Pacific Pearl Cafe

31654 Rancho Viejo Rd g, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675, United States
+1 949-312-2906
$$$ Cafe
(65 Reviews)
Price Range $10–20

If you're searching for a delightful escape in San Juan Capistrano, look no further than Pacific Pearl Cafe, a charming cafe that combines artisanal flair with a warm, inviting atmosphere. Nestled at 31654 Rancho Viejo Rd g, this hidden gem is known for its delicious array of coffees, fresh pastries, and mouthwatering lunch options.

Walking into Pacific Pearl Cafe, you're greeted by the intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the tempting scent of pastries cascading from the display case. The cafe has a cozy, intimate feel, with comfortable seating that invites you to linger a little longer, whether you're working on a project or catching up with a friend. Many have noted the cafe's welcoming vibe, making it a perfect haven for anyone looking to unwind or find inspiration.

As for the menu, Pacific Pearl Cafe shines in its offerings. The star of the show is undoubtedly the tuna melt, praised by numerous customers as the best they've ever had. One enthusiastic diner, Jocelyn Valadez, shared how she couldn't resist devouring hers before even leaving the parking lot! The melt showcases high-quality tuna, expertly grilled on rye, presenting a comforting balance of flavors. Pair it with their Carrot Cake or the Yosemite Salad, featuring fresh ingredients sourced with care, and you're in for a real treat.

And let's not forget the coffee! The cafe prides itself on serving consistently good brews, perfect for pairing with their delightful gluten-free pastries. Christina Hernandez, a loyal customer, raved about their flavorful sweet potato tarts, making them a must-try for dessert lovers or anyone with dietary restrictions.

Beyond the food, the staff at Pacific Pearl Cafe enhances the experience with their knowledgeable and friendly service. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a regular, you can expect to be treated with warmth and genuine care. As one reviewer noted, sitting in the cafe feels like being at home, making it the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a bit of life's simple pleasures.

In a world where rushed meals and impersonal dining experiences are the norm, Pacific Pearl Cafe stands out as a nurturing sanctuary for food lovers and coffee aficionados alike. Don’t miss out on this adorable little bakery — it could easily become your new favorite spot in San Juan Capistrano!

Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Service options
Has outdoor seating
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
No delivery
Highlights
Serves great coffee
Serves great dessert
Has great tea selection
Popular for
Popular for breakfast
Popular for lunch
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves healthy options
Quick bite
Dining options
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Trendy
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Openings Hours
Checking

Monday

8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Tuesday

8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Wednesday

8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Thursday

8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Friday

8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Saturday

8:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Sunday

Closed

65 Reviews
Jocelyn Valadez

12 Sep 2025

Adorable little bakery with sandwiches and coffee. Tuna is something I am super super picky about, and I have to admit, their tuna melt was the best I have ever had. My mom and I didn’t even make it out of the parking lot before finishing it off. Heck even the photo I took was after we ate the first half, it looked so good and tasted even better. The pastries were amazing as well, and the coffee is perfect to top it all off. My mom’s avocado toast was also beautiful and delicious.

Jill Greenwood

26 Aug 2025

Wow, SO delicious. What a hidden gem! Their baked goods are out of this world, and their sandwiches and salads are incredible. Their pickles are from the local ecology centre, and are so unique and special. Highly recommend the tuna melt, the ecology centre chopped salad, and the Yosemite salad. The staff are so lovely too!

Fang Phattha

11 Aug 2025

A really nice breakfast/brunch cafe in a complex with a lot of shops. The carrot cake was amazing and all the desserts are great too. We tried breakfast burrito and tuna sandwich. They were great! Food was just on point. The caramel coffee was really good too. Unfortunately they didn’t have restrooms and I was so desperate to find one because the pizza place nearby hasn’t opened yet.

Christina Hernandez

21 Jul 2025

I love going to this small yet amazing cafe!!! The coffee drinks are consistently good and the GF pastries are delicious! My kids love the mini briberry loafs and I love the sweet potato tarts!

Janet Mosbrook

07 Jul 2025

I visited after seeing Grub with Greg’s review and was so glad I did! The entire case of gluten-free bakery items was impressive, and the staff were incredibly knowledgeable about cross-contact. They walked me through their process with care and transparency, clearly explaining that while they do their best, some risk remains. Based on their handling practices, I felt comfortable and safe. I chose the gluten-free pumpkin loaf (delicious!) and was kindly given the banana loaf to try—also amazing. I can’t wait to come back and try their sandwiches on gluten-free bread!

N D

29 Jun 2025

My first time here! What a wonderful experience! Very nice comfortable chairs and interesting setting! You can sit and face outside so feels good! I feel like home! Is nt this amazing ? I am sitting working on my most stressful project but feel welcome and calm! Lynn which I hope I remembered her name right, is very sweet with such a kind aura! She offered me a nice in house cup so I can enjoy my Caramel latte like home Thank you for being very nice and welcoming

Rob Ladd

26 Jun 2025

Popped in here to try the chefs recommended fave, the Yellowtail Tuna Melt. A bit smaller than I imagined it would be, reminded me of a smashburger but use grilled rye and tuna. Overall I really liked it. You could taste the difference in the yellowtail and the quality of the fish was there. Wasn’t a whole lot of anything else to make it more exciting or complex to really wow me or blow me away. I was hoping for a bit more complexity in the sandwich given they source alot of local ingredients from The Ecology Center (which is my fave). I don’t think I’d be in a super hurry to order the yellowtail tuna but would be willing to try some of the other things there. Overall a nice atmosphere and a spot that does use higher than average ingredients. P.S. I also tried their gluten free pumpkin cake, and that was rather small but wasn’t too sweet which I like and tasted good. It did have a bit gritty texture to it so that was a bit strange and the mouthfeel for me was off. While I like the fact it was GF, I didn’t necessarily enjoy that strange gritty texture to it. UPDATE: I see the response from the owner was regarding Scratch Bakery in Laguna Hills. I did NOT review that store or location!! Never been there.. So for anyone reading this, please be aware this review was for Pacific Pearl in SJC...

Sheena Marie

27 May 2025

My husband referred me to this place because it's supposed to be gluten-free. The barista was pretty friendly but not knowledgeable whether or not the menu items were keto friendly or gluten-free. I ordered the burrito bowl and I supplemented the rice for lettuce. The carnitas in the burrito bowl was delicious. All the flavors together went well but it was a very strong flavor so I wasn't able to eat much more than half. I asked the barista which would be the best baked item to recommend for me and my husband to try and the chef encouraged her to choose the zucchini chocolate chip coffee cake. They said this is a favorite amongst all customers. I also purchased a chocolate chip cookie. The chocolate chip cookie was amazing. It's like a brownie texture very heavy and moist and the sea salt on it is the perfect touch...if this is actually healthy then kudos to the chef because it was amazing. The zucchini coffee cake however was extremely dry and we took one bite and threw it away because it was not good at all. I was pretty disappointed that I even asked them which item to recommend because they picked what was the most boring item to look at and in my opinion probably the worst tasting baked item I've ever had in my life. Maybe if I soaked it in milk for like 5 minutes but the fact that it looks like a bran muffin is already off putting enough. I took pictures of some of the other treats in the case that I probably should have ordered because they looked way more appetizing and I went with my gut on the cookie and that ended up being great.

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