Cafe Capistrano

Totally authentic Mayan cuisine in half moon bay.... Who knew? This place is great... Good sangria too. It's in a funky old house, each room has a few tables. There's a neat patio in the backyard.

Didn’t know what to expect and was very pleased. I had the fish tacos that were recommended by the server and they were amazing I never had them so fresh see attached pictures. The hot sauce was perfect very flavorful and not over powering the taste of the meal

The food is amazing! Homemade for all the visitors. I managed to get gluten-free and Dairy-free breakfast. We ordered fajitas and fish tacos (soft). 3-4 tables for outside sitting, and we came with our dog. A very pleasant atmosphere and service.

+6

We’ve been coming here for years. This is the perfect place to go to after going to the beach. It’s dog friendly and has amazing food. Their Panuchos and Chicken Adobo are 🔥. You can never go wrong eating here.

We wanted Mexican and seafood, and we found this Mayan restaurant! I don't think I've ever had Mayan cuisine before but it was very good. The nachos were yummy and I highly recommend the fish tacos. We got nachos, fish tacos, cochinita pibil, cochinita burrito, and garlic prawns. Everything was fresh and delicious. The fruits and veggies were a great combo and I liked making my own mini tacos. Everyone was full and happy - great portions!

Best fish tacos in the Bay Area. I like fish tacos. I eat a lot of fish tacos. These are the freshest, tastiest fish tacos I’ve had the pleasure of putting in my mouth. The other dishes we ordered were equally tasty. The waiter was a delight. Entertaining and personable. The casual, in-home setting made it so much more enjoyable than a big restaurant. This will be the go-to meeting place for when coming down from the north bay to meet friends coming up from Santa Cruz.

Large portions and delicious food! My girl and I enjoyed it and such a friendly atmosphere. Also love that hot sauce!

+1

My husband and I were looking for a quick, gluten free dinner by the beach and I’m so happy we stumbled upon this lovely establishment. We shared a shrimp taco plate which I was delighted to see had a variety of vegetables. The guac was particularly fresh and tasty. Honestly, I couldn’t find anything wrong with the entire dish. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The establishment seems home-like. I felt as though I was at a friends house and their family member was cooking a special meal for me. Tables are close together but we didn’t mind. I believe our server was the owner and service was fantastic. We showed up 40 minutes before they closed and ate so quickly we left after 30 minutes. Also, get the sangria if you like red wine and pineapple!

This place is like being welcomed into a friend's home with cariño. We had a delicious meal the other night. I loved the fish tacos (the red snapper was terrific) and my companions all really enjoyed their meals with either chicken or steak. The service was so kind and let us enjoy our meal at a comfortable pace, without rushing us out the door. A true gem of a restaurant and I can't wait to go back.

Everything was perfect- fresh, authentic food, great service and atmosphere. Would definitely come here again!:)

The food was absolutely delicious and the service was great. I would come here any day over the mediocre popular tourist restaurants around.

We found this location sometime during COVID. I wasn't sure if I remembered where it was. But I was so happy I found it again. Loved it again for the 2nd time. ❤

Great food, produce and fish was as fresh as it gets. Great price and sweet environment. Server was super kind and cooks had great vibes. Highly recomend

The Cafe provided the food for our event (a variety of quesadillas and all the salsas+guac) and it was a big hit! They were so helpful w the planning and various changes too. Good people, good food

The food was exquisite! So glad to experience such tasty cuisine.

We came here to eat before getting on the road and we weren't even they hungry. LET ME TELL YOU BEST MEXICAN FOOD I HAVE HAD OUTSIDE OF MEXICO probably ever. None of that Americanized stuff. So good. Literally we couldn't stop eating even though we weren't hungry. You cannot go wrong

What a delicious meal we had here! We stopped there on the way to the Carmel by the sea and it was such a good decision! Perfectly prepared chicken, great veggies and amazing guacamole 🥑 (Chicken Fajita)

2nd time here and it still doesn’t disappoint! It’s totally unlike your typical very Americanized Mexican food. Had the most colorful and scrumptious appetizer to share and each of us ordered pork, steak and chicken dish separately. Amazingly each grill meat tastes aromatically different. The lady server was very friendly and we even went back to the kitchen to discuss with the also very friendly Mayan chef. He showed us the sauce used to marinate and cooked the grilled chicken with. We left satisfied to our taste buds and not feeling too heavy or too rich. Besides, the dishes are so vividly colorful with all natural ingredients! This place is worth coming back again and again.

I almost didn’t go because I don’t *love* Mexican food in America but I saw reviews that said food is rly fresh and loved the variety of things I saw on plates so i went. Those reviews are 100% correct. Well seasoned, fresh ingredients FRESHLY prepared, and perfection portioned and served. Very friendly service, unassuming interior, very charming and unique atmosphere. Great for dinner for 1 or with lots of fam/friends. Server walked by to see if I liked the food, and all I could say was “this food is literally amazing” and I made eye contact with the chef!!! Highly highly highly recommend when in HMB.

The Yucatán plate had a nice mix of three appetizers, my favorite was the panucho. The cochinita pibil was solid, hardy and filling. The vibe was low key and homey.

Finally tried this place for brunch and it was fantastic. The food is so fresh, with great flavors and huge portions. The space is a bit cramped and loud when it’s full, but that it feels homey and shouldn’t stop anyone from going. Looking forward to trying the dinner menu.

We’re locals and we brought a visiting relative to Cafe Capistrano for dinner and it was a great experience. We had the Poc Chuc pork dish, the chicken enchiladas, and vegetarian quesadillas. It’s open for breakfast, lunch & dinner, and just 2 blocks off Main Street.

We absolutely loved this restaurant. Our food was exquisitely prepared and presented on the plate was the artistic precision of an impressionist painting. Service was quick and accurate. The converted house made for private dining areas decorated with artwork which reflected the Mexican vibe. Would absolutely return here if I'm in the area again.

We were passing through and looking for a good option. With a big stroke of luck, we found Cafe Capistrano. The staff was friendly and efficient, but the food was the star of the show. If you’re anywhere near here and hungry, do yourself a favor and stop in!

In our third and last visit in Half Moon Bay we come across this little cafe - that seems to be a simple family home from the outside - and we couldn’t hope for a better finding. This mayan-mexican food is just great. We took nachos - they were still hot - with guacamole, a burrito and an enchilada dish. Everything was fresh and tasty. Other things: traditional and cool location (the bathroom too), very chill waiter, good prices. Just go!

Pauline Pfaffe

We came here to eat before getting on the road and we weren't even they hungry. LET ME TELL YOU BEST MEXICAN FOOD I HAVE HAD OUTSIDE OF MEXICO probably ever. None of that Americanized stuff. So good. Literally we couldn't stop eating even though we weren't hungry. You cannot go wrong

Cezary J

What a delicious meal we had here! We stopped there on the way to the Carmel by the sea and it was such a good decision! Perfectly prepared chicken, great veggies and amazing guacamole 🥑 (Chicken Fajita)

Shirley Lin

2nd time here and it still doesn’t disappoint! It’s totally unlike your typical very Americanized Mexican food. Had the most colorful and scrumptious appetizer to share and each of us ordered pork, steak and chicken dish separately. Amazingly each grill meat tastes aromatically different. The lady server was very friendly and we even went back to the kitchen to discuss with the also very friendly Mayan chef. He showed us the sauce used to marinate and cooked the grilled chicken with. We left satisfied to our taste buds and not feeling too heavy or too rich. Besides, the dishes are so vividly colorful with all natural ingredients! This place is worth coming back again and again.

Amy Li

The Yucatán plate had a nice mix of three appetizers, my favorite was the panucho. The cochinita pibil was solid, hardy and filling. The vibe was low key and homey.

Yuri Kye

I almost didn’t go because I don’t *love* Mexican food in America but I saw reviews that said food is rly fresh and loved the variety of things I saw on plates so i went. Those reviews are 100% correct. Well seasoned, fresh ingredients FRESHLY prepared, and perfection portioned and served. Very friendly service, unassuming interior, very charming and unique atmosphere. Great for dinner for 1 or with lots of fam/friends. Server walked by to see if I liked the food, and all I could say was “this food is literally amazing” and I made eye contact with the chef!!! Highly highly highly recommend when in HMB.

K S

Finally tried this place for brunch and it was fantastic. The food is so fresh, with great flavors and huge portions. The space is a bit cramped and loud when it’s full, but that it feels homey and shouldn’t stop anyone from going. Looking forward to trying the dinner menu.

Leandro Agrò

In our third and last visit in Half Moon Bay we come across this little cafe - that seems to be a simple family home from the outside - and we couldn’t hope for a better finding. This mayan-mexican food is just great. We took nachos - they were still hot - with guacamole, a burrito and an enchilada dish. Everything was fresh and tasty. Other things: traditional and cool location (the bathroom too), very chill waiter, good prices. Just go!

Joe Falcone

We’re locals and we brought a visiting relative to Cafe Capistrano for dinner and it was a great experience. We had the Poc Chuc pork dish, the chicken enchiladas, and vegetarian quesadillas. It’s open for breakfast, lunch & dinner, and just 2 blocks off Main Street.

Timothy Brackett

We absolutely loved this restaurant. Our food was exquisitely prepared and presented on the plate was the artistic precision of an impressionist painting. Service was quick and accurate. The converted house made for private dining areas decorated with artwork which reflected the Mexican vibe. Would absolutely return here if I'm in the area again.

Brian Osweiler

We were passing through and looking for a good option. With a big stroke of luck, we found Cafe Capistrano. The staff was friendly and efficient, but the food was the star of the show. If you’re anywhere near here and hungry, do yourself a favor and stop in!

Esgar

We’ve been coming here for years. This is the perfect place to go to after going to the beach. It’s dog friendly and has amazing food. Their Panuchos and Chicken Adobo are 🔥. You can never go wrong eating here.

F Y

My husband and I were looking for a quick, gluten free dinner by the beach and I’m so happy we stumbled upon this lovely establishment. We shared a shrimp taco plate which I was delighted to see had a variety of vegetables. The guac was particularly fresh and tasty. Honestly, I couldn’t find anything wrong with the entire dish. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The establishment seems home-like. I felt as though I was at a friends house and their family member was cooking a special meal for me. Tables are close together but we didn’t mind. I believe our server was the owner and service was fantastic. We showed up 40 minutes before they closed and ate so quickly we left after 30 minutes. Also, get the sangria if you like red wine and pineapple!

Quaint little place with excellent food! We showed up past the breakfast hours, and when asked if chef can still make huevos ranchers, he said "come during breakfast!" So we ordered enchiladas and they were soooo good with great flavors. Chef/owner's response was hilarious and made us respect him. Next time, we will show up in time for breakfast as I'm sure the food will be great!

Wow. Just wow. Authentic Mayan/Mexican food. Order anything with the snapper! The cochinita pibil is also delicious. And maybe a michelada to wash it all down. Michelada was 10/10.

I love the flavors of Mayan cuisine and this restaurant hits close to home with such delicious and savory food❤️, the service is great and every meal feels perfectly homemade and flavorful! My go-to will always be the enchiladas made with chicken stock sauce with the salsa, fruit, guac. I love this place and it will always be my go-to❤️

Stunning. Best fish taco that I’ve had in years. Very homey. I will drive from the city for this meal again. Snapper tacos. Blissful Sunday lunch.

Wow! We got off the main road in Half Moon Bay and found Cafe Capristrano in a quiet neighborhood on October 4, 2025. Don’t be fooled by the small older home-turned-quaint-casual restaurant. We were utterly blown away by the food. Best homemade chunky guacamole. The Mayan style chicken adobo was moist and tender. The garlic prawns were cooked to perfection. The cheese enchiladas with Yucatán style sauce were to die for. The Cochinita Pibil (pork slowed cooked in banana leaves) was tender and moist. Many of the dishes are served with generous and delicious portions of black beans, fresh salsa, fruit salsa, guacamole, rice, and Mayan coleslaw. The staff is friendly and make you feel right at home. We can’t wait to go back to try their other selections.

Luis E

I love the flavors of Mayan cuisine and this restaurant hits close to home with such delicious and savory food❤️, the service is great and every meal feels perfectly homemade and flavorful! My go-to will always be the enchiladas made with chicken stock sauce with the salsa, fruit, guac. I love this place and it will always be my go-to❤️

J Lee

Quaint little place with excellent food! We showed up past the breakfast hours, and when asked if chef can still make huevos ranchers, he said "come during breakfast!" So we ordered enchiladas and they were soooo good with great flavors. Chef/owner's response was hilarious and made us respect him. Next time, we will show up in time for breakfast as I'm sure the food will be great!

Shaun Low

Wow! We got off the main road in Half Moon Bay and found Cafe Capristrano in a quiet neighborhood on October 4, 2025. Don’t be fooled by the small older home-turned-quaint-casual restaurant. We were utterly blown away by the food. Best homemade chunky guacamole. The Mayan style chicken adobo was moist and tender. The garlic prawns were cooked to perfection. The cheese enchiladas with Yucatán style sauce were to die for. The Cochinita Pibil (pork slowed cooked in banana leaves) was tender and moist. Many of the dishes are served with generous and delicious portions of black beans, fresh salsa, fruit salsa, guacamole, rice, and Mayan coleslaw. The staff is friendly and make you feel right at home. We can’t wait to go back to try their other selections.

This place was good with a sunny atmosphere and great service, but the food was not super memorable. I had the Panuchos and others in the group had chincinita, eggs Yucatán style, and poc Chuk. Overall, the breakfast looked the best (served until noon)

Authentic experience, feel like granma cooking for me, although I never had mayan grandma, but I would imagine her cooking to be like this had I have one. The beef quesadilla was really good. I felt the soup was only alright.

Delicious food, attractively presented, fine service.

Four of us had dinner. We were seated immediately. While the specialty is Yucatán and myan food, the menu offers a diverse selection of Mexican options. We stuck to the myan options for our order. The food came quickly and the presentation was excellent. All four of us enjoyed the meal. The great flavor contrasts and clean taste elevate this better than most Mexican restaurants. They have their own hot sauce and frankly it was better and hotter than anything I’ve had in Mexico.

We ordered Panuchos, Pork Adobo. This spot is one of two Mayan/Yucatan restaurants run by Merida immigrants in Bay area as far as i know. Panuchos is incredibly delicious. You can see very thin layer of black beans between two deep-fried tortillas. And deep fried, the shell is so crispy, and then you’ve got that thin layer of salty, nutty black beans on the inside. Pickled onion, house made habanero salsa complement the flavors. The main ingredients used in Pork Adobo, Cochinita pibil must be Achiote. It has a slight peppery and lemony taste to it. It was a truly incredible experience to learn, eat traditional Mayan food!

+6

The setting is an old converted house, and the food tastes homemade. A very relaxed/casual environment. The food and service were both great. They have a variety of food options from the unique Myan dishes to dependable U.S. dishes such as burgers for kids that may not want to try something new. We will definitely return to try their breakfast menu items.

Great Yucatán cuisine in half Moon Bay. Delicious and comfortablehomey atmosphere. Great parking too. Also the garden around restaurant are interest. It was my first time that I saw the castor oil bush.

The location of the restaurant is super cute! Very reminiscent of Mexico. My boyfriend ordered the garlic prawns and I got the cochinita panuchos. The pictures don’t do the food justice! The prawns were well seasoned and the dish came with fresh tortillas on the side. I got the cochinita panuchos which come with 3 panuchos. It’s very filling! The bean stuffed maize patty is topped off with cold slaw and avocados. The service was okay. The prawns were the only fish option available which was unfortunate since one of us is vegetarian. Plenty of seating.

I had the pork cochinita pibil burrito and it was delicious! It was not overpowered by the typical sour cream, lettuce or cheese. The chicken adobo was exquisite! The chicken was so flavorful, tender and juicy! We will definitely come back to try other dishes. Thanks Chef Arturo for introducing us to Mayan/Yukatan cuisine!

somkietr rojanasathit

Great Yucatán cuisine in half Moon Bay. Delicious and comfortablehomey atmosphere. Great parking too. Also the garden around restaurant are interest. It was my first time that I saw the castor oil bush.

Evelyn Ponce

The location of the restaurant is super cute! Very reminiscent of Mexico. My boyfriend ordered the garlic prawns and I got the cochinita panuchos. The pictures don’t do the food justice! The prawns were well seasoned and the dish came with fresh tortillas on the side. I got the cochinita panuchos which come with 3 panuchos. It’s very filling! The bean stuffed maize patty is topped off with cold slaw and avocados. The service was okay. The prawns were the only fish option available which was unfortunate since one of us is vegetarian. Plenty of seating.

Glenn Reynolds

Four of us had dinner. We were seated immediately. While the specialty is Yucatán and myan food, the menu offers a diverse selection of Mexican options. We stuck to the myan options for our order. The food came quickly and the presentation was excellent. All four of us enjoyed the meal. The great flavor contrasts and clean taste elevate this better than most Mexican restaurants. They have their own hot sauce and frankly it was better and hotter than anything I’ve had in Mexico.

Jeanette Ram

I had the pork cochinita pibil burrito and it was delicious! It was not overpowered by the typical sour cream, lettuce or cheese. The chicken adobo was exquisite! The chicken was so flavorful, tender and juicy! We will definitely come back to try other dishes. Thanks Chef Arturo for introducing us to Mayan/Yukatan cuisine!

A Disappointing Dining Experience While the friendly and attentive service at Cafe Capistrano was a bright spot, the food unfortunately fell short of expectations. The flavors were lackluster, and the portion sizes seemed disproportionate to the price. The quality and freshness of the ingredients also raised some concerns. Despite the colorful plated ingredients- It felt like the food was lacking that authentic Mexican bold flavors . While the atmosphere might be inviting, the overall dining experience left much to be desired. Will not visit again.

Dana Sliman

A Disappointing Dining Experience While the friendly and attentive service at Cafe Capistrano was a bright spot, the food unfortunately fell short of expectations. The flavors were lackluster, and the portion sizes seemed disproportionate to the price. The quality and freshness of the ingredients also raised some concerns. Despite the colorful plated ingredients- It felt like the food was lacking that authentic Mexican bold flavors . While the atmosphere might be inviting, the overall dining experience left much to be desired. Will not visit again.