Awesome hole in the wall place with a lot to offer! It's easy to miss since it's hidden in a bigger shopping complex across from Grocery Outlet. Lots of parking available, especially during the weekday lunchtime. I stopped by to try it out after reading a friend's review and was able to try corned beef, lamb, and chop suey (like pancit) - it was all great and the prices are good too! They weigh everything by the pound so you can mix and match as needed - very home cooked family-style meal feel, and everyone was super nice (it's family-owned). I wish I had gotten to try their pineapple custard but they only make it select days of the week or you can call in an order (not sure if there's a minimum). I'll be coming back to try that someday!
Shai T.
I would say that this place is one of the most authentic food I have ever had, the guy in the front is the son of the owner and he was really nice and knowledgeable about the food and the making. Definitely I would go back again. Decent space I would extend a little bigger for people to eat inside !
Sherman T.
Bet you haven't had authentic home style Polynesian food prepared for you before (unless of course you grew up with it)! And if you haven't, you need to give your tastebuds a mouth opening experience! At Juanita's, you'll be introduced to fresh meats and stews seasoned and slow cooked to perfection. The aroma will lull you into this little gem found in the easily overlooked mall while you're on your way to more central locations in the city. Inside, you'll see a dimly lit dining area next to an open kitchen where you can see all the meal items being prepared. If you haven't had a chance, these Polynesian dishes are worth the stop. Flavorful, affordable, and abundant, you'll be fed enough for the meal you came in for and then some. The meats like their corned beef, ribs, and lamb can be heavy on their own and pair them with some side of chop suey, sausages, turkey tail, and taro, you'll have an extremely hearty meal. Also, don't pass up on the opportunity to try their desserts. The owner and staff (mostly family and friends of the owner) are super friendly and knowledgeable in the Polynesian cuisine, the food of their homeland. Their love definitely show through their food! Overall, Juanita provides a great experience into the Polynesian culture through its cuisine and while some flavors may be new to some, the home cooked feel of this comfort food can quickly grow on you.
Siupeli Tai
Everything from the food to their service is great. Highly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
DoTheRightThing
Wonderful and kind people run this shop. They had almost no vegetarian options so I got the pineapple custard pie which was yum! Juanita also refused payment for the mango passion fruit smoothie just to make up for not having vegetarian entrees, and it was priceless in taste as well! They are open most of the days but it may seem like they are closed when you see from the road. Drive into the parking lot to find the entrance.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Princess Cinalove
Very very delicious food, very very kind service, well prepared food.Yes I recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nathan Kong
The meats are soooo
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 4
Jose Carlo S.
Food was amazing here! First time ever having Samoan food and it did not disappoint! I highly Recommend the turkey tails and the lamb ribs! Juanita is the sweetest lady too and really makes you feel at home! 5/5 would recommend and am coming back!
Not bad, not bad at all. This place can easily be over looked. If you aren't actively looking for it. It's a small mom&pop shop with limited seating. Keep in mind their to go boxes don't have separators so all the food gets placed together and the flavors will all meld together. I don't necessarily like when all my dishes run into each other and I didn't want to bother having them place each of the dishes into individual containers. Nonetheless, the food was still good. It reminds me of going over a family members house for dinner. Nothing too over the top, but has a sense of comfort. There were a couple dishes listed on the menu that I didn't see in the warming trays but we arrived as soon as they opened so I'm sure they would have had it out if we waited a bit longer.
Thank you so much Ms Juanita for that delicious food and a great conversation. I really appreciate the extra food you gave me. Thank you so much!! Thank you for your kindness and your welcoming spirit! May God continue to bless you and your business!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Janet S.
Everyone RAVED about her food at my mom's funeral reception! Even my mom-in-law who is cc a former caterer herself & a great cook was really impressed. Highly recommend her services.
Kirk J.
Truly an unprecedented delight! It's rare in the Bay Area to find anything resembling affordable food - and yet here we have a combination of affordable food, tasty food, and incredible Samoan hospitality!Anyways, a quick description of how it works. You get food in a take-out box, they weigh it, and they charge you something. I am not exactly sure what the price is, but it's not really expensive at all. For basically a massive box worth two meals with all of their dishes, I ended up paying $13, including tax. So very affordable!Anyways, here are the food options they had on the day I went. 1. Taro Leaves - tasty and vegetarian, I think. Very flavorful, reminded me of a Filipino taro leaf dish I had once. Definitely something to load up on, because normally vegetables aren't as tasty to have.2. Corned Beef - surprisingly not as salty and jarring as I normally find corned beef to be. Although quite flavorful, you can taste the beef more than you would if say, you ordered corned beef at an American restaurant. Also recommended with the caveat that you already get some in the chop suey - which is amazing!3. Taro and Banana - I didn't try the taro and I didn't meant to try the banana, but the owner gave me a complimentary banana out of hospitality, and I couldn't turn that down. Much to my surprise, the banana was nowhere as sweet as I expected. In that sense, it actually acts as a perfect "staple" food to pair with the other dishes. Highly recommended! And I will try the taro next time!4. Chop Suey - probably the favorite chop suey I've ever had. The origins of chop suey are actually quite unknown though presumably it was some Chinese person (probably Cantonese) living abroad. Presumably, the dish found its way to Polynesia eventually and became greatly improved! It's extremely flavorful with various vegetables (peppers, onions), comes in a highly flavorful broth, and has bits and pieces of corned beef, which further adds to the flavor. I highly recommend getting this or even taking a big platter out to bring to a party.5. Lamb Shanks - Very interesting food. I didn't really associate lamb shanks with the Pacific Islands, but it was fantastic. Well-cooked, extremely fatty and rich, and very flavorful as lamb usually is. Very much one of my favorite lamb products.6. New Zealand Sausage - A very interesting product. It was actually not as dramatically flavored as sausage normally is - which actually means it can be eaten by itself (without any kind of staple to pair it with). However, still decently flavored and filling. Definitely recommend getting one or two.7. Turkey Tail - The MVP food. I have never ever had turkey before that I actually liked - I have historically associated turkey with being bland white meat that people punish themselves with in hopes of being "healthy." I will admit, the turkey tails are probably not very healthy, but they are incredibly rich, bursting with flavor (both inside and the outside glaze), and a delight to eat. Not only was it my favorite dish here, it was probably my favorite turkey dish I have ever had in my entire life - you must try it, especially if you do not normally like turkey. Anyways, all of this was $13. Highly recommended to everyone, especially if you want a large and filling lunch or early dinner.
John Visoria
What can I say, the food is obviously amazing. The turkey tails are one of the most delicious food I have ever had. The seasoning/sauce is perfect. The fat melts in your mouth like butter. They also have lamb ribs and corned beef which were also great.A true hole in the wall spot. Don’t expect to go on a date here. Nothing fancy. Take your food and enjoy it at home. They do have chairs and tables when you just can’t wait to dig in.Not the best looking photo but in here is the turkey tail mentioned earlier, ribs, corned beef, taro leaves, yams and banana. They usually have rice but the meats still paired well with the yams.Juanita and her husband are sweet. They always throw a little something in my plate ever since I’ve been going more recently. I guess they notices that I’m a regular now lol.
Yvonne M.
I am very sad to post this but because I would like others to know my experience and let them determine it on their own.It was a rainy day and we didn't want to drive all over to look for half moon pies, so I called this store at 11:30am and was told by a woman that the pies would be ready later. I called back around 1:30pm and a gentleman answered and said "pies, should be ready in an hour" We showed up about 15mins after an hour, and they told us "Omg we're all out" but I don't even think any were made.So, since we were there, I decided to purchase some food. I bought 2 Okas (really good), Taro (under cooked) Lu Sipi (ok) Fasi Povi (ok) Sausage (good) and Turkey Tails (didn't enjoy the flavor at all) overall...my plate was ok. I honestly don't think I will be visiting this store again. Everyone has their preference of Polynesian Food, so feel free to check it yourself.
Awesome hole in the wall place with a lot to offer! It's easy to miss since it's hidden in a bigger shopping complex across from Grocery Outlet. Lots of parking available, especially during the weekday lunchtime. I stopped by to try it out after reading a friend's review and was able to try corned beef, lamb, and chop suey (like pancit) - it was all great and the prices are good too! They weigh everything by the pound so you can mix and match as needed - very home cooked family-style meal feel, and everyone was super nice (it's family-owned). I wish I had gotten to try their pineapple custard but they only make it select days of the week or you can call in an order (not sure if there's a minimum). I'll be coming back to try that someday!
I would say that this place is one of the most authentic food I have ever had, the guy in the front is the son of the owner and he was really nice and knowledgeable about the food and the making. Definitely I would go back again. Decent space I would extend a little bigger for people to eat inside !
Bet you haven't had authentic home style Polynesian food prepared for you before (unless of course you grew up with it)! And if you haven't, you need to give your tastebuds a mouth opening experience! At Juanita's, you'll be introduced to fresh meats and stews seasoned and slow cooked to perfection. The aroma will lull you into this little gem found in the easily overlooked mall while you're on your way to more central locations in the city. Inside, you'll see a dimly lit dining area next to an open kitchen where you can see all the meal items being prepared. If you haven't had a chance, these Polynesian dishes are worth the stop. Flavorful, affordable, and abundant, you'll be fed enough for the meal you came in for and then some. The meats like their corned beef, ribs, and lamb can be heavy on their own and pair them with some side of chop suey, sausages, turkey tail, and taro, you'll have an extremely hearty meal. Also, don't pass up on the opportunity to try their desserts. The owner and staff (mostly family and friends of the owner) are super friendly and knowledgeable in the Polynesian cuisine, the food of their homeland. Their love definitely show through their food! Overall, Juanita provides a great experience into the Polynesian culture through its cuisine and while some flavors may be new to some, the home cooked feel of this comfort food can quickly grow on you.
Everything from the food to their service is great. Highly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wonderful and kind people run this shop. They had almost no vegetarian options so I got the pineapple custard pie which was yum! Juanita also refused payment for the mango passion fruit smoothie just to make up for not having vegetarian entrees, and it was priceless in taste as well! They are open most of the days but it may seem like they are closed when you see from the road. Drive into the parking lot to find the entrance.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very very delicious food, very very kind service, well prepared food.Yes I recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The meats are soooo
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 4
Food was amazing here! First time ever having Samoan food and it did not disappoint! I highly Recommend the turkey tails and the lamb ribs! Juanita is the sweetest lady too and really makes you feel at home! 5/5 would recommend and am coming back!
Good Island food ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Beef Corned Beef Taro Palusami, Turkey Tail
Not bad, not bad at all. This place can easily be over looked. If you aren't actively looking for it. It's a small mom&pop shop with limited seating. Keep in mind their to go boxes don't have separators so all the food gets placed together and the flavors will all meld together. I don't necessarily like when all my dishes run into each other and I didn't want to bother having them place each of the dishes into individual containers. Nonetheless, the food was still good. It reminds me of going over a family members house for dinner. Nothing too over the top, but has a sense of comfort. There were a couple dishes listed on the menu that I didn't see in the warming trays but we arrived as soon as they opened so I'm sure they would have had it out if we waited a bit longer.
Restaurantji Recommends
Thank you so much Ms Juanita for that delicious food and a great conversation. I really appreciate the extra food you gave me. Thank you so much!! Thank you for your kindness and your welcoming spirit! May God continue to bless you and your business!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everyone RAVED about her food at my mom's funeral reception! Even my mom-in-law who is cc a former caterer herself & a great cook was really impressed. Highly recommend her services.
Truly an unprecedented delight! It's rare in the Bay Area to find anything resembling affordable food - and yet here we have a combination of affordable food, tasty food, and incredible Samoan hospitality!Anyways, a quick description of how it works. You get food in a take-out box, they weigh it, and they charge you something. I am not exactly sure what the price is, but it's not really expensive at all. For basically a massive box worth two meals with all of their dishes, I ended up paying $13, including tax. So very affordable!Anyways, here are the food options they had on the day I went. 1. Taro Leaves - tasty and vegetarian, I think. Very flavorful, reminded me of a Filipino taro leaf dish I had once. Definitely something to load up on, because normally vegetables aren't as tasty to have.2. Corned Beef - surprisingly not as salty and jarring as I normally find corned beef to be. Although quite flavorful, you can taste the beef more than you would if say, you ordered corned beef at an American restaurant. Also recommended with the caveat that you already get some in the chop suey - which is amazing!3. Taro and Banana - I didn't try the taro and I didn't meant to try the banana, but the owner gave me a complimentary banana out of hospitality, and I couldn't turn that down. Much to my surprise, the banana was nowhere as sweet as I expected. In that sense, it actually acts as a perfect "staple" food to pair with the other dishes. Highly recommended! And I will try the taro next time!4. Chop Suey - probably the favorite chop suey I've ever had. The origins of chop suey are actually quite unknown though presumably it was some Chinese person (probably Cantonese) living abroad. Presumably, the dish found its way to Polynesia eventually and became greatly improved! It's extremely flavorful with various vegetables (peppers, onions), comes in a highly flavorful broth, and has bits and pieces of corned beef, which further adds to the flavor. I highly recommend getting this or even taking a big platter out to bring to a party.5. Lamb Shanks - Very interesting food. I didn't really associate lamb shanks with the Pacific Islands, but it was fantastic. Well-cooked, extremely fatty and rich, and very flavorful as lamb usually is. Very much one of my favorite lamb products.6. New Zealand Sausage - A very interesting product. It was actually not as dramatically flavored as sausage normally is - which actually means it can be eaten by itself (without any kind of staple to pair it with). However, still decently flavored and filling. Definitely recommend getting one or two.7. Turkey Tail - The MVP food. I have never ever had turkey before that I actually liked - I have historically associated turkey with being bland white meat that people punish themselves with in hopes of being "healthy." I will admit, the turkey tails are probably not very healthy, but they are incredibly rich, bursting with flavor (both inside and the outside glaze), and a delight to eat. Not only was it my favorite dish here, it was probably my favorite turkey dish I have ever had in my entire life - you must try it, especially if you do not normally like turkey. Anyways, all of this was $13. Highly recommended to everyone, especially if you want a large and filling lunch or early dinner.
What can I say, the food is obviously amazing. The turkey tails are one of the most delicious food I have ever had. The seasoning/sauce is perfect. The fat melts in your mouth like butter. They also have lamb ribs and corned beef which were also great.A true hole in the wall spot. Don’t expect to go on a date here. Nothing fancy. Take your food and enjoy it at home. They do have chairs and tables when you just can’t wait to dig in.Not the best looking photo but in here is the turkey tail mentioned earlier, ribs, corned beef, taro leaves, yams and banana. They usually have rice but the meats still paired well with the yams.Juanita and her husband are sweet. They always throw a little something in my plate ever since I’ve been going more recently. I guess they notices that I’m a regular now lol.
I am very sad to post this but because I would like others to know my experience and let them determine it on their own.It was a rainy day and we didn't want to drive all over to look for half moon pies, so I called this store at 11:30am and was told by a woman that the pies would be ready later. I called back around 1:30pm and a gentleman answered and said "pies, should be ready in an hour" We showed up about 15mins after an hour, and they told us "Omg we're all out" but I don't even think any were made.So, since we were there, I decided to purchase some food. I bought 2 Okas (really good), Taro (under cooked) Lu Sipi (ok) Fasi Povi (ok) Sausage (good) and Turkey Tails (didn't enjoy the flavor at all) overall...my plate was ok. I honestly don't think I will be visiting this store again. Everyone has their preference of Polynesian Food, so feel free to check it yourself.