LA FINCA

Rob Ladd

We came here yesterday evening for an early Mothers Day. We ordered the a starter which is brand new and I don’t recall the full name. It was an asparagus dish with prosciutto and a purée. It was absolutely outstanding!! I was hoping I could have a full course of that. I thought it would be amazing with a pasta. A must try!! We also ordered the whole fish catch of the day. That was also really good. Cooked perfectly. My only gripe would be the fish wasn’t seasoned much and was a bit bland. It did have some toppings but not enough. Still a really nice fish. And we lastly ordered 2 burgers, a Finca and a three stars. I had the three stars and the fig jam that was accompanied in the burger was outstanding. The Finca I didn’t try but I was told was very good. All in all the meal was very good. The ambience outside is very vibey and such a cool place to try. Great date night spot! We will be back for sure!!

Andrew W

FINCA in San Juan Capistrano is a shining example of how locally sourced, organic ingredients can elevate a dining experience. From the moment you step out of your car, the irresistible aroma of their wood-fired grill draws you in, setting the stage for an unforgettable meal. What We Loved: • Harvest Salad with Tri-Tip: This massive, shareable salad is a feast for the senses. Crisp greens, sweet pear slices, pomegranate seeds, and radicchio are perfectly complemented by savory shaved cheese and tender, smoky tri-tip. The fresh, organic ingredients made every bite vibrant and full of flavor. • French Fries: A clear crowd favorite! These golden fries are seasoned to perfection and served with a trio of dipping sauces. The spicy ketchup was the standout—a tangy, flavorful dip with just the right amount of heat. It’s no wonder every table seemed to have an order. • Tri-Tip Sandwich: This hearty sandwich pairs tender, smoky tri-tip with fresh, toasted bread and a smoky spread. It’s a satisfying choice for those looking for a filling and flavorful dish. Service: The service at FINCA was fantastic—quick, informative, and responsive. The staff was knowledgeable about the menu, offering helpful recommendations and ensuring that each part of the meal went smoothly. Ambiance and Experience: FINCA’s commitment to quality shines not only in its food but also in its warm, inviting ambiance. The open layout, natural light, and rustic decor create a welcoming environment that’s perfect for any occasion. Final Thoughts: FINCA is a standout in San Juan Capistrano, combining the best of farm-to-table dining with an elevated yet approachable menu. From the massive Harvest Salad to the can’t-miss fries with spicy ketchup, every dish reflects a passion for quality and flavor. If the wood-fired aroma doesn’t pull you in, the food, service, and experience certainly will.

Finca is such a hidden gem. The food is full of flavor, beautifully presented, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. Everything we ordered was fresh and perfectly cooked. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff was attentive without being overbearing. It’s the perfect spot for date night or a nice dinner with friends. Definitely coming back!

We stopped in to peak at the menu and the host gave us a whole rundown of the menu, the restaurant, and what they’re known for. We were sold right away. Love the vibe, the staff super friendly, personable, fun, and knowledgeable honest of what their favorite menu items are. Shoutout to Lexi and everyone that we interacted with. Friendly service is kind of rare these days but not here. Meat, salads, and fries were so good. Looking forward to coming back.

Jeff was our server and he’s so nice and attentive. Birch was so kind too. Good vibes here. Drinks are yummy and the food is too. The outside patio is lovely and dog friendly. They brought my dog water. So sweet.

What an amazing restaurant! Chef David has put together a wonderful experience with all the great details of construction and building a team and menu that will knock your socks off! Our server Amanda was extremely attentive to all our food and drink needs and very personable and fun! The flatbread appetizer, wood fired hamburgers, and fires were so tasty! We will definitely be back for more!!

Absolutely amazing food! Probably the freshest food I’ve had in the OC. The owner hand picks the vegetables from a local garden every morning. Would recommend the Brussels sprouts and the tri tip sandwich!

The atmosphere is really nice (reminds me of several beautiful Valle de Guadalupe restaurants), service is friendly and attentive, and food is excellent. We had the smash burger, wedge salad and Brussels sprouts. Loved each dish. Wine/beer list is top notch. And the chef/owner, David, seems like a really good guy who cares about his customers. Highly recommend!

Corey Perez

We stopped in to peak at the menu and the host gave us a whole rundown of the menu, the restaurant, and what they’re known for. We were sold right away. Love the vibe, the staff super friendly, personable, fun, and knowledgeable honest of what their favorite menu items are. Shoutout to Lexi and everyone that we interacted with. Friendly service is kind of rare these days but not here. Meat, salads, and fries were so good. Looking forward to coming back.

Donna Alvarado

I was in a mobility scooter. I was able to safely park in the restaurant. They were very accommodating...no sun on us, but outside. Outside during the holidays was very cherry. The management and staff accommodated my scooter and our pickies daughter steak order.

Annika Bauer

Jeff was our server and he’s so nice and attentive. Birch was so kind too. Good vibes here. Drinks are yummy and the food is too. The outside patio is lovely and dog friendly. They brought my dog water. So sweet.

brett tokarski

What an amazing restaurant! Chef David has put together a wonderful experience with all the great details of construction and building a team and menu that will knock your socks off! Our server Amanda was extremely attentive to all our food and drink needs and very personable and fun! The flatbread appetizer, wood fired hamburgers, and fires were so tasty! We will definitely be back for more!!

Jacqueline Doe

Just got back from a visit to Finca, and safe to say I had the best burger I ever ate! We had the Hawaiian and the meat was so tender and well seasoned! All the sides were amazing, a shout out for the corn dish which I could have eaten as a main to myself. The service was great and the vibe just right! Really well done Finca!!!!

Great service and the restaurant is a nice vibe in the middle of the River Street Market, a great date night location. We got the 3 stars and Vaquero burgers. The meat itself is delicious and the toppings are great quality. A couple of suggestions: on the 3 stars, I would get it without the fig jam. It's overpowering sweetness and flavor left me wondering what the mushrooms, cheese, and other sauces tasted like. The fries are delicious and the ranch is really rich and creamy. I wasn't a big fan of the special ketchup. I'd prefer some more interesting aoili sauces to dip my fries, but maybe that's just me. I'll probably go again sometime so I can try the 3 stars without the fig jam.

Jacob Robinson

Great service and the restaurant is a nice vibe in the middle of the River Street Market, a great date night location. We got the 3 stars and Vaquero burgers. The meat itself is delicious and the toppings are great quality. A couple of suggestions: on the 3 stars, I would get it without the fig jam. It's overpowering sweetness and flavor left me wondering what the mushrooms, cheese, and other sauces tasted like. The fries are delicious and the ranch is really rich and creamy. I wasn't a big fan of the special ketchup. I'd prefer some more interesting aoili sauces to dip my fries, but maybe that's just me. I'll probably go again sometime so I can try the 3 stars without the fig jam.

We were super excited to try this new (to us) spot at the River Street Market. We definitely loved the use of regenerative farming produce and local meats for their dishes. All the food served was tasty. We especially liked the new potatoes in this amazing curry sauce. I want a bottle of that stuff to use at home! IMO, it should be on a burger! The flavor of the burger was very good—obvious that it’s high quality beef. The main challenge I had with our dinner tonight and the reason for just a three star rating had to do with the service. It’s a Tuesday evening at 7:30pm…so pretty slow. A large party was beginning to clear out and the inside had only one person seated. The patio was full but it’s not huge. The server we first had introduced himself and explained the menu sections—these things are to share, these things are too small to be main dishes, these things don’t come with sides so make sure to get a side—and then he never came back to our table. In fact, it took such a long time sitting waiting for him to come back and take our drink order that someone else kindly took the order—and then it took even longer for the drinks to arrive to the table. At that point it became apparent that our first server wasn’t our server anymore. We then put in our order and waited a long time again for just two burgers and potatoes. My husband’s burger was supposed to be a medium rare and it was barely any pink. We didn’t want to wait again, so he decided it was fine. The other strange element about the wait staff was how they kind of just walked around but weren’t doing anything—there were a lot of wait staff for a relatively quiet night but weren’t especially busy with assisting customers or doing much of anything other than the two who were resetting an area of the restaurant after the big party left—something they probably could have waited to do since it meant moving large tables and chairs all over the place. They made no apologies for delays. (Makes me think delays are typical?) No offers of sauces or sides or water refills (we had to move our glasses to the edge of the table to be noticed). Maybe they had an off night and what we experienced was unusual, but it was really bizarre. Maybe they’re trained to only focus on their own tables’ needs? And since we were in no man’s land, we were mildly ignored? Not really sure. I like the menu. I like the whole concept. The food is really good. I just would appreciate a step up in customer service for the price point. I paid $18 for a very small glass of wine, $22 for a burger without sides, and $16 for the new potatoes sharing side. That calls for better customer service and much more of a focus on training your staff with intentionality in my opinion.

Meredith Chase

We were super excited to try this new (to us) spot at the River Street Market. We definitely loved the use of regenerative farming produce and local meats for their dishes. All the food served was tasty. We especially liked the new potatoes in this amazing curry sauce. I want a bottle of that stuff to use at home! IMO, it should be on a burger! The flavor of the burger was very good—obvious that it’s high quality beef. The main challenge I had with our dinner tonight and the reason for just a three star rating had to do with the service. It’s a Tuesday evening at 7:30pm…so pretty slow. A large party was beginning to clear out and the inside had only one person seated. The patio was full but it’s not huge. The server we first had introduced himself and explained the menu sections—these things are to share, these things are too small to be main dishes, these things don’t come with sides so make sure to get a side—and then he never came back to our table. In fact, it took such a long time sitting waiting for him to come back and take our drink order that someone else kindly took the order—and then it took even longer for the drinks to arrive to the table. At that point it became apparent that our first server wasn’t our server anymore. We then put in our order and waited a long time again for just two burgers and potatoes. My husband’s burger was supposed to be a medium rare and it was barely any pink. We didn’t want to wait again, so he decided it was fine. The other strange element about the wait staff was how they kind of just walked around but weren’t doing anything—there were a lot of wait staff for a relatively quiet night but weren’t especially busy with assisting customers or doing much of anything other than the two who were resetting an area of the restaurant after the big party left—something they probably could have waited to do since it meant moving large tables and chairs all over the place. They made no apologies for delays. (Makes me think delays are typical?) No offers of sauces or sides or water refills (we had to move our glasses to the edge of the table to be noticed). Maybe they had an off night and what we experienced was unusual, but it was really bizarre. Maybe they’re trained to only focus on their own tables’ needs? And since we were in no man’s land, we were mildly ignored? Not really sure. I like the menu. I like the whole concept. The food is really good. I just would appreciate a step up in customer service for the price point. I paid $18 for a very small glass of wine, $22 for a burger without sides, and $16 for the new potatoes sharing side. That calls for better customer service and much more of a focus on training your staff with intentionality in my opinion.

Stopped by for lunch on a random Wednesday. The food was excellent. I had a $24 smash burger and my girlfriend had an $18 beet salad. Atmosphere is fun with nice views. So why the Low rating? Simply put, price! The $24 Smashburger comes with a "pickle spear", no fries. The "shareable" side of fries is $14. I'm not sure on what Planet $14 for french fries makes sense, but no Planet I've visited lately. I'm no math major, but had I wanted fries with my burger that would've come to $39 plus tax (7.75%) and a 20% tip would have brought the total to $50 for a burger and french fries. 😂 This is a simple fix raise the price of the burger by two or three dollars and give Patrons fries with their burger. It would still be very expensive for a burger and fries but at least it would be considered a meal. Our bill with tip for a burger and a salad that contained no protein was $55. Hardly a bargain buy even by California standards.

Robert Paul

Stopped by for lunch on a random Wednesday. The food was excellent. I had a $24 smash burger and my girlfriend had an $18 beet salad. Atmosphere is fun with nice views. So why the Low rating? Simply put, price! The $24 Smashburger comes with a "pickle spear", no fries. The "shareable" side of fries is $14. I'm not sure on what Planet $14 for french fries makes sense, but no Planet I've visited lately. I'm no math major, but had I wanted fries with my burger that would've come to $39 plus tax (7.75%) and a 20% tip would have brought the total to $50 for a burger and french fries. 😂 This is a simple fix raise the price of the burger by two or three dollars and give Patrons fries with their burger. It would still be very expensive for a burger and fries but at least it would be considered a meal. Our bill with tip for a burger and a salad that contained no protein was $55. Hardly a bargain buy even by California standards.

Burger meat was way too salty and had a strange texture, the mushroom was sliced too big, the cheese was not enough, and the cost was way too steep for just a burger with no fries. Took a while to get seated and even longer to get our food after ordering. Would not recommend coming here even though the vibe looks nice from outside.

kelli yogi

Burger meat was way too salty and had a strange texture, the mushroom was sliced too big, the cheese was not enough, and the cost was way too steep for just a burger with no fries. Took a while to get seated and even longer to get our food after ordering. Would not recommend coming here even though the vibe looks nice from outside.

Very disappointed and mixed Review. The Bad. An $18 "old-fashioned" using tequila(?). No bueno. The worst part? The glass was 1/4 full, by the time they put in the massive ice cube, the glass was HALF full. Ridiculous and greedy. Didn't look or taste like an Old-Fashioned. Putting an orange peel in a glass doesn't make it an Old-Fashioned-call it something else. Tasteless and nothing like an Old-Fashioned. Had the Tri-Tip sandwich. Horrible. Whatever kind of meat they used, it wasn't cooked. Could hardly taste the seedy mustard (not mentioned on menu) or the blue cheese. Chunks of meat to large so when you bit into the sandwich, the whole thing fell apart. Just Gross. The Good Slow Roasted Butternut Squash. Nice location. Outdoor seating with fire pits. Need a better Chef and a more accurate menu. And quit the bullshit 1/4 pours with a massive ice cube to fill the glass. Won't go back for that reason alone. $18 for an ice cube. Insulting.

Todd Creager

Very disappointed and mixed Review. The Bad. An $18 "old-fashioned" using tequila(?). No bueno. The worst part? The glass was 1/4 full, by the time they put in the massive ice cube, the glass was HALF full. Ridiculous and greedy. Didn't look or taste like an Old-Fashioned. Putting an orange peel in a glass doesn't make it an Old-Fashioned-call it something else. Tasteless and nothing like an Old-Fashioned. Had the Tri-Tip sandwich. Horrible. Whatever kind of meat they used, it wasn't cooked. Could hardly taste the seedy mustard (not mentioned on menu) or the blue cheese. Chunks of meat to large so when you bit into the sandwich, the whole thing fell apart. Just Gross. The Good Slow Roasted Butternut Squash. Nice location. Outdoor seating with fire pits. Need a better Chef and a more accurate menu. And quit the bullshit 1/4 pours with a massive ice cube to fill the glass. Won't go back for that reason alone. $18 for an ice cube. Insulting.

This place was downright comical. First, our cramped table for two was squeezed uncomfortably close to everyone else. When we mentioned that the smashburger was tasteless, the server brushed us off with a “I’ll let the manager know,” but the manager never came by to ask about our experience. No offer to replace the dish, no adjustment to the bill. We paid anyway. But wait—it gets better. We finally flagged the manager down ourselves, only for him to explain how he personally loves the burger and has never once heard a complaint. Then, after offering to comp it, he realized we’d already paid and said, “No problem—just give me your leftover bag so I can remove the food first.” Yes, he wanted to take our bag and pull food out of it. Not even sure that’s legal. In the end, we walked out laughing. The meal wasn’t worth it, but the story definitely was—it’s one for the ages.

0 out of 5 stars My husband and I went to Finca last Friday evening. We were seated fairly quickly, but unfortunately, our experience went downhill from there. After sitting for about 20 minutes, no one came to take our order, not even for drinks. The waitress never returned, and we eventually decided to get up and leave. I did let the manager know before leaving, but we chose not to stay any longer. It was disappointing, especially because we were really looking forward to trying the restaurant. Hopefully, they can improve their service, because first impressions matter.

Was it racism or just completely unprofessional service? I went there before lunchtime and asked for an outdoor seat. The man wearing a cap said all tables were full and told us to come back in 10 minutes. When we returned, he repeated the same thing, still full. Then he mentioned that the shaded tables were taken and that the ones in the sun might be too hot to sit at. They took my phone number and promised to call when a table became available, but no one ever did. We waited for about an hour with no update. When I first checked the outdoor seats, all the tables were under the sun. But when I went back later, I was shocked to see that most tables were now occupied and had been moved into the shade. The staff saw us and immediately brought out a table and set it under the shade, something they could have easily done an hour earlier. Why did they make us wait for nothing? The food was mediocre at best, and when we finally sat down, I noticed we were the only Asian family there. I can’t help but feel it might have been subtle racism, or just the worst kind of careless, dismissive service. Either way, it was one of the most unpleasant dining experiences I’ve ever had in California. I’ll never go back, and I wouldn’t recommend this place.

Daryl Combs

Ordered brisket bahn mi ($25) and beet salad ($18). Server dropped the sandwich on the table and a little in my lap. We all make mistakes, but it is how you recover that is important. His response was, do you want us to make another? Well, duh. Meat was overcooked. It was the veggies that made it possible to swallow. Wife was also very unimpressed with the salad. She didn’t finish it. The worst thing was the pickle - does anyone eat those? It was nasty. Yea, won’t be back.

Tayde Pantoja

0 out of 5 stars My husband and I went to Finca last Friday evening. We were seated fairly quickly, but unfortunately, our experience went downhill from there. After sitting for about 20 minutes, no one came to take our order, not even for drinks. The waitress never returned, and we eventually decided to get up and leave. I did let the manager know before leaving, but we chose not to stay any longer. It was disappointing, especially because we were really looking forward to trying the restaurant. Hopefully, they can improve their service, because first impressions matter.

Louis Valentine

This place was downright comical. First, our cramped table for two was squeezed uncomfortably close to everyone else. When we mentioned that the smashburger was tasteless, the server brushed us off with a “I’ll let the manager know,” but the manager never came by to ask about our experience. No offer to replace the dish, no adjustment to the bill. We paid anyway. But wait—it gets better. We finally flagged the manager down ourselves, only for him to explain how he personally loves the burger and has never once heard a complaint. Then, after offering to comp it, he realized we’d already paid and said, “No problem—just give me your leftover bag so I can remove the food first.” Yes, he wanted to take our bag and pull food out of it. Not even sure that’s legal. In the end, we walked out laughing. The meal wasn’t worth it, but the story definitely was—it’s one for the ages.

M V

I ordered a medium burger and what I got was practically raw—there was blood all over my plate. After just a few bites I had to stop because it was so undercooked and honestly disgusting. When I brought it up, the manager, Birch, was unbelievably rude. His “solution” was to take the SAME burger I had already bitten into—bloody and half-eaten—and throw it back on the grill with other customers’ food. That is beyond unsanitary. To make it worse, Birch told me that in the future, if my food was wrong, they wouldn’t comp it. That’s his idea of customer service? I told him not to worry because I’ll never be back. The menu is tiny anyway, and if they can’t get a basic burger right, what’s the point? The only good part of the entire visit was our server—she was so sweet, apologetic, and clearly embarrassed by her manager’s behavior. We tipped her well because she deserved it, but Birch was hands down the worst manager I’ve ever dealt with. If you value decent food and basic customer service, do yourself a favor and eat somewhere else.