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Los Patios Mexican Cocina
By Donia Moore
Escape south of the border without ever having to leave Orange County! Your ticket to authentic Mexican cuisine is just minutes away at Los Patios Mexican Cocina in the Historic Old City Plaza in San Clemente.
Carlos Frutos opened Los Patios in 2002. Born and raised in the restaurant industry in Mexico City, he’s honed a talent for matching the rich flavors of fresh ingredients with piquant spices. Carlos has traveled from Guadalajara to Ensenada and Cancun to Mazatlan to bring customers delightful and subtly sophisticated dishes that are representative of his native country.
Los Patios has received the honor of having been voted “Best Mexican Food” in San Clemente by local newspapers… and for good reason. During my recent visit, I enjoyed the traditional Aztecan Molcajete of grilled pork, steak, chicken, and shrimp served steaming hot on a lava rock plate. The dish was both delicious and satisfying. I also sampled the vegetarian Spinach Enchiladas which combined sautéed fresh spinach and tomatillos, garnished with poblano peppers in a creamy pesto sauce — divine.
I highly recommend trying Alida’s Favorite, named after Carlos’s lovely wife, and of the most popular dishes on the menu. This grilled chicken breast and shrimp entrée is sautéed in a flavorful garlic chipotle sauce. For a twist on the traditional, Los Patios offers Rellenos Del Mar, with two poblano chiles stuffed with crab, scallops, shrimp and cheese — a fantastic choice for seafood lovers.
The friendly, knowledgeable staff made my experience at Los Patios that much more enjoyable. Carlos encourages customer suggestions and feedback from diners and has even collaborated with them to create new dishes. The Queso Fundido with shrimp and scallops, for example, was born of a joint effort between servers and patrons and remains one of the most popular appetizers at the restaurant.
Los Patios features $1 street tacos on Taco Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and all-you-can-eat Endless Enchiladas for just $9.99 on Thursdays. Happy Hour food and drink specials are available from 2 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The kiddos can also get in on the action with full meals for only $5.95 on the Amiguitos menu. Los Patios also offers a completely customizable catering menu for your next gathering or special event.
