Operating with illegal /shady practices, NO WHERE on the menu does it state any party size pays a certain tip. Which is ILLEGAL in California. The tip was hand written in by our server and then tried to pass it off as this was the norm. Know your rights-- If a restaurant is charging a certain tip for a party size it MUST be stated on the menu. Less illegal but lame. Chips were very stale. Also for a party of 1 or a party of 8, only one serving of chips and salsa is complementary (used to be bottomless). Olemendis has gone downhill and is now a shady operation, avoid at all costs. read more

A bit of a disappointment. Great location on PCH with a nice view even though right on PCH. Lots of flowers on the patio and fresh air galore along the coast. Service is average with not-so-friendly order takers (you order inside, take a number, and seat yourself); they seem very rushed and impatient. The bartender was very friendly, however! Food was nothing special either. And served with wrapped plasticware and napkin. No plans to return. read more

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I would not recommend this place. All I wanted was a carne asada burrito and when I got it, it was meat and bell peppers with beans. My husband got the fajitas with shrimp and it only had 3 shrimps. Plate was $30!. The food is not that good and way overpriced. read more

Didn't get to try the food, the first lady to greet us was extremely rude to us the second we walked in, and then again soon after. We decided to spend our money elsewhere. read more

Maybe for a margarita servers were friendly minus one Mexican lady (older) we had two service dogs and she seemed put out.. I refused to order due to her attitude margaritas are worth it ! food looked average we were a party of 6 the comments were the same it was ok.. plus kids running around our dogs were well behaved you wouldn't even have known the were there .. here's the kicker upon leaving I went to the restaurant and they had a space for people with dogs.. why didn't she offer that to us instead of making an issue we had dogs.. not dog friendly.. service dogs or otherwise Ambiance was nice you could see the ocean... read more

This is the worst so called "Mexican restaurant" ever!! Margaritas were terrible, service was worse and food was awful. Tamales were dry and had fillers of potatoes in them..they charge for everything..I'm surprised the didn't charge for sitting in their uncomfortable chairs..this place has really gone down hill..we will never go back and if you haven't tried it don't you will be so disappointed read more

Every President has there Picture There . The Family loves America! Such a fun place ! Love the food ! Beef Tacos

Definitely a yes loved the vibes here enjoyed Mexican beer and had a good meal with my mom while cruising down to San Diego read more

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The hospitality's, food and view, perfect combination.Quesadilla Thank you for your service. read more

Olamendi's - the outside of the restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

ordered the Carne Asada burrito and it was 1/10 meat. all rice and beans. Stick to the Carnitas plate.

Dont know where to start, from walking in and the decor. The friendly faces and servers. The authentic food and flavors of all the dishes we tried. This place is legit authentic and DELICIOUS!!! We started with the appetizer sampler beef taquitos, quesadillas, carnita empanadas and Nachos like grandmas house on a sunday! Wifee ordered the margarita also strong and tasty. read more

This is my first ever yelp review and I feel I must write it because it was such a horrible experience. I have been going here since the 80s when I was a child. I was very disappointed the last time I went on April 27th. This lady was extremely rude and I can tell the staff was stressed. The vibe was horrible due to this lady's aggressive attitude. Luckily she didn't end up being our waitress a really lovely woman was but the lady who was older then her was RUDE. Such a shame because I went there on my birthday and every single person was uncomfortable. read more

Okay we tried again, we wanted so much to love this place. HUGE NOPE the food tasted like chemical cleaner, the tequila had a new flavor every time we got a new drink (tequila on ice, not mixed), I wanted to be here with a new happier review, but this place should be avoided AT ALL COSTS!!! read more

Beware Olemendie's DO NOT BE FOOLED! I've lived near San Clemente most of my life & Olemendies USED TO BE great service & food but no longer! The server "Pam" was so rude and other staff seemed to be afraid of her. Food was over cooked and soooo dry. They seemed to be skimping on enchilada sauce on all of our 5 dishes. We had to pour salsa on our food but then they didnt want to give us refills on salsa. Watched cars in tiny parking lot hit each other and just ate quickly so we could get out of there. If you're visiting Dana Point or San Clemente, DO NOT GO HERE. We have so many other great restaurants in town that you will love. read more

What's stands out here is clearly the decor! There is so much to see in every corner, it is vibrant and lively! Of course the oceanfront dining is what most people come for, great food and excellent service! You instantly feel welcome and are well taken care of throughout your stay. The tacos were tasty, the salsa for the chips absolutely delicious! Food is ready quickly and they have their own private parking lot which is hard to find by the beach. Great option in the area! read more

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The place was empty. The food was mediocreat Best we ask for sliced avocados and instead of guacamole which they did. However, the avocado was not ripe and hard as a rock. We did not get any additional chips or salsa nor did they ask or did they ask if we wanted refills on our sodas, not impressed read more

They charge a split plate charge even if you ask them not to split a plate. Pure ripoff. And the soda comes in a can so they can charge for refills. I am imagining that sometimes people come and sit all day - but we were there for dinner. read more

I thought this place seemed a bit pricey... until I saw the portion sizes. You definitely get your money's worth. Salsa is a 6/10. It's yummy but the chunks are huge and hard to keep on a chip. Also not as spicy as I would like but I get they have to cater to the masses. Guacamole 8/10 - it was good, again really big chunks of onion and tomato in it. Slightly lacking on seasoning. $9 but you get a huge serving of it. Having recently gone vegetarian and hoping to be vegan, I was so happy that they had a vegan menu! I ended up going with a potato taco and a vegetable taco with rice and beans. I was only able to finish the potato taco and will have my veg taco at breakfast! It was good. The potatoes were mushy, I wish they would grill them quickly before putting in the taco so that there'd be a little crunch to them. My Partner got the Chile relleno burrito. She really enjoyed it. The cheese inside the relleno wasn't melty like I would want but she was happy. Churros coated well with cinnamon and sugar, could have been cooked for maybe 1 more minute. They weren't raw but they were still very pale in color. Comes with whipped cream. Which isn't really necessary. If they want to doll them up, maybe some Mexican chocolate or dulce de leche dipping sauce would be yummy. read more

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Customer service , everyone had a sad smug face and it took 30 min to get water we asked for. Salad was just greens with a container of dressing for $9 ... really Food was aweful and when host asked if we wanted a box ..so I can throw it in the trash... will never go there again, it ruined our night in read more

The restaurant is dirty and the quality of the food has gone down hill. Service was bad. No refills on drinks

The Baja fish tacos and the shrimp tacos are bomb! The service is friendly and welcoming, the ambiance feels like home! Totally coming back. 5 stars all the way! The view is good too. read more

Olamendi's - The view of Doheny state beach - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Had the shredded chicken burrito. It was ok. Was a bit spicy and had peppers in it? Chips were delicious though.

This was the worst Mexican food I've ever had. There was no flavor in anything we ordered. The only taste left in our mouths was salt and grease. The mole is supposed to be a popular dish here so we ordered mole enchiladas and they were near inedible. I got a fried Baja fish taco and the fish was soggy and cold in the inside. This place used to be run well and the food was good but it's gone completely downhill. The best part of the meal was the chips and salsa which wasn't the greatest either. The only thing this place has going for it is the location with a beautiful view. I hope they start making some changes to bring this place back to being a staple Mexican restaurant on PCH read more

As a Mexican I was disappointed .... The food was bland, the drinks were over sweetened and overall expensive as fuck...

Don't do it. By So California standards this place is bleh. The food was under seasoned, watery sauces, the cream Sauce on one dish was "broken", and the proteins inconsistently cooked. Our party tried tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, and a burrito. Three of the four of us didn't even try to finish our plates. Just bleh. The only pro to the place is the location. read more

Disappointed. We've been here many times over the years and it has had a steep decline. We've ordered a variety of items and all were very ordinary. The chicken tacos were dripping with grease. The margaritas were $20 each and seemed like they had no alcohol at all. The chips were very thick and bland. The price was higher than it should be and the service is reliably poor. We had a good sized group and we asked for a couple of extra salsas for our food only to find out that they charge for each one. Very nickel and dime for a sit down restaurant. Overall not a great experience and in San Clemente there are several other places that are much better. read more

Mom lives in Laguna Niguel and our normal haunts are Javiers, Coyote Grill, Las Brisas, Red O, South of Nicks and El Torito. Red O and South of Nicks are our faves and we have been talking about Olamendis for the longest time and we finally stopped in to celebrate a special occasion on a beautiful afternoon. The location is great (on PCH right across from the beach in Dana Point but that is where its charm stops. The first thing they do is bring you a basket of chips that are so thick and bland that they defy description. Somehow they also managed to get their guacamole to taste just as absent of any culinary quality. There was no salt...no lime...no chili, garlic or seasoning. Then they brought margaritas that tasted so artificial, it took all my courage to finish it. I asked if they could make a more upscale drink with premium tequila and better orange liqueur like Combier or Cointreau. She assured me that they made their own and it was the best. They "salted" the rim with some slimy goo that reminded me of a melted starburst that fell into a Tajin shaker. Olamendis is now my benchmark for the worst margarita I have ever had. HOW DO YOU MESS UP THE TABLE STAKES OF A MEXICAN RESTAURANT SO BADLY? They did...and I had to try and choke them down while looking at their sign claiming they are "world famous". I wont bother telling you any more than the Chile Relleno burrito was a tiny pile of indistiguishable melted things that I could thankfully smother in hot sauce. Finally, flavor! Don't waster your time...there are so many good places. read more

Went to this spot during a beach day. Very friendly staff. They packed up lunch really well for us. Margaritas were only so-so, and most of the food was pretty good. The fish tacos were delicious though,  as were the chicken. I don't recommend the Shredded beef, it was overseasoned and overcooked. Chimichanga was a bit soggy, seemed more like a burrito honestly. My kids loved their kids meals. The chips and salsa was really good, salsa had a great kick to it. read more

My family and I have been going to Olamendi's for close to 30 years. We used to love it until recently. The food quality has gone downhill. The margaritas were sweet - it did not taste like there was any tequila in them. They bring out one basket of chips and a less than half a bowl of salsa, whether you're a table of one or a table of five and then charge money if you want more chips/salsa. Lastly, the cost of the sub-par food is through the roof. The whole experience was very disappointing! There is no reason to ever go here again. Plenty of other great restaurants in the area. read more

Been coming to this spot for over 25 years. Generally a B+ to A experience. Tonight was the first time I remember being charged for hot sauce. $2 for about an oz of sauce, didn't realize it till I ordered another and I saw our server with the payment device out. Are kidding me?? No other alternative except their home made. With a party of 8 and all have drinks and going to nickel and dime on a staple ingredient?? Such a turn off. Sorry huge mistake in my opinion. read more

Ambiance and location is great! Food is bland and lacks any flavor. WORST fish taco I've ever had. Service is not with a smile.. super grouchy older woman who acted like she didn't want to be there. If you're looking for drinks and a view then it's your place. Just don't eat there read more

I expected this to be better than average for the price. Ordered 8 tacos total. All very dry. Nice customer service though. read more

Olamendi's - Carne Asada Taco - Mexican Near Me - Dana Point, California

Sometimes you go to a location for more than the food. Sometimes you go for the ambience. That's why I decided to go to Olamendi's. Thank goodness the food was very good, too! Almost every inch of this small but colorful restaurant is decorated -- even the little niches above diners' heads. The chairs are colorful. It was a treat for the eyes. As for food, the chips are the thick and crisp kind, my favorite. They come in a paper bag. Sodas come in a can, unfortunately. The salsa has a kick to it, so use sparingly unless you enjoy that sudden burn. I ordered combo #16, an enchilada and tamale. Always have to get the tamale. Both were good, but the green sauce on top was okay. The beans and rice were very tasty, and I scooped up both with those crispy tortilla chips. The service was excellent -- helpful and friendly. There's both indoor and patio seating. Oh, and even the wall outside in the parking lot was decorated. I posted a photo. read more

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Remembered Olamendis from a time gone past, and decided to give 'em a visit ... Entered about 11:30am (they open at 11am) and was immediately greeted by a a friendly employee.... I ordered the Capo Beach burrito, and a Quesadilla....complimentary chips and salsa were thrown in for our enjoyment... Although I was thoroughly impressed by the zany and festive items adorning the interior (ceiling and walls), and variety of beers and tequilas served here, we opted to take the pups and enjoy our grub at the harbor along the watchful eye of the Richard Henry Dana statue .... The Capo Beach burrito was awesome! I didn't know it was served "wet", but that made it oh so the better ; The quesadilla, was tasty, and the homemade salsa and guacamole was flavorful, and down home good...You can tell Olamendis makes their dishes and sides from scratch, no buying from Sysco Food Services here....just excellent home cooking.... Located along the legendary Pacific Coast Highway, the ocean breeze and tasty Mexican food can't be beat.... A casual relaxed atmosphere, where everyone seemed very happy (hey, you're eating awesome Mexican food along the beach in Southern California, how could you be not happy ;) Highly Recommend! read more

Carnitas at the beach! Can't beat that. Nice to meet up after work and work my way down the coast.

We went here because it was right next to the place we were staying. The salsa and margarita were really good but the chips were stale and the meal my husband ordered was so runny he had to use several napkins to sop it up. We also had to ask our waiter for water, even though he had been at our table several times and could clearly see our cups were empty. Unless you have no other choice I would not eat here. read more

Hours mentioned on website and Yelp are incorrect. Posted hours on physical address say 9pm on Saturday. Showed up at 8:05 and they say they close at 8. Looked good. Too bad we didn't get to try it. read more

Good food overall. But cheese used for queso fundido not as good anymore. Potato tacos are delicious. read more

I am sorry to say, but this restaurant has no passion or love in the kitchen. My husband and I each ordered steak- it was incredibly tough, no flavor, and sad to say, it didn't taste like meat. We both returned our plates right away, and ordered "cant go wrong" Mexican food ( taco's and toquilla's). Our new plates were terrible. We couldnt eat it. I think the food was all frozen, food is not fresh. Seems like they lean on air fryer and simply deep frying frozen food. We spent $100.00 and came home to eat dinner. Im sure the original owner would be very sad to know how the food is prepared and tastes read more

I loved dining here at Mendi's. We sat outside enjoying the view of the ocean. Had few shots of tequila. The chips and salsa were divine. Parking is limited and luckily we were able to snag a safe spot inside the lot. Forgot what I ate here but definitely had a good time here. I highly recommend checking out this place. read more