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El Maguey Express

3.5 (52 reviews)
InexpensiveMexican
Closed 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Order El Maguey Express Takeout or Delivery

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EL MAGUEY EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Outdoor seating
Good for kids
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - El Maguey Express

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Small but everything is Served fresh and hot when you order. Guacamole, salsa and chips also HOMEMADE!
Yolanda D.

SABROSO! True, AUTHENTIC Mexican Food so truly the best I have tried and nearly gave up hitting Mexican food eateries. Glad I didn't give up. Everything - beans, rice, enchiladas, shredded tacos and more are deliciously authentic! Been here about 12 times in October. YUMILICIOUS!!! Thank you Ruby.

a tray of mexican food
Nijole T.

Service was friendly, but I feel the food was expensive for what you got. Crispy tacos were on the small side and rather expensive. Not a huge fan of their meat. Chips and salsa were OK, since they were so friendly I'll have to try something else if I'm in the area again next time.

Nachos

Normally exceptional but ordered the nachos with beans on side for dipping, this is the extent of the cheese chips.

1/2 Rotisserie Chicken with side salad, homemade salsa & tortillas, very good!
Mike K.

Yesterday I picked up enough food to feed 30 people for a birthday party. The food was great, carnitas were excellent, and rotisserie chicken (my favorite menu item here) was very tasty as usual! The price was great for so much food, and it was ready to go and hot when I got there. The owners and employees are all very friendly and helpful. Everyone at the party loved the food and wanted to know where I got it, El Maguey Express of course!

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13 days ago

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2 months ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

Best tortas anywhere here. Rotisserie chickens great too. Authentic Mexican food and good prices.

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

I went and I saw the worker Nathan And he was the best cashier I've ever seen he had the best experience ever super nice

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

I love their tacos, a little pricey but very filling! Their breakfast options are great too!

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

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5 years ago

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6 years ago

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7 years ago

Always great tacos and hot sauces, worth the drive to SJP.

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8 years ago

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10 years ago

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5 years ago

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5 years ago

Amazing Service!!! Great food!!! Had a lot of special requests and they delivered flawlessly!!

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9 years ago

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14 years ago

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El Campeon

El Campeon

4.0(769 reviews)
0.3 mi
$$

A legit and affordable Mexican joint in South Orange county. There are a lot of ready-made dishes…read moreas well as your usual antojitos: tacos, tortas, quesadillas, etc. I came in with 4 adults and a child. There was a little bit of a line but line moved fast, waiting for the food is what takes the longest. After you order at the food counter, you wait for your number to be called. Once called, you get all your items and you can order drinks if you want to. We were hungry so we over ordered. This is what we had: 1. Pozole: the soup was so tasty! They provide you with a small container of dry red peppers and oregano. Use it. It gives a nice kick to the soup. The meat was tender and the homini perfectly cooked. The ratio of homini to meat was just right. 2. Pork tamal: the masa was not the best I've had but it was still tasty. I like my pork tamales to have chunks of meat but the one I got was more like a meat mush. 3. Lengua plate: delicious! Came with a side of rice and beans. 4. Cabeza tacos: needed a little salt but cabeza usually does. The meat was very good. Try them with the green salsa. 5. Carnitas tacos: if you like different textures, get it mixed (cuero included). The mix of different parts of the pig is a lot tastier than regular maciza meat. 6. Drinks: horchata and Jamaica. No package drinks here. Horchata tasted home made and Jamaica was solid. Two of the adults had regular coke from the soda fountain (nothing special). 7. Dessert: flan and arroz con leche. Both very delicious and not overly sweet. Desserts can be paid for in the bakery area so no wait here. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of any of the food we ordered. We were so hungry that we started eating right away. The best part of this place was the affordable prices. For everything we ordered we paid ~$70. Not bad considering we had a lot of food, drinks, and desserts. There's counter siting available inside and some tables outside. Bathroom is on premises but I didn't go in so I'm not sure how clean it was or if it was gender neutral.

Whenever I need to supercharge at the Tesla chargers I get to get some food here at El Camperon…read more The store does not have seating inside and so you will need to sit outside. The store is split between savory and sweet. I ordered a few tacos (carnitas, cabeza, and lengua). The full size tacos are quite large and filling. I have to remember to order the street taco version. The flavor is good and with the salsa it hits the spot. I also ordered the menudo to dip my tacos in. Paired the food with some horchata and agua fresca. The service can be a bit slow, maybe because it is usually busy. One thing to note is that you will need to order the drink with your savory order but pick up is on the other side with the sweets.

Photos
El Campeon - Food case

Food case

El Campeon - Chales - Chicharron c/carne ($9.89/lb)

Chales - Chicharron c/carne ($9.89/lb)

El Campeon - Chales - Chicharron c/carne ($9.89/lb)

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Chales - Chicharron c/carne ($9.89/lb)

El Zarandeado  - Aguachile negro

El Zarandeado

4.8(387 reviews)
0.4 mi

If you're looking for authentic, fantastic Mexican food in San Juan Capistrano, El Zabandeja is…read moreabsolutely worth your time. This is the kind of place where the food speaks for itself. As a local gringo, sure--I wouldn't mind a few pictures on the menu--but honestly, it doesn't matter. Just pick something and go for it. Everything I've tried has been excellent, and you really can't go wrong. What makes it even better is that it's truly family-owned and operated. And I mean that literally--you'll see them in the front, in the back, and serving tables. There's something special about that level of care and pride in what they're doing. It's incredibly important to support places like this, especially in South Orange County and particularly in San Juan Capistrano. Restaurants like this are what give the area its character. Take your time when you go--make it a date night or bring family when they're in town. If you want real, authentic, fantastic food, this is the spot.

The seafood was fresh and full of flavor, and everything tasted very well prepared. I highly…read morerecommend trying the agua chile con salsa negro -- it had great flavor and was one of my favorite dishes. The camarones a la diabla and camarones al ajillo were also both delicious, well seasoned, and cooked perfectly. If you enjoy seafood, this is definitely a place worth trying. I would gladly come back again.

Photos
El Zarandeado  - Inside

Inside

El Zarandeado  - Camarones Playa de Melaque

Camarones Playa de Melaque

El Zarandeado  - Tiquio the mixologist special drink

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Tiquio the mixologist special drink

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant - Irene's Irenes Adobada Special Plate

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant

3.8(646 reviews)
0.6 mi
$$

What a great place to dine in the shadow of the San Juan Capistrano mission. Delicious Mexican food…read morewith many seafood choices as well. I introduced myself to the owner, Enrique and complimented him on what a fine place with great service. He was a gracious man and I could see the pride of 33 years in one location within him. My waitress, Yolanda, was extremely attentive and kind. This is the kind of place you go to and never will you return to the town without dining there again.

Very disappointing experience at El Maguey Mexican Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano. We came in…read morefor a quick lunch and had to ask for chips twice, only to finally receive a half-empty basket. Then, when we asked for more, we were actually charged for additional chips, which felt unreasonable right from the start. It got worse when we saw a "split plate" fee added to the bill--even though we didn't split a meal. We simply asked for an extra plate and were still charged. That kind of nickel-and-diming really takes away from the experience. For a lunch spot in San Juan Capistrano, the food is also overpriced for what you get. The quality and portions just don't justify the cost. See the attached bill--the upcharges alone were nearly a third of the total. Two enchiladas and chips came out to about $35 before tip, which just isn't reasonable for lunch. Well, at least they didn't add a 3% credit card fee... maybe that's coming next. Overall, El Maguey Mexican Restaurant missed the mark on both value and customer experience. Unfortunately, we won't be back anytime soon.

Photos
El Maguey Mexican Restaurant - Additional dining quarters in the front and back.

Additional dining quarters in the front and back.

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant - Good hot salsa and Guacamole

Good hot salsa and Guacamole

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant - Menu 12/4/2022

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Menu 12/4/2022

El Maguey Express - mexican - Updated May 2026

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