Raya's Restaurant is located inside the Iconic Ritz-Carlton Hotel off of Dana Point Beach!! A restaurant with a view.... We were starving after our walk and decided to eat at Raya's. We did not have reservations. Just walked in and waited a couple of minutes for a table. I had the Meat Lover Omelette and my friend had the Belgian Waffle with a side of bacon with coffee. It was DELICIOUS!!! It's a nice place to come chat with friends or a date with a nice meal with a view!! Is it pricey?!?! Of course!! It's expected when you're in a beautiful place. Overall, great staff! Tasty foodies. Beautiful views. Great hotel. I cannot wait to come back for dinner!! It's such a beautiful place. read more

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Absolutely favorite for weekend breakfast. What a view... Attentive service.... Acqua Pana... Feeling of vacation and relax... Decent espresso too. Keep coming back read more

Raya - Can't beat this view. Period. - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

Located inside the Ritz Carlton, this restaurant has incredible ocean views, amazing food, and spectacular service. We came here for Thanksgiving dinner so we had a special prix fixe menu for the night. Every seat has a great view of the water but we were seated directly in front of a window and were treated to a gorgeous sunset. Our service was as good as it can possibly get all evening; we were given the VIP treatment. A sip of water and out of nowhere your glass is filled again, silverware replaced after each course, etc. - they kept an eye on each table to make sure everything was perfect without being obtrusive. We enjoyed a glass of champagne on our arrival and also each indulged in a glass of wine later (me a chianti, her a pinot noir) from their wine list. Every dish set in front of me was an incredible taste treat. I'll just briefly describe each dish as I don't think any are on the usual menu. A mushroom/spinach/feta amuse started things off followed by an arugula salad which featured iberico jamon, slices of persimmon, burrata, and candied walnuts. My main course was adobo free range turkey; slices of turkey breast with mashed potatoes, haricots verts, crispy shallots, and orange spiked cranberry sauce. On the side, for both of us to share, were bowls of pecan crusted spiced sweet potatoes and chicken Andouille stuffing. I did try my wife's braised shortribs and...yes...amazing. Our dessert plate were small bites: pumpkin cheesecake, warm pear coffee cake with brown sugar and whiskey ice cream. Although this put a major dent in my wallet the total swanky experience was worth it. read more

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Like the view of the ocean, food was good. Service compared to before are down, we have to call few times to get what we need, is disappoint our guests. read more

What a delightful weekend to spend dinner here with great friends. Our friends invited us to celebrate their daughter's Birthday with them. What can I say? There where about 20 of us. This restaurant is elegant and you can enjoy breathtaking views of the pacific ocean. Very nice place to celebrate a birthday or a just have a meal delicious 3 course meal. They have a large menu to choose from appetizers, main course and desserts. Overall our food was really good and service is first class!! Definitely recommend this upscale restaurant located inside the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. Will come back next time. My Rating:4.9 Food 5/5 Staff 5/5 Price 4.5/5 Restaurant 5/5 Cleanliness 5/5 read more

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Great view, however, the window seating only available for groups less than 4 people, we have 5 people so they put us on third row which is a little higher than first two rows. Parking, the hotel only do valet parking I think and they waived our valet ticket because we were dining in. The food were good, the reason I gave two stars is because I think for their price range the servers should be more professional. We had three people ordered steaks, I ordered medium and the lady next to me ordered medium well. When they brought up our steaks, I even double checked with the guy "this is medium right?" and he said "yes". However, he was wrong. After we both started eating our steak then I noticed her steak is red and mine is cooked. It not a family dinner, the lady is our VIP customer so that's not ok. read more

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If you can get a table by the window, the view is magnificent. I enjoyed the excellent carnitas huevos rancheros. However, I found the service to be mediocre. The coffee was very good, but they are stingy with it. Getting another cup was unnecessary challenging. read more

Raya - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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The ambience was amazing. It had a great view, and it was literally the best customer service I ever had from Dean. They were very attentive, very polite. They also had live music not to exaggerate, but this was some of the best tasting food I've ever had but definitely the best customer service I've ever had. I highly recommend to everybody. read more

Raya - Beach view and drinks - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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I went Raya with a friend on Saturday night. Since I booked at the last minute, they only had after 9pm appointments available. But they still arranged our table little bit early after that we requested them if they can do that around 8:20pm. Thumbs up for the good service. The restaurant has a good ocean view since the hotel located just right next to the salty creek beach. I had been here 10 years ago for a lunch during the day time, and really enjoyed the gorgeous ocean view. This time, we came after the sunset, it's totally dark outside, but I still enjoyed the atmosphere inside. I suggest that they can play some soft piano music. The food is very ! Especially the Pan Roasted Seabass ($36), so delicious. It matches very well tempura Jalapeño and makes the seabass not too oily. Dry Age New York Prime ($68) is great. The meat is tender and flavor. For the dessert, I like the Coffee Choux Trio ($16), it's very special. Strawberry Hibiscus Meringue ($16) is little bit too sweet for me. Our waiter is very friendly and helpful. We will come back soon! read more

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As always one the most beautiful places in the Universe. Love here food and atmosphere Nice service, amazing people. Quality time Memory making read more

**December 2022: Saturday Morning Visit** I came here to enjoy brunch with my folks and the view here is stunning. If you want a very calming and peaceful view of the ocean this is a fantastic (and warm) place to enjoy it. I ordered the following Orange Juice: Sorta tastes like concentrated but I guess I prefer with pulp. Seasonal Fruit: Beautifully presented and a great assortment Huevos Rancheros with an overeasy egg: It has a little bit of a kick and blended really well with all the textures of the entree. I think if you want a bougie brunch option to enjoy with girlfriends or impress clients (inlaws etc). I think this is a great classy option. The view is definitely the star. read more

Sweet restaurant, extremely accommodating to our group of 5.... service 5/5 as an be expected from the Ritz Carlton. Food wise very good as well, too many details to share but would also be very specific to our own taste. Definitely recommended for a special occasion but also make sure that the host know about your reason for visiting and your dietary restrictions. read more

Raya - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

Charming Restaurant with spectacular beach view. Raya is favorite restaurant in Laguna Beach. Services are top notch. Food always delicious. 5 STARS read more

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The ambience is always so inviting, as is the front desk staff. I appreciate that they still greet you by your name, but after the initial check in and being seated, we waited. Then waited, then waited more. Our server, who introduced herself, was very pleasant when she was there, but she was absent for a majority of the dinner. We ordered the Tomahawk for Two, which was delicious. The chef came out and carved it to order. We started with a salad - after we finished the salad and had it cleared, our server came and stated "Great, we'll start preparing the steak. It should be 20 to 30 minutes". We wished she would have fired the steak prior to us finishing the salad. While we wanted dessert, the long wait time prohibited us from taking part. We will dine again, but the Ritz service standard is missing. read more

I had the pleasure of dining at Raya, located inside the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, for our 22nd wedding anniversary. This was during the breakfast hour. The restaurant decor is breathtaking. The ocean view added to the overall ambiance. Although we arrived at 11:30am (end of breakfast), Rena, the manager and the chef made an exception; Our meals were excellent. In addition to the traditional America breakfast, we ordered a small fruit dish which was outstanding. What made the morning special was the exceptional service from our server, Georgina. She was attentive making sure our meal was complete. Upon leaving Rena made sure our dining experience was pleasant. Although we did not try the lunch menu, we will give it a taste at our next visit. read more

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I like Raya mainly because of the ocean view from the restaurant. Today I celebrated my birthday here and so was my last birthday. Bryan provided an excellent servi ce and was very patient. Hope to be back on my next birthday or sooner as usual. I almost forgot they made a well-presented birthday cake for me :) read more

Raya - Birthday cake courtesy of Raya - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

I really really wanted to love this place. The view is unparalleled; a member of my family loves ocean views, and she says this is the best view she's ever experienced. Also, view or no view, you can't match the ambiance of the Ritz Carlton. However, there were some aspects of this place that were problematic. First, parking validation would have taken almost 50% off the valet parking cost, and we were not really reminded to get validation. Second, I explicitly asked the waiter if we could get courses as they come out so they come out hot. Our courses, lo and behold, did NOT come out hot. Lastly, someone in my party ordered a chicken sandwich with plantains, and we did not get the plantains. When we brought this up, we got some excuse about how the kitchen sometimes prepares the dish without the plantains (which is ridiculous because the plantains are not described as optional on the menu). The server recognized that the plantains would probably come at the tail end of the meal and that the person in our party would love the dish anyway. Of course, we asked for the plantains and they did come at the end of the meal. The restaurant did not offer anything in compensation for the trouble. I've eaten at restaurants more expensive and more classy than this, so for them to brush off these issues is pretty unacceptable. I hope they figure this out because I associate the Ritz with impeccable service. This is unfortunate because I think if everything had gone well and the food were hot, this would have been an easy 5 stars. read more

So to start things off me and my mom ( I'm a teenager with a palette) came to the ritz Carlton to hangout for a night. The beach was nice and you see a lot for of beach. I ordered a Spaghetti. The Spaghetti had a nice amount of greens on the spaghetti. The presentation was amazing and the services (based on past experiences) are amazing. Though I thought the spaghetti was a little under seasoned and could use some more salt and pepper and the red sauce is amazing. Thank you for reading have a nice day :) read more

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We had high hopes for our Christmas Eve dinner at Raya on Sunday, December 22nd, but unfortunately, our experience fell far below expectations. From the start, things felt disorganized. The hostess seemed unsure of what she was doing and seated our party of four at a table with only two chairs. We stood awkwardly for several minutes before additional chairs were brought over. Our waitress then took an unreasonable amount of time to come to our table, and when she finally did, the service continued to disappoint. Drinks took an excessively long time to arrive, and we had to remind her that we had also ordered an appetizer. It felt like there was no attention to detail or urgency to provide a quality experience. To make matters worse, when we asked for the drink menu before ordering, she brought us only one menu for our table of four--and it was missing the cocktail section entirely! By that point, we decided to cut our losses and dine elsewhere. When we asked for the check for what little we had received, the waitress seemed confused and took even more time to bring it. What should have been a special evening turned into a frustrating ordeal. We expected much better from a place with Raya's reputation and will not be returning. read more

Outstanding restaurant with the most expansive ocean views in orange county (in my opinion). My wife and I went here for our last date night and we had a memorable time away from the kiddos. Wpuld recommend waiting until you can get a seat next to the window because it is well worth it. The quality of the food met the high standard of service from Ritz Carlton restaurant and they had an extensive wine list as well. read more

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The ocean view is absolutely gorgeous to look at while dining, but the food and decor left a lot to be desired. Sunday brunch is a lite menu, and a lot of popular seafood menu options were not available. The $32 dry aged hamburger was dry and not worth the high price tag. You don't need to be a guest to dine here, but come here for the view, not the food. read more

Raya - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Went here for a friends birthday and it is such a lovely spot! The service is the best you could hope for. The views are beautiful. The food was tasty. Quite pricey but it was expected. Definitely a nice date night or special occasion spot read more

Excellent food, but unfortunately almost the same menu as their outdoor restaurant/deck. Love the ceviche and the bowl. Drinks were crisp, fresh and just enough fruit. Next trip I will sit by the fire in the bar. Looked inviting. read more

If you are looking to enjoy a bottle of wine while watching the sunset, Raya is the place for you. We had reservation for dinner elsewhere, so Raya was our stop for drinking wine. I do agree with my fellow yelpers that the menu is not that exciting as I looked it over and did not find anything that appealing. Considering that we are living through a pandemic, I would have liked for the tables to be cleaned in between customers but there was no employee to be seen doing that. Regardless I enjoyed my time especially watching the sunset...... read more

We were celebrating my bday and we were seated at a great table, the staff is incredible and very cordial... The food was incredible but the main waiter could've been more attentive, had to get his attention to order our food and he never came back to check if were liking everything and or needed any else... Oh well you can't have everything... They also did a fabulous Bday Cake for me and it was amazing so I need to acknowledge that for sure... so I highly recommend the restaurant... read more

We started with drinks outside, very nice and our server was great. Moved inside and had a nice window table, but the server gave us some attitude because she couldn't get one of our drinks (which we had just ordered outside) right. This could easily have been 5 stars had the server/service been consistent throughout, but there were some hiccups. The food was very good though, and the view was wonderful. It is expensive, as expected. read more

A wonderful day in Dana Point at the Ritz-Carlton Resort & Hotel and we had such an Amazing experience for lunch today. You know it's a very good day when there are no traffic or accidents. Always a pleasure coming here to Raya in Dana Point where the service and fine cuisine never disappointed. Make your next reservation at the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point. read more

This location is just what you would expect at a ritzy hotel... incredibly slow service, reasonably tasty food and drinks, but a price point that makes it feel like a lose-lose. Now, that said, I am sure it was better when you were indoors but overlooking that gorgeous coastline with the floor to ceiling windows. With covid precautions in place you are now relegated to a patio overlooking the pool with children splashing and yelling so it feels less fansay and you are much less enthusiastic about paying the fees incurred. However, I bumped it up to A-OK because my bloody marys were enough to get me tipsy for a walk down to the beach where we checked out the beach chairs and soaked up some sun before it was time to check out. read more

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Nice place to refresh your life It has fantastic view to the beach Big glass to the Pacific Ocean read more

Raya - Gorgeous view - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

Breakfast is so delicious with great views of the beach and the local surfing. I absolutely love coming here for breakfast. Egg omelette was fresh and perfectly cooked. Bagel and cream cheese was just right. Service was prompt and professional- just right amount of attention that checked on you but also allowed you to enjoy the food and view without interfering with the relaxation I was enjoying read more

Raya - Walking up to breakfast area. - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Food was amazing, service (our server was Samantha) was the best! They were decorated for Christmas and it was so cute! We tried the cauliflower, the rolls, hamachi was my favorite, and was brought dessert for my birthday! Would definitely come back! read more

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The ambiance and views are out of this world and the real selling point for this restaurant! The wait staff was amazing as well and were extremely attentive. The food was somewhat underwhelming, but that didn't completely ruin the experience for us. Overall, a great spot for amazing sunset views over drinks and maybe dessert. Skip the dinner menu. read more

Raya - Triple Chocolate Cake Heitz Cellar, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California (Must be 21 to purchase) - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

Beautiful ocean views with great food and great service. Don't forget to have a breakfast! read more

Raya - Breakfast - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

My favorite restaurant of all time. I love my spectacular ocean view. Food is always delicious. My favorite dish is Sea Bass and scallops. Service here is top notch. They always make you feel like a princess. Valet parking is available. read more

We live locally and this is one of our favorite restaurants. The view and cuisine are wonderful but the service makes it. Elizabeth has been our server several times and we just let her be our guide. She knows the menu in extensive detail and also suggests several pairing options. Friendly, fun and knowledgeable. Always right on target! read more

First, the Pros: My boyfriend and I were excited to eat here during our weekend stay. The oysters and duck carnitas were great. We also ordered the branzino and the chocolate pie. The branzino was poorly seasoned and the chocolate pie's flavor was good but the pie appeared to be old based on the consistency of the crust. The service was awesome as well, and our waiter was really attentive and polite. Followed by BIG CONS: 24 hours later, both my boyfriend and I began to experience food poisoning symptoms. That was the only meal we shared together considering I left the next morning, yet, we are both having difficulty keeping food down. We have no other symptoms outside of needing to run to the restroom every 20 minutes. I'll spare you further details. This is disappointing as it has interrupted our workdays. I hope the restaurant sees this, but my boyfriend will also call to inform them to protect others from getting sick. read more

Honestly did not expect such an amazing dinner. We were a party of 4 and all of us were super happy with our appetizers, dinners ,and drinks. The service was fantastic!!! Unfortunately there was not a view as the marine layer was insane. But I will be going back because I'm dreaming of the smoked fish dip! read more

Little late writing this review but better late than never! So this year I wanted a beautiful dinner for my birthday with a spectacular view. I stumbled upon "Raya" at the Ritz Carlton during my search online. So I immediately booked a table for two, for 5 pm Friday (which happens to be the time they open) so it worked perfectly. We arrived a couple minutes early and got the window table! So excited! We decided to order alot so we would be able to eat, drink, and watch the beautiful sunset! It worked out wonderfully! Our waitress was so kind and helpful, and the food came promptly, not at any point did we feel forgotten about OR as if we were being rushed. We tried the Caeser, birria clams, aguachile, and the octopus, ALL VERY DELICIOUS! We ordered two rounds of drinks , (I unfortunately cannot remember the names nor can I find an online menu to help me remember) but they were strong and delicious. And to end the night I received a dark chocolate mousse that was incredible and complimentary. My evening was truly special thanks to Raya. After leaving we walked around the Ritz and watched the water off the balcony, so beautiful! This is definitely the right place for any special occasion! Beautiful hotel, and beautiful restaurant, a definite must-try! read more

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The view! Fabulous service! Everything perfect! Cali omelet for breakfast or oysters for dinner - fresh and yummy. Can be romantic for sunset over the ocean. Tables spaced for privacy and max beauty. read more

I made reservations to visit here for my wedding anniversary. It didn't disappoint. The moment we walked in everyone addressed us by our names and wished us a "Happy anniversary" Our server was absolutely amazing as well! The view was breathtaking and instead of talking to my husband at dinner I just stared out the window The staff makes everyone feel special and welcome without assuming whether or not you "belong." My husband said his steak was good. He said his Cadillac margaritas were superb. I got a white bean soup that was absolutely delicious and would have tasted even better had I had a bag of tortilla chips lol. It was like I was eating a very fancy bean dip probably just healthier. I should have stopped at the soup because I was absolutely full but I ordered some other Molé entree. It was good as well. However the soul was so tasty and I was so full I would have been fine stopping there. Due to it being a celebratory dinner we of course "had to" have dessert. I am sticking to "gluten free" these days so I found a GF dessert and ordered that. That didn't disappoint either. It has chia seeds. Fruit. It was creamy, fruity, crunchy. Had all of the textures all while tasty. I told my husband I should have just had soup and dessert lol. Now let's get down to the view! You sit inside and it's walk to wall windows. Absolutely stunning view. I suggest getting there as soon as they open so you can sit through dinner with the sunset. Even with reservations a window seat isn't guaranteed. They're first come first serve. I really wanted a window seat . So we got there asap and I put it down in my reservation that it was a surprise (not a lie.) The window seat was accommodated as was everything else. It as all in all a wonderful experience. I cannot wait to go back!! read more

Raya - The view from our table. - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California