Pacific Pearl Cafe — Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano

My husband referred me to this place because it's supposed to be gluten-free. The barista was pretty friendly but not knowledgeable whether or not the menu items were keto friendly or gluten-free. I ordered the burrito bowl and I supplemented the rice for lettuce. The carnitas in the burrito bowl was delicious. All the flavors together went well but it was a very strong flavor so I wasn't able to eat much more than half. I asked the barista which would be the best baked item to recommend for me and my husband to try and the chef encouraged her to choose the zucchini chocolate chip coffee cake. They said this is a favorite amongst all customers. I also purchased a chocolate chip cookie. The chocolate chip cookie was amazing. It's like a brownie texture very heavy and moist and the sea salt on it is the perfect touch...if this is actually healthy then kudos to the chef because it was amazing. The zucchini coffee cake however was extremely dry and we took one bite and threw it away because it was not good at all. I was pretty disappointed that I even asked them which item to recommend because they picked what was the most boring item to look at and in my opinion probably the worst tasting baked item I've ever had in my life. Maybe if I soaked it in milk for like 5 minutes but the fact that it looks like a bran muffin is already off putting enough. I took pictures of some of the other treats in the case that I probably should have ordered because they looked way more appetizing and I went with my gut on the cookie and that ended up...

Popped in here to try the chefs recommended fave, the Yellowtail Tuna Melt. A bit smaller than I imagined it would be, reminded me of a smashburger but use grilled rye and tuna. Overall I really liked it. You could taste the difference in the yellowtail and the quality of the fish was there. Wasn’t a whole lot of anything else to make it more exciting or complex to really wow me or blow me away. I was hoping for a bit more complexity in the sandwich given they source alot of local ingredients from The Ecology Center (which is my fave). I don’t think I’d be in a super hurry to order the yellowtail tuna but would be willing to try some of the other things there. Overall a nice atmosphere and a spot that does use higher than average ingredients.

P.S. I also tried their gluten free pumpkin cake, and that was rather small but wasn’t too sweet which I like and tasted good. It did have a bit gritty texture to it so that was a bit strange and the mouthfeel for me was off. While I like the fact it was GF, I didn’t necessarily enjoy that strange gritty texture to it.

UPDATE: I see the response from the owner was regarding Scratch Bakery in Laguna Hills. I did NOT review that store or location!! Never been there.. So for anyone reading this, please be aware this review was for Pacific...

I’ve visited Pacific Pearl Cafe a few times now, and it has quickly become one of my favorite spots in the area. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with a warm welcome, and Lynn, the lady behind the counter, is beyond helpful. Her friendly demeanor and attentiveness really add to the charm of the place.

The food is exceptional! My wife, and I have tried a variety of dishes, including the Winner’s Club, Breakfast Burrito, Turkey Wrap, Jelly Bar, Chia Seed Cookie, and Banana Bread. Every single item was amazing—fresh, flavorful, and made with care. It’s clear that the chef, Travis, takes pride in his work. He was super nice and patient with us, ensuring everything was just right.

What’s even better is that Pacific Pearl Cafe is seed oil-free, which is a huge plus for us. We discovered them through the Seed Oil Wrap, and we’re so glad we did. It’s great to have a local cafe that prioritizes healthy, high-quality ingredients.

We’ve been back several times already, and I’m sure we’ll be returning many more. If you’re in the area, Pacific Pearl Cafe is definitely...