50 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in San Clemente

“I love this place. I’ve been coming here since it was captain culver’s…. Over 20 years ago… and the things I’m obsessed with are:1. Bombay Melt (curried chicken with secret Bali sauce, tomato, onion, and cheese atop an English muffin) served with soup of the day, green salad, or potato salad2. POG- passionfruit, orange, guava juice.They also have delicious smoothies.The place is owned by Mauricio but you’ll often find his daughters working the restaurant. :)They are lovely people with excellent customer service.You can sit inside or outside. It’s a very laid back vibe. You order at the counter, and then they will bring your food out to you or call you when it’s ready.The only thing you need to know, is sometimes they close a little early.. even though their hours are usually till 16:00, I’ve found them closed at 15:00 or 15:30. I suspect it all depends on how busy they are. So, if you want an afternoon snack, I recommend you call ahead to make sure they are still open.“

“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“

“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! 💯💞💞💞💞“

“Best birthday dinner and celebration! Alix was a great server and the Chouffe brewery representative added to our great experience. Having spent a lot of time in Brussels, we always love and order the moule and frites. Superb! Don't miss ordering the delicious side dish roasted vegetables cassolette. One other favorite we had was the trout almondine. Perfection. The flaming birthday dessert made our daughter's night. Thank you, Brussels Bistro San Clemente!“

“Super great food and staff! Our waitress was awesome and the food had great flavor. The fried pickles were perfect. The brisket sandwich had some great flavor combinations! Would absolutely recommend to anyone! The frozen huckleberry lemonade is a must try and the Pineapple Express martini is as well. Love it“

“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“

“Always have had a great experience here, and I have going here for over 40 years!!!“

“I recently had the chance to go to The Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar with my husband, and I absolutely loved it. From the start, the oceanfront atmosphere made the whole experience so special — nothing beats enjoying a good meal while listening to the waves in the background.

I ordered the Salmon BLT, and it was simply delicious. The bread was fresh with the perfect texture, the salmon was juicy and well-seasoned, and the avocado, lettuce, and tomato balanced everything beautifully. The crispy bacon added the perfect touch. The side of mushroom rice was flavorful yet light, which paired really well with the sandwich.

My husband went for the classic Fish and Chips, and he was just as impressed. The fish was perfectly golden and crispy on the outside while tender and fresh on the inside. The fries were hearty, and with a squeeze of lemon and the dipping sauce, it was spot on.

I enjoyed a chilled glass of white wine with my meal, which rounded out the experience perfectly.

Overall, it was a delicious lunch with spectacular views and very good service. I left feeling so happy to have shared such a wonderful moment with my husband. We’ll definitely be coming back soon.🙊🫨💃🏻🙌🏻“

“A Hidden Gem in Surfer’s Paradise – Super Bowl Express Delivers a Knockout!”

Tucked away in the heart of surf heaven, Super Bowl Express is the kind of place you stumble upon once—and never forget. The staff? Absolute legends. They literally fired up the kitchen after hours just to make me dinner. That kind of hospitality is rare.

The food? Fresh, flavorful, and made with heart. The BBQ with brown rice and vegetables is a game-changer—smoky, wholesome, and perfectly balanced. And don’t sleep on the sushi—it’s ocean-fresh and melts in your mouth.

If you’re chasing waves and crave something real, this spot is your post-surf paradise.“

“good service food it's so delicious 😋 atmosphere everything is incredible“

“Great place and pretty authentic food and top margaritas.“

“Best Indian food in town, never disappointed here, super authentic and delicious.“

“Amazing venue, Great beers and pizza! A must do if you are in the area!“

“I’ve visited several times, and each time I’ve tried different dishes. Every staff member is very friendly, and the food never takes too long to be served. The food is authentic and delicious, and you can really feel the chefs’ dedication in every dish. It’s hard to find another Japanese restaurant with such great quality and value!“

“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.“

“Amazing pizza and atmosphere! Can’t wait to come back again!“

“Great food and cocktails and good service“

“Great wines and knowledgable plus friendly staff!“

“Great flavor, great service and great prices“

“Buona is one of the best italian franchises. We love the food, we love the service. It really cannot be beat. We have tried all but Newport beach and truly enjoy the fresh pasta, the wood fire pizzas and the beverages. San Clemente is one of the top two of the franchisees. Must try this place“

“Thai Dara 2 is great! I went in today to order takeout for our medical office staff. I noticed a mistake when I picked up my food (likely poor communication on my part), and they fixed it very quickly and kindly. Above 5 stars on service! The food is fresh and delicious. The lunch specials are priced very well and are big portions. There are options for everyone's dietary restrictions, too, which is so great to find.

The interior of the restaurant is cozy and would be a great place for an intimate lunch or dinner.

I'm writing this as I gobble down my delicious pad Thai with shrimp, and I'm also very impressed at how well the food was packaged, it's still piping hot.“

“Excellent all the way around, parking excluded but that’s the beach area for you. I stopped here the other day on a bicycle tide. Enjoyed it so much that I came back with my wife for lunch. Brilliant idea!

Highly recommend for a great change of pace and atmosphere. Bring your walking shoes as the beach area calls“

“Outstanding Burgers, Salads, Carnitas sandwiches, hot dogs! I’ve had them all.. Best place to enjoy with family and friends.“

“Food is absolutely delicious! The ramen has been hitting with these rainy days so happy this place is nearby. You can order online for pickup or on the phone too. The staff is super nice and the food is moderately priced but the quality is worth it.“

“Wow! Super yum to say the least. It’s always great when the new local restaurant hits it out of the park! My wife & I started with the bacon & meatballs appetizer. She then had the fried green tomatoes & French onion soup while I had the ribeye. Delicious!“

“Amazing taco 🌮 experience“

“Always the best of everything and the staff is fabulous“

“First time, and our family is sold on Smashburger. My wife who does not like eating beef, really liked the smash chicken burger while my boys and I really enjoyed our smashburgers. Fries are quite delicious, also. Next visit we will try their shakes.“

“When we searched for the best sushi place in San Clemente, Malulu Sushi came up first on the list.

Good things come in small packages, right? Well, this is a small place, but it doesn't matter because the food & service are excellent.

To me, service is very important!!! At Malulu, the Japanese hospitality is on full display. Then, the food came, and we realized that we had found our favorite sushi place in SC.

Everything we ordered was tasty. And to our surprise, the female sushi chef made the best spicy yellow tail handroll. It reminded us of a sushi roll that we could only get at a sushi restaurant in Laguna Niguel (sadly, the chef moved to Japan).

We are already planning to go back this week & bring some friends along.“

“Great place & Beer list. Smokehouse & plenty of room. Very friendly place“

“Great Service, Knowledgeable Staff.“

“My daily simple lunch for remote work offers many options for a pescatarian/vegetarian. Clean, organic, and delicious!!! 🙌🏾👏🏾👍🏾“

“This is the coolest place i ate at during my 10 days in San Clemente. Good food full bar offerings, outdoor seating was great in mid-September. Indoor bar seating and tables, too. Attractive staff, friendly, lots of locals. Surfer hangout. Believe there is a parking lot adjacent to the ramp up to the place (I walked there from a rental). Loved it.“

“Great food and a great staff. This place has been in San Clemente for a very long time, and this restaurant has been a go-to for my friends and I for years.

I ordered x2 Orders of Panang Curry with Beef as meat and I requested to make the curry more spicy for the order just to see what it would be like. Verdict: It was excellent! The food was delicious and very nicely done. The staff was accommodating and welcoming when I showed up. For clarification, it was a pick up order at around 7:30 tonight (11/5/2025 Wednesday).

The place has a cozy atmosphere if you decide to dine at the restaurant. It is a little tight quarters but ultimately isn't a huge deal. Check out Thai Palace on Pico!“

“great food!!!! reasonable pricing!!! please experience their food!! nice people fast service!! love this place!!!“

“Wonderful, Fresh Fish!! Best Macaroni Salad & Sesame Slaw!! Great Vibe!!! San Clemente!!“

“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!“

“DELICIOUS !!! food and wonderful people“

“This place is a fantastic choice for a quick and worthwhile meal. They serve affordable, high-quality dishes inspired by SoCal and Latin cuisine. Even though it’s part of a chain, you can truly taste the freshness and quality of the ingredients in every bite.“

“The food and service was amazing“

“Stopped here yesterday with a bunch of hungry Harley riders the staff was super cool & friendly my hamburger was out of this world now that’s what I call a hamburger & fast service we all left a good tip for the hardworking staff I gotta hit this spot again soon“

“I had breakfast three days in a row here while I was staying in San Clemente. The food was so good. I tried something different every day, and it was all delicious, and their Chai Tea Lattes are amazing. Sooooo good. My server Lexie was the best. She was so nice and very attentive. The rest of the staff was also very attentive as well. Five stars across the board. I will definitely be back, I would absolutely recommend this spot to everyone. It's also right across the street from a rad surf shop named Icon's of Surf. Super rad place.“

“Always a great time at The New OC Tavern . Kevin the owner is the greatest host. Always checking on us . Making sure we’re having a good time. The bartender are great. Love how they know what I like to drink 🍹.“

“Great service and great food“

“The food quality here is outstanding! While the pricing is on the higher side, the generous portions and food quality make it well worth it. Easily some of the best Mediterranean food we’ve had in Orange County. We’ll definitely be ordering again!“

“Best pizza I’ve had since moving to CA from NY. Amazing food, great atmosphere and impeccable service. My go to place!“

“Very high quality / fresh combined with highly skilled chefs“

“everything we ordered was good.. I recommend the bbq rib tips (honey bbq).“