South of Nick's San Clemente | Mexican Kitchen + Bar

If you’re wondering whether South of Nick’s is worth it — stop wondering. Go. Now. Like, grab your keys. I’m not kidding. From the moment we sat down, it was clear we were in for a good time. Cucumber, margaritas, regular margaritas, skinny margaritas. You name it every one of them are excellent. We also had wine because, you know, hydration is key — and even that was spot-on. Whoever curated the drink menu deserves a raise, a hug, and probably their own cooking show. Now let’s talk food. Every single thing we ordered was 🔥. The enchiladas? Melty, cheesy goodness with just the right amount of kick. The tacos? I would write a love letter to those tacos. And the real MVP? Our server., “ Kiana” , Absolute rockstar. Bottom line: South of Nick’s didn’t just feed us — they nurtured us. I left full, happy, and already planning my return like it’s a family reunion. Highly recommend. 12/10

We came to South of Nicks for the first time the last night! We sat at the bar and it was amazing. Service was friendly and drinks were really good. We had the shrimp taquitos, ahí ceviche and tablita to share. Everything was 10/10! We were too full for dessert lol but will definitely be back very soon!

Lilly our server made us feel welcomed and special! She was thoughtful in recommendations for concern about spice-heat levels. The chips starter was delish and the entrees yummy! You most likely will have to wait to be seated even with a reservation which we had, but I would defiantly go back ❣️

We were headed out to dinner to another place, after a very long 3 days of driving, but other place had a line out door. Ended up here, seated right away. This ended up being the perfect restaurant, perfect meal, perfect atmosphere and perfect service by our waiter Cole. We enjoyed everything about our experience here. Had the lobster tacos, special halibut tacos, guacamole which was a generous portion and the butter cake. This meal experience further cemented San Clemente as our favorite US place to visit for scenery, weather, food and relaxation! Want to make another shout-out to Cole! We love you!

Best restaurant that I have ever been to. Our server Joe was incredible and attentive to our needs and questions on the menu. We ordered the birria tacos and the taco sampler that came with a steak taco, pork taco and 2 chicken tacos. The chips and salsa were amazing. The food was outstanding and so what the service and atmosphere. I wish y'all could open a location over in WA state. We will be back sometime as this is the spot for us!

Food, Service and Atmoshphere all earn 5 stars! This restaurant has been one of my favorite dining experiences ever! Any one of my friends or family members that come into town will be going here because it was not only incredible delicious, but a great experience. The chips and salsa to start are awesome. One of the salsas has a sweet and refreshing blast of diced tomato and onion I have never encountered before. I got the Tiki Mocktail and it was exactly what I was looking for. The Ceviche de Ahí and Guacomole were sooooo good! I was just about ready to leave my review after those dishes because of how good those appetizers were. For my main meal I got the Seafood Enchiladas and everything was cooked to perfection. The green sauce on the Enchiladas was sweet which matched perfectly with the lobster/shrimp in the enchilada. For dessert we got the Churros con Helado and the Butter Cake, and both of them hit the exact spot to top off a fantastic meal. If you have the time, come here! Enjoy it, basque in it and come again!

had lunch today (Saturday) the 20th and it was great. the parking was slightly problematic; but that was the only thing i could say that was not top notch. even before we arrived for our 11a.m. reservation, one of the hostesses reached out to confirm we would be there. we were seated immediately upon our arrival and were attended upon by our wonderful server Keaton. she was super pleasant and efficient. she helped us with any questions and did confirm that the chicken flautas are her favorite. My wife ordered them and she found them quite tasty. the generous chip basket came with a trio of dips. the ice tea was yummy and the espresso martini was strong and delicious. the chicken tortilla soup could have been an entree on it's own and we took home several boxes to enjoy later. everything was great and even on the way out we chatted with one of the managers - Mark - he told us about the history of the building and led us around to see some of the pictures on the different walls of the restauraunt. honestly we picked South of Nick's because it was halfway between us and the friend we were meeting for lunch. but it was a lucky choice and we would definitely come back to South of Nick's and so should you

Went with three girlfriends and all of our food was so good. The flavor was spot on and the portions were as expected. Music was a little loud if that bothers you but we didn’t mind. Steak was good quality and the queso appetizer was awesome. Will return again. Ambience was nice. The waitress was fine but she had too many tables to keep up.

Another visit to one of my favorites. Great service by Owen, my water glass filled every time. I love the jefe burrito and the salads. I was too full to eat the cake. Amazing atmosphere. Patron and location. Most of all Nick restaurants has best service centered staff along with great food and people. You can tell a restaurant base on the attention to its restrooms. Well done for three generations of nicks. I do miss the ward or cold towel service which was a nice experience. I know I can ask for it but before was great.

South of Nicks is always a great location I'm a sucker for their Birria tacos, full of flavor and freshly made. The services is always nice here. Views can't be beat, what a great place to watch the world go by.

Best high end Mexican in The OC! 5 star all day. I wish it wasn't so popular but it's packed every day for a reason. Food service bar restaurant all 5 star. Great spot to sit at the bar for date night or get a table with the fam. Plancha plates are killer Birria tacos are killer Drinks killer Jefe Burrito will feed you are 2 days.

It was so unique and amazing! The servers are so friendly and fun. I got a seafood stuffed chile relleno and it was out of this world. The ambiance of the restaurant is so eclectic and cool. You're gonna love it!

I had an amazing experience at this Mexican restaurant, where the food was top-notch, and the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. The coconut margarita I had was absolutely out of this world - the perfect balance of flavors that made it a standout. The ceviche was fresh and full of vibrant flavors, truly delicious. My salad was incredibly tasty, with all the ingredients blending together perfectly. The blackened shrimp was good, though not the best I've had, but it didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the meal. The atmosphere of the place was beautiful, with lovely decorations that added to the charm. Everything was fresh, and you could tell they put a lot of care into their dishes. Overall, I had a fantastic time here, and the 5-star rating is well-deserved. It's definitely a spot I'd return to for both the food and the great vibe!

Craving Mexican food we decided to lunch at South of Nick's today, one of our favorite places to go for Mexican food. Service is always great, servers are friendly and very polite, nice ambience and the food is always delicious! Today I tried something different and ordered the mini soft taco platter. It comes with 4 street sized tacos, each with a different protein, carnitas, chicken, ranchera beef and portobello mushroom. All were delicious and I can't decide which I liked the best! I would definitely order this again. My husband always orders the El Jefe with carnitas which seems like it keeps getting bigger and bigger each time we come here! South of Nick's Never disappoints and is a solid place to satisfy your Mexican food craving.

I've tried both the San Clemente and Laguna locations and both are great. Their food (normal for Nick's) is always spot on! I don't know who ultimately runs all of the Nick's restaurants, but they have a great team.

We were pretty impressed with this place. Do make reservations as it gets very busy. Very dark inside as it seems a lot of restaurants are. The food and service was excellent. Prices were reasonable for the quality and quantity. We took leftovers home.

I've heard about all the Nick's/South of Nick's for a while, so when I found myself wandering through the Del Mar area of San Clemente and suddenly hit with hunger, it seemed like the perfect time to finally give it a try. And wow, I'm so glad I did! The upscale yet relaxed vibe makes it a great spot for a nice lunch or dinner, whether you're celebrating something special or just treating yourself. It's not overly expensive, which is a big plus for the quality you get. The service was outstanding--our server was super friendly and incredibly helpful, patiently answering my questions and guiding me through the menu. Big shoutout to the endless chips and dips! Not only are they free, but they come with three different dips: refried black beans, a mild salsa, and a roasted spicy salsa. I also had the peach cocktail, which was absolutely delicious. For food, I went with the ceviche, and it was everything I wanted--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Even their simple side of red rice was surprisingly tasty. Overall, South of Nick's exceeded my expectations. Great food, awesome drinks, and excellent service. Definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

Very excellent experience at south of Nick's. We reserved a private room for a memorial. Service was superb as well as the food. Thank you. It was a a perfect day for my family.

We were visiting San Clemente and went to South of Nick's when our first option was closed. We couldn't believe that South of Nick's had been our second option. The mini sopes were delicious, shrimp al diablo was great, and I got one of the mocktails with seasonal fruit -- I had two, cause it was that good! Overall we loved the food, the environment, and our waitress/server was very kind and attentive. Definitely recommend, 10/10!

True Story: The owner, Nick, used to live next door to me when we were kids, and we played together. So, as an adult, I've taken it upon myself to try his restaurants around town. My first time at his "Mexican" place, and I was blown away with everything! Service, portions, and of course, taste, were all on point, as expected from a restauranteur of this caliber. I tried three different Bocadillos, and all were outstanding. Freshness coupled with uniqueness on each plate went to make a memorable lunch I won't soon forget (and probably miss) once I return to Beijing. South of Nick's is the spot, and highly recommended from an OG on the block...

The place is nice, the food is delicious and the waiter Sam is very attentive. The salsa and chips are super delicious, I could feel the explosion of flavors in my mouth. This is the first time I've tried good Mexican food. The view as asome looks like Hawaii.

Been coming here for a few years, and have loved it! The food is delicious, some of the best Mexican food in the area. The chips and salsas they bring out at the beginning are amazing. I normally get the chicken flautas, jefe burrito, or the enchiladas. All of them are really good just depends what you are in the mood for. The service is typically pretty good. Sometimes it gets busy so you might have to wait a little longer for food but normally they're pretty quick. Things to know: --There is typically a long wait to get a table since it's a popular place --Parking can be tough, especially in the summer --It can sometimes get loud at night --Some dishes can be spicy so make sure to ask about the spice levels before ordering

Service is 5 Stars - Jacob was our server and he took good care of us. The other servers were helpful bringing water, chips and salsa. The kid was in town visiting from college and she wanted to get to some of her favorite eating joints in the area. South of Nick's made the cut. Honestly, it's not one of my favorites as I feel it is overpriced Mexican food. While I have tried a variety of dishes, none have knocked me out. For the price, I would like the food to knock me out! Service is always good and the cocktails are perfectly on point each time, so I give them that. We did not have a reservation, as if you can get a reservation at any Nick's location, so we walked in around 5:30 on a Friday and it was not really that crowded. Surprised me! I put my name in and we only waited about 10 minutes for a table. Walking, the bar had 5-6 chairs open. Again, quite a surprise for a Friday evening. After being seated and then greeted by our server we ordered some cocktails and I wanted to try the queso fundido. Fundido to eat and fundido to say! The app is jack and oaxaca cheese, poblano pepper, black olives, mushrooms, pork longaniza. After we ordered these, chips and salsas showed up. Chips were freshly made and the two salsas were both delicious. The third little bowl served with chips was refried black beans. These were fairly bland, so we stuck with the yummy salsas. Cocktails: Me: Ketel One Martini. Dry. Two regular olives. Perfection. The Wife: Mexican Mai Tai: Reposado tequila, malahat spiced rum, orgeat, fresh juices, lilikoi foam. She loved it and gave it a 10 out 10, except that it went too fast! The Kid: Shirley Temple - she's 20 and still orders a shirley temple I love that! A kicked up Shirley Temple is only 6 months away! The queso fundido showed up and it was bubbly hot and served with grilled corn tortillas. I preferred the chips as the instrument of carrying the fundido to my mouth, but the tortillas were not bad. After scouring the menu, another cocktail and making a dent in the chips, salsas and queso fundido, we had made our entree choices. While Jacob checked on us, he did not push us to order our food. I like that. The kid and the wife ordered the Filet and Grilled Romaine salad: Grilled filet mignon, avocado, baby heirloom tomatoes, pickled onions, pepitas, jalapeño blue cheese dressing. My choice was to get the Ceviche appetizer as my main. Along with some more chips it would be a nice dinner. The ceviche is shrimp in lime marinade with baby heirloom tomatoes, serrano peppers, avocado and pickled onions. The wife and kid liked their salads, but both commented on the small size of the filet. As you can see from the picture, the wife had 4 small slices of filet on her plate. Perhaps they split the filet between the two salads? Both commented that the steaks were cooked a bit more than the medium rare that they ordered. Not dried out, not medium, not enough for them to send it back. But a bit of a bummer. My ceviche was a nice pile of shrimp mixture on top of a flared-out sliced avocado. Nice presentation. We had already eaten our chips with our fundido, so I wanted more to use as utensils for my ceviche. What was funny was earlier on, a gal was walking around doling out chips every minute and suddenly she was no longer doing that and we had a bit of trouble waving someone down to ask for more chips. Not being ignored as it was very busy and understandably servers were moving around quickly. I didn't want to jump up and say "Hey, more chips to table 32!!". Ha, ha! I finally waved someone down and they quickly brought the chips. The ceviche was excellent and I enjoyed it very much. Nice portion of shrimp, good pickled red onions, perfectly ripe avocado and a tiny kick of heat from the serranos. This was good as my meal, but would be a good appetizer to share as it was intended. For dessert there is no question if you are at any Nick's location that the buttercake needs to be ordered. We ordered one to share and for me that is the perfect amount of goodness to end our meal. Along with the bill, Jacob brought us volcanically hot towels meant to burn the skin off of our hands before paying. He did warn us and he was right, they were hot. We let them cool and it is a nice touch to wipe off your hands after the meal. One guy took it a bit further and looked like he was taking a sponge bath. I was waiting for him to stand up and wipe the towel in unmentionable places. Interesting, but glad he made use of the towel to avoid taking a shower when he got home! Overall, for over $200 I still feel it is overpriced Mexican food, but the kid wanted to go so there we were. We had a good experience. Go. Eat Well. HAVE FUN!

My husband and I adored South of Nick's. We decided to go for happy hour, and had a great time. The drinks were all strong and well made, with plenty of complex flavor, or simplicity for drinks like margs. Their happy hour prices are amazing as well!! The selection of appetizers was impressive and affordable, and they came out fresh and tasty. There were also complimentary chips with three different dips, which was a lovely touch. Right in downtown San Clemente, the location is perfect for taking a walk after dinner to enjoy the boutiques and beach. The staff was beyond friendly and made us feel at home. The restaurant is huge, clean, and feels very open. It was a great time.

You know, i appreciate the experimentation done here, and i haven't had anything like it. Was is good though? It was alright. A bit of a steep price. Glad i tried it but next time i'm getting regular street tacos

I gotta give it to this place, it was not what I expected. Paying $45 for a dish, at a "Mexican" fusion cuisine, restaurant wasn't something I was sold on, but happy wife, happy life. Just to be clear, there are other items on the menu from the high teens to around $75 at its highest, however I decided to go for the sea bass. Sooo in all honesty... depending on the time you are going, this is probably a place that will require a McDonald's visit after. The meals are brought on big plates, and is focused on flavor, and presentation. My Seabass was cut to a 3" cube, sitting on top of a black bean chipotle poblano green sauce. I have no idea what the heck that is, but I really don't care. It was DELICIOUS! That dish alone would have me going back for more. The complimentary chips and salsa, were on point too. Drinks however could use a little more consistency, and originality. Perhaps a Long Island ice tea drink, using Don Julio Anejo, and Guava juice. Call it the South Of Nick Escapade, or SoN E! Our server Shane was amazing, attentive, but not too overbearing, very knowledgeable, and deserving of a good tip. So refreshing to have that during this day and age. Restaurant is pretty dark, I guess to focus on the intimacy. It is loud, mainly due to the to the conversing patrons, complimented with Latin music faintly playing in the background. Not a great place for big groups, probably a max of 15 at most, but definitely a great date night spot.

Back at South of Nicks again. This time we tried two new menu selections. El Vequero and the Filet and Grilled Romaine. Service was spot on as usual. Both dishes were awesome. Give them a try next time you are here.

Not bad, but it was only my first visit here, so maybe the next time will draw more stars. I ordered the portobello mushroom tacos, I did ask for no aioli specifically and confirmed that they wouldn't put it on but when they brought my tacos I had a dollop of it with corn on top of each taco, there were three. Other than that, they were okay but for the price, not worth it in my opinion. I did think the service was okay, not the best, I also had to ask for a refill on my tea since I kept getting overlooked. We had a party of three and it did seem like everyone was satisfied with their meals, I didn't complain about mine, I figure I will give them another try and hope for a better outcome. Decor is nice, however an outdoor patio would be great, if they have one I just didn't see it but with our beautiful weather, outdoor patios are always nice.

Came here for happy hour to celebrate a birthday & as expected it was so good! Its only at the bar/high tops & first come first serve. We both got drinks of course & i highly recommend the cucumber marg. Overall very good prices for the quality of what you're ordering & the service. They also brought out a mini chocolate cake slice which was so sweet. I will definitely have this place in mind for future happy hours!

Love this spot! Super cool vibe. Menu looks amazing. Went with ceviche (yum) and the shrimp and lobster enchiladas (so good)! The enchiladas sauce was very tasty, would order again! End the meal with butter cake!

The birria tacos and carnitas plate was 5/5! The restaurant is very well designed and great aesthetic. The service is great! We had a fantastic evening! Music was so a big bonus! Highly recommend!

First time coming here because this is one of my friend's fav restaurants and he kept raving about it. My fav is their spicy jalapeños passion fruit non-alcoholic drink. It was very refreshing and gives you a good kick with the right amount of spicy level. Their complimentary chips n' salsa comes with a mini trio tray of 2 different salsa and fried beans. Their chips were warm and crispy, and I ended up eating way too much of these chips that I was practically full by the time I got my entree (seafood enchiladas). Their butter cake was warm & sweet and really melts in your mouth delicious. Mmm... We ordered many dishes to try and I think my friend's giant burrito tasted the best. My seafood enchiladas entree was just ok. The lobster meat tasted too bland. Not that impressive. But I will return again to try their other dishes.

We've been to their other locations in San Diego and wanted to check them out while we were in town. We were greeted right away and sat rather quickly considering it was lunchtime. Immediately loved the place as my kids were given etch a sketch by our host to keep them busy. Love their complementary chips and salsa. Ordered drinks and our food. Everything came out great and delicious. Our server was friendly and attentive. Great place.

First time here! I loved my food very much because it was delicious, Owen was an excellent server, and he even wished me a "Happy Birthday", and he was a nice guy, the ambiance was really neat, and the music was good, too!

A delightful dining experience from start to finish! The service was attentive and knowledgeable, making excellent recommendations, while the ambiance was warm and inviting, perfect for a special occasion. We highly recommend this place. Can't wait to return for another delicious meal. The guacamole was so fresh!

I tried this spot for the first time a couple of weekends ago with a few folks. I ordered the chicken flautas. They were very flavorful, crispy, and filling. The size of them were pretty big, so the portions were generous. Complimentary chips and dips are served. The chips were delicious and I really enjoyed the homemade salsa. Service was very professional. The waitress we had was very attentive and accommodating. The restaurant was very clean, spacious, and unique. It was upscale but casual. It's a place to be fancy if you wanted but causal as well. The only thing for me is that the menu wasn't very expansive. It was only one full page for food options and a lot of the meals didn't come with rice or beans. But overall, it was a nice experience.

Don't miss this amazing spot, the food is unbelievable and the service is always excellent!

Not only is the food fantastic, but their catering service is top notch. Since the restaurant 's opening, I've worked with Fran to either cater from/ host events at So Nick's. She is always friendly, responsive, and helpful to my colleagues and me, and she continually goes above and beyond for us. This place will always be one of my go-tos for group events. Great food, good vibes, and excellent service!

Love this place! Ambiance is dark and cozy but fun. Our waiter was excellent. The drinks were very yummy but the El Jefe burrito, so delish. Thank goodness my husband and I split it because no one person can eat that whole thing in on sitting. Can't wait to go back!

Birria Tacos 8.87/10- these were really good, I like how they gave a great portion of birria in the tacos. The sauce to dip the birria tacos in was a bit salty for my liking, but still good and the temperature was perfect. There's not really anything else inside the taco, but it was so flavorful, thus the meat inside was seasoned to perfection. I really liked how crispy the outer shell of the taco was too. The rice and refried beans are the perfect complement as a side for this dish. Mexican Pizza 7.84/10- this was so interesting, I believe it's made with two crispy tortillas and they put beef inside. It's interesting how all the toppings are on top of the pizza. Definitely had a lot of flavors but was fire. I loved how all the ingredients were super fresh and there was a subtly spicy hint in the pizza. Tamarindo Margarita 8.36/10- this was pretty good, it tasted like a spicy watermelon margarita imo with chamoy. Incredibly refreshing, and I really liked the spice addition to this drink that balanced the sweet flavor ambience was great and the food was also good however the service was pretty mid especially for a weekday Instagram: @hungrytamale

Staff at Bar are the best Bartender Christina we love you Front check in beside manager nice lady I would say ehhh The younger people Never smile never friendly Specially young boy !! Curly hair He is not happy never see him smile or offer to what or make you feel welcomed Always I pad in his hand walking around with an upset look. We love Nick's it's one our favorite local place Food needs more options for vegetarians.

South of Nick's is one of our favorite spots! It had been quite some time since we visited. Fortunately, the food and service was still awesome and I think better than before. A reservation was made, but mistakenly for Nick's down the street. The host accommodated us and seated us in the bar area. A little bummed at first, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Our attentive server Monique was great! She brought complimentary chips, two types of salsa, and black bean dip to the table. The chips and salsas were so fresh and delicious! It almost ruined our appetite. I ordered the Pork Carnitas and asked that any dairy be removed from the plate. You can choose to have your Carnitas crispy on the outside, which I did. Corn and flour tortillas also come with the meal and you can choose to get a combination of both. The plate arrived and included spanish rice, beans, salsa, and the almost hidden green chili, which made my meal even more delicious. I loved everything on my plate! The Pork was perfectly seasoned and cooked, tender on the inside and perfectly crisped on the outside. I definitely recommend this dish. Also ordered was the Lobster Enchiladas. This plate comes with white rice and black beans. If you like seafood, this is a great dish to order. A parking lot is located adjacent to and behind the restaurant, with signs warning you that your vehicle will be towed if you're not visiting one of the designated spots. Overall, a must visit! Take a walk along the shops after your meal and then head down to the pier. Makes for an amazing day!

Our waitress Jasmine was amazing... the food was so good ... my girlfriend and I ordered the cheese enchilada withe green sauce and the chicken mole enchilada. Such a pretty and flavorful dish a deal $21.

We came here for the first time over the weekend and it was a great experience! The service was excellent and everyone we interacted with was very friendly and kind. The food was perfectly seasoned and portions are big. The complimentary chips and salsa were so addicting, I couldn't stop eating them. The inside of the restaurant is beautifully decorated. We brought family who are visiting from out of the country and they loved it too. We'll definitely be back! Tip: park at the outlets and take the free trolley to the restaurant since parking is limited around the area.

We used to frequent this spot before they opened a South of Nick's in Laguna Beach. That one was much closer to our home so we rarely got back to the original in San Clemente. But we needed to find a restaurant on our way back from a show in San Diego and fortunately, this one was open until 11 pm on a Saturday night (unlike many restaurants that close at 10). This old favorite location did not disappoint. The bar area is our favorite spot; high tops in the bar or dining tables in the same room. Lots of character here and we always love the food! Literally our favorite Mexican restaurant for about 20 years... even after we moved out of state!

I am a huge fan of the Nick's restaurant chain and have been to many of their locations many times. This was only my second time going to South of Nick's since I usually frequent Nick's. Made a lunch reservation for a meeting and was quickly sat upon arrival. My only complaint about some of the locations is that they will seat parties of 2 on these one-sided booths which is great for couples but not for a business meeting lol. It was fine but not ideal however I understand they have limited seating and are very popular so it is what it is. Our server greeted us immediately and brought us chips and salsa which are dangerously good. We also ordered guac to start which was also great. I wasn't super hungry so I got the bowl of tortilla soup but it was one of the best I've ever had. Honestly I feel like you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Love this spot and will definitely be coming back in the future!

LOVELY LATE DINNER ! After the movers had finished unloading all our belongings at our new address in San Clemente at 8pm on Monday...we had to go out to eat somewhere. My wife suggested South of Nick's...what a great idea I thought. We jumped in our car and headed straight here. They close at 10pm on Mondays and it was around 8.45pm when we walked inside. A cheery hostess named Shannon gave us a warm welcome and showed us to a comfortable high top table on the far side of the huge central bar. VERY LATE DINNER ! After a very long wearisome day moving house we were tired and hungry. A friendly server named Calvin dropped by quickly to help us out....promising to get our complimentary serve of Tortilla Chips & Salsas to our table asap. We also asked for iced waters and a hazy IPA. KEEPIN' IT SIMPLE ! At this late hour we wanted something easy to get down. When Calvin returned with my ice cold beer we ordered 1 x Birria Tacos ( slow-braised beef, corn tortillas, crispy cheese, onion, spicy salsa, radish, lime, micro cilantro, refried beans, spanish rice, beef consommé ) and 1 x Mini Soft Taco Platter ( carnitas, marinated chicken, ranchera beef, portobello, black beans )...my wife chose carnitas. My ice cold hazy IPA tasted very refreshing and the tortilla chips with a trio of salsas tasted perfect. WOW ! Our dinner order arrived faster than a speeding train and everything looked so appetizing. My fully loaded Birria Tacos ( something new ) tasted very good and were very filling...I could only eat 2 out of 3. My wife loved her 2 ( pork ) carnitas tacos. DESSERT ! Even at this late hour we had to have a happy ending.....Warm Butter Cake ( signature warm butter cake, crystallized sugar crust, vanilla ice cream, garnished with berry compote ) which was brought out by a sweet server named Jessica. And it was very delicious as always. And then we headed back to our new place with happy tummies ! NOTE - Of course with 20 million views of my Yelp reviews and pics world wide in 2023 I can tell you what is great !

Food is phenomenal Prices are average, nothing crazy Great atmosphere with modern but old school Spanish vibe Service is top notch Drinks are good Ordered Carne Nortena, 2 Taco Combo, Cucumber Margarita and Espresso Martini Oh yeah, the Churros are amazing.

Hello Fellow Yelpers, I have been wanting to try this place for quite some time now. The wait is over, and I'm extremely happy I'm here. First, the chips are fresh and light and crispy. The 2 salsas and bean dip are so addicting. I just couldn't stop munching on them. Next, I had the Oaxaca Old fashioned, so delicious. Had the Chicken Tortilla soup and Mexican Pizza. Everything was so good. I did have some control and only ate 3 pieces of the pizza. Saving the rest for lunch, going to make my coworkers jealous . And last but certainly not least, I had the famous butter cake with ice cream and berry compote. All I can say was that I was in a food coma and I liked it. My waitress was amazing, along with everyone else here. Remember to do random acts of kindness as it will make everyone feel wonderful. Happy Yelping, and please follow me for more awesome reviews

Amazing food, service and ambiance. Our waiter Josh was also the best! I ate like two baskets of chips and trio of dip. It was so delicious and fresh. I ordered the vegetarian enchiladas and a skinny margarita. Portions were huge and the flavors were amazing. Don't fill up on the chips like I did otherwise it'll be a struggle to eat the main course. My friends enjoyed their meals too. Highlights include tortilla soup and enchiladas. I wish we had a South of Nick's on the east coast! I'm not sure anything on the menu is bad. Josh made great recommendations so ask your server if you have trouble deciding.

Came here for dinner with friends and grabbed a seat at the bar while waiting for a table since we were told it would be 15 minutes or so. 45 minutes and two rounds of drinks later, we asked to just sit at an empty table in the bar. A little frustrating since they kept telling us just a few more minutes. We love their chips & salsa. Margaritas are always delicious. The food was great. A little pricey, but it's a nice place to eat in San Clemente. We'll be back, but hopefully the service is better.

Ambience is nice. Drinks were wonderful, service was attentive-but the food. Let me start there. Coming from San Diego where we know Mexican food this place was described as bougie Mexican-which it was. However everything ( and I mean everything was overly spicy!) we ordered the sopes with the Mole and we couldn't eat them. Then the Birria enchiladas and we sent them back. Asked the waiter what on the menu is not spicy and he suggested the steak salad. Steak was delicious but the salad dressing overly spicy. True Mexican food is flavorful not drowning in picante! Also- TAKE THIS SERIOUS. It was so culturally inappropriate to have chicklets (instead of mints) at the desk. I spent a lot of time in Mexico and it was the impoverished children trying to survive selling them on the street! Such disrespect for the culture. For a bougie Mexican place-no bueno- it sends such a culturally inappropriate message. Shame-shame. Super disappointed, I really wanted to love it. :(

Great place to dine, our waitress's name was Nick, he was very pleasant, took wonderful care of us. The food was delicious, and love location in beautiful San Clemente.

Came here for dinner on a Monday evening and it was our first time. We saw the Yelp reviews and decided to give it try. Our server was great! He was attentive and helpful with our questions and gave us recommendations. Here's what we ordered Strawberry lemonade - delicious but on the sweet side Tortilla soup: 8/10 presentation and flavor profile was there. However, it had A LOT of corn. I felt like it was missing some zucchini or another veggie as it was basically mostly corn. Enchiladas- we ordered a green and spicy red one to try. Green chicken 10/10 Spicy red 10/10 The enchiladas were AMAZING! So fresh, plenty of sauce and full of flavor. The rice was delicious and the beans needed salt. Carne asada burrito- 9/10 delicious and generous with portion. Overall, we will be back and try new things. 4/5 stars.

Walked in at 6pm on a Tuesday and thought it wouldn't be busy. It was quite busy and were told it would be 45 minutes (party of 4, nothing unusual). Decided to wait. After 45, still waiting. After 1 hour, still waiting and was told 10 more minutes. After 1 1/2 hours, we left. Heard the food was good, but I wouldn't know. Won't be back.

What a great menu and options galore. My guest and I both said it was likely the BEST Mexican food we'd ever had. Pricey, but worth it.

Ambiance is beautiful. We didn't have a reservation but was able to be seated right away. We sat and our server was extremely attentive and nice. I had the flautas, and my husband had the taco trio. We shared the guacamole over some cocktails. The cocktails were made to our liking. Food was delicious. All around, I can't complain too much but the seasoning was lacking for me. I wish there was more cilantro in the dishes and pricing didn't seem to fit the portion of food given. Cute spot to eat at and worth the try. I'd possibly come back and try if I was in the area.