Mama Juana’s Latin Lounge

Came here for a friends birthday. We had dinner, I had the chicken with cilantro cream sauce, it was alright, a little too bland for my taste. My husband had the fajitas and he really liked them. The waitress was actually really nice and attentive, but she did keep rubbing my husbands arm. so maybe thats why she was so attentive haha.
They had a little salsa teaching session which was pretty cool. I did enjoy the music and we had a great time.

My GF and I used to really enjoy dancing to the live music, the food and the crowd. The food was good, not great (and a bit pricey). The drinks were of the same caliber as the food. Nice scene overall. So what the hell happened to them?!
We went out one night on a whim and found that they were closed down. Are they going to open again? Anybody know why they closed? Such a pity… and the Rumba Room is now a memory too.

Tonight (6÷30÷2012) is you LAST night to go dance here. They will be closing…

old school feel. decent size. good music. crowd wasnt bad.
i wouldnt go out of my way to go here, but it’s a definitely decent option provided your date knows how to dance.
if she dont (or he), then dont waste your time here.

Great place to learn salsa!!! Good food. Decent drinks. Cadillacs are 11.00 each. Not strong but tasty. FYI LIVE MUSIC!

i had a lot of fun WATCHING on the side!!! lol
i feel that im a pretty good dancer and im a fast learner but the people here made me feel intimadated…
when my boyfriend and i finally got the gutts to get up and dance and just have a good time the people there were snooby and snooty and made me feel uncomfortable… so we ended up leaving and going somewhere where we felt more confortable… but i do plan on going on sunday and getting lessons lol

This place tries to be classy but it’s actually quite trashy.
My least favorite of all Latin club/​lounges. No parking unless you get lucky on the street or want to pay extra to valet.
Bathrooms are tiny and dirty. They ran out of soap to wash your hands… gross (especially at a dance club where you are touching people’s hands with every song. Yuk!
The food looked and smelled appetizing though I didn’t try it since I went there to dance not eat.
The only redeeming quality of this place (and the only reason it gets two stars instead of one) is that they bring good bands to play from time to time. Today I saw Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loka and they were really good.
But when the band take a break and the Dj takes over, brace yourself for bad reggaeton and ghetto jams to hump to on the dance floor.
Though marketed as a Latin/​Salsa club the only salsa you’ll get is as a side on your plate.
Dancers are show-​offs, they think they know how to dance but they step all over you, try to get closer than is comfortable and spin you around unsafely that you end up hitting and being hit by the other dancers on the dance floor.
No place to sit or put your bag and coat down unless you reserve a table to eat or buy lots of booze and bottles for your table.
Not only do you pay $ 15 to get in but drinks are also expensive.
Of all the latin dance places in the city this one is at the bottom of my list.
Get your act together Mama Juanas!

I was full of anticipation and a bit nervous as my two girlfriends and I walked up the staircase to the stocatto beat of the live music blaring from above. As we walked through the crowd to a table, I was enveloped by the steamy heat that was being generated by the dancers spinning, twirling, dipping and cascading along the smallish dance floor. I loved it! I wanted to do what they were doing! I wanted to swivel and sway and flip my hair and my hips and be awesome. Only, I could tell the dancers knew what the hell they were doing, and my style of Salsa is… my own. I make it up.
We sat; I tapped my feet. I danced in my seat as the horns played on. I watched. It was like being at a high school dance and waiting for someone to ask you to dance.
Finally, I was offered a hand! As I took his, I smiled my best smile and tried to say in my best Spanish, «Yo soy not the best dancer, pero yo will try!» He smiled back, clearly not understanding what I said; plus the music was so loud, no room for talking.
He whipped me onto the floor and it was ON!
Number One: SHOES! There’s a reason the ladies are in dance heels (
). Cute stiletto’s will not cut it. I was slip-​sliding all over the freaking place. Not sexy. I am a jazz dancer, so I knew to pull myself up from the center of my core and I kept my balance, but Holy Shit! Non-​dance shoes made my job harder.
Number Two: Lessons. Take ‘em. I was so inspired to get myself to a class and learn the basics…
Luckily, I’m a tall girl and I LOOK like I’d know how to dance, so after a while, I received a lot of offers to dance. BUT, when the dudes got me out there and learned that I was kinda crappy, it was «Adiós» and I was verrry politely twirled back to my seat after the first dance (can you say, Baby with the watermellon in Dirty Dancing? ha!)
Eventually, our friend’s instructor arrived and he gave me some basic pointers that I was able to apply to my Home-​made Salsa.
Mama Juana’s is a great place when you know what you are doing. It’s Latin based, obviously, but so multi-​cultural and multi-​aged. Very un-​Hollywood and full of life. Loved it!

This place has many great things about it, but I can’t get behind it 100%.
They do have live music and a large dance floor. But, the music ends at midnight (and the club is open until 2).
I was very disappointed with the turnout on a Friday night. It made for very limited dance partners.
On Friday, the band played way more merengue and cumbia than salsa (which is why I go). Call me picky, but I like my straight up salsa! I think it must have been that particular band that night. They have different bands each night, so I suppose that is just the luck of the draw.

There is a $ 10 cover that goes to the band (so I’m happy to pay), but we arrived at 11pm and only got an hour of live music.
As soon as the band was done, the DJ started to play latin pop music. My friends and I made the best of it and continued to dance, but we wanted to salsa! They eventually played a few more salsa tunes before the bar closed.
Their cocktails are delicious, but are 10 bucks a pop.
It is a fun place dress up and go out dancing! Looking forward to going back to see what else they have to offer.

I’m going to preface this review by saying that I’m giving the place one more chance and update my review, just in case this night was a fluke.
We saw that they had salsa dancing on Sunday nights with a free lesson included at 8:00 PM. If you got in early and ordered dinner, they waived the entrance fee. Cool, we thought. Dinner, a salsa lesson and salsa dancing.
Unfortunately, the instructor got there somewhere between 9:30 PM and 10. That’s right — an hour and a half to two hours late! Rather than telling us, «Look, the instructor flaked on us and we don’t think the other guy will get here for an hour,» the staff /​owners kept saying «oh, he’ll be here any minute». Argh. I hate it when managers do that. Too their credit, they gave everyone free passes to come back. Smart move on their part.
As for the food, it wasn’t that great to be honest. The buffet was fine, if sparse, but the ropa vieja rates pretty low on my list.
When we did get dancing it was pretty fun because, although the dance floor was small, there wasn’t a ton of people there, which meant we had just the right amount of space to practice.
If they can get a bit better organized and make sure there instructors get there on time, I think Sundays could be a lot of fun here… but just pay the cover and skip the dinner.
Oh, and the great thing about Sundays — free street parking!

Esther, the general manager, is lovely. She makes sure that all her guest at Mama Juana’s are having an enjoyable time. She is very attentive to all the club goers. She is a fabulous lady. The club is quant, and the staff are wonderful. Love the live music! My husband, and I celebrated our aniversary there, and Esther went out of her way to reserve a table for us, decorate it, and served us a delicious desert. I highly recommend Mama Juana’s for any celebration. We had a ball on the dance floor, dancing to the live band… LOVED IT! Thank you Esther and Patrick! See you both soon!

I can dance.
I have taken dance classes since I was a kid, but this is not why I say I can dance. I can dance because you can’t stop me. That said, salsa dancing, you probably should.
My wife and I have hit up Mama Juana’s about 3 times so far, and it never fails to be a good time. I have taken the class and I have eaten the food. I even had a chance to interact with one of the operators (owner, manager?).
Here’s the down and dirty…
The food is fine. It’s not going to win any awards but then again neither is most of the dancing… mine or otherwise. It’s California-​Latino food and it does what food is supposed to — feed the beast. Go for the dancing and drinks and don’t consider this a restaurant experience.
The dancing is also fine. Enough tasty margaritas and almost anybody will go up. The brave will take a class, which is in full view of anyone eating, and may I add, very entertaining when the 20-​something crowd goes up for their first time. The truly bold, however, will dance with a regular. There are clearly different styles, and I am getting most of the social dynamics, but you better have chops for this. Otherwise, join me on the side of the floor keeping to my wife and myself.
The music is solid. Twice we stayed for the live music (I get tired early) and even if you don’t rock musica latina in your iPhone, you will appreciate the solid beats coming from any of the local bands.
And the management? Yeah these guys are not going to win peace awards and they need to be trained on how to be hosts… but who cares? Go for the drinks and dancing and you will be less disappointed.
Go on… dance.

I have two reviews, one from myself and the other from my sister that just doesn’t care for the world of technology so she asked me to do it for her :)
Years ago my cousin rented out this place to celebrate his wife’s surprise 40^th Birthday. The staff was great, really nice and attentive. I don’t remember much because the Mojitos were flowing and damn. I still haven’t had a better Mojito than that place so 5 stars just for that alone!
Now for my sisters review from Last Friday. She went with her husband and another couple to have dinner and then dance afterwards. She couldn’t stop raving about the Cilantro Chicken that Chef Juliet had prepared, everyone loved their food but all I kept hearing about was this delish chicken. One of the gentlemen had ask for some peppers or a hot sauce and Chef Juliet made a salsa from scratch and delivered it personally to the table. They had a blast all the way through and will definitely be going back.
I must go back soon as it has been too long and I am definitely ordering this Cilantro Chicken I keep hearing about. Look out for an updated review :)

One word: I really like this place!
It could have been the low-​key Sunday night, it could have been a fateful conversation with the bartender Anna Maria, it could have been the generous amounts of whiskey, it could have been all of everything aligning just right, but whatever it was, I really had a good time at Mama Juana’s!
A good friend of mine was in a few years of funk. After we left this place, beginner salsa class under our belt, a fair amount of genuine smiles from strangers we danced with, and a sincere conversation with Anna Maria, my friend rediscovered the thing that had gone missing from his life.
Dancing. Dancing makes him happy.
So Mama Juana’s gets five stars from me.
Because dancing makes me happy, too.
Cheers.

This is a great place to have some fun with friends and dance. Been here on a few occasions now. The meals and drinks are always good.
The best aspect though is the live music and dancing. While most of the dancing is geared towards Salsa, they have a bunch of variety each an every time especially when the DJ comes on in between sets. Whether you are a beginner (like me) or a more experienced dancer (like some of my friends) you are sure to have a great time. Highly recommended checking it out.

Salad was drenched in dressing, I suggest getting it on the side.
The main dishes we got were good, the adult drinks were wonderful. :o)
The salsa lesson was very fun! The guy was helpful and made it fun and easy. Although it’s a basic little dance, there were people there that obviously know more, it was fun to watch them.
Very sit and chill, good date place. :o)
** wear heals, it makes it easier to dance.
** parking is horrible, but street parking is free after 8pm.

RE-​OPENING !!!
Mama Juanas is re-​opening this FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2010!!!
.

I LOVE this place… I’ve been coming here for about 2 yrs.
Great place to salsa. Best nights are usually Thursdays.
Salsa classes from 7:45−9pm w/​walter. He is really good and has patience.
I don’t really care for the food… but on the other hand there is a bartender (GIRL) there that makes a really good drink, which reminds me of a starburst. I believe it’s called a raspberry lemon drop. It’s tasty !!
Parking sucks but if you get there early enough, your most likely to find street parking.
For the most part everyone there is friendly.

judging from the other reviews, i’ll continue to stick to MJ’s for salsa & skip the food!
MJ’s has proven to be pretty reliable as a salsa destination — the bands are almost always supahot & the dj plays a good mix of other latin music to dance to during breaks. my only complaint is the leader of one particular band, & i’m not naming names, makes some annoying, off-​color jokes between songs. i mean the type of stuff drunken uncles say at family holiday gatherings that make everyone in the room uncomfortable.
the dancers mostly register in the intermediate-​advanced range, but don’t be afraid to drop in for lessons. i feel like the crowd is pretty casual — i typically show up in old jeans & a comfy tank. no way i’m sweating up my better rags! yes, *some* people here sport some fancier outfits but for guys, that could mean simply tossing on a fedora. girls, just show some skin.
this place used to be really packed on tuesdays & thursdays, but it’s gotten better in the past few months. it makes me le sad to drive up & down cahuenga for 10 minutes looking for parking (to avoid the $ 7.50 valet), hike back to the club & pay the $ 10 cover only to find the small dance floor completely taken up.
the bar, along with several tables & chairs, are located well away from the dance floor. voila! lower probability that a renegade salsera will knock that drink right out of your hand. unlike other salsa clubs/​restaurants that are broken up into different floors & rooms (or even have an outside patio if you’re lucky), MJ’s floor is the size of your living room & it’s closely lined with tables for diners & spectators. watch your step!

One of my girlfriends had her 25^th bday here. I had been here the year before and it was a lot of fun. I took the beginner salsa class with the black power ranger (yes, you read right). It was so much fun, and when the club started with the band, it was even better.
This time, we came early enough to eat dinner here. and it was a HUGE disappointment. Half of the problem was the waitress, and the other half was the food quality. The ropa vieja was the best dish there, but the rice was old. The shrimp ceviche was just bad tasting and my friend got kind of sick from it (mine was fine, but my stomach can handle pretty much anything). The tamales was MUSH so we sent it back and they still tried to put it in the bill! I stood my ground, and they finally took it off. The fajitas were a little tasteless and the meat was not tender.
I was kind of expecting mediocre food because it’s a dance club, not a restaurant, but I still expected some good drinks! The mojitos are too sweet and not enough alcohol, the food was just not good, and the waitress kept taking our beers away when there is still some left! NEVER take my unfinished alcoholic drink away from me! I ended up sticking to beers instead of the mixed concoctions that the waitress swears by, and just stayed on the dance floor as much as I could. Thank god for my salsa dancing friends.
Our table was not the greatest. Last time, we were on the end right next to the dance floor, and I liked that much better because I can watch the dancers and learn. This time, we were in a corner in the back although we came early and had a large party.
I do have to say that the live band was amazing. I was really really impressed and the dancers that came for the club part were so much fun to watch. I would have given this place 2 stars, but the band pulled through and deserves a star of their own.