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Ciao Pasta, San Juan Capistrano, CA

Ciao Pasta

4.8
4.8
1288 Reviews
$30 and under
Italian

Make a reservation

2 people
11:00 p.m.
Booked 11 times today
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Ciao Pasta offers the most authentic flavors of southern Italy in a historic setting reminiscent of the old world. Located in the heart of San Juan Capistrano, we take pride in bringing the rich flavors and traditions of Italy right to your table. Our menu features a delightful array of dishes, from handmade pasta and artisanal pizzas to fresh seafood and seasonal vegetables, all crafted with the finest ingredients.

At Ciao Pasta, we believe that great food is best enjoyed in good company. Our cozy atmosphere is perfect for family gatherings, romantic dinners, or casual nights out with friends. With a selection of carefully curated wines and house-made desserts, we invite you to indulge in the taste of Italy.

Happy hour at Ciao Pasta includes discounted house wine and beer, where guests are free to indulge in the beverages as they share affordable appetizers and select entrees.

Join us for a culinary journey that celebrates the passion and culture of Italian dining. Buon Appetito!

Additional information

What 1,288 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • South Orange County

    Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Ciao Pasta in San Juan Capistrano is a delightful Italian gem known for its "authentic Italian expertise" and warm ambiance. Diners rave about its "superb food and service," with standout dishes like the Alaskan halibut and Caesar salad. The patio offers a "lovely dining experience," making it perfect for celebrations or casual outings.

1,288 Reviews
  1. Laura VIP

    Hawaii29 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    The restaurant was cold and the noise level was high. The indoor dining area is small, and packed with several tables for 6-8 people. We were a party of two, so we had a mostly-silent meal because the larger parties were so loud that we struggled to have our own conversation. Perhaps it would be wise to have the larger groups out on the noisy patio, and have more small party tables in the tiny indoor space.

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  2. Leslie

    Los Angeles8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best Italian place in San Juan Capistrano-love supporting a family business.

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  3. cliff VIP

    Orange County55 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on February 24, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    I have decided to give 5 star/outstanding ratings to only "outstanding" elements. Accordingly 3 stars is fine, it is not very good or outstanding. Corkage fee was quoted at $30.00. Were took the bottle we brought with us home. I don't know maybe that is a typical corkage fee now. I specifically requested anchovies on my Cesar salad, was told they were available but did not get them. When I told the server the salad didn't have ant anchovies they responded "I know. I won't charge you for them". To which I replied "good decision because I am not paying for them". It was not a contentious exchange. They never rushed us which was very nice. My carbonara was a little dry. The short ribs were good. Desert was fine. If street parking is unavailable park in the rear north of the restaurant. Parking on the south side of the restaurant is $2.00 per hour.

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  4. Russ

    Central Coast17 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on February 23, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food and service were really good! However I will never go back until the parking issue is resovlved, Parking is horriblre!!!! Not enough spaces and you have to drive all over a pay parking lot for 20 minutes just to find a spot. There are theaters, multiple restaurants and businesses that all use this parking. I saw two guys almost in a fist fight and multiple people yelling about spaces. Just horrible and dangerous. The city really made a mess of the parking in this area for sure.

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  5. Bryan

    Orange County1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great customer service would recommend to anyone trying to eat some Italian food

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  6. Julie VIP

    Chicago7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was our first time at Ciao Pasta but it won’t be our last! Service was excellent, our waiter gave sound input on various dishes and they were great about letting us try a couple wines before deciding to go with the red on their specials list (it was superb!). The bread that they bring was perfect with the seasoned oil we topped it with. Zucchini blossoms were well balanced and the marinara outstanding. Calamari was tasty and a sizable portion. We thoroughly enjoyed the homemade pasta special with spicy sausage and the peccheri was also delicious. We also enjoyed the short rib entree. Don’t forget to order limoncello for desert. So good!!

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  7. jim

    Orange County11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food as always. Heat lamps make outdoor patio dining comfortable. One of our go to spots near our home.

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  8. Judy

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food came out super fast, service was top notch, and the ambience was so pretty. I would defiantly come back for a date.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Orange County1 review

    5.0

    Dined on January 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was lovely to spend my birthday at Ciao Pasta! I love that I got a little cannoli as a birthday treat. The hosts and servers were lovely as well!!

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  10. Michael

    Tahoe6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on January 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As always, the service is professional and friendly with delicious food. And, they pour a decent glass of wine, which is very much appreciated. It’s my favorite nice-dining restaurant with fair prices for fabulous food and drink.

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FAQs

Ciao Pasta offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (949) 496-5002.

Ciao Pasta is rated 4.8 stars by 1288 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
11:00 p.m.
Booked 11 times today
Google Map for Ciao Pasta

31661 Camino Capistrano Ste 201, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Seafood, Vegetarian / Vegan
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 11:00 am–9:30 pm
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street parking or back lot parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Pasquale
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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