50 Best Seafood Restaurants near San Juan Capistrano

“Mariscos Los Koras is an awesome spot with delicious food and great flavors. Everything tasted fresh, well-seasoned, and made with care. The seafood was amazing, the service was friendly, and the place had a welcoming vibe. Definitely a great place to eat with family or friends. I highly recommend Mariscos Los Koras to anyone craving tasty mariscos in San Juan Capistrano!“

“Located this restaurant by doing a google search for new restaurants. In town for our wedding anniversary and we had a fantastic meal here.

We are passionate about good food and we loved everything we ordered. We shared each dish, and thus got to try several different dishes, including dessert.

The flavors--wow -- it was a meal to remember. This chef (who was nice enough to come out and say hello when he heard it was our anniversary) really knows food -- this is very high level cuisine. Yet, he hasn't lost touch with what matters---letting the flavors of high quality ingredients shine through. It was refreshing to be at a top notch restaurant that isn't trying too hard and actually is working to complement the natural flavors of the ingredients. So many restaurants these days are trying to be different or get a Michelin star and they serve dishes that look amazing but have odd or incompatible flavors that don't mesh well -- and you don't feel compelled to go back for that reason. Every dish we had at Rosewood Social had incredible flavor that we will remember for a long time-- very creative ingredient combinations that really worked! We definitely will be back. It was also very reasonably priced for the quality and skill level of the cuisine. (At most other top restaurants in coastal Southern California, we would have paid a lot more.)

The service was also excellent. Jake was our waiter and he obviously loves his job. He made great suggestions and made the dining experience even more fun with his enthusiasm and warmth.

The ambiance indoors on a very hot day was perfect, with ample air conditioning, and not too many tables-- well spaced. My husband who is a bit hard of hearing had no trouble hearing all the conversation at the table.

On a cooler day, we would have sat outside on the terrace which is really lovely.

I highly recommend this place, and honestly I'm pretty picky and don't rave in a review unless I really mean it.

Another tip: Go during their happy hour so you can try several of the items on the Happy Hour menu at a discount price -- and have a reasonably priced glass of wine too.

And if you like bananas, be sure to try the banana dessert with the sweet potato purple ice cream. Fantastic!!“

“I think the food is very good and love the atmosphere. My only gripe (been two times) is that the cocktails are weak. It’s like they follow some sort of exact liquor measurement. When you’re paying this for a cocktail, take a page from Nick’s or Mastro’s and be generous with the pours. My recommendation would be to just stick with beer or wine.“

“Have been here multiple times and they have been consistently serving authentic Mexican food. There’s seating indoors and a few tables outdoor. We got the. Carnitas, birria and carne asada tacos and all of them were delicious! Do give them a try.“

“The staff here is excellent!!!! These guys are always running around doing their best to serve people. I FORGOT you okay it the front so bring cash for a tip. I felt I didnt5 leave as much as I sgould have, I'm sorry. Really awesome and welcoming. Haven't been here since I was a kid. Totally fun for the nostaliga love. The salad bar was awesome, glad to see it open again. Good prices for everything as well. Life you get tons of healthy options here! They still have the cheese toast! That was my treat with the salad. The food is good and simple. Perfect spot for picky eaters, I saw plenty of kids getting food and actually eating it.“

“So much fun! Came here for my birthday and they did everything right- food, ambiance, staff, etc“

“Quality food at fair prices! Can't wait to come back & actually sit down in the nice dining area. 👍🏼“

“I had the spicy tuna bowl. The tuna was fresh, the rice was good, and the seaweed was good, but some pieces were tough. I wish there were more in the bowl, like more toppings. Just FYI, every topping is extra. One customer got annoyed because the total was high since he added a lot of toppings. I will go back and get a custom bowl. It was pretty busy, but the line moved fast. There is outdoor seating. Parking is limited; there is a lot of street parking. Rating: 4 out of 5“

“I suppose we were limited by the lunch menu - the entres were all lighter. I was hoping for a blackened filet of halibut but they only had ore-battered filets and did not have any entres in that vein.

I ended up with a bowl of clam chowder and a couple of crabcakes - and a caddilac Margherita! The combination hit the spot.

As for the atmosphere - if you find a table on the verandah over the beach - you can be sure Hawaii has nothing more to offer!! And we were to be in San Clemente! Who needs the aggravation from tsa and a 5 hour flight!!

Service was top notch. My company had egg allergies and they made sure that his poke bowl was put together with nothing that had been near anything to do with an egg. Very thoughtful.“

“Looking for a good fish & chips and Spikes came up on google search with a good rating. I called in my order for pickup and it was ready early and the fish was great! Ordered a poke bowl too that my wife & daughter loved. Jessica was very friendly and helpful. Want to come back again soon.“

“Great service, great food!!👏“

“Had two meals here because the first was so good. The presentation and portion size is great. The flavours were great, clam chowder, Lobster Carbonara and my wifes seafood salad were beautiful. The staff were all friendly but a special shout out to Joe whose cocktails are the best and who is a really nice guy. Highly Recommend“

“The beach club is amazing. The beach area was beautiful and clean. The staff was very hard working making sure guests are taken care of and enjoying their visit. The beach in this area is clean and calm with a great view. When you go out to the beach you get towels, beach chairs and beach umbrella which the staff will set up for you. Very memorable visit would definitely come back.“

“So many good things. Soba noodle salad. yum! My favorite is the healthy fish and chips. The cajun whitefish was unbelievable! Everything is that I’ve had there.“

“good food on the go. plenty of seafood options.“

“This is a stellar restaurant with a great family-owned vibe. Chef Rob is brilliant and the apps, entrees, and desserts are all exquisite. His creativity that he lets loose in his Flight Club events is unparalleled. They have extra-friendly staff and elite customer service. And the fine dining experience comes with a fair price and an amazing value. Check it out and meet the Chef, you won’t be disappointed.“

“This food truck is tucked in the same lot as George’s Episcopal Church. Pro tip: map the church so you don’t get lost. There are several eateries in that lot, but don’t get distracted just look for the green food truck and you’ll know you’ve found the right spot!

I came here right after my workout and ordered food to go. OMG, I had no idea the tacos were humongous! They are literally the size of my palm spread out! Jeeesuz!

I ordered three tacos:

Gobernador: I didn’t get to it until the next day, but the shrimp were so big and juicy, and that Chipotle aioli? Pure genius. I could put that on everything!
Octopus: The only one I ate fresh that day and oh my goodness, flavor explosion! The melted cheese, the seasoning, the texture… everything about it is 10/10!
Spicy Shrimp: I accidentally doubled up on shrimp tacos so I saved this one for the next day too, still delicious, still worth it.

Service can take a little while since there’s only one person taking orders and they’re cooking everything fresh in the truck, but trust me , it’s absolutely worth the wait!

Who would’ve thought a little food truck could make such a big impact? Don’t sleep on this hidden gem please come and taste the goodness for yourself!“

“Very good stuff! Being picky and in the same type of business, it's difficult to find. Great job guys. will be back next time I'm in town“

“We were visiting friends in San Clemente and had dinner at Vine Restaurant & Bar. The service was outstanding and the food was delish. Great experience“

“Quality food at fair prices! Can't wait to come back & actually sit down in the nice dining area. 👍🏼“

“There’s no place like Jack’s in Dana Point! The service, the food, the atmosphere is unmatched! I know there’s so many new places popping up here but Jack’s is tried and true. Still here after all these years - and there’s a reason why!“

“We had. not been here in years and our recent visit did not disappoint. Our server Cole was excellent. The food was superb. Highly recommended.“

“excellent food atmophere and service!“

“Food was delicious, especially the Chilean seabass. Service was fast and friendly. Lost my wallet. Went back and the manager Brian Dogotch had it saved for me. Thanks for a great experience!“

“Had a wonderful evening out with my wife at Ironwood Cellars in Laguna Hills. We had reservations for 5:30 p.m. and arrived early. We were greeted by Joe, the manager on duty, who was very kind, professional, and welcoming. Art was our server and is amazingly gifted in customer service professionalism and overall people skills. Yes, showing the love. We started with tequilla drinks from the bar, and we each had a wedge salad. Joe sent us over a wonderful Agnolotti appetizer as well, which was more than kind. The ambiance was positive and upbeat, perfect for the evening. Sergio was also quite attentive in making sure our table was serviced properly. We ordered our entrees with my wife having the halibut dinner, and I had the famous giant meatball dish. Both meals were hot & tasty and presented well. We had a terrific time, and Art surprised us with a complimentary dessert 🍨 with berries. The restaurant is so nice and offers an outdoor patio and bar seating as well. The wine list is extensive, as are the craft beers. Highly recommended.“

“Each dish is spectacular. Love the calamari ….can be an appetizer to share or eat on your own with a salad. 230:Forest Avenue never disappoints!!!“

“When I came into the restaurant I was the only guest eating in the restaurant. During my meal, I watched Maria meticulously clean every table in the restaurant. I have never seen someone take so much pride in your work and be so focused on every detail. I would confidently eat off any table She just cleaned. Maria and the rest of the staff this location is always gracious and accommodating. But I really want to highlight Maria as an exemplar employee.“

“It amazing 😻 great crew on Banquets’s“

“The owner/chef is a nice dude with portions as big as his personality. For those unfamiliar- think home cooked “el pollo loco” if you will. His wife is the other chef and prep cook. I like simple food and the Half chicken with rice and beans is my go to since 2018. Local tip: this is a couple who’s been running the joint for over 40yrs, the husband is the only cook and sometimes his wife hopes over to help turn out meals. Sometimes the chicken is underdone when they’re super busy, but in almost 10 years I’ve maybe gotten 3 under cooked meats and when I bring it up, he cooks it more, sometimes throws in a free leg or wing and some extra guac or beans. This is as close to hole in the wall/family as it gets. For what this place is, I hope it stays Open until they retire or a son/daughter takes over. Think el pollo loco before it became mainstream, for a day I’m not feeling burgers, I love coming here and sitting on the. Lot of good fish on the menu too, makes me think Baja or south gulf. Very refreshing eats“

“pasta , lasagna very friendly polite and helpful waiter“

“We live right up the canyon and had never visited. Highly recommend!! Great food, reasonable prices, our waitress, Cassidy was so great! She was efficient with everything and just had the nicest personality. We will be back!!!“

“Really enjoyed my stay! The rooms were quiet and comfortable, the hotel bar was fantastic, and the room service was excellent. Loved the thoughtful little amenities—they really made a difference.“

“Best poke! So much variety, tuna, salmon, spicy tuna, albacore, octopus, shrimp. tamago, and tofu. Delicious add-ons and lots of toppings!“

“Great food, service and atmosphere.“

“Fresh fish expertly prepared by friendly chef with equally cheerful service staff! We will be back“

“Delicious and fine food, stunning scenery, exceptional personnel. Absolutely recommended!“

“Came for lunch with my gran about a month after my grandfather passed. It was my gran's first outing since the funeral and i was worried but our server was this adorable silver haired woman named Rebecca. She had my Gran laughing the whole time. We ordered combos and the suggested jalapeño watermelon margaritas, which were spicy and refreshing. We needed a nap afterwards because we were too stuffed! My gran won't stop asking when we can go back. Thank you South of Nicks for lovely meal, and Thank you Rebecca, for helping a family member feel normal after tragedy. You are in our prayers“

“Wonderful food and great service!“

“I like Nono's Affordable Mexican food, and a front patio to also eat at. I like there enchiladas, tostados, tacos.“

“Wonderful, Fresh Fish!! Best Macaroni Salad & Sesame Slaw!! Great Vibe!!! San Clemente!!“

“The best restaurant with mussels in South Cali. Highly recommend!“

“Delicious 🥰familiale belle vague 🌊 beach 🏝️☀️“

“This place has to be one of the best Indian restaurants around, a gem that has mastered consistency in every dish. We always get spicy, and let me tell you, it does not disappoint. I always leave filled with content and joy. I will continue to make this my main place to eat. Service is great and they always take good care of us. 10/10“

“Great vibes and crew. Food has great variety (large or small portions) and service is quick and efficient. I bring friends and family days and nights when we want frssh Italian meals away from home.“

“This is a restaurant that I love to go to grab a fresh and yummy meal. My favorite is available with the blackened fish. It’s a simple bowl but it’s so good and I also I like that they have the salsa bar because you can add more flavor to your plate and if you like spicy you can add spicy onions, which are my favorite. They give it a nice touch to your food.“

“good service food it's so delicious 😋 atmosphere everything is incredible“

“When we had to change my brother-in-laws rehearsal dinner and welcome drinks because of the wildfires this past weekend, Ilya stepped up and was so accommodating to our group. The service was exceptional and no one ever had to wait longer than a couple minutes for a drink and we had close to 60 people. Christian, in particular, was amazing and went above and beyond for our party! The food was delicious, full of flavor, and had a great variety for all the different allergies our large group had. What could’ve been a really disappointing situation turned into one of the highlights of the weekend and we are so thankful for the way Ilya treated our family!“

“Always enjoy eating here, been a customer for 18+ years. For us it is worth the hour drive.“

“We love poke bowls!!! Just had it for dinner last night. Love the addition of the combo to the menu. Service is always great!“