Juan Mondragon, Neighbor

I was born in Mexico City and today happily serve Southern California and beyond.   My passion to serve and eagerness to create delicious and healthy meals has evolved into Juan’s Restaurante, where guests come from all over to enjoy my organic, fresh, and traditional Pre-Hispanic inspired Mexican dishes.  My creations integrate a holistic approach of unconventional blend of ingredients such as nopal (cactus), and xoconostles (green and red pear of the cactus). The cultural and journey of Pre-Hispanic Mexico at Juan’s Restaurante begins with the aguas frescas beverages made from fresh fruit and vegetables and ends with his masterful mole creations. I rely on many seeds such as chia, pumpkin, pine, almond, cacao, and sunflower. And with over 17 different types of chiles my mole is rich in flavor and prepared in a healthy fashion. Included in the variety of Mexican dishes are natural or organic vegetables like beets, pumpkin, squash, pomegranate and epazote, a plant rooted and transported from Mexico. 

My training as a chef began when I would sit in my Grandmother’s kitchen at four years old and listened, observed, and assisted with the preparation of daily meals. My grandmother shared family recipes that captured generations of my family’s Pre-Hispanic dishes.  I received my certification from the Gastronomico Chefuri Culinary Institute in Mexico City. I have received recognition and awards for some of my unique dishes and authentic taste.

I also have a strong committment to promoting the health benefits of cactus to the world 

Today, I am sometimes referred to as the “King of Cactus” by food critics and journalists alike or "Hollywood Chef Juan". My commitment to fresh, flavorful and extraordinary food is a testament of my longstanding connection to Hollywood’s’ affinity with Juan’s Restaurante. I have gained special interest from Ryan Seacrest who has called upon me for many years to cater and cook for himself or celebrity guest, and some of these special clientele include Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Joan Rivers, Queen Latifah, David Beckham, Iron Chef Chairman Mark Dacascos, Sofia Vergara, Raul de Molina, Jonas Brothers, Diana Bracho, Paquita la del Barrio and many other American and Latin celebrities.  Please see www.JuansRestaurante.net to learn more about myself and Juan’s Restaurante.