Carmelita's

Mmmmmm cockroaches. Place got shut down for two days due to a cockroach infection. Gross

Super friendly service. Pineapple jalapeño margarita to die for. Delicious food, attractively presented. Definitely recommend.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Good tasting food but overpriced

Amazing food.
I definitely recommend fish tacos.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Our server was so sweet and polite (Sophia), food was excellent well made a perfect flavor (mexican) we chose to eat outside inside would have been just as good

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food in excellent and Daniel’s service may have been the best I’ve ever experienced. He deserves over 5 stars.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food is excellent. The business practices are unappealing. They charge 30% more than comparable restaurants, they add a surcharge for credit card payments on takeout orders, and they are inconsistent about providing chips and salsa. Half the time they do not give chips and salsa on takeout orders, although the prices are the same as dine in.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 1

The service was so friendly and attentive. We sat down right away and they welcomed us with chips, salsa and delicious black bean dip. We ordered the short rib enchiladas and chicken quesadilla. The short rib enchiladas had a generous portion of meat and the flavor was phenomenal! The chicken quesadilla also had plenty of flavorful chicken and was large enough to share. The chef walked around to check on every table which was so kind.
Definitely stop by if you’re looking for a delicious and fast sit down meal.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Five stars. I’d come back in a heartbeat.

Carmelita’s in Dana Point is not your typical Mexican restaurant. The food feels elevated, thoughtful, and clearly made with care.

The first clue that you’re in for something special is the chips, salsa, and beans that arrive at the table. Warm, fresh, and absolutely perfect. It set the tone immediately.

We started with the queso fundido with chorizo and it was fantastic. Rich, flavorful, and exactly what you want from that dish. For the main course we went with the recommended fajitas. They came out sizzling and smelled incredible. The steak was cooked perfectly, though it could have used just a touch more seasoning. Still, a great dish overall.

The ambiance strikes a really nice balance between classy and casual. You can see into the kitchen, which makes the whole experience feel lively and authentic watching the food come together. Parking was a bit of a beast, but honestly the quality of the food makes it worth the hassle.

Service was outstanding. Our server Angel was proactive, enthusiastic, and incredibly attentive. His recommendations were spot on and he checked in at just the right times.

One of the most memorable parts of the evening was meeting one of the descendants of the founder. He proudly shared stories about his grandmother Carmen, who the restaurant is named after, and his mother. Hearing about growing up around the original location in Roseville made it clear that this restaurant is built on something deeper than good food. There’s real pride and family history behind it.

You can feel that the secret ingredient here is love for family.

Highly recommend.

Came here for my mom’s birthday. Had a great time.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The service here is great and food is spectacular. Very happy and full when we leave :)

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great vibes and amazing service. Thank you

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Ordered the short rib enchiladas for pickup. They were out of this world. Pricey but worth it

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

The best, most attentive service! The service was fast, food very reasonably priced. We came for Sunday brunch and would highly recommend it!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place is solid. Great music. Indoor and outdoor seating. Happy hour is great too

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5