JJ’s Café: The SOUL of Seguin’s Soul Food

The other day I found a cozy little restaurant called JJ’s Café during one of my hunger-led searches for a good hearty lunch. Located right on the corner of Highway 123 and East Court Street in Seguin, it caught my eye for more than one reason. While in a very visible location right across the street from HEB, the café is actually located in the same building that has housed what seems to have been a dozen restaurants over the years. My girlfriend and I decided to give it a try with hopes that maybe this café had something special that has kept it afloat for the 2 and a half years it’s been open.

As we drove up, we noticed the relatively full parking lot. We took this as a good sign. The outside of the building was not unpleasant; it had a modest structure and was painted a lovely turquoise color. While a little quaint, we decided to give it a go. We aren’t the type to judge a book by its cover anyways. I found the interior to be much nicer than the exterior in its decor. Upon entering the café we were welcomed by a very friendly hostess and the delicious smell of homemade cooking. The café exhibited a comfortable atmosphere. Our server greeted us warmly, handed us menus and promptly brought our requested drinks. As we waited though, I noticed that sound seems to echo very easily inside the building, so it was a little noisy. In addition, we saw that an older couple, perhaps regular customers at the café, had a dog with them under their table. While the fact that the café allowed animals inside didn’t bother us personally, this may be a consideration for those with allergies to furry animals. We decided the café is not the ideal “first date” location, but is more than suitable for casual dining and family gatherings.

If good food is what you’re looking for, JJ’s is the place to be. The menu is absolutely fantastic and has a huge variety of choices that will satisfy any Texas-sized craving. Heck, the title of the menu is “Serving Comfort Foods, Burgers, and More”.  In addition there were great appetizers and healthy options available for those with a smaller appetite, and our server was helpful in providing recommendations for some of the popular plates. After ordering, our main courses were served in no time. This Texas Soul food spoke for itself! We certainly got more than our money’s worth in quantity and quality. My chicken fried steak was cooked to perfection and everything we were served had a great savory flavor. The freshness of the ingredients, especially the vegetables, was impressive and noteworthy. While we devoured the delicious food, our server paid close attention to fill our glasses as needed and brought the check at a reasonable time. The dessert options were enticing, but we were happy and full after our meals.

I undoubtedly give JJ’s Café two thumbs up! The friendly atmosphere, fantastic service, and great selection of traditional Texan soul foods made our lunch experience memorable. It’s easy to see that this establishment has been able to thrive because of its dedication to quality service and food. Once you go, it gets you hooked, and I reckon it will continue to do that for many years to come.