What a pleasure it was to visit Cafe Capistrano in half Moon Bay. We were a group of five girls and really enjoyed the cozy, hidden-gem atmosphere of this small, family-run restaurant. The food was authentic, and everything tasted fresh. Service was great and we were greeted with a smile. The guacamole and chips were outstanding. We also ordered the snapper, veggie burrito, quesadilla, and mimosas, and everything was delicious. We'll definitely return when we're in the area. This restaurant is a great choice for brunch or lunch. read more

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This is a great place to try Yucatán Peninsula cuisine. I got the cochinita pibil and it was very fresh and light, not at all greasy or doused in cheese like many Mexican plates tend to be. Service was friendly, and the ambience was quite and charming. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. read more

Café Capistrano - Cochinita pibil - American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I booked this place for my rehearsal dinner with 10 days notice. I was a little worried since I usually book things a bit earlier but it was no problem for them! I had a guest count of 42 so we bought out the place for dinner; just had a minimum spend which was much better pricing than other places I was looking at in the area. To be honest, I hadn't been to this place before or even tried their food, but I knew I wanted a spot to fit my people without spending a crazy amount (plus burritos are totally my jam so that was great) so I took a chance and booked this spot based on capacity and reviews. I have no regrets! The food was great, and everyone was able to hear my speech without a microphone. 10/10 would recommend; it was perfect for my group. read more

We have been coming here for years and literally anytime we come to Half Moon Bay we haven't tried any other restaurant since because THIS is our spot. They have the BEST cochinita pibil. The ambiance is cozy and feels very much like a family owned restaurant. Truly 10/10. Vibes, food, service all amazing! read more

Delicious! Great service, delicious food, and a dog friendly back patio. Thank you for a wonderful weekend lunch. I'll definitely be back! read more

Café Capistrano - Our table - American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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This place is still the best after all these years! Try the Mayan specials. Friendly service, great atmosphere, great food. read more

Café Capistrano - chorizo plate, sikil pak (pumpkin seed dip), jamaica (hibiscus drink), and xni pec hot sauce - American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We had our wedding dinner here and it was everything we could have asked for and more. We have been coming here for years and knew we had to have the food included in our special day. The food is always fresh and delicious. Many of our guests were first time visitors and loved the food, some even telling us they would be back when they are in the area. The Poc Chuc, Cochinita Pibil, and Chicken Adobo were favorites. For our group, the restaurant was the perfect size and I am so thankful they could accommodate us. Colleen helped us plan the event and she was so easy to work with. She took excellent care of us on the day of and was a true professional. Mitchell and Arturo worked so hard cooking and getting all of the food out and provided excellent service. My family loved chatting with them all at the end of the event. We love Café Capistrano so much and look forward to visiting for many years to come. read more

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Enjoyed a comfy cozy dinner here with quick friendly service and delicious food! I ordered the veggie quesadilla and it was so good! Sizeable portions and the quality of the food is so fresh and tasty. Loved the salsa and habanero sauce! read more

As soon as you walk in you know you're going to be fed well. Generous portions with a homestyle feel. We had the Grilled Fish Tacos (Red Snapper W/ homemade corn tortillas on the side) and the Panuchos (almost like a tostada) both were delicious! Friendly staff with affordable prices.. great spot for lunch 5/5 read more

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This is a small restaurant in HMB. Situated in a house across from a middle school. Definitely a local establishment. Did not get a friendly server per other reviews. We ordered the quesadillas (Pork Adobe) and the Conchinita Pibil. Both were disappointing. The quesadilla was large and filled the plate. However the filing was very minimal. It was crunchy and dry on the outside and was probably a little overcooked. Our wait person brought out some homemade hot sauce in a bottle. The sauce was very watered down. A number of locals were there in the restaurant - clearly a local hangout. Maybe we caught them on a bad day but our experience was underwhelming. read more

Café Capistrano - Pork Adobo Quesadillas - American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Stopped by for an afternoon lunch, and the place wasn't too busy. It's a small, house-style restaurant with a capacity of 44. The staff was friendly, though limited--just two people, with one as the chef and the other handling multiple roles, including serving and hosting. We ordered the Jamaican lemonade, a unique and flavorful blend of hibiscus and cinnamon, along with a cheese enchilada and a chicken enchilada. The presentation was great, and the portion sizes were decent. However, the flavors didn't quite match the visual appeal. The enchilada sauce, made in Yucatán style, had a thick, slurry-like consistency but lacked depth in flavor. Overall, it was an okay experience, but the food could use a bit more balance in taste to truly stand out. read more

Café Capistrano - Chicken enchilada - American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Friendly staff, quality cuisine in a quaint and relaxed environment. It was like traveling to the Yucatán for a small period of time. Try the homemade hot sauce! We really enjoyed this restaurant yet forgot to take photos. read more

We love coming here when we come from Sacramento to have a beach day. Pick up some food and head to the beach. Always fresh and delicious. Staff is friendly and efficient. Highly recommend! I just wish you guys offered plastic containers as the grease goes through the paper ones pretty quickly. read more

Café Capistrano - Prawn fajitas - American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We were hungry after a hike along the coast and decided to stop by for dinner at Cafe Capistrano. The food was delicious. I really liked mexican chowder and shrimp fajitas read more

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Welcoming place with a Nice ambiance. Has a ramp for those who need a gradual walkway. Plenty of parking. No need to worry about parking limits. Tasty food! Hubby had vegetarian fajita. I had their Mexican seafood soup. Both Delicious! Great service! read more

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Delicious fish burrito. Went far beyond my expectations when I walked in. Will be back. read more

Café Capistrano - Fish burrito - American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Best fish taco plate around !! Absolutely fresh and delicious. The service is pleasant and fast. Great little restaurant in HMB. read more

My husband and I came in for dinner and really enjoyed the food. He had the pork adobo burrito, which was packed with tender, juicy pork and rich, savory flavor in every bite. The burrito was generously filled and came with a side of rice and beans that complemented it well. I ordered the chicken fajitas. The peppers and onions were nicely sautéed and had a great charred flavor. The chicken itself was cooked well but could have been more tender and had more seasoning. read more

Delicious and super fresh. Unique combination of flavors. Chicken Adobo yum. Attentive service. Casual dining room and small patio.

This spot has become a go-to whenever we plan a beach day, and it never disappoints. Grabbing food here before heading out is always a great choice the flavors are consistently fresh, satisfying, and well-prepared. The team keeps things moving smoothly while still being welcoming and attentive, which makes the whole experience easy and enjoyable. Even during busy moments, everything feels organized and handled with care. It's the kind of place you can rely on for quality and convenience without a second thought. Every visit leaves a great impression, and it's definitely worth making part of any beach routine. read more

Café Capistrano is our happy place! My husband and I love it so much that we hosted our wedding rehearsal brunch here -- that's how special this spot is to us. You can usually find us here on weekends after the gym, refueling with their delicious, clean, homemade food. The flavors are fresh, the vibes are welcoming, and the mango salsa fruit mix that comes with many of their dishes is pure magic. It's the perfect sweet and savory combo that keeps me coming back. The people here make it even better -- we've become buddies with the locals and staff, and it truly feels like a second home. If you're in Half Moon Bay and craving a meal that's made with heart, you have to stop by Café Capistrano. read more

The food here is amazing, unique, and so flavorful. We don't normally ask to shake the chef's hand, but this was an exception, because the food was exceptional. Highly recommend! read more

Was not dazzled by their flavor choices. No Paz as to the meal, just honest food for the price.

I order the garlic shrimp fajita no much garlic with salsa and mango and black beans and guacamole with no sour cream and for tortillas Not enough 6 small ones and Mexican coke it was not worth it I will not go back read more

Excellent food and friendly service. It's a small place with tasty, authentic dishes.

This place is very unassuming and it's in a house. But we entered and the ambiance was rustic and simple. We knew we would get good hearty dinner but it wasn't fancy. It was fairly neat. The service was quick and efficient. We ordered the chips and salsa. The chips came out hot and were not oily. The salsa was a small quantity but it was pretty tasty. The menu didn't have a great amount of vegetarian options. I got the veggie quesadilla which was fresh. The flavors were great and overall the quantity was good too. My daughter and I were able to share. My husband got the enchilada which was slightly low on salt but nothing super special. It was just okay. We also got rice and sour cream for my son and the rice was also low on salt and pretty dry. Overall it was decent value for money and it's a good place to be. I would give it a 3.5/5 read more

The fish tacos with snapper were amazing. Delicious white wine. Really cozy place. Humble and good service read more

Café Capistrano - Fish tacos - American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

This is a cute, quaint spot for a casual breakfast, lunch or dinner! There is a small team working to keep this place running, and they're all super friendly and welcoming. We all chose options from the seafood portion of the menu. The classic fish and chips were solid, with large, crispy pieces of fish. I loved my prawn fajita dish - the prawns were cooked to perfection in a buttery sauce. The rice could've used a bit more time cooking to get softer, but all the other sides were phenomenal, especially the fruit salsa. I wish they served breakfast all day, since all of their egg options looked delicious. I'd also love to try some of the more authentically Mayan dishes. read more

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I'm a local and have eaten at Cafe Capistrano for years! I was a customer when Arturo was located in our harbor. It is my go to place for myself and my family. The food is tasty, the service is fast and the staff is wonderful! read more

Service! Excellent customer service and very welcoming staff. Waiter helpful with meal choices. Definitely an off the tourist trap highway place to stop. Small, quaint house with lots of seating space. Food is excellent. We got enchiladas and the pork sandwich. read more

We had the day off and decided to head towards Half Moon Bay area to enjoy new restaurants and the views of the ocean. After arriving to the area, we searched Yelp to help us find food! We found Cafe Capistrano with very high ratings so we had to check it out! Nice small town feel and off street parking. The restaurant looks like it was a home and converted into a restaurant. It's a family owned restaurant. The food is Mayan inspired Mexican food. Everything is house made and delicious!! We had the pork fajita and the Poc Chuc with coffee. It was so fresh and tasty. I love the fact that everything is house made to order. They even made their own hot sauce! Ingredients: Habanero chilies, Lime juice, and Salt. We cannot wait to go back for other menu options! We were greeted and seated quickly. Very cordial and helpful. A great find!! read more

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I tried Café Capistrano for the first time today. The fish taco plate was delicious! Perfectly cooked snapper! My only suggestion is: bring a glass with ice cubes when someone orders a soda - not just the can. read more

Food was amazing! They makes their own hot sauce which we purchased. Highly recommend this hidden gem!

Casual cozy atmosphere, friendly and accommodating staff, and true comfort food! We were pleasantly surprised by this find given the inconspicuous exterior. We ordered the veggie fajita, cheese enchiladas, and chicken enchiladas. Ingredients were fresh, dishes were clean-tasting and were not overly salty or oily. Cafe Capistrano is a great option for fast, casual dining in Half Moon Bay while serving quality Mexican/Mayan food. read more

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This place is amazing-- in a Old house near Main Street !!! Just had a delicious breakfast !! Super fresh ingredients !! Arturo (the Owner) is very friendly & attentive !!! read more

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Excellent! Highly recommend the chicken adobo quesadilla and enchiladas. Authentic and delicious.

This burrito was all rice, hardly any adobo meat. Will not return. It's expensive $21 dollars. And I Tipped this establishment. Unfortunate. read more

Café Capistrano - American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Cafe Capistrano was wonderful! attentive service, a lovely restaurant and great food. Would definite return with family and/or friends when I am in half moon bay again. read more

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So delicious we had to go twice during a quick weekend trip. The fish tacos and the pork enchiladas are fantastic. Mango salsa is so fresh and tasty, and everyone is very friendly. Great find! read more

I still come here. I still recommend the pibil. GET THE SIKIL PAK. Thank me later. read more