The Stand - American Classics Redefined — Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano

RECOMMENDATION: I keep coming back.

VALUE - $37 - 4/5 Two salads - $15.99 each extra chicken $3.99 water Chinese Chicken Chop Salad - 4/5 - We ordered it with double the chicken as we were splitting it. They added $3.99 for that (the same price if you add another patty on a burger). Both my wife and I enjoyed it. Great flavor. Vegetables were good, thought I wish there were more. We didn't try the pickled onion. We're not fans. Chimichuri stake salad - 3/5 Flank steak wasn't flavorful, and had too much grissle. Not a fan of the kale either. It was OK. I finished it, but won't be getting it again. We asked for another bowl and split the salads. These split well between the two of us. *Recommended: The Onion Stack Burger - 5/5 - It's my go to BBQ / Onion burger. I've had it 3x and it never disappoints.

They have a good soda fountain that's easily accessible and has a lot of offerings. - 5/5

The service 4.5/5 - always welcoming. Servers walking around and easy to grab.

ATMOSPHERE - 4/5 A clean place to eat with sports TV's all over. I kinda hate that, as the TVs are always at the same angle as when you're talking to someone. It's like they meant to place it just over the should have who I'm talking to. Distracting. But obv some people like that.

*Wife said, 'This is a good mix between fast food and a nice sit down.' I agree.

Yesterday was my fourth time coming here. We live in SC and make the drive over for a good burger. Last night though, we were looking for something else and wanted to try their other offerings. We enjoyed it and will keep coming back. My favorite burgers: HiHo - HiHo Double - in LA Tanner's Prime - Tanner's Prime burger - in Oceanside The Stand - onion stack burger - San Juan Capistrano In-n-Out - double single, extra lettuce

Favorite fries: Tanner's Prime - tallow...

Dining at The Stand in San Juan Capistrano feels like Brian Johnson belting out "You Shook Me All Night Long" for the first time with AC/DC—raw, vibrant, and unforgettable. You know, the story where he picked up his journal, having never written lyrics before, and just let it rip? That’s exactly the kind of electric energy this place brings.

On a breezy Friday afternoon, with downtown San Juan Capistrano bustling around me, I found myself humming along:

“She was a fast machine, She kept her motor clean, She was the best damn woman I had ever seen…”

Every bite matched that anthem. The BBQ Brisket on a Pretzel Roll was tender and smokey, a rockstar in sandwich form—every bit as memorable as the iconic opening riffs of "Back In Black." And those Stand Fries, crispy and perfectly golden, accompanied by dips of lemon aioli and ranch, kept the hits coming.

If you’re craving food with attitude and atmosphere that echoes a timeless rock classic, The Stand is your place. Five stars—this experience isn't just advised;...

I went to the bathroom and they threw my food and drink away. I wasn’t away from my table for more than 2 minutes and they threw away my meal. I’m flabbergasted and appalled, never had that happen at any establishment.

I had only eaten my burger, still had all my fries and 90% of my drink. I took a piss and then came back and my food and drink was gone. Who does that? Honestly, I piss quick and they didn’t supply a way to dry my hands in the bathroom so I was out of there immediately.

My table was near the trash cans in the front. It was clear to anyone with more than 2 brain cells that I was coming back to my table, because I didn’t walk my tray to the trash like any sane human would have. I didn’t cover my food with napkins and make it look like trash. It was fresh fries with ketchup and a drink brand new. I had $8 of food on my plate that was thrown away. A full fries and full drink wasted for no reason at all.

Zero stars. Never again. Complete and utter disaster of an...