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El Adobe de Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA

El Adobe de Capistrano

4.8
4.8
1062 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 9 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for groups
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.
  • Neighborhood
    San Juan Capistrano
  • Parking details
    Private parking lot behind the restaurant
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,062 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • South Orange County

    Mexican

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
El Adobe de Capistrano is a charming, historic restaurant celebrated for its "superb" Mexican cuisine and "great service." Guests rave about the "wonderful ambiance" and live music, making it ideal for special occasions. Its inviting atmosphere and consistently "delicious" food make it a cherished dining spot for both locals and visitors.

1,062 Reviews
  1. Jennifer

    Los Angeles

    104 reviews

    4.0

    104 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The ambiance was my favorite part of this restaurant. It was built a few hundred years ago, and the charm is still there! The service was quick considering how busy they were, and the food was fresh. The chips and salsa were perfection! I would happily dine here again.

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  2. Roxann

    VIP

    Orange County

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always exceptional, both service & food & drinks!!! Marguerite is so wonderful & perfect as our server!!!! We always ask for her!!!!

    Is this helpful?

  3. mary

    VIP

    Orange County

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Wonderful food, service and drinks! Love this place. Huge portions and great prices…and excellent taste! What more could you want?!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Lori

    VIP

    Palm Springs

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    All of us really enjoyed every part of our experience at El Adobe. The management team here clearly knows how to run a great restaurant. We will definitely be returning with others to enjoy this place.

    Is this helpful?

  5. sharon

    Oklahoma City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the best restaurants we’ve dined at in 49 ststes. Everything was prepared to perfection.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Dan

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really enjoyed the food and service. This was my girlfriends first time, and she loved it.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Catherine

    VIP

    Orange County

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on January 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We arrived 45 minutes earlier than our reservation and they seated us, even though Open Table didn't have seats. From the host to the server, everyone was very nice. We were celebrating my partner's retirement. Dinner was delicious, seating was great, and our server gifted us a little dessert to celebrate.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Amy

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Make the hour drive at least once a month to enjoy delicious authentic Mexican food, beautiful music, and great service. If you want to make a day out of the visit , it’s walking distance to the Mission. Worth every penny!!

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  9. Kenneth

    Orange County

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on January 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One can never go wrong with a dinner at El Adobe, excellent Margaritas, last night special Short Ribs were outstanding. Great service

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  10. Ellia

    Orange County

    76 reviews

    5.0

    76 reviews

    Dined on December 30, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a nice time and great food. Make sure you go downstairs to see the old jail cells.

    Is this helpful?

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 4.8 stars by 1062 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 9 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for El Adobe de Capistrano

31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    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
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • 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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