Best of San Clemente
Dining, Drinks, & Restaurants 2022

Top Restaurants

San Clemente’s 2022 restaurant and dining award winners have been unveiled, celebrating the best in culinary excellence and hospitality.

From fine dining establishments to cozy cafes, the winners have been recognized for their exceptional cuisine, exceptional service, and outstanding atmosphere. These restaurants have demonstrated a commitment to elevating San Clemente’s dining experience.

Congratulations to all the 2022 winners & nominees!

Best Overall Restaurant

GOLD

Nick’s San Clemente ★ 11 MEDALS
213 Avenida Del Mar, 949.482.2200, nicksrestaurants.com/nicks-san-clemente

SILVER

Vine Restaurant & Bar ★ 5 MEDALS
211 N. El Camino Real, 949.361.2079, vinesanclemente.com

Best New Restaurant

GOLD

Riviera Restaurant
2600 Avenida Del Presidente, 949.503.2222, rivierasc.com

SILVER

Los Molinos Beer
151 Calle de los Molinos, losmolinosbeer.com

Best Family Restaurant

GOLD

Sonny’s Pizza & Pasta ★ 6 MEDALS
429 N. El Camino Real, 949.498.2540, sonnys.com

SILVER

The Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar ★ 1 MEDAL
611 Avenida Victoria, 949.498.6390

Best Menu for Healthy Choices

GOLD

Active Culture Natural Foods Café & Yogurt ★ 9 Medals
111 S. El Camino Real, 949.276.4625, activeculturecafe.com

SILVER

Antoine’s Café ★ 1 Medal
218 S. El Camino Real, 949.492.1763, antoinescafe.com

Best Restaurant for Vegan Options

GOLD

Active Culture Natural Foods Café & Yogurt ★ 4 Medals
111 S. El Camino Real, 949.276.4625, activeculturecafe.com

SILVER

J’Adore Café ★ 3 Medals
165 Avenida Del Mar, 949.212.6517, jadorecalifornia.com

Best Restaurant - Date/Romantic Evening

GOLD

Vine Restaurant & Bar ★ 13 Medals
211 N. El Camino Real, 949.361.2079, vinesanclemente.com

SILVER

Nick’s San Clemente ★ 9 Medals

213 Avenida Del Mar, 949.482.2200, nicksrestaurants.com/nicks-san-clemente

Best Restaurant for Outdoor Dining

GOLD

The Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar ★ 9 Medals
611 Avenida Victoria, 949.498.6390

SILVER

Nomads Canteen ★ 7 Medals
102 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.481.4153, stayatnomads.com

Best Sushi

GOLD

9 Style Sushi ★ 14 Medals
429 N. El Camino Real, 949.498.2540, sonnys.com

SILVER

Full Moon Sushi ★ 1 Medals
647 Camino De Los Mares, 949.489-1360

Best Poke

GOLD

Poke Tiki
979 Avenida Pico, Suite F, 949.545.6833, poketiki.com

SILVER

Nomads Canteen
102 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.481.4153, stayatnomads.com

Best Chinese Food

GOLD

New Mandarin Garden
111 W. Avenida Palizada, 949.492.7432, oldtownsanclemente.com/mandarinmenu

SILVER

China Bros
979 Avenida Pico, 949.312.2955, chinabrosfooddelivery.com

Best International Eats

GOLD

Mongkut Thai Restaurant ★ 15 Medals
212 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3871, mongkutthaisc.com

SILVER

Village Mediterranean Rim ★ 5 Medals
123 Avenida Del Mar, 949.361.8970, villagemedrim.com

Best Thai Food

GOLD

Mongkut Thai Restaurant
212 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3871, mongkutthaisc.com

SILVER

Thai Palace
1021 Avenida Pico, San Clemente, 949.369.1819, thaipalacesc.net

Best Mexican Food

GOLD

South of Nick’s
110 N. El Camino Real, 949.481.4545, nicksrestaurants.com/south-of-nicks

SILVER

Sol Agave
111 Avenida Del Mar, 949.312.2210,
solagave.com/san-clemente

Best Pizza

GOLD

Pizza Port ★ 10 Medals
301 N. El Camino Real, 949.940.0005, pizzaport.com

SILVER

Cassano’s ★ 2 Medals
818 S. El Camino Real, 949.388.7611, cassanos.net

Best Spot for Take-Out Food

GOLD

Guicho’s Eatery ★ 6 Medals
1110 S. El Camino Real, 949.481.1070
440 Camino De Estrella, 949.248.1910, guichos.com

SILVER

Pedro’s Tacos ★ 4 Medals
550 N. El Camino Real, 949.498.5908
2313 S. El Camino Real, 949.498.5904, pedrostacos.com

By of Dishes, Delights, and Drinks

Indulge in the ultimate culinary experience at San Clemente's top eateries and bars. From savory seafood to craft cocktails, this is dining done right. Explore the best of 2022 dishes, delights, and drinks.

Pictured - Nomad’s Canteen

Best Lunch Spot

GOLD

Antoine’s Café ★ 4 Medals
218 S. El Camino Real, 949.492.1763, antoinescafe.com

SILVER

Nick’s San Clemente (Tie) ★ 2 MEDALS

213 Avenida Del Mar, 949.482.2200, nicksrestaurants.com/nicks-san-clemente

Silver Board & Brew (Tie) ★ 5 MEDALS

979 Avenida Pico, 949.498.2739, boardandbrew.com

Best Appetizers

GOLD

Nick’s San Clemente ★ 12 Medals
213 Avenida Del Mar, 949.482.2200, nicksrestaurants.com/nicks-san-clemente

SILVER

The Cellar ★ 8 Medals
156 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3663, thecellarsite.com

Best Breakfast

GOLD

Antoine’s Café ★ 17 Medals
218 S. El Camino Real, 949.492.1763, antoinescafe.com

SILVER

S.C. Café ★ 9 Medals
1810 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.0626, facebook.com/sanclementecafe

Best Breakfast Burrito

GOLD

Antoine’s Café ★ 1 Medal
218 S. El Camino Real, 949.492.1763, antoinescafe.com

SILVER

Sancho’s Tacos ★ 1 MEDAL
1101 S. El Camino Real, 949.218.0488, sanchostacos.com

Best Bagel

GOLD

The Bagel Shack ★ 15 Medals
777 S. El Camino Real, 949.388.0745, thebagelshack.com

SILVER

Antoine’s Café ★ 7 Medals
218 S. El Camino Real, 949.492.1763, antoinescafe.com

Best Brunch

GOLD

Antoine’s Café ★ 4 Medals
218 S. El Camino Real, 949.492.1763, antoinescafe.com

SILVER

Café Mimosa ★ 4 Medals
243 Avenida Del Mar, 949.481.6780, cafemimosasc.net

Best Burger

GOLD

The Riders Club Café ★ 13 Medals
1701 N. El Camino Real, 949.388.3758, ridersclubcafe.com

SILVER

Biggie’s Great Burgers & Shakes ★ 11 Medals
1017 S. El Camino Real, 929.492.9182, biggiesburgers.com

Best Chef

GOLD

Chris Kartchner at The Cellar
156 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3663, thecellarsite.com

SILVER

Rayne Frey at MRK Public
1402 S. El Camino Real, 949.441.7621, mrkpublic.com

Best Cup of Coffee or Tea

GOLD

Bear Coast Coffee ★ 7 Medals
618 1/2 Avenida Victoria, 949.482.0618, bearcoastcoffee.com

SILVER

Zebra House Coffee ★ 11 Medals
1001 S. El Camino Real, 949.218.6976, zebrahousecoffee.com

Best Donut

GOLD

Surfin' Donuts Coffee House ★ 16 Medals
1822 S. El Camino Real, 949.492.1249

SILVER

Rose Donuts & Café ★ 6 Medals
624 Camino de los Mares, 949.493.9200

Best Sandwich

GOLD

Board & Brew ★ 13 Medals
979 Avenida Pico, 949.498.2739, boardandbrew.com

SILVER

Billy’s Meats, Seafood & Deli ★ 16 Medals
111 Avenida Del Mar, 949.498.5924, billyssanclemente.com

Best Taco

GOLD

Sancho’s Tacos ★ 6 Medals
1101 S. El Camino Real, 949.218.0488, sanchostacos.com

SILVER

Avila’s El Ranchito ★ 4 Medals
204 Avenida Del Mar, 949.498.5000, avilaselranchito.com/san-clemente

Best Salsa

GOLD

South of Nick’s ★ 4 Medals
110 N. El Camino Real, 949.481.4545, nicksrestaurants.com/south-of-nicks

SILVER

Rose Donuts & Café ★ 6 Medals
624 Camino de los Mares, 949.493.9200

Best Spot to Cure a Sweet Tooth

GOLD

Lucky Dog Gelato ★ 2 Medals
1010 S. El Camino Real, 949.545.7147, luckydoggelato.com

SILVER

South Swell Hand-Dipped Ice Cream ★ 6 Medals
137 Avenida Del Mar, 949.388.4984, southswellicecream.com

Best of Bars, Drinks, Beer, and Wine

Cheers to the 2022 Best of Award Winners in San Clemente's Bars, Drinks, Beer, and Wine scene! Discover the top-notch establishments and taste the finest libations in town.

Pictured - Asada Cantina + Kitchen

Best Bar

GOLD

Red Fox Lounge ★ 10 Medals
220 S. El Camino Real, 949.492.3403, facebook.com/therfl

SILVER

Jane ★ 1 MEDAL
158 Avenida Del Mar, 949.388.3051, bar-jane.com

Best Sports Bar

GOLD

Daily's Sports Grill ★ 3 Medals
204 S. El Camino Real, 949.522.9010, dailyssportsgrill.org

SILVER

OCTavern ★ 7 Medals
2369 S. El Camino Real, 949.542.8877, octavern.com

Best Happy Hour

GOLD

The Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar ★ 17 Medals
611 Avenida Victoria, 949.498.6390, thefishermansrestaurantsanclemente.com

SILVER

The Cellar ★ 8 Medals
156 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3663, thecellarsite.com

Best Margarita

GOLD

South of Nick's ★ 1 Medal
110 N. El Camino Real, 949.481.4545, nicksrestaurants.com/south-of-nicks

SILVER

Sol Agave ★ 1 Medal
111 Avenida Del Mar, 949.312.2210,
solagave.com/san-clemente

Best Brewing Company

GOLD

Los Molinos Beer ★ 1 Medal
151 Calle de los Molinos, losmolinosbeer.com

SILVER

Artifex Brewing Company ★ 5 Medals
919 Calle Amanecer, Suite A, 949.429.7805;
98 Avenida Del Mar, 949.218.1452, artifex.beer

Best Beer Selection

GOLD

Los Molinos Beer ★ 1 Medal
151 Calle de los Molinos, losmolinosbeer.com

SILVER

Lost Winds Brewing Company ★ 3 Medals
924 Calle Negocio, Suite C, 949.361.5922
lostwindsbrewing.com

Best Wine Selection

GOLD

The Cellar ★ 14 Medals
156 Avenida Del Mar, 949.492.3663, thecellarsite.com

SILVER

Rancho Capistrano Winery San Clemente ★ 1 Medal
124 Avenida Del Mar, 949.276.2197, ranchocapwinery.com

Best Bartender

GOLD - Winner Spotlight, Read More

Connor Danaher at Vine Restaurant & Bar ★ 1 Medal
211 N. El Camino Real, 949.361.2079, vinesanclemente.com

SILVER

Jessica Kavanagh at Big Helyn’s Saloon ★ 1 Medal
3317 S. El Camino Real, 949.498.6280