Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    El Caporal

    4.3 (256 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican, Seafood, Burgers
    Closed 9:00 am - 7:30 pm

    Order El Caporal Takeout or Delivery

    El Caporal Photos

    Business Info

    EL CAPORAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like El Caporal

    Recommended Reviews - El Caporal

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Quesa- Birria Taco with a side rice and beans

    Stopped by after my hike at Mt. Wilson and found an absolute hidden gem. From the moment I walked in, it felt like I stepped straight into my Tía's house for Sunday lunch. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and the staff make you feel like you're part of the family. The quesabirria tacos were amazing! They're so rich,flavorful, and so fresh it felt like they handled everything start to finish that same day. The agua de tamarindo was perfect refreshing, balanced, and not overly sweet. My family ordered machaca, beef tacos, and a shrimp cocktail and they all agreed the food had true authentic Mexican flavors. You can truly taste Puebla, Mexico right here in SoCal. Next time I'm in the area I'm stopping by, I'm going straight for the mole! Puebla style mole is straight fire!

    Franky T.

    I'm never one to leave reviews and this has nothing to do with the service but more so the food and amount paid for it. I don't think $16 for a salad like this is acceptable. Therefore I'm leaving this review in hopes that they either fix their pricing or food quality. Pricing there was a bit much however I don't complain cause it is what it is. I paid almost $45 for a salad, torta and coke. Don't know if it has to do with location or anything but just thought I'd leave this review.

    Birria Plate/ Caldo de Res
    Gigi N.

    Best Mexican Food in the area! My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this hidden gem! Super delicious food/ extremely kind staff/ super cute interior! My birria plate was mouthwatering good! Don't hesitate to come eat here !!! Solid 10/10!!!

    Menu

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Daniel H.
    21
    335
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna H.
    121
    893
    1929

    5 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Everything on their menu is amazing. My favorite are the chilaquiles, reminds me of how my mother makes them.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Always get great breakfast burritos here...great way to start a Saturday morning and get the weekend going!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lalu B.
    29
    905
    42

    3 years ago

    Machaca and shrimp tacos are amazing here. Carnitas are also very good. Best Mexican place in this area.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Great tasting food. Got a michelada an birria plate after a long hike. That hit the spot.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of ray c.
    3
    33
    1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ana C.
    9
    202
    115

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Super good food, 6 of us were in town for a soccer game and everything was so good.the flan is a must.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Don Z.
    0
    24
    0

    2 years ago

    Stunningly overpriced. The serving sizes are small and the prices are high. Skip it. Food is okay.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Juli H.
    20
    40
    0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    food is soooo good awesome service good price there shrimps al coporal and a la diabla are to die for

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bert R.
    104
    124
    49

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    the campechana with shrimp and octopus, michelada with modelo, and enchiladas were amazing!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Amazing food and service! We ordered a lot of food for a big party and they were very nice and understanding!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great food definitely coming back. Great service and give chips on the side for snacking

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Andy K.
    169
    111
    120

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Al S.
    0
    46
    16

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 7

    El Caporal Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Caporal

    Is the menudo available during the week or on weekends only?

    Weekends only

    Is there happy hour?

    I am sorry we don't serve alcohol

    Is bell peppers the only ingredient you guys have for an omelette?

    No we have onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, cheese, sukini, mushrooms that would be a veggie omelette and then we have bacon, sauges, and ham. What happened on Sunday was a misunderstanding when the waitress told you we didn't have any mushrooms she… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Mexican 340,999 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Fishwives

    Fishwives

    4.2
    (1.7k reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    Met up with a seafood loving friend here and we went fairly deep…read more PERUVIAN SCALLOPS in YUZU PONZU (6-pack): -- this cold bar gem served in the shell is one of their best items -- super fresh tasting and the yuzu puts it over the top with a cut piece of mandarin orange? RATING = A+ MAINE LOBSTER (served chilled, HALF): -- I ate the tail meat, and it was very good -- butter sauce for dipping -- my buddy ate the claws -- I prefer heated and it was small portions but figures for Maine lobster RATING = A- LOBSTER ROLL "Connecticut Style" (butter sauce) on Buttery Texan style Roll: -- the bread was next level, maybe the best ever -- my preferred style -- ample Maine lobster meat RATING = A+ LOBSTER ROLL "Maine Style" with Lemon Mayo on Buttery Texan style Roll: -- same utterly fantastic roll -- the lemon mayo is very good and is not over utilized which was greatly appreciated (excessive mayo is gross on these and other sandies) -- very tasty -- still not CT version good but legit and the waitress was right to convince us to try RATING = A- Very good service and a nice dining space.

    Fishwives really knows how to batter and fry their seafood, fries, and pickles! The Fried Pickles,…read morewhich came with a delicious salsa verde, were fried to perfection--golden and crispy! The True Cod Fish & Chips were also fried perfectly. The special of the day menu was the Miso Black Cod, which was a great appetizer! The black cod was delicate and so good! I also had the Portland Maine Lobster Roll, which satiated my lobster roll craving. The Shrimp Cocktail was plump and succulent! The restaurant is cute and quaint with an open-window area! It's a great spot for a girls' night out or a date night. I'd definitely be coming back when I'm in the Old Town Pasadena!

    Photos
    Dungeness Crab Roll
    Dungeness Crab Roll
    Lobster Roll
    Lobster Roll
    Fresh but under seasoned albacore, amberjack, salmon, ponzu vinaigrette

    See all

    Fresh but under seasoned albacore, amberjack, salmon, ponzu vinaigrette
    Bodegon No 69

    Bodegon No 69

    4.4
    (658 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    A beautiful restaurant with lively vibe!…read more Great wine selection for wine lovers, and a simple cocktail menu for the liquor fan. They gave me a mega pint for my gin tonic, which I am far from complaining. The staff is super kind, super attentive to make sure our beverages and table was clear. We ordered: Anticuchos - Heart Skewers with a side of roasted potatoes, peruvian corn and rocoto sauce. I am an organ meat fan so this hit the spot. Add a dash of the rocoto sauce as it brings the flavor to a new level Bistec Con Tllarin Verde: The rib eye steak was perfectly cooked medium rare, seasoned simply. They do provide sauces on the side to enjoy of course. It comes with a savory Creamy pesto Linguine to pair with the protein. To share with a group of 5, additionally a dish called Chancho Al Palo : Rotisserie Style Pork, with their crispy skin, sweet plantains and white rice. Comes with a lovely Salsa Criolla. Another well perfected pork, keeping its savory juice within. The Salsa Criolla tops it up to the finest pairing

    I had a wonderful experience at this restaurant over the weekend with my mother and sister. From…read morethe moment we walked in, everything was exceptional. The customer service was warm and welcoming, the restaurant was clean and well maintained, and the ambiance created the perfect dining experience. What made this visit especially memorable was how authentic the food tasted. I recently spent two amazing weeks in Peru, and this meal instantly took me back. I was able to enjoy two of my favorite Peruvian dishes, and they were absolutely delicious and full of authentic flavor. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great food and a wonderful atmosphere. It was truly an amazing experience, and I look forward to coming back. The only thing that could have made it even better would have been if they offered traditional picarones for dessert!

    Photos
    Alpaka greeters!
    Alpaka greeters!
    Seafood Ceviche (Marinated well super rich and not raw leading to melt in mouth seafood)
    Seafood Ceviche (Marinated well super rich and not raw leading to melt in mouth seafood)
    CHOCLO SERRANO

    See all

    CHOCLO SERRANO
    Lobster-Guys

    Lobster-Guys

    4.4
    (250 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    Stumbled upon a hidden lobster roll shack in Pasadena called Ry's Poke Shack, and wow -- what a…read morefind. The place was spotlessly clean, the staff were genuinely friendly, and right at the entrance you're greeted with Top Yelp awards, which immediately sets the expectation high (and they deliver). We ordered both the Classic lobster roll and the Connecticut-style. The bread was warm, crispy, and perfectly toasted, the lobster was fresh and generously portioned, and nothing felt overdone or skimpy -- just balanced and done right. The sides paired perfectly with the rolls and rounded out the meal nicely. The tatertots and fries were crispy and satisfying and well seasoned! Highly recommended!!

    I had visited their sister restaurant Lobster and Beer numerous times during my studies at UCLA and…read morewas happy to find out this place opened up. I ordered a Connecticut style crab roll. The food arrived within 10 minutes of ordering. The crab roll was packed full of crab meat inside the toasted bun. I love whatever sauce they put on top + the lemon which made the crab meat ridiculously refreshing. The side of salad helped me feel better about eating healthy too and was a nice textural break from the crab roll. Overall, the crab roll tastes relatively similar to what I had at Lobster and Beer. It was very satisfying and I can't wait to come back for the lobster roll. Until I find out they switched to a poke shop instead. What a loss.

    Photos
    Lobster-Guys
    Lobster-Guys
    Lobster-Guys

    See all

    The Arbour

    The Arbour

    4.3
    (981 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$$

    I returned to The Arbour in Pasadena for a Friday night dinner and had an even better experience…read morethan the last time. I got the sea bass and the the fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The sides including the polenta cake and the baby bok-choy hit all the marks in terms of flavor, texture and presentation. I realized they had changed their dessert menu since the last time I was here in February. To my pleasant surprise and relief, their new dessert options were really good too! We got 2 desserts and the chocolate mousse cake was to die for. My girfriends and I were fighting for it. The warm apple pie was good too. I got the margarita mocktail and it was incorrectly made the first time but then they fixed it and it was delicious. Service was good. The ambiance is always modern, intimate and not too noisy. I am glad my gfs chose to come here after I recommended and I had another great experience.

    The Arbour is a fantastic restaurant in Pasadena. I came with a reservation for a weekend dinner…read more The atmosphere inside is classy and almost romantic, the perfect place for a nice dinner. Although there's no dress code, most folks dressed in business casual or nicer. The food was delicious. Because it was shared family style, they split it across two plates, which kept the presentation nice and clean. The corn agnolotti is a must - the brown butter sauce, roasted corn, shallot, and ricotta cheese combination was perfection. The shrimp penne was also excellently executed. I also ordered the sea bass. The fish was good, but the sauce and vegetables lacked flavor depth. The drinks were also great. I got the berry mojito mocktail - it was one of the best mocktails I had. The service was above and beyond in all aspects. Think of the most ideal type of service at a restaurant - that's what I received. Overall, I had an incredible meal and dining experience at The Arbour. I'd come back for a special occasion and I recommend others to visit.

    Photos
    Cozy dining room.
    Cozy dining room.
    Birthday cake for my friend
    Birthday cake for my friend
    Filet mignon with gai LAN and potatoes (potatoes under the steak)

    See all

    Filet mignon with gai LAN and potatoes (potatoes under the steak)
    Boston Lobster

    Boston Lobster

    4.3
    (1.9k reviews)
    7.9 mi
    $$

    Came with family for father's day meal after I tried it with coworkers and enjoyed it. We came…read morearound 6:30pm on a weekday for dinner and they were pretty busy and parking lot was quite full, but luckily we didn't have to wait for a table and still found parking. They have a lot of tables inside so it is great for small and large groups. The waiters were also fast even though they were busy. We ordered their Kung Pao Chicken, Fried Tofu, Beef Noodle, Shrimp w Walnut, and Vegetable w Garlic. We decided not to get lobster since it was pricey. They took our order pretty fast and gave tea to drink. The pot of white rice is extra $1 if you order though. And their menu book doesn't have prices for some reason. Only the to-go menu has prices. Food was served in a decent amount of time, around 15 minutes. And all dishes arrived close together so we didn't have to wait long. The kung pao chicken is so good! Not spicy at all and very nice and crispy with good seasoning. It tasted delicious with some rice. The beef noodles were also delicious! It had good wok taste and was very flavorful. The tofu and shrimp were also good. None of the dishes were too salty and all were seasoned well and in pretty big portions, though I don't remember the exact price since they took the receipt away when we paid. But the meal was very worth and we had leftovers for lunch the next day. Such a yummy meal! I really enjoyed it! I am definitely coming back again!

    Boston Lobster is officially my go-to location for any|all Asian lobster cravings!! Newport…read morewho?????!!! My family and I used to religiously eat lobster noodles whenever we made a trip down to SoCal. The pick of the bunch was 100% Newport Seafood- no negotiations, no contemplations. Unfortunately, the last handful of times have left me extremely disappointed and heavily annoyed. The cost and wait times do not reflect what is actually being provided and most of our food ends up being left behind because it simply isn't worth the calories. In all honestly, I've grown a phobia w/ that specific restaurant at this point because of the countless letdowns. My initial taste of Boston Lobster was about 3 years ago and I had the most enjoyable meal. Due to our LA trip coming to an end, my BD thought we should do it big with some lobster noodles- for good old time's sake. I absolutely refused to go anywhere unless we would be giving Boston Lobster a visit! Sure enough, they did not disappoint! Dinner for 3 adults and 1 toddler consisted of: *Boston House Special Lobster [no spice] + Garlic Noodles for an additional fee. Medium Size 5-6lbs minimally. *French Style Beef Cube *Sauteed Snow Pea Leaves We ate like mf'n KINGS!! Each and every dish was spectacular- even the greens! While we should have gone with the small sized lobster, I'm proud to say we went down with an honorable fight. Lmao!! The lobster was cooked to perfection- meat was sweet, succulent, and so darn tender. The garlic noodles soaked up all of the delicious lobster flavors and were not overcooked and mush. The bo luc lac was flavorful, juicy, and complimented the bed of lettuce, onions, & tomatoes so well. The snow pea leaves weren't tough and old- this truly was a simply yet magical dish. Service was on point and the staff continually came by to swap out our plates full of lobster shells. Above all, there was no wait with our initial arrival. Parking is easy given the fact that BL has a pretty big parking lot specifically for them. 5/5 stars!! We dropped over 3 bills here and it didn't even hurt. Lmao- this place is that damn good! Don't sleep on this joint, y'all. Boston Lobster is the real deal when it comes to authentic Chinese/Vietnamese cuisine. This spot should be so much more hyped than it actually is!

    Photos
    Dining area with pretty cherry blossoms  tree painted on wall...
    Dining area with pretty cherry blossoms tree painted on wall...
    Clam with basil
    Clam with basil
    Stir-fried Clam with Thai basil

    See all

    Stir-fried Clam with Thai basil
    Newport Seafood Restaurant

    Newport Seafood Restaurant

    4.1
    (3.7k reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$

    Definitely a spot you come to on special occasions as it is pricey. We came with a reservation for…read more9 people, and they had everything ready for us when we arrived. We ended up getting a set for $168 this time, which came with 6 dishes. It's also $35 per lb for lobster, and I asked for the smallest one. Apparently, the smallest one was 4.8 lbs, which was another $168, so I'm not sure if they upsold me. Anyways, the food was fantastic and everyone enjoyed it. This is what I thought about the food we got. House Seafood Soup - Simple and clean soup. Good portion, and it was soothing to eat. Lots of squid. (4/5) Clams with Spicy Sauce - Large clams with tons of meat, and the sauce was fire. Always a good choice. (5/5) Crab with Salt & Pepper - Loved the seasoning, and the flavors were solid. (4.5/5) Thai Style Beef Stew - First time trying this, and it was good. A bit different, but the meat chunks were tasty and the overall flavors were good. (4/5) Sautéed Pea Sprouts - Nicely done vegetable dish. It's simple but refreshing with good flavors. (4/5) Fried Whole Fish - This dish was gone so fast because it was delicious. Nicely fried and not overly seasoned. (5/5) Signature Lobster - I feel like you have to get this here since it's their specialty. It's pricey, but in my opinion, it's the best and freshest lobster in town. Tons of green onions, seasoned well, fresh meat, and lots of lobster roe. (5/5) Service was good, and they didn't automatically add a mandatory tip for a large party. The total came out to around $364, which is pricey, but the food was phenomenal. Parking - Valet only, but they have street parking in front. I parked on the street since there were plenty of spots on a Wednesday, but I assume it gets busy on weekends.

    This is a good place if you want lobster plate! Their lobster plate comes with garlic noodles which…read moreis so tasty! I was actually not expecting it to be good but hey I was wrong! Other than lobster plate we ordered their walnut shrimp and salt and pepper pork. Everything is delicious. Service is fast too which makes dining easier.

    Photos
    Newport Seafood Restaurant
    Newport special crab on egg noodles
    Newport special crab on egg noodles
    House Newport Special Lobster

    See all

    House Newport Special Lobster

    El Caporal - mexican - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...