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It’s not often that an under-the-radar, family-run restaurant opens to rave reviews — both of the professional and Yelp variety — but the Sánchez family’s Capullo Cocina Mexicana, have done just that. Siblings Felipa, Rosa, Gustavo and Francisco opened their new place in late September, in the downtown spot formerly housing Mangosteen. Capullo specializes in Mexican dishes from the Jalisco region.
Walnut Creek was desperately in need of a Mexican restaurant with this fresh, wholesome, elevated focus — think less late-night burritos, more regional specialties — with lovingly-prepared pozole rojo, fish-of-the-day ceviche and mole negro Oaxaqueño, plus a solid wine list to go with it. Caymus and Veuve Clicquot? You bet.
Service was slow to start, as staff figured out how to accommodate demand for those perfect (and free) chips and salsa, which were served in small quantities on our visit. But here’s how it all went:
THE VIBE: Fine dining but laid-back, with simple leather chairs, tables for two and four, a red-painted wall and vibrant Day of the Dead accents. The Sánchezes are trying to do it all: Dinner, lunch and breakfast, which features a full menu and an espresso bar. In addition to that wine list, they do freshly-made white and red sangria and offer 12 beers on tap. A full liquor license is pending.
FOOD: The dinner menu includes antojitos ($10-$13), ensaladas and sopas ($10-$18), tacos and tortas ($10-$15) and platos principales ($12-$24), including one large platter ($40), for sharing. Lunch will run you $3-$5 per taco and $10-$13 for entrees.
Everything we tasted was fresh and craveable, especially the Chile Relleno ($19), a roasted and pasilla pepper stuffed with tender duck carnitas, mushrooms and diced potatoes, topped with pickled veggies and served on spicy tomato sauce. We’ll never go back to the flavorless cheese-packed variety again.
Another home-run: Tampiqueña ($24), a grilled rib-eye steak topped with roasted poblanos and sauteed onions, served with sides of rice, beans, tortillas and pomegranate-topped guacamole. You can get a whole order of that guac, served with chips in a molcajete, for $13.
DON’T MISS: Happy hour (3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday) with $5 wines and sangria and $3 beers. Also, Taco Tuesday: Three tacos and a beer for $10.
PERFECT FOR… Taco Tuesday, dinner with the family, an afternoon of sopes and sangria or a beer and queso fundido night.
DETAILS: Open Tuesday-Sunday, with breakfast from 6 to 10 a.m., lunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. at 1518 Bonanza St., Walnut Creek; https://capullococinamexicana.com
