The Boulder and I rolled in on a suspiciously perfect Monday afternoon--clear skies, good vibes,…read moreand my dog in tow (a true critic.. of me). My tall Sequoia of a date did the classic awkward shuffle at the front like, "hi, can the dog come through to the patio without causing a federal incident?" The guy we asked looked like we had just asked him to solve climate change (bc he was a customer...), but he very politely redirected us to the cashier, who was lovely. So: Kindness: 10/10. Confusion: also 10/10. ~Balance~ Now the food. The Boulder orders a fish burrito. I go for the chimichurri salmon bowl with quinoa because I, too, enjoy pretending I have my life together. BUT. The boulder also then orders clam chowder--a surprise, a moment of elation, but at the same time... skeptical? Sir? I have lamented over my favorite chowder like a woman waiting for her husband to come back from battle. Were your ears too high in elevation for my voice to reach? ANYWAYS. Let's talk about the clam chowder, because this is where things get serious. I have grown up eating clam chowder in Santa Cruz (my hometown, my birthplace, my origins). I have known greatness (shoutout to Stagnaro Bros., the downstairs fish market). So when I tell you I approached this chowder with standards, I need you to understand the weight of that statement. I put my spoon in. It did not sink. At that moment, I knew. This was not soup. This was a lifestyle. A structural entity. And it was GOOD. Creamy, thick, unapologetically clam-forward. Not quite Santa Cruz enlightenment, clouds-parting-angels-singing, but honestly? Strong contender. We're talking solid top 4-5 chowders of my life, and I do not say that lightly. Now, my salmon bowl? Good. Respectable. Salmon = crispy, quinoa = doing quinoa things (why is it always slightly annoying to eat??). Chimichurri good. The fish burrito (from my observational research + dog validation panel): packed, flaky, generous. My dog approved, which frankly is the highest honor available. Overall: Great food, great vibes, excellent chowder, and quality time with the Tall Sequoia Boulder Man™ on a random Monday. Plus points--chips looked fried on site :D

Busy spot during lunch but the wait wasn't too long. You order first at the counter and you're…read moregiven a number and seat yourself. We opted to sit outside as it was nice out. The portion sizes are large. Food was flavored well. For the poke bowl, the rice to protein ratio was off as had too much rice. Plus only a few pieces of uni. I like that they have non alcoholic beer available

M-F happy hour IS so bomb!…read more We got pretty much got everything on the happy hour menu. Edamame, fish tacos, burgers, poke nachos, ceviche, and wings. Reasonable price for all of this for just under $45 dollars. We sat outside, so inside we did not get to look all that well. But seemed cozy inside to eat too. The decor was pretty nice too. We had this spot saved on my list from 2 years ago and very happy we came when we did.

I genuinely don't understand how this shrimp dumpling shumai made it onto the menu at this price…read morepoint. $7 for six microscopic pieces that are practically the size of dice is already insulting enough before you even take the first bite. The portion feels like a joke -- blink and the plate is empty. This was one of the most disappointing dishes I've had in a long time. The flavor was completely nonexistent. No richness from the shrimp, no seasoning, no depth, nothing. It tasted bland, watered down, and oddly stale at the same time. The inside texture was even worse -- mushy, soft in the wrong way, and almost paste-like instead of having any real bite or texture you'd expect from good shumai. It honestly felt like they took frozen supermarket dumplings, microwaved or steamed them for a few minutes, and threw them on a plate with zero effort. And the craziest part is that I've had frozen shumai from Trader Joe's that tasted better than this. At least those don't pretend to be premium restaurant food. This tasted like reheated freezer aisle food being sold at restaurant prices. There was no freshness, no craftsmanship, and absolutely nothing memorable besides how disappointing it was. If you're charging $7 for six tiny pieces, the quality should at least justify the price. Instead, this felt cheap, lazy, and borderline offensive to serve to paying customers. Calling this "ponzu shrimp dumplings" is generous -- it was more like soggy mystery filling wrapped in disappointment. Complete waste of money, and easily the worst thing I ordered. Other than that, the other happy hour items were delicious - poke nachos, wings, fries & oysters

Jon's Fish Market is one of those classic Dana Point spots that completely lives up to the hype…read more The fish tacos were seriously so bomb and worth every penny -- fresh, flavorful, and the kind you keep thinking about long after you leave. Their clam chowder was rich, creamy, and easily one of the better ones I've had near the harbor, especially with the ocean air and views nearby. We also tried the fresh catch platter and you could genuinely taste the quality and freshness in every bite. The location honestly couldn't be better either. Being right by the harbor adds so much to the experience and makes it the perfect place to grab a meal after walking around the water. The whole vibe feels casual, local, and authentic in the best way. Great seafood, generous portions, and a location that reminds you why Dana Point is such a gem.

Sadly it's now permanently closed as of May 3, 2026, after over 46 years in business…read more Our family wanted to make sure that we went there today. To thank the very kind owner who loves the Dana point community for generations, and visitors, first time equally as much. We wanted to get their delicious clam chowder, and wonderful fried fish, on today, their final day. The service was always excellent. The chill Dana Point Harbor, was always relaxing, nurturing, all year. Thank you, once again, and blessings for all the decades of wonderful deliciously fresh seafood, an extremely affordable price as well. - That you provided all your customers. Hopefully that beautiful large realistic looking swordfish that's been hanging on the restaurant wall ever since I was 10 years old - Will find a wonderful new home! oh, and that huge shark! (this place has personality, and heart, and will be missed dearly)

We've been to the other Hook & Anchor locations starting with Newport and then Costa Mesa, but this…read morewas our first time visiting the Dana Point location -- and it did not disappoint! Beautiful restaurant with great outdoor seating. My family and I sat outside and it was very peaceful and relaxing. The service was excellent, and Karina, our server, was awesome from start to finish. We ordered the Oysters Rockefeller, which were amazing, along with the Connecticut-style lobster roll and the lobster carbonara. Both were absolutely 5-star dishes. The lobster roll was cooked to perfection with the warm butter sauce, and the lobster carbonara had incredible flavor throughout. My kids got the cheeseburger and fries, and I have to say, for a kids meal the cheeseburger was surprisingly meaty and very tasty. The fries were perfectly crispy as well. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

Good place! Of course came for the seafood. I will say it is a little steeply priced for what you…read moreget. I ordered the Newport salad- it was great- but small portions of lobster, crab and got three shrimp for $27... The side of the parmesan fries were good- didn't expect the thicker pieces of cheese. Overall good spot to go to and the owner is so kind.

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.

Our server Lexi was amazing!! She was so sweet and gave great service! Food was great and loved the…read moreview. Vibe was very welcoming

A true local favorite right on the iconic pier with amazing ocean views and the perfect sunset…read moreatmosphere. Their Sunset Hour specials daily all week are definitely worth checking out. Don't skip the smoked fish appetizer -- absolutely incredible. And whatever the giant chocolate dessert is in the photo... order it. Totally over-the-top and worth every bite. Great food, friendly service, and classic beach-town vibes. Always a great experience

It was our first time visiting this restaurant and overall we had a great experience. The…read morerestaurant was clean, nice, and had a welcoming atmosphere. Service was good throughout the evening, and the drinks menu offered a decent variety -- some options were on the pricier side while others were more reasonable. The food was also very good. Pricing was consistent with what you'd expect from a higher-end steak and seafood restaurant, though the portions were on the smaller side. We definitely needed an appetizer, soup, and entrée to feel full. Overall, we enjoyed our visit and would definitely come back.

I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant, but it was kind of a miss. We went with a…read moreof the party of six to celebrate a birthday. My biggest problem was that the food was inconsistent. The grilled octopus and the Crudo were delicious. My husband said the pork chop was one of the best ones he's ever had. The rest of our entrées were severely underseasoned. Everything from the fish, the filet, the mashed potatoes, and the vegetables needed salt. This was especially disappointing since the place is a bit pricey. We had to ask for salt to properly season our meals. I would definitely try it again to see if it's better.

The positives: The staff was genuinely friendly, the decor was lovely, and the food was relatively…read moregood. There's a foundation here worth building on. That said, as locals, we likely won't be returning -- and that's a shame, because it is in a nice location. The valet experience was a bit of a stumble right out of the gate -- my boyfriend was directed to navigate between two tight rows of parked cars with no guidance and wasn't given a valet ticket. He had to go back and ask for one. For a resort charging resort prices, that's not a great welcome. The restaurant was also under construction during our visit, which blocked all views of the ocean and pool -- the very thing that typically justifies resort-level pricing. No adjustment was made for this. Then came the bill. A bagel with salmon and a coffee came to $40 before anything extra. Add an automatic 20% gratuity (applied without disclosure to a party of two), $10 for parking, and what started as a simple breakfast crept up to nearly $70. We weren't given a choice about the gratuity -- at that point it's not a tip, it's a mandatory dining fee. Just call it what it is. Has everyone forgotten that gratuity is supposed to be a choice -- based on customer service and satisfaction? Apparently some have. When we brought it up on the way out, the woman at the front mentioned that auto-gratuity is now "the norm" and that tipped workers make below minimum wage. We're in California, where that's actually not legally permitted. Offering misinformation as justification for a policy that removes the customer's choice isn't a great look. We've dined at fancier hotels in the area and have never encountered a surprise mandatory gratuity. The restaurant was also nearly empty during our visit, with mostly hotel guests. If this restaurant wants to attract locals rather than just captive hotel guests, reconsidering these pricing and gratuity practices would be a genuine step in the right direction. What could have been a lovely morning out left a bad taste -- and not from the food.

While staying at Laguna Cliffs Marriott, we ate breakfast at Lantern's Edge nearly each morning…read more Everything we had was tasty. The eggs Benedict and mochi ube waffles were my personal favorites. The service was excellent on each occasion. Chill vibe with beachy music and color schemes. I have to say, the short, round, blue water glasses somehow made me feel so happy and relaxed- what is it about that glassware?

I've been here many times and I love everything on their menu. I would recommend making a…read morereservation especially on the busy weekends. Restaurant is nice with some booth seating in the back and even some outdoor seating. Parking itself-there's a small lot next to it but it's almost always full so you can do some street parking in the surrounding neighborhoods. When I last came here, we ordered the red pepper hummus to share and I ordered the French dip! It was excellent as per usual and the service was good. One critique I would have though is that one of the people in my party was a vegetarian and had ordered a veggie burger. The people bringing out the food accidentally swapped the plates of someone else in the party who had ordered a chicken blt when placing the dishes in front of each person. Unfortunately the vegetarian did take a bite of the chicken blt before realizing it was not the veggie burger and spit it out. It is what it is and was an honest mistake. But, maybe confirming the dishes before placing it in front of the person would be good. First time it's happened but we hope it doesn't happen again because we love this place!

To start off, parking is an absolute nightmare. Aim to get there earlier and don't be surprised if…read moreyou have to take use the side streets for parking in the neighborhoods. As for the food, it was pretty good. We got the Salmon, Rotisserie Chicken and Baby Back Ribs. The baby back ribs was definitely the best bang for your buck thing on the menu and they were delicious. The Salmon was ok and the chicken was a little dry. The fries and Cole slaw were very good and our dessert was also very rich. The service was solid and it felt like a place to dress a little nicer but no pressure to wear a suit or anything.

Our first time trying lobster shack and we already can't wait to go back! The seafood is fresh, and…read morethe sides have unique twists. Highly recommend the slaw with blue cheese and the sweet beans. The lobster rolls are packed with meat and tons of flavor, on a perfect brioche bun. Dan is also a friendly owner who puts a lot of love into his business. Can't wait to try the deviled eggs next!

came here for a quick bite on valentines day. rating would've been ~3 stars, but the service really…read moremessed it up for me and my partner one of the owners (i'm assuming) took our order, but he repeated the same things many times, to the point where i asked for the receipt at the end to make sure everything was correct (and good thing i did, too). they then gave what i'm assuming was our order to another couple, and also served people who arrived after us. i had to get up and hang out by the cashier for them to notice me, and they didn't know whose order was tied to who since they almost gave away our order to someone else again. the cashier man even said "was i the one who took your order?" when he did literally 15 minutes ago. then, when they finally called our name, they gave us a packaged to-go order when we wanted to dine in, and the order was completely wrong. the other owner (i'm assuming his wife), went back and forth to the kitchen 3 more times to either correct our order or bring back things they forgot that we had to remind them to bring. even when we gave her the receipt i kept, the order would still come back wrong. the other parties served had finished eating and left by the time we finally got all of our food the staff was generally nice. they apologized a lot, thanked us for our patience, checked up on us, & offered 1 free coleslaw (~$3.50) and 2 little chocolates. but they didn't offer us any sort of real compensation and after messing up our order 3+ times, and being understanding about it, we were pretty surprised i am strict with lobster rolls since i'm always comparing it to what i've had during my time in boston (impossible to beat), and i thought the food was just alright. boyfriend thought it was pretty dry and not that tasty for $100+, i'd expect much better service and better food