Olamendis Mexican Restaurant

Every time I come here, I always get great service and just great food. This time, I brought a few of my friends and we ordered the: Chile Relleno, Nachitos, Enchiladas, Esmeralda’s Choice Margaritas, Potato and Fish Tacos and then were all delicious.
I always judge a place by there rice and beans and I love there rice and beans. Thick tortilla chips with bomb salsa. I always ask for the more spicy salsa cuz I love me some heat.
I love the fresh fruit in the margaritas and i haven’t had a meal I didn’t like. Next time, I’m going to try the shrimp enchiladas.

Love this place. It never disappoints!

Crazy Good food a must have if your in South Orange County service was outstanding too will definitely be back! Cool pic of the owners and past Presidents on the wall !

Great customer service! Food is delicious! Great when you check into Unilocal you get free nachos!!!

I came here on a recommendation from my mom. Saying how amazing the food is and that they have a vegan menu! After about a 6 or so months on the bookmark list, I finally made it in. Parking is a little tight. We pulled up around 7:30 pm and got the last spot. Walking in I was surprised to see the location was only about half full. It’s located right next to a resort, but not close to any home communities.
We got seated quickly, but from there on out it was a waiting game. It felt like everything took forever, from taking the order all the way to getting the check. Service was slow, inattentive and definitely there were no smiles. I loved the deco, its traditional eclectic Hispanic vibe is on point.
The vegan menu sounds impressive. A great list of choices, which made it hard for me to choose. I was sold on the cactus salad and a potato taco. Both were served and aside from the potato being mashed, my dinner was a completely raw meal. The dressing on the salad is very light. I was expecting more of a grill cactus, which would have been superb. I recommend changing the romaine to mixed greens and grilling up some cactus, corn and maybe even throwing in some garbanzo or black beans to the mix. The dish has potential. The potato taco is bland, we were offered no salsa. Nothing to save the sad taco.
By the sounds of other reviews they need to revamp the menu and maybe get some staff that appreciate their job and are friendly? I do want to come back to try the mushroom enchilada. I’m willing to give them another chance.
Also, the margarita was terrible!

Very disappointing.
For a restaurant claiming authentic Mexican food, the food has no flavors. It’s bland and no spices quality of food would only please the type of eaters who are afraid of experiencing flavors and want to live eating bland foods.

Plus: the décor, and my server.
Minus: The food. Chips and salsa were all right, but the chimichanga I ordered was filled with boiled carnitas, barely flavored at all. The killer was that it was fried in oil that was bad. It smelled and tasted slightly rancid. I sent it back and ordered a soft chicken taco, which didn’t smell, but had lost my appetite. Sampled the chicken, and it, too, was boiled; no taste.
I can’t recall having a worse dining experience in the last ten years.

I’m giving 5 stars out of respect. It’s a landmark and if you haven’t been there go check it out, the shredded beef tacos, chips & salsa, guacamole x 10… so good! shots, Margaritas should be ordered customly… don’t order the house! It’s really bad. I don’t blame the house like it’s the norm. George is a legend to his family and friends and to the community. So much history. I get overwhelmed with things. I wish they was a private, Quieter, darker option (vip room) without the things. Had some really good times there. And some bad. Nothing to do with the restaurant. It’s a place that’s in my soul :) I think you would have a great, experience if you dined between 2 or 4… it’s the slowest time. Better !!

Service was very slow. Had to ask 3x to get straws, asked 4x to get more salsa. I’d understand if they were busy but they were not. Chicken burrito was tasty thus the rating of 3 star.

Wow! Didn’t know what to expect. Looks «dive-​ish» on the outside, then BAM! Open the doors and it say it’s large and spacious inside. Great, gaudy décor. We sat at the bar and had very good service from Jose and Ana. Super busy for a Tuesday night. Very good food. Ana offered me a sample of their homemade Olamendi’s Ultra Premium Organic Tequila. Wow! Very good. Think a much higher quality Jose Quervo, you can taste the freshness. My only complaint would be the price point. It’s a little to expensive.

Oh my god don’t go to that place the service was horrible, i went there around 1:00pm and my server was horrible, he had an attitude, i think he had a bad day but don’t take it on people, well and the food was just alright not big deal, and please owner that Guy is not doing a good job, i Will not have an employee like that in my restaurant.

Sooooooo good! The concierge at our hotel, doubletree, suggested this location. He even gave us a 20% coupon, awesome. The restaurant is right down the street. We had lunch on Xmas eve. Very friendly, we were greeted as soon as we walked in, the owner even came over to the table to make certain we were happy. Chicken taco was yummy, chicken enchilada was yummy, Unilocal check in got us a free nachito.yummy. all the food came out HOT, makes a difference not to get luke warm meal. Loved our meal. Spot is right across from water views. Delish!

Their menu is so elaborate! They have EVERYTHING! They also make their own tequila. I went for lunch so didn’t drink. Beef, pork, chicken, fish, and seafood. You want enchiladas? They got enchiladas. They also have flautas and chimichangas, which I love, and are not easy to find in most Mexican restaurants. They got tostadas and chalupas too! (The only other place I’ve heard of chalupas is Taco Bell) Only downside, it’s a bit pricy about $ 15 – 20 a plate.
The portions are pretty big, served with rice and beans. You can order A La Carte as well, which is not a bad idea cause even 1 taco is loaded with meat!
Oh! And breakfast is served all day! Huevos rancheros. Chorizo!!!
They do not skimp on any cheese, my brothers enchiladas plate looked like it was a giant plate covered in cheese!
I had the chicken flautas combo and an carne asada taco a la carte. Waaaaaay too much food!
I have a dinner tonight.
The chicken in the flautas was shredded, tender and nicely seasoned. Oh and the crispness of the flour tortilla *kisses her hands to the sky*
The carne asada taco was alright. A little chewy.
I liked the carnitas that my BF got better.
Will definitely have to come back to try some other dishes, including the mole and dessert. Flan and churros oh my god!

Pros:
Excellent tacos!!! I’m addicted and am not easily pleased with Mexican food (especially avoid chains or franchises). Most of their large menu items I’ve tried are excellent.
Anna, my favorite waitress is wonderful!
Cons:
Closing Time. I’ve recently arrived 15 minutes before their advertised closing time (per all Unilocal-​type websites, including Olamendis), only to be turned away! I was told last Thursday «It’s 10:00 and now we are closed.» I looked at my iPhone and it was 9:30.
I mentioned that it wasn’t near 10pm & the woman said «Well our kitchen is closed now, so we can’t cook anything». :-(
I don’t get to eat at 6:00pm like many people do. Finding good (non-​fast food) meals is extremely difficult to do in South Orange County.
* Tip: Henneseys in Dana Point cooks all of their menu later in the evenings than most restaurants in the beach cities area. It’s not Mexican, but better quality than Denny’s, McD’s or xxxxxxx. Fill in the blank.
I do love Olamendis & will keep going back. Just not close to closing time!!!

The décor is unique and location is great! Service was really good, the food was just totally blind though:(I’ve had more flavor when I was in England. It was also $ 20 for a two enchilada plate!!! Omg. I don’t think I’ll be going back again but if you’re staying in the hotel or beach and need something close it would be perfect.

Ok I am not a fan of Mexican food. My hubby enjoys the margaritas and the chips, tacos and pork dishes so I go when he wants. My daughter came to visit from Florida and we decided to try Olamendis, THIS IS MY FOURTH TIME BACK IN THREE WEEKS.
WOW. There is one dish, Chili relleno Dona Christina — savory meat filled with raisens and nuts and sour cream — okay I can’t possibly describe it, suffice to say in LA or NYC it would be a gourmet delight that newspapers would RAVE about and would be FAR more expensive then this little hole in the ground charges. I feel like it is a secret because of the somewhat tawdry kitchy décor. But the food. OMG. Exceptional.

Foods great, staff is great. It’s a must if you are visiting Dana Point.
The food is authentic Mexican cuisine. They have cheap combos if you are worried about price and expensive steak and seafood plates as well.

There was a time when this was pretty good. Now it’s a lazy poor quality over priced unimaginative poor excuse of a reasturant. It lives today off its great location and name, and sales of its private labeled Tequila.
Another place I’ll never go to again.

I adore this place. Killer view, stellar margaritas, food oh so fresh!
My Dad took my sister and I here for the first time last summer when we were camping on the San Onofre bluffs. He explained he used to live in Dana Point and he and his «squad» had been coming since the 80’s. The margaritas are stellar and so is everything I’ve tried on the menu. You can really tell how fresh the ingredients are. Don’t hesitate to check this place out.
Olamendis has a lot of décor on the walls. Stuff is everywhere. I think it’s fun to look at. They sell souvenir t-​shirts which is also pretty rad so I can keep a memory of coming here with my Pops who is battling cancer. On our last visit the owner walked by to check on our table when we explained how long my father had been coming to the restaurant. Immediately the owner walked over to the souvenir table and grabbed an Olamendis hat and gave it to my Dad. That was the icing on an already sentimental lunch. 1,000,000 stars Olamendis.
PS If you check in on Unilocal you get free nachos.

Loved it.
Started with the Olamendis Cadillac margarita, then tortilla and meatball soups, main course was the mole poblano pollo and the fish with jalapeño white sauce.
All were excellent.
The atmosphere is what you make it, and my wife and I had a great time.
We hope to bring the girls and in-​laws there for our last dinner in Capistrano.