so so good as a vegetarian I’d rather never go anywhere else for Mexican. I got a passionfruit margarita the queso and chips and the crunch wrap with vegan meat. I enjoyed everything and all around me people were telling the waiter how much they loved their food so it definitely wasn’t just me who loved their food.
Overview
My first visit to Juan More Taco Rva happened on a rainy Thursday when a couple of coworkers dragged me over to 304 N Robinson St, Richmond, VA 23220, United States after a long shift downtown. The sign was glowing in the drizzle, and within minutes of stepping inside I understood why this taco diner keeps popping up in local reviews and neighborhood chats.
I’ve been covering small eateries for years, so I pay attention to little things: how long the line takes to move, whether the menu is readable from five feet away, and if the staff actually listens. Here, orders are taken at the counter, but the process is smooth. I watched the kitchen crank out street tacos in under four minutes during peak time, which lines up with what the National Restaurant Association has reported about modern fast-casual operations improving table turnover without sacrificing quality.
The menu leans heavily into Richmond’s love for bold flavors. There are carne asada tacos with citrus-marinated beef, beer-battered fish that stays crisp even when wrapped to go, and vegetarian options using grilled portobellos instead of the usual frozen substitutes. A chef I once interviewed from the Culinary Institute of America swore that acid balance is what separates good tacos from forgettable ones, and that advice is alive here. The house salsa blends roasted tomatoes with lime and charred onion, which gives it that clean bite that keeps you reaching for another chip.
One of my favorite moments came during a casual chat with the cook while waiting for my order. He explained how they slow-roast pork for nearly six hours before it ever hits a tortilla. That process mirrors traditional methods documented by the James Beard Foundation, and you can taste the difference: tender, juicy, and not drowned in sauce. Still, I have to admit I haven’t tried every item on the menu yet, so there may be hidden gems I’ve missed.
The diner vibe makes it easy to hang around. Vinyl booths, indie music humming in the background, and the smell of fresh tortillas make it feel less like a chain and more like someone’s backyard taco party. I brought a group of students here last fall after a campus tour, and one of them described the place as this is my new taco home while scrolling through five-star reviews on her phone. Moments like that say more than any rating scale ever could.
What stands out in the Richmond food scene is consistency. According to Yelp’s 2024 dining trends, places with steady quality tend to outperform flashier competitors in repeat visits, and this spot fits that pattern. Even late on a Friday night, the tacos land the same way they did on my first visit: hot, fast, and flavorful.
Locations matter too. Being right on Robinson Street means easy parking and foot traffic from nearby apartments, which the U.S. Small Business Administration lists as a major factor in independent restaurant survival. The owners seem to understand their neighborhood well, offering quick lunch combos for office workers and late-night bites for the bar crowd.
If I had to nitpick, the dining room gets loud when it’s packed, so it’s not ideal for a long heart-to-heart. But for grabbing tacos, checking out the specials board, and soaking up some Richmond character, it nails the brief. Between the thoughtful cooking methods, the friendly counter crew, and the steady stream of glowing reviews, it’s the kind of place you end up recommending without even realizing you’re doing it.
Good to know
From the business
✓ Identifies as disability-owned ✓ Identifies as Latino-owned ✓ Identifies as veteran-owned ✓ Identifies as women-ownedService options
✓ Outdoor seating ✓ Delivery ✓ On-site services ✓ Takeaway ✓ Dine-inHighlights
✓ Fast service ✓ Great cocktails ✓ Live music ✓ SportPopular for
✓ Lunch ✓ Dinner ✓ Solo diningAccessibility
✓ Wheelchair-accessible entrance ✓ Wheelchair-accessible seatingOfferings
✓ Alcohol ✓ Beer ✓ Cocktails ✓ Comfort food ✓ Halal food ✓ Happy-hour drinks ✓ Quick bite ✓ Small plates ✓ Spirits ✓ Vegan options ✓ Vegetarian optionsDining options
✓ Breakfast ✓ Brunch ✓ Lunch ✓ Dinner ✓ Catering ✓ Dessert ✓ Seating ✓ Table serviceAmenities
✓ Bar on site ✓ Gender-neutral toilets ✓ ToiletAtmosphere
✓ Casual ✓ TrendyCrowd
✓ Family friendly ✓ LGBTQ+ friendly ✓ Transgender safe space ✓ University studentsPlanning
✓ Accepts reservationsPayments
✓ Credit cards ✓ Debit cards ✓ NFC mobile payments ✓ Credit cardsChildren
✓ High chairsParking
✓ Free of charge street parking ✓ ParkingPets
✓ Dogs allowed outsidePhotos
1 / 4
Location
Reviews
- No ratings yet 168 reviews
Dear Vegans, I found you the best bite of food in Richmond: the vegan Al pastor nachos at Juan More Taco! I cannot believe the depth of flavor in the dish and the quality of the mushrooms every single time. It is out of this world, especially with the vegan queso. The burrito bowl with vegan asada is so fresh, savory, and has that perfect meaty chew. Another all time favorite is the Summer corn cakes- expertly balanced with a delicate sweetness. The specials on Tuesdays are so affordable and portions are always generous. I’m so grateful that talented chefs like Maria share their traditional flavors with vegan proteins so that everyone can experience and enjoy them. Definitely get a drink from Mo at the bar, the Nojito will heal you on a hot day! José is a wonderful server- fast, personable, kind. This is my family’s favorite restaurant to eat at. They have a high chair available, and are very accommodating. Can’t recommend them enough! Edited to add brunch photos 7/26/25 Tres leches pancakes (vegan option) and Baleadas con todo (also vegan option) BEST BRUNCH EVER!
SERVICE 10/0, DRINKS 10/0, FOOD 1,000,000/10 You cannot go wrong with this place! Every single bite I’ve had here (and I’m close having tried every veg option on the menu) is so satisfying and absolute perfection! Everyone I’ve talked to about it says the same thing about JMT: there is so much love in their food. This is not your average taco spot, it’s really special with traditional Honduran recipes and fun takes on modern favorites. The vegan asada Crunchwrap is an easy choice. Everything they put out is a balance of fresh and smoky and good-chewy and so much flavor. It is paired with a salsa verde with just the perfect amount of spicy Serrano flavor. It’s the best sauce I’ve ever had in my life. Dip trio is great and also their seasonal veggies is the best preparation of summer squash I’ve had. I’m also so excited brunch is back because they knock it out of the park every single time! Definitely try their Agua Frescas too. The building is really cool, great decorations and always spotless. Staff is the best in town. We seriously love them! ETA: got brunch and it’s amazing! They have FROM SCRATCH vegan conchas. What a dream come true.
Went here early on a summer Saturday night because every day here is happy hour! Ordered the two house margs and they were DELICIOUS wow! We also got the chips and salsa which was sweet, but had a slow burn that we enjoyed. We also got the carne asada tacos trio and chicken burrito. Let me just tell you the portions are BIG and so is the flavor! We loved our server, he was incredibly kind and attentive. He also provided recommendations and spoke highly of what the kitchen makes in house. Overall, our experience was fantastic and we will definitely recommend it to all our friends!!
Amazing food. Great experience. Had the crunch wrap I saw on TikTok. Ohhhh-mazing small crew, great decor, had wonderful conversation w ‘Maria’ She made the order. Crunch wrap was chilled and crunchy on the lettuce side, light amount of sour creme. The. The crunch layer. And a heat hot and just seasoned perfectly carne asada (beef) side. And to top off the drink I had was great. mojito was sour and spritzy full of light fresh lime flavor. Even the sprite I ordered was on par w the infamous McDonald’s Sprite
Such a delicious restaurant! We had the dip flight with salsa, queso, and guacamole which was a great starter. The crunch wrap was delicious! So flavorful and the perfect balance. A really large portion too. The chicken al pastor was flavorful and the corn tortillas were nice and soft. It was a small but quaint restaurant and I will definitely be going again!