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South O.C. Mexican eatery opens second taco joint
July 8th, 2009, 2:06 pm · 23 Comments · posted by Staff Writer, the Orange County Register
Olamendi’s Mexican Restaurant in Capistrano Beach recently opened a second, more casual taco joint in Dana Point.
Son of owner Jorge Olamendi Sr., Jorge Olamendi Jr., said the new restaurant — dubbed Pop’s Tacos and Sandwiches– is a “traditional hole-in-the-wall where the locals can come to and enjoy.”
Opening a second seaside restaurant marks a “dream come true” for Olamendi, whose father founded the original Capo Beach Mexican restaurant.
So how is the new eatery different from the one in Capistrano Beach?
Most of the same traditional Mexican family recipes apply here, but some tweaks have been made.
First, Pop’s Tacos is noted specifically for its Pop’s fish Tacos (as implied by the name) and its beachy atmosphere for its location next to Doheny Beach. Also, this eatery allows take-out service — blending casual dining and fast food. This makes Pop’s a bit more of a people-friendly hangout, Olamendi said.
Prices range from $2.75 for tacos to $5 for American-style sandwiches.
Location: 34320 Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite F Dana Point, Ca 92609
Read more about Pop’s at OCMex blog.
(By Miki Fujiwara/Staff writer-intern)
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The new Olamendi’s in Foothill Ranch is awful! No ambiance, no music, food was terrible and the price was waay too high. Freca’s was definately the better eatery. I will not return to Olamendi’s.
juicygurl, this entry is not about the Olamendi’s in Foothill Ranch, which I believe is run by different people.
Aren’t they all owned by the same family?
Well, I’m pretty sure that different branches of the same family run different restaurants. I don’t know all the ins and outs of it but I believe the original one is the one in Capo Beach and that the people that run that one also run this new one and the one that is about to open in Monarch Beach. I don’t think that group of people has any control over any other Olamendi’s.
There’s also an Olamendi’s in Laguna Beach — I thought it was owned by the same folks as the one in Capo Beach too. Fast Food Maven — what’s the skinny?
To add a little more detail I think a divorce in the family a while back gave some of the restaurants to one part of the family and the remainder to another. I don’t know all the details. I just know it struck me as funny to see somebody say, “I will never go to the Olamendi’s at Doheny Beach because I didn’t like the one in Foothill Ranch!!” because I have a pretty good idea they’re run by different people.
The original location in Capo Beach is overpriced, and margaritas have little tequila. Food is average. Lunch there cost me approx. $25 (including tip), for an average burrito and below average margarita!
Olamendi’s in Capo Beach has the best Menudo. But I got disappointed when they stopped serving their freshly made jamaica drink and started serving it in a bottle instead, which tastes not so good.
The Capo beach location used to be a great place to eat 20 years ago. The quality of food has gone to S and in a hand bag. We make it a point of going there every few years just to see if things have improved. The last time I was there with the family was about two years ago and the food was S, along with the service, not to mention way overpriced for Mexican food. I’d rather go to El Ranchito, at least there I know what I am getting.
Christian, I’ve been to more than just the Foothill Ranch Olamendis (RSM, Mission Viejo, and others) and as far as I know they are all family run businesses. My experience has been that they’re all pretty bad (high priced, low-average food). They used to be good like 10 years ago, but their recipes changed and their customer service/restaurant operations are lacking. I much prefer El Ranchito or Fresca’s.
The only true Olamendi’s is the one in Capo Beach. Other members of the family own various restaurants, there used to be one on Pico in San Clemente as well, it closed down a few years ago. I have never visited the Laguna Beach location…no reason to, the Capo Beach location, the original, has been a family favorite since the 70’s. We go once or twice a month, but try to avoid the crowds on Friday evenings. They have the best chicken soft tacos, even their chips and salsa are amazing. I can’t believe people think that El Ranchito is mexican food, I’d rather eat Taco Bell.
juicygurl, my point is that they are run by different people, not that some are family-run businesses and some aren’t. The locations you mentioned are run by different people than the location this particular blog entry is about.
wifeylovesfood, as stated earlier, the people who run the Capo Beach location also run the new Dana Point/Doheny Beach location and the Monarch Beach location that will open I think in a few weeks. I believe those are the only three locations that branch of the family run.
“I can’t believe people think that El Ranchito is mexican food”
So, it’s Chinese food? Let the snobbery wars begin again, where somebody has to say, “I can’t believe people think that (fill-in-the-blank) is Mexican food.” This happens in every thread where Mexican food is even briefly mentioned.
‘I can’t believe’ comment wasn’t meant to sound snobbish, just my opinion. Olamendi’s is good authentic mexican food, and obviously El Ranchito is in the ‘category’ of mexican food but it is so Americanized and bland. Last time I went to El Ranchito my uncle ordered a Verde Burrito, it came out smothered in red sauce, he then tried to explain to the waiter that Verde meant green, and that he wanted green sauce. The burrito then came out dry but with melted cheese. Again he explained the verde sauce and the waiter brought a bottle of green Tapatio sauce….? Just amazing.
Sounds like Christian works for Olamendis’
Maybe he gets kick backs or free food….
that was a joke, by the way, if any one gets “offended”.
“Sounds like Christian works for Olamendi’s”
LOL; I’m just a food blogger who writes about Mexican food and happens to know a little about the subject I write on. To re-emphasize, it struck me as funny to see somebody say, “I will never go to the Olamendi’s at Doheny Beach because I didn’t like the one in Foothill Ranch!!” because I have a pretty good idea they’re run by different people. Even though I know that much I still don’t know all the ins and outs of the whole Olamendi scene.
“‘I can’t believe’ comment wasn’t meant to sound snobbish, just my opinion”
I understand. It’s just that everyone has wildly different opinions on what is authentic and what isn’t. If you think a place isn’t as authentic as another it’s probably better to say it’s less authentic rather than saying it’s entirely un-Mexican (that’s why I asked, “So, it’s Chinese?” Them bringing you Tapatio sauce doesn’t somehow make them not Mexican; on another note, some people think the presence of Tapatio sauce is an indicator of authenticity, because, “hey, it’s not those little sauce packets from Taco Bell”).
I’m about to put together an authenticity meter for my blog to rate the authenticity of each restaurant. I have found that in Orange County no place is entirely inauthentic or 100% authentic.
just to clarify…never stated I would not return to Olamendi’s in Doheny Beach b/c of Foothill Ranch…just said wouldn’t return to Olamendi’s period based on my experiences as several of their locations (family run, independantly run or whatever) - just my opinion - you can go all you want.
Hey….after a few margaritas…El Ranchito, Fresca’s, Olamendi’s, Del Taco at 2am…who cares anymore. Chips, Salsa & Tequlia are all that matter at that point.
Can’t we all just get along.
Hi guys, this is Miki the intern writer and thanks for reading !
About the whole commotion on who runs these restaurants, Christian is right.
I talked to Jorge Olamendi Jr. and he said that only the Olamendi’s in Dana Point and Capo Beach (and the one to open in Monarch Beach) are linked. The other ones in Foothill and Laguna Beach are run by other family members.
I’m not too sure about the exact details because he had to leave but It’s something like this…sorry for all the confusion!
Sounds like “the family” needs to have a reunion and get on the same page so they don’t tarnish the brand all locations based on bad operations at a few.
Thanks, Miki.
“just said wouldn’t return to Olamendi’s period based on my experiences at several of their locations”
That’s fine. You can choose not to go to a location that isn’t run by the people who ruined your experiences at other locations. It defies logic but you can still do it. I don’t go to any of them that much because they’re all kind of far away from me. So far, I’ve been to two of their locations once each, and that’s it.
“Maybe he gets kick backs or free food….”
I can take that as a joke. All I’m doing is sticking up for logic here. You can read through my posts here and I never said anywhere, “You should go to one particular Olamendi’s because they’re all run by different people.” Just trying to get the info out that one location does not represent all their locations. Even three or four of their locations don’t represent every one of them. Seems like people would like it better if clarifying information wasn’t offered. You can choose not to go to a particular location for any number of reasons (such as distance) but choosing not to go to a particular one for an illogical reason is . . . well, illogical. Seems like there was another entry here where all I was trying to do was give out correct information about a place and people misunderstood it as me trying to herd them there.
Anyways, thanks for the discussion. I think I’ve given out all the pertinent info I can here.
The food in the new Olamendi’s is fantastic. Yep, I have been there enough times to know the whole story myself. Olamendi’s made their reputation of great food with the original Olamendi’s and the new one in Foothill is being operated and run by one of the very originals. I found the food to be impressive. The size of the chucks of meat in my tacos were huge and moist.
If you ask me, it sounds like juicygurl works for the other members of the divorce team. Something very suspicious about going out of one’s way to steer them from this new little gem in Foothill Ranch calif. Nope I am not an employee of Olamendi’s, just hate to see a great restaurant get a bad rep. with someone who might have a hidden agenda.