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El Adobe de Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA

El Adobe de Capistrano

4.7 (1129)
$30 and under
Mexican
31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 21 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
  • Neighborhood gem
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.

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
  • 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 1,129 people are saying

El Adobe de Capistrano reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

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

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Orange County

    Mexican

  • South Orange County

    Good for groups

  • South Orange County

    Mexican

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
El Adobe de Capistrano offers a delightful blend of "authentic atmosphere" and delicious Mexican cuisine. Guests rave about the "excellent service," "great margaritas," and "festive ambiance," often highlighting live mariachi performances. Despite occasional service hiccups, the historic charm and vibrant environment make it a beloved destination in San Juan Capistrano.
1,129 Reviews
  1. Jorge

    Orange County5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Once again, El Adobe doesn't disappoint. Great food, excellent service and pleasant Mariachi music. Always one of our favorites for over 50 years!

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  2. Adele

    Orange County11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As always when dining at El Adobe in San Juan Capistrano, the food is excellent. The service is par none. We were there to celebrate Father’s Day. The Father’s Day specials looked awesome but we ordered off the regular menu, which is always great. Can’t find a better place to eat Mexican food in Orange County.

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  3. Marcia

    California Central Coast2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful historic property and the food was delish.

    Is this helpful?

  4. RJ

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The staff was super-friendly, the margaritas were excellent, the food was good... a great dining experience!

    Is this helpful?

  5. LISA

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I took my bff there for her birthday. Atmosphere, food and customer service was absolutely FANTASTIC! Can’t wait to go back.

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  6. Niki VIP

    Orange County2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We got married here so it will always hold a special place in our hearts. It seems they must have a new chef because the food has never been better! Love the live marriachi on Sundays too!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Norma VIP

    Los Angeles40 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on June 6, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We thought the food was average, nothing special… Same with service. We’ve been a few times and this will probably be our last.

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  8. Phil VIP

    Orange County29 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 30, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    I've been going to El Adobe for years. The food is very good. However, this time we had very poor service from Angel. I will return and hopefully the service will be much better.

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  9. Maria VIP

    Orange County56 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always good! Great drinks! Perfect location in beautiful San Juan Capistrano near the mission.

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  10. Allen

    Orange County4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Celebrated my daughter’s bday there. Had a wonderful time and the food and atmosphere were great!

    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 4.7 stars by 1129 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Orange County
  4. South Orange County
  5. San Juan Capistrano

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 21 times today
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
  • 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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