Yelp elite event at Juan's Restaurante - Baldwin Park

I recently attended Yelp's elite event (yes, again). It was probably my first time going to Baldwin Park but it only took us 304- minutes from Downtown, L.A. during busy traffic time.

The food was healthy, unique and interesting. They have so many cactus dishes.
 
"Juan’s Restaurante serves a pre-Hispanic inspired Mexican cuisine along with healthier versions of Mexican traditional recipes. 

Chef Juan Mondragon has taken a special interest in pre-Hispanic ingredients and dishes, which have many health benefits, and in finding ways to prepare traditional Mexican dishes healthier. We use grape seed oil in all of our cooking, no lard, egg whites in all of our flans, grill our empanadas, handmake our tortillas, and we believe in the health benefits of seeds and nuts and use them extensively throughout our menu and moles. Our agua frescas, or “fresh waters” are not sugar sweetened (stevia or pineapple juice instead), the queso fresco or “fresh cheese” is from organic hormone-free milk, the beans are made fresh (not refried), and we use a free-trade organic coffee bean from Chiapas, Mexico."

So there were not enough servers. Waiting for 90 minutes with a cup of caucus water. We were wondering if we ever gonna get our food soon? We saw other tables were getting their second dishes. Well, they totally forgot about our table. But as soon as one of us at our table told them that we haven't got our food, they started bringing us food. Also there was a fly in my drink, and there was an ant in one of our lime martini.

cactus water

Empanada -Cactus tortillas filled with squash flower

Grilled Cotija cheese squares in Guerrere style salsa
Since I don't eat cheese, I only ate salsa with tortillas. It was really spicy.

cactus tortillas

And after this, we were supposed to get our third plate, pear cactus salad, but they forgot about our table again, so we didn't get our salad.

And of course they forgot about our martini so we had to ask about it again. We finally got our Cactus Pear Martini about 1- 2 hours after they took our drink order.

Green chile, and pumpkin seed mole sauce, served with chicken breast and tamales nejos. Their tamale is very unique. It looks like eraser. Well, it's healthy version.

Red chile, 50+ ingredient mole sauce served with tamales nejos

And here comes delicious coffee
Mexican FTO Chiapas coffee brewed with sugar cane, cinnamon and ginger.

And my favorite of all. Plantain fritter filled with black beans, topped with a guava preserve and mexican yogurt

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And some yelp goodies to take home with me..

Juan's Restaurante 
4291 Maine Ave
Baldwin Park, CA 91706

(626) 337-8686
Thu-Fri 11 am - 9 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 9 pm

http://www.juansrestauranteinc.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/juans-restaurante-baldwin-park