The Stand in San Juan Capistrano exceeded every expectation, the food was everything the pictures promised and more! From the freshness to the attention to detail, the textures, and how every dish balanced its flavors, this was a genuinely excellent meal. We came as a family and ordered a little bit of everything: * Big Blu Burger (husband/dad): The dressing paired perfectly with the arugula *They also split the chili dog and loved it! * Falafel Wrap (mom): Fresh, filling, and packed with flavor -- not soggy at all * Aji Salad (sister): Delicious with a huge portion * Kids Hot Dog & Fries (son): Great size and price for a kiddo * Chimichurri Steak Salad (me): So many layers of flavor and texture -- crunchy, spicy, and delicious Appetizers: Onion rings, fries, Meyer broccolini (my favorite -- came with an amazing dipping sauce), and green beans with an almost sweet-soy flavor that was so good. Dessert: Oreo shake and strawberry shake, both rich but not too heavy, just right. Everything was phenomenal, and the customer service matched the food. We were checked on multiple times without being bothered, and the space had plenty of seating both inside and out. The AC was a welcome relief from the heat, too. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit. Highly recommend! read more

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The food here is usually great, I'll give them that. But the customer service is absolutely terrible. I placed a DoorDash order and accidentally added an extra burger. An easy fix: just remove it before making it. It's happened to me a few times before with no problem. DoorDash even instructed them and myself to do exactly that. Instead, the restaurant refused. So they wasted the food, kept my money, and created a problem where there didn't need to be one. In the end, DoorDash refunded me and I got the extra food for free, but that was DoorDash making it right, not the restaurant. Good food only goes so far for a restaurant, but when the service is this bad the food doesn't make up for it. Get it together. read more

In town for the kids soccer tournament. Of course we had to try this place out! Outside eating under the covered patio. I was greeted by a young lady who welcomed us in and helped me navigate through there menu as a 1st time guest! She was very nice and patient! We ordered o rings & fries A cheeseburger And the bacon cheeseburger This place has great sauces to try out! Their sauce was so yummy! The burgers were juice, rings were so good batter wasn't crummy! Fries were really just ok but nothing to complain about. I love that they have lemonade and the cucumber drinks other than sodas! Only thing to note was, the employee that was mopping, didn't have and caution sins out and I almost ate it! Didn't reaped they mopped the area I was walking thru already, and watched another guest slip through as well. I'll def be back when in town. read more

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I finally came to this location after eyeing it for quite some time and it's very clean! The menu is easy to read but I couldn't really find anything that was gluten-free, cheese free, and not fried. I finally decided on the kale salad without cheese or red onions and I added some chicken breast. It was the healthiest thing on the entire menu. I used to bring my kids to the Encino location and I thought it was a lot better but maybe I wasn't eating as healthy then. read more

The Stand - American Classics Redefined - New American Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

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They have really wonderful sandwiches and bowls. I got the short rib grilled cheese today. It was killer! Lots of cheese and toppings that work together. The sweet potato fries were crispy but not my favorite as the shape was not my preference. Good ranch too. Sitting on their patio is great if you want to be outside. read more

The Stand - American Classics Redefined - Sweet potato fries, Short Rib Grilled Cheese - New American Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

It's always 5 stars when eating here! Had the steak salad and it was so good! I also ordered the red ginger green beans! Food and drinks are on point here! Love the cucumber drink and the strawberry. Service is super good and the restaurant has a good ambiance. The menu is large and everything on it sounds great, which makes it difficult to settle! I usually come with a big group and we always find a comfortable seat. read more

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Great little spot. The place is clean and the staff are friendly. I ordered the vegan falafel wrap. It was delicious. The falafel was crispy on the outside and softer in the center. The wrap was fresh and full of flavor. Loved the touch of mint and the tahini sauce. My husband ordered the stand burger and said it was great. He loved it. read more

The Stand - American Classics Redefined - Falafel wrap (vegan) - New American Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

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The establishment is great. The food was good . I had the stand burger. It serve medium , I don't if you can ask for other types. The fries are not the best , the hot sauce on the side was not hot (spicy) but it has a nice tangy type flavor almost like a Texas rub. The beer was not supper cold I had to add ice mid drinking. I gave four stars for two reasons when I order instead of charging me for regular fries the cashier charged the more expensive order. I did not complaint but it feels bad. Two , only one employee was smiling and that was the girl carrying out orders . The rest of the staff have long faces and make me feel unwelcome. I had every intention of having a couple of beers but I just had the one and leave . I think carry out or app ordering would be best , to prevent overcharging and take out to have a better time . Flavor wise it's a good spot read more

Had a solid meal hear during a visit to SJC - the Stand had plenty of options, and quick service with plenty of seating. We got a buffalo chicken sandwich, a southwest chicken wrap, and chili cheese fries. While I got the buffalo sandwich for myself, I actually liked the wrap a lot better - full of flavor and very filling. The sandwich was solid, but actually not really strong on the buffalo flavor while still being very messy with sauce(??). The chili cheese fries were solid. We got our food quickly, there's pickles to grab, and the bathrooms are clean. Good find for our trip! read more

I have been a fan of The Stand for years. I enjoy their salads and sandwiches, and especially their sweet potato fries. Today, I tried a new item - the Piri Piri Chicken Bowl. It had chicken, sweet corn, pickled onions (my favorite), tomatoes and arugula. It was tossed with a honey lime vinaigrette and topped with Piri Piri sauce. It was delicious! Every bite was full of interesting flavors. The chicken was tender and juicy and the Piri Piri sauce gave it a nice kick. I hope they keep it on the menu because I look forward to enjoying it again and again. The person at the counter was very friendly and helpful, as they always seem to be. read more

The Stand - American Classics Redefined - Waffle cut sweet potato fries. My favorite! - New American Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

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Consistently great food. They got their own spin on usual items and it's great. Just solid all around

Been back many times. Consistently delicious every time. Stopped by tonight for a quick dinner. Hubby had the turkey burger and I had the chicken sandwich on lettuce wraps. It took a very very long time for the foods to come out tonight and the restaurant wasn't even super busy. Turkey burger was good so was the chicken lettuce wraps, although the piece of chicken did shrink much compared to the previous times, it did taste good, as usual. read more

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For a pick up burger spot, The Stand is excellent. They offer an extensive menu with tons of options for food preferences and allergies. The food quality is high end and reliable. The atmosphere is a little bit bare bones, like a pizza parlor almost, but you're not sitting here to watch a game, you're grabbing burgers after the soccer match or less formal family dinner and enjoying some hamburger variety. I particularly like the variety of sides The Stand offers, including some delicious broccoli, which sounds crazy at a hamburger joint but is totally worth it. I also love that although they have special specialty burgers, you can build your own burger with with tons of topping options. Even in fast food or faster food like this is, a burger can get really expensive! My recent burger was a turkey burger with blue cheese on a gluten-free bun with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and a couple of sauces. And it came to $15 tax and tip. Overall, this is a spot that we take a surf team celiac as well as a 75 year-old bun, meat, and cheese guy and everyone leaves happy! read more

We were planning to go tour the mission but needed lunch first. Looking for dog friendly places, The Stand came up. It's located in a shopping center with ample parking which is nice! They have a large outdoor patio. You order at the counter, receive a number, and they bring it out to you. It took me a while to navigate the menu which has lots to choose from. They also serve beer and wine in addition to soft drinks. I was going to order a burger, but I saw the short rib grilled cheese and I had to have it! The toasted bread was sooooo good! The crisp onion strips and cheese tied it all together! Dipped it in bbq sauce and ranch dressing.....sooooooo good! I also ordered nice crispy onion rings. Daveed had the Stand burger with cheddar and bacon, and was really impressed with how juicy it was. The fries were crispy too! They have a serve yourself soft drink area which is nice. The staff is really friendly! Now, I'm all for adding gratuity to the bill but that doesn't mean I should be bussing my own table since that's part of the service I'm tipping for. They should consider having someone checking in on the tables and taking away some of the trays. Unless we were suppose to leave it...oh well! Cako Approves! read more

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I don't go out often, so when I do, I really appreciate when the food is good, especially in this economy with everything being way more expensive than it really should be. I ordered an ABC burger and red ginger green beans to go. I live less than 2 miles from The Stand, and when I got home, the top bun of the burger was cold, as well as the meat itself. I ordered medium rare and while the burger tasted ok, it was not very juicy and again, it was not even warm. I found that a little bit frustrating considering how expensive it was. The beans were absolutely delicious and if I ever go back to this place, I will be re-ordering those. I guess I'll have to eat in to get hot food next time. read more

Food is ok but the place needs to be cleaned. Every single table was unbussed and dirty. No napkins out either.

Plenty of parking. Good for groups. First-time visitors. Timing was perfect; it was not too busy. Joe and Jess were behind the counter and were of great help. Both were extremely friendly individuals. Now to the important stuff: the food. The menu had something for everyone. You can create your own as well as choose from many pre-assembled burgers. Must try spot read more

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Ambiance was clean and simple. Lots of seating inside and outside. Service was quick and helpful. Food was delicious! Strand burger 10/10, falafel wrap 9/10, French fries 9/10 and fire fries 10/10. We also got the Thai tea Shake 11/10. Pickles were crispy and delicious. Made in house and free. read more

The Stand - American Classics Redefined - Burger, Falafel Wrap (Vegan), fries, fire fries Thai Iced Tea Shake - New American Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

Food and service have always been good every time we were here. They have plenty of outdoor sitting if you prefer fresh air. The workers always brought the things i asked, One time they even brought and cleaned a high chair for baby without me asking. The short rib grilled cheese here is a must have. The menu has a large variety of food options, all reasonably priced. read more

Cool spot serving up some tasty dishes. Service was moderately friendly Milkshakes were definitely on point though. Overall good but nothing overly great. read more

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Burger was great. The menu was overwhelming but the cashier talked me through just a basic cheeseburger. Excellent fries with a home style ranch read more

I've driven by this place many times and haven't came in until now! I definitely recommend giving this place a try. They have a wide selection to choose from. There are sandwiches, burgers, salads, handmade milkshakes and other goodies. For the fountain drinks there is your typical sodas and other agua fresas type drinks. Everything that we got tasted fresh and delicious. They do get busy, but that doesn't stop them from giving us good customer service. The place is clean and well kept. It looks trendy. It is a casual fast food restaurant so you're responsible for your own trash. It is nice they do have separate bins for compost, recycle, and trash! I'll be coming back. read more

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Food was delicious messy but good. Service was good but slow to get out my online order out to me. Ambiance was nice clean and felt tv's playing the basketball game. read more

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I've been here a bunch of times and I always take my food to go--mostly because I order the same thing every single time. Their chicken club is my go-to, but I swap the sweet chili aioli for the Meyer lemon aioli and it's so good. I don't even try anything else because I know I'll be happy with that. My boyfriend is obsessed with their chili cheese fries and gets them every time. I tried the sweet potato fries once and they just weren't my favorite. They're waffle cut (which is fun), but sweet potatoes are softer than regular fries so they don't really hold their shape and end up kinda floppy. I also really love that you can see the whole kitchen--it feels super open and clean. The kitchen staff always says hi when you walk in, which is such a nice touch. Everyone here is really friendly and welcoming. Just a solid spot with good food and good vibes that I keep coming back to. read more

OMG!! So yummy!! we got the ABC burger and the onion stack burger so flavorful and delicious. Nice and meaty. You can really taste the charbroiled flavor. We also got onion rings and french fries and they were crispy fresh and perfect. We will be back. read more

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Highly recommend The Stand! High quality, delicious food and *exceptional service* each and every time*. I was inspired to write a Yelp Review today because we met Tess who must exceed every customer service standard that ever existed. The Stand should know that Tess represents your restaurant in every wonderful way possible. read more

My first visits to the Long Beach and Tustin locations were such duds that I had come to the conclusion that if you're not a regular at any of The Stand locations, you're not going to get the same treatment as regulars. Luckily, it felt better here that for the first time, I'm willing to give 4 stars, which implies areas for improvement, but I'm satisfied to see progress being made in the right direction. On Tuesdays in November, The Stand had a Twosday special where all rewards members can get 2x points on their orders. During the latter half of the month, they also had a BOGO 50% off entree offer for their members that were applicable to all locations, but can only be redeemed once overall^. Given these recent promos, I was expecting the San Juan Capistrano location to be packed, with basketball fans munching on some evening bites while watching a couple of games on the three TVs in the restaurant. However, it was nearly empty that it took just a minute or two for Miles to ring me up. Miles was at least one of bored, disinterested, or tired. There was an hour left before closing time, and I was starting to feel the same vibes as a first time customer of the other locations. He even needed help from a female co-worker when I asked him if a Kale Quinoa Crunch Salad sans protein would still count as an entree for that BOGO 50% off offer I showed him on my phone. I didn't get her name, but I'm more certain of better vibes if she were the cashier instead. Anyways, after confirming said salad would still count as an entree, I went for it, but also asked for some burger toppings like onions, tomatoes, and jalapenos. I know that salad comes with a honey lime vinaigrette, but I also asked for some sweet chili aioli on the side to go with the salad. I mentioned in my review update of the Long Beach location that I'm super OCD about BOGO offers that the entrees have to be the same price. I made an exception here for the 50% off. The price of the Kale Quinoa Crunch Salad recently increased from $10.25 to $10.50, and knowing that subtotals ending in at least a half dollar round up, I wanted the second entree to be $10 since I'd still be earning the same number of points. Other than hot dogs, which I've been avoiding lately, the only other entrees less than $10 are BYO burgers and chicken sandwiches. With Thanksgiving coming up, I chose the BYO Burger with Turkey Patty and asked for burger toppings as well. After asking Miles about Hickory Sauce (mix of barbecue and ketchup) and Stand Burger Sauce (Thousand Island), I chose the former to be on the burger, but also jalapeno scallion aioli on the side. After paying, I asked Miles how long the wait would be. He estimated 10 to 12 minutes, but my actual wait was 15 minutes. Not too bad; from prior experience, I was honestly expecting at least 20. The employee who handed me my order was more jovial in that he asked me how I liked my food and also wished me a good evening. Other than that, I simply enjoyed my dinner at the far corner watching some hoops and listening to some of my favorite tunes. This Turkey burger was the best one I've had so far at The Stand, though I wish the patty itself was more succulent and juicy. I thought they could have added a little more hickory sauce in the burger, or at least more evenly distributed so there'd be more sauce in the front. Otherwise, I liked it, especially after adding some of the jalapeno scallion aioli, which was pretty thick and hard to pour from the cup. The Kale Quinoa Crunch Salad, on the other hand, was way bigger than my eyes! It also included a fork and a knife. A knife for a meatless salad? lol but it was helpful in pouring the aiolis out of their cups, though a knife more useful for steaks is kind of overkill here lol. But I definitely enjoyed it! All the honey lime vinaigrette had dropped to the bottom of the bowl, unfortunately, so the sweet chili aioli came in handy here, though ranch or even the burger sauce would have been a better choice here. And did I mention the size? I'm fairly certain I got a little more in my bowl than I would have had I ordered to go. There wasn't a "Don't fuss, we'll bus!" sign at the table I sat at, and since I was just a few steps away from the bussing station, I just did the work myself. None of the employees recognized me for doing their job; they were more focused on cleaning before closing. As a matter of fact, I was one of *very* few customers inside during my visit, and I definitely felt I could have been more valued as a patron keeping them busy on this Tuesday evening. Overall, it was a good visit that I can understand the 4.7 overall rating, but some aspects of the restaurant could use some tweaks here and there. ^ The Stand app may have a glitch where the offer will remain even after you use it, leading you to believe it can be redeemed a second time. If that's the case, and you do try this, the QR Code scanner will say it was already redeemed. read more

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This place is SO good! My friends and I stopped in yesterday, 6/16 after a beach day! We ordered 2 burgers and a salad! The burger with the fries and a drink came out to about $23 a person. I would definitely recommend stopping here. They have indoor and outdoor seating and it's nice inside and the staff are friendly. I will definitely be back when I'm in the area. read more

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What a great new restaurant we have. The service is phenomenal and everybody is friendly and super helpful. The menu is simple easy to read and the food is fresh. Great beer choices and you get $1 off if you sign up with the stand- And don't forget the milkshakes- they have seasonal ones too!! read more

First time eating at The Stand. Menu offers lots of different options which I liked. Tried out the buffalo chicken sandwich and got a side of fries for free for signing up for the app. Paid $12.39 for the sandwich since the fries were comped. I was happily surprised to see that I had lots of chicken in my sandwich. A plus that the chicken was moist, not dry at all! The toppings were proportional to the chicken making it the perfect bite every time. I will definitely come back again to try something new! I wasn't told about the large menu of different sauces they offer so I feel like I missed out on that :( read more

Excellent Kale & Quinoa salad. Great for lunch. Something for everyone. Friendly service.

Holy crap it is so good! We get pick up or delivery but it also has a great sitting area inside! We love the crunchy big thick onion rings, short rib grilled cheese and don't get me started on the french onion soup burger! The dipping sauce for that burger is unbelievable and I even dip the grilled cheese in it! Pickles they make there and have tons of condiments and add ons to choose from!!! I also suggest the southwest wrap! The mac n cheese is a bit bland along with the slaw but it is still 5 star because everything is always fresh ingredients and quality made! Not everyone's pallets are the same! If you haven't tried it RUN to this place! You can thank me later read more

I used to frequent the Irvine location when I worked in nearby. It's a good place to grab a burger and I enjoyed their salads. So when we moved to South County, it was very nice to see something familiar in a plaza we often frequent. The price can be a bit of a sticker shock at first, but the quality and portion is reasonable for its price. Husband ordered the Ultimate Egg. It's a beef patty, American cheese, fried egg, bacon, pickled red onion and sweet chili aioli on a gourmet brioche bun. The default is with a runny egg yolk, but hubs isn't a fan of that texture so we went with over well. For me, I chose to eat the Steak Chimichurri salad - marinated grilled steak, kale & spring mix, green apple, mint, sliced cucumber, corn salsa, cherry tomatoes, crispy quinoa, chimichurri, and charred corn vinaigrette. It was so much food, I had to pack some leftovers. Great experience. They also had packed some complimentary house pickles at the front to snack on while you wait for your food. Service was really awesome too - so attentive with sauces and bussing tables. read more

The Stand - American Classics Redefined - Ultimate Egg Burger - New American Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

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Fun spot and great burgers! We have gone to the stand a few times and every time it's been great. Burgers, good beer and a kids menu. They can get busy but we haven't had an issue getting a table. The staff is always super nice and friendly. We will keep coming back! read more

Delicious burgers. Busy location and long wait but worth it! For quality does not seem overpriced. Tasty enough we recommended to local family. read more

Dining at The Stand in San Juan Capistrano feels like Brian Johnson belting out "You Shook Me All Night Long" for the first time with AC/DC--raw, vibrant, and unforgettable. You know, the story where he picked up his journal, having never written lyrics before, and just let it rip? That's exactly the kind of electric energy this place brings. On a breezy Friday afternoon, with downtown San Juan Capistrano bustling around me, I found myself humming along: "She was a fast machine, She kept her motor clean, She was the best damn woman I had ever seen..." Every bite matched that anthem. The BBQ Brisket on a Pretzel Roll was tender and smokey, a rockstar in sandwich form--every bit as memorable as the iconic opening riffs of "Back In Black." And those Stand Fries, crispy and perfectly golden, accompanied by dips of lemon aioli and ranch, kept the hits coming. If you're craving food with attitude and atmosphere that echoes a timeless rock classic, The Stand is your place. Five stars--this experience isn't just advised; it's essential. read more

The Stand - American Classics Redefined - New American Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

Absolutely unacceptable experience. Our entire order was inedible. The burgers were stale and tasted like they'd been sitting out for hours. Several items were completely wrong, missing items (that we paid extra for) and to make things worse, there was hair in multiple food items. Some food came burnt, others were ice cold while others were both. The lack of cleanliness and care in food preparation is alarming. This isn't just bad service -- it's a health concern. The health department truly needs to inspect this location because it's clear that food safety and hygiene standards are not being followed. We ended up having to find another place for our children to eat, as they were starving and the food here was not safe or edible. We spent good money on a meal we couldn't even touch. Easily one of the worst dining experiences we've ever had, and we won't be returning. read more

Came in for lunch, got my food to go and it was great, but the real highlight was the unexpected live show while I waited. Another customer with what looked like a full orchestra of a meal lost their mind over someone getting a drink and a small item before her and turned it into a full speech on fairness to the staff member . Staff handled it like pros and somehow calmed things down. Food was solid, entertainment was elite, would definitely come back...that's OC. read more

I ordered LARGE chili, regular fries, and a regular soft drink and ended up paying over $15. After paying I wasn't too upset or displeased considering I ordered a large chili, fries and a drink which is a quite bit of food (I believed). A employee brought over my food and I was a bit confused. The large chili was not large at all, quite small actually. The fries were a little warm and not fresh tasting. I was pretty dissatisfied. The employees were ok and the ambiance was pretty cool but when I spend 15$ on chili, fries and a drink I would hope to expect more chili and better fries. It still confuses me why a small cup of chili is considered the large size and is over $8. read more

The Stand - American Classics Redefined - New American Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California

I need everyone who has seen my last reviews here to see another one. They came out with the Teryaki chicken bowl and braised beef. Pictured I have the braised beef. It was solid. I also had the Teryaki bowl recently and THEY COOKED UP SOME ABSOLUTE GAS. The Teryaki bowl is the #2 ordered product on the menu current and I'm not surprised. South OC has been missing a place that had a decently healthy bowl option that like. I'm ready to see The Stand takeover! Cheers! read more

The Stand - American Classics Redefined - Chipotle Braised Beef Bowl - New American Near Me - San Juan Capistrano, California