Juanitas is always the best place to stop. We have been going for years and will always stop when we are in town

Still as good 25 years later! Generous portions, great food and good prices in laid back North County.

Best Mexican Taco shop in North County and beyond! First time back in a while. I used to live at Sylvia and Third for a decade and could walk over anytime and that was 24 years ago. It’s as good as ever so don’t listen to the naysayers and yelp critics. They don’t understand years of great food!

Hands down, this is THEE BEST Mexican food in America.

Hands down my favorite taco shop of all time. I've been eating here since I was a kid, and the consistent excellence has kept me coming back. Fish tacos and carne asada/pollo asado are the jam. The look has changed over the years, but the food is still amazing. Eat here if you want to know what San Diego tastes like.

Best fish tacos. We come every year while on vacation and this is our first stop. Haven’t needed to try anything else because the fish tacos are just that good.

I haven't eaten here in 30 years. I have eaten at 100s of taco shops and restaurants. And nothing has ever beaten Juanita's for taste and value. Judging from the other revues it's still a local fav. Every person I took there said it was the best

Great spot for burritos! We were staying nearby in Carlsbad, when we woke up craving burritos for breakfast. A quick Yelp search led us to Juanitas and we were not disappointed. Tried the chorizo breakfast burrito and the California burrito. Both were bomb, and I loved that the chorizo wasn't overly greasy as it usually is when I seem to order it at other shops. This one is situated right off the 101 and has a small private parking lot in the back. They do take credit cards and I have to say the $6-$7 price tag for burritos makes this one very affordable. Be sure to double up on the salsas to go if you like pouring plenty of salsa on your burrito for each bite. Anyways, glad I got to make a stop here. I've yet to find anywhere in Chicago that comes close to what they serve here. 'Til next time!

I've gone here for years when in the area. Great Mexican food for a funky beach town hole-in-the-wall place with no seating in the building. It does seem to be run by the same folks who ran the soup counter in Seinfeld. Just saying, but a worthwhile experience anyway.

This place has the best Carne Asada burrito, I have definitely made my rounds for comparison since I don’t live in California anymore. This is the first place I go when I fly into San Diego and as much as I love my sister and nephews, they are the second stop! I have sent all of my family and friends to Juanita’s when they are out that way.

Good old classic burrito shop on the corner! I've been going here for 30 years! You can park out front or in back in marked spaces. Inside dining area or outside on 2 benches to see the action on the coast hwy. Combo plates are great value and the bean & cheese burritos are sure to fill you up!

SO good! Always a stop for me in Encinitas.. asada tacos are LIFE!

My favorite burrito place in the area - I either get the California or the Arizona and they never disappoint. Juanitas has some of the best tortillas, and the burrito is always wrapped tightly. Meat is seasoned well and their salsa is great.

Always delicious, carnitas tacos never fail.

Sometimes the most unassuming places have the best food. Just had an amazing fish taco! :)

Fantastic simple fish tacos and super fast service too. Got my order within 3 minutes of ordering!

Just darn good authentic Mexican food from this little shop on the 101 in Leucadia. I had the carnitas burrito this time , highly recommended.

Best burritos around. Been going for 30 years. Everything is good here.

It was really good. I read the reviews which were quite good. It was right nearby and I did notice a lot of activity there. People parking in back and getting food and a lot of people eating in front in general. I got the carne asada burrito which was good, more spicy than usual and I liked how they included three small containers of salsa, which was perfect.

Went out of our way to stop here. Food is excellent, especially the fish burrito. Devoured the burrito before I thought of taking a photo. Definitely will stop by again when in the area!

California burrito is my favorite burrito in the US ♥️ always a short line and great service

Just driving by and saw a crowd so I had to give it a try. I ordered a beef burrito wet and it was terrific. The service was fast even though there was a consistent stream of people. The lady at the counter wasn't overly nice or helpful but it probably was a long day considering it was almost 8pm. As I sat and ate I was amazed at the amount of business that flowed through this place and you have to attribute that to excellent food. This would be considered a whole in the wall but it was pretty clean. The bathroom was trashed but in a weird way it was clean and didn't smell. I'm guessing the locals know this place well and I just happened to get lucky and drop in. I'll be back.

The food was delicious and crafted that every bite had a new flavor and taste. My lovely date, and I, both got the California Burrito. A fresh soft flour tortilla that had a incredible seasoned grilled steak pieces, covered with a generous amount of Mexican Street fries. The cheese was melted perfectly, mixed with the house seasonings and sour cream. We asked for our guacamole on the side. Every bite was as delicious as the first. I enjoyed the burrito and it was worth the price, both in taste and quality, was only able to take down half at the restaurant. That's how big it was. Was only visiting the area but, I just might have to make another visit to try some of their other menu items. I would recommend the restaurant and the staff were very nice and a pleasure having them serve us. I enjoyed the food and will try and make it back soon.

Carnitas is my favorite!! The taco was great! Service was fast and friendly. A quick stop is worth it.

Best burrito in the world. This place is OG

wow one of the best carne asada burritos I’ve had.. meat was super tender and not dry or chewy like other places. Service was great too!! I grew up down the street from here can’t believe I’ve been sleeping on this place! Wish I could give more than 5 stars

Excellent service and the food is like the owner to die for

Juanita's is a wonderful place to pick up some fast delicious food! I don't know who is writing these reviews, but we've lived here for over 50 years and raised surfer kids and enjoyed Juanita's the whole time. Everyone eats at Juanita's. It's a fixture and the food is consistently great.

We’ve been coming here for 20+ years and it is still one of the best taquerias in northern San Diego. Three rolled with guac is the OG and their burritos are great too.

I love Juanitas! It is the best taco shop in Encinitas for sure 😍 I love their veggie burritos, I just add potatoes and you’re set to go! My husband loves their California burritos 🌯 and carne asada tacos 🌮 he thinks it’s the best carne asada in San Diego.

After living in NC for the last few years this definitely filled the taco shop void in my life. The California burrito and carne asada chips hit the spot and I will always think of this place when back in NC. Loved the green salsa.

Surf and turf burrito was delicious. Ate three during one trip, highly recommend.

I make great carnitas. Juanita's is better. While all the sucker tourists wait in line at the Taco Stand, you can go here. Great prices, great food. If they only had beer, I would never leave......

If they offered me a Juanita’s branded credit card, I’d have $500 on 1.5% cash back. Best taco shop around and I’m dying on this hill. I’ve tried just about everything on the menu. Found the best bang for buck is to get the Surf & Turf burrito with a kids bean & cheese burrito for the little one. Staff is always friendly and quick with service. Highly recommend to all those passing through.

“I love the taste of fish burritos, but you get more bread than actual fish.

Juanitas is fire Mexican food. Whenever I’m in the area I have to stop by. Always worth having. Their carne asada is great and so is their Cali burrito. The machaca also is also a must in the am.

I live in Chula Vista Calif. It's worth the drive. When I'm around this area my mouth gets watery knowing that I'm eating at Juanitas. Anything you eat from the manual is good because it's authentic Mexican food. New item on the menu is chicken soup this soup is the Boom. Been coming here since I discovered it. I would say 60% are surfer duds

Chilaquiles came with rice and beans. Very good quick eats. Accommodated our huge family group of 20+ with ease!

On vacation, Driving along the coast highway saw this place and decided to stop in. Got a carnitas, Carne assade and Pollo asaddo. The carnitas were fire. The Carne was good, and wasn't super impressed by the Pollo, though still delicious. But that carnitas. *chef's kiss*

Their carnitas burrito is amazing. Great and quick service, very friendly people!

One of the best taco shops around. We’ve been eating here for 15 + years and the food is always on point. Their burritos, rolled tacos and quesadillas are our favorite items. Also, their green hot sauce is the best!

Pete Garratt

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.

GHD_1109

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!!! 🌯🌮

Nick Zajac

Best breakfast burrito you will ever have, hands down! The green sauce is to die for as well. Every time I’m in the area I make a visit. Sometimes I even order an extra for the next meal!

Madeleine Stone

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!

Daniel O

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.

castanos moving

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

Rafael Quinones Garcia

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.

+12

karen newmiller

Visited here with a dear friend 9 years ago and he is no longer with us so we just relived memories. It was so delicious just as we remember. The neighborhood is so lucky to have Juanita’s!!

No S

AMAZING! DELICIOUS! I get the fish taco almost every time, or street tacos, which iare freaking n g fabulous! My husband is a forever fan of carniasada burrito ( see pic) . 1000 percent yes! Compliments to the chef!

Paul Guess

Our favorite taco shop for 33 years. ... best flying saucer there is. Unbelievably consistent and always delicious 😋

Beau Evans

Best burritos is town! Local friends all agree to this fact! Green and red sauce for all tables and outdoor seating is available.

Jack Morris

Went there tonight and loved the food…fish tacos, beef tacos and asada nachos. The 💣💣💣

Haig A

We always want to try the rest of their menu, but their fish tacos are so good we can't help but order as many as we can eat. Top notch place. I never regret making a quick pit stop on my drive south down the 5. Quick, courteous service every time and amazing food.

D Varela

Haven't been here in 9 years and the food is still good. Gotta try this place. Their famous California burrito is huge and Asada tacos and their hard shell shredded beef tacos are delicious.

Micky Nickles

Bacon Breakfast Burrito (add potato) was OUTSTANDING! Carnitas burrito was good. Love the spicy green and red salsas that came with them. Nice little find, a short walk from my hotel. 😋

quiero mariachi

This place has some of the best Carnitas tacos hands down. My wife and I are from Los Angeles and know a thing or two about great tacos. We had was the standard Carnitas tacos and a Machaca burrito with the delicious salsa they serve to compliment the meal. The location is small but it’s big on tasty food. This is one of our definite stops on our way to Baja California.

This place used to have the best carne asada burrito around for about $6. Now they charge $11! I think all the taco shops are having a competition to see who can charge the most outrageous amount for a tortilla, a little bit of meat, and some filler. They even charge an extra 4% if you use a credit card. Your burrito is overpriced by $3-4, you can eat a 4% fee. It's called the cost of doing business.

Pretty good food & pretty clean looking. Eaten here a couple times while visiting Encinitas. My husband's chicken taco was better than my carne asada taco. Not the friendliest of places, but I think you can expect that when eating at these little hole in the wall places.

If you're Looking for an authentic taco shop, this is the place for you. Service was quick and the food was amazing. The atmosphere was small, nice ocean decor, clean. I ordered a carne asada burrito with rice and beans and when I say huge, OMG!. Well worth the money. Will definitely eat here again.

The food is great, but the counter person is a stick in the mud. Food hasn't changed in 30 years. Liked it, but if the greeter doesn't give you any energy, it's not worth it.

This is my favorite Taco Shop. Don’t come here for the service or atmosphere. But if you want the best carne asada burrito, this IS the place. Large, tasty and filled with carne asada. It’s my go to and have not eaten anything else here.

A good little taco shop along the 101. They have your classic selection of food, as well as a few drink options. The prices are great for the amount you get, and the service is pretty fast too. I did a Cali burrito which was pretty good, and left my full. Parking is on the 101 or side streets, but it’s next to the stop sign so it’s easy to get to. I’ve heard the rolled tacos are great, which I’ll try next time.

Good eats not far from the beach. Best fish tacos in North San Diego County!

Super nice people. Food is good. Chorizo breakfast burrito good. Salsas ok.

Scott Wong

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.

Why have you not tried this place before? We have been coming here for years. The food is top-notch and the prices can't be beat. I recommend a carne asada burrito, or rolled tacos with guacamole. Update - 08/2019: I have been coming here for literally over 30 years. Tonight I was disappointed for the first time. I ordered one of my Staples, rolled tacos. The quality has just gone down hill. It used to come with lettuce and Pico, but not anymore. You used to be able to get pickled carrots and peppers, but not anymore. We ordered a quesadilla for my daughter and the cheese was only half-melted. She hated it. What happened?

Food is pretty good....not GREAT, but probably the best taco shop within a reasonable driving distance. Prices are pretty good. Deducted one star because the customer service is "meh" at best. I don't expect song and dance and a red carpet, but the employees always have a vibe like you're bothering them by ordering food. 😕

Juanita’s is a local Encinitas classic burrito shop. It’s been here for ages. Was once easily a five star rating from me. Relying on their good reputation, in my opinion, it’s not as good as it once was. In a pinch, I stop in occasionally to say hello to staff I’ve known for years, and grab a quick bite. Honestly, since Juanita passed away, food quality went down , and prices went up.

Had the carnitas tacos. Almost resembled their shredded beef. Tomatos in the pico seemed a little tired also. It was convenient to stop in and grab a bite and get on to my next stop. Guacamole on their taco almost hid any flavor of the carnitas. I like mine more crispy fried, not soggy as if it was boiled.

The food is extremely average (especially for the price) but the vibe is unmatched. This is a liminal space that feels other worldly to be in. Just look at how content this guy is to be sitting in this restaurant.

Carne asada fries were mid, maybe ill give them another shot and try something else.

Pretty good fish tacos for a throw back joint support your small businesses

Food was decent, good crisp on rolled tacos. Burrito wasn't packed with flavor. Place is run down.

We tried this place because it had a great review average. We ordered online early and was probably one of the first customers of the day. Our chips were fried beyond recognition and I’m insulted that they were even given to us like that. We ordered our rolled tacos without cheese due to our child’s sensitivity but they were covered in cheese. Other than that the food we could eat was …. Ok. The salsa was good as was the sprite, I wish I could leave a better review.

Jordan Yoshimine

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.

Only saving grace of this place was the tortillas were amazing, fluffy and a little crispy. But besides that this place falls short, litterally. For a cali burrito it's half the size of anywhere else, great tasting but not make it bigger? Taste wise it's garden variety nothing new. However, green sauce was too chunky for my liking and kind of bland.

Ordered 2 taco combo and picked it up within 7min. Rice and beans luke warm and meat is cold. Not impressed Guac is warmer than carne asada

Every time I get a burrito here the cheese is unmelted and the asada is charred.

Food was okay. Got the Arizona burrito. Able to finish the burrito - didn’t hate it but didn’t love it. The tortilla was good but wouldn’t eat here again. Food got cold quickly so I would recommend eating there or eating in your car.

Have given this place multiple chances now just over priced “mid“ shit. Really good location and spot is cool because they’ve kept it clean and haven’t updated it, But I can’t keep giving this place my money in good conscience

I assumed this must be great for authentic Mexican food since there’s consistent business and often lines. Had 1 chicken taco here a couple years ago but it was bland so… I gave it another shot with Chicken tortilla soup. It was Bland chicken soup with tortillas. I was hoping to add the fresh cilantro, onions, radish, lime, salsa….from salsa bar but there is none. I asked for all of that but she said “it’s all in there “ as she pushed the bag toward me and threw in 3 tiny, bitty salsa portions of which I used all 3 in 1 serving (still bland). of a tub of approx 4 servings. Bland Soup and tortillas, no extra anything . This place is nothing to rave about.

Cara Brockhoff

Ordered DoorDash and Driver was given three stops before mine. Tortilla was soggy chicken was cold. I won’t be ordering from here again.

First time, last time. Service was friendly, price is ok. So what’s the problem? Machaca breakfast burrito was BLAND, BLAND, BLAND. No taste. Zero. The whole burrito tasted like it had been cooked in a water sauce. I suspect it is also low quality ingredients. Will not be back, way too bland.

Keep driving. Second time eating here after our first disappointing experience. Thought perhaps it was just an off day or covid-caused lack of cooks… but it’s still simply not good. Dry meat, old/dried out tortillas, and no flavor. The Cali burrito was bland (peppered) steak, fries, cheese, and sour cream. No salsa inside which made it super dry and hard to eat. The meat was old as well and covered with some pepper for flavor I presume. Breakfast burrito had almost no bacon, and again very dry. Not sure why the reviews are so good here… won’t be stopping again.

Got a bacon breakfast burrito and it didn't come with potato. All of the bacon was in the front half of the burrito and the tortilla was undercooked. Everything was underseasoned too. Ive been eating at mexican food spots around here for 15 years and have never had to ask for potato on a breakfast burrito. Never coming back here again

Today was my first time there and will be the last. The place it's duty everywhere you look. The lady was on the phone most of the time, I think she got bad news, I can see that she was so worry, she couldn't care lees about her service. The food not authentic at all. They have the salsas on bottles, they were duty and very bad sgsor. The salsas no flavor. The restrooms were gross. One star only because I have to rate it. Will never recommend this place. I think they need to be inspected.

My first time there and I wouldn't go back. I ordered a beef burrito but it didn't come with any rice or sour cream...nothing just the beef. Had it there while the women taking orders was yelling out orders were ready for people waiting outside behind closed doors. The place looked dirty...tables were not cleaned after being used, the floor had food dropping all over the place and the bathroom was less than hygenically suitable. Owner take notice. There are much better places to have a fish taco or borritos.

First time here, and I would never return. The customer service was terrible, the food was not good. It tasted bland and I worry my wife and I will be sick from the food. The ambiance of the place is sketchy. And to top it all off, two guys awkwardly came in without masks and tried ordering burritos with a bunch of pennies. I still can't wrap my mind around this experience. Never again.

Sugar The Surfing Dog

Mean Mexican lady at the counter charging people for hot sauce while I was there bad vibes this place used to One of my favorite places to stop by never again The food was subpar used to be outstanding .