El Adobe de Capistrano — Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano

A Delightful Mexican Dining Experience

If you're looking for an authentic and memorable Mexican dining experience, look no further than El Adobe de Capistrano. This charming restaurant transports you to the heart of old San Juan Capistrano with its warm adobe walls, colorful decor, and lively ambiance.

Let's start with the food, which is the main attraction. I opted for the vegan enchiladas, and I was thoroughly impressed. The enchiladas were bursting with flavor, featuring a delicious blend of vegetables and a rich, smoky sauce that left me craving more. My kids, on the other hand, devoured their quesadillas, which were perfectly grilled and oozing with melted cheese.

But the dining experience at El Adobe de Capistrano goes beyond just the food. The restaurant boasts live music, which added a vibrant and festive atmosphere to our meal. The talented musicians serenaded us with traditional Mexican songs, transporting us to a lively cantina south of the border.

One of the highlights of our visit was the opportunity to tour their haunted jail cell. Yes, you read that right! El Adobe de Capistrano is housed in a historic building that once served as a jail, and they've embraced this unique feature by offering tours of the eerie cell. It was a thrilling and spooky experience that added an extra layer of excitement to our evening.

The service at El Adobe de Capistrano was also top-notch. Our server was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu, providing excellent recommendations and ensuring that our dining experience was truly exceptional.

Overall, El Adobe de Capistrano is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an authentic Mexican dining experience with a touch of history and entertainment. The delicious food, lively atmosphere, and unique attractions make it a standout choice in the...

is such a beautiful, charming restaurant in the heart of San Juan Capistrano, a block from the mission.

It is truly an experience! The building is a registered California historic landmark with a home and a jail from the 1700s and 1800s. Very cool, right?

Great atmosphere and food! Attentive service. Authentic Mexican Cuisine! The food is fabulous, with elevated traditional Mexican dishes. It’s also a great venue for weddings or any celebration.

LOBSTER TACOS: two lobster tacos topped with cilantro aioli, pico de gallo, cabbage and blended cheese. Amazing flavor!

El ADOBE BURRITO: Filled with sauteed chicken, mushroom, cheese, spinach and tomato with chipotle cream sauce, topped with red & green sauces.

Charro Beans (side dish): smoky mexican-style pinto beans simmered in broth with rich layers flavors from bacon, tomatoes, chiles and spices. Very tasty!

EL ADOBE MOLCAJETE: mexican wild caught shrimp, chicken breast, carne asada, chorizo, carnitas, zucchini, green onion, nopales, and queso fresco served with guacamole, corn or flour tortillas.

When this dish came to the table, it was very impressive! Wonderful presentation! We had to help my friend finish it lol It’s huge! The Carne Asada and Carnitas were tender. The nopales had a mild flavor, like asparagus.

SHREDDED BEEF TACOS: Combos served with spanish rice and refried beans, refried black beans or charro beans.

CHOCOLATE CAKE with ICE CREAM: very chocolatey and gooey. The vanilla ice cream was so good! We all shared this. I guess we weren’t too full for a little sweet dessert. A great end to a scrumptious meal!

Can’t wait...

This is one of the oldest restaurants in San Juan Capistrano. I had heard that former President Nixon helped make it more popular and so I was excited to go for dinner.

The cheese enchiladas we're very tasty; the sauce was very zesty and the refried beans and rice were delicious. They have Charro beans and black beans as well for sides.

The polite service was really fast and the salsa was really good with the chips.

There is a nice bar in the front with some openings to the street Camino Capistrano as well as different rooms throughout the restaurant where you can sit and enjoy your food with company. They even have facilities for banquets or weddings or other fiestas.

There is also an outdoor garden area for events that is very pretty at night, with an alter-like area, streamed lights and the evening sky! 🍁🙌 There is a table that is devoted to former President Nixon just passed the front area kind of across the hallway from the restrooms. It's the second table on your right, and it has the pictures shown including...