Couple Bring 'Authentic Mexican' to Riverton

Riverton's restaurant scene received a dash of authentic south-of-the-border flavor this week with the opening of Juanita's Mexican Cuisine.

The restaurant opened Monday in the space formerly occupied by the Glory Days Cafe on Howard Street.

Co-owners, and husband and wife, Jose Garcia and Bertha Lopez—both of whom originally hail from Mexico and now live in Camden—said they initially opened Juanita's at the Grand Market Place in Willingboro, but were interested in moving because the market is only open four days a week. 

"That was our dream to have a place like this," said Lopez. 

"We want to show people really authentic Mexican food," Garcia added.

Garcia, a native of Puebla, Mexico—the birthplace of Mexico's famous mole sauce, he claimed—grew up working in his family's restaurant there and for a long time wished to carry on that legacy here in the States.

Garcia and Lopez have lived in the U.S. for the past 25 years.

Juanita's menu mixes in a little American to appeal to a wider audience, but the emphasis is definitely on Mexican: soft tacos ($2.50 apiece) burritos and tostadas; tortas (Mexican sandwiches); and a wide variety of platillos (Mexican platters), including chile rellenos (cheese-stuffed peppers) and pancita (Mexican beef soup with chile base). The restaurant also offers a number of Mexican desserts and beverages, including a (non-alcoholic) pina colada inside a pineapple (you can get it in a glass too).

Garcia said he plans to have one special dish each day.

On its first day, the restaurant had a minor lunch rush. And Garcia, like any good small business owner, bustled around the restaurant, interacting with new (and hopefully soon-to-be-loyal) customers and explaining the menu.

Joseph and Bogna Pro, local architects who had the good fortune of being able to walk to Juanita's from their home office, were excited at the prospect of having a Mexican restaurant in Riverton.

"Riverton really needs it," said Bogna, lamenting the lack of eateries in the borough. "I hope the people rally around it."

Juanita's, located at 517 Howard St., is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except for Wednesday; and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Garcia said he may tweak the hours once he gets a sense of when people are coming in.

The restaurant may be Garcia's and Lopez's first entrepreneurship, but Garcia already understands the first rule of managing a successful business: "I want people to be happy."

For more information, contact the restaurant at 856-786-0350. Juanita's offers delivery and pickup.