This is such a beautiful, charming restaurant. The building is a registered California historic landmark with a home and a jail from the 1700s and 1800s. ✧ LOBSTER TACOS (Amazing flavor) ✧ El ADOBE BURRITO ✧ EL ADOBE MOLCAJETE: mexican wild caught shrimp, chicken breast, carne asada, chorizo, carnitas, zucchini, green onion, nopales, and queso fresco served with guacamole, corn or flour tortillas. Wonderful presentation! ✧ SHREDDED BEEF TACOS ✧ CHOCOLATE CAKE with ICE CREAM

One of my favorite Mexican places. Authentic, rustic Mexican decor enhanced by mariachi music. Fast service from attentive waiters, all of whom speak Spanish. Good food, chips and salsa, at a reasonable price. Try the blended strawberry margarita.

great time with friends and coworker with seafood

Good Mexican food in a comfortable, authentic setting. President Nixon dined here, and he had a favorite seat on the second level. Interestingly, this location once was a jail, and there are remnants of that jail on the ground level, albeit now off limits. Plenty of free parking in the rear. Charming part of San Juan Capistrano.

El Zarandeado offers excellent Mexican seafood, especially the wild shrimp—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The atmosphere is lively, and once seated, the service was friendly and welcoming. However the front desk experience was disappointing, as we were repeatedly told there would be a 1.5-hour wait. Thankfully, another gentleman kindly showed us to a quiet, lovely backyard seating area. The unfriendly front desk attitude was confusing and frustrating. Aside from that, the food was great

An old school Mexican place that's been here forever! Apparently frequented by former president Richard Nixon. His favorite table is memorialized in the restaurant. The courteous and respectful service is furnished by an all male staff. It's comforting to know that a restaurant with good food and service can endure for many decades.