El Capitan — Restaurant in Houston

If you’re craving authentic Mexican seafood with a lively, welcoming atmosphere, La Playa Mariscos is a hidden gem you need to check out. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by the warm and vibrant colors of the decor, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of coastal Mexico. The restaurant’s laid-back yet festive ambiance feels like stepping into a beachside cantina, with cheerful murals and rustic wooden tables that add to the charm. And as soon as you sit down, you’re enveloped in the rhythms of upbeat Mexican music—think a mix of lively mariachi and tropical beats—that perfectly sets the mood for an unforgettable meal.

The seafood menu is the star of the show, with every dish showcasing the bold, fresh flavors of the ocean. For starters, you can’t go wrong with the Ceviche de Camarón—the shrimp is perfectly marinated with just the right balance of tangy lime and spicy chilies, giving you a refreshing burst of flavor with each bite. If you’re a fan of oysters, the Ostiones a la Mexicana are a must-try. Topped with a zesty mix of pico de gallo, cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime, they’re as fresh as they come and packed with flavor.

For the main course, the fried Tilapia are a standout—crispy, tender fish, lightly battered and served in soft corn tortillas with a slaw that adds just the right crunch. The Mariscada (seafood stew) is another winner, with a rich, flavorful broth filled with shrimp, crab, mussels, and fish—perfectly spiced and comforting without being too heavy.

The portions are generous, and the flavors are authentic, offering the perfect balance of fresh seafood and traditional Mexican spices. The servers are friendly, and you can tell they take pride in serving dishes made with love and care. As the night goes on, the atmosphere becomes more festive, with the music and the buzz of happy customers adding to the energy of the space.

Whether you’re here for a casual dinner with friends or a fun family gathering, El Capitan seafood delivers on both food and ambiance. The combination of delicious, fresh seafood and upbeat music creates a lively dining experience that transports you straight to the heart of Mexico’s coastal flavors. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy great food...

If I ever cannot eat here at any point in my life, I’m bringing it up with God.

This is the one restaurant where I WILL NOT SHARE my food with my husband. Because it is MINE.

THE BEST FOOD I HAVE EVER TASTED IN MY LIFE!!! The meats and rice were moist and each bite fell apart in my mouth and every tastebud exploded.

Dora is the manager! She’s so so kind and absolutely amazing! So beautiful, sweet, and accommodating! She’s very professional and checks on the guests regularly. Our server was Jasmine and she is FAST. She’s efficient and extremely kind. She’s knows the menu very well and can assist navigating it. She offers options, describes the most popular dishes, the style of each dish, and other important details. She also checks on the guests regularly and puts all effort into their overall experience.

Yall. I don’t like green sauce. Salsa verde is not my thing. But I had a dish that was sauced with salsa verde and it was the best salsa I’ve ever had in my life. Their guacamole: HANDMADE FRESH Their sauces: HANDMADE FRESH Their tortillas: HANDMADE FRESH When I say it was authentic… IT WAS AUTHENTIC. New favorite restaurant. Of all of them. Absolute best. They were efficient, fast, friendly, professional in dress and manner, and THEIR FOOD IS GODLY.

They have sooo many options. They have Mexican sushi, reg. Mexican dishes, seafood soups, seafood platters, and a wide variety of options beyond that. They were so patient with our indecision. There’s lots of parking and the color and decor of the establishment is so lively and fun and welcoming. They have a main restaurant/dining area, a bar area, and a stage for live music.

The only thing is my Spanish is horrible. My Spanish is so so poor. That is a me problem- I live in Houston, I need to learn Spanish. Some of their amazing staff speak mostly Spanish but know a little English. HOWEVER, they were soooo patient with me, they didn’t even laugh at me, and there’s pictures and my husband is fluent so...

Came with my family for the first time we sat down a lady bought us some chips and then a different server came and gave us the menues let us know she didn't have kids menus available at the moment that was not the issue she was very nice and friendly verbally told me what they had for them. she was about to take the drink order & I asked if we could move to the side room (we were basically yelling at each other over the extremely loud music) she told us it was fine we took the menus we were happy it was much better on the other side. then another lady came which looked like the manager with an attitude at 100 to rudely tell us we needed to let people know when we moved bc they could assume we left (im guessing it must happen often) I was like oh i let the server know on the other side she looked at me and said we didn't... I described the server and she continued to want to argue and went as far as to say who ever I told wasn't a server which at that point my husband saw i was getting uncomfortable and got up told her esta bien oiga mejor nos vamos and we walked out left her still trying to argue. We actually came here by accident. My brother sent us this address instead of the Willowbrook location and we decided to just stay at this one since it was empty . we're the least confrontational people but also not paying anyone to treat us that way. a simple "Oh, we weren't aware you guys moved Please let us know next time" would've gone along way instead of trying to get after us like children....