Carmelita's Kitchen - Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Nanette H.

Kelly and Christina did a terrific job as our servers. This was the first time we have been to Carmelita’s and will definitely be going back. We sat out on the patio and the patio cover helped keep it very pleasant. We had tacos and enchiladas. I also had the cilantro and cucumber margarita—excellent! I also highly recommend the street corn cut off the cob. Don’t miss Carmelita’s!

Nelle B.

This place offers an amazing lake view that truly enhances the dining experience. The service was excellent—attentive, friendly, and quick. While the food is a bit on the pricier side, the quality is good and the portions are satisfying. A nice bonus was the free chips they provided, which were a nice touch while we waited for our meals. Perfect for a special occasion or just enjoying a scenic meal by the water. Overall, a great experience!

Zeynep K.

Wow what an experience! From their strawberry jalapeño margarita to amazing chicken tostada, from the guacamole to shrimp ceviche. And also, Kaylee you made our experience even better, thank you for your service and positive attitude.

Niloofar

Carmelita’s Kitchen serves the most delicious steak fajitas I’ve had! The steak was tender and flavorful, paired with creamy guacamole, smooth sour cream, mashed pinto beans, and beautifully presented rice. With warm tortillas, every bite was perfection. Great food, great service — highly recommend!

Kathi K.

Delicious food and great service. We went here on a busy Saturday afternoon. We had a reservation and were seated outside on the patio overlooking the lake. All four of us ordered different dishes and each of us was super happy with our food: Quesadillas, Veggie Tacos, Carmelita's Combo and the Shrimp Tacos. The drinks - margaritas - are awesome.

The manager came 'round and introduced himself, which was a very nice touch and certainly welcome in a world full of other restaurants that don't seem to care. Our server was great, too! We'll be back again. Highly recommend.

Heidi Z.

Such a fun place to enjoy some Mexican food. You can’t beat the lake view location. The patio is really nice even on cold/rainy days as they have heaters and coverings to keep the wind and rain out. The service is great. The food is pretty good, I wouldn’t describe it as the best Mexican I’ve ever had but it’s solid. I like the shrimp and crab enchiladas. The rice could use some seasoning. The bean dip and salsa is really good. The Cadillac margarita is delicious, definitely recommend! Make a reservation if you’re going on a Friday or Saturday as it gets busy.

George U.

1/26/2025

Had a wonderful lunch today after our 3 mile walk at rancho santa margarita lake. Kelly was our amazing server and what a terrific person. Kelly was efficient, friendly and professional. We also saw the amazing Eric who is an amazing person as well. We started with drinks. My wife had Don Julio Blanco with Topo Chico and three limes muddled with mint and I had a few Cadillac margaritas. My wife offered the chicken quesadilla and I had the Pollo Serrano. Both dishes were great. We also witnessed ou4 neighboring table where their mom had her 91st birthday celebration. She was having a great time as we did also.
Good people, food, service and ambiance. Highly recommended.

8/2/1024
What a fantastic evening at Carmelita's in RSM. We sat at the bar for a fee drinks and put our name on the waiting list for an outside table. Neyali was our bartender and Don Ross gets the assist. My wife had Don Julio Blanco with Topo Chico (we brought our own) and three limes muddled with mint and I had the blackberry margarita. The drinks were splendid and Vanessa on of the managers made sure we had fresh chips, salsa and bean dip. The service is fantastic. The ambiance is always positive and uplifting. Our table was ready and we shifted from the bar to the outside high top table once again assisted by Vanessa. Josh came over and introduced himself and we ordered another round of drinks. John had a very positive and professional approach and his service was exemplary. Jose Basurto the GM also stopped by to say hello. I must also mention the winning smile and also top notch service by Belle who always made sure our chips, salsa, water etc. were sufficiently refreshed. Josh then took our main entree order with my wife ordering the chicken enchilada platter and I had the pollo serano. Both dishes were brought out by Mathew another amazing staff member and the plates were well prepared, presented and tasty. The evening was simply wonderful. Jose the GM sent us a fried ice cream and all I can say is WOW and thank you. I had a wonderful coffee and we enjoyed the dessert.
Highly recommended and the lake ambiance is the topping on the cake.
Good times.

7/20/2023
My wife and I had a fantastic dining experience this evening at Carmelitas in RSM. We sat at the bar and were greeted by our amazing bartender/server, Don Ross. We saw so many wonderful staff there, and after our first round of drinks and the shrimp tequitos, we chatted with our other famous barista, Nayeli, who made our second round of drinks. We ordered our entrees with my wife having the chicken enchiladas, and I ordered the Pollo Serrano. Both entrees were fantastic. We also had a visit from Jacob, the GM, who will be managing the Costa Mesa location when it opens in approximately 6 weeks. The ambiance is always positive, and the staff, food, and service top shelf.
Highly recommended
4/14/2023
It was a wonderful lunch at Carmelitas today. We were greeted by the hostess and Don Ross as we walked in and were seated at a lovely hightop in the outdoor patio, which is heated. Don Ross took our drink order, and then Angel, our server, brought us chips, salsa, and bean dip. We also ordered shrimp taquitos, which were amazing. Angel then took our entree order, and my wife had the Pollo Serrano, and I had the chicken quesadilla. Both were spectacular. Jacob, the manager, came by to greet us and chat and was truly a pleasure, great guy! Kudos to Don Ross, Angel, and Jacob for an amazing lunch and service. Highly recommended.
4/4/2023
We stopped in this evening for a meal at Carmelitas, and it was delightful. We saw Juan as we arrived, which was very nice as we have known him for many years. Myra took us outside, and we sat in the patio area overlooking the lake, which was very nice. Goldie was our server who took our order of drinks and an appetizer. Great drinks, food, and service.
Highly recommended.

hamid J.

I had a fantastic experience at Carmelit's . The service was attentive and friendly, and the ambiance was perfect. The food was exceptional, especially [mention a standout dish]. Everything from the presentation to the flavors was top-notch. Highly recommend for a memorable meal!