Juan Siao: Our JC Fusion Adventure
It was early afternoon on that fine mid-spring day we ventured into Juan Siao at 104 Tipton Street. It’d been a minute since we’d been in JC, and we were wanting to check out this fusion innovator as it came into its third year in business.
We were seated near the window on the upper level, and the first thing that struck me was the stunning mural on the back wall next to the bar. A Latin woman with a vivid intensity of expression stared out, mouth agape from the wall at the unseen beyond.
It took a bit to absorb the menu. There were two cocktails that stood out to us, but we couldn’t decide which we wanted, so I ordered the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, and Keri the Japanese Whiskey Old Fashioned. To start, we selected the Wok-Seared Shrimp & Pork Dumplings.
When the drinks arrived, we sampled them both. The Japanese whiskey Old Fashioned was sweet and bold with what I would call fruity overtones. Keri immediately gravitated towards it. The Oaxacan, on the other hand, was smoky and dark, reminiscent of smudge sticks and voodoo dolls. It would be a perfect pairing with a noir thriller.
The dumplings arrived, the perfect chopstick-worthy morsels with little surprise pockets of pork or shrimp in a sweet and savory sauce and garnished with green onion and sesame.
After mulling over the menu a bit longer, Keri selected the carnitas tacos, and I went for the Cubahn Mi; a hybrid of the Cuban sandwich and the Bhan Mi.
The carnitas were exceptional mouthwatering tacos full of fall-apart carnitas. They came with an energetic red salsa, salsa verde, and queso, along with tortilla chips.
The Cubahn Mi is a mild and complex sandwich with hints of pepper and cilantro wrought in a pork and cheese-laden rebellion in a bun. A side of fries with what I think was a house aioli and queso accompanied the sandwich.
As to the nitty-gritty of things, service was excellent. The host and hostess were welcoming and professional. Our server was attentive and polite, answering every question without hesitation. Juan Siao certainly has a vibe, and the unique décor contributes to that ambiance. The price point was very reasonable. I had to take the second half of my sandwich to go. It was the equivalent of a footlong sub.
All together, I’d recommend Jaun Siao to anyone!
