Juannita’s Restaurant
620 W Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington, IN, 47404
Juannita’s Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Bloomington for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bloomington for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bloomington for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
620 W Kirkwood Ave
Bloomington, IN, 47404 - Phone (812) 339-2340
- Website https://juannitas.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
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 : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
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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Robin K.
They have cactus! It is delicious and absolutely recommended. The bright yellow restaurant is hard to miss. The food is good and okay, but what sets it apart from other places is that cactus!
(4)Maria S.
I really enjoyed Juannitas the first few times I went. I went back today for the first time in about a month and a half and was extremely disappointed. They've raised their prices and a meal that cost my boyfriend and I around $20 before cost us $31 today. The food did not taste the same and was not nearly as good as either of us remembered. The service is usually hit or miss and today was definitely a miss. I am no longer opposed to going to other mexican restaurants in town because of the increased prices and mediocre food.
(2)Asher W.
Its really unfortunate. I really want to like this place, and honestly I do like the food. Its no Tijuana contender and doesn't even compare to the Mexican food I get back home in San Diego but for Btown its the best around. The first two times I went the service was so-so but I gave them a good review anyways because any decent restaurant works the kinks out in their service after the first few months of business. HOWEVER, Juannitas has fallen off the boat. Theyve been open for five months and still disappoint me every time I go regarding their service. I usually get takeout and occasionally done in. When I am eating there I can just ask the waiter if there's a problem or misunderstanding. However, the last three times I've gotten takeout they have completely botched my order (which I failed to realize every time until I got home due to the fact that you can't see into the containers). The most recent order (about a week and a half ago) I paid special attention to all aspects. I was ordering with my buddy, and since we wanted to pay separately we put in two separate orders (we thought this would make it easier for them). We both ordered the enchiladas mexicanas with tinga and sides of frijoles con queso. When we picked up the orders I asked for an extra bag of chips (which is supposed to be free just as it is when you eat in). When I went to pay the bill I realized that not only did she add a $0.99 charge for the extra chips but she also charged me $0.99 for what she called a "service fee" which they apply to every takeout order. There was also a third $0.99 charge that was unexplained but I was so tired of asking her for clarification on the receipt that I was fed up and just paid whatever it said and left. $8 enchiladas and $3 queso somehow turned from an $11 meal into $14.94. Not cool! To top it all of when we got home and unpacked the food the lady had put both of the sides of rice that came with the enchiladas in my bag and both of the queso's in my friends bag. As far as they knew the orders were completely separate so had we not both been eating at my place I would have been without queso and him without rice. I wouldn't be that heated about it but this is the third time they either totally screwed up my order or left something out that they charges me for altogether. Morale of the story...they penny pinch the hell out of you and do little to ensure that your order is correct. Do yourself a favor and if you're going to eat here just dine in.
(2)Jake W.
If you're from the coast or Latin America, you won't be impressed. This rating is made by comparing Juannita's to all the other Mexican joints in town, and taking into account that there aren't many Mexicans in Bloomington and no fresh seafood. That said, there's a few things setting this place apart from the other Mexican options. 1. Street-style, food truck-style tacos. No cheese, no refried beans, no bullshit. It's just classic tacos made of well-seasoned meat filling with onion, lime, and cilantro on small corn tortillas. If you appreciate authentic Mexican tacos, you understand this to be a good thing. You can get three for about $7. 2. Mexican options beyond the standard "American Mexican". So they have your chicken nachos, your burrito, your cheese dip, blah blah whatever. But if you love Mexican food, you'll be more interested in lengua, chorizo con papas, pork al pastor with pineapple, grilled cactus, molé, queso dip with hot sausage, stuff like that. There's boring bean burritos for grandma, but they've also got actual Mexican dishes for those that appreciate that kind of thing. 3. Tortillas are made in-house, and they are happy to make corn versions of the quesadilla and burrito tortillas. This is a gold mine for gluten free diners like me and my girlfriend. She ordered a quesadilla with corn tortilla, expecting to be shut down, and they said "Is it ok if it takes a minute longer? We don't have corn quesadillas ready." If you are a serious diner, you know that it is worth it to trade a minute of waiting to get totally fresh handmade food. 4. Sometimes when I have gone there, I order, they bring the chips and salsa, and as we're about to get through the first little bowl of salsa the rest of the food shows up. Fast service. Also they've got a good selection of cervezas, including Negra Modelo which is perfection (again, if you know diddly dong doo about Mexican food this will matter). All in all, it's not the best place I've ever been, but it is a real bright spot among the otherwise godawful Mexican options in Bloomington, and light on price as well.
(4)Zac H.
I'm writing this review to highlight how great the cloth napkins smell. My tamales were ice cold and I had to send them back but it was almost worth it for the napkins.
(3)Huy V.
Been here twice and was not impressed. I usually give a place I've had a bad experience at at least another try or two, but I can honestly say I will never go back to Juanita's again. I took my mom and her boyfriend to Juanita's for dinner thinking this will be the best Mexican food in Bloomington. Let's start off with the negatives : 1. We waited 1 hour and 2 minutes for Nachos, 2 enchiladas, and 1 burrito 2. Like another yelper said they penny pinch to the max. Their prices and their portions do not correlate whatsoever. I should've just gone to La Torre or Casa Brava.
(1)Katie B.
Unfortunately I have to downgrade my review. I've continued to experience poor service here. One time the waiter disappeared for 20 minutes while we waited for our check. I also had the same experience Regina W. had where a meal arrived with meat in it even though I ordered it vegetarian. I had to bring my plate downstairs to find someone to correct the issue. I tried my friend's Molote dinner empanadas that were vegetarian, and they were bland and dry. There are still a few decent things like the chile rellenos, corn tortillas, and beans but it's not my first choice.
(2)Jamie J.
Fresh ingredients make this a must-try for Mexican food fans in Bloomington. Fair warning: I've been here with a number of friends who didn't really seem to like it, but I always dig how fresh everything tastes. I do enjoy that their Hoosierfood.com delivery service often has deals for 1 dollar delivery, and some of the treats they have (like Mexican coke!) are really nice. I usually get the pollo con arroz or the chicken con queso and I enjoy it. Don't be afraid to ask for extra tortillas. They gave them to me with no extra charge (on delivery, mind you!). I've eaten here a few times to stay and the ambiance is nice. Nothing to write home about. The servers are always super polite to me.
(4)MsAnthro P.
Let some time pass before coming back after a few lackluster attempts early on, and I'm glad I did. My last visit (they were open on the 4th of July, yay!) was perfect. Service was attentive but laid-back. Lunch specials were cheap. Food was flavorful and authentic. (And gluten-free thanks to corn tortillas!) Plan to revisit often.
(4)Leah W.
Nice, happy local atmosphere and comparable pricing. Outdoor seating. I disagree about the food: it's not a 100% slam-dunk-best-ever meal, but everything I've had there has been at least satisfactory. The workers are generally very attentive.
(3)Dalia M.
For the area, it's decent. I had the al pastor and carne asada tacos with a side plate of rice and beans. Al pastor is a delicious taco that I fell in love with while in Cali this summer. The one here is good, the Cali ones are spectacular. Carne asada was basic and satisfied my craving. Beans were typical, rice was plain but I still ate it all. Also had churros for dessert. Yummy but definitely over powdered when it came to sugar. I'll go back.
(3)Daniel C.
Great food, typical family run mexican restaurant. Don't let its curb-appeal scare you off, it's actually a fairly nice place to eat a casual meal at.
(4)Utley M.
Disappointing. There were no drink menus and margs were not worth $10. Salsa, chips, chicken were all bland and dry.. The food did come quick and in good portion sizes, that's what I'm giving 2 stars for.
(2)Mariana S.
Finally, some good Mexican food in Bloomington! (Credibility: I'm from Texas and I went there with my friend from California, and he agrees.) Their horchata is amazing, and the coffee is very good as well. I'm pretty sure they make their own chips, salsa, and delicious tortillas. The salsa is a bit on the mild side for my taste, but still very flavorful. We ordered the chiles rellenos and molotes, which were both very good. Plus the owners kids are super cute and friendly.
(5)Kristin L.
Best Mexican in town! Bloomington has been missing something authentic and delicious like Juannita's! Super friendly staff and really good food! The chips and salsa taste super fresh and homemade! They also have great tamales, burritos, and chiles rellenos - good veggies options! Will be frequenting this place quite often!
(5)Mary H.
This was my first experience with Juannita's after reading their stellar review in Bloom Magazine last year. I lived in the Southwest for 15 years prior to moving here for grad school and it has been a real adjustment getting used to homestyle (read: bland) Midwestern cuisine. We've only had Mexican food here once, in that restaurant north of the square that will remain unnamed because it was so bad. After that, we stuck with making it at home. I got a coupon from a local food delivery service for 10% off and decided to give it a try. I ordered the pork and grilled chicken entrees and sides of guacamole and grilled jalapenos. My husband and I are trying a low glycemic eating plan so I knew we wouldn't be eating the rice, tortillas, or chips. The entrees arrived nicely packaged in those round, foil containers with paper lids. Styrofoam containers held the beans, rice, lettuce, tomato, and pico de gallo. That got a little messy and mixed together from being jostled in the delivery driver's car, but it was okay. The beans were sprinkled with the homemade queso fresco. Everything was fresh-tasting and perfectly seasoned. I loved that the entress weren't smothered in cheese and sour cream the way people expect Mexican food to be. It was the first time I had ever tried cactus (one of the sauteed veggies with the entree) and I really liked it. The grilled jalapenos and onions were delicious; it was great to have something spicy! The guacamole tasted just like the one I make with lots of garlic, cilantro, and tomato. I'm looking forward to my cheat day on my diet so we can go dine-in and enjoy some chips with the guacamole and mop our plates with corn tortillas.
(5)Scott C.
I have to say this as become one of my favorite Mexican places in town. Can't pinpoint it, but I just thing the food taste a notch above the rest in town. I've REALLY liked everything I've gotten there.
(5)C.E. C.
We frequented Juanita's in the early evening midweek; the dining room was busy, but service was prompt. We had chips & salsa water quickly and our drinks soon followed. Only had bottled beer(nothing on draft) but the margaritas were good.Best chips I've had in Btown and salsa tasted freshly made. We had the carnitias and tamales al Juanita. Both were excellent. The arroz and refritos were also really good. The menu looks solid and we both agreed to make this a regular place to eat. I'm already looking forward to exploring the menu.
(4)Regina W.
This is my second time here. The first time I came, I ordered the chile rellenos and they were so-so, but sort of satisfying and I really had no real complaints. The restaurant was bustling, but not overly crowded, so I thought the place was cute and seemed authentic enough for a return visit. On my second visit, I went on a Thurs night at 6 p.m. and they were PACKED. The parking lot was full and I ended up having to park right next to their dumpster. When we got inside, it took awhile to flag someone down, and then even when we were seated it took awhile to get menus. Finally, one menu was brought out to us to share, with a second identical menu to follow about 5 mins later. As a vegetarian, I ordered their tamales option with no meat (there was a veggie option on the menu--so this wasn't a special request), but when it came out two of the three tamales had shredded chicken in them. YUCK! I also had to find this out the hard way after I had already finished the one veggie tamale on the plate and bit into the second one that had chicken. Not Pleased. On top of all this, our waiter kept on using our table as his personal desk to staple receipts in a way that was extremely noticeable and disregarded the fact that the table was in use by customers. The only reason I'm not giving this place one star was that they didn't make me pay for the tamales since they made a mistake with their kitchen in what I ordered. As all vegetarians know though, this kind of "mistake" is enough to make us pretty disgruntled and ruin a meal for us. And unfortunately the one cheese tamale that I did have was WAY subpar compared to the tamales at Feast. Avoid this place if you are vegetarian and don't want meat in your food!
(2)Jennifer H.
I frequently eat at Juannitas and have liked their food since they first opened. I placed a delivery order for Juannita's last week. When the food arrived, two items were incomplete- I ordered the Nachos de Juanna, but instead received the regular nachos with only meat and cheese. I ordered the Enchiladas Mexicanas, which are supposed to come with rice and beans (according to their online menu) but did not. Usually, I would be frustrated but would just let this slide. But this was the THIRD time that I had ordered from them and paid for things that I did not receive. I called them that evening and was told that the manager would call me back that night. I didn't receive a call, so I called back the next day. I was told that the manager would be in later that night and would either call me later that evening or the next day. I never received a call. So, I called back again (at this point I was kind of determined to talk to someone!) and talked to a manager who really just did not seem to care. She said she would normally refund my money, but couldn't because I ordered through an online delivery source. Yet, I've had other restaurants apologize when orders were incorrect, call the delivery source, and refund the money. Then she asked me what I received that was wrong. I explained, and she said, "well we don't deliver and I don't have your address, but you can come and get the food." Huh?! 1. I don't need the food days later and 2. I paid a delivery fee through an online service and now I'm supposed to make an extra trip and pick up the food? I told her that I no longer needed the food but would appreciate some sort of compensation. She said that she could discount my ticket 50% the next time I came in. This seemed like a generous offer. So, I asked her if I should leave my name with her, or how I should go about taking her up on this offer. She said to just tell her when I come in. Given that there was no manager, supposedly, the first few times I called, I hardly find this to be a good solution. Also, it puts the onus back on the customer! So, the solution is that I'm supposed to go there again, track her down, if she's there, and remind her that I am supposed to get a discount? Doesn't really sound like a sustainable business model. Again, I usually let these mistakes slide, unless they are really egregious (like the food just doesn't show up), but this was the third time so I called, thinking the resolution would be hassle-free. Instead, I experienced the above. I won't be returning. It isn't so much about the money (though that does matter to me since I do not make a lot) but the fact that the manager just didn't seem to care...
(1)Beth C.
Honestly, Juannitas has some of the best Mexican food in BTown; pretty authentic and usually really fresh. However, they've raised their prices recently which makes it one of the most expensive Mexican restaurants around. For a small cheese dip they charge around $6, which I think it ridiculous when you can easily go to Casa Brava (or any other place in town) and get it for around $4. My favorite dish also went up from $10.50 to $13.99. This was one of my favorite spots but my partner and me just can't afford it anymore.
(2)Josr A.
Most authentic Mexican spot in B-town and wide selection. This is coming from some one of Mexican descent and who has traveled widely in Mex. Only Mexican place in town I actually want to go back to. Not on par with LA, Texas or Chicago for that matter but as good as it gets in town for authentic food. First off make sure you ask for the spicy salsas--the real deal red and green tomatillo salsa. No self-respecting Mexican or lover of Mexican food should be caught dead eating the bland tomato mush they serve to the weak of stomach. whatever you get will be greatly enhanced in the flavor dept. they are spicy so careful compa. The tacos are all solid. Tried lengua, chorizo and potato and the pork chile verde. I also had the molote dinner. Molotes are like a corn based empanadas or a Mexican hot pocket of deliciousness. you get three and they are filled with chicken, potato and cheese and peppers, respectively. This a family run shop so I wish them success. One of the owner's told me they get their beer license next week and TVs will soon be added. Buen Provecho,
(4)Lydia H.
Came on a Monday night; they weren't that busy due to students being on break! I came with four buddies; two had been here multiple times. I had the cheese and veggie tamales. I liked my meal. However, I wish it came with beans and/or rice. Veggie options were somewhat lacking on the menu. I do wish veggie was a choice with the banana leaf tamale version. Our waitress was a bit snippy and short at times. The couple who had been here previously said they had never seen here. They don't have their liquor license yet so the "margaritas" are made with wine. I don't like tequila so I gave this a shot; pure sugar gag. The highlight for me were tortilla chips and salsa. The chips were amazing, some of the best I have ever had and not doused with salt. Despite my 3 rating I would definitely give Juannita's another try.
(3)Galen C.
New Mexican place in B-town? Yes, there is. And like every other Mexican place in town, it's a bit of a mixed bag. The positives include a friendly waitstaff, a clean dining room that manages to be both lively and homey, the ability to order actual spicy salsa with your chips, and pleasant main courses overall. I had the pork tips, and they were cooked nicely --- very tender, if not quite as flavorful as other pork tips I've had in town. The beans and rice took nothing off the table. My wife had the garlic shrimp and enjoyed them. The negatives included one round of chips that were frankly kind of stale (although a second round had no such crispness issues), some very slow initial service, and a desire for a bit more of a flavor profile out of the main course. We will go back, because I thought it was a good experience overall and they are still relatively new in town. If I could give this review a 3.5 star rating, I would.
(3)Neal A.
My wife got the veggie fajita, was quite bland. I got the Mole poblano. The mole flavor was good, but the chicken and tortillas were too dry. My son usually likes strong flavors and seafood , but he was not into the shrimp cocktail at all. Maybe we are just not ready for authentic Mexican food. Service - about average.
(2)Tom H.
Food authenticity: very good, local ingredients. Prep was bad. Ex: chili rellenos with unmelted square blocks of cheese inside. Good variety, and the menu needs work as some items are available as vegetarian but aren't listed as such. Very friendly place, small, but has a nice patio. Tough location but offstreet parking. This place has a lot of promise. Family run, and lots of effort. Not your chain-restaurant refubished SYSCO Systems junk food. Genuine. But if our experience is an indicator, they're going through early-stage pains. Not especially spicy.... but you can add sauces if you want. This will be a successful restaurant where others have failed in this location. I like it. Needs a little work, but getting there.
(3)Andrew L.
Best Mexican food in Bloomington, if you want REAL Mexican food. I recommend ordering the tacos or tamales with horchata to drink!
(4)Jeremy P.
I am so happy that Juannita's opened. Bloomington has been severely lacking when it comes to authentic, tasty Mexican food. My dinner tonight was delicious and the service was wonderful. I ordered Enchiladas Mexicana, three enchiladas covered in different sauces (roja, verdes, and queso blanco). The chicken was spicy and well seasoned, and the sauces were incredibly complex. Mind you, there was nothing pretentious or lofty about the food or experience; it was a testament to how glorious Mexican fare can be. The guacamole was yummy and the tortillas were a nice compliment. The upstairs patio was a treat, and the rest of the restaurant was festive in its decor. Our server was a sweetheart, and Juannita herself made a trip upstairs to thank the diners. I will definitely be going to Juannita's on a regular basis. With the affordable prices and large menu, I will be able to enjoy new treasures again and again.
(4)Ashley J.
Wow, this place is bad, ordered a chicken burrito and a carne asada burrito, the chicken was spoiled! Spoiled to where it was left out for weeks spoiled. The carne asada was just all tendons so it was super chewy and hard to eat. The salsa just tasted like tomato paste with tomato chunks and onions. It's was weird. Will never ever ever go back there!!
(1)Danielle B.
My husband and I visited this establishment with the hopes of eating some real authentic mexican food. The food certainly was authentic but really lacked in flavor. I tried the beef tongue taco and honestly couldnt eat it due to the lack of flavor. The pear catcus they slap on the plate is slimy and tasted like a really old pickle. The service was prompt but honestly other than the homemade enchilada sauce I wasn't impressed.
(2)J K.
Juannita's is filling a void left in my life after the decline of another favorite Mexican restaurant. I've eaten their a few times, and while at the time I felt their vegetarian options were lacking, I was impressed with what they did with a veggie fajita. Service is solid if less than perfectly attentive, and I heard many people say this was their new favorite spot. Unfortunately, Juannita's has opened in a location that has historically been TERRIBLE for restaurants (it's the fourth one in that building since I moved to town four years ago), so I'm waiting until they pass the one year mark before i declare them a must-visit. However, if you want good, AUTHENTIC Mexican food, this is the place to go...but hurry, there's no telling if they can break the 1 year record.
(4)A. M.
This is easily the best Mexican place in town. I had the cheese enchiladas Mexicanas and thought they were tasty and filling. The three sauces were very distinct and played nicely off each other. The guacamole also was bright and refreshing. The only thing I'd change would be to add a lunch special. I'll definitely be coming back.
(4)Viktor V.
This place is OK, but nothing beyond it. From the start there is no real waiting area, so if you have to wait to be seated, you need to wonder on a small closet size area between restroom, entrance and drinking fountain being in the way of everybody. Waitresses kept forgetting to bring us ordered food, tried to serve us order from another table, brought wrong side, waiting time was quite long. Everybody said that guacamole and salsa were really good, I can't tell the same about cheese dip, it missed flavor and was just like plain melted cheese with a hint of jalapeno. I ordered seafood soup and got a huge bowl of nearly boiling spicy stock with just a little bit of seafood and fish mix in it, plus 3 little soft tortillas. It was tasty, but really was not a meal, they should give some sides with it for the price they charge, otherwise you're just filling up with spicy seafood flavored water. And there was much, much less seafood and fish than I expected for $12.99. It could be a good appetizer in a small cup, but as a meal it lacks nutrition and really overpriced. My wife said her tamales were dry and really missed sauce. Overall, I would rather go to Casa Brava or La Charreada for Mexican food, there is better service and better food with very little add-on to the price.
(3)Julie R.
Prompt service!!! Amazing Mexican good. ONLY authentic Mexican food in town. Don't waste your time anywhere else!!!!
(5)David V.
I'm coming here with high hopes. It looks like a promising place to obtain authentic Mexican food and is supposed to be around $5 lunch $10 dinner according to their ad on the radio. I was sat down and given chips and salsa but not asked if I wanted a drink. I began looking at the menu and notice that hardly anything is $5 or less except on the taqueria menu where you can get single burritos for $5 or tacos for $3. Nothing on the taqueria menu comes with rice and beans so you have to pay an extra $1.99 for that. After spending about 5 minutes deciding what I wanted I sat the menu down and proceeded to play on my phone. After a couple of minutes I started the stopwatch on my phone. After 8 1/2 minutes they finally came to ask if I wanted a drink. They brought me my water and hesitated before finally asking if I was ready to order. I ordered a burrito with the spicy shredded chicken and then waited for another 26 minutes before receiving my food. The portion size appears to me to be fairly small. The meat was bland and Luke warm. The server didn't come back to check on me until I was finished and had pushed empty plate the the other side of the table and waited. I will probably not go back there d/t quality of food and value for what you get.
(1)Fred F.
Mexican restaurant are Mexican restaurant. ..All the same...very simple and easy choices of food to select. Good 3174273038 for the buck always.
(3)Jessika G.
Bland. Good salsa though.
(2)Bloom B.
I lived in Texas and California and I've spent time through different parts of Mexico, so I know the difference between Tex-Mex and real Mexican food, and this is REAL Mexican food. I love it, love it, love it. Horchata is to die for.
(5)Ryan T.
I have been to this restaurant a few times before and really liked it, but between now and then, something has changed (new owners?) and very much for the worse. The service was very slow and all the waitresses had quite negative attitudes. We ordered margaritas, which turned out to be horribly bland--after asking, we found out they were not made with tequila but a "little bit if wine alcohol" (made even more disappointing by the fact that they were not advertised as such and come with a price tag of $6.99). Then our food came and it was a disappointly small portion of at best mediocre food. I was highly dissatisfied with my small and fried-to-a-crisp chimichanga (for $10.99!), and the tortilla on my girlfriend's enchilada was like rubber. And to top it all off, they incorrectly charged my card twice and only got it right the third time. All this to say--I will absolutely not return to this restaurant, and I highly suggest you save yourself such a costly mistake.
(1)Dennis B.
Probably the best Mexican food in9m the area. But this is not the typical TexMex fair that most people are use to having in chain restaurants. This is the real deal...authentic home cooking you find in Mexico with fresh ingredients. Terrific! Nice cozy atmosphere. The place has only been opened for 4 weeks and it was packed and everyone seemed to love the food!
(5)Carrie R.
Overall, it was ok. Not bad, not great, just ok. I was excited to try this place and read some great reviews, but having a place right near where I live that is incredibly authentic and delicious- and makes every other Mexican restaurant seem bland. I was definitely disappointed that they seemingly didn't have a liquor license, as the margarita was an agave wine cocktail- but it was pretty good. Overall, food was fine, not great. I wasn't blown away. Chips and salsa were tasty. Tinga (spicy chicken) in dishes was somewhat flavorful. Like I said, I wasn't blown away. I would probably try a different place next time I'm in Bloomington so I have a comparison (and definitely somewhere that serves hard liquor).
(3)Clint S.
Friendly restaurant in an old house. Claims to be "authentic" Mexican food. Menu offers typical Mexican fare with a few unique items. I had shredded beef enchiladas w/ a very tasty mole sauce. Chips and salsa were fair. Margarita was fair. Would recommend and probably will eat there again.
(4)Scott S.
Good restaurant. Wasn't blown away by the food. The salsa was actually sub par but we ask our waitress if there was something spicier that we could have and she brought out some different sauces and we made our own. Prices were fairly reasonable, and even though our order was messed up our waitress was super nice and the replacement food came out within two minutes. This place does have margaritas which was nice, as I am pretty sure it's the only one in brown that does.
(4)Mason R.
Best Authentic Mexican Food I have found in Bloomington. Tacos with double corn tortillas, amazing salsa verde and enchiladas to die for. Good thing Juanita's is on my way home...she is going to be making me dinner frequently. The price is a little high to me.
(4)Jennifer B.
The first couple of times we ate here, we really enjoyed it. The flavors were great and the price didn't seem too bad. But I took my 2 kids there tonight, and just about every aspect of the meal left much to be desired: I was told there is no kids menu, you just order a la carte (which is fine....we ordered just a taco for my youngest.) My older child ordered the fish tacos, with mango salsa on the side. They came covered in the salsa. I ordered the chicken with mole sauce. The mole tasted peculiar and the chicken was just bits of overcooked, hard, chewy chicken with the sauce thrown on top. I ate two bites and ended up filling up on the so-so rice and beans. We all had water to drink so I can't comment on drink quality. Our server seemed more interested in sitting down and watching the lacrosse game on tv then serving us. My self and my 2 kids left there with $40 less in our pockets. So overpriced for what we received. We won't be going back....
(2)Brenda L.
I love the food and the staff. My Tacos, beans, rice and drinks are always refreshing
(5)Krista R.
This place is cute, and I'm guessing a few months ago, it was making good food. However, the restaurant seems completely overwhelmed now. Chips and salsa were delivered after the guacamole -- we had to stare at the guacamole a good 5 minutes before we could eat it. The salsa was bland and clearly from a jar. We never had the same server twice at our table. The tacos we ordered were brought out in ten minutes despite a very busy dinner. The meat was barely warm and extremely dried out. I'm guessing that in anticipation of customers, they precook everything. Other reviewers said the tortillas are homemade. They currently are not. Bummer. The restaurant is certainly welcome to Bloomington, where street tacos, tortas, and chili rellenos are seldom on the menu. But the food and service, currently, leaves much to be desired.
(2)Britten V.
i got the enchilades de mole, and there were actual moles in it!!!!!! just a tip you guys, ease up on the moles!!!!!
(5)Denise V.
Best Mexican food in Bloomington! The best! Everything MELTS in your mouth and if you want it to it WILL melt your mouth too! This isn't a chain store. It's family owned and the recipes have come with them. Thank you for being here!!!
(5)Brianna M.
I ate here for the first time yesterday evening, and I really enjoyed it. We were hoping to sit outside, but the patio was full. I wasn't too disappointed though because they only have plastic picnic tables outside that didn't look super comfortable. We were seated upstairs near the bar. We ordered medium margaritas without seeing the price, so I was surprised that it set me back $12. It was a good margarita, but I would have preferred the smaller version considering the price. Besides that, the food was really fantastic. I sampled the chiles rellenos and the vegetarian fajitas. Both were great, but the chiles were really special. Even the rice/beans and chips/salsa were a step above average. My only real complaint was the price. $50+ for the two of us with drinks. If it were less expensive, I would be back more often. However, I think the price is due to the stellar quality of the food. Easily the best quality Mexican food in the area. My guess is that the specialties will be better than the standard burrito/taco TexMex. Definitely recommend the chiles rellenos.
(4)Stanley W.
I will admit, every time I had Juannitas, it was delivered for a group, perhaps larger orders are harder to fulfill, and perhaps you guys use different sauces with delivery, but I can only judge based on my experiences. Of all the things I found off-putting, the salsas were definitely the biggest disappointments. The other major issue was with the burritos. Regardless of authenticity, I've been able to enjoy burritos of all kinds, from those in Northern Mexico, "California Style" burritos, and mission burritos in the Bay Area alongside some pretty good Tex-Mex burritos as well. The flavour profiles of the two I've had from Juannitas were more akin to those of the last, while prepared in the style of the first. I can't deny that its based on a Mexican recipe, but from either the ingredients or something else along the lines during preparation, the burritos were hardly a taste of Mexico. Now, despite what it might seem from my initial review, authenticity isn't actually the biggest issue for me. Mitsui in Taipei, Ink in Los Angeles, and Kai Zan in Chicago are all top 10 favorite restaurants to me. Taste, above all else, no? In this, the burritos fell short as well, and they, alongside the tacos didn't seem worth the price premium (San Diego burritos 4-5 times larger with made-to-order prepared ingredients go for around 6-9USD over here, and while its unfair to compare prices with Mexico, even north of the border, at some fantastic tacquerias I've never paid more than 1.85 for tacos with much more on it. Poblanos are one of favourite ingredients, and I love them even in Taiwanese street food, so I doubt they're a major contributor to any issues I may have had. Thanks for reaching out, seeing you reply to every review on your business's page is huge plus in terms of customer service.
(1)Fausto R.
A little overpriced for what you really get! I ordered the quesadillas and they were just OK! Service is "blah" they are more focused on keep talking to each other more than the customers! I think the only thing worth trying are the tortas! Salvador, it was Sunday around 12pm.
(3)Laura H.
El Norteño left a hole in my heart, and this place helped ease the sting. Cheerful, okay service. Tasty shrimp tacos. Really good salsa and chips. The horchata made me add an entire star. I'll go back just for that alone, but also to see what else they can do. Bonus points if it's move into the old El Norteño space north of the square.
(4)Chris M.
If you're looking for an authentic atmosphere and cuisine- choose this- one perk which my not be authentic but much appreciated - my Pacifico beer was served in a frosted beer glass!! I ordered a bean burrito and a side dish of grilled cactus- just to try it. Both were great . The out door patio dining was perfect with Mexican music at a pleasant volume playing. The patio is on the second story- accessible by stairs and ramp. There are a few bistro tables, nice sturdy plastic picnic tables with umbrellas and cozy circular sofa in front of a big screen TV- The bathrooms were very clean. Our waiter provided great and friendly service. The food was delicious- there is much indoor seating available also. I will be back to dine here again ...
(5)Maggie M.
Enjoyed a great lunch sitting outside at Juannita's. The porch in the back is very nice and the food and service were great. I had a chimichanga and strawberry margarita and both were delicious. I read poor reviews on the outdoor seating but I think it's very nice. There is a TV for those who wish to watch it and music playing to set the mood. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun Mexican experience.
(5)Robert L.
I've been to Juannita's a few times now and while the food is generally pretty good, the service is simply dreadful. I ordered fajitas today and the heaping pile of steak and onions (which were delicious) came with three corn tortillas about the size of a coaster. The food was good, but I clearly needed more tortillas to enjoy it properly. By the time I got someone's attention and actually got them (the first waitress I flagged down forgot in the fifteen feet it took to get to the kitchen), the food was cold. It's been like this every time. Wrong orders, empty glasses, wait staff that forget you exist, and when you do flag one down to ask for something, it's down to luck as to whether you actually get it. Oh, and to add insult to injury, those three extra mini-tortillas cost me $1.99. It's really frustrating. The core here seems solid, and I really want to love this restaurant, but every time I leave, it's not satisfied but fed up and glad to be getting out the door.
(2)Franklin D.
Wow that's a colorful building. Parking is tight, seating is tight. Mexican-ish food, I guess it would do in a pinch. As in you're 50 to 100 miles from anywhere good. If you dig "queso sauce" and rice in your burritos, you're gonna love this place.
(2)Dan L.
I love Juanita's. There Mole sauce is authentic (like everything else I've had) and delicious. Reasonably priced, great service, awesome new addition to town. I frequent.
(5)John W.
So we went here for dinner tonight, Friday September 11th and this was our first visit. I really could eat Mexican food everyday. Let me preface this review by saying that I gave them 3 stars based on the fact that this is as good as it is going to get in the mid-west. I am from Florida and lived in Southern California for years and you just cannot compare these places with them because if I were then this review would probably be a 1 star review. No comparison at all. So we were seated quickly, and the lady got our drinks pretty fast. She kinda rushed me with my order, you would have thought they were busy but they were not. So they brought out chips and salsa, I thought they were just OK but the other person with me thought they were really good. He went on and on about their chips, to me they tasted like the taco shell for the taco salad at Taco Bell. That's not a bad thing just weird to me. The back page of their menu is divided into two parts so it leads one to believe that only the right side is lunch but actually that whole page is lunch. 2 other tables sat down and asked the same question as I did so they either need to have a separate menu for lunch or have it more clearly defined on that back page. So we ordered and this has to be the first Mexican Restaurant that I have eaten in that everything you ordered didn't come with beans and rice. Some dishes do and some don't and there is no rhyme or reason as to why. I wish that I could tell you what we both ordered but the menu on their website is not the same one that I ordered from tonight. I know that I got the 2 burrito's and because I wanted steak they charged me an extra $2. Those were the smallest burrito's I have ever seen. I asked for no lettuce so they only put a small amount of steak in there and some beans. If you are going to charge me above an beyond what an item costs to substitute for steak I expect to get plenty of steak in there. Diced tomatoes on the side and their sour cream was very runny as if they had diluted it to make it go further. I got no sides or anything with my food. The menu I had said it was to come with rice but when I questioned the server she said no you don't get anything with it but would you like to buy some. I declined. Now she told me what I ordered was Burritos Del Norte. And I don't think that was what I asked for but who knows. It tasted OK. Their Carne Asada is nothing like what you would get in Southern California or another border city but it was decent. The bad thing was I left hungry. The other person ordered a single burrito and it was about 4 times the size of mine. I cannot even find it on the menu either but it was steak and had rice, beans, guacamole and some other stuff in it. He said it was good and couldn't finish it. I might be inclined to go back for lunch or when I just must have Mexican food. I wont go back at dinner time because for what they charge for their food I should definitely not have to pay for rice and beans.
(3)G J.
We sampled a multiple dishes from the menu and noticed a distinct overall lack of seasoning in the appetizers and dinner dishes. The meat dishes (chicken, pork, and beef) were a bit watery and the pork dish was a bit fatty. Restaurant was clean and service was good.
(2)