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At Carmelita’s, we bring the bold, vibrant flavors of Mexico to the heart of Dana Point. Our menu is filled with mouthwatering dishes made from the freshest ingredients, including sizzling fajitas, street-style tacos, flavorful enchiladas, and freshly made guacamole. Whether you’re craving something savory, spicy, or sweet, each bite is packed with authentic taste. Pair your meal with one of our signature margaritas or a refreshing cerveza, and enjoy the vibrant coastal atmosphere as you relax and unwind with family and friends. Whether you’re here for a casual meal, a special celebration, or simply a quick bite, we offer a warm, welcoming environment with top-notch service. Come experience why Carmelita’s is the perfect spot
Hours
| Friday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 9 AM–10 PM |
| Monday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 34255 Pacific Coast Hwy Unit 109, Dana Point, CA 92629
Phone: (949) 503-4107
Website: http://carmelitasrestaurants.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.com
Photo Gallery
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Reviews
Michael Tejeda
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Carmelita’s (Dana Point)
We had an excellent experience at Carmelita’s in Dana Point. From the moment the food hit the table, you could tell this place takes pride in both flavor and presentation.
We ordered a mix of dishes, including the short rib enchiladas with verde sauce, which were rich, tender, and perfectly balanced. The sauce had depth without overpowering the meat, and the crema, queso fresco, and fresh microgreens tied everything together beautifully. The birria rolls were a standout—crispy on the outside, packed with savory shredded beef inside, and absolutely addictive with the guacamole and crema on the side.
We also tried the sliders with fries, and they did not disappoint. Juicy, well-seasoned, and paired with hot, crispy fries and house-made sauces that elevated the whole plate. Nothing felt rushed or careless—everything tasted intentional.
To top it off, the handcrafted margaritas were refreshing and well-balanced, not overly sweet, and perfect for the coastal vibe. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a great spot for date night, dinner with friends, or a relaxed evening out.
Great food, great drinks, and a laid-back Dana Point energy. Carmelita’s definitely lives up to its reputation—we’ll be back.
… moreWe had an excellent experience at Carmelita’s in Dana Point. From the moment the food hit the table, you could tell this place takes pride in both flavor and presentation.
We ordered a mix of dishes, including the short rib enchiladas with verde sauce, which were rich, tender, and perfectly balanced. The sauce had depth without overpowering the meat, and the crema, queso fresco, and fresh microgreens tied everything together beautifully. The birria rolls were a standout—crispy on the outside, packed with savory shredded beef inside, and absolutely addictive with the guacamole and crema on the side.
We also tried the sliders with fries, and they did not disappoint. Juicy, well-seasoned, and paired with hot, crispy fries and house-made sauces that elevated the whole plate. Nothing felt rushed or careless—everything tasted intentional.
To top it off, the handcrafted margaritas were refreshing and well-balanced, not overly sweet, and perfect for the coastal vibe. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a great spot for date night, dinner with friends, or a relaxed evening out.
Great food, great drinks, and a laid-back Dana Point energy. Carmelita’s definitely lives up to its reputation—we’ll be back.
Michelle Bud
Amazing. Officially my favorite restaurant we’ve eaten at yet in our 1.5 years living in the San Diego area. So many fancy Mexican restaurants are just so-so, but this place is delicious and good quality. The staff is also very friendly. We ate here in May, and I wasn’t sure if I was just really hungry or it was “that!” good. It’s a bit of a drive (normally with traffic :/) so it took us a while to come back, but today I confirmed it really is amazing! We ordered 4 meals and all 4 were delicious, and the warm chips with salsa and bean dip are perfect. The dip is unique and tasty. The slow braised short rib meet is exceptional, and good quality (I didn’t find fatty, inedible pieces). Silvia is helpful and friendly, as is the kitchen and waitstaff. I remembered the waiter from May, I could tell it was the same man, so friendly! Absolutely great experience. I wish we lived closer! Thank you, Team Carmelita’s!
… moreLydia Liem
Carmelita is a small, cozy gem that never disappoints! The flavors are bold and authentic, and every dish feels made with love. The short rib enchiladas are my absolute favorite—tender, rich, and comforting—while the skirt steak salad is light, fresh, and perfectly balanced. It’s the kind of place you keep coming back to for both the food and the friendly, welcoming vibe.
… moreJulia MacLaren
Everything was so fresh and wonderful here! The staff was friendly and attentive, excellent service and delicious food. I recommend the crispy taco plate (hot and crispy) with the short ribs. YUM! Will tell our friends about this place, amazing!
… moreMari Osuna
We went to carmelitas during the week …. Everybody was so welcoming. Everything on place. Very delicious, excellent service, very clean, Alma was great… My daughter love the quesadillas,beans and rice ,the flan and the churros …… If you haven’t try it. I definitely recommend to give a try…. Nice place to spend with the family…
… moreBen Holtzendorff
We stumbled upon what feels like a fantastic hidden gem in Dana Point with Carmelita’s. For anyone looking for fresh, authentic Mexican food, this is a spot you have to try. We really enjoyed our dinner here and will absolutely be back.
The quality of the food is evident from the moment you sit down. The chips they bring out are fresh and warm, served with a good salsa and a delicious bean dip which was a welcome surprise. That commitment to freshness carries through the entire menu. I ordered the chicken fajitas, and the difference that their fresh, handmade tortillas make is incredible—it elevates the entire dish. My wife ordered the chicken tortilla soup, and her reaction was, “This is amazing! It’s a whole bowl!” The portion was so generous and flavorful that she happily took some home for leftovers. A big plus was how quickly our food came out from the kitchen.
You can tell the front-end staff works incredibly hard. They were efficient and hustling all evening. It seemed like they might have been a little understaffed for how busy it was, as it took a bit to get a table cleared for us, but this was a minor point in an otherwise great experience. The effort from the team was clear and appreciated.
Carmelita’s is a standout place for delicious, high-quality Mexican food. We left very impressed and are already looking forward to our next visit.
… moreThe quality of the food is evident from the moment you sit down. The chips they bring out are fresh and warm, served with a good salsa and a delicious bean dip which was a welcome surprise. That commitment to freshness carries through the entire menu. I ordered the chicken fajitas, and the difference that their fresh, handmade tortillas make is incredible—it elevates the entire dish. My wife ordered the chicken tortilla soup, and her reaction was, “This is amazing! It’s a whole bowl!” The portion was so generous and flavorful that she happily took some home for leftovers. A big plus was how quickly our food came out from the kitchen.
You can tell the front-end staff works incredibly hard. They were efficient and hustling all evening. It seemed like they might have been a little understaffed for how busy it was, as it took a bit to get a table cleared for us, but this was a minor point in an otherwise great experience. The effort from the team was clear and appreciated.
Carmelita’s is a standout place for delicious, high-quality Mexican food. We left very impressed and are already looking forward to our next visit.
Gina Rogers (G4Grace)
Food was wonderful. You have to try their corn appetizer. It is so delicious. We had leftovers and it was my dinner another night. Their fajita nachos so good and large quantity. Chips and salsa yummy!!
… moreElite
I give this place 3 stars mainly to based on the cosmetics of the place. I think they did a fantastic job in making it stylish regardless of the fact that it’s by the side of a road and small. You can tell they put an effort to make it look the part and I think the style is beautiful.
There is free parking and there is an elevator to go straight to the restaurant.
No kids menu.
I liked to receive the chips with salsa and beans , although they did not refill the chips even though we were still waiting for our food.
I think the margarita tasted great. Food was really average.
I personally think that when a place can’t have a view as a selling point it needs even more to have amazing food. I ordered something that was supposed to be a chef plate with a mix of things that did not really taste of much , it was very oily and bland, most of it was nachos and not something that would make me go back for.
Check your receipt!
When we were there it was not busy and they still added us an extra drink to the charges, a service fee and at the bottom it said that if you use a credit card you will be charged extra 3 % too.
On the top of that there was a request of tip of course.
Considering how pricey everything was and again for a small place on the side of the road with not remarkable food it did not feel like the best approach to have all of these fees . It doesn’t make a person want to go back.
… moreThere is free parking and there is an elevator to go straight to the restaurant.
No kids menu.
I liked to receive the chips with salsa and beans , although they did not refill the chips even though we were still waiting for our food.
I think the margarita tasted great. Food was really average.
I personally think that when a place can’t have a view as a selling point it needs even more to have amazing food. I ordered something that was supposed to be a chef plate with a mix of things that did not really taste of much , it was very oily and bland, most of it was nachos and not something that would make me go back for.
Check your receipt!
When we were there it was not busy and they still added us an extra drink to the charges, a service fee and at the bottom it said that if you use a credit card you will be charged extra 3 % too.
On the top of that there was a request of tip of course.
Considering how pricey everything was and again for a small place on the side of the road with not remarkable food it did not feel like the best approach to have all of these fees . It doesn’t make a person want to go back.
Ron Hoopes
This used to be an order-at-the-counter restaurant. And we thought it was about the best around. Then they changed it to be a seated and served restaurant, and it’s still about the best Mexican food around. We love sitting outside on PCH, you get the occasional loud motorcycle, but not a problem, it’s still very easy for conversation. Also, they have the outdoor heaters, just in case the marine layer creeps in at sunset. They are quick to bring out the awesome chips, salsa and bean dip to start. We got the steak burrito bowl and the chicken tostada. Both were very generous sizes and we were left very satisfied. Heads-up for parking up above, drive your compact car, my truck is very tight in the parking spaces. We will continue come to Carmelita’s for their tasty food and awesome servers.
… moreGarry Kepes
Free parking on the roof and curbside. It may be tough finding spits when the center is busy. We were there at Happy Hour, and the chicken nachos were great. We had classic margaritas as well, very good. We also split the chicken fajitas. Both chicken portions were good amounts and very tasty. The vegetables with the fajitas were some of the best I’ve had in a long time. Cooked to perfection on a sizzling platter.
… more