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El Adobe de Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA

El Adobe de Capistrano

4.6
4.6
1028 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 41 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Charming
Enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine in a historic setting at El Adobe de Capistrano. This landmark features a wedding chapel, stained-glass windows and additional beautiful architectural details. Its kitchen has a mesquite-burning grill where chefs prepare deliciously flavored seafood and steak dishes. Soups, salads and appetizers are also on the menu, including tasty desserts.Owners Tony Moiso and Gilbert Aguirre have kept the atmosphere and traditions of the El Adobe de Capistrano going. This establishment still prepares the dishes that President Nixon and his wife enjoyed while visiting during his administration. It has a full bar that serves various drinks, a lounge area for socializing and a patio in the front. El Adobe de Capistrano offers private rooms for banquets and other events. The Palenque features a retracting roof, making it ideal for hosting an event under the night sky. It offers brunch and has a Happy Hour.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Seafood, Grill
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Sat 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (949) 493-1163
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Carlos Hernandez
  • Private party facilities
    El Adobe is the perfect spot to have your private events taken care of! We offer three different room options depending on the size of your group. We have many different menu options, linens and more that come with the room! You will have your own server working specifically only for your event.

What 1,028 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • South Orange County

    Mexican

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
El Adobe de Capistrano offers a delightful dining experience with "excellent food" and "superb service." Known for its authentic Mexican cuisine, this historic venue charms guests with its "beautiful ambiance" and lively atmosphere. The tacos and margaritas are highly recommended. While it can be noisy, the vibrant setting is part of its appeal, making it perfect for celebrations.

1,028 Reviews
  1. Sue

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food, beautiful building & great service! We’ll be back!

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  2. Steve

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic service and food - good value! Thank you!

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  3. Raffi

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 11 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was great! Ambience was quaint. Ceviche was extremely fresh! Meals were big and tasty!

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  4. David

    Los Angeles

    23 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on 8 November 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 1
    The evening was terrible because of the excessive noise coming from a party on the patio. Their music was so loud everyone in the restaurant had to almost yell to hear each other. So I will always ask if there is a party booked before I make a reservation. Also the server seemed disconnected, maybe because he was frustrated with the noise too. The food was OK. Not the norm for this restaurant. Again probably because they were dealing with the party outside.

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  5. John

    Phoenix

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 7 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience with delicious food and excellent customer service

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  6. violet

    San Diego

    31 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on 1 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    We drive an hour to dine in at this restaurant. We love the food, it’s delicious and exceptional. We also love the service. Must have the flan 🍮 yummm

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  7. Roxann

    Orange County

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on 27 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Margarita, our server, is so good. We always ask for her or Gloria. Food here is wonderful & drinks are great. Always a very good meal!!!

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  8. Shari

    Orange County

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on 27 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    You can't go wrong for Mexican food at El Adobe. It's a constant staple in our community and a great historical spot. The service here is top notch and the food is wonderful. The restaurant is large and energetic. I do recommend making a reservation.

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  9. Suzanne

    Orange County

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 25 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great time celebrating my mom’s 95tj Birthday! Great service

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  10. Karlos

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 20 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Drove 2 hours to have brunch with my daughter, who was in Orange County from college for an event. Needed a nice place to eat, which wasn't too far from where she was staying, and, would have accessible seating for my elderly mom. From my days living in South Orange County 25 years ago, i had recalled the El Adobe. Called at busy time Saturday night for a reservation and as expected they were too busy to answer. So, i booked a table, and added a note about the ADD Accessible request on the OpenTable link. I was a little concerned having never used the app before. We arrived just prior to our reservation and the hostess greeted is with a big smile. Surprise, not only did OpenTable work, they had my reservation, AND the hostess told me that she had reserved a table in the corner for us on the same level so my mom wouldn't have to descend stairs. Awesome. The place, a designated historical landmark, hadn't changed a bit. The Spanish Mission architecture is part of the charm of this restaurant. My Cadillac Margarita was perfection, my daughter had an amazing Shrimp Ceviche appetizer bowl for her meal, and i had Blackened Mahi Mahi Tacos, mom had the same except with the Blackened Shrimp. Everything was as good, or better, than i recall 25 and 30 years ago. I expect this to be a regular destination for upcoming similar hometown visits from college!

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FAQs

El Adobe de Capistrano offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (949) 493-1163.

El Adobe de Capistrano is rated 4.6 stars by 1028 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 41 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for El Adobe de Capistrano

31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Additional information

  • Area
    San Juan Capistrano
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Sat 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Seafood, Grill
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private parking lot behind the restaurant
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Carlos Hernandez
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace
  • Phone number
    (949) 493-1163
  • Private party facilities
    El Adobe is the perfect spot to have your private events taken care of! We offer three different room options depending on the size of your group. We have many different menu options, linens and more that come with the room! You will have your own server working specifically only for your event.
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