California, United States Food Guide: 10 American food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in San Clemente

June 24, 2020 Janette Largent

Discover Restaurants offering the best American food in San Clemente, California, United States. San Clemente is a city in Orange County, California, United States. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish Colonial style architecture. San Clemente's city slogan is "Spanish Village by the Sea". The official city flower is the Bougainvillea, the official city tree the Coral.
Things to do in San Clemente

10. Pierside Kitchen & Bar

610 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, CA 92672-5369 Seafood, American, Bar, Gastropub Lunch, Dinner Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Television, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Table Service, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Live Music [email protected] +1 949-218-0980 http://www.facebook.com/piersidesc/
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

4 based on 125 reviews

Pierside Kitchen & Bar

Pierside offers fresh cuisine, an upscale atmosphere with an unbeatable view and great hospitality. Visit our fun, cozy bar and sample our creative craft libations, great wines, and micro brews on tap. At Pierside Kitchen + Bar, we are passionate about pr

Reviewed By fsanchez626

We came upon Pierside after a beautiful hike along the San Clemente Beach Trail. We had our dog and the patio is dog friendly which was awesome. We were greeted right away and we ordered the bottomless mimosas to start (Wycliff Brut) and the staff was great at keeping our glasses full at all times. We ordered off the brunch menu and I went with the fried chicken and waffles and it was delicious, not to mention the waffle was the best ever. My wife ordered the steak and eggs which was cooked to perfection and topped with a chimichurri. Pierside has a full bar and a great beer selection. The service was fantastic and I wished I remembered our servers name because she was very attentive, friendly and genuine. She was blonde and had tattoos... great ambassador for the restaurant! Thank you Pierside, we'll be back.

9. Cafe Mimosa

243 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672-4006 French, Cafe, American Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Table Service, Takeout [email protected] +1 949-481-6780 http://cafemimosasc.com
Food
Service
Value
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 210 reviews

Cafe Mimosa

Reviewed By Foodie021

While the options aren’t extensive, all that we’ve tried have been very tasty. Portions are generous and attractively presented. Service is good. Whatever you do, save room for the butter cake with blueberries for dessert. It’s excellent. You’d be wise to pass on the mimosas. They’re okay, but overpriced.

8. Hapa J's

2016 S El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672-3248 Bar, Polynesian, Hawaiian, American Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Drinks Takeout, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service, Reservations [email protected] +1 949-276-6657 http://hapajs.com
Food
Service
Value
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 218 reviews

Hapa J's

Reviewed By JMH1986

We had a great lunch at Hapa J's. The food is so good and so Hawaiian style. We use to live in Hawaii and we enjoyed eating our favorite Hawaiian foods. We will definitely return for another delicious lunch at Hapa J's. Mahalo for the great food and service.

7. Beach Fire

204 Avenida Del Mar Ola Vista, San Clemente, CA 92672-5554 American, Bar Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service, Reservations, Television, Live Music [email protected] +1 949-366-3232 http://beachfire.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 236 reviews

Beach Fire

Reviewed By Hotelsnobb

Had the shrimp and lobster tacos which were absolutely amazing. Loved the spicy sauce on them. My brother had a tasty chicken sandwich and I ate half his fries because they were so crispy and yummy. Sat outside on the patio, which was nice.Service was nice enough, but not on top of things. We waited for beverage refills and plates to be cleared as we watched our server chatting with someone at the bar. We finally had to go ask for our check.

6. The Fisherman's Restaurant and Bar

611 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, CA 92672-5301 American, Bar, Seafood Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Waterfront, Beach +1 949-498-6390 http://www.thefishermansrestaurantsanclemente.com/
Food
Service
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 1484 reviews

The Fisherman's Restaurant and Bar

Fresh Fish Everyday! Every day, we offer the freshest seafood available. Swing by and feast on our Fresh Fish!

Reviewed By hutchss

What a fabulous setting to enjoy perfectly cooked fresh fish! Been here before while passing through and stopped this week! Hubby had fresh sea bass and I enjoyed the appetizer coconut shrimp. Great waiter. Great service. Great fish! Love this restaurant !!

5. Antoine's Cafe

218 S El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672-4045 Cafe, American, Deli Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Table Service, Highchairs Available +1 949-492-1763 http://antoinescafe.com/
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 194 reviews

Antoine's Cafe

Reviewed By onthecoast12

Four of us ate here; two ordered lunch and two ordered breakfast. We all raved about our food. The fish tacos were “the best I’ve ever had”, said two teenagers who have eaten fish tacos in dozens of restaurants. The Eggs California (like Eggs Benedict without the ham) were the best I’d ever had as well. They substituted extra avocado for the bacon. It’s the first time in my life I’ve left avocado on my plate......because I was full! The hash browns were excellent as well. We all had some and could tell they were made on site.

4. The Cellar

156 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672-4016 Bar, Wine Bar, American Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Drinks Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Table Service, Live Music [email protected] +1 949-492-3663 http://thecellarsite.com
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4 based on 161 reviews

The Cellar

Cheese shop, wine bar, small plates, live music

Reviewed By shinbun

We stopped at the Cellar bar/restaurant for lunch based on a tip our daughter received from a friend. The tip was good as this is a cool place for a cozy, comfortable meal. I enjoyed the Cubano sandwich and wife and daughter split a big salad. We also ordered a cheeseboard which was delicious and a flight of four craft beers in shot glasses. I'm not normally a beer drinker, but again, we were on vacation, so it's ok to go a little wild. I surprised myself by thoroughly enjoying the coffee stout and the blood orange. The other two beer samples were ok but nothing special. You never know what you're going to get because the beer selections are totally up to the bartender, so you get a different flavor every time you order the beers. A cool place with nighttime entertainment. Check it out if you happen to be in the area.

3. Nick's San Clemente

213 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672-4006 Seafood, American Lunch, Dinner, Brunch Takeout, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Reservations, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, BYOB [email protected] +1 949-481-2200 http://nicksrestaurants.com
Food
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 790 reviews

Nick's San Clemente

Great food, and warm hospitality. Whether you are looking for a fireside cocktail or a dinner with friends, our carefully chosen menu of sandwiches, steaks, salads, seafood, and handcrafted beverages has a variety of choices to satisfy any appetite. Desig

Reviewed By DiverDan88

This was a business dinner and we had very good service. The portions are large and the sandwiches are definitely to share.The dining room is noisy and we had some tables around us with very loud people.Parking could be a challenge.

2. Vine Restaurant & Bar

211 N El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672-4714 American, Wine Bar, Contemporary Dinner, Late Night Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Reservations, Table Se [email protected] +1 949-361-2079 https://www.vinesanclemente.com
Food
Service
Value
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Overall Ratings

4 based on 304 reviews

Vine Restaurant & Bar

Vine Restaurant & Bar shares its passion for worldly cuisine and wine in a casual fine dining atmosphere. Vine features a private wine room, rustic wine bar, a heated patio, and an on-site garden.

Reviewed By Howard T

The restaurant is called the Vince because it's suppose to be just like some of the finest restaurants in Napa Valley. The food is outstanding, the wine selection is top rate. Kind of reminds me of a Napa restaurant with a beach flair. Be sure to make reservations or you will get shut out on a summer weekend.

Top 10 Things to do in San Clemente, United States

1. Bad To The Bone BBQ

13738 Rancho Viejo Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 American, Barbecue Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks Takeout, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Delivery, Live Music +1 949-218-0227 http://www.badtothebone-bbq.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 163 reviews

Bad To The Bone BBQ

Reviewed By cap10paul

Went in to this dark and relatively empty place for lunch. The country western inspired motif with scratched table tops and torn seat pads the country music blaring in an empty 3 room venue. A convoluted menu you that the cashier said he can’t figure out after three months working there. It’s Mc Donald’s style counter ordering with a number issued for table delivery. Then the $31 lunch arrived. Real barbecue. Long and slow cooked it was tasty food. 2 pieces of chicken, 4 ribs and some of the best brisket I’ve ever had. Fair potato salad and nasty macaroni salad. The onion rings (4) are huge and seemed pre made. Good not great. Pricey bordering on too high. Ambiance for those that miss dark Smokey bars I couldn’t muster a must go to.

Top 10 restaurants in San Clemente, United States

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