Review Juanitas Kitchen - Preston

Great little find. Loved the homely atmosphere and the staff. Really good vegan options and cocktails. Look forward to going back.

Juanita's Kitchen on High St, Preston is a not to hidden gem of the North. They pride themselves on fresh traditional Mexican cuisine using their own house made salsa's and fresh tortilla. Lots of plant based options. 5 out of 5 Tacos on a Sunday!

Unfortunately a very underwhelming and disappointing visit. Whilst the staff were friendly and the restaurant was nice, it couldn’t make up for the shortfall of the food. The burrito bowl was mostly rice. There was very little vegetables in it and strange ones too. I almost never see spinach and rocket in other bowls. There was only a small hint of tomatoes too. To top it off, the bowl had so much water in it from probably the beans. The other item we got was the quesadillas. The cheese was somehow very dry and the tortilla tasted stale like it had been reheated after 3-4 days. It was lacking flavour too and the dip provided just barely saved it. Lastly, it took more than 15mins to get our meal which was honestly too long seeing as there were no other customers to serve while we were there. We timed the next couple’s meal and theirs took about 17mins. I understand freshly prepared but I think that was too long. Struggled to find positives and to have had to pay a 10% surcharge for a Sunday, I would have and probably will drive a further 15mins to another restaurant in the future.

Finally found some decent Mexican food in Melbourne! There are so many amazing options & lots of vegan options including vegan chorizo! My only suggestion would be to make the portion sizes a bit larger (because it was so yummy!) & change the hours to be open on evenings & weekends! :)

Expect freshly made hand-pressed tortillas. We ordered the Mexican egg breakfast with vegan chorizo mix, and also Eggplant Mole. They were delicious. :)

Spare of the moment decision..never had Mexican before. Food and service was very good. Will definitely be visiting again.

Had the breakfast bowl. Very yummy and full of variety. A little too much beans though so couldn’t finish it. Would definitely come back to try other things on the menu. Love my Mexican food :)

Junita's Kitchen has been on the list to try for quite a while. High hopes, but didn't really live up to ratings. Place doesn't really have much atmosphere and only one wait staff. The place wasn't business but service was still quite slow. The food was quite slow as well. The food was average, didn't find any of the flavours of the food special. Paid $5 for guac on the narchos. Felt pretty over priced

Wow. What a great place. My girlfriend and I discovered this gem of a place the other week. We both had amazing breakfasts. A great place for vegetarians aswell!!! Why we waited for our meals we marveled at all the delicious items they have for sale on the shelves from salsa to spice pastes. We purchased a few and they were delicious. After our meal we had a great chat to the owner and her daughter who just just the nicest people. We cant wait to come back again. I highly recommend this place

Simply put a fantastic , friendly local eatery. The tortilla's were fresh and house made and reminded me of my time near the Mexican border. The fillings were delicious and all served at a great price. In short the place is great and my new fave. Caters to all dietary types and includes West African inspired dishes. Will be back.

A great find, we traveled from Doreen to try the food and it was so delicious - very authentic. Lovely atmosphere. We'll be back

Lazy brunch, Delicious fresh food, good options for vegans & non vegans, generous servings & pleasant atmosphere. Will definitely come back

The cakes were amazing. So healthy and delicious! Can't wait to come back for more :)

Ordered the Vegetarian pack to feed 2 people and it was amazing! Haven’t tasted such fresh tasting no sour cream and loaded with cheese tex mex. Good to know there’s a good decent honest tasting Mexican place close to where I live. Highly recommend.

3.5. Tacos are very generously packed with meat and veggies, actually I don't think I've ever had so much salad and salsas on my tacos before! The nachos were also very generous. Overall nice, but would've liked more sauce/flavours on the tacos. A really nice homely restaurant.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/><br/>Awesome! Cosy little restaurant with friendly staff. The potato’s were amazing as were the tostadas, everything tasted really fresh. Great serving sizes at great prices. They don’t have a licence yet so don’t sell alcohol but the ice tea was delicious. Huge range of veggie, vegan and gluten free options too.

Food is a bit bland without the condiments. Otherwise, pretty good.

So delicious, Juanita puts her heart into her food and sauces. My fave is the nachos, can't go passed good nachos! I can't decide which is my favourite sauce but the salsa picante and the tomatillo are delicious!

Food was excellent. Very good home made sauces

I’d been hearing about Juanita’s Kitchen for a little while. A 100% Gluten Free eatery in Preston featuring authentic Mexican cuisine. I finally had the chance to check them out one Saturday with my dad. You can find them at 219 High Street in Preston and enjoy dinner from 6pm til 9pm Wedensday to Sunday or Lunch 11am til 3pm Thursday or Sunday. There is off-street parking available or it is just a short walk from Bell Station or stop 45 on the route 86 tram.

Wow!! What a little find in Preston! We initially wanted to use our Zomato gold butb when we arrived we were told it was their monthly taco night. This meant we didn't use our zomato gold, but it means that we get to return!!<br/><br/>Everything about this place was awesome. It's a very small quaint place but it has such a family feel to it. We had the taco bake and the chicken for the tacos, the tortillas were awesome as was the filings.<br/><br/>The best thing we had was the delicious apple / custard desert both my husband and I agreed that it was one of the best desserts we've ever had. Everything here is gluten free and they cater for vegans as well.<br/><br/>I cannot wait to return, I felt so at home here and nothing was too much for the staff.!

Hubby, bubby and I got there at about 6pm. We had the place to ourselves for a bit! Bubby loved walking around the small but cozy place, discovering little bits and bobs that they had on display. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Juanita came out to say hi! We ordered tacos (beans, pulled pork and chorizo), JK’s quesadillas, mole and the beetroot brownie. The tacos were fantastic! All the toppings were flavourful and tasty, tortillas soft and absolutely fresh! The quesadillas were cheesy and filled to the brim with toppings. Crispy and crunchy, tangy and sweet, spicy and cool... Wonderful contrasts. The mole was amazing! So much flavour in just one dish! Very hearty and earthy. Just like a good warm hug. Even bubby loves it so much he got upset when we slowed him down... Dessert was very unexpected. We thought it was a conventional baked brownie but it doesn’t seem like it. I think it is a gluten free one! I thought it would be not as fudgie but it was anything but fudgie! It was fudgie but light almost like a dense mousse with a nutty bite to it. So good! The food and experience has made it such an impression that we’re looking forward to going back!

While I really wanted to like this place, I was disappointed. I waited quite a while for the food to come out, which didn’t bother me too much as I wasn’t in any rush. When the food came out, I was hungry and expecting some delicious “vegan chorizo” quesadillas, however, what I ate did not taste good at all. Maybe it’s just the “vegan chorizo” because I tasted my dining partner’s vegan enchilada and it tasted so much worse. It was soggy and fully of the strongest cinnamon tasting mush, honestly so inedible that we left most of it on the plate. I hope to try this place again some time, with improved vegan options.

I love that everything is made FRESH in Juanita's Kitchen!! <br/><br/>For drinks, we tried the hibiscus ginger iced tea, which was so refreshing and lovely. The chilli hot chocolate was amazing too, perfect for a cold day. <br/><br/>We tried the Eggplant Mole, soooo delish and satisfying. I would definitely recommend you try this dish! <br/><br/>The vegan tacos were all tasty too! I love that they have vegan chorizo available, as well as regular bean tacos. <br/><br/>As for dessert, the salted caramel vegan cheesecake is just TO DIE FOR!!<br/><br/>I would definitely recommend popping in to try some of the amazing menu options here. Or, if you live close by, you can order on Uber Eats!

I came here with a friend one time and the food was delicious. I had the tortilla and the flavours were delicious. They also had sauces of their own on the table which made it taste even better with the food. Price wise it's okay and the quantity was perfect where as my friends plate was quite a big portion to finish on her own. Would come again

Mexican food is one of the cuisines I've missed since moving from the States. It's hard to find great Mexican fare in Melbourne let alone vegan-friendly options but Juanita has provided the fix I need. Their menu showcases their diverse range of sauces and drink mixes, including a delicious housemade vegan chorizo and the best mole ever. I tried the quesadillas filed with chorizo, sweet potato and vegan cheese, topped with a heaping scoop of guacamole. Bonus points that they don't fall apart when you eat them. They're light and healthy yet super satisfying. I also had the enchiladas, full of citrus and zesty spice and a super tasty vegan cheese sauce drizzled on top. I love the Mexican rice that accompanies them, which is a dish I rarely get to enjoy. To drink, I got the fresh and vibrant very smoothie, topped with housemade TLC mix for added texture. I also tried my friend's soy dirty chai which is slightly sweet and the right amount of spicy. Juanita's is comfort food made healthy. Everything is wholesome and made with care. I highly recommend, whether you're after some products to take home or a delicious vegan/vego breakfast in the Preston area.

I wanted SO much to love this place, but I didn’t. I came for a taco night a couple of months ago - a date night with my partner. There was one other group in the restaurant and a couple of tables had finished as we arrived. <br/>We waited a really long time for our food to come out (the larger table had to wait even longer). Take away orders were going out the door while we waited...and waited. There was lots of apologizing and complimentary corn chips but it left us feeling disappointed. <br/><br/>Then food was just fine.

Very good quality and healthy Mexican food. Just dropping one star as it can sometimes take a little while to get your meal, which can be a little issue on a lunch break. But very tasty food.

This place has the best authentic mex food ever. Tacos and enchiladas<br/>are to die for. The vegan cheesecake and brownie are also super creative and tasty! Will come back for more.

I have honestly never had better food than here. Juanita puts so much love in her food! Must try the quesadillas and the Salted Caramel Cheesecake! Also, the hot sauce is my love ❤️

Went for lunch, despite there only being one other couple, service took such a long time I almost just walked out. While waiting, I went to the bathroom - which was dirty and depressing out the back in a drab messy courtyard. That made me want to leave, but I was starving and had already waited so long. <br/><br/>The food was pretty meh, not very flavoursome. There was no hot sauce on the table, just bbq and more of the same mild tomato sauce already on the food, which I suspect had been microwaved. The menu was very busy and also randomly included African dishes? Won’t be back. I’d recommend this place for an episode of Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares.

Lovely atmosphere, amazing food.<br/><br/>I was lucky enough to come to a Taco night here recently. The decor is warm and welcoming, with traditional rugs and simple decoration. Hibiscus tea was lovely.<br/><br/>The food was easily the best Mex I've had in Melbourne. I love the family feel. These guys care about food, you can see it, and you can taste it. I can't wait to come to the next taco night and try those amazing 10/10 handmade tortillas again. Extremely well priced and those homemade sauces are to die for. Yum yum. Thank you Juanita's !!!

The food is great and she does amazing traditional Mexican food. It’s super fresh and tasty! Love her and her food! Will keep coming back. :)

Not sure if this has changed owners recently but my experience at Jaunita's Kitchen was absolutely dreadful. Service was almost non-existent and the rice and enchilada were microwaved resulting in a soggy enchilada and dry rice. Completely inedible and when I asked if it had been microwaved I was informed "yes we have to, to melt the cheese." I'm preeetty sure most people use a grill/oven for that actually. Totopos were stale and flavourless and definitely out of a packet and nothing had any spice. Easily the worst Mexican I've ever had. Ever.

Delicious food; cosy atmosphere; great friendly service... i love this place. And in addition, the bottled range of delicious salsas and marinades available mean you can keep tasting the flavours at home.

It's awesome having a Mexican style cafe in Preston. Great vegetarian and vegan options, nice service and awesome food. Highly recommended!!

This place is one of my favourites! Genuine home cooked meals, generous portion sizes and delicious food. I am vegan, my partner dedicated meat eater, we both love Mexican and this place hits the spot for both of us. Has a homey feel which might put others off but I can't get enough of this place.

Amazing food, amazing service, what more could you ask for? I would highly recommend Juanita's Kitchen! Thank you so much and hope to be back soon!

Having a couple of vegetarians in the family makes it a little difficult when trying to choose a place to eat out.  Juanita's Kitchen is the answer!  Lots of really fresh, tasty Mexican food (and some West African food) with their delicious home made sauces and we were all really happy.  Most of the meals are vegetarian or vegan and you can choose whether or not to add meat.  They make their own vegan chorizo, too, which is delicious.  We tried the warm apple cider which is a revelation - it really is just like apple pie in a glass.  You can buy their sauces to take home, too.  A cosy, welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff make this a must on our list of cafes to keep going back to.

A reflection of one's passion and turned it into a business ...... <br/><br/>Easy to find even awkwardly located, hard to park, we would never stop by if it weren't for a Groupon voucher.<br/><br/>What I like; quaint in size, friendly owner-operator, nicely set up, lots of "homely" touch, lots of vintage items on display, etc. As close as you can get to a home-cooked style cafe, wonderfully presented.<br/><br/>The Menu is filled with good old Mexican fares and interestingly some Senegal/West African influence. We've enjoyed what we've ordered; cooked well, nicely presented, ample size. Baked Eggs only missing a bit of salt and pepper. Their Quesadilla breakfast special is even better with a bit or a lot of that Juanita's special hot sauce.<br/><br/>A pleasant brunch and check out their sauces online.

Hidden but Very nice mexican experience, the food taste fresh and nice, good balance with the sauce (loveee the sauce), very friendly owner too.we've tried tostadas, quesadillas and brekky special. Hibiscus ice tea very refreshing as well.

Had the vegan breaky bake with vegan chorizo and the coconut chai latte. The bake was tasty but would have been better with some kind of salad on the side or something. The latte was nice but a little gritty. I'll definitely be back to try something else, I really want to try the salted caramel cheezcake!! It looks delicious. Service was great.<br/><br/>Edit: came back, tried vegie pastels which were really yummy, better than the other meal I had. Also tried the vegan salted caramel cheezcake and peanut butter cup and loved them both. Adding 0.5 to my rating. Happy to see more vegan options near my work :)

Unfortunately i haven't visited the 'Kitchen' but oh lordy....those sauces and condiments are to die for - no wonder they've won Australian Food Awards! So far I've tried the Mexican Mole and Le Baobab, a west African sauce, and they are both really something special, easy to eat as a dip but also for cooking. I highly recommend them and looking forward to trying more sauces and condiments. Congrats on your award!

Only been here for coffee and cake but Juanita does these very well. So I'll keep coming back.<br/><br/>Also got a few of the sauces and pastes to take gome, the perfect amount of spicy!

After one visit I'm a huge fan of Juanita's Kitchen. My dish of tostadas turned out to be an intensely flavourful jumble of beans, salad, salsa, yoghurt on crunchy tortillas, which I slathered in the incredible complimentary hot sauce and washed down with a Hibiscus Slap – a zingy, fizzy drink with a hibiscus tea base. There are lots of reasonably priced sauces and salsas to buy in the shop – I bought a flavour base and was given a free small bottle of hot sauce (not to mention the complimentary bowl of slaw and chipotle sauce that came out with my meal!). Will be coming back here again and again.

Taco nights are insanely good value, best and most authentic tacos I've had in Melbourne hands down. The tomatillo salsa is insanely good, and you can buy it the jars as well to take home. Get in for a taco night before people find out about this place and you have to wait two hours for a table.

We enjoyed the once a month $15 Friday night tacos at Juanita's yesterday. It was our first visit. It's a casual little place, very friendly and everything is made in house. The tacos were really very very good! There is one vego option for taco filling (we did not ask whether there was anything else on offer as we were there for the Tacos). The pork, steak and chorizo mince tacos were our favourites from the ones we ordered.   They came with a selection of condiments (generous portions) - chipotle, guacamole, diced onion and chopped coriander and the best chilli sauce!   (Their own recipe). They offer a selection of goods - sauces etc - for purchase, which also looked interesting. We didn't look at their usual menu/haven't been in any other time, so can't really comment on the variety, experience at other times. But, Friday night tacos before heading up to the Raccoon Club or on to Joanie's, Carwyn or Pallino will no doubt be a regular thing for us now! Really very good value for very very good tacos!  Only gripe - would have loved to washed them down with a cold beer :)

Hidden gem...!!!!!!! Aesthetically pleasing, comfortable space with amazing fresh food & great produce. I've been to Juanita's a handful of times now and every meal so far has been a complete winner. <br/><br/>Waaaa mas taco's from scratch......reminded me of Mexico, i can't rave about it enough, by far one of my favorite places to eat in Melbourne.  <br/><br/>I can't fault it and neither can the peeps I work with.