This review for Asada is long overdue. I really love their food and cocktails here (especially the Mexican Candy!) and while I've had some things that weren't my favorite, everything I've tried has been delicious. One of my favorite appetizers here are their bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers served with a blackberry jam and pickled onions...I get this pretty much every time. Lately I've been coming on Tuesdays to take advantage of their all-day Happy Hour, which is one of the best in town. Crispy carnitas tacos and the hibiscus margaritas are my go-to's, and the fresh chips and salsa served gratis are always delicious and hot. I wanted to take a moment to shout out their fantastic team of servers and bussers especially. Luna, Lindsay and Cesar have all been exceptional servers; their knowledge of the menu and their genuine kindness makes our visits that much more memorable. I don't often catch the name of the bussers, but they are extremely good at what they do. There's a few restaurants in town that hire staff and don't seem to train them well, so they struggle and it's apparent... but that's not the case here at Asada, where everyone is professional and really go above and beyond. It's easy to see how well their service flows (although the host stand could benefit from having people who are more outgoing; they seem to have timid people up there a lot, and it can be awkward when they're too timid to properly greet guests--just something I've noticed, having worked in restaurants before I tend to be hyper-aware of such things). My favorite section to get seated is the booths near the back which tend to be quieter, and also offer a nice view of the sky during the sunset and evening hours especially. read more

This was my first visit, and I will definitely return! I ordered the Asada Grilled Baja Bowl with steak, which was delicious. The steak was tender and full of flavor, and the bowl featured a great combination of fresh ingredients. I also tried the Mexican Candy cocktail, perfectly blending sweet, spicy, and refreshing flavors. The vibe was lively, the restaurant was spotless, and the staff were friendly and quick. It's an excellent choice for lunch or dinner with family and friends. I can't wait to explore more of their menu on my next visit! read more

Asada Cantina + Kitchen - Mexican candy Margarita - Tacos Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Excellent service and great food. Early lunch for us and the menu has lots of options...both Mexican cuisine and American. First was the chips and salsa and guacamole. Very good. Not pictured. We had the Signature Asada and the Enchilada so good. This is a must lunch and or dinner site. I highly recommend this place. Five stars all the way. read more

Asada Cantina + Kitchen - Signature Carne Asada. - Tacos Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Food and service were perfect! All the food we ordered was delicious. i highly recommend and will make the drive to eat there again' ! read more

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We've come to this place several times now for happy hour and for lunch and for brunch and everything has been really good. The service has been excellent. The atmosphere is very cool. It's a little bit pricey, but the food is delicious. We came here for dinner with three adults and two kids under 10 and the kids plates were excellent. The kids had tacos and really enjoyed it and then adults had several different items but you must try the bongo soup. It's the best we've ever had.! read more

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Asada has a great atmosphere, and the staff is always so friendly and accommodating. We love the warm salsa, and the drinks are always excellent. The food is good, but the prices are definitely on the high side. Overall, it's a nice spot for great service, delicious drinks, and a fun dining experience. read more

Asada Cantina + Kitchen - Ahi - Tacos Near Me - San Clemente, California

Across the way from the San Clemente Outlet, you can hear great sounds of nature, people and most importantly music! Plenty of parking. Clean exterior and interior. We were seated right away! Chips and salsa placed on the table and I had to ask twice what he was saying compared to how elevate his voice was at other tables Waitress came to the table and offered rose options. Super personable! Took our orders and we waited for a bit. I noticed the limes I asked for were completely dry. Fun fact, the smoother the lime is, the juicer. If it's bumpy then expect the lime to be dry. Food arrived and from the wet burrito to the tacos... everything was ok. I noticed the tomato notes were actually throughout all the food we ate and I'm guessing that's their signature. Overall food was on read more

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After a day trip to San Diego, my wife and I made a quick pit stop here--and wow, what a pleasant surprise. From the moment we walked in, the service was excellent, the menu had great variety, and the food quality really stood out. The Cabo Jerky and Ahi Agua Chile were absolute highlights--both dishes were packed with flavor and beautifully prepared. We've tried quite a few spots, and this one easily ranks among our favorites. Definitely a hidden gem that's well worth a visit! Also, thank you again, Augustin! read more

Asada Cantina + Kitchen - Cabo Jerky - Tacos Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Hip Mexican food restaurant adjacent to the San Clemente outlets make this far and away the best choice for food when shopping here. Lots of TVs showing the opening games of the NHL playoff weekend. Portion sizes were big. The grilled steak in the signature carne asada was so tender and perfectly grilled. read more

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The food was incredible! everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and delicious. The ahi tuna ceviche was perfect! Service was quick and friendly, and you can tell they really care about quality. Easily a 5 star experience. Agustin made sure we had everything we needed! We will definitely be coming back read more

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This place was fantastic. Atmosphere was perfect, and a great vibe for our group. Our waiter was so sweet as we were 5 women dressed up like men for a 40th bday celebration, but he got a kick out of it. All of the food was so decision, big portions. 3 of us shared 2 appetizers and it was actually enough for us. Definitely will be coming back when we are down in San Clemente again. read more

Everyone in our group enjoyed their meal, although it was slightly disappointing that the tostada was majority lettuce with not enough chicken. Friendly service team, very clean property. Large parking lot with free parking. Outlet mall is across the parking lot so this is a convenient stop for food. Nothing spectacular about this place but, it's cute and a bit upscale as far as Mexican restaurants. read more

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Food and Margaritas are fabulous!! People are always kind and friendly. The restaurant is Beautiful. We love Asada's. Pricier yes, but worth every cent. read more

Stopped in just looking for a quick midday snack and ordered the ala cart short rib taco to go. I love a crispy taco and this one had good overall flavor. The meat was a little dry but the sauce and toppings helped save it. The white cheese was solid and there was a green sauce on it that was really good. Honestly I wish there was more of that because it was the highlight. It didn't come with any extra salsa on the side but it was an ala carte taco, so that's fair. The place itself is really cool inside. Great atmosphere lots of energy a nice bar setup with TVs everywhere. It was packed on a Saturday which explains why this turned into a grab and go situation. Prices are a bit higher than other taco spots but you're clearly paying for the atmosphere as much as the food. Not the best taco I've ever had but definitely a solid stop and I'd come back especially if I can get extra of that green sauce next time. read more

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Staff: We were very impressed by our sever Humberto. He was truly amazing. Excellent customer service, very attentive, and friendly. Major kudos to him. Quality/Quantity: Wowzer! The food here is absolutely delicious. I started off with one of their famous blood orange margaritas and it was so good. For lunch I got the steak burrito that was served wet and boy was it good. My group got the enchiladas which were described as the best she's ever had. Other guests in my party got the taquitos, tacos, and kids hamburger. Everyone was very happy with the food. Value: The pricing is a little high but the quality of the food supports it. Overall: I was totally digging this spot and will return again. read more

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Asada Cantina is one of those places we truly love and always make a point to come back to whenever we're in the area. We've tried several items on the menu, and honestly, nothing has disappointed us so far. Everything has been consistently flavorful and well prepared. My favorite by far has to be the Asada plate--it's always cooked perfectly and full of flavor. This spot has definitely earned its place as a go-to for us, and we'll gladly keep coming back. read more

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The atmosphere here might be the best part. The lighting is great, the outdoor seating is really well done, and the whole place feels upscale without the prices reflecting that. The chips are excellent. Thin, crispy, and paired with a red roasted salsa that is honestly outstanding. It comes out warm with a smoky flavor that works perfectly with the chips and is easily one of the best salsas I have had. The burrito was also very good. The green salsa really carries the flavor, and the presentation is on point. My only small critique is that the chicken in my double chicken burrito was slightly dry, but there are more than enough positives to outweigh that. Service was quick, friendly, and attentive. This spot is perfect for a relaxed family dinner or a date night. read more

Asada Cantina + Kitchen - Tomatillo Chicken Burrito - Tacos Near Me - San Clemente, California

Wonderful day to dine at Asada's at the outlet mall. We were seated outside and enjoyed the warmth of the sun. Food is always delicious. I tried something new today the barbecue pork quesadillas. The servings are very generous. I basically have enough for three meals on this plate. Our server was on point and very courteous. The margaritas were especially refreshing. read more

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I've been here several times, and each visit I hope I'll like it more. The restaurant itself is beautiful, and the service has always been good. Unfortunately, the food and drinks have been just okay. My husband and I have tried a variety of items, including the burritos, enchiladas, tacos, salads, and margaritas, and nothing has really stood out. It's definitely on the pricier side, which I don't mind paying if the food is worth it, but so far it hasn't lived up to the price point for us. The atmosphere is great, but the food and drinks have been underwhelming. 3.5 to be honest read more

Absolutely the best chicken fajitas I have ever had, and I've been around for a while. Service was excellent with the waiters and manager, even offering to bring additional tortillas if needed. They serve an amazing chips and salsa. Will definitely return. read more

Asada is the perfect night out with friends and family. The ambiance is off the charts and service is attentive and friendly. My fiancé loves the short rib tacos and I get the mixed shrimp and halibut taco plate. Parking is ample as it is shared with the outlets but in its own area. Highly recommend making a reservation on Fridays and Saturdays as it can get quite busy around dinner time! It is always a fun environment and the decor is beautiful. Would be great for hosting a team dinner as well. read more

Asada Cantina + Kitchen - Tacos Near Me - San Clemente, California

If you like Bloody Mary's, you have to have Jim's Spicy Bloody Mary. It's topped off with a slim Jim, bacon wrapped stuffed jalapeño and a lemon wedge. Yum! Restaurant was extremely busy, but that didn't slow down the service. read more

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This is the best place for taco Tuesday in San Clemente. They have all day specials and the hibiscus margarita is hella strong and delicious. They have the best chips and salsa. We got the quesadillas and short rib tacos and they were to die for. Parking is easy. The restaurant is gorgeous and the staff are amazing! Happy Yelping! read more

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This cantina exceeded my expectations. The ambiance is vibrant and fun. I believe that you could see the ocean from one area, but we were not seated there. We sat near the bar and service was excellent. The salsa is served warm with a fresh basket of chips. So good! We ordered drinks, I had a Paloma, others in our party ordered the classic margarita and my husband ordered something similar to s pina colada. I tasted them all and all were fantastic! Something to note is they don't have blenders here, so everything is served on the rocks. For appetizers our server recommended the chicken taquitos and we also ordered a large guacamole. The chicken taquitos are soooo goood! The portions were good for an appetizer. The guacamole is not huge, but it's packed in there and is made with avocado and spices, no fillers that just make it stretch. This was real deal guacamole. I ordered the filet mignon tacos with rice and beans. The meat was tender and full of flavor. My husband decided to go with the server's favorite, mahi tacos. Now those were bomb! Nice sear, packed with flavor and oh so good. Others in our party ordered the enchiladas. I didn't taste those, but everyone said that their meals were delicious. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant. Next time we'll be sure to ask for a view when making our reservations. Cheers until next time Asada. read more

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This place surprised me. I don't think I've ever eaten in a restaurant located in an outlet that's pretty good! We liked the vibe and the look of the place. We were a big group and the service was good. And we pretty much enjoyed everything that we ordered. They have good selection on the menu as well. The complimentary chips and salsa were good too! read more

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Stopped by spontaneously to get a quick lunch while in the area. Everything was delicious. From the chips and salsa (the salsa was so tasty!) to my chicken fajitas to the coffee in the end, we had a great lunch. Our waitress was so friendly and sweet too. My chicken fajitas tasted really fresh especially the tortillas. We went on a Saturday noon and it wasn't that crowded where we had to wait to be seated but it was busy enough. It is a big restaurant and they have a nice enclosed patio overlooking the beach I think. I couldn't see from where I was sitting but looked like a nice view lol. It's situated in a big shopping center so there's plenty of parking. Great spot we discovered! read more

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Asada Cantina is where that quality of food and great hosting meet all expectations for great Mexican food...They offer great selection of tacos, bowls, burritos, salads and etc...The Guac is the most to try....The service was great specially when they boxed the food and even put the dressing inside different containers....The food is quality and fresh...Very tasteful...the hangover burrito was so goodddddd...The shrimp bowl too...I love fun ambiance with gorgeous wall paintings...they have outdoor sitting, full bar, take out and delivery. They are very busy so don't forget to get a reservation before walk in...Wait time can be long...they also have happy hours with great selection of drinks to choose from... read more

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Great Food and Ambiance. The service was exceptional. Great location and easy parking access.

I'll start by saying that this place is pricey. You can find better and cheaper Mexican food elsewhere BUT the ambiance is nice and the service is very friendly. We tried the molcajete and it was pretty good. The sauce wasn't amazing but we asked for something spicier. The rice and beans were good and the corn tortillas are hand made. The carnitas were tasty and very crispy. The margaritas are delicious. I wish they played a different type of music. The reggae music ruins the vibe and it doesn't match the aesthetic. read more

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Something must be wrong with me because I've never been here before!! We ordered the quesabirria which was SO AMAZING. I don't even like meat like that and I was hooked. It's full of tons of flavor and the portion is huge! The complementary chips and salsa were straight up addicting I literally couldn't stop eating them ughhh and they had this subtle seasoning on them which left me searching for the chips in the basket with the most seasoning on them lol and the salsa was super yummy with great flavor. NOW FOR THE SERVICE...the service was so on point that it actually made the already 5 star food taste even better! Serena is the only one I want serving me when I come back! Love how extremely attentive she was and I was never waiting on her for anything. 10 star experience overall thanks to her. My stomach says thank you so much and we'll be back! read more

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Food is bad. Had to send all plates back, service is slow. Unfortunately we Won't be going back

Located in the outlet shopping plaza is this restaurant that offers Mexican flavors. Asada Cantina + Kitchen is a great spot for brunch, lunch or dinner. It also has a beautiful full bar to enjoy at. I was meeting up with some friends and they made reservations here for dinner. When we arrived the restaurant was very busy with people waiting outside. Having a reservation was definitely nice. We got seated out in their beautiful outdoor patio area. To start they give you complementary chips and warm delicious salsa. For dinner, I tried the nachos, their popular crab & shrimp ceviche and the crispy carnitas. The nachos were pretty good and you can order whichever meat you like with it. The crab & shrimp ceviche was pretty good and we ate them along with the chips at the table. And the crispy carnitas I ordered came along with rice and beans of your choice. I found the carnitas to be a little over fried and a little dry. It was okay but I probably wouldn't order it again. My friends seemed to all be okay with their food. The service was very slow. It took a very long time to be served drinks, put in our orders, and for them to bring anything we asked. I asked for some house made habanero hot sauce and I was almost half way through my meal before I even got it. Our waiter was very nice though and apologized. He didn't forget everything but it seemed like they were slammed with not enough servers. It was a cool experience and I do want to come back and try their brunch. I don't know if I would want to come back when it is so busy though. It's a great spot for small or large parties. Parking was easy since they share the same lot as the outlet. read more

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I have to say I do like this place. However, it is quite pricey. The one in Laguna seems to be a little bit more reasonable. When you're in the area by the outlets, there is only so many options. I do enjoy their chips and salsa. I've had a few different things here, and I have enjoyed each of them. read more

As you walk in, the decor immediately stands out -- beautifully organized, thoughtful, and full of character. It really sets the mood for the meal. I'd recommend making a reservation to get better seating and avoid waiting. Food Ordered: * Asada Molcajete (house specialties) -- Presentation was great, but for the value, it wasn't as impressive as expected. The flavor was on the dull side unless you dipped the meat into the sauce underneath. 3/5 * Fresh Tacos (Mahi) -- Under Asada Classics -- Good flavor and fresh corn tortillas, beans were good. 4/5 Service: 2/5 The servers were very nice and polite, but the pace was slow. We ordered some starters, but due to a miscommunication, one of the servers forgot to place the order. The manager was kind and offered to bring it out, but we declined since our mains had already arrived. They served two rounds of chips and salsa before any food came. Overall, the ambiance is beautiful, the staff is friendly, but the food and pacing didn't quite match the vibe. read more

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I absolutely love the decor and overall vibes at Asada. They have a beautiful bar that is the central focus of the entire spot. Then, they have a great inside and outdoor patio as well. For some reason I think the TVs in the dining area are a little weird for this style of restaurant, seems like that should be more reserved for a sports bar. Our server was fantastic! He brought out the chips and hot salsa (visually had steam coming off of it) right away. He was very attentive and explained everything well. He was professional and friendly (wish I could remember his name)! The food itself was good, but not mind blowing. I got the chicken fajitas and they had great flavor. The negative for me was that the corn tortillas were kind of soggy and kept falling apart, which made it challenging to eat. I love the added step they take to bring out hot towels at the end of the meal and the shift manager even checked to make sure we were well taken care of too! It was a great dining experience! read more

Chips and salsa check, The food check, all the food was absolutely delicious, my son and I both had the filet mignon tacos. The tacos were so delicious the meat was juicy & the rice and beans had a great flavor . Their habanero salsa is AMAZING!! The waitress can't recall her name but she had a wrist cross tattoo was very polite courteous, and on top of things. Best Horchata, my daughter has tried. But the ambience was my absolute favorite. If and when we're back in San Clemente, we have a new Mexican food spot. read more

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Top notch Mexican restaurant!! Been there many times. I recommend seating in the outside (covered) patio. Nice view from there, and it can get noisy inside. My favorite is the carnitas-so yummy. Crispy outside, but tender shredded pork throughout. We always ask for extra tortillas. I usually do not like rice, but I make an exception for the saffron rice they serve--soft and tasty. Everyone we have taken there has loved the food! Lots of types of Magaritas, too. read more

The male host with shaggy hair and glasses is so rude. He should not be the face of the restaurant - the first person you talk to and the last one when you leave. He was working 2 weeks ago when we came in to eat lunch and today I came in for a gift card for Father's Day. He didn't greet me, I had to ask him to purchase the GC and he gave me short, rude responses. My husband mentioned going back for dinner but I told him I didn't want to spend any more money at Asada today with rude service. He'd be better in the back of house not talking to guests. Two managers also walked by today and didn't offer to help me either. I was shocked. I have had good servers in the past but the host really leaves a bad impression. read more

Came down to San Clemente Outlets, saw Asada Cantina and Kitchen in the same parking and stopped to have lunch. Had a hardshell chicken taco, cheese enchilada, rice and black beans. This was the best Mexican food I've ever had. Their salsa and guacamole are amazing as well. The service was top tier! We were seated and waited on right away, Drinks and food served with different staff members who were pleasant and attentive. Will definitely be making the hour drive back! Highly recommend! read more

Asada Cantina + Kitchen - The photo of restaurant name. - Tacos Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Very pleasantly surprised by Asada Cantina. We went on a Saturday evening before catching a movie. Did not expect such quick service and delicious food. I'd never had flautas before since fried things can often be oily, but these were light, crisp and full of flavour. The only slight negative was the coleslaw on top was a little too creamy, I prefer lighter and more acidic, but preferences vary so no big deal. I'd also never had pozole rojo, and can't wait to go back again and finish a bowl, I was quite satisfied already after the flautas. And as with most Mexican restaurants, they served a portion of chips and salsa gratis to start with. Definitely seemed like house made tortilla chips, and the salsa was rich and warm. Despite being a very large and super popular restaurant, it was nice and cool with a breeze blowing through and I imagine very good aircon, and we were in the very center surrounded by full tables. Can't wait to visit again! read more