L'Hirondelle Restaurant

Had a lovely lunch on their patio with a friend last week. This small gem was the perfect spot! The staff was attentive and friendly, the patio was so pretty & intimate, the parking was ample, and the food was OUT of this WORLD delicious (and photogenic). Hands down, one of my new favorite spots!

It is so great to see this lovely restaurant going strong after all these years. We live in San Diego but drove all the way up for dinner. It means a lot to us because my husband Ashish and I first met here over dinner in 2005! Menu leans heavily to meat dishes but they prepare some very nice vegetarian plates (including a delicate pasta) upon request.

Dog friendly, excellent French / Belgium brunch with free flowing champagne $20/pp Beef sandwich was amazing with French bread that was the perfect consistency A+ Salmon sandwich incredible mix of flavors (brea cheese, dill and tarragon) A+ Mushrooms with crab and Swiss cheese A+

Beautiful patio dining and excellent food! My favorite is the Beef Bourguignon, but everything else it fantastic! Family owed and made with love!

+1

Had a wonderful experience at L'Hirondelle tonight. The outdoor seating was so nice and inviting. The owner and his staff were not only very friendly, but attentive and relational. I had the Filet Mignon and it was the absolute perfect medium rare, melted in my mouth. We were celebrating my father's birthday and he wasn't thrilled with his entrée, so the owner for him a different entrée without any hassel and he was happy to do it. The second entrée hit the spot for my Dad. They even brought my dad a free birthday dessert, the berry sorbet with candles. I also brought my 2yr old son, who they were extremely accommodating for. Had a wonderful experience with delicious food. Highly recommend L'Hirondelle for a wonderful atmosphere, food and service.

Last year, our family celebrated my wife’s surprise birthday party, so we made reservations for a party of 30. The owner that we’ve known for over 20 years decided to close the restaurant for us and give us his full attention for the special occasion. We had the most incredible experience! We had a full course meal directly ordered from the menu for everyone and bottles of their great Bordeaux wine. As always, the service was impeccable, the food was incredible, and the ambience was cozy and inviting. You couldn’t ask for anything better. Thank you Ali and Lisa as always, you made as feel right at home! Thank you for making this special day so wonderful for ALL of us. We left with cherished new memories.🥂

First time to visit. Restaurant is small.and very cozy. Great feel to it. Service was excellent. The food was amazing. House salad had their special creamy vinaigrette.. wow! Delicious. Dinner and desserts were also delicious. Really good portions too. Highly recommend and I will go back again. I would say it's a nice hidden gem in south Orange County.

Great place to dine, nice food (tarragon chicken is top notch) , and very attentive and responsive staff. Whenever I'll be driving back from San Diego, or just happen to be in the area, I'll certainly grab a seat and a plate here.

We got a great table next to the fountain at the terrace, we didn’t have a great expectations since we just picked the place for the setting but we were pleasantly surprised by some of the best informal French food we’ve had in the United States. The attention to detail in the ingredients used on their dishes is evident. The food seems to have been hand picked for ripeness and beauty. Everything was served to perfection. Attention to detail makes this one of the best restaurants we’ve been in a long, long time. It feels like having lunch in the Mediterranean. Service was great by the owner, we could have stayed there all afternoon enjoying the place. So far, the best reason to return to San Juan Capistrano.

What's not to love about a restaurant where you feel like you're in someone's home? Great wine, incredible filet.mignon, best French onion soup ever! I've been going here for years, never disappoints. Great service.

We drove 130 miles round trip to celebrate our anniversary. Our evening exceeded our expectations. The escargot was delicious, the hot bacon spinach salad was perfect and our roasted duck, with the orange sauce was excellent. So many other items on the menu that we couldn't experience will necessitate a return trip, or trips. Many fond memories of fine dining were revived. Valerie and Travis Montgomery

I was really hungry when we got here. Served us bread which was warm and fresh. So good that we all consumed 1 basket per person (about 4 slices per basket). Their calamari steak is excellent! It is not available every time...just ask your host if you can order and they'll check with the kitchen.

I went to L'Hirondelle with my mom on a Wednesday night recently, and we really enjoyed our experience! Classic, restaurant's restaurant: lovely ambiance, great service, and beautiful food. It gives "Mastering the Art of French Cooking", and my mom even got the beef bourguignon. My dish was superior, however -- I got the scallops, and they were ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. Of course, it helped that the drink pours were generous...

Been a favorite for 30+ years. Pepper Steak is amazing, Duck in a cherry sauce is to die for! Save room for Cherries Jubilee 🍒!

Love this little spot. Started with a cheese platter and pare with a appetizer of frog legs. I didn’t touch the frog legs but my partner said they were delicious. Cheese platter was good enough. We ordered the duck breast with cherry sauce and rack of lamb. Both delicious but both over cooked. Ordered medium and got well done. I would suggest making sure it’s cooked correctly. Really cute setting, great service, free French bread and butter.

L'Hirondelle Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano is a small but excellent French eatery across from the mission. My wife and I had the Boeff Bourguignon, which was tender, juicy, and excellent tasting. The atmosphere is casual, but the vibe is gourmet fine dining. We will return here often.

To die for!!! As a French native, I’m usually wary of trying French restaurants… but L’Hirondelle is leagues above the rest on so many levels. First and foremost, the ambiance is lovely, quaint, and cozy. You slip right into a space that feels elevated while still remaining warm and inviting. The next thing I have to mention is the staff. We had the pleasure of being served by Josh, the owner’s son in law, who was such a delight! He made us feel right at home and was very kind and attentive. We would come back just for the wonderful service. Lastly, the food. WOW. If I could give more than five stars, I would. We had the pâté/cheese/fruit plate to start and an order of the escargot…which turned into two orders simply because of how out-of-this-world delicious and authenticity French they are. I won’t be ashamed to admit, we contemplated on a third order! We had the duck breast and petrol sole for mains, also delicious. For dessert, a perfectly crafted and visually pleasing crême brûlée. Chef’s kiss! We will definitely be coming back again and again. Thank you, L’Hirondelle!

A perfect spot! Very comfortable, French. Fantastic service. Fabulous food. We shared stuffed mushrooms (with crab, shrimp) and a lite entree of sauted trout. Perfect lunch. Perfect meal.

Once you open the door you are instantly transported to the country side of France, small cozy and welcoming with the decor as you'd expect in a family owned French restaurant. Food was absolutely perfect, the Beef Bourguignon was tender and pulled apart with ease and the flavors were true perfection. The Rainbow Trout was also delicious, tender fish with the perfect amount of flake and crisp. Service was a 10/10! Welcoming, knowledgeable and genuinely made our dining experience amazing. We can't wait to be back and share this place with our family and friends! We did not need a reservation. Wait time as Avery little. Parking was available (not free).

A most wonderful dining experience! We have been coming here for many years and it has consistently served delicious dishes, provided fantastic service, and offered a fabulous wine selection. Do not miss the Pate, Cheese, and Fruit board. My favorite meal is the Duck Salad. It is always hard to decide whether to sit indoors or outdoors since both settings are uniquely beautiful and comfortable. Ali is the most gracious and knowledgeable host and the staff is superb. I make the trip from Los Angeles to Capistrano several times a year with friends or family just to enjoy this excellent restaurant. Leave room for dessert!

This place is such a quaint spot right across from the Mission. We met here with family from LA since this was a decent middle point. The food and service did not disappoint. This was real French cuisine made with fresh ingredients which always make food taste better. The wine list was great too. We will definitely return.

This restaurant is absolutely charming and delicious! Everything we ordered was superb, it is hard to choose a favorite dish of the night. The escargot were perfectly garlicky, the French onion soup was so decadent with the gruyere cheese, the volcano lamb shank just peeled off the bone and the sauce was spectacular, the rack of lamb was cooked to perfection with a perfect crust and the desserts were amazing not too sweet, just perfect.

Great old fashion romantic cozi French restaurant. Service is wonderful and well accommodated. Good food portion for the price. A well deserved place to come back. Reservation require.

Very cute place, friendly staff and the food was delicious. Love it and will come back again.

Awesome French restaurant! Had my 70th birthday dinner here in May and it was great. Service and food are top notch. This restaurant has been in the family since 1982. If you are in SJC, you MUST come here for dinner.

First time at a French restaurant and it makes me want to visit the country. The staff was friendly, the tables were cozy and made it easy to visit with other like they do in Europe, at least that is what I was told. The French soup and petite rack of lamb from this place would be my last meal.

A really good experience at San Juan Capistrano. Glad to dine here, pleasant Spring day sitting outside w all the surrounding bougainvillea (my favorite flower). Food was delicious from start to finish! We ordered pate and frog legs for starters; trout, duck salad, bratwurst & sauerkraut and kobe burger as main entrees and finish w chocolate torte and ice cream. All the dishes were so good. Service was excellent too, very attentive. We'll come back again when we visit.

Terrific spot with charming atmosphere and very tasty food. Everything was wonderful! Family owned spot with a real love for their work and guests. Can't wait to return!

Best French/Belgian cuisine in Orange County. Excellent service. Very homey friendly. My favorite.

Amazing french restaurant with delicious food and excellent service. They offer both outdoor and indoor service although at this moment it’s outdoor during lunch service. It is well shaded with umbrellas and nature trade. It is my go to restaurant whenever visited San Juan Capistrano. There is free parking behind the restaurant in the shopping plaza. I highly recommend the escargot dish!

This place is terrific, Romantic and fun. This is a San Juan Capistrano treasure. The staff is very pleasant an was very helpful in selecting a wonderful French wine pairing with our dinner. Many delicious traditional French selections like Escargot and even frog legs..Yum!

Amie Denoix

To die for!!! As a French native, I’m usually wary of trying French restaurants… but L’Hirondelle is leagues above the rest on so many levels. First and foremost, the ambiance is lovely, quaint, and cozy. You slip right into a space that feels elevated while still remaining warm and inviting. The next thing I have to mention is the staff. We had the pleasure of being served by Josh, the owner’s son in law, who was such a delight! He made us feel right at home and was very kind and attentive. We would come back just for the wonderful service. Lastly, the food. WOW. If I could give more than five stars, I would. We had the pâté/cheese/fruit plate to start and an order of the escargot…which turned into two orders simply because of how out-of-this-world delicious and authenticity French they are. I won’t be ashamed to admit, we contemplated on a third order! We had the duck breast and petrol sole for mains, also delicious. For dessert, a perfectly crafted and visually pleasing crême brûlée. Chef’s kiss! We will definitely be coming back again and again. Thank you, L’Hirondelle!

Bryan Brint

Once you open the door you are instantly transported to the country side of France, small cozy and welcoming with the decor as you'd expect in a family owned French restaurant. Food was absolutely perfect, the Beef Bourguignon was tender and pulled apart with ease and the flavors were true perfection. The Rainbow Trout was also delicious, tender fish with the perfect amount of flake and crisp. Service was a 10/10! Welcoming, knowledgeable and genuinely made our dining experience amazing. We can't wait to be back and share this place with our family and friends! We did not need a reservation. Wait time as Avery little. Parking was available (not free).

Missy Gerski

A most wonderful dining experience! We have been coming here for many years and it has consistently served delicious dishes, provided fantastic service, and offered a fabulous wine selection. Do not miss the Pate, Cheese, and Fruit board. My favorite meal is the Duck Salad. It is always hard to decide whether to sit indoors or outdoors since both settings are uniquely beautiful and comfortable. Ali is the most gracious and knowledgeable host and the staff is superb. I make the trip from Los Angeles to Capistrano several times a year with friends or family just to enjoy this excellent restaurant. Leave room for dessert!

Andreola Werner-Velleryd

This restaurant is absolutely charming and delicious! Everything we ordered was superb, it is hard to choose a favorite dish of the night. The escargot were perfectly garlicky, the French onion soup was so decadent with the gruyere cheese, the volcano lamb shank just peeled off the bone and the sauce was spectacular, the rack of lamb was cooked to perfection with a perfect crust and the desserts were amazing not too sweet, just perfect.

Bernard Cruz

Great old fashion romantic cozi French restaurant. Service is wonderful and well accommodated. Good food portion for the price. A well deserved place to come back. Reservation require.

Di H (Takemebackhome)

First time at a French restaurant and it makes me want to visit the country. The staff was friendly, the tables were cozy and made it easy to visit with other like they do in Europe, at least that is what I was told. The French soup and petite rack of lamb from this place would be my last meal.

Benny

Best French/Belgian cuisine in Orange County. Excellent service. Very homey friendly. My favorite.

Jessica Charvat Brunson

This place is such a quaint spot right across from the Mission. We met here with family from LA since this was a decent middle point. The food and service did not disappoint. This was real French cuisine made with fresh ingredients which always make food taste better. The wine list was great too. We will definitely return.

Dennis DeCuir

Awesome French restaurant! Had my 70th birthday dinner here in May and it was great. Service and food are top notch. This restaurant has been in the family since 1982. If you are in SJC, you MUST come here for dinner.

Mei Chi Siu

A really good experience at San Juan Capistrano. Glad to dine here, pleasant Spring day sitting outside w all the surrounding bougainvillea (my favorite flower). Food was delicious from start to finish! We ordered pate and frog legs for starters; trout, duck salad, bratwurst & sauerkraut and kobe burger as main entrees and finish w chocolate torte and ice cream. All the dishes were so good. Service was excellent too, very attentive. We'll come back again when we visit.

Lara Wright

Terrific spot with charming atmosphere and very tasty food. Everything was wonderful! Family owned spot with a real love for their work and guests. Can't wait to return!

Chris Lam

Amazing french restaurant with delicious food and excellent service. They offer both outdoor and indoor service although at this moment it’s outdoor during lunch service. It is well shaded with umbrellas and nature trade. It is my go to restaurant whenever visited San Juan Capistrano. There is free parking behind the restaurant in the shopping plaza. I highly recommend the escargot dish!

Paul B

This place is terrific, Romantic and fun. This is a San Juan Capistrano treasure. The staff is very pleasant an was very helpful in selecting a wonderful French wine pairing with our dinner. Many delicious traditional French selections like Escargot and even frog legs..Yum!

Yaroslav Rastrigin

Great place to dine, nice food (tarragon chicken is top notch) , and very attentive and responsive staff. Whenever I'll be driving back from San Diego, or just happen to be in the area, I'll certainly grab a seat and a plate here.

Pablo Ortiz Monasterio

We got a great table next to the fountain at the terrace, we didn’t have a great expectations since we just picked the place for the setting but we were pleasantly surprised by some of the best informal French food we’ve had in the United States. The attention to detail in the ingredients used on their dishes is evident. The food seems to have been hand picked for ripeness and beauty. Everything was served to perfection. Attention to detail makes this one of the best restaurants we’ve been in a long, long time. It feels like having lunch in the Mediterranean. Service was great by the owner, we could have stayed there all afternoon enjoying the place. So far, the best reason to return to San Juan Capistrano.

Leandro Molina

First time to visit. Restaurant is small.and very cozy. Great feel to it. Service was excellent. The food was amazing. House salad had their special creamy vinaigrette.. wow! Delicious. Dinner and desserts were also delicious. Really good portions too. Highly recommend and I will go back again. I would say it's a nice hidden gem in south Orange County.

Owner is super engaged very proud of his beer, wine, and food, as he should be. It's a romantic eclectic environment which was nice for my wife. If I didn't know where I was it could have been a side street by the river Seine. Their escargo, French onion, and warm spinach and bacon salad were as good as any I've tasted outside Paris.

Extremely accommodating staff when bad traffic delayed our arrivals from Los Angeles, Monrovia, and Temecula... first time here and will definitely be going back... love the idea of petite dinner dishes so I can enjoy an appetizer and dessert

L’Hirondelle Restaurant is pure charm in every sense! The moment you step inside, you’re welcomed by an elegant, European-inspired atmosphere that feels timeless. The food is outstanding—beautifully prepared, flavorful, and perfectly balanced with a fine selection of wines. The service is warm, attentive, and makes the whole dining experience feel special. Whether it’s a romantic date night, a family celebration, or just treating yourself, L’Hirondelle delivers sophistication and unforgettable flavor. Truly a gem worth discovering! 🌟

Jim Toner

Owner is super engaged very proud of his beer, wine, and food, as he should be. It's a romantic eclectic environment which was nice for my wife. If I didn't know where I was it could have been a side street by the river Seine. Their escargo, French onion, and warm spinach and bacon salad were as good as any I've tasted outside Paris.

Haydee b. Lopez

L’Hirondelle Restaurant is pure charm in every sense! The moment you step inside, you’re welcomed by an elegant, European-inspired atmosphere that feels timeless. The food is outstanding—beautifully prepared, flavorful, and perfectly balanced with a fine selection of wines. The service is warm, attentive, and makes the whole dining experience feel special. Whether it’s a romantic date night, a family celebration, or just treating yourself, L’Hirondelle delivers sophistication and unforgettable flavor. Truly a gem worth discovering! 🌟

On a friend's recommendation, we had lunch here. Plenty of parking, attentive wait staff. Complimentary French bread with butter; butter is good but bread was a bit dry that day. We had the (obligatory) escargots which were plump and delicious, swimming in garlic and parsley butter, so good we used the bread to soak it all up. We had Special of the day, Petrale Sole in a bed of herbed mashed potatoes - perfectly cooked and seasoned for me (might not be salty enough for some people), and Watbrurst with garlic fries, also good. We sat in the patio shaded by blue umbrellas and serenaded by the sound of a water fountain. Definitely recommend this place.

+1

Really good brunch food on Sundays.

Unfortunately I did not experience the enchanting traditional French cuisine I was expecting. The duck was tough and very plain with a price tag $55 dollars .. the value was not there. The atmosphere is charming like grandmothers house in France but could use a little updating. I left disappointed

We walked across the Cathedral for Fathers Day lunch. Menu was maybe limited for today only as we were given days menu. I had the shrimp cocktail, four huge fresh pieces with a sauce tainted with wasabi it bit a little but it was good. My wife had the chicken curry salad pleasantly presented with season fresh fruits. I had the beef, tender & savory. We could have had dessert but we were going someplace else for that. The small crew was attentive & solicitous, the patio looked fresh & inviting. The tables tho closely put together isn’t intrusive from the next table diners. On a beautiful waning days of Spring, this was a good choice. Shout out to our servers, our waiter’s quiet elegance added to our favorable lunch experience. Truly recommended

Nino Open

We walked across the Cathedral for Fathers Day lunch. Menu was maybe limited for today only as we were given days menu. I had the shrimp cocktail, four huge fresh pieces with a sauce tainted with wasabi it bit a little but it was good. My wife had the chicken curry salad pleasantly presented with season fresh fruits. I had the beef, tender & savory. We could have had dessert but we were going someplace else for that. The small crew was attentive & solicitous, the patio looked fresh & inviting. The tables tho closely put together isn’t intrusive from the next table diners. On a beautiful waning days of Spring, this was a good choice. Shout out to our servers, our waiter’s quiet elegance added to our favorable lunch experience. Truly recommended

It's pretty solid, but I think for the price it should have been better! Lamb ⭐⭐⭐✨ - it doesn't have a strange lamb taste, was definitely fresh - I liked the sauce - main issue for me was the texture, some bits were chewy and didn't fall off the bone as nicely, if wasn't super soft in some parts Mushroom ⭐⭐✨ - I think I could have done this myself - essentially butter and parsley and potentially chicken stock Cod ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - was the special, had champagne sauce - light and delicate - potentially liked the lamb sauce more because it had more flavor but I appreciated the cod more as a dish

Nicole

It's pretty solid, but I think for the price it should have been better! Lamb ⭐⭐⭐✨ - it doesn't have a strange lamb taste, was definitely fresh - I liked the sauce - main issue for me was the texture, some bits were chewy and didn't fall off the bone as nicely, if wasn't super soft in some parts Mushroom ⭐⭐✨ - I think I could have done this myself - essentially butter and parsley and potentially chicken stock Cod ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - was the special, had champagne sauce - light and delicate - potentially liked the lamb sauce more because it had more flavor but I appreciated the cod more as a dish

Well, from 1 to 10, this place should get a 4. 1- Prices have increased tremendously. Time to update the dollar signs to three "$$$". 2- These prices don't match the uncomfortable plastic chairs and unbalanced tables outside. Inside is too dingy to sit in. 3- It seemed as if the female waitress was doing us a favor!! Lots of attitude poured out of her every action. Then, she forgot my beer and later another item. I had to ask the male waiter for those items. He had a better attitude. 4- Walking out, I looked at the female owner and nodded my head as to say Good bye. She just looked at me for a sec and looked away!!! (Well, F U too madame!) My persian brother (owner), get better chairs and tables for outside. Make sure your employees have at least decent attitude, specially your partner. Re-evaluate your prices again. These prices are not for spontaneous visits, only special occasions. Also, for these prices, employees need to dress better. They were dressed wayyyy too casual. I only gave a second star because you were going around and talking to people with a "good attitude" and the food was not bad.