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South of Nick's - San Clemente, San Clemente, CA

South of Nick's - San Clemente

4.8 (2084)
$30 and under
Mexican
110 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 30 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Lively
  • Hot spot
An essential stop in Orange County for Southern California Mexican Cuisine.

South of Nick's Mexican Kitchen & Bar features Classic Mexican favorites, prime steaks and seafood with a So Cal twist. Fine Tequilas & Margaritas

Our food and drink meets the highest standards of quality, freshness and seasonality and combines both modern-creative and traditional styles of cooking.

Nick’s is dedicated to perfecting the dining experience through continuous innovation, offering the highest quality food and beverage, and executing impeccable standards of hospitality. The deeply instilled Nick’s culture is personified by its Ladies and Gentlemen – professionals who share a single focus and are inspired and committed to offering great service and creating positive memorable experiences.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Omar Gonzalez
  • Catering
    http://nicksrestaurants.com/catering-events/
  • Neighborhood
    San Clemente
  • Cross street
    El Camino Real & Avenida Del Mar
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Entertainment
    Join us on the 1st Sunday of every month while Mariachis fill our dining room with live music.
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Private Dining Experience

    $610.00 per party

    Multiple dates available
    Our private dining room is for groups of ten to fourteen guests. The Private Dining Room can be reserved for a 2.5-hour experience, with available dinner times at 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Please note that a $500 minimum spend is required for the room. A credit card will be required to guarantee your reservation. This will only be charged in the event of a late cancellation or no-show. Once the reservation is made in Opentable, you will receive a link to confirm your reservation. If we do not receive credit card information within 24 hours, you will forfeit your reservation. A $250 cancellation fee will apply if the reservation is canceled within 72 hours of the event. A 22% gratuity will be automatically applied to the final bill.
    Private Dining Experience Photo

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What 2,084 people are saying

South of Nick's - San Clemente reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Orange County

    Mexican

  • South Orange County

    Mexican

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
South of Nick's in San Clemente offers a vibrant dining experience with "amazing service" and "delicious food." Guests rave about the "crispy and juicy carnitas," "butter cake," and "outstanding margaritas." The staff is praised for being "friendly and attentive," making it a favorite spot for "special occasions." Enjoy "gourmet Mexican cuisine" in a lively atmosphere.
2,084 Reviews
  1. Jason VIP

    Los Angeles14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always amazing food and service!! Thank you for always being great!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Sue VIP

    Orange County16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a great server and were greeted when we came in and left. It was a wonderful experience.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Tula VIP

    Hawaii17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    South of Nicks is one of our favorite places to dine. It’s consistently great and so yummy. My husband likes their Cadillac margaritas! The chips and salsa are seriously addictive. My husband typically has the chicken fajitas or birria tacos and I love their blackened shrimp salad. You will not be disappointed!!

    Is this helpful?

  4. RachelT VIP

    Orange County8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing service, delicious margaritas, and solid food.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Nancie

    Orange County7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    So I accidentally booked for party of 2 instead of 4 and they went above and beyond to accommodate. I also booked another time and could only do booking for 4 and they accommodated for 6. The staff is always so eager to please no matter what situation the endeavor I consistently go back to this location because of the overall experience and food quality and price point …. Other than its sister restaurant Nicks this is the best choice in San Clemente by far.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Christophe VIP

    Orange County67 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on June 25, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 1
    It was freezing cold and super loud. Ordered salad with crispy carnitas. The kitchen actually hid huge chunks of dense stewed pork underneath the guacamole. Most of it was not edible. I get it that the salad is now a 25%-sized portion compared to what it used to be. But this is plain deceptive and they obviously don’t care. The server was new and tried their best but overall it was a horrible visit.

    1 person found this helpful

  7. Angela VIP

    San Diego39 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 24, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    Typically the service is great, but this guy was not so nice or good. Not a good first impression for guests I brought. At least the food didn’t disappoint.

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  8. Norma VIP

    Los Angeles3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Anthony Vazquez did an amazing job serving us at South of Nick’s. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and very attentive. Our delicious food was delivered quickly and cooked to perfection. Crispy and juicy carnitas , El Vaquero and Shrimp Diablo are our favorites! South of Nicks’s never disappoints!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Jena VIP

    Orange County6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great Mexican food! I had a friend in town and took him here and he LOVED it! Proud of our town and restaurants!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Adam

    Los Angeles6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Always a pleasure. Had asked to be put into the 'side room' which is quieter on the reservation but somehow the didn't come across and had to wait around 10 minutes to make it happen. Not thrilled about that, but not an unpleasant wait either.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

South of Nick's - San Clemente offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (949) 481-4545.

South of Nick's - San Clemente is rated 4.8 stars by 2084 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Orange County
  4. South Orange County
  5. San Clemente

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 30 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for South of Nick's - San Clemente

110 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672

Additional information

  • Cross street
    El Camino Real & Avenida Del Mar
  • Neighborhood
    San Clemente
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Omar Gonzalez
  • Entertainment
    Join us on the 1st Sunday of every month while Mariachis fill our dining room with live music.
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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