Our Customers

People talk about us:

1. B J.

Great food great drinks. But the management has changed over the years, and the older management was better. Better in terms of drink, quality and consistency. Prices have gone up in the meantime, which is normal based upon the economy, although I think they have raised the prices more than the average restaurant, however, they are not delivering a better product. Still a good place to go in Laguna. But based upon the price and overall experience, they are other places just as good.

2. Melonie T.

Loved starting off with the salsa and bean dip! Ordered the Pineapple Jalapeño and it was 'chefs kiss'. Went at 2:00 on a Saturday so it wasn't too busy. Great service

3. Tony N.

OMG, THE STAFF WAS AMAZING. especially our waitress named Gracie. the food was bomb and stuff, the outdoor dining decor is pretty awesome, but I'd go to carmelita's just for her fr. Impeccable service: fast, considerate, funny. In fact ima come back just for her! Consider me a loyal customer now!

4. Armida Manriquez ..

The food, service and ambiance perfect and delicious! From the appetizers (chips, salsa and guacamole) to the dessert. The chips were light and so flavor-able. My husband had the shrimp & crab enchiladas and I had the red snapper. Everything taste amazing! We also had the churro w/ ice cream dessert which was also delicious I had a spicy jalapeño margarita that was perfect We will definitely be returning to try other dishes on the menu and enjoy the beach weather outdoors.

5. Doug B.

Keep eating because it's too damn loud to talk or think That's OK though The chow? It's the schvizzle

6. Matt H.

Had a lovely late evening snack on the patio with the extended fam (the girls and 2 dogs...) So yes, the patio is pet friendly (there were at least 3 other groups with pooches). We just had apps, but all were good. The guac was a very large portion, the street corn was tasty, and the girls liked the ribs (as did the pups like the extra meat). I like that the chips & salsa also come with a bt of beans, something that I see occasionally, but I think it is a nice touch. Drinks were fine, perfectly good margaritas. We'll likely be back, especially since it is open late-ish.

7. Yvette S.

After our ride down PCH, my husband and I stopped at the Downtown Village in Laguna Beach to walk around, and we stumbled across Carmelita's. We requested outdoor seating because the day was gorgeous and it's across the street from the beach area. There was no wait on Saturday afternoon, and we were seated right away by the lovely host. Complimentary chips, salsa, and black beans were brought to our table. We opted to order guacamole and a couple of drinks. The guacamole serving is huge and easily shareable among four people. We were so hungry; we impulse ordered and did not expect the serving to be as big as it was. I ordered a blackberry margarita, which packed a punch - if you enjoy a strong drink, this one's for you. My husband's spicy mango margarita was more balanced. He did not scrunch his face after the first sip like me. While the food was delicious, I recommend sharing as the portions are quite generous. I ordered the crispy chimichanga with chicken, and they offered me a choice of shredded or whole pieces of chicken. I went with shredded, and it was quite tasty. Halfway through, I was already stuffed. It's served over rice and topped with sour cream, queso fresco, pico de gallo, and guac. My husband had the short rib enchiladas, which come with two enchiladas and a serving of beans and rice. It's worth noting that the beans and rice are excellent. I've been to many Mexican restaurants where the food is great but falls short with the sides. Here, the rice is buttery, and the black beans have great flavor. Next time we're in Laguna, Carmelita's is a must-visit. It's an ideal spot to enjoy a couple of drinks and share starters or main plates with some friends. If the weather is nice, I recommend sitting outside, but the interior ambiance is equally inviting.

8. Ching L.

Came here for brunch after a hike and the complimentary chips, salsa, and bean dip was the perfect appetizer to help our ravenous appetites! Chips were warm and crispy. The bean dip was so tasty! And they were generous with refills too! I almost got full scarfing down the chips and dip alone. Friend and I split the huevos rancheros and chilaquiles (with egg). In hindsight, the chilaquiles was not a smart move because I already had so many chips and dip already. But they were pretty good, I just couldn't have that many chips. Only had a little bit of the huevos rancheros because it looked like there was some ground meat in there. I thought huevos rancheros is normally vegetarian but I guess I was wrong here. I also didn't tell the server I was vegetarian so maybe my bad. Service was super friendly. Not hard to find metered parking nearby. Patio is dog friendly.

9. Martha N.

Made a reservation before arriving. Jose was our server and he was welcoming and spent a great deal of time helping us decide what to eat. He really went above and beyond and we truly enjoyed his company. The appetizers we got were the shrimp taquitos and the stuffed jalapeño with crab and bacon. A bit spicy, so if you like spicy this one is for you. The shrimp taquitos were tasty. There were several items on the menu I would love to try, like the crab and shrimp enchiladas. We will be back!