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

South of Nick's - San Clemente

4.8
4.8
2037 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican
110 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 54 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • 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
    (949) 481-4545
  • Website
    http://nicksrestaurants.com/south-of-nicks/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Omar Gonzalez
  • Catering
    http://nicksrestaurants.com/catering-events/
  • Location
    110 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672
  • 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

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 2,037 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

Noise • Moderate

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 delightful dining experience with "delicious food," "excellent service," and a "lively atmosphere." Guests rave about the "outstanding" margaritas and the "fantastic" warm butter cake. Despite occasional noise, the restaurant is praised for its "friendly staff" and "consistently great" meals, making it a favorite spot for many.

2,037 Reviews

  1. Stephen VIP

    San Francisco17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server, Lily, was fantastic! So knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. As usual, the food was super delicious, and we had such an enjoyable time.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Ardath

    Raleigh20 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Charming interior with well crafted menu choices. Excellent service and delightful EtchASketch to occupy kiddos. Generous portions. Only criticism is the rather officious greeting and wait time to be seated even with a reservation.

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  3. RickA

    Palm Springs2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We celebrated Easter at one of our favorite Restaurants, South of Nick's. The food, service, and setting never disappoints.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Andrea

    Dallas7 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    We were seated in the bar which was noisy and not nearly as classy as the restaurant. The chips and salsa were wonderful. The enchiladas were just ok and expensive at $25. Ribeye steak was good, as was the filet fajitas. Margaritas were good but pricey.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Julie

    Los Angeles5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great time at South of Nick's, delicious food, margaritas and excellent service, thank you Josh!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Thomas VIP

    San Francisco77 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It’s always a great experience when we go to South of Nick’s! We brought out of town friends and they really enjoyed the menu, service, and overall experience. The quality of service, menu choices, and drinks are always consistently very good. You will not be disappointed when you choose to go to South of Nick’s.

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  7. John

    Orange County5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As usual for South of Nick's, the service and food were both fabulous. Can't say enough good things about the food and cocktails. Just great!

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  8. gaby VIP

    Baja California14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My fav restaurant. Love the food. love the ambiance.

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  9. Helen

    Orange County2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 13, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Love South of Nick's...this is gourmet Mexican food at good prices; has to be one of the best in Orange County. The staff is well trained and service is excellent. But ... it is also one of the most noisy restaurants around. Don't even think about going there in a group; it would just be scream time.

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  10. Alex

    Atlanta38 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of our favorite spots. My wife and I go there for special occasions and it’s always such a treat. The staff and service is top notch. Delicious food and drinks every time!

    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 2037 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
10:00 PM
Booked 54 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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