El zarandeado sea food — Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano

I recently had the pleasure of dining at El Zarandeado Mexican seafood restaurant, and I must say it exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I walked in, the vibrant and casual atmosphere set the perfect tone for an exceptional dining experience.

The menu offered an impressive array of fresh and flavorful seafood options, showcasing the authentic Mexican culinary expertise. The ceviche was a highlight, bursting with zesty citrus flavors and featuring impeccably fresh seafood. Each dish was a testament to the chef's commitment to quality ingredients and skillful preparation.

The service was outstanding, with attentive and knowledgeable staff who guided us through the menu with enthusiasm. They were more than willing to accommodate dietary preferences and provided excellent recommendations that elevated our dining experience.

The ambiance was delightful, combining traditional Mexican decor with a modern touch. It created a warm and welcoming space that made us feel right at home. The attention to detail in both the presentation of the dishes and the overall aesthetic of the restaurant added an extra layer of sophistication.

Overall, this Mexican seafood restaurant deserves every bit of its five-star rating. Whether you're a seafood enthusiast or simply looking for an unforgettable dining experience, this establishment is a gem that should not be missed. I look forward to returning and savoring more of the delectable offerings this restaurant...

I do not say this lightly, one of the best new Mexican seafood restaurants in Southern California. Sharing a few photos from different visits because we have been eating here often.

It has only be open for about 6-8 months

If you love aguachile ceviche you will be very happy. you can do shrimp or the chapala which has shrimp, octopus and scallops. If you can’t decide between green, red, black you can always get green and then sides of the other sauces like in one of our pictures. They have a killer tuna stack too.

The seafood here is always super fresh not fishy.

Favorite starter: The botana the shrimp are nicely charred with peel on and served with my favorite mojo de ajo (traditional garlic oil sauce) with a cajun twist. We keep this sauce and use it with other dishes and even take a container to-go.

Pescado zarandeado is always a winner fish cooked very well, we love the octopus but I always ask for it extra crispy. The rice is even something special like my grandma used to make it. The seafood enchilada is amazing but once I tried the seafood Chile relleno that became my favorite dish here (and that’s hard to say given my love for their aguachiles)

The tacos all look amazing whenever we see them being served but I’m too full after eating my faves.

All recipes are Connie’s and made from scratch.

To be clear this is far superior to any of the other seafood offered at Mexican Places in the area....

Michelin-star level cuisine. My husband and I were driving home from La Jolla to Los Angeles and found this place on Google. While the decor appeared simple, the food and service was anything but. We had lobster enchiladas, a whole branzino and the red sangria. The enchiladas had large lumps of perfect lobster, a flawless verde sauce and fresh slithers of greens and crumles of queso fresca on top. I would drive 2 hours to have this dish again. The branzino was a beautiful piece of fish with slithers of roasted peppers, a charred lemon garnish and a side of a roasted relleno-style pepper that they stuffed with a saucy shrimp situation that was delicious. The pepper side alone would have been a delightful thing to have for lunch. The staff was full of family-style warmth and seemed genuinely happy to make us lunch. Last but not least - I'm picky about sangria. This was a dark red, not too strong or sweet. It seemed to have a hibiscus base with fruit flavors infused. They garnished the glass with something that seemed like a smear of berry syrup/jam that they coated with a salty sugared mix. If you have the opportunity to eat here, just do it. Don't let the simple decor fool you - this is the Mexican equivalent of the unassuming sushi restaurant that has several michelin...