It was Friday July 3rd, my husband and I decided to have an early lunch at Carmelita's before the…read moreholiday weekend descended upon Dana Point. We took our dogs to enjoy the quiet patio. We got there around 11am and plenty of outdoor seating to accommodate our three dogs. We ordered two skinny margaritas, the shrimp taquitos, chile Torreados and al pastor plate. The first to arrive is the lovely chips and salsa along with their bean dip which is a favorite of mine. The skinny margaritas were so refreshing and light especially in the summer weather. The shrimp taquitos is one of the best items on the menu, they came out piping hot and crispy. They were fried to perfection and the shredded lettuce, sauce and tomatoes gave it a dynamic flavor. We shared the al pastor plate and made ourselves tacos to enjoy. The service was quick & friendly and the food came out hot and ready to enjoy. If you're looking for Mexican food near the beach in Dana Point, Carmelitas is the place to go.

Delicious food at good prices with a updated ambiance…read more Enjoyed fish tacos and steak bowl. Really good and would go back

Small restaurant but the decor is inviting and immersive! Order at the counter, the service is…read moresuper friendly. I got 3 tacos, all with different meats, I found the carne asada to be the best. Rice & beans came with the tacos and I found the portion to be filling. Food came out pretty quick! I sat and ate in the restaurant, there's limited seating. But there are some tables outside too. I also saw many people come in for mobile order pick ups. I'd return here! [this review was made in connection with a Toast promotion, Lupe's Mexican Eatery did not ask me to leave this review]

TERRIBLE CS!!!! Go to Carmelitas!!!…read more They sent over half a burrito. We called and they told us they ran out of large tortillas, offered no resolution then the lady HUNG UP ON US. It was $27 for half a burrito after delivery fees and tipping. When you go to try to take out, they refuse to call names when items are ready.

Asked ChatGPT for best Aguachille in southern OC and told us about this place. It was the best…read moreaguachille, but service and everything else we ordered was amazing. A new favorite for us.

We were driving home on the 5 and we were looking for some Mexican food. El ZARANDEADO came up on…read moreour Yelp search so we gave it a try. It was Amazing. If your looking for Mexican seafood style this is the place. We tried the fried ahi tacos shrimp cocktail, and the shrimp ceviche. Each was was filled with flavor and fresh. We like it hot so we liberally added the Tapatio. Our kids kept it simple with kids menu items that are also available (chicken nuggets and burrito). The ambiance for lunch was a clean location with large TVs but space for small and large groups. The service was quick and helpful, our server Marlena was great providing insight to favored dishes.

Best tacos in town! The cooks make everything fresh here. From the tacos to all the salsas. The…read moreportion sizes are amazing!! The mango Agua Fresca is also refreshing too! It's a must try. It's located in back of the supermarket but it's such a hidden gem. The workers were all so nice too! 10/10!! The place is a bit small but the food is worth trying!

4.5 stars? Come on, get real…read more The great rating led me to go in the market after we had gone to the Farmer's Market. Went to the produce section. Not one item had a price. I don't recall ever seeing produce not marked. Are you dupposed to buy without knowing how much it will cost you?

Cali Costa is such a great little spot! The huge outdoor patio is definitely one of my favorite…read moreparts, especially the cute little outdoor bar top. The whole place has such a chill, relaxed vibe, and I love that the patio is dog-friendly, so you can bring your pup along too! They always seem to have something fun going on Monday Night Football, Taco Tuesday specials, happy hour, Monday food specials, and even a Puppy Hour on Fridays for the dogs. How cute is that?! The food is always great, the service is wonderful, and it's just an easy, laid-back place to grab some Mexican food and a drink and hang out on the patio. Definitely a neighborhood spot worth checking out!

We stop here 2-3 times a month, and the consistency keeps bringing us back. Love their tacos, and…read moreof course the 34 oz margarita! Bottom line, when you compare it to other places around like Calo's, Sol Agave, or others, this is where you get the best value for your money... good portions, good drinks, and most importantly, consistently good food. Definitely one of our go-to spots.

Best fish tacos I have ever tasted!!…read more My family and I have been coming to this delightful establishment for years, as no matter where we go we are hard pressed to find fish tacos that measure up; the delectably moist, flavorful fish tacos and gnarly nachos keep bringing us back. Our only regret is being local to the area for two years before discovering this gem, thus wasting two years of our lives not eating their sumptuous cuisine. The service is prompt and the servers friendly. The ambience is beach shack vibe, with outdoor seating that includes high top and regular tables, and an indoor bar and seating. If you're considering eating here, do not waste another moment of your life! Order the fish tacos and gnarly nachos. You will not be disappointed!!

Another 20% price increase Warn the others…read more.. It may be new owners because they finally changed the disgusting trash receptacles.

Young's Beach Shack is one of those places you mostly come to for the views and convenience, but…read morethe food is actually pretty solid! It's a great little spot overlooking Salt Creek Beach where you can grab some food, have a draft beer or cocktail, and just sit and watch the waves. The menu has a good variety of options, and while it's definitely not cheap, the food is good and the location is hard to beat. The poke bowl and shrimp tacos were both highlights for us. This place can get absolutely packed during peak hours, but the servers have always been friendly and the service is surprisingly quick considering how busy it gets. Overall, a great little beachside spot with good food, cold drinks, and some of the best views around. Hard to complain!

Cute middle beach spot, pay at counter and fend for your own seating. They have fresh offerings,…read moreon the pricier side so it can rack up, but good quality food. Poke bowl- fresh tuna not mercury tasting at all but has quite a bit of soy sauce at the bottom so can be a bit salty Ceviche- a decent amount (but also consider pricier price) bouncy tezture crunchy chips Fish and chips- my favorite clean and buttery fish, tasted fresh and fried well Fried apple pie - buttery nice balance

Great food and drink, and world class service. Indoor and outdoor seating is nice, very pleasant…read moreatmosphere.

Came with a very big lunch party, so 20 of us. Just one waiter…read more This is my first time here, so very impressed with the non traditional decor, it was very modern and it's quite large inside. We all ordered drinks and food same time. Drinks came first! The food took 40 minutes, so thinking it had to be good! And it was! Very fresh and clean tasting. Chips are served with salsa and refried beans super delicious! The only thing I didn't like was that the ceilings are high and not sound protected so it's very noisy and echoes. We had to yell at each other for conversation. The service was really nice and friendly. Also, it's pricey, worth it, but pricey!

This place is really amazing in the inside. If you're in the neighborhood, you must stop and see…read moreall the beautiful pictures inside the restaurant. The food is really good. Everybody is really nice.

This place can be really good or it can be very average and just depends on I guess what the day is…read morehow everybody's feeling. Some days the food comes out nice and hot other days. It's room temperature. Sometimes pieces are very chewy sometimes even get some tender pieces today the chicken was kind of lukewarm. The Carnitas and tri-tip were warmer. The go to I think that rarely disappoints is the Carnitas taco. I'll probably be ordering this one a little more from here on out as it usually comes out hot and the meat is tender and juicy.

We came to celebrate a birthday and the Molcajete for two was perfect. For $45 you get shrimp,…read morebeef, chicken, nopales, chorizo, cheese and grilled veggies. (And all the sides: rice, beans, tortillas, guacamole, pico., sour cream.) The shrimp were plump and tender. The nopales were tender but firm and NOT slimy, like some people cook them. We stirred the chicken and beef into the juices and veggies waiting at the bottom of the bowl and they were full of flavor and tender. The cheese was a nice crumbly cheese, full of all the flavors. It was delicious and we could not finish the abundance of food. Staff were friendly, always filling chips and making sure we were doing well. On an unusually hot day, it was nice they had A/C running.

Wonderful food, service & Ambiance !!!! Always can count on…read moreCarlos To serve the best food ever in Dana Point