Papa Kwans Coffee Shop — Restaurant in Juno Beach

Update: response from owner says everything - we've been coming to Papa Kwans since it was in the old building down the street, before it was even a full on restaurant/coffee shop and it was like a coffee counter inside of a surf shop. To assume that it's maybe "not for me" is to completely lose track of what made the place popular to begin with. I was born and raised in Jupiter and I've been to every restaurant in this town, every coffee shop, we pretty much eat out every day of the week. We've been here more than 300 times, and this place is falling apart, only in the past few months. Shortly after Covid started there was another era like this (understandable because of difficulties staffing), but I had a five star review on here for a long time since then. I don't know how many years it's been, maybe 8, but when I come to a place for this long and then end up leaving a one star review, that's a very good sign that the place is falling apart. Many of the places that I've switched from five stars to one star have gone out of business, including Rancho Chico on Indiantown Road, etc. Take it as a warning that things need to change, or act in the service of your ego; your business, your choice.

Updated review: everything about this place has changed in the past few months, the music, the staff, and the quality. Every little detail, down to the fact that calling out your order outside is awkward now, employees standing around holding signs on the street corner to drum up business, employees standing around awkwardly talking to you about nonsense for 15 minutes after bringing your order to you while you're just trying to enjoy your meal. Even food details, such as the fact that the big kahuna açai bowl is now in some new craft bowl instead of the original bowl, so that it overflows and dump all the fruit out on the table while you're trying to eat (I lost almost all the bananas before I finished the top layer, for example), the açai base itself is different now; it's way too cold and not as good (possibly just because the temperature). The new staff are nice, but very strange, where is the old staff were...

I really wanted to give this place a better review because it is a really cool spot and the employees have been really kind each time I've gone in. I'm giving it two stars for those reasons.

I moved really close to here and stopped in for breakfast one day. Tried their quiche which was very mediocre. I blamed that on myself and said the next time I would try a smoothie because other reviews speak very highly of them.

I ordered the peaches/berry smoothie and was VERY disappointed. It came out very liquid-y. I asked the fellow "is this the peach smoothie?" he said "yup." I stepped outside to give it a try and I really have no other description besides gross. It was the consistency of almond milk (meaning very thin and just liquid...no body like I would expect a smoothie to have) and the flavor was one of the more odd things I have ever tasted. There really seemed to be no peach whatsoever and I could only taste the faintest hint of blueberry. It tasted as if they blended almond milk with a handful of blueberries. Maybe it was a new employee who didn't have it down yet? I saw some of their Acai bowls coming out which looked yummy and had a smoothie-like consistency. I would be interested in trying them but at this point I just don't feel like I want to spend more money and be disappointed again. I always try to leave positive reviews but I felt I needed to share my honest experience here.

Overall, I am very sad I spent $8 on something I actually threw away because I couldn't drink it. I say give this place a go...but maybe stay clear of the smoothies.

picture attached hoping to show...

The food here is undeniably great, but the experience left a bad taste in my mouth—and not because of the cuisine. It was a cold morning, and the front of the restaurant was noisy, so we opted to sit at one of the two empty tables in the quieter back area.

However, an employee quickly approached us and explained that those tables were reserved for groups of three or more, even though it was 7:30 a.m. and the place was nearly empty. When I asked if they could make an exception, the employee nervously replied, “The owner will yell at us.” That alone speaks volumes about the work environment.

We decided to stay and ate there for about 30 minutes. Not a single family showed up to use the back tables, leaving them empty the entire time. Instead, we were forced to endure loud teenagers talking behind us and the grating sound of Christmas reggae music playing overhead.

To confirm, I asked another staff member about the seating policy and got the same response. Clearly, this isn’t an isolated incident but a reflection of a culture driven by fear rather than hospitality.

While the food was enjoyable, I can’t support a business that prioritizes rigid rules—and potentially mistreats its staff—over creating a welcoming experience for its customers.

Edit: the staff was not happy or upbeat. On top of that, two of the employees told me that the owner yells at his employees. Mr Kwan did not address that in his response to my review. Personally I wouldn’t support a place that yells at...