It's been a few years since I've been to Juanito's Taqueria. My wife and I loved it the couple of times we ate here. But for us it was out of the way when we drove down the freeway between Bremerton and Silverdale. What fools we were. Well today, unfortunately, my wife stayed home while our son and I went to SEEfilm (highly recommend IT Chapter Two by the way) and did our customary go out to eat after the movie thing.
My son has been extolling the virtues of their California Burrito (with fries added to the meat, rice and beans) and the half/steak (carne asada)/half cabeza burrito that I decided this was the day I make my return. Boy, am I ever glad I did. First, the staff is as nice as can be--and more on that later. I ordered the daily special 3 cabeza street tacos with rice and beans.. To sum the flavors up in one word: wow. The meat was tender and richly, deeply flavored. It was easy to tell it's been slow cooked for hours. It's been years since I tasted any Mexican entree that wonderful. The refried beans (sprinkled with some grated cotija cheese) and rice were almost the meat's equal in the flavor department, which means they tasted exactly the I love Mexican rice and beans to taste. My son ordered his favorite half steak/half cabeza burrito and kindly allowed me to have a bite. Totally amazing flavors. And what impressed me was how filled with meat the burrito was. It was almost wall-to-wall meat with some beans and rice, which is the exact opposite from how burritos are served in most other Mexican food places.
Since I'm a kind, loving and thoughtful husband, ordered the pork torta with rice and beans to-go per my beloved wife's request. Halfway through devouring my food I asked a very nice staff lady (who had taken our order) if the to-go order was ready. She said they were waiting until we were halfway through with our meal to bring it out so it wouldn't sit on the table getting cold. What amazing customer service. i can personally attest that not only did my wife LOVE the pork torta and rice and beans, but her food was STILL WARM!
Oh yeah the three of us will be coming back here very soon. Next time I'm ordering the Carne Asada Chips as an appetizer. From now on this place is definitely ON the way. The people who have been carrying on with this business are making the founders proud. Juanito's Taqueria is a very special place. No wonder so many of their customers are loyal fans.
-- Rick L.