were sitting there. The salsa is really thick and chunkless, sort of weird, and not the type I'm used to. The entrees were good though, but were $18 a piece. Not sure I'd go back, but could I guess. But maybe chips are fresher downstairs.
(3)Jessica B.
I lived in Juneau 8 years ago (military move) and now I'm back (by choice). Originally from Florida where there are lots of Mexican restaurants and how I missed El Som! The staff was very attentive and sweet. We were a party of 6 (3 adults, 3 children) and asked to sit upstairs. There was no wait on a week day (Thursday) at 6:30. Our waiter gets 5 stars on his own, his name is Reiley. He got our order perfectly and continued to check on us. My hubby and I share the fajitas for two (chicken and steak) which were sooooo delicious as always. The rice and beans are very yummy as well. Our daughter had the kids burrito with chicken and finished it all. The others at the table had a burrito and quesadillas and they said their meal was delicious. If you're in the mood for Mexican, this place will not disappoint. Of note, they do not have a liquor license, but they have beer and wine. I ordered a Chardonnay and my hubby had white Alaskan beer which he enjoyed. For a party of 6 including two alcoholic beverages, our meal was $64, not bad.
(5)Tina V.
Service was a little rocky, waiter was very shy. : ) Salsa is excellent as is their rice! Just like my abuelita's! Beans, meh. Prices are a little high, may be I'm adjusting to the higher food prices in AK. Great atmosphere. Will dine here again!
(4)Elisabeth L.
I like the atmosphere of this place, it's friendly. They give you chips and salsa to start, and the salsa was so good. There are so many delicious things to choose from, and I ended up with a taco salad without meat. I thought it was pretty good, although the house dressing, which I was given the whole bottle of, was hard to mix so I mostly ended up with oil on my lettuce which was not ideal. I asked for sour cream on the salad, and they gave me a dollop, but then was charged $3 for it, which is just outrageous. You'd think since I passed on the meat they could have eliminated the charge or at least reduced it. Overall it was good, not the best, and pricey. They charge extra for everything.
(3)Karen V.
I recommend anything on the menu. Their nachos are like I make them at home - not just a basket of chips with stuff poured on to, but individual chips with goodness on each chip - watch the plate! It is hot! I usually have the chile rellano, but their burritos and the tostadas are are meal to themselves! They serve Juneau beers and Mexican beers, as well as wine and wine margaritas which are tasty. Don't pass up on the soups - they are perfect for a rainy day in Juneau. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Fresh chips and salsa served, of course. If you want to linger, please feel free and enjoy dessert.
(4)Kelly F.
This was my 2nd time here and this was better than the first. I had the halibut tacos on the recommendation of our server. WOW! They were yummy! No skimping on the halibut, inside a crispy corn tortilla with lettuce, and cheese. The salsa was good but could have used a bit more of a kick. The dining area downstairs is a little cozy so intimate conversation is not possible. Only beer and wine is served here.
(3)Alexa H.
The best Mexican food I've ever had. Their mini tostadas are amazing!
(5)J S.
Mediocre Mexican food in a mediocre environment. Service was good. Convenient location in downtown
(3)Mike T.
How this restaurant manages to get anything above a two-star rating is beyond me. The menu is really limited, and has as much "gringo" food as Mexican. While fajitas are typically a safe bet anywhere you go, at $20, I had a hard time ordering them, so I got the arroz con pollo. When it came out, it was just shredded chicken covered in a bland salty red sauce - which seems to be what they cover every dish with (the celery is a dead giveaway) on top of a tortilla. I've had better at taco bell (I wish I were exaggerating). My wife got the mama burrito, which was a step up, but tasted burnt, like they tried to do some roasted peppers and forgot to take the skin off or just did a really bad job blackening the chicken. Do yourself a favor and stay FAR away. El Zarape is mediocre, but still better than this. At least the service here was good.
(1)David C.
A Mexican restaurant in Alaska? I know, we thought the same thing!! Make sure u give this little quaint restaurant a try when ur in Juneau. We got the "super burrito" and it was soooooo good y'all. Even a couple of texans could sink their teeth into it & enjoy. Don't miss out on this!!
(5)Martha S.
El Sombrero was recommened to us by a shopkeeper, Jayk, in Juneau. Following our float plane excursion, we walked/explored Juneau and were looking for a good restaurant. When Jayk suggested El Sombrero we all agreed that Mexican food sounded great. We were not dissappointed. Great food, nice atmosphere. It seemed many locals were there (always a good sign).
(4)Kelly S.
The booths are cracking and falling apart, they put plates of cold chips on the tables with salsa at the empty tables, even at closing time. Do they leave them out for the next day? The plates are old and dirty looking. Service is very slow. I ordered a verde burrito that was suppose to come with pork and verde sauce. My burrito was filled with some kind of dry cubed meat. Almost tasted like turkey. At the end of my burrito was a tiny bit of shredded pork and I brought it to the attention of my server and she said I just have ordered it with a different kind of meat, to which I replied no. I feel like I got the leftovers. She assured me I didn't and offered no other consolation. Very disappointed. Over priced, crappy Mexican food. Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. Oh and I went to use the rest room before I left and the floor was soaking wet and no sign. That's a lawsuit waiting to happen...
(1)angie h.
For mexican in this town, its not bad! I LOVE the Fajita salad... I will give them that. Other mexican dishes are ok.. I do have to say I was super stoked on my valentines lunch date there we had exceptional service! It was wonderful (special dessert, ect.)
(4)Serene H.
Great good and great service! Nice to have a yummy place in town that serves generous portion and still isn't way over priced. Our server was excellent!
(4)Nita M.
I'm judging El Sombrero relative to other Mexican food places (as a California native, I've been to many) & not relative to other Juneau food places (I have a feeling El Sombrero would get more stars relative to the other eateries). The chips & salsa served at the beginning of the meal are really good. The salsa is fresh & definitely spicy. The chips are fresh, thin, and well fried. I ordered Combination 1 (Cheese Enchilada & Mini Tostada), and subbed a green salad for the rice & beans. The mini part of tostada is correct because it it is rather small (and a la carte is almost $9...seems like a rip off), however it was satisfying. The beans seemed rather dry to me, but the lettuce was fresh & there was ample sour cream and guacamole. The cheese enchilada was pretty standard. Their enchilada sauce is Texan style, dark brown with a smokey spice taste, and the fried tortilla is lightly stuffed with cheese so it was a rather flat, thin enchilada. My total for Combo 1 (with tax & tip) came to around $18 which seems rather pricey for an average Mexican meal I was able to finish in entirety. Also, they don't have a full liquor liscense so if you want a margarita you are out of luck.
(3)Stacey S.
Visited El Sombrero while visiting Juneau in March of 2013. Portions were huge. As somebody who lives in the lower 48, and visits many Mexican restaurants, I can say that this place was priced higher than most. The food was excellent and I could see myself coming back the next time I am in Juneau.
(3)Mer C.
Popped in here after a local told me about the place! This is really good Tex Mex! Big portions and smart staff ( I really love that in a place!!) If you're in Juneau, for Christ sakes put this on your list to try!!
(5)Thuy A.
I want to cry! I dont want to write a mean review but Do not go here if you are actually from the southwest or from Mexico....somehow taco bell is more authentic than whatever it is they serve here...it is by far the most the worst "Mexican" restaurant I've ever been to. I highly suggest the owners take a short vacation to Mexico and actually eat anything..maybe they'll learn something. If the owners are Mexican then they've been away for way too long and need to just start serving burgers or something.
(1)Sheri M.
I love going to this place. For Juneau, it's one of the better restaurants. Their Mama's Burrito is outstanding, and they refill their delicious chips and salsa free of charge. I'll be honest and say I've really not had anything else on the menu, but you can't go wrong with the Mama's Burrito. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. The service is almost always fast and friendly, except when it's extremely busy. If you're vegetarian, check your meal before you eat it. They have a habit of slipping meat into my boyfriend's supposedly vegetarian meals. They're always good about correcting it, but the cooks should be more cautious.
(4)Marie G.
I have never been inclined to review anything on yelp, but my experience at El Sombrero was SO bad that I feel it's my duty to let people know what they're getting into. First off, the service was terrible! The server was extremely unknolegeable about menu, unhelpful, and rude to us and other servers. The menu is insanely overpriced! We paid $11 for a small plate of chips with low quality cheese melted on top. They also have a chip gimmick. Beware! The first basket of chips is free (woo hoo!). And any refill on chips is almost $5! Overall, the food was TERRIBLE, the service was equally bad, and I won't be going back.
(1)Johnny Z.
Chips and salsa are pretty decent but overall the food falls short. When I do meet friends here I normally order the Enchiladas verde al la carte to be safe and they are decent.
(2)Dani M.
BEST SALSA I'VE EVER TASTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would seriously fly back to Alaska just for the salsa if I had the money to do so. When I lived in Juneau, I would eat there an average of 3 times a week. The beans are excellent as well, although they are covered with too much cheese for my liking.
(5)Tim F.
Went into this meal with low expectations an those where met. The chips OK but the salsa SUCKS it was kinda like a paste with spices an Chile flakes. I asked for a hot salsa an we got another paste with even more Chile flakes it was maybe a adobo sauce that went way wrong. It was not any type or style of Mexican food we have tried not from New Mexico nor Mexico proper.. The meal Hmm OK I ordered the Super Burrito it said shredded beef OK lets eat. Plate comes looks good lettuce an all the toppings smells yummy.. cut into it an stuff comes out mmm try a bite of it its good. That's all the shredded beef had the rest was bean an rice. Wife had a shredded beef chimmy an it was packed with beef, know where my beef went, she said it was good so no doubt it was. It was OK but if your looking to fulfill a craving wait till you get home. I guess for some who have not had good Southwestern from New Mexico,Texas Arizona or Baja it's going to be great. The staff is very friendly an the place is busy at lunch time so planning helps.
(3)Blithe H.
Yummy tortilla soup! Spicy! Everything was good. Friendly service.
(5)Jennifer W.
I LOVE and miss this place. Before I moved, I worked right across the street from here and far too often I found myself on the phone placing an order for pick up. It even got to the point that they'd simply realize who was on the phone and they knew what order to put together. Really? Ah, man. :P The chips and salsa are addictive. To the point that even after you've finished your plate, you still find yourself reaching back into the chip basket. And if you're seated upstairs, this leads you to pondering the idea of just rolling down the stairs on the way out. The tamales are super yummy. I'm a die hard tostada lover and they do it just right here. There's not much offered here that reflects the essence of Alaska, or Juneau... unless of course you're seeking out the Mexican food addiction of the locals. And yes, the jalapeno dressing is worth buying and dragging around in your luggage. And if you don't want to do that, ship it home! Oh, and for Juneau visitors, keep that in mind at all of the local shops- nearly every shop that deals with the tourist crowds ships purchased items if you arrange it. I know because I spent plenty of months wrapping, packing, and shipping items. :)
(4)T. N.
El Sombrero can pretty much be summed up with the following: good, but overpriced. It won't be the best mexican food you've ever had but you also won't leave dissapointed with your meal. You might wish the check had been a little lower though. It is pretty pricey even by Juneau standards.
(3)Jon W.
I am not really sure what happened here. Maybe we got the out of town cruise ship special. I don't know, but both of our meals tasted like they had poured a whole bottle of hot sauce on each of them. We had just finished a 15 mile bike ride so we were starving and ate the food anyway. We shouldn't have. We paid for it later in multiple ways (if you know what I mean). The chips and salsa were decent. They had my favorite beer, Negra Modelo. The staff seemed very friendly. However, our waiter didn't seem concerned when my friend's meal, which he did not order spicy nor was there any indication on the menu that it would come spicy, was spicier than mine. I expected mine to be a little spicy, but not as spicy as it was. I am not sure if this was a fluke, we were given the out of town special, or they really think this is the way you are supposed to serve Mexican food. All that being said, I really can't recommend this place at all.
(2)Fred D.
Like that robot on "Lost in Space" who kept repeating "danger, danger" I repeat, avoid this place, don't eat here! I imagine they figure that cruise passengers will never return - I sure as hell never would, so what difference does it make if you serve them terrible, terrible (did I say terrible?) food! So I am glad I can write a review on Yelp and hopefully prevent others from the DISASTER of a meal I had here. Thus, now I can say, you're a sucker to eat here if you read this review and still go to El Sombrero. Unless you enjoy terrible food. Terrible. Among the worst ever. We now joke about it, as in "not as bad as El Sombrero!" meaning inedible food and indifferent service. Kind of pricey too. The new low. It's really my own fault - who goes for Mexican food in Alaska anyway? I wanted Mexican food and maybe in Alaska this passes for Mexican food. Did I say it was terrible? The plate was hot which is a bad sign to begin with that the dish was microwaved. My burrito was a mess with a thimble of guacamole on the side. Bathed in "red sauce" I could only take a few bites before my mouth was on fire. Opening the burrito, it looked as if they had poured a whole bottle of cheap hot sauce all over the contents. It was like a soup. I tried scraping it off or picking out pieces that were not completely soaked through but finally gave up. I was able to eat perhaps a quarter of it. My mouth was burning. Quite frankly, if the cook did it on purpose, they need a lesson in how to cook, and if it was a mistake or accident, the waiter should have at least tried to make it right. I complained to the waiter who responded "be glad you didn't order the Colorado!" My friend ordered spicy and his was mild. So they probably got the orders mixed up but didn't care enough to make it right. I was sick for about three days from my burned mouth and esophagus. Avoid. Avoid.
(1)Don S.
Atmosphere? sorry. Service? pleasant but not fancy. Food? good Mexican food. Portions were large and food fresh. There is an extra charge for chips and salsa but hey, this is Alaska. If you want Mexican food in Ak, or if you don't want to pay huge amounts of average Alaskan restaurant food this is a good place to go. Aside from exploring I'd go again.
(3)George L.
El Sombrero tries but missed the mark for me. The food was just alright, nothing great.
(2)Nicholas L.
I don't know where the other two reviewers of this restaurant have been getting their mexican food, maybe Taco Bell, but this restaurant is terrible. First, the chips and salsa. They put them out on all the tables whether they're occupied or not, so your chips and salsa may have been sitting out for 5 minutes or 5 hours, depending on when your table was last occupied. Based on the fact that our initial salsa was room temp and the second cup they bought was ice cold, I'd guess ours had been sitting out for at least an hour. The chili verde was terrible. Sauce was fairly flavorless, no kick at all. The worst part though was the pork. It was dry and tough and tasted like it came out of a freezer bag or can. Good chili verde has big chunks of moist, tender pork, like from a slow cooked roast. Good chili verde does NOT have 1/2 inch cubes, like from an overcooked skinny pork chop. Tamales were drowned in so much red sauce and refried beans that you could barely even find them. I can't even really comment on the flavor of the actual tamales, since they were inseparable from the drenching of red sauce and beans, both of which I would guess came from a can. The rice had a slight odor that reminded my of the garbage disposal in my kitchen after it got clogged. Not kidding. According to their menu they also have an extra plate charge if you want to split a meal, something I find obnoxious. They also only give 1 free (~12 oz) refill on your $2.25 soda, which is deplorable. I avoid Mi Casa like the plague but this place honestly makes Mi Casa look like the Frontera Grill. If you're in Juneau and want really good mexican food you're going to have to make it yourself. If you want really quick mexican food that tastes decent, go to El Zarape or the place at the Airport Mall.
(1)C. L.
I travel to Juneau one or two times a year for work and sat next to the owner of this restaurant on the flight up from Seattle. He was very nice and encouraged me to stop by and try a few things. This is a family owned restaurant and the recipes for many of the sauces have been passed down a few generations. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of chips and salsa sitting out on the tables prior to our arrival, it did not affect the taste of the salsa. I thought the salsa was excellent, and as usual with Mexican restaurants, I slightly overdid it with the chips/salsa before my meal came. I ordered the chile relleno/beef enchilada combo and thought it was good. I liked the enchilda better then the chile relleno and particularly liked the enchilada sauce. The rice was fluffy and flavorful and the refried beans were, well, refried beans. Not bad, just refried beans. Anyway, the owners of the restaurant are very friendly and made the dining experience that much more enjoyable.
(4)Ari Y.
Not Mexican food as I've come to know and love it. I'd prefer Olivia's next time. Very Americanized. Gobs of cheese covering up the lack of inventive, well-spiced cuisine. I find it very pricey for the quality. It's been here forever, so they must be doing something right. Service is good, until it gets crowded.
(2)