Review Don Juan's Restaurant - Jacksonville

Top Spanish/Mexican restaurant I’ve eaten at in jacksonville. I’ve eaten here many times and the food is always hot, fresh, and prompt! I’d give 10 stars if it allowed! Highly recommended you give them a try!

Just had a very good experience at Don Juan’s. The tacos were the best I’ve ever had (we got chicken and beef, both were equally delicious). Our server was Pablo and he was excellent. Also met the owner who was very friendly! Not pictured is other child ordered a cheeseburger and it and the French fries were delicious. We will definitely be coming back!!!

Always my favorite. They do Mexican food right. Friendly wait staff and the entire works. Nice atmosphere. I prefer the weekdays when it's less hustle and bustle. But if crowds are your things - the weekends and happy hour are nice also. 🙂

I had veggie fajitas and they were delicious. My server helped me take the standard chicken fajitas menu item and modify it to make it a vegan meal. I only wish the charge reflected the veggie fajitas vs chicken fajitas. It is a small thing, but would be appreciated. The chips and salsa were OK. The salsa seemed a little bland for me and the chips didn't appear to be freshly homemade especially since I was one of the first tables of the day. The service staff was very friendly and the facilities were very clean. I would eat there again and recommend it to others.

Food was great, restaurant was very clean, servers were awesome. Great experience. Our dinner party of 9 left happy and full! They allowed us to customize some dishes, and brought everything out promptly. Really great tamales!

Spicy jalapeno margarita is amazing. If you like jalapenos with your meals the jalapenos Toreados are fire. Food is great comes out very fast with good quality

Mexican is one of my favorites… for a quick week night dinner Don Juan’s did not disappoint. Hostess was courteous and quickly seated us. Server was on point and kept drinks and chips full. Food was delivered quickly, fresh and hot. Margarita was pretty tasty too! Lots of seating. Patio area to. Plenty of parking.

Enjoyed our dinners immensely. Served piping hot and delicious. Smiling server and attentive. I’ve had a lot of Mexican food and this is the best in the area and worth it. Stick with Don Juan’s in Jacksonville Florida.

Great service as the server was very attentive to our needs, and knowledgeable as far as the menu. The restaurant was not very busy. The food came out just on time and plates presentation was impeccable. What was impressed with is the margarita! It was served in a a glass that is more for water or beer than a margarita glass! I asked for salt on the rim and on the rocks but it was kind of disappointing as it barely had any salt and it was just table salt. I noticed that everyone worked as a team but no one was wearing masks!! I would give it another trial next time I am back here!

This is our “go to” Mexican restaurant. Service is amazing and the atmosphere is wonderful. Along with the ford being the best!!

One of my wife’s favorite places. When I am in the dog house, we go there because it is not my favorite place. So since I am in the dog house a lot, I have strived to find my favorite thing on the menu. So far, I am making progress. First, the restaurant is very big, so there is always room for more. There is also an outside patio area but I have never seen it being used. Service is pleasant and efficient and the kitchen pays attention to special orders (no this, extra that). They have a thorough bar menu, including 50 types of tequila, which may have more to do with why my wife likes it and not so much me. Go figure, I don’t drink, so what do you think? Okay. Here is my food run down: Salsa - very runny, spice kick, I know it makes a difference for some people. Guacamole - good consistency but lacks flavor. Rice - dry, like a desert Beans - not a flavor I enjoy Chicken Fajitas - solid choice Shrimp Fajitas - shrimp were rubbery, not a solid choice Spinach Quesadilla - awful, inedible Shrimp Quesadilla - solid choice, really good. Fried Ice Cream - awesome, it is fried and it is Ice cream. If you see my wife, please tell her I am trying.

Nice place, Nice staff, and very good mexicain food. Just try it.

Really nice place. Soups are great as is selection. Free chips & dip start you off and don't forget to ask for the cheese dip. Lots of selections that came out quick and hot. For those who drink happy hour gives you a nice 2x pn any well bar drink. Will go back often as you should.

When I worked close by, I would have lunch at Don Juan’s weekly. The food is always fresh and the restaurant is very well maintained. The owners and staff are welcoming. I went there with friends yesterday for lunch and realized how much I missed going into a restaurant and being treated like family and welcomed with open arms. I love everything about this place. I want to give a shout out to the staff yesterday for the support they gave to the group of military that were there having lunch. I can’t explain how heartwarming it was!!!

Best Mexican restaurant in Jax! The food taste’s amazing and Eder along with the staff there treat you like family. 5 star service from beginning to end. Can’t say enough great things about Don Juan’s!

Delicious enchilada and flauta lunch meal, with rice, beans, lettuce, tomato and sour cream. Reasonable. Excellent service by David D.

The most friendly people all through the restaurant and fast service always! The food is made fresh and tastes so wonderful. The drinks are superb. The fresh made tortilla chips and delicious salsa is the best appetizer ever. We always have the owner drop by to make sure we are all happy. He is so nice, friendly, and dedicated to service! Love this place!!

This place is in my neighborhood and I can't say enough good thing about it. Family owned and operated Toni the bartender is off the chain literally lol. Food is great they have good Mole which I enjoy w my chicken enchiladas, drinks by Toni are awesome and the atmosphere is good as well. All staff members are awesome. They do a killer event for 5 de Mayo with show a must see.

I was there at 5pm on 3/4/18. One person. Was seated immediately and served quickly.I had a grilled steak Quesadilla. Lots of food and delicious. Will recommend to anyone. Very good experience!!!

We were there last night for my birthday. The food was incredible and I was very impressed that the owner went around to each table asking everyone how their food was and thanking them for coming. I give this place 5 Stars and will be going back very soon.

I ordered the chicken fajita quesadilla. It was huge. It came with rice and beans. I couldn’t come close to eating all of it. The food was average. The chicken was slightly tough. The chips and salsa were very good. The service was decent. I would come back, but not in a rush.

I ordered the PLATILLO DEL MAR which, according to the menu, is shrimp, tilapia fish fillet, and scallops sautéed in garlic and butter. The shrimp and scallops were both fishy tasting and the scallops were the tiniest I've ever seen. For $17.99 I'd expect fresher seafood. Also, MAYBE the tilapia was cooked in garlic butter, but nothing else was, so I asked for more garlic butter. What I got was a container of cold butter and a container of cold garlic. I still can't believe it. I've never experienced anything like this before and I guess I'd laugh if the meal didn't cost $17.99! I told the server I don't want cold butter and garlic, so the manager came over, microwaved the butter and brought it back to me. NOTHING was offered by the manager. They charged us full price for a terrible meal.

Was there Saturday for lunch. Had the ground beef tacos with beans and rice, it was very good, best I've had so far. The salsa is store made and is excellent. I will be going back.

Don Juan's has good salsa & chips and solid food. The margaritas are overpriced & small. Restaurant is clean & neat. Staff was friendly. I would go more often if the drinks were better priced.

Waste of time and money. We had a table of 6 and asked for another basket of chips so we didn't have to reach over each other and drop food. We were told no we could only have one basket and that we could have it filled when we were done. I ordered a chicken Tamale, it had more corn wrap then meat and I really don't think it was chicken. I have never had chicken that tasted like that. It had a fish taste to it. We would have gotten better Mexican at Taco Bell. Don't waste your time or money.

The restaurant was clean and attractive. Our server was friendly, and our chimichanga, beef enchilada, and pork tamale were delicious. If you are looking for California-style Mexican food, keep looking. But, Don Juan is great for Jacksonville Tex-Mex. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Amazing! Been in town a couple months trying different Mexican food. This is by far the BEST I've had in Jacksonville! Very fresh and the salsa is great homemade style with cilantro!

If you're looking for fresh, delicious Mexican food, this is the place to go! Very clean, friendly staff and reasonable prices. The salsa is great with lots of fresh cilantro.

The people are so friendly ! AMAZING staff... Family owned and ran well ! Love the food.. Will be eating there again !

Fabulous! Truly fabulous!

Not for vegetarians. This is one of the only Mexican restaraunts I've ever tried that has not one single vegetarian dish on the entire menu. They put chicken stock in the rice and animal lard in the beans. Got up and walked out. We then tried a couple years later to see if they changed their ways. Nope. Exactly the same.

Best Mexican Food in South Mandarin. Our family lives in the south Mandarin area and Don Juan's the perfect location for dining. It's much closer than heading further north to La Nopolera--and honestly, the quality and selection of the food is sooooooooo much better. My husband and I frequent Don Juan's with his sister and brother-in-law and we've never been disappointed with our meals. My husband and I's favorite entrees are the Conchinita Pibil and Carnitas and my sister in-law loves their margaritas (the bartender is super awesome from what she tells me). Everyone in our party usually gets something different for our meal but there has never been a complaint or problem with what we order. Food is always delicious, abundant, hot, and arrives less than 12 minutes (even when it's packed) after we order, and the waitstaff are great without being overbearing.

Pricey, but high quality ingredients. Very good, high end Mexican food. Reminds me of Miguel's @ Coronado island ca.

Toni (the bartender) rocks! Great establishment!. When my wife past away, this is place that makes me think of her and my children. We have been coming to Don Juan's since 2004, before the Don Juan's family moved to their bigger and better location. I have always raised my family to be easy going customers. We never want to ruin someone's day. I just want to have a good time with some great service. Sometimes the waiters would fight to serve us and it makes the whole family laugh. I personally think the secret of Don Juan's and its success, has been their drive to keep up with all aspects of the restaurant business. It is a remarkable place, but it was a small establishment before its big move. God really did bless them. In my opinion, restaurants are like music; people will love a certain band and if they are good, they will have a big following. If they are not good, well, they won't have a following and of course, they will probably hate the successful bands for their success. I really do believe that food is sacred and should not be judged wickedly, but I have nothing but nice things to say about this place. I judge it: Good. As it says in Book of Genesis, all of God's creation throughout the seven days are good. I am a Christian and also a proud Marine. I occasionally drink and one drink at Don Juan's usually gets me drunk. I reason the person below, probably drinks too much because that bar is always full with good clean folks. <br/><br/>Tom <br/><br/>"If two friends ask you to judge a dispute, don't accept, because you will lose one friend; on the other hand, if two strangers come with the same request, accept because you will gain one friend." -St. Augustine

So much to say... I've been coming here since they opened, and I'm more than just a "regular" or "loyal customer". The chips are fantastic, the salsa is extremely spicy. None of the menu items are super authentic, but you get the point. The alcohol is really where this place gets me. It's half portioned. Meaning half of what you would get at any other place, and half of what you're expecting. Did I mention the prices are higher too? Don't come here and expect to drink Margaritas and eat mexican food with your buddies all night. You will rack up a huge, huge bill, and you'll be leaving as sober as you came. The staff are friendly, and very personable. Some however, don't understand certain simple requests. If you want good Mexican, a good time with the family, and nice staff, then this is place to go. If you want to sit at a bar, drink, and watch the sports game, go elsewhere.

Great, friendly place. I've been wanting to try this place for a long time and now I wish I would have come here sooner! This place is a gem! We were greeted at the door by a lovely bubbly lady, Toni, who ended up serving us. She was great! There was a party going on in the back room, but it wasn't noticeable until the kids were leaving. The restaurant was pretty busy at 2 pm. We had chips and salsa, guacamole, enchiladas and the hubs had a Baja burrito. The food was incredible and the portions large. The owner was walking around smiling and genuine as were all the servers. The place was clean and the service was prompt. Wish we had room for dessert. Guess we are coming back! Thanks, Don Juan's!

Best Mex in Jax. I've been going here since they were in the old location. Great food, service, and bar. This the the cleanest restaurant in Jax. Everything on the menu is delicious. Try it!

This is the best Mexican restaurant. 5 plus stars all a round. 5 Star in every catagory

Food & Service GREAT!! Owner is fabulous and keeps up with his customers.

I was seduced into entering the libertine's villa like so many before me. Don Juan's servants sat me at an elegant table in the dining hall and brought me great portions of mouth watering food. He then had his servants lower my inhibitions with wines and drinks of the grain. This Casanova of the tortilla had me lusting for more! Come to me, you seducer of the hungry! Don't tempt me any longer!! But, alas, the only thing that came was the check.

I've been to better restaurants

Yummy Gorditas! Also, very good Brasada. Amber Dos Equis on draft!

The salsa is mundane, margarita are made with a artificial lime flavored mix except for one top shell where they squeeze real limes and it's very sour

Just left after an early Mothers Day dinner. As usual, the food was great. However, the waitress,Toni, rushed us to the extreme. No excuse for this. Looked no one at the table in the eye, just seemed oblivious to the fact it was a holiday. The owner usually comes out to greet all tables but today he was nowhere in sight. I enjoyed my food and beer, but not my service...it sucked!

Really Good Salsa. We have been going to Don Juan's for a number of years and every time we have a good experience. My husband always orders the gargantuan Burrito Baja California. It is loaded with fillings including tasty beef and a warm delicious cheese topping. I always order the tamales. The tamales at Don Juan's rival any others here in Jacksonville. They are stuffed with pork and have a delicious sauce on top. With everything else being outstanding, the salsa is still the highlight of the meal. The salsa is consistently good and has a fresh cilantro-y flavor. The meals always arrive quickly and the service is always good. A really good Mexican restaurant.

Good food....

Ordered Carne Asada(which should be skirt steak) but it was not good quality. Rice and beans where good. We also tried chile relleno and it was okay. Margaritas where good but too expensive, can get the same and cheaper elsewhere. We asked for fresh jalapeńos, we where not told they'd charge us $1.75!!! Never have we paid for this before in any other Mexican place. I wouldn't go again.

I found the food to be usual Mexican fare. It was good, but not exceptional. The portions were generous and the staff was attentive.The chili rellenos was tasty but the tamales were too heavy on the masa for my taste.

Nice surroundings and fast service. The chicken fajitas in my salad were nicely seasoned. However, the salad shell was cold and nothing other than the chicken was well seasoned. Bland Mexican??? My waiter looked offended when I asked for more guacamole. I may try it again and I may not.

One of the best Mexican restaurants in Jacksonville! Your fajitas are extremely flavorful and well worth my long drive to get there. I love Don Juans!

Impressed with the service and food. I felt the restaurant was comfortable and the service was impressive and worth the tip. The food was great , it was fresh and wholesome. The quacamole was incredible and fresh , the chips were hot and the salsa was tasty. I like the vibe upscale a bit with quality food. The menu reminded me of my local mexican restaurant but a lot cleaner and quieter . I will be going often .

Favorite Sunday lunch place. We go to Don Juan's nearly every Sunday after church. The cheese dip is delicious and the chips are always fresh and warm. Every person on the staff is friendly. (The reviewer from CA mentioned a "mousy busboy" - I think she is referring to the very hardworking man who helps bring food to the table - I believe he may be one of the cooks. I don't think he understands a lot of English, but he is polite and works hard.) Every one of the longtime waiters there takes the time to stop by and say hi to us, especially our 7 year old son. We went there this past Sunday, and I asked the waiter if he would be willing to bring a sombrero for our son to wear for his birthday. They did that and also brought him a fried ice cream and sang to him. He felt very special (they always make him feel special by saying, 'HEY! Amigo!!" when they see him and coming to give him a high-five or shake his hand).<br/><br/>I love the cheese enchiladas. They are not "sauceless" - they have a delicious red enchilada gravy. The lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream come on the side. The beans are great, and the rice is mild. It is not typical of the rice you find in Mexican places, which is fine by me...I think most Mexican place make the rice taste awful. This one is just mildly seasoned.<br/><br/>The owner of the restaurant is friendly and comes to our table almost every time we visit to say hello and ask how everything was. He really makes an effort to provide outstanding customer service. I even saw him helping take food to another table this weekend (I guess they were unusually busy for Father's Day lunch).<br/><br/>We have eaten at plenty of Mexican places in town, and this one is our favorite by far. I will say that most of their food is not terribly spicy...and I am fine with that! Most places over-salt and over-season their food. I am happy to have found a place that makes the food taste good enough with fresh flavors that they don't feel the need to load it down with salt or hot sauce.

Great place!. There is nothing about this place that I don't like. Great strawberry margaritas, great mole sauce, outstanding guacamole.......what else can I say? Eat there!

The only thing Mexican about this place is the name !

Great salsa! Awesome and FAST service.

Great food and service. Family owned and operated.

Love the food and service is excellent. All that I have eaten has been great.

We love Don Juan's. We love eating at Don Juan's restaurant. The ceviche is always fabulous, as is the guacamole and cheese dip with chorizo. Their rice is the only item they could improve upon, but that truly is not a big deal for us. The chips are warm and salsa is great. We have always been greeted with warm friendly smiles and have never had a server with an attitude. You reap what you sow! The Californian's review really irks me because it is so nasty and unfair. I hope people see past it and try Don Juan's for themselves.

Good stuff. The bullet: Food - A, Service - A, Ambience - B, Price - B. I visit here when in Mandarin as often as I can. One of the best in Jax, but we have a dearth of real mexican. Food is served quickly, the guac was made fresh today and the staff was very attentive. I tried their BLT for a change today and it was excellent. Nicely spiced pico too.

Met friends for dinner last night. Good service. Good food. Not great but good. Staff made an effort to confirm good dining experience.

To Miss California,. This is is not San Diego, California. This is Jacksonville, Florida; far from Save by the Bell. I find it really lame that you would write a declaration of independence against Don Juan's Mexican Restaurant. I have been eating here since 2004 when it opened and this place is a "Mom and Pop" restaurant. I know the owner and his kids. This restaurant is not a chain and all my friends from YOUR "California" love this place. I love the service and food. Before you pass judgement on place that looks so great, modern and is independent owned, I will like to inform you that I have traveled the world and have eaten all over Mexico. From Baja California to the state of Chiapas and let me tell you something, San Diego Mexican food is not true Mexican food. It is Mexican-American food. It is San Diego food. Los Angeles Mexican-American food is superior to San Diego Mexican-American food. Wake up and go explore before you declare what is good or not. I bet you do not even know what a pupusa is? You should go to Lolita's Pupuseria in Jax and go find out!<br/><br/>From, <br/><br/>Rich and friends.

Simply the best Mexican food around! Strawberry margarittas are the best!

Second to none. We moved here from California 9 years ago and went 7 years without good Mexican food,(not even Don Pablos or Chevy's compared to this place) unless we were back home on a visit. We finally found Don Juan's and it is great, we have been there several times and never had anything close to a bad experience. The service is always spot on, the chips and salsa are very good and you just won't get a bad meal. We started going because we finally found someone that made a Chile Rellano the right way but we have discovered so many good things on there menu that I couldn't tell you the last time we had one. Back to the service, although it may not look like it when you walk in because it is so tastefully decorated this is a mom and pop place and the owner is often there to greet you with a smile. You can count on him stopping at your table at least once to check on you. this is a person that understands customer service but the great thing about it is we never have anything to complain about it is just always a very positive experience.

Their cheese dip is so good!. Yum!

Another Exceptional Tex-Mex! ;-). Their salsa is AMAZING!!! Prices are reasonable and portions are generous...Try the Gordita, Flauta and Tamale dinner...You won't be sorry! This one offers value and quality/quantity for the money...I'm a fan!!! Mille gracias! ;-)

Don Juan's offers the familiarity of a neighborhood eatery combined with the originality of dishes the ensures a unique, albeit a spicy experience. Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy