First time at this location and we had a great time! We tried a few margaritas since they have such a good selection of different flavors, the watermelon marg was my favorite! Started with the Avila's Appetizer which consisted of bite size shredded beef taquitos, shredded chicken flautas, shredded beef tacos, and a quesadilla, served with a side of sour cream and guacamole. Everything was great, the chicken flautas were our favorite item on the sampler but everything was good! For my main I tried the Tampiquena, 4oz carne asada served with a cheese enchilada as well as rice and beans. It was really good, my leftovers tasted even yummier the next day! Our waiter was awesome and we had a great experience all around! Plenty of dining space indoor and outdoor, parking can get tough given the area so keep that in mind. read more

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Me, my wife and son came here on Friday night,the food was excellent and the service was out of this world. There was a young waiter, there named Osie who was very attentive to all of our needs he provided excellent service. We will definitely come back again. . read more

Avila's El Ranchito - The outside of the restaurant inside is like you're coming to someone's house. - Mexican Near Me - San Clemente, California

Just recently came here for the first time, recommended by a friend. We were mostly checking out downtown San Clemente and all its shops and restaurants and pier. Great little town to explore. This was our lunch spot. We had already walked for a couple hours. Avila's is a beautiful restaurant and fairly spacious. There is parking on both sides of the street among the shops on Avenida del mar. We were really thirsty and the busboy, Christian, got us 3 iced teas and chips like within 2 minutes. Super nice. Rafael was our waiter, and we ordered quickly. 1. Two taco combo platter, chicken and shredded beef. 2. Tacos and Caldo, my friend ordered with tacos. 3. Mama Avila's soup which came with chicken and lots of other things, and a tortilla. All 3 were delicious and filling. I always get a two taco combo plate since I love this meal, and to compare to other restaurants. This was great. The tacos perfect and flavorful. We will come back. Next time I will order the fajitas. I believe this is a chain with like 10 stores or so, so check to see if any are in your area. A very nice lunch with two fine lady friends as well. Thx Rafael for always checking on us and the iced teas to go. read more

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I was staying near downtown for a wedding, and was craving nachos after a night of partying. This was definitely the right choice! My nachos were the perfect portion and full of flavor. I love that they already come with ranchera sauce on them, because most places I need to ask ranchera sauce on the side. I ordered mine with shredded beef, and the meat was delicious. My husband had a chile relleno and shrimp cocktail. He loved both items. The chips and salsa were fresh and yummy. I also had a Summer Breeze cocktail, and it was great. The service and ambiance were both wonderful. This was a Friday morning at 11 am. Id definitely come back again. read more

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I came here for the first time. My family raved about it and said it's a must. Very cute place. Centrally located in San Clemente! Can't complain about the perfect location. The service was great. Our waiter was very good. The food well it's just ok. Prices are reasonable for the location and what you get. The food could be hotter. The beans lacked flavor. Rice was just ok. Sauces were ok. Chips were great but the salsa was very bland. I'm a daughter of a former Mexican restaurant owner of 40 years and Mexican food is pretty simple but you need the flavors. Need the homemade taste not the kind of taste that was not very authentic. Sorry. I'll try it again down the line. Possibly. read more

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Took the redwood/sentient boulder and my canine roommate to Avila's El Ranchito, and let me just say, oof, it was great. We sat outside because I am with dog (she is my roommate and i need to win her back bc rn she's #teamBoulder, the traitor jk i love her). No regrets. The patio was cute, vibey, and most importantly: accommodating to both mammals and photosynthesizing, mineral-based lifeforms. The Food Mama's Soup (me): Someone's mamá absolutely poured love, healing, and probably generational wisdom into that broth. It was warm, rich, comforting -- like emotional support in liquid form (with chicken and rice in it, some of my 5th year phd dread melted away) . 10/10 would cure seasonal sadness tho. Chinga Lingas (Boulder): First of all, elite name. Second, imagine a taquito that went to therapy, discovered abundance, and decided to become more. More filling. More pastry. More crunch. Fried, stuffed, glorious little rolls of joy. They were EXCELLENT. the tall-tree-rock shared with me. Plus points for the boulder. The Service The Boulder runs slightly cold (geologically predictable), and the staff LIT A HEATER POST next to us without us even begging. Just quietly activated warmth like hospitality professionals. Next time, I would absolutely order Mama's Soup again. I would absolutely bring my dog and my mineral companion back for more chinga lingas and heat. read more

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Stopped for lunch today, after an enjoyable morning of shopping at the San Clemente Outlets. I love Avila's. The food is high quality and very tasty. The menu is familiar and includes all-day huevos rancheros. One of my favorites. The dining room was comfortable and not too crowded. The patio looked sunny and delightful. The service was efficient and friendly. We walked down the hill to the pier afterward. I didn't feel so guilty for cleaning my plate! read more

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Mexican food in Southern California is our definition of comfort food. The same way that the South has grits, biscuits, collard greens, etc; we have tacos, burritos, guacamole, fajitas, mole, chile rellano, etc. Whether you want these in homestyle, food truck or gourmet is up to you but the effect is the same: it is ingrained in our culture/essence and you can't go wrong. Or can you? I was quite intrigued by Avila's El Ranchito but it didn't turn out how I expected... Avilas's is a family-owned pocket of Mexican restaurants under the same name with 12 locations total each owned by a member of the Avila family. The San Clemente location, owned by Victor Avila, sits on Avendia del Mar on a corner real estate inviting hungry bellies with a Spanish architecture white stucco turret facade. Entering welcomes you to an airy dining hall complete with high ceilings and a bar area but nothing too much to comment on: basically like an El Torito. Either way, so far, so good even if feeling a bit bland. The menu at Avila's covers the usual fare you find at Mexican eateries with tacos, bowls, burritos, fajitas, steak, seafood, and options for less-calorie dense plates and a children's menu. My boyfriend and I dined at Avila's in the late afternoon when traveling on the road in between Los Angeles and San Diego so we decided to keep it light. To start, we ordered the Guacamole Fresco (homemade fresh guacamole topped with cheese - $15.50) to be eaten with out table side chips and salsa. For my meal, I chose the Azteca Chicken Salad (charbroiled chicken lightly tossed in cilantro-lime dressing with avocado, black beans, corn salsa on lettuce topped with tortilla strips - $19) while my boyfriend chose the Guanajuanto Combination plate ( 2 flautas, beef and chicken served with rice and beans - $18.50). This is when things started to really sink in that Avila's is, well, just not good. Although the food is presented well (and photographs nicely) it is, bluntly, bad. The guacamole was decent and I don't have much complaints there although needed a bit more acid but my Azteca Chicken Salad was gross. The chicken was cubed and drier than the Sahara Desert with no flavor, the avocado and tomatoes both didn't taste fresh and the 'corn salsa' was just corn. It was the quality of a Mexican themed salad you would get at Applebee's. I couldn't even finish it because the chicken was that dry. The only redeeming factor was the dressing which was tasty. My boyfriend said his flautas were also overcooked and derived of true flavor. It is possible that Avila's caters to an Americanized crowd and that is the reasoning behind the poor food? Whatever the reason, this place is a no-go. Also lackluster at Avila's is the service. Our server not only didn't seem to be having a good day but took it out on us by hardly ever checking on us, never refilling water, never cracking a smile, etc. We didn't feel an ounce of being welcome (although, I must note that the young female hostess at the front who seated us was fantastic and cheerful/complimentary). There isn't much more to be about Avila's as it is simply a poor experience all around. Avila's is sadly disappointing with tasteless, bland food alongside poor customer service that doesn't stand well against the various neighboring options on Avenida del Mar. I can't vouch for any of their other locations but unless you are someone who prefers Applebee's... Avila's in San Clemente can be skipped. read more

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The atmosphere is warm and inviting, especially if you can grab a spot near the fireplace. Service is consistently friendly and attentive without feeling rushed, and the staff keeps chips and salsa coming so you're never waiting hungry.[tripadvisor +1] Portions are generous, prices are fair for the quality, and it's the kind of place you look forward to bringing friends and family back to. If you like carne asada, garlic shrimp, and a cozy spot to relax with a drink, this place is an easy "must stop by" recommendation. read more

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We really enjoyed the shrimp dish, it was so good i would go back for that someday, a little pricey $44 for about 10 shrimp but I'm kind of frugal so that may not be alot to someone else. The service was great are waiter made every effort to make us happy, unfortunately the margaritas are awful, i don't know if it's the 21 year old looking bartender or they just haven't got there flavors dialed in but we tried a mango, guava and watermelon flavors, mango was the better of them all with some actual flavor, i didn't like it but my wife seemed to enjoy it. That being said i do find it very difficult to find a restaurant that makes a good margarita anymore. The location is in a fun spot and overall a typical looking restaurant of this type. read more

We've been to other location, but this one is so much better. Food is incredibly fresh, service is absolutely the best (Thank you Amanda and Mario) and this is worth the 90+ minute drive for this enjoyable experience. read more

Came for an early dinner Monday at 4pm. When told our waiter was the only one there until later I didn't have high expectations. Not only did he check on us regularly (and other customers) he brought us additional chips and salsa. Food was very good and on point. Very enjoyable time. read more

Came in the evening with our two toddlers. Staff were prompt and efficient. Food was aammaaazing. Deserves 5 stars for sure. Gave our kiddos sides of fruit as an appetizer on the house. They could tell we were holding it together and we were all starving haha. Kids ate everything we ordered. Food came out hot and quick. Service was excellent. Every worker checked on us made sure we had plenty of napkins and quick refills on water. After a long day at the beach, this was the best place for a yummy, relaxing dinner where all your needs are met! Thank you! read more

Hanging out with The Wife, and The Kid who was visiting from San Fran. She wanted to got to Åvila's while she was home in SC. Five stars for our server, Taylor (that's what the receipt said). She was taking care of people all over the place and at first seemed to be the only server. Yet it didn't matter she kept us happy with drinks, chip refills, taking our order and bringing out our food. Nice job to the kitchen staff who seemed to turn our order around in 2.3 minutes! Food was great. Back to Taylor. She did seem a bit frazzled and apologized a couple of times, but no need to apologize. She did a good job. We found out she was fairly new when The Wife asked to buy an Åvila's pint glass. Taylor found out they did not sell them. The Wife was bummed but she'll get over it! Ha!! All in all a great dinner and great service. Thanks Taylor! Thanks kitchen and bus staff. Go! Eat Well!! Get great service!!! HAVE FUN!!!! read more

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Aw man, should have checked the yelp review first. The DoorDash review was 4.9 stars and we were duped. Oily gross cheese quesadilla for $18??? Cheese enchiladas with dry rice and wet beans for $21? My daughter said the enchiladas I make are better and that's saying a lot!!! I would say best parts were speed, crispy chips and good packaging. Would not partake again. read more

Sat outside in patio. Had an amazing server and the food was delicious. I would go back in a heart beat.

Hard to pass on this restaurant while you're strolling by. You'll be welcomed by a very real looking dog statue. It was a perfect summer day, so we decided to eat outdoors in the patio. The staff were friendly and attentive. There were plenty chips and fresh salsa before we ordered anything. I got a mocktail pina colada which tasted really good. I loved the Fajitas salad too. Generous portions despite ordering from the light cuisine menu. read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Mexican Near Me - San Clemente, California

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A 'Locals' favorite! We have been consistent patrons and promoters for El Ranchito's for many years. They offer authentic Mexican cuisine at reasonable prices, a great 'Taco Tuesdays' and daily happy hours at the bar. Mamá Avila's Chicken Soup is the BEST! Yesterday, after over a month in Europe, we went to 'Taco Tuesday'. Camile, our favorite server, was there, but she wasn't her same 'perky' self. She... I understand her schedule cut to one day, Tuesday, and she is no longer a bartender. We were a bit shocked and saddened for her. Getting together with our 'El Ranchito friends' along w/ Camile's personable service are the main reasons we keep returning to El Ranchito (and, of course, Mamá Avila's soup). We hope things will change for the better real soon. read more

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I have a friend visiting from Minnesota. Her goal is to try every place that has fish tacos. This was her fifth place and she said they were the best fish tacos she has ever had! I had their chicken tacos and the white meat was bursting out of the shell with a delicious aroma e taste. The refried beans? The best. The staff? Made us feel like we were the only ones there. I live in Corona.. the drive to San Clemente well worth it! read more

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I heard really good things about Avila's, they have several locations in the OC beach cities. The store front is oversized and grand with an outdoor patio for dining and drinks. Our server/bar tender Juan was awesome friendly and attentive. The chips and salsa were great. I ordered the chile relleno with rice and beans. It was perfectly cooked the beans and rice were good. Avila's has a great vibe and company. I would definitely come back. read more

:(( sigh I was so excited to eat my fajita salad and... It failed to please me. So I ordered the salad with steak and shrimp (24$ btw) and I specifically told them I don't want mushrooms. There were mushrooms And zucchini? Zucchini wasn't on the menu if it was I would have said NO ZUCCHINI SUCKS There were numerous things going on with this meal 1: there was ONE PIECE of steak like huh? Did I not get STEAK fajitas?? 2: salad was naked! It was not dressed that lettuce was dryer than my science teacher's jokes 3: it was so dark I had to pull out my phone to see what I was consuming. I didn't think there would be mushrooms because I DIDN'T ASK FOR MUSHROOMS so I took a bite and no joke it was literally all mushroom The only good thing was that it was 4 people's birthdays so happy birthday to them Frankly I'm disappointed I was so excited Now I'm just numb and hungry read more

Avila's El Ranchito - No zucchini on the menu yet it was in my bowl. - Mexican Near Me - San Clemente, California

We were able to walk right in and get a table on Valentine's Day, which was nice. The staff were extra friendly. The food was good. I like the atmosphere. Strange mix of music though. My complaint is that someone (perhaps the manager) greeted us at the door as they were walking us over to our table and asked if we were drinking. We said no so he said he'd send over a guacamole to our table instead. Cool. They did and it was delicious but then they charged us $15 for it. We didn't even order that?? Seems kind of shady to me. read more

Really disappointed your hours say till 9:00. That's twice in 3 weeks. I've shown up at 8:00 or 8:10 only to be told it's slow...We closed early. Either adjust your hours or try to be a restaurant that actually serves customers. You used to be my go-to in San Clemente. I don't know what's happened but you're nothing like you used to be. read more

Disappointing I love the Ranch and have been to lots of them in So Calif for many years, but lately I've noticed a lack of something that feels like a cost-cutting measure. Recently I ordered the omelet which featured limp, lackluster vegs and absolutely zero queso fresco, which was supposed to be covering it. The sauce was bland as well so the cheese was really needed. The other time I was there it was the same for the enchilada - bland and with no cheese! Really!? For $18, all I felt I got was limp peppers, raw tomatoes and green peppers inside a pocket of eggs and what tasted like bottled sauce. Beans were good as always, rice was ok. I think I'll spend less time and $$ and go elsewhere when I'm in San Clemente. Sorry read more

Service was good, fast, prices ok too, but food didn't have the authentic flavor you get elsewhere in a typical Southern California Mexican restaurant . The salsa tasted like tomatoes and herbs, no spices. The meal the same I had to ask for hot sauce. Almost as if they don't add spices to their meals, which is Mexican't not Mexican But 3 stars only because the staff is very nice and friendly. A little spice can push it up to 4 stars though read more

Walking around San Clemente after going to the Saturday craft fair and shopping, we stopped for lunch at Avila's. Ambiance was good as we were seated by the window on a nice day. Service was friendly and our waiter offered suggestions on the menu. I oregano shrimp tacos, while friends had chili relleno and taco salad. The portions were plentiful. On our way out, picked up a mint as an extra treat. read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Shrimp tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Clemente, California

I don't remember when I had such a good chili rellano. It really hit the spot today. It was fluffy and full of multiple flavors. Gonna be go to plate. read more

Excellent food and sure truly the fried ice cream!!! Nice atmosphere in adorable St Clemente Service is good, many nice workers. Karla was awesome! Not our first time and wont be the last read more

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Had lunch with a good friend I rarely get to see on Cinco de Mayo. Nice Cadillac margarita with tajin rim. Ceviche, green enchilada and crispy taco. Perfect combo read more

Fried ice cream! So delicious! Check out my photo of it! The hubby and I happily shared it. Recommended! Dinner for me was the low carb fajitas. Tasty and came out sizzling of course! Hubby had an interesting dish called tampiquena. It's a grilled skirt steak that was marinated in peppers and onions. It was accompanied by beans, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, and guac. For starters we shared ceviche and chips. All delish! (Yes, had to to tell you about dessert first and work my way backward. Lol) Avila's El Ranchito is located in downtown San Clemente. On the summer evening that we dined in, their doors were open. That allowed the nice breeze from the nearby ocean to come in. There is indoor and outdoor seating available. Great vibe and welcoming service. I know there are a few Mexican restaurants in the vicinity. Haven't tried the others but, Avila's is a good one! read more

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Go there often. Food is always solid and very good service They have a great taco Tuesday And when it's not too cold outside dining is nice. read more

I know you looked at the low star reviews and want to pass. But honestly, the price is a bit much but so is every restaurant. The service was good, the meat was seasoned and cooked very well. The atmosphere is a typical fun Mexican restaurant. Chips and salsa as soon as you sit down. There's a nice fireplace by the bar and you can see the patio vibe outside. Will be fun for summer! Give it a try. I highly recommend the filet mignon salad for those avoiding carbs :) read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Filet mignon salad with steak and enchilada combo. - Mexican Near Me - San Clemente, California

Excellent service, Rafael was on top of everything. Large portion sizes and our food looked great. Our food was delicious. I love the outdoor patio, especially with the lighting at night. read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Large portion sizes for the enchiladas. - Mexican Near Me - San Clemente, California

The food was great. The atmosphere was fantastic. Service was excellent. You'll have to try the chili rellano. It was a little noisy to hear conversations But that's a good thing, right? read more

Highly do not recommend the Avila's soup. It's like water with rice and boiled chicken. Lacks flavor. Also ordered a steak plate and it was fine. It's like they didn't season the steak and there was a lot of fat on it. I probably would choose somewhere else on Del Mar. read more

What, how can this place show only 3.5 stars. Come on people. Food is great! DOG FRIENDLY patio so plus for us! Ordered take out this time. Ordered some margaritas while we waited for our food. Really good. Our order was ready pretty fast and packaged well. But like any take out, I'd highly recommend checking that all your items are in it. They forgot my tamale & the whipped cream for our deep fried ice cream. Our pooch loved the chicken bowl like always. Gave it 4 paws up and a waggy tail = 5 stars. Got the 3 combo dinner and all things great! My wife's cheese encilada great. Our deep friend ice cream (even without the missing whipped cream) good! Always 1 of our go to places here! read more

Avila's in downtown San Clemente is a favorite lunch spot for me and my best friend. Today was a little cool and breezy so we asked to be seated at a table near the fire place. After we were seated, a basket of fresh crispy tortilla chips and salsa along with water was brought to our table. Today I ordered the al a carte mahi mahi soft taco. The taco was filled with two nice size pieces of fish with cabbage and pico de gallo. The fish was moist and flakey and the taco was so big that it was the perfect amount for lunch. The price was very reasonable considering the size of the taco. read more

Avila's El Ranchito - A la carte Mahi Mahi soft taco (with one bite taken out) - Mexican Near Me - San Clemente, California

As a San Clemente resident, have to admit that I've only been here a couple of times over the years. We were craving Mexican food so thought we'd give it a try again. I actually wanted something meaty and full of protein. The server recommended the meat platter (which is supposed to serve 4). I was SO happy when a massive platter of meat was placed in front of me -- grilled shrimp, steak, pork and chicken with a melted chili butter sauce on the side. Yay! I was also surprised to find avocado, tomato and lettuce on the plate as well. Also thought it was priced well at $43 and made a total of 3 meals for me counting the leftovers. Accompanied by a delicious and strong skinny margarita, I was very happy. Will definitely go there again for this exact same meal! See ya again soon Avila's. read more

Avila's El Ranchito - Carnivore meat platter - Mexican Near Me - San Clemente, California

This place is amazing!! Our second time here when driving through San Clemente. We are from San Diego so we know good Mexican food and this place always delivers! Warm fresh chips and homemade delicious salsa. Loved the cucumber margarita, garlic butter shrimp, and mole sauce! Our server Emma was great too. We will be back for sure! read more

We checked this place out on our most recent day trip to San Clemente, and it was a pleasant experience for a Saturday lunch. They were busy but the service was fast, especially when I needed to change out the shredded meat in my taco salad b/c all their shredded choices contain tomatoes and I can't eat the seeds (they were great about putting the pico on the side). I REALLY liked the GRILLED chicken that replaced my shredded chicken, and to be fair, that's what the waiter had first recommended for me. Hubby and I both had taco salads and I really liked the smoky flavor of the beans in the lower layers, yum. The salsa was delish but the chips were pretty basic. Overall, nice portion sizes and an enjoyable lunch. read more

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