Carmelita's Kitchen

$$ • Mexican, Vegan, Vegetarian

Hours today·

Book a table: 7:00 PM 7:15 PM 7:30 PM More

About Carmelita's Kitchen

Carmelita's Kitchen is a Mexican restaurant known for its friendly service and delicious food. The strawberry jalapeno margarita is a must-try, and the chips and salsa are always refilled promptly. The menu offers tasty dishes like short rib enchiladas, carnitas, and pollo serrano, accompanied by flavorful Mexican rice, Mexican corn, and white rice. The interior and exterior are both well-designed, with a terrace seat offering a view of Lake Rancho Santa Margarita. Many tables have a view of the lake, and the restaurant often feels spacious and inviting. The food is consistently praised, with dishes like the chili Verde and steak fajitas being favorites. The staff, including helpful servers like Kelly, provide welcoming and attentive service. Although prices are a bit high, the quality, view, and ambiance make it worth the cost. Reservations are recommended due to the restaurant’s popularity.

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Carmelita's Kitchen Menu
Carmelita's Kitchen Menu

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Carmelita's Kitchen Reviews

4.5
373 ratings
Restaurantji Rating
5
77%
4
7%
3
6%
2
5%
1
5%
Food
4.6
Atmosphere
4.7
Service
4.6

Share your opinion about Carmelita's Kitchen

Restaurantji Rating

I love this place!! Not only is the food amazing and the setting on the lake so picturesque, but I have a shellfish allergy that keeps me from eating at a lot of places. They are so incredibly accommodating and I feel so safe eating there. The bar tender, I believe his name is Herberto, has been my server the last couple times and he goes out of his way to explain their processes and knows exactly what is safe for me to eat. So knowledgeable and I’m so grateful. They even...read full review

I took my mom here today for late lunch around 2 pm for her birthday. Surprisingly, neither of us had ever been, even though we’ve lived in the area for over 10 years! Well, we had a great experience. The food was amazing, staff were kind, attentive and friendly and even brought my sweet mom a mini cake with ice cream at the end! We can’t wait to go back again sometime! Would recommend this restaurant to others who enjoy yummy Mexican food, great service and ambiance!

We love it here!
The food is amazing! We have been coming here for years and I think we have eaten almost everything on the menu.
I absolutely love the bean dip!
But more importantly, the service is always extraordinary, from the hostess to the wait staff.
Today we were blessed with Kelly who is also talented with making really great drinks!
Enjoy!

Read All Reviews(373)

Hours

Monday 11AM - 9PM
Tuesday 11AM - 9PM
Wednesday 11AM - 9PM
Thursday 11AM - 9PM
Friday 11AM - 10PM
Saturday 11AM - 10PM
Sunday 11AM - 9PM
Updated on:
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