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    Avila's El Ranchito

    3.5 (626 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Avila's El Ranchito Photos

    AVILA'S EL RANCHITO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Stanley R.

    Stopped for lunch today, after an enjoyable morning of shopping at the San Clemente Outlets. I love Avila's. The food is high quality and very tasty. The menu is familiar and includes all-day huevos rancheros. One of my favorites. The dining room was comfortable and not too crowded. The patio looked sunny and delightful. The service was efficient and friendly. We walked down the hill to the pier afterward. I didn't feel so guilty for cleaning my plate!

    Guacamole Fresco
    Orsolya D.

    Mexican food in Southern California is our definition of comfort food. The same way that the South has grits, biscuits, collard greens, etc; we have tacos, burritos, guacamole, fajitas, mole, chile rellano, etc. Whether you want these in homestyle, food truck or gourmet is up to you but the effect is the same: it is ingrained in our culture/essence and you can't go wrong. Or can you? I was quite intrigued by Avila's El Ranchito but it didn't turn out how I expected... Avilas's is a family-owned pocket of Mexican restaurants under the same name with 12 locations total each owned by a member of the Avila family. The San Clemente location, owned by Victor Avila, sits on Avendia del Mar on a corner real estate inviting hungry bellies with a Spanish architecture white stucco turret facade. Entering welcomes you to an airy dining hall complete with high ceilings and a bar area but nothing too much to comment on: basically like an El Torito. Either way, so far, so good even if feeling a bit bland. The menu at Avila's covers the usual fare you find at Mexican eateries with tacos, bowls, burritos, fajitas, steak, seafood, and options for less-calorie dense plates and a children's menu. My boyfriend and I dined at Avila's in the late afternoon when traveling on the road in between Los Angeles and San Diego so we decided to keep it light. To start, we ordered the Guacamole Fresco (homemade fresh guacamole topped with cheese - $15.50) to be eaten with out table side chips and salsa. For my meal, I chose the Azteca Chicken Salad (charbroiled chicken lightly tossed in cilantro-lime dressing with avocado, black beans, corn salsa on lettuce topped with tortilla strips - $19) while my boyfriend chose the Guanajuanto Combination plate ( 2 flautas, beef and chicken served with rice and beans - $18.50). This is when things started to really sink in that Avila's is, well, just not good. Although the food is presented well (and photographs nicely) it is, bluntly, bad. The guacamole was decent and I don't have much complaints there although needed a bit more acid but my Azteca Chicken Salad was gross. The chicken was cubed and drier than the Sahara Desert with no flavor, the avocado and tomatoes both didn't taste fresh and the 'corn salsa' was just corn. It was the quality of a Mexican themed salad you would get at Applebee's. I couldn't even finish it because the chicken was that dry. The only redeeming factor was the dressing which was tasty. My boyfriend said his flautas were also overcooked and derived of true flavor. It is possible that Avila's caters to an Americanized crowd and that is the reasoning behind the poor food? Whatever the reason, this place is a no-go. Also lackluster at Avila's is the service. Our server not only didn't seem to be having a good day but took it out on us by hardly ever checking on us, never refilling water, never cracking a smile, etc. We didn't feel an ounce of being welcome (although, I must note that the young female hostess at the front who seated us was fantastic and cheerful/complimentary). There isn't much more to be about Avila's as it is simply a poor experience all around. Avila's is sadly disappointing with tasteless, bland food alongside poor customer service that doesn't stand well against the various neighboring options on Avenida del Mar. I can't vouch for any of their other locations but unless you are someone who prefers Applebee's... Avila's in San Clemente can be skipped.

    Mario B.

    The atmosphere is warm and inviting, especially if you can grab a spot near the fireplace. Service is consistently friendly and attentive without feeling rushed, and the staff keeps chips and salsa coming so you're never waiting hungry.[tripadvisor +1] Portions are generous, prices are fair for the quality, and it's the kind of place you look forward to bringing friends and family back to. If you like carne asada, garlic shrimp, and a cozy spot to relax with a drink, this place is an easy "must stop by" recommendation.

    No zucchini on the menu yet it was in my bowl.

    :(( sigh I was so excited to eat my fajita salad and... It failed to please me. So I ordered the salad with steak and shrimp (24$ btw) and I specifically told them I don't want mushrooms. There were mushrooms And zucchini? Zucchini wasn't on the menu if it was I would have said NO ZUCCHINI SUCKS There were numerous things going on with this meal 1: there was ONE PIECE of steak like huh? Did I not get STEAK fajitas?? 2: salad was naked! It was not dressed that lettuce was dryer than my science teacher's jokes 3: it was so dark I had to pull out my phone to see what I was consuming. I didn't think there would be mushrooms because I DIDN'T ASK FOR MUSHROOMS so I took a bite and no joke it was literally all mushroom The only good thing was that it was 4 people's birthdays so happy birthday to them Frankly I'm disappointed I was so excited Now I'm just numb and hungry

    Inside
    John M.

    Hanging out with The Wife, and The Kid who was visiting from San Fran. She wanted to got to Åvila's while she was home in SC. Five stars for our server, Taylor (that's what the receipt said). She was taking care of people all over the place and at first seemed to be the only server. Yet it didn't matter she kept us happy with drinks, chip refills, taking our order and bringing out our food. Nice job to the kitchen staff who seemed to turn our order around in 2.3 minutes! Food was great. Back to Taylor. She did seem a bit frazzled and apologized a couple of times, but no need to apologize. She did a good job. We found out she was fairly new when The Wife asked to buy an Åvila's pint glass. Taylor found out they did not sell them. The Wife was bummed but she'll get over it! Ha!! All in all a great dinner and great service. Thanks Taylor! Thanks kitchen and bus staff. Go! Eat Well!! Get great service!!! HAVE FUN!!!!

    Sai Geetha K.

    Hard to pass on this restaurant while you're strolling by. You'll be welcomed by a very real looking dog statue. It was a perfect summer day, so we decided to eat outdoors in the patio. The staff were friendly and attentive. There were plenty chips and fresh salsa before we ordered anything. I got a mocktail pina colada which tasted really good. I loved the Fajitas salad too. Generous portions despite ordering from the light cuisine menu.

    Taco Tuesday
    Ron H.

    A 'Locals' favorite! We have been consistent patrons and promoters for El Ranchito's for many years. They offer authentic Mexican cuisine at reasonable prices, a great 'Taco Tuesdays' and daily happy hours at the bar. Mamá Avila's Chicken Soup is the BEST! Yesterday, after over a month in Europe, we went to 'Taco Tuesday'. Camile, our favorite server, was there, but she wasn't her same 'perky' self. She... I understand her schedule cut to one day, Tuesday, and she is no longer a bartender. We were a bit shocked and saddened for her. Getting together with our 'El Ranchito friends' along w/ Camile's personable service are the main reasons we keep returning to El Ranchito (and, of course, Mamá Avila's soup). We hope things will change for the better real soon.

    Charlie L.

    I have a friend visiting from Minnesota. Her goal is to try every place that has fish tacos. This was her fifth place and she said they were the best fish tacos she has ever had! I had their chicken tacos and the white meat was bursting out of the shell with a delicious aroma e taste. The refried beans? The best. The staff? Made us feel like we were the only ones there. I live in Corona.. the drive to San Clemente well worth it!

    Shrimp tacos
    Jennifer C.

    Walking around San Clemente after going to the Saturday craft fair and shopping, we stopped for lunch at Avila's. Ambiance was good as we were seated by the window on a nice day. Service was friendly and our waiter offered suggestions on the menu. I oregano shrimp tacos, while friends had chili relleno and taco salad. The portions were plentiful. On our way out, picked up a mint as an extra treat.

    Nove R.

    Excellent food and sure truly the fried ice cream!!! Nice atmosphere in adorable St Clemente Service is good, many nice workers. Karla was awesome! Not our first time and wont be the last

    Chips and salsa. 7/13/24

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    Page 1 of 16

    Avila's El Ranchito Reviews in Other Languages

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    I seriously cannot say enough about this bistro! First, the ambience is beyond gorgeous, me, and my…read moredaughters sat outside on the patio and was able to look out at the ocean view. Secondly, the service was the most amazing service, I had my whole entire week in San Clemente. All the ladies who helped us were so kind and friendly! This service made me come back 3 times in total, to enjoy the food and views. My last day in town, I spoke with the wait staff and let them know what a great job they are doing; They were friendly and so grateful. The food was delicious and so delightful. The chicken sandwich had roasted chicken with bacon and a delicious aïoli. That was honestly such a good mix. The brioche bread they put the chicken on was fluffy and flavorful. My daughters got a Nutella crêpe and berries and cream crêpe. Both were delicious and a good portion size. Their sourdough toast with jam was a favorite of ours, we got it every single time we went. I cannot wait to come back and try maybe one of their delicious salads or maybe Hardy breakfast! Definitely a top-tier restaurant. I must try!

    I haven't had crepes in forever, since January at least, I need more crepes in my life. On prime…read moreocean view real estate along the beach, this little eatery has lots of charm, and fortunately it was perfect sunny day in San Clemente for outdoor al fresco dining. The main serving lady/boss lady with a unique accent(French? Belgian? Quebec?) was very friendly and 110% genuine. $14 Salmon Crepe...loaded with eggs, onions, a decent amount of smoked salmon, wrapped in a perfectly soft warm French Burrito, opps!, I mean crepe, with a sprinkle of capers and lemon scented creme fraiche. $11 Nutella Banana Crepe...yes, because I'm a fatty with a big appetite! Delicious encore to my Salmon Crepe...the sweet crepe was perfection with generous warm chocolate nutty Nutella throughout, with some fresh banana on top. So good!

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    Service: The service was excellent. The waitress was very…read moreattentive and energetic. Everyone there had a very positive attitude. Which is a big plus. Food: We started off with the coconut shrimp. The coconut shrimp was good. The coconut was crispy and the shrimp was well done for the main dish. I got the Cali Benedict. It was Soooo good. The hollandaise sauce was so tasty. The shrimp was fully seasoned and the potato's were well seasoned and huge. I recommend people getting this dish. Ambiance: The ambiance was great. There wasn't really a lot of people so that was nice. Just kids screaming and cry from time to time.

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    Haven't found the perfect Kouign Amann since a private French baker had a pop-up sale in San Mateo…read more4 years ago. Despite trying so many since then, between here and even Paris, they've just been total flops. It's crazy how many variations there are, from doughy to bready to basically just a croissant. Have to say Chaupain's, which I found at the Cardiff 101 farmer's market, was AMAZING. I wish I had bought more than one; I had just been disappointed so many times, and Paris was the last straw for me lmao! Service in the tent was super friendly and he was surprised I knew was a Kouign Amann was. If you're a butter/sugar/pastry fan, you'll love their Kouign Amann (Queen amann)

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    Chaupain Bakery - View from the front door. As of Jan 2026, they have renovated and doubled their space! Wonderful! Very cute French bistro style.

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    View from the front door. As of Jan 2026, they have renovated and doubled their space! Wonderful! Very cute French bistro style.

    Antoine's Cafe - Chicken fried steak and eggs

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    4.3(718 reviews)
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    Alrighty, it has finally the time for me to tried out this place and keep in mind ya'll, I've been…read morein San Clemente for a long time and I'm sorry that I haven't eaten here. I wish I did sooner! I past by this place on my way to work every day. Literally. Its on route for me and I never thought to myself to eat breakfast here nor check it out, I know on the days when I head back home it's always pack and people be waiting for a table. And that's on a sunny day. Well I was wrong for thinking oh it wouldn't be crowded on a rainy day. NOPE. I was sooooo wrong. It was PACKED and busy. Ain't even the rain gonna stop people to get some good food. What supposed to be a long day at work, tournament was cancelled last minutes and my staff was really bummed because we did travel to work. (I work two jobs and the other is a bit of commute to get to) so with that I was thinking, heck, it's still early in the morning (7am on sunday, a rainy sunday) and suggested breakfast. A bit of yelp search, i stumbled on Antoine's and saw a couple of Elites reviewed and ask my staff if they wanted to eat here. Took less than a couple of second but everyone agreed. By the time we got there (around 10am) it was packed and the rain was just picking up because before we got here, the car in front of us hydroplane and skid off the road and hit the curb. Yet, this place was still pack and parking was full. (We found street parking near Starbucks) I had my staff placed our name down since she lives closer, but they won't see you until all your party is here and that's fine. We ended up seating at the bar and left the booth for other parties. Love the teamwork, the staff were super stars doing a rush like that, let me tell you it PACKED HOUSE and we got our food and drinks on time, no one in my party had to wait to eat and I forgot to take pictures of my staff meals, only took mines and what I got for the table to share was a croissant french toast, which I believe was their special of the day. I got the chicken fried steak and the portion are MASSIVE!!! All of us took our food home because the portion size are insanely big and bang for the buck!! Great place to eat breakfast or brunch or even a 'Team Building Breakfast Time' LOL Just happy to treating out my amazing staff on their work. I will be coming back again to try out their lox bagels and chai tea. (It was in a massive cup that reminds me of the show FRIENDS.)

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    The Cellar - Quaint and clean place

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    4.5(893 reviews)
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    Avila's El Ranchito - mexican - Updated May 2026

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