Love this place. Great staff, the food is fresh and well made, and it's a great local spot. One of better Mexican restaurants in area. Easy parking, too. read more

El Caporal is the real deal, hands down grandma style Mexican food. Every time I eat here I am happy and satisfied with my meal. Always fresh, hot and tasty. The chicken torta w/ beans is great! The huarache is a perfect size for lunch. The fresh veg & fruit juices are a nice addition for the healthy peeps! The service is nice but be patient. read more

El Caporal - Grilled chicken torta and healthy veg juice - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

Not one complaint here. Super clean authentic mexican food. Seafood was amazing. The service was even better. Will come back many many times. read more

Well, since I moved in down the street from this place, I have been determined to find the best breakfast burrito in the area. I have to say, El Caporal has blown me away with their delicious, cheesy, salty piping hot breakfast burritos. They are true hangover annihilators. I really appreciate how crisp they make the bacon and potatoes. Nothing will ruin my morning quite like picking soggy pieces of bacon fat out of my burrito, but El Caporal--they nail it. The service is incredibly friendly as well. read more

Great food and great service. Everything is made fresh right there. The chips and salsa were awesome. My friend said that the French toast was the best she's ever had. That's quite the endorsement! read more

El Caporal - The best French toast ever! - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

Amazing staff, love them. Good food. Seafood. Quesadilla delish but pretty thin. Still good though

This place was fantastic. Stopped in for lunch and the service and food were great. I get shrimp everything when the place pushes mariscos. The shrimp taco and enchilada (?) were awesome, never had a shrimp enchilada. Homemade salsa everywhere and the chips were really good. Plenty of parking around the back and fun servers. read more

I always come here or order out for dinner. The staff is super friendly and they have like the Best tortas!

I like this place. It's pricey for what it is, but it's good and the people that work here are really nice. Everything I've had has pretty solid and they have a great breakfast burrito. There is a truck down the street that is better and cheaper, but if it's during the day, this is probably the best mexican food you will be able to get in Altadena. I'd give this 3 and a half if I could. I can't give it 4 only because there are so many good Mexican food places in Los Angeles. But the food is good so shit....maybe I should give it 4....whatever read more

First time here 11/22/15 1230 pm.Not just the food but the service is awesome, the girl at the counter/waitress with such a great attitude. Carne en su jugo was delicious! Prices little high but worth it read more

El Caporal - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

Excellent food and amazing service! Our food was quick to be delivered and every bite was enjoyed! Our waitress was so kind. it has been a while since a waitress has made an impression worth sharing! Unfortunately I did not get her name but she was working 7pm on Wednesday 5/1/19. Thank you El Corporal we will be back! read more

Excellent mole, delicious fresh salsa, and a tasty piece of flan for dessert. Great find in Altadena.

So many Mexican options in Altadena/Pasadena but this place is our favorite. Their rice and beans are always spot on. They are always fresh and perfection. My kids love their burritos. My husband and I love their chilles rellenos, tacos dorados, chile verde, ceviche, etc. The service is quick and KIND. 5 stars all the way! read more

Ordered delivery, everything was tasty..had chicken fajitas, excellent!! Will definitely order again!!

Wow- first time. Loved the molcajete!! New word for me. Apparently like mortar and pestal. Shrimp, asada, chicken, spicy chorizo sausage, and cheese melted in a big stone bowl. A lot of food even to share with 2 people. I'll be back. read more

Good quality Mexican food for a reasonable price. I'm in love with their chicken enchiladas. I definitely recommend this restaurant. + They have a huge parking lot in the back read more

My fave Mexican resteraunt in LA... period. I used to live in Altadena and during that period El Caporal became my sanctuary, now living in Topanga Canyon I still go out of my way to get my fix... just about everything is great here... the shrimp tacos hooked me in on my first visit but it's all good, cooked with care and the low key family vibe is perfectly cosy, enjoy. read more

Well One of my CO worker send me There and he told me that the food was amazing. I was excited to go try out that amazing food that my workers were talking About. But I never got a chance to try it Because when I showed up to the restaurant I stand in front of the counter for about 5 minutes before the person behind the counter asked me if I was for here or to go. After a told her there was I went and set down and 15 minutes pass by before she dropped off a Menu then 5 more minutes pass and I just got up and left after 25 minutes in the restaurant no one had taken my order. read more

Found this place on yelp and let just say I'm coming back again to bring my parents. My gf is Asian and she loved it. She even took food to go a Molcajete and a Agua chiles . read more

Was craving some ceviche while in Pasadena and found this gem. Had chips and salsa, shrimp ceviche and flautas and everything was great. Will definitely be coming back. read more

Cannot express how yummy this super sweet spot is!!! Wonderful staff that treats you so kindly and can help you find something that suits your tastebuds!! Definitely highly recommend making this a new go-to spot anytime you crave a filling and home cooked Mexican meal. So glad I found this restaurant :) read more

Super friendly staff, amazing food. I got the Chile Verde burrito-yummm!!!!! I will definitely be back!!!

So good! Classic Mexican. Yum. I got Carnitas plate. Delivery person got a bit lost. Food was awesome .

Came to Pasadena, CA to visit my boyfriend. He took me to this restaurant called El Caporal. As soon as you walk in you feel at home. The owner of the place is very friendly and inviting. The dish we ate was called The molcajete. It was very delish. It comes with beef, chicken, chorizo, nopales, cheese and for a little extra you can add shrimp. It is very yummy, A MUST GO place to eat! read more

El Caporal - El Caporal's molcajete for 2 w/shrimp - Mexican Near Me - Altadena, California

Excellent mole enchiladas, the seasoning was just right! Really enjoyed the food and the service was great.

Hole in the wall place, but very clean for a Mexican joint. Service is nice, and the food is fantastic. Their seafood in particular stands out for a hole-in-the-wall Mexican place. My wife had the whole snapper, pan fried with seasoning, served with rice and beans. I had the house fajitas with beef, pork, and shrimp. We also got a fish taco, which was GRILLED, not fried (allowing us to actually taste the fish.) Everything was perfect. The beans are cooked in pork fat, so they're authentic and delicious. The rice was good. The fish was amazing - crispy on the outside but still moist on the inside, and scored in such a way that makes eating it a breeze. The fish taco was a generous size and the fish was moist and flavorful. The fajitas were full of flavor, the sauce used being unlike anything else I've ever had but really brought the dish together. Of special note was the fact that all the meat was cooked perfectly, especially the shrimp, which was moist and flavorful. Oh, and we got a flan for dessert, which was the best we've EVER had ANYWHERE. Save room for it, because you'll be glad you did. Plus the service is great and its family owned. You can feel the love put into everything and I can't recommend this place enough. Our new go-to Mexican spot. read more

This may be the best Mexican restaurant in the Pasadena area. The tamales are unbelievably delicious. The carnitas are great, as are the chips, shrimp special dishes, and really everything else I've had so far. Highly, highly recommended! read more

The food was meh. The chicken was dry, the enchiladas were kinda small, with very little flavor. The mole sauce seemed to be the typical red sauce with a bit of cocoa powder blended in- nothing really distinct about it. The rice was ok- not salty, which is what you typically get, but it didn't have a distinct flavor. The refried beans looked dull, tasted bland and watered down. I'm not a big fan of Mexican food and this place reinforced my opinion. read more

Ordered the chicken enchiladas with red sauce and it was pretty tasty. I ordered to-go over the phone and it was ready within 7 minutes, but it didn't taste like fast food at all. I will definitely be trying this place again. read more

The employees were very kind and fast with my order. Everything is fresh and delicious. Their service actually makes you feel like your at home. read more

From the made fresh guacamole to the seasonal mole dishes, everything is great here. The employees are very kind and prompt with your order.

Just called to place a take out order to be told that the are closing and she has to ask the cook if he wants to make it, almost an hour before closing. Really!! no thanks I'll take my business elsewhere! read more

My family's favorite local Mexican restaurant. A very large menu, everything we've had is delicious, and they have a great kid's menu. Service is also top-notch. Plenty of parking in the back of the building. read more

Did not like the food and both myself and y boyfriend got sick from the food. He had a cocktail of shrimp and octopus then spent that evening throwing up. I had the filet of fish that was suppose to be mojo de ajo but there was no trace of garlic. I had eaten there once before and had tacos that did not have much flavor either. Week not go back. read more

I probably won't be back. After passing here for years I finally decided to try them out. Taste wise they're OK. I received one chiccharon taco ( which was soggy) , one Asada taco, a wet Asada burrito and a horchata. It all came to 19.51, which for me is a bit on the pricier side , especially considering the burrito was full of mostly rice and beans and minimal meat. I should have just went to Taco Bell next door lol I would have spend a fraction of the price lol read more

The food has a good flavor and its tasty, but I agree with most people here, a bit overpriced for what you get. I order take out most of the time, and the small styro containers have dividers that don't allow for much food. I wish they'd switch to a tin container with no dividers, this would also allow you to heat the food up in the oven - just sayin. read more

Hands down my favorite crispy tacos and incredible molcajete!!! Lovely staff. One of my go tos :)

I believe that i would have enjoyed my food better if tomatoes where not added to my veggie quesadilla without my knowledge. I have a pretty bad allergy and didn't notice that there were tomatoes in my food until after i finished the food. I thought they were red bell peppers which i asked for. Luckily i was able to get my money back for my lunch..but this is a pretty serious offense you can kill people like. Sad to say i will not be returning. read more

Parking is plenty. I asked for a chicken torta with no mayo. I got torta bread, chicken breast, lettuce and tomato. Great chicken sandwich, maybe the best I've had. Worst torta ever. I am scared if I order a chicken sandwich I may get a torta. I asked for the taco salsa on the side, I got none. I felt like the cashier was trying to do waaaaaay to much. However all my co-workers who go there often say the love the place. Maybe the place was having an off day but I can't in good faith give them more then two stars. read more

This place has the best Mexican seafood. If you are in the mood for fish or shrimp, this is THE place. It's always fresh and delicious. My husband loves their carnitas, which are always the right balance between crispy and soft. I've also enjoyed the tortas, both the chicken and the carne asada. The fresh salsa is also really good. The service is excellent. read more