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    Carmelita's

    4.3 (2.7k reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Waitlist - Carmelita's

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    Carmelita's Reservations

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    CARMELITA'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Carmelita's

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    Reviews With Photos

    Great Tree!!
    Michael H.

    THE ABSOLUTE BEST & MOST FESTIVE HOLIDAY LOCATION EVER!! Exceptional Service (thank you Daniel and Rodi!) ~ Holiday Decorations ~ Lively music - Delicious food ~ great Music - and full house of celebrating visitors from all over SoCal. We had a WONDERFUL LUNCH and can't wait until we return in 2026!!

    Sky T.

    Solid pick for some Mexican food in Laguna Beach area. The inside is well lit with these fun star-shaped lights. The service is friendly and pretty attentive. We came here for a quick bite and drink. We got the Chef's combo platter and a margarita. A good amount of food for 2-3 people with a little bit of everything. The margaritas here are also very good too. Great place and would come back!

    Grilled Burrito Bowl
    William S.

    This place has such a welcoming atmosphere starting from the front door. I felt like my server knew me, even though we had never met before. That is a sign of elite service. My order was taken promptly and my food arrived quickly. It was so fresh and tasted amazing. The portions are very nice. I ended up having to take some home. I went by myself, but would highly recommend Carmelita's for groups as well. Next time I need to try a margarita. The fresh chips at the table are extraordinary. It was everything I wanted after spending some time at the beach.

    Nick J.

    This place is our go to when we come down to South OC in Laguna Beach. Wonderful service great ambience the waitress and waiters are very nice unlimited chips and salsa and bean dip. Food is always consistent. We will be back soon.

    Seafood Enchiladas
    Marc P.

    What a great Mexican Restaurant. I would have to say it is some of the best Mexican food I have had in a long time. The margaritas were tasty, both types of enchiladas I tried were phenomenal and the flan was a perfect ending to the meal. The waitress was charming and described the entrees in a way that made it very easy to choose what we wanted to eat. You can't go wrong by having dinner or lunch here.

    Shrimp taquitos
    Hussain L.

    Excellent service. Comfortable leather boot seats that are goldish, Make you feel like a king or queen! We had the shrimp taquitos, very tasty And had a kick to them. It was a little bit pricey given the portion size, and the menu overall seemed pricier than I imagined, but that might just be the beach pricing. Upscale ambiance with Mexican music.

    Jeesoun S.

    It's been a while since the Pandemic.... We are back to eat their yummy black beans and chips, tacos, and more today. We missed the tacos and my fajita on cast iron. Today my husband chose lunch special, short rib shredded beef crispy taco plate w Spanish rice and beans for $24. I got short rib enchilada plate for $26. House classic margarita is $17. Beer IPA is $9. I got the bottle tea. We were so happy to be back here on Monday. Little slow around 11:30, might be Monday is slower. The service was so welcoming. Nothing was changed, only lunch special menu was added from 11 to 1 Mon to Fri. Same quality, the price was affordable. We love the black beans and chips. Heavenly!!!! My husband's crispy taco was so good, my enchilada was delicious. The Short rib is so tender, flavorful. Love love all!! We will be coming soon to eat more tacos, black beans.....haha... We had a great brunch time before we went to Dana Point, Ritz Carlton by Trolley. So much fun inside trolley to look all the boutiques, restaurants, and ocean. So much fun, yummy, great service!!!

    Nachos
    Franklin C.

    We were an early bird to the place so glad we got seated Indoor since it was hot during the summer. We were greeted nicely and served immediately hot tortilla chips and salsa/beans. They were really delicious and definitely caught our attention to the menu. Decor of the place is vibrant with the view of Laguna beach. We ordered nachos with carnita, wet burrito with carnita and Al pastor and fish tacos. All food were amazing. Wish we were alerted that there was a service charge for the extra tortillas when asking for more tortillas. Glad there was an online option to pay for the meals. Definitely up to date on technology.

    Madeline T.

    Came in for dinner and it was very busy! Reccomend going a bit early to account for finding parking. Price per person ranges from 20-30$ a person and they give generous portions! They also give a side of tortilla chips and the salsas were very delicious, will be back again! Dim lighting at night, very romantic and quite loud if you sit inside!

    Short Rib Enchiladas
    Maria M.

    During my Spring break stay in Laguna, I had the pleasure of dining at Carmelita's, a truly exceptional restaurant that left a lasting impression on us! Its beachside location, paired with its spectacular ambiance and 5-star service, set the tone for a memorable experience. Everything from the fresh guacamole , chips and salsa to the delectable birria tacos and short ribs enchiladas, were expertly crafted with unique spices and flavors that truly stood out. Every dish was full of fabulous flavors with each bite feeling incredibly fresh and delicious. The ambiance is Spectacular. Oh I said that already huh? It deserves mentioning twice. Whether you choose to dine inside or take in the beautiful views from the outdoor seating area, Carmelita's is a must-visit destination that I highly recommend! I would eat here again and again!

    Gaetano S.

    We are back to Camelita's. We missed the tacos and black beans. We got there at 11:30. I chose lunch special, crispy taco plate w shredded short rib for me and short rib enchilada for my wife. The price is not too expensive for the entrée. $24 , and 26. Only classic margarita is $17. No deal!! I got IPA for $9, everything was soooo good. We both love black bean dip w chips here. 5 stars for chips, beans. My taco plate was always good. The quality is consistant for years. That is why we always came again for tacos, cast iron fajita, and enchilada. My wife had short rib enchilada and she loved this food. Happy time and fun time in Laguna beach. The service, foods, and ambiance all are 5 stars. Great Mexican restaurant for friends and family. Always 5 stars for the foods. Thanks.

    Steak Fajitas
    John S.

    How have I missed this place over the past 15 years? I thought I had already been to the best upscale Mexican restaurant in Orange County, but I was wrong. Our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu, friendly and a professional who checked on us at appropriate times. The outside patio was perfect for dinner with the ocean and main beach across the street. And the food! Wow. The chips were fresh and crunchy and were accompanied by outstanding tasty salsa and bean dip. I've never had steak fajitas like these: tender steak, rich in flavor and perfectly prepared peppers and onions. For those not familiar with this restaurant I want to introduce you to an exceptionally good one.

    Crispy tacos
    Veronica W.

    A bit overpriced in my opinion. The food was ok, not the best most authentic Mexican food. I ordered the crispy tacos that came with 2 tacos and a side of rice and beans. Small portion for $24, and they charged me $2 for a side of salsa lol. They didn't warn me beforehand, and it's definitely not stated on the menu. The vibes are nice and the drinks looked tasty but didn't get to try them. Probably would come here for the vibes, but don't have high expectations for the food itself.

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    4 months ago

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    5 days ago

    Honored our reservation on Mother's Day. Great staff and great food. Love the Guacamole, salsa, and bean dip. Nachos were big.

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    5 months ago

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    7 days ago

    Awful service food took 1 hour and lots of attitude and no refills. Very small portions of food for that long of a wait

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    3 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    11 days ago

    Always great ambiance and friendly staff! Can never turn down a table on the patio and a margarita here. :)

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    5 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Amazing service Rodi was the best! Definitely a must in Laguna Beach! Great food and ambiance

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    1 year ago

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    1 month ago

    Good atmosphere, friendly, professional staff. Many choices from the menu and great food.

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    Page 1 of 67

    Carmelita's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Carmelita's

    Where to park?

    It is very crowded and difficult to find parking so you can park up the street and walk.

    Does carmelitas allow dogs?

    Yes. They do allow dogs but only in the patio seating area. Not indoors

    Does Carmelita's have happy hour Monday this time of the year?

    Is there a separate little seating room like some restaurants have that you can reserve for larger parties, say 15 people or so? For special celebrations?

    I think they could possibly push some tables together for you... 👍 If you go , enjoy...

    Hi. What time is happy hour on a Monday?

    Carmelita's in Laguna Beach does not have Happy Hour in the summer. Call to find out when they will resume their Happy Hour menu.

    Do you have an outside area that would allow dogs?

    Yes they do have an outside seating area and i took my puppy there for lunch and didn't seem to be a problem.

    Do you have Gluten-Free selections?

    salads

    Do they live mariachi back?

    No, stopped because of covid apparently?

    Do they still offer happy hour?

    Happy Hour is from 2PM-6PM Monday-Friday. Thank you.

    Do you have Sunday brunch?

    Hello, we are now offering Breakfast on Saturdays & Sundays until 2PM. Thank you!

    Best margarita? Thinking about the grilled pineapple one.

    I didn't try but sounds delicious! I had the pomegranate and Julio margarita both were amazing!… Read more

    Do they serve Coke or Pepsi products?

    Yes

    Where can I buy some of the art in here? Is there a website or does anyone know who the artist is?

    Call and ask Daniel, the manager.

    Is there Mariachi music on sundays?

    No TOm, We do not offer live music at this venue

    View All 18 Questions

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    I can't believe it took me this long to experience Nick's, especially as someone who's deeply…read morefamiliar with the Laguna dining scene. To put it simply: this is the kind of place Laguna has been missing. From the moment we walked in, the energy felt dialed-in in a way that immediately reminded me of a Hillstone experience -- polished but not pretentious, lively but still intimate. That balance is incredibly hard to execute, and Nix nails it. For context, I'm part owner of 230 Forest Avenue, so I don't say this lightly: Nix easily lands in my top five in Laguna Beach. We started with Aperol spritzes (perfectly balanced, not overly sweet), along with a couple of appetizers -- including a fried asparagus dish that was addictive in the best way. Crisp, flavorful, and gone way too quickly. For mains, I ordered the veggie burger, which was genuinely one of the best I've had -- hearty, well-seasoned, and thoughtfully constructed (not an afterthought, which vegetarian options so often are). My boyfriend had the noodle salad, which was fresh, vibrant, and layered with flavor. But beyond the food, what really stood out was the overall experience. The atmosphere feels intentional , great music, beautiful crowd, and a buzz that makes you want to linger. It's the kind of place where dinner effortlessly turns into drinks, and drinks turn into "should we just stay a little longer?" Laguna Beach doesn't have a ton of restaurants that hit this level across the board -- food, service, ambiance, and energy, but Nix absolutely does. We'll be back, and soon.

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    The deck is a great place to have a meal and look out over the vast Pacific Ocean. The views from…read morethe outdoor seating area are absolutely stunning. The service is great and the food is really good. This is the second or third time we've been to the deck while visiting Laguna Beach and it does not disappoint. We shared several different items between the four of us and enjoyed delicious cocktails. Definitely recommend this restaurant if you are in Laguna Beach during the day & really take in those view!

    Was really looking forward to a great mid afternoon 'Linner- lunch / dinner' after a day of…read moreapartment hunting down in Laguna and my significant other came across this place on social media. Wait time was probably about 30 minutes which wasn't too bad because we ended up getting a great corner table right on the beach. Our waiter was super nice and friendly. Recommended the mahi mahi as I asked help in choosing between three things and my boyfriend chose the beach burger. The food was well cooked with no complaints but really disappointing that they only come with chips. Really could have used French fries which would have landed this a better review. When you pay $21/$24 for sandwiches would just be a better side than chips to satisfy your hunger. Wouldn't you agree? My boyfriend liked the drinks too. Great view though, can't beat it. Too bad they couldn't have a private beach setting so you didn't have beach goers in photos and view. But that's not a big deal. Recommend for view and beach ambience. The mahi mahi and burger were good but would have wanted more with fries.

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    Tuna Tartare

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