I come here every time I surf San Onofre, ready with my <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Frestaurant.com&s=c5fe485af4df376130bee54f875814d79c4d7913e1258123b1206d2bdbf4873b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://restaurant.com</a> gift certificate. I get an entire meal combo, with a margarita and only paid 5 bucks with tip! That is of course with eating with two other friends, BUT STILL the savings are enormous.
Their endless chips and salsa is a major perk in my book. You will wait 10-15 minutes for your food, so the waiting staff does provide you with more than enough snack to hold you till your real meal.
GET THE CHILI RELLENO! This place does a really good job of not over-cooking it and keeping the texture crispy. They douse it in red sauce and it will give you a food coma in about an hour.
Their outside seating a nice break from all of the chaos from the TVs blasting inside. Then again, there is also a TV outside but it is usually off. If you are bustling through San Clemente definitely hit this place up!
We got lost in San Clemente and found El Jefe wedged between a big-box pharmacy and auto parts store. Â A Mexican restaurant who serves fish and chips? Â An unlikely restaurant in an unlikely location: chances are it survived with good reason, so why not give it a try? Â The salsa and flan are freshly handmade and the beer is cold and cheap. Â This wasn't the best Mexican food we've ever had, but the service was friendly and fast. Â The cheese they use on enchiladas and quesadillas is spectacular, but the beans and rice are uninspired. Â We've pledged to give the fish and chips a try if we find ourselves in San Clemente again. Â Caveat emptor: this is a very family-friendly restaurant that welcomes small children but patrons nearby didn't hesitate to speak loudly and at length about their drug habits.
Review Source:Stopped here for a veggie burrito to-go after being out of the country for two weeks.. What a serious letdown for my first taste of Mexican in what seemed like ages.
First of all, the menu listed rice and beans with the burritos, but when we didn't see any, we asked the server and she said it was inside the burrito. Well there were beans (as with most veggie burritos), but no sign of rice.
Secondly, the burrito was small and wrapped like a square. Nothing like I've ever seen or held before and impossible to eat, so I had to use a knife & fork.
Thirdly, it was basically a veggie fajita in a tortilla. No fresh vegetables - no lettuce, no tomatoes, no sour cream, etc. Just greasy bell peppers, soggy onions, barely-there cheese & bland salsa. Oh, but they put potatoes in there too?!
Overall, I was thoroughly unimpressed. Maybe it's because I was longing the taste of a scrumptious burrito, but I highly doubt it! I've attached a photo for those that are interested in seeing this atrocity.
(I'm giving it one star because the tortilla seemed fresh and homemade and the server was nice and friendly.)
When here because we had a $25 <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Frestaurant.com&s=c5fe485af4df376130bee54f875814d79c4d7913e1258123b1206d2bdbf4873b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://restaurant.com</a> gift card, the only stipulation is that we had to spend $45 to use the card...seemed easy enough until we saw the prices. Â Family of 4, with two growing boys, we typically have a $50~$60 bill. Â We ordered: 2 margaritas, 2 sodas, a cup of soup, appetizer nachos, 2 taco plate w/side of beans, 2 enchilada plate, nachos for one son and bean and cheese burrito for the other...at the end of the day our meal total was only $39 and we were normally don't order appetizers or soup nor do we order off the adult menu for the kids.
The food was delicious, the wife said the enchiladas could use more sauce, I thought they were perfect. Â The fish tacos were amazing, better than Pedro's Tacos. Â The Pork on the nachos melted in your mouth. Â Nachos come with guar and sour cream on them but I don't think the menu says that (wife hates guac) so you may want to order on the side.
The salsa was amazing top 2 in the area, chips were a little lacking but the salsa was great.
I think I just found my hole in the wall mexican food joint that I've been looking for since i moved up here from San Diego 3 years ago.
El Jefe's Cafe is the best lil mexican restaurant in the south OC, although small this place packs a punch. The staff is very friendly and and very attentive to there customers. If you like drinking Mi Cheledas this is the place for you, they serve the best Mi Cheledas this side of the border!!!!
Review Source:Came here at lunch once. Found it by accident when driving down el camino real. My co-worker wanted mexican and I said, im right here, to which she said FOOD silly. Ha ha ha ...stupid me. Anyways we both decided to gave Jefe a shot. We went in, sat down and both ordered tortas. I ordered my fave torta .....Milanesa. I don't remember what she ordered....maybe chicken??
They gave us complimentary chips and salsa. Chips were ok but the salsa more than made up for the so so chips.
A few minutes later the tortas came out. They both looked deliciously large!! Mine tasted ok but ive had alot better! I only managed to eat half. Its rare that i  leave half for later. The refried beans were not fully mashed and kept fallin out. Also the lettuce was not crisp. maybe next time JEfe!!
or maybe next time i'll order the FIsh n Chips!!!
Second time in 10 years since I've eaten here and I ask myself, why so long? Â The food is very good. Me and my traveling companion stopped here for breakfast and were amazed at the portions and how good the food was. Â I had the El Jefe Omelet and completely cleaned my plate. My friend had the Burrito and said it as very good. Â It's a nice little "hole in the wall" and it won't be another 10 years before I eat there again.
Review Source:I went on a Tuesday evening. Â It was very slow yet it took 30 minutes to get my two tacos. Â The server basically ignored us until I approached her to ask for another margarita which took 15 minutes to get to me. Â The staff was too busy mopping the floors and cleaning to attend to customers. Â Terrible service, weak margaritas, and so so food. Â I won't go back.
Review Source:I have no idea how their mexican food tastes. All I know is - for 15 years I have been eating here and for 15 years in all of my attempts to find Fish and Chips as good as this place - I have failed miserably. THIS little hole in the wall serves the best in the west, no one does it better. I will cheat on any diet just to get my hands on this fish and chips. In fact I think I will go there today before I go to the gym in the morning.
Review Source:La Siesta had a line outside the door tonight, we were hungry and thought it was a great opportunity to try this place that we had driven by countless times.
Tip: Wait in the line at La Siesta!
Our experience at El Jefe was bad. I had heard they had the best fish & chips in town, so I assumed they would have a good fish taco. They don't.
The tacos had that fishy smell of old seafood and the tortillas disintegrated, forcing me to eat the tacos with a fork. Beans and rice looked and tasted old. My wife's chicken taco was served cold.
My daughter did like her fish and chips, but later said she had better elsewhere.
My beer was cold, the salsa was actually quite good, but the chips are so hard and flavorless, my daughter said it was like chewing rocks.
We will not return/
I was so excited to try this place after reading the reviews on Yelp. Â My boyfriend and I stopped in here on a Sunday afternoon and there were only a few other people in the restaurant. Â The chips and salsa were great. Â My boyfriend ordered the Fish & Chips (after reading all the great reviews, we had to try them). Â I ordered the carne asada tacos with all the fixins (green sauce, onions, cilantro). Â The food was delicious, but that's where the greatness stops. Â The service left a lot to be desired, especially for it not being busy in there. Â The waitress only stopped by once and that was to drop off our food. Â The cherry on top was that when we were going to pay, we wanted to use an Entertainment book coupon and she said "well, it doesn't say on there, but we don't include seafood with the discount." Â If you want patrons to come back, then you should honor what it says on the coupon! Definitely will not be coming back here, you can get better service and food elsewhere!
Review Source:Authentic Mexican Food!!
Just a small Taqueria, with a few tables inside and a few more on the patio, but the authentic Mexican food they prepare on-site is great! It's prepared in the traditional Mexican style and never fatty or overcooked. The guacamole is fantastic, too! Â Try a Carnitas burrito or grab a dozen fresh tortillas and order a half pound of Carnitas to go.
I'd rate it higher if they would add some more tables and another cashier.
Just a small place off El Camino Real. Named after it's reputation for being a good place to pick up a day laborer (back when it shared a parking lot with the local hardware store. A family run restaurant offering authentic Mexican food at a very reasonable price. Beer by the bottle, glass or pitcher, too.
They are also well known for the fish & chips, Yep it's a local favorite!
I usually sit outside on the patio. It's small but open and friendly. Try a Carnitas plate or a carne asada taco.
El Jefe.... a very authentic Mexican family restaurant.. It is run by El Jefe's family.
I have been coming here for over 8 years. Simply the Best if you know what to order! This restaurant is known for its YUMMY Icelandic Cod Fish&Chips. Their Fish&Chips are so damn good, that I don't order Fish&Chips anywhere else, except here. Sometimes they have Mom's special fire roasted bell pepper salsa that comes with their authentic El Jefe Chips. Their chips are definitely differ from other Mexican restaurants I've been too. Its crunchy and crispy! If you prefer to have more salsa variety, just ask for all their salsa selection.
They also have a terrific Taco Tuesday deals. On Tuesdays, you must oder their Icelandic cod FISH tacos (fried or grilled)! Either way, it's delicious. It's the best deal in town. I also recommend their shrimp tacos (not part of the Taco Tuesday deal though, but it's EXCELLENT!) I remember their 2 tacos with rice and beans used to be $2.00. You can also make a special request to have Black beans instead of their beans selection. Since my boyfriend and I have been coming here for years. We were hinting that they should raise the price up. Our request have been answered. Their Taco Tuesday deal is still cheap ($4.50) compared to other Mexican restaurants in San Clemente. A meal is not complete without their Amber Dos Equis $5 half a pitcher or $11 for full pitcher. My only complaint is that beer is not served with chilled glass mug. Instead it is served with a plastic chilled mug. They have a pair of glass mugs if you request it ahead of time when you order your Beer. Â The beer flavor definitely makes a huge difference if you are a beer connoisseur.
The staff is very friendly and courteous. I love the restaurant's alley location  (behind Autozone & across Rite Aid).
My boyfriend, at the time, LOVED this place and since we lived nearby he often wanted to come here. Usually enough time would pass in between that I couldn't remember what "note to self" I flagged in my head for the next time I was roped into going back.
The beans were never very good, the lettuce was often wilted, and they only used the really watery, worthless iceberg lettuce, and even the chips weren't the usual addictive kind that I can't stop eating just out of pure habit.
Also, they only serve Pepsi. I'm strictly Coca-cola, that's a HUGE thumbs down for me.
Finally, they almost always drowned my food in sour cream, and the quacamole was usually not that great either.
I do not remember a visit to this place that I ever left feeling pleased that I had ate the food.
Entertainment club coupon.
Solid greasy spoon mexican joint. Â A little grimy, but it comes out in the spectacular flavor. Â I had chilaquiles with red sauce and my wide them with green sauce. Â Surprisingly spicy...a bit much for your average gringo.
Salsa was a nice rough chop, you could tell they made that as well as there sauces in house.
We felt like some Mexican, but really, it was because there were just so many Mexican restaurants around here that prompted us to want Mexican. Hubby saw this place out of the corner of his eye as we whisked by a side street and so turned around and drove into a small alleyway and parked his car.
I was extremely skeptical when I saw the sign which read "Mexican food, fish & chips". I even said to hubby "FISH & CHIPS? WTH?" to which he asked "so do you want to eat here or not?" I took his cell phone and pulled up this place on yelp, but alas, no reviews to give me any direction whatsoever. Lil guy was complaining of hunger so I gave in.
As we walked in I noticed a few tables of Mexicans but mostly a Caucasian clientele. I had no expectations whatsoever and hoped for the best. As I was walking into the other room in the back which had natural sunlight (better for photo taking), I noticed a white board with the specials and immediately felt better. Listed were menudo, mojarra frita and a couple more traditional items.
Lil guy got the kids' meal consisting of a quesadilla with fries or beans and rice and a drink for a little shy of $5. Hubby ordered the shrimp cocktail (I think it was $7.95) and I guess you can have octopus in it as well if you wish as the server asked hubby who ended up getting it mixed with the shrimps. I stuck with my usual fare of mojarra frita ($7.50).
The complimentary salsa and chips were good, although not spicy enough for us. Hubby asked for a spicier salsa but it was just a spicy red sauce without much taste. However, mixed with the salsa fresca it created a nice balance.
Lil guy's quesadilla (we added chicken to the basic cheese) was a heaping portion for a child's meal. He offered me a taste and it was very good which is probably why he finished the entire thing PLUS the beans and rice. The beans definitely had lard in it which gave it that all too flavorful taste, but I left mine alone because lard gives me a stomach ache. The rice was a little dry but it had the right amount of seasoning.
My mojarra frita was nicely fried. Strangely they didn't season it evenly so half of the fish had nothing but the plain fish taste while the other half was really nicely flavored. A squeeze of lemon and a bite of grilled jalapenos (which I asked for when I ordered) just made it all the better.
Hubby's shrimp and octopus cocktail was a tad too sweet for me and not spicy enough. We ended up asking for chopped fresh jalapenos which we added to it and with a few squeezes of lemon it was tasty enough for me.
I thought it was a very enjoyable meal. Service was a tad slow but there was only one person dealing with a lot of tables. I didn't really mind but would've liked my water refilled a little more. She did come by to refill hubby's diet coke though, but he drinks a lot slower than I do.
Our 3 meals with a diet coke and freshly squeezed OJ for lil guy (not sure if that was included as part of the kid's meal or was charged extra) came to $24 before tip.... a complete bargain if you ask me.
I had the shrimp cocktail. The server asked if I wanted octopus in it and after much pondering I said yes. The portion was quite large. I thought it wasn't as spicy as I'd like and even after adding Tapatio sauce it didn't cut it so I asked the server for some chopped fresh jalapenos. After that and a squeeze of lemon it was awesome.
The place is small and very relaxed, perfect on a breezy sunny afternoon. The family enjoyed their food too and you can read their reviews about what they ate.
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