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    El Caporal

    4.3 (254 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican, Seafood, Burgers
    Closed 9:00 am - 7:30 pm

    Order El Caporal Takeout or Delivery

    El Caporal Photos

    Business Info

    EL CAPORAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - El Caporal

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    Quesa- Birria Taco with a side rice and beans

    Stopped by after my hike at Mt. Wilson and found an absolute hidden gem. From the moment I walked in, it felt like I stepped straight into my Tía's house for Sunday lunch. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and the staff make you feel like you're part of the family. The quesabirria tacos were amazing! They're so rich,flavorful, and so fresh it felt like they handled everything start to finish that same day. The agua de tamarindo was perfect refreshing, balanced, and not overly sweet. My family ordered machaca, beef tacos, and a shrimp cocktail and they all agreed the food had true authentic Mexican flavors. You can truly taste Puebla, Mexico right here in SoCal. Next time I'm in the area I'm stopping by, I'm going straight for the mole! Puebla style mole is straight fire!

    Franky T.

    I'm never one to leave reviews and this has nothing to do with the service but more so the food and amount paid for it. I don't think $16 for a salad like this is acceptable. Therefore I'm leaving this review in hopes that they either fix their pricing or food quality. Pricing there was a bit much however I don't complain cause it is what it is. I paid almost $45 for a salad, torta and coke. Don't know if it has to do with location or anything but just thought I'd leave this review.

    Birria Plate/ Caldo de Res
    Gigi N.

    Best Mexican Food in the area! My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this hidden gem! Super delicious food/ extremely kind staff/ super cute interior! My birria plate was mouthwatering good! Don't hesitate to come eat here !!! Solid 10/10!!!

    Menu
    Raven C.

    Friendly & thorough service. Quiet, comfortable place with low Latin music playing in the background. Food came out hot & quick and smells delicious

    Not worth it.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Always get great breakfast burritos here...great way to start a Saturday morning and get the weekend going!

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Everything on their menu is amazing. My favorite are the chilaquiles, reminds me of how my mother makes them.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Machaca and shrimp tacos are amazing here. Carnitas are also very good. Best Mexican place in this area.

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    2 years ago

    Great tasting food. Got a michelada an birria plate after a long hike. That hit the spot.

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    5 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Super good food, 6 of us were in town for a soccer game and everything was so good.the flan is a must.

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    2 years ago

    Stunningly overpriced. The serving sizes are small and the prices are high. Skip it. Food is okay.

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    the campechana with shrimp and octopus, michelada with modelo, and enchiladas were amazing!!

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    2 years ago

    food is soooo good awesome service good price there shrimps al coporal and a la diabla are to die for

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Amazing food and service! We ordered a lot of food for a big party and they were very nice and understanding!!

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    3 years ago

    Great food definitely coming back. Great service and give chips on the side for snacking

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    6 years ago

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    Page 2 of 7

    El Caporal Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Caporal

    Is the menudo available during the week or on weekends only?

    Weekends only

    Is there happy hour?

    I am sorry we don't serve alcohol

    Is bell peppers the only ingredient you guys have for an omelette?

    No we have onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, cheese, sukini, mushrooms that would be a veggie omelette and then we have bacon, sauges, and ham. What happened on Sunday was a misunderstanding when the waitress told you we didn't have any mushrooms she… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    4.4(650 reviews)
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    Outdoor seating
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    First time eating at a Peruvian restaurant and oh my goodness I loved it! We called a few hours…read morebefore for a reservation for 8 people on a Saturday night at 7:30pm and they had a spot for us. I believe they have seating in the back for larger parties! The portions are huge and I would recommend sharing if you're not so much of a heavy eater. We got the Milanesa de pollo which was bomb paired with the pesto pasta! Service was great, the servers knew their menu and ingredients so well. My friends ordered the ceviche which was delicious and one of their most popular! Our other friend ordered the lomo saltado which was great but just a little salty in my opinion. However, overall we loved it and would definitely be a place to recommend other friends to go to.

    located in old town Pasadena, you must pay for parking on the street as one would normally do in…read morethat area. I came here on a Saturday evening, there's some seating outdoors but plenty of seating indoors. The atmosphere is beautiful and welcoming for date night or to catch up with friends. The servers were attentive and made sure to check in on us regarding food. We got several items including ceviche, lomo saltado, and some pulled pork dish. The ceviche is to die for - very refreshing and delicious. The lomo saltado was a HUGE portion. The pulled pork was moist. overall excellent Peruvian food

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    Lobster-Guys

    Lobster-Guys

    4.4(251 reviews)
    4.0 mi
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    I had visited their sister restaurant Lobster and Beer numerous times during my studies at UCLA and…read morewas happy to find out this place opened up. I ordered a Connecticut style crab roll. The food arrived within 10 minutes of ordering. The crab roll was packed full of crab meat inside the toasted bun. I love whatever sauce they put on top + the lemon which made the crab meat ridiculously refreshing. The side of salad helped me feel better about eating healthy too and was a nice textural break from the crab roll. Overall, the crab roll tastes relatively similar to what I had at Lobster and Beer. It was very satisfying and I can't wait to come back for the lobster roll. Until I find out they switched to a poke shop instead. What a loss.

    Stumbled upon a hidden lobster roll shack in Pasadena called Ry's Poke Shack, and wow -- what a…read morefind. The place was spotlessly clean, the staff were genuinely friendly, and right at the entrance you're greeted with Top Yelp awards, which immediately sets the expectation high (and they deliver). We ordered both the Classic lobster roll and the Connecticut-style. The bread was warm, crispy, and perfectly toasted, the lobster was fresh and generously portioned, and nothing felt overdone or skimpy -- just balanced and done right. The sides paired perfectly with the rolls and rounded out the meal nicely. The tatertots and fries were crispy and satisfying and well seasoned! Highly recommended!!

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    Crab Grabber - Fish fillets in dry pot

    Crab Grabber

    4.5(149 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    It's really difficult to decide where to eat; my wife and I want something different, but the…read morefamily wants Chinese food. I discovered Crab Grabber in Pasadena, which serves both Chinese and boiling crab-style cuisine. Crab Grabber is a plus in Pasadena because it has its own parking area in the back. The restaurant is quite large, with plenty of space and tables. We bought two sets of Combo A with Green Mussels, Headless Shrimp with Green Onion, Ginger, and Garlic Flavor, which includes Fried Onion Rings, Steamed Chicken Juicy Dumpling, and Crunchy Breaded Shrimp. We also ordered the Roasted Fish with Garlic Flavor. The alternative Combo A that includes Friend Chicken Wings, Steamed Chicken Juicy Dumpling, and Garlic Bread, Scallion Pancake Beef Rolls. As I was taking pictures, I noticed the owner with photos with multiple Hollywood people. I spoke with the owner while we waited for our food to arrive. The owner is very kind and caring, and I can see how she takes care of her employees. Not to mention, the restaurant provides free appetizers with a variety of options such as seaweed, pickled vegetables, duck neck, duck wings, kimchi, pig ears, chicken feet, gizzards, and dessert. I love the Old Fashion Aiyu Dessert, which brings back many memories of when I was a kid in Taiwan and used to ride my little bike to buy it with my sister. Bring the family and friends to Crab Grabber to experience the incredible seafood, Chinese cuisine, and scrumptious wonderful appetizers; this will undoubtedly be your location! Come and support the business!!

    This place does not make sense. When you're seated, they hand you popcorn. Sure? Popcorn and boiled…read morecrab? I ordered combo A and it was ok. The crabs felt like they'd been frozen for a long time. The food did not taste fresh. I've been to quite a few carb/seafood restaurants and this one did not measure up. What really confused me was the broccoli. Why would you add broccoli to a boiled crab dish? That changes the flavor palette completely and not in a positive way. Then there was the hard boiled egg? Why? The service was great and the space was clean. The food on the other hand? Not good.

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    Star Leaf

    Star Leaf

    4.4(910 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$$
    Full bar
    Outdoor seating

    I visited Star Leaf for lunch on 5/14 for the first time and I loved every bit of it. I started…read morewith a lychee martini and 2 appetizers: the bakka salmon in Thai vinaigrette ( I wish I ordered another one of these) and the Saigon summer rice paper rolls. Both were very refreshing, and I really loved the sauce on the bakka salmon in combination with the mint leaves. Since I'm a huge seafood lover, I ordered the Thai royal curry with lobster tail, lime steamed Chilean sea bass and the royal crown fried rice. This was my first time trying curry and I found it delicious, I'd love to visit Star Leaf again specifically for this dish. I really enjoyed the texture of the fish roe on top of the fried rice - I've never had something like this before. I also ordered the truffle wok seared noodles with beef (I liked the mushrooms in this dish). For dessert, I had the Vietnamese coffee flan and the pink mekong. I loved the presentation of the pink Mekong, and the various fruits were yummy. As for the atmosphere, it was very cozy and I took a lot of nice photos in the front of the restaurant by the pond. This restaurant would be perfect for a romantic date night or a lunch with the girls. The service was great - everything was very timely and detail-oriented. Everyone was kind and attentive, I felt very welcome.

    Star Leaf came across my Resy search and ended up being a spot I try for my birthday. I went on a…read moreSaturday at around 2:00 pm as a walk-in. I was able to find metered parking on the street; not sure why but I didn't need to pay that day! Upon arriving, we were fortunate that there was no wait time and got seated right away. Their menu was quite extensive so we took some time to browse before we ordered. They had a main menu and also a special menu. We pointed out some allergies to the staff and he helped us work around it. The orders came out quickly and he checked in on us frequently to see if we were okay. Great service! Bakka Wild Salmon - This salmon had a lot of things going on for it, in a good way! The combination of flavors felt very refreshing, especially on a hot day. The lime and basil played a big part there. Crispy Short Rib with Lime - Even initially before coming here, this was the dish that caught our attention. I will admit the portion size was a bit smaller than I expected and was even skeptical when it came out. However, without a doubt, this was the highlight of the visit. As someone that loves savory foods, this really hit the spot. The burst of flavors settles in right away. Truffle Wok Seared Noodles - We wanted to pick this noodle dish as a balance to the protein dishes. It did its job but it tasted okay. Not something that stood out. Slow-Drip Vietnam Coffee Flan - I liked the caramel that was layered on the flan, it was crunchy and added a nice texture. It was a nice presentation but tasted okay. Thai Tea - This was my personal drink. It was a standard Thai tea but came with ice cream on top. It was not too sweet but didn't stand out compared to other items. Strawberry Pandan Lemonade - This was my girlfriend's drink. I had a small sip here but found it was refreshing and not too sweet. However, I didn't really get any pandan flavor, mainly strawberry. When it all comes together, it was a good experience. The interior of the story is more dimly lit and felt like a romantic night dinner, despite being the middle of the day. The dishes had a balance of standard and hidden gems. Everything was more than sufficient for two people to share. Service was great and very attentive. Will come back for the Crispy Short Ribs! American Express is accepted here.

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    Boston Lobster - fried noodle with seafood

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    4.3(1.9k reviews)
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    Came to the Rosemead location to celebrate a family member's birthday on a Friday evening. We were…read moreable to call ahead earlier in the morning and ask if we could be on the wait list or reserve a table. They told us they could reserve a table for us at 6pm. We originally were hoping for 7 or 7:30, but based on how busy and popular this place is I can see why they said no. Come early and get seated right away and there's still ample parking in their parking lot. By the time we left at 7:30p, the lot was packed and people circling around hoping to snag a spot from folks leaving. The restaurant is pretty large and has about 3 rooms with different size tables and booths. No matter the size of your party, there's a table that will accommodate. The staff were very nice and attentive and FAST! We had our food out probably 15 min after we put in our order! Now...on to the food. We ordered one of the set menus for our party of 7 and it was spot on! As you can see in the pictures we had all the "classics". Our set meal could easily be enjoyed by at least 10 people. We had so many leftovers! The food was all well prepared and sufficiently seasoned. Portions of each dish was plentiful and everyone will be able to get enough to satisfy. My favorite items: lobster (duh!), kung pao chicken, pork chops, and shaking beef. The seafood soup is a great starter, and don't forget to add a little vinegar and pepper! Great restaurant in the SGV. This location is much bigger than their Rowland Heights restaurant, but the food is exactly the same. This is a great alternative to the popular Newport Seafood, so don't sleep on this place!

    Been looking for an authentic Chinese restaurant. Haven't been to one in a while. This place was…read morerecommended to us by a friend. Came at 530 pm on a tuesday, and there wasen't anyone here yet. Afterwards it filled up quickly!! The main thing I dont like about this place is they dont have the prices on what your ordering. Which I'll get too at the end. Like any other Chinese restaurant, their menu is super extensive. I love how they have a little bit of everything. And its very well organized too. We ordered the following: 1. Crab and fish maw soup- this soup was amazing. It was just the right temp. Got me sweating. Can easily feed 12 people. Great amount of maw. The consistency is just right. Tasted so good!! 2. Small lobster special- on a bed of noodles. It was about 5 lbs. Cooked well. Could do without. Basically flavors. And it was expensive!! About $30 a lb. So this one dish cost basically the same amount as all the other dishes. Which was just too much. If I knew it was that much I would definitely not have ordered it. 3. Walnut shrimp- not the best walnut shrimp I've had. But it was ok. 4. Garlic shrimp- this shrimp dish was ok. Too many bell peppers and onions. It was just ok. 5. Mongolian beef- flavors were not that great. Very tender though. Could've been better. 6. Sea trout- this was amazing!! I love the sauce. Fish was so soft and tender. The heat, the spice, the sweetness. Some of that sauce in white rice was just perfection. It was really really good. Best dish of what we ordered. 7. Kung pao chicken- this was a really good dish. Crispy bits of chicken. But so soft and tender inside. I love the sauce that it was in. It was by far one of the highlights of the meal. It was good food. Price for everything (except the lobster) was pretty good. Food tasted amazing for the most part. Typical Chinese customer service. Pay at the front. Massively large portions. Solid authentic Chinese food.

    Photos
    Boston Lobster - Dining area with pretty cherry blossoms  tree painted on wall...

    Dining area with pretty cherry blossoms tree painted on wall...

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    Stir-fried Clam with Thai basil

    El Caporal - mexican - Updated May 2026

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