GUADALAJARA EXPRESS San Juan Tx.

"We visited this restaurant for a birthday occasion. The restaurant is nicely decorated and clean. The restrooms were clean and stocked. Waiter was nice and friendly. The food took long to come. The food portions are somehow small and food is okay."

"Guadalajara Express is a pleasant surprise and something different in Mexican cuisine for the RGV. There is limited signage, and the establishment is small (cozy), so it is easy to miss if you're not alert. It's located just west of Raul Longoria in a strip mall, on the south side of Nolana Loop, next to Magnolia Events. To get into the parking you need to approach it from the west (as if you're coming from the expressway I-69-C), because dividers in the road do not allow a left turn if you're coming from the east. But it is well worth the visit! Guadalajara Express specializes in regional Mexican food from the Guadalajara, Jalisco area. I spent my teen years living in Guadalajara, so when I heard about them, it got my attention! I love the regional cuisine from Guadalajara, and there are several things on their menu you can not find anywhere else in the Valley. I have often been disappointed with Mexican restaurants here as many restaurants "americanize" their food. I am thrilled to say that Guadalajara Express has authentic regional jaliciense food and does it well. The owners / operators are from Guadalajara (once I tasted their food, I could have guessed that). I have been twice. The first time I ordered the "carne en su jugo," strips of tender beef in a delicious broth with bacon and beans. It had just the right combination. They serve corn tortillas to accompany it. In Jalisco, you will rarely find flour tortillas (that is a North Mexico thing). The second time, I had the torta ahogada. It was wonderful! I was especially impressed since I knew it takes a special kind of birote (bread) to make the torta ahogada; the usual "bolillo" won't work. The birote is denser so it won't fall apart when they cover it with salsa. They found a bakery that special bakes the birote for their torta ahogadas. They use a nice toasted birote filled with carnitas, then covered with salsa. Back in the 1970s, they used to dunk the torta into the salsa, but nowadays, it is ladled on. They ladle on a mild salsa, but provide a cruse filled with super hot salsa made with chile de arbol.for you to apply. Use caution, as it IS liquid fire! The ambiance and decor are beautiful, with lots of traditional Mexican "artesanías" the styles of which I recognized as made in Tlaquepaque or Tonalá, from the Guadalajara metropolitan area. It is a bit cluttered but pleasant. Both times I went, it was very clean, the service was exceptional, and the food was heavenly. Prices seem a tad high, but considering you won't find their unique offerings anywhere else, I thought it reasonable. I really enjoyed it and think you will too."

"I highly recommend this one of a kind gourmet experience with authentic Guadalajara cuisine; the name of the restaurant is not just to sound Mexican. The food is freshly made or fixed from scratch. You will be well greeted and as the food starts coming the gentleman will recommend you instructions on how to combine and eat your food…. trust me, even if you are Mexican, you will want to listen as we really enjoyed what was recommended. First we started with the fresh agua de tamarindo and the chips with salsa, right behind comes a delicious small bowl of fideo similar to the one gramma used to make as starter. Then came the real deal; tacos de birria with that authentic queso Oaxaca and the tacos dorados which are not your topical fried tacos that are common to everyone, this are filled with potatoes and sealed like an empanada with pork bites spread on top. Overall the taco dorado were favorite over the birria. Gotta say, I was skeptical about the pork because it is one of the meats I least enjoy, but they really know how to make it taste great here."

"Delicious authentic food! Highly recommend it! Great customer service! Definitely coming back!"

"Beautiful decor.. great food and service.. got there before closing time, waitress was so nice did not make me feel bad for getting there before closing time. Will come again!!"