About Cafe Rae
Lime green, hand-painted.
The Cafe Rae sunburst has marked this lime-green corner of El Camino Real since 2007 — a dining room hung wall to wall with handcrafted batik textiles, and a kitchen with an unlikely rock-and-roll past.
The idea
A batik gallery that serves breakfast.
Cafe Rae is a bright, eclectic breakfast and lunch spot on El Camino Real — a lime green storefront, a hand-painted sunburst logo, and a dining room hung with 40 years of Jenny Shapiro's batik textile art. Terry Shapiro's kitchen turns out generous, unpretentious, health-conscious plates every morning, from stuffed French toast to huevos rancheros. Cash preferred, good vibes guaranteed.
The people behind it
Meet the owners.
Jenny Shapiro
Batik Artist & Co-Owner
Jenny Shapiro, a Philly native, grew up with a family in the restaurant and catering business. She's been batiking for over 40 years, and the mix of cheerful colors and radiant images has inspired the decor and warmth of Cafe Rae — you can see her vivid designs in every detail of the restaurant.
Terry Shapiro
Chef & Co-Owner
Terry Shapiro is a self-taught chef born of the rock-and-roll catering business. His work extends back to 1989 with the Rolling Stones on the Steel Wheels Tour, later working with Nirvana on the Warped Tour, Yanni, and Neil Diamond. Terry was also chef and owner of a small restaurant in Massachusetts prior to opening Cafe Rae. His culinary style is uniquely health-conscious, with generous homemade portions made daily.
What we believe
Colorful, unhurried, welcoming to all.
Handmade, Down to the Walls
Jenny's batik textile art and handcrafted clothing fill the dining room — no two visits to Cafe Rae look quite the same.
A Chef with Stories
Terry's kitchen background runs from the Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels Tour to Nirvana's Warped Tour — health-conscious, generous, homemade cooking every day.
Laid-Back, Welcoming, Loud in Color
A surfer/hippie vibe, bright mismatched chairs, and a staff that makes everyone feel like a regular — LGBTQ+ friendly, always.
Open Since November 2007
The Shapiros have run Cafe Rae for years on El Camino Real — a San Clemente fixture for funky, unpretentious breakfast and lunch.
Behind the counter
Made by hand, every morning.
Batters mixed fresh, salsa and guacamole made in-house, and portions built generous — Terry's health-conscious, homemade approach hasn't changed since day one.
Behind the scenes
A little glimpse in.
