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

South of Nick's - San Clemente

4.8
4.8
1952 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 50 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
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.

Order delivery or takeout

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 1,952 people are saying

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
  • 4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Orange County

    Mexican

  • South Orange County

    Mexican

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
At South of Nick's in San Clemente, you'll savor "absolutely incredible" food with standout dishes like shrimp taquitos, pork carnitas, and seafood enchiladas. The "service is top-notch" and the "ambiance is delightful," creating a dining experience that is "worth the wait." Make sure to try the "best butter cake" for dessert.

1,952 Reviews

  1. Dan

    Montana

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Karcher knows his stuff. Was an awesome server and the food was out of this world.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Lori

    New York City

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nicks is my favorite place to eat when I am in Southern California. The food is consistently amazing, the drinks are just as amazing and the service is spectacular. I highly recommend a visit!!!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Karen

    VIP

    Orange County

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were a party of five for dinner and each and every one of us really enjoyed our meals. Excellent food, and great service staff!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Johanna

    VIP

    Nashville

    51 reviews

    5.0

    51 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I make a point to go here every time I'm in town. Love the food!! I've never had a bad meal. Biggest problem is I want to order everything. Service was and always is fantastic. Love the vibe. Great Mexican restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Dan

    Orange County

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    We came to South of Nicks for our Anniversary. Set the reservation about a week in advance and notified them it was for our Anniversary. They sat us next to the bar on an open bench arms length away from the people next to us. Food was just okay. Everything was just okay. South of Nicks used to be the premier spot, but the last few times I’ve been there it hasn’t lived up to the hype. They need to step up their game. I prefer Asada at the outlets.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Mike

    VIP

    Charlotte

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 24, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent authentic Mexican. Very good service and timely. Plenty of parking nearby. Friendly staff.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Peter

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Jason, our server was exceptional. Had. Fab meal that was a big step ahead of Tex Mex with its traditional Mexico City style sauces. Highly recommend this spot!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Linda

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    24 reviews

    5.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on December 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Ileana was our server and she was great. Very attentive. The food, as always, never disappoints. We will be back for sure.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Deborah

    Orange County

    9 reviews

    4.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on December 20, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Seems there isn’t enough reception help. Stood for almost 5 minutes without being acknowkedged. I understand someone in front of me was making a takeout order however some acknowledgment would’ve been more welcoming.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Norma

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 19, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As always, everything was perfect! The food, service and ambiance was impeccable! My favorite Mexican restaurant!

    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 1952 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 50 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

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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