Don Juan Mexican

July 29th, 2011

Tyler is over populated with Mexican “whole in the wall” restaurants and fancy high dinning Mexican restaurants, and all the restaurants in between. Tyler has two Don Juan restaurants, both brings the spicy tastes of Mexico to Tyler. Don Juan welcomes you into the neon colors of the Mexican culture.

Don Juan’s restaurant not only introduces Tyler to the Hispanic culture through neon colors and greasy food, but also through their odd decorative taste. Maybe it is just me, but I can not enjoy my food and company while hanging on the wall next to me is a large picture of a woman with facial hair and a uni-brow.

The uncomfortable chairs may make the restaurant look more colorful, but after a few minutes of sitting there my back begins to give out and I can not sit comfortably.

Although the art is ugly, the chairs are uncomfortable, and the neon colors begin to blind you as you walk through the door, the food is great! Don Juan’s is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Tyler. Although when you pick up your food you do have to be careful of the dripping grease. And if you have a sensitive stomach you better know where the bathroom is before you sit down to eat.

The thing I like about Mexican restaurants is the chips and salsa. The thing I hate is that they wait to bring out your food just long enough for you to get full off the chips.

There are not many more refreshing drinks than the cantaloupe juice at Don Juan’s. The fresh drinks remind me of the days that I have traveled down to Mexico. So if you really want the Hispanic experience, I think Don Juan’s restaurant is the best in town.

Tags: Brow, Cantaloupe, Chips, Don Juan, Don Juan Mexican, Don Juan Taqueria, Facial Hair, Few Minutes, Grease, Greasy Food, Great Don, Hanging On The Wall, Hispanic Culture, Hispanic Experience, Mexican Culture, Mexican Restaurants, Mexico, Neon Colors, Refreshing Drinks, Sensitive Stomach, Taqueria Tyler TX, Tastes, Uncomfortable Chairs
Posted in Mexican | No Comments »

Downtown Tyler Square, What Does it Offer?

December 7th, 2010

Tyler Texas Square

The downtown Tyler Texas square used to offer Jack King Jr. screaming “downtown Tyler” but he is no longer there and people would prefer to impersonate him now rather then hear him do that anymore.

But beyond Jack King Jr.’s TV commercial memorable pitch downtown Tyler has quite a bit more to offer. When I go downtown I usually am stopping at Don Juan’s Mexican Restaurant or I am taking my wife on a fancy date to Jake’s.

When going into Jake’s be sure to let the hostess know you want to go sit up on the roof top. If the weather is good the roof top offers the best experience while eating here. The food at Jake’s is very good and they have a finer dinner menu selection to choose from compared to Chili’s or even Outback.

Jake’s offers an experience of local Tyler Texas dining in one of the many old buildings that still have survived the square.

Just about one year ago a few of these old buildings were destroyed in a fire. In fact a remodeled store converted to a coffee shop/ music venue was taken out as well as a law firm and architecture business. This area is now being turned into a park thanks to the generosity of Brookshire’s grocery store company.

When in downtown during Christmas be sure to stretch your legs by walking in the square. The city of Tyler lights up the square with Christmas lights although any sign of a cross, nativity scene and so on is unfortunately missing. Times do change and political correctness is what you will see now during Christmas. The square is still very pretty and enjoyable and worth a stroll around.

The square also offers Tyler Citizens a fun place for kids as the Discovery Science Place is in walking distance. This place provides something along the lines of a interactive science center for kids in the age range of 2 – 9 and will easily take up a good 3 hours if you decide to experience everything there they have to offer.

Official Tyler Texas Downtown Square Christmas Tree

You can also find the very large First Place building at the Tyler Square. The First Place building houses Regions Bank and offers the best commercial real estate offices in town. Many businesses would not accept anything less than the premier facilities you get in this building.

If you are looking for commercial real estate in Tyler I definitely recommend riding the elevators and checking out the offices in this building first hand. Both the view, looks, and spaciousness in these commercial offices can’t be found anywhere else in Tyler.

Finally consider that the Tyler downtown square has several unique antique shops as well as a few very old traditional churches. You can find Marvin United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, and Christ Episcopal Church all in downtown Tyler and very close to the square.

Tags: Chili S, Christmas Lights, City Of Tyler, Coffee Shop, Dinner Menu, Discovery Science Place, Don Juan, Downtown Square Tyler Texas, Fun Place, Grocery Store, Interactive Science, Jack King, Menu Selection, Music Venue, Old Buildings, Political Correctness, S Tv, Science Center, Shop Music, Square in Downtown Tyler Texas, Tyler Square, Tyler Texas, Tyler Texas Downtown Square
Posted in Attractions | 6 Comments »

Don Juans Restaurant in Tyler Texas

October 7th, 2010

Don Juan

1313 E. Erwin

Tyler, TX.

(903) 526-0702

www.donjuantyler.com

My wife and I love Don Juan’s Restaurant. I think we will always love it. First of all we have a lot of history there. Don Juan is where we had our first date which both my wife and I were very careful not to call a date at the time. It was not a date. It was just two friends hanging out. Nervous. In love. Later we had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Don Juan. And we have had several romantic dinners there since then. We are both big fans of the food and the atmosphere.

Don Juans Mexican Restaurant

The food at Don Juan seems very authentically Mexican. I am not an expert but even the menu is in Spanish for Pete’s sake. That said, they know how to take care of their customers. If you have any trouble with their menu or ordering, the servers at Don Juan will be more than happy to help you understand the menu (the difference between a Flauta and Torta for example) without making you feel stupid.

A lot of people like to start their meal with an appetizer or an apertivo as they say at Don Juan’s. The appetizers at Don Juan include: Besitos for $3.25, Choriqueso, DJ’s Queso, or Guacamole for $3.50, Pico de Gallo for $2.50, Don Juan Nachos or Cocktel de Camaron (shrimp cocktail) for $7.50, Super Quesadilla for $6.99, Cincronisaida for $7.25, Ensalada for $5.99, or Carlos Sampler for $10.99.

I am sure the appetizers are very good at Don Juan’s but I’ve never ordered one. I’ve never needed to. They give you free chips and salsa that are so good you probably won’t feel the need for an appetizer unless you just really want to get some guacamole for your chips. The chips at Don Juan are thick and crispy and perfect. They give you two salsas to dip your chips in – the red and the green (verde). I love both. My wife prefers the verde salsa. Both are spicy so if you can’t handle two much heat you should go ahead and get the guacamole which is also very good.

Their are a lot of entree options to choose from at Don Juan. Their “De Mexico para el Mundo” section of the menu includes: original Mexican tacos ($1.45 each), Enchiladas, Enchiladas Verdes, Enmoladas, Tostadas, Sopes, Flautas, or Chile Relleno for $7.25. You can also get Tortas for $3.25, Pechuga Rellena for $7.90, and Milanesa for $7.99.

Don Juan also has combinations such as the Don Juan, Arturos Tacos, or Juanitos for $8.99, the Silvia’s for $9.99, Carlos Samplar for $10.99, Don Alex for $11.99, and Felipes for $20.99.

The Off the Grill section of Don Juan’s menu has some of my favorite food on the menu. They have Fajitas Para Dos for $16.99, Fajitas for $10.99, Carne Asada or Filete Asado for $7.99, and the Tilapia Asado for $9.99. I got the Fajitas for $10.99 and they were wonderful. I got both chicken and beef fajitas. the meat was really good, nicely seasoned and cooked. It filled me up. I was glad I didn’t order the Fajitas Para Dos (fajitas for two). I ended up taking some fajitas back with me to my hotel as it was. Of course I had to finish them later that evening. Yummy! I think I would like to try the Tilapia Asado some day as I am a fan of Tilapia (and Don Juan). The beans and rice at Don Juan which come with most of the meals are also quite tasty.

The Lo Tejano section of the menu offers Enchiladas Tejanas, Burrito, or Chimichanga for $7.25 and the Sopa de Tortilla for $4.99. My wife and I are huge fans of Chimichangas when they are done right.

Don Juan also has several specials (especiales) on their menu such as the Lunch Fajitas and Mole Grande for $7.25, the Sopa de Mariscos (grande) for $7.99, Guisado de Puerco and Bistek Ranchero for $5.25, Tortas for $2.50, Caldo De Pollo, Menudo, or Pozole (grande) for $5.99, and Don Juan’s Tacos for $1.00 each.

If you are looking to get something a little lighter than an entree or you want to beef up an entree a little bit you can always order off of Don Juan’s a la cart portion of the menu. The A La Carta options include the Super Quesadilla, the Cincronisada Chica, the Burrito, or the Chimichanga for $4.50. None of these come with rice and beans like the entree options of the same. You can also get an extra enchilada or an extra flauta for $1.99. For $1.45 you can get tortillas, frijoles, arroz, or quesos. Crema is $0.50. And Chips and Salsa to go cost $2.50. A twelve oz. container of salsa to go costs $3.99.

If you are in the mood for breakfasty type food just check out the Desayunos section of the menu. For $5.99 you can get Chilaquiles, Huevos Rancheros, Huevos con Chorizo, Migas, Huevos A La Mexicana or Huevos con Jamon O Tosino. For $1.99 you can get an order of Breakfast Tacos.

Don Juan has several drink options (Bebidas) including soft drinks, Iced tea, orange juice, milk, coffee, and Aquas Frescas. I think the Aquas Frescas are like water and fruit juice such as watermelon and cantaloupe. These have always been far to sweet for my taste wherever I have had them. If you have a real sweet tooth for that kind of thing though you will probably enjoy it.

There are only two desserts at Don Juan. They both cost $3.25. You can choose the cheesecake or the Flan Napolitano. I have never cared much for Mexican desserts. I just think they are far better at making other kinds of food. Dessert isn’t one of their gifts though. Flan is alright and cheesecake is not Mexican so it might be worth a shot. But I was far too satisfied with my fajitas to think about dessert.

I hope Don Juan is around for many more years so I can have a lot more dates with my wife there. Maybe Don Juan will become a special place for you too. Hey, if nothing else you will get some great Mexican food. You can’t complain about that.

Tags: Apertivo, Camaron, Chips And Salsa, Cocktel, Don Juan, don juan's, Ensalada, Flauta, Free Chips, Guacamole, Nachos, Pico De Gallo, Quesadilla, Queso, Restaurant Caption, Romantic Dinners, Salsas, Shrimp Cocktail, Tyler Texas, Wedding Rehearsal Dinner
Posted in Mexican, Taqueria | 1 Comment »

Had Lunch at Los Gueros Over By The Original Brunos Pizza on Vine

July 28th, 2010

Los Gueros Mexican Restaurant

I ate lunch today at Los Gueros and it was another stellar meal.

This place is great. Get their tacos or burritos and of course a bottled Coke.

Something about that bottle makes Coke taste so much better.

If I had to pick I would be hard pressed between this place and Don Juan’s mexican.

They each have their own style and so it offers a little change up in authentic mexican food in Tyler without those smelly nasty chitlins all over the food that you get in the really authentic stuff over in North Tyler.

If you like chitlins more power to ya my brother I just hate that nasty stuff when I see them swiming around in some beans or something.

Tags: Authentic Mexican Food, Brother, Brunos Pizza, Burritos, Chitlins, Coke, Don Juan, Gueros, Lunch, Nasty Stuff, Pizza Restaurant, Tacos, Vine
Posted in Mexican | No Comments »

Traditions Restaurant in Tyler Texas

July 23rd, 2010

As young man traveling abroad, with my folks and as a student, I took to heart the adage that to find the best food, find out where the locals eat. The Tyler community has a really incredible food culture and some great local eateries and institutions.

From Stanley’s to the Purple Pig, Don Juan’s, Jake’s, Rick’s, Bruno’s, Villa Montez, the list goes on and on and covers a variety of dining experiences both fine and casual. With this fact in mind, I am continually surprised by the success, and in some cases, the renown of some pretty blasé restaurants in town.

One such is Traditions on South Broadway. Now I’ve eaten at traditions on several occasions, and it’s not that the food is bad, but (in my opinion) the restaurant is nothing to write home about. In spite of this, their catering business is very successful, and services some exceptionally high class venues.

I am willing to concede that the special attention a catered event requires has probably helped to set the establishment apart from their area competition. In terms of the restaurant proper however, I remain underwhelmed. The cafeteria style pay at the end of the line makes me think of an upscale Luby’s or Ryan’s.

Traditions is a good place to bring quests who are generally more interested in getting the tip exactly right and less interested in sampling unique local cuisine. For those of us for whom meat and potatoes defines the perfect meal, Traditions is ideal. We took my visiting grandparents a couple of years ago, and they had a great time.

It never occurred to them that there were great places to eat that would more enrich their visit to Tyler. I guess that’s what I find lacking in Traditions. While the food is fine, visiting is not the event that a stop at my local favs like Stanley’s or Don Juan’s is for me. I’m not a foodie and I’m not continually trying to make a statement with every dining choice.

To paraphrase Sigmound, sometimes a burger is just a burger. But I also enjoy discovering new foods and new places to eat. If you’re like me in this respect you’ll not be hugely enamored of this eatery. Personally I’d give Traditions a three, out of five stars.

But don’t take my word for it, take an evening and judge for yourself. For more information, check out their website at http://www.traditionstyler.com/restaurant.shtml. For reservations, or speak to someone about having your event catered, call (903)534-1111.

Tags: Adage, Best Food, Cafeteria Style, Catering Business, Class Venues, Don Juan, Eateries, Favs, Food Culture, Foodie, Grandparents, Great Time, Meat And Potatoes, Paraphrase, purple pig, Renown, South Broadway, Spite, Tyler Texas, Young Man
Posted in American Food | No Comments »

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