Restaurants in San Clemente
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Best Restaurants
“We had. not been here in years and our recent visit did not disappoint. Our server Cole was excellent. The food was superb. Highly recommended.”
“Just had a fantastic lunch at HotnChili! The garlic naan was so yummy. We also had the chicken tiki masala & the tandoori chicken. It was all delicious & served quickly. We will be back! 💯💞💞💞💞”
“When we had to change my brother-in-laws rehearsal dinner and welcome drinks because of the wildfires this past weekend, Ilya stepped up and was so accommodating to our group. The service was exceptional and no one ever had to wait longer than a couple minutes for a drink and we had close to 60 people. Christian, in particular, was amazing and went above and beyond for our party! The food was delicious, full of flavor, and had a great variety for all the different allergies our large group had. What could’ve been a really disappointing situation turned into one of the highlights of the weekend and we are so thankful for the way Ilya treated our family!”
“Always have had a great experience here, and I have going here for over 40 years!!!”
Restaurants by Cuisine
“Beachfire is always on point! Great food, great atmosphere and great service. They are all so nice and the owners always support local schools as well so that’s another plus!”
Restaurants with Delivery
“The owner/chef is a nice dude with portions as big as his personality. For those unfamiliar- think home cooked “el pollo loco” if you will. His wife is the other chef and prep cook. I like simple food and the Half chicken with rice and beans is my go to since 2018. Local tip: this is a couple who’s been running the joint for over 40yrs, the husband is the only cook and sometimes his wife hopes over to help turn out meals. Sometimes the chicken is underdone when they’re super busy, but in almost 10 years I’ve maybe gotten 3 under cooked meats and when I bring it up, he cooks it more, sometimes throws in a free leg or wing and some extra guac or beans. This is as close to hole in the wall/family as it gets. For what this place is, I hope it stays Open until they retire or a son/daughter takes over. Think el pollo loco before it became mainstream, for a day I’m not feeling burgers, I love coming here and sitting on the. Lot of good fish on the menu too, makes me think Baja or south gulf. Very refreshing eats”
“Great Food. Creative interior design. Wonderful staff. Unique comfort food. My favorite is the Smoked Meatloaf Breakfast Sandwich. Very cozy. Only 12 tables, that are always full. Lots of “Regular” customers. This is a place that you want to return to, time and time again.”
“My wife and I go there about once a week. The ice cream is so good that there can be a line out the door on a cold day. The girls that work there are mostly friendly until it gets close to closing time. However Sunny is friendly at all times and has the greatest smile. South Swell also caters and its a favorite at wedding receptions. I highly recommend!”
“Just wanna shout out Casen Jo. Absolute menace putting in orders on the computer. 7 ppl and 11 custom burgers? No problem for Casen. I will post this without a photo, but I will ask him to take a picture with me and if he says yes I will add it. God bless America”
“Went with another couple to enjoy the 2026 Car Show but ate at the Fisherman's. We enjoy the ocean views, the food is delightful and mimosa are refreshing! Margaritas are very good here too.”
“Came for lunch with my gran about a month after my grandfather passed. It was my gran's first outing since the funeral and i was worried but our server was this adorable silver haired woman named Rebecca. She had my Gran laughing the whole time. We ordered combos and the suggested jalapeño watermelon margaritas, which were spicy and refreshing. We needed a nap afterwards because we were too stuffed! My gran won't stop asking when we can go back. Thank you South of Nicks for lovely meal, and Thank you Rebecca, for helping a family member feel normal after tragedy. You are in our prayers”
Outdoor Dining
“One of my favorite local dive bars. The crowd is always friendly, and it’s easy to strike up a conversation with people. Liz behind the bar is the best—super welcoming and makes killer margaritas and lemon drops. They also serve pizza from Sonny’s, a local Italian spot, and it’s honestly some of the best bar food around. Definitely worth stopping in if you’re in the area.”
“We had been waiting to try a really good NYC pie in our own back yard again… Ryno’s did not disappoint! You could taste fermentation in the dough, the sweetness in the tomatoes, and the freshness of the cheeses… I gave it a four out five stars only based on the fact I could not request my pie to well done on the site, I like the snap … we will definitely order again. Welcome Ryno’s to San Clemente!”
“Came for lunch with my gran about a month after my grandfather passed. It was my gran's first outing since the funeral and i was worried but our server was this adorable silver haired woman named Rebecca. She had my Gran laughing the whole time. We ordered combos and the suggested jalapeño watermelon margaritas, which were spicy and refreshing. We needed a nap afterwards because we were too stuffed! My gran won't stop asking when we can go back. Thank you South of Nicks for lovely meal, and Thank you Rebecca, for helping a family member feel normal after tragedy. You are in our prayers”
“Excellent experience! Excellent food! Excellent service! Fantastic little owner owned/operated Northern Italian cuisine restaurant. We will return!”
“The best restaurant with mussels in South Cali. Highly recommend!”
Online Reservation Available
“When we had to change my brother-in-laws rehearsal dinner and welcome drinks because of the wildfires this past weekend, Ilya stepped up and was so accommodating to our group. The service was exceptional and no one ever had to wait longer than a couple minutes for a drink and we had close to 60 people. Christian, in particular, was amazing and went above and beyond for our party! The food was delicious, full of flavor, and had a great variety for all the different allergies our large group had. What could’ve been a really disappointing situation turned into one of the highlights of the weekend and we are so thankful for the way Ilya treated our family!”
“We came because we saw it is a relatively new place and had good reviews. Unfortunately, we did not find the food to be very good. I would say for price to quality, it was pretty average at best. In my opinion, the pizza was below average. It was a strange combination of the pretty good cheese and chicken combined with a horrendous crust. The shrimp pasta was alright while the carbonara was probably the best thing the table got. Additionally, while our server was great, they were spread so thin across all the tables in the front and back that it was tough to really ask for anything. I will come back another day and chalk it all up to just being an off day for the restaurant.”
“SARAH IS THE BEST IS THE WEST. after we got kick out of goodies. bc they thought our nevada id was fake (which btw turned out to be real bc we called the police and they scan it) sarah listened it our sob story even thought she didn’t have to. and everyone was so kind and accommodating. this place is a greatness for a chill vibe, if you’re looking to turn up. it’s not really the spot but to chill and drink and again have a chill cool night it’s totally fine. it would be cooler if they just offer a touch tunes to kinda set the vibe of the people
coming in. but again SARAH WAS THE BEST request her. <3”
“Googled a sports bar near me while in the Danny's parking lot. Mulligan's came up. My sister came from Del Mar my wife and I cane form Westminster. We kinda met in the middle. First walk in impression, dive bar. Pool tables, tvs and music. Bartender met us with a smile. Orders beers, wings ,mozzarella sticks, chicken wrap, ABC burger, and a BLT. Everything was simply perfect!!!!”
“We enjoyed a lovely dinner & dessert! The vibe was great; definitely could use a fan for airflow though! lol
Staff was friendly and hepful! Alex, our waitress, was absolutely wonderful! Knowledgeable, kind, and professional! :)”
24 Hour Restaurants
“We've come here twice. First time we stumbled accros Antoine's because it was close to our hotel. The 2nd time we came to the same hotel because it was close to Antoine's! Excellent food. Excellent Service. Enjoyed having breakfast and listening to all the locals visiting with each other. Dave can cook a STEAK!!! Perfect! Thank you Dave!”
Takeout Restaurants
“Googled a sports bar near me while in the Danny's parking lot. Mulligan's came up. My sister came from Del Mar my wife and I cane form Westminster. We kinda met in the middle. First walk in impression, dive bar. Pool tables, tvs and music. Bartender met us with a smile. Orders beers, wings ,mozzarella sticks, chicken wrap, ABC burger, and a BLT. Everything was simply perfect!!!!”
“Super Bowl Express has been one of my go-to spots in San Clemente for years and after today I had to leave a review.
Not only is the food consistently amazing, but the people there genuinely care about their customers. Joo, the owner, is one of the kindest business owners I’ve met and went completely above and beyond for us today. Martha was also incredibly welcoming and took amazing care of us.
The spam musubi is hands down the best in town, the beef bowls are unreal, and the Korean ribs are always a must order. Everything is fresh, flavorful, and consistent every single time.
Highly recommend supporting them if you haven’t been already.”
“We've come here twice. First time we stumbled accros Antoine's because it was close to our hotel. The 2nd time we came to the same hotel because it was close to Antoine's! Excellent food. Excellent Service. Enjoyed having breakfast and listening to all the locals visiting with each other. Dave can cook a STEAK!!! Perfect! Thank you Dave!”
“everything was excellent!! the rolls were freshly made and the attention was great, i loved everything, the service and the quality food were amazing!!
the red dragon roll was soooo good”
“We ordered the da biggest mix plate shared it with 4 people and still had left overs to take home. We could have shared it it with 6. People. We are old (70+) so don't eat a lot so judge from there.”
Drive-Thru Restaurants
“Great food and service. Was very impressed to see all workers wearing gloves and masks. Other restaurants need to follow your example. These are uncertain times and every precaution is necessary. I want to help support local businesses but if they don't protect both staff and workers, I won't be back. Kudos to you Guichos!❤”
“Watching TV and saw Pad Thai and had to have some. Wanted chix/shrimp and couldn't get any of the platforms to give me that option. Pad thai near me got me to Thai Dara 2 and my order had lots of both perfectly cooked shrimp and big white meat chicken pieces. The order left me with enough for dinner. I will definitely be back.”
“Came here with a group of 4 around **7:30 PM**. We ordered three different ramens, a fried chicken, a BBQ bun, one Coke, and three waters.
The ramen was good, but I especially liked the **fried chicken and BBQ bun**. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy inside, and the bun was tasty as well. Overall, we had a good dinner and enjoyed the food. 🍜🍗”
“This is very much a classic diner the food is quick to arrive delicious and well prepared and almost so beautiful to look at but you feel bad eating it… You stop feeling bad after the first bite then you start to feel wonderful thinking that there’s no possible way you could ever put an end to this joy. I ordered the cheeseburger with fries and let me tell you each bite welcome the next they have wonderful parking outdoor dining and like I said before a classic feel. This is definitely one of those places you wanna come back to.”
“WOW Poki has easily become a top Poke spot for me. I've tried thier wrap and thier bowl so far and intend to return and try more! Plenty of options and every ingredient to pick from is fresh and ready for addition to your order. There is zero discoloration or proof of ingredients sitting out too long and when eaten, everything tastes fresh and flavors are strong in the best way possible and complimentary to each other. You can tell everything in the kitchen is well maintained by seeing and tasting. Service is polite and to the point so you can get to enjoying your meal right away and servers are not stingy with portions. I've left twice now feeling satisfied and wanting more the next day. The perfect spot to eat when you want something savory during this hot weather.”
“Docent is Decent. Got me a Mouthful of Church on Time, 8.2 DIPA. Lisa has a Peel Top.”
“I spent years in Japan and for an hour I forgot I was in California! The food is outstanding and authentic. ありがとうございました!”
Cheap Eats
“I've been eating here for many months now. Tried many dishes, including their curries, fried fish cake appetizer, and pad kra pow. Really love their flavors. Nice staff too. The fried fish cake appetizer is my favorite. Growing up in Singapore, it reminds me of some of the flavors from there.”
“While on my morning walk I found this cute lil cafe that sits directly on the beach by the San Clemente Pier. My son got the bagel breakfast sandwich & coffee, my daughter got the nutella toast & I got the acai bowl. We all thought our food was good. We will def be back on our next visit there!”
“I didn't expect this Gigantic calzone and I'm almost embarrassed to say that I ate it all but it was so delicious I just couldn't help my self. Such a friendly staff i got the meatlovers on her recommendation. Such a great view just across the beach. A perfect way to end a beach long beach day.”
“First time at this location.
Impressed in a good way. I had the Ultimo Burrito with Crispy Wahoo ($14.99). The burrito serving size was generous and all flavors were good. It was served after a very short wait.
The salsa bar is really good, I especially liked the mango salsa.
Recommended”
“Was not having a great day, but from the minute I walked in, Noah took great care of me at the bar. I was able to watch the whole USC game, enjoy some great food he recommended, anda had a killer ice coffee. Thanks again to Noah, for getting though time.
Mark Skip Buccola”
“Came here with a group of 4 around **7:30 PM**. We ordered three different ramens, a fried chicken, a BBQ bun, one Coke, and three waters.
The ramen was good, but I especially liked the **fried chicken and BBQ bun**. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy inside, and the bun was tasty as well. Overall, we had a good dinner and enjoyed the food. 🍜🍗”
Latest Reviews
“Came for lunch with my gran about a month after my grandfather passed. It was my gran's first outing since the funeral and i was worried but our server was this adorable silver haired woman named Rebecca. She had my Gran laughing the whole time. We ordered combos and the suggested jalapeño watermelon margaritas, which were spicy and refreshing. We needed a nap afterwards because we were too stuffed! My gran won't stop asking when we can go back. Thank you South of Nicks for lovely meal, and Thank you Rebecca, for helping a family member feel normal after tragedy. You are in our prayers”
“I have to rate The Mediterranean Rim on Del Mar 5Stars. Their food is Always consistent, and always consistently delicious. Such a cute and cozy place. Its our favorite “date night” restaurant in town. I personally Love the goat cheese salad, Squash Soup, Skirt Steak, Fish, ?Wine sections are great, and the sauces they create are fantastic. Must add the best homemade cheesecake for desert. Thank you.”
“Watching TV and saw Pad Thai and had to have some. Wanted chix/shrimp and couldn't get any of the platforms to give me that option. Pad thai near me got me to Thai Dara 2 and my order had lots of both perfectly cooked shrimp and big white meat chicken pieces. The order left me with enough for dinner. I will definitely be back.”
Most Popular Restaurants
“Just wanna shout out Casen Jo. Absolute menace putting in orders on the computer. 7 ppl and 11 custom burgers? No problem for Casen. I will post this without a photo, but I will ask him to take a picture with me and if he says yes I will add it. God bless America”
“Hands down some of the best fish tacos I have ever had. And I know what I'm talking about. I highly recommend this place to anyone willing to risk the sophistication of their taste buds. Once you get bit by these, there is little to no chance of ever having any fish taco on par with this caliber of culinary expertise. Fair warning: if you aren't a local and can not easily commute, do not fall into the trap. These ought to be illegal they taste so darn good. Thank you Pedro's, for an unforgettable experience. I now have to get off the freeway every time I pass by. Had someone only warned me... I am now a happy patron for life. Thank you all for the experience -- I live better because of it!”
New Restaurants
“I walked into PITA craving something light, crisp, fresh, and flavorful with a little protein, and it completely hit the spot. The Mediterranean flavors are so good! fresh herbs, crunchy vegetables, warm pita, savory protein, creamy sauces, and just the right amount of spice. There’s a really nice balance of bright, fresh flavors and more savory, comforting ones, so the food feels satisfying without being heavy. It’s also such a great option in the Miramar food court when you want something a little fresher and more flavorful than the typical food-court choices. Everything was excellent, and I’ll definitely be back!”
“Dark Magic Sushi was D-freaking-licious. Ashton and I recently stopped in for dinner, and the food was immaculate. Everything came out quickly, tasted incredibly fresh, and was clearly prepared with a lot of care. Once we were seated, we were able to enjoy a full sushi meal in less than 45 minutes.
The wait to be seated was longer than expected, and the service was a little slow at times because the restaurant was completely full. Our server could have checked in with us more often, but those were relatively minor issues compared to how good the food was.
Overall, Dark Magic Sushi delivered an excellent meal and easily earned five stars. We will be back and would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for high-quality sushi in San Clemente.”
“Some of the freshest Hawaiian food I've tasted. And the most convenient way to get it with its drive thru after a walk down to trestle beach. Lunch and the beach; Beach and a good lunch; Any order you choose. Right down from the park n ride other side of Carl's Jr. Gotta try the orange chicken Damn its good! And the teriyaki bowl....wow! I didn't realize how unauthentic some spots are but Dalu's dishes seem to have super fresh ingredients. I can taste the zucchini and the green onions, the carrots etc. Watch out for those red peppers. The meat and sauce really make ever bite pop! Especially after a good day at the beach. And if you're not much for Hawaiian food, they have a pretty bomb burger meal. Not in the San Clemente area? Then handle that! Stop in and get yourself some delicious food.”
“Was not having a great day, but from the minute I walked in, Noah took great care of me at the bar. I was able to watch the whole USC game, enjoy some great food he recommended, anda had a killer ice coffee. Thanks again to Noah, for getting though time.
Mark Skip Buccola”
“Was gonna do a 4 star because the food is very good but pricing could be a bit lower! When it’s just 1 burger… Not the biggest thing in the world. Owner gotta make money and we the Customer choose to be lazy and not cook at home lol!! But I love how he replies to the 1 stars! I’m a general manager for a restaurant and I wish I had that availability! Some guest are ridiculous”
“No food but they also have a restaurant attached Flights & Irons which has really good food and large portions. The atmosphere is beautiful at Roost they have music on some Sunday’s and jazz every Thursday night these are reserved events and the talent is top notch. I’d check the event calendar before you go they do have special events like tastings, murder mystery night, when need a reserved seat. Great staff & cocktails and is family owned and they are fun gals. There is a dress code no shorts or flip flops, but you can go casual. They do it up big during all the holidays and have a great Halloween party.”
“Man, my new favorite burrito spot! They are genius with the portion sizes and prices. Very reasonably priced for what you get. Two portions basically make one FAT burrito if that’s what you’re looking for , but honestly, one leaves you perfectly content. The staff is super friendly, and the place is very clean with a simple San Clemente Spanish-style design. You can tell the business was really well thought out. I’ve already been here twice since they opened, and the quality has been consistent both times. Thanks for coming to San Clemente! Definitely coming back.”
“We were visiting friends in San Clemente and had dinner at Vine Restaurant & Bar. The service was outstanding and the food was delish. Great experience”