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    Buffalo Nickel

    3.8 (347 reviews)
    ModeratePizza, American, Mexican
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Buffalo Nickel Photos

    Business Info

    BUFFALO NICKEL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Buffalo Nickel

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    Reviews With Photos

    The front entrance
    Jona H.

    Off the beaten path but worth the effort for a large family . We had a sampling of just about everything Ribs, steak, nachos, fajitas etc. everything was tasty and the service was great. It was so good and we were so hungry that I forgot to take photos so I only have a pic of the bar area and the entrance. Whoops. We ate inside on our first visit and when we came back a couple days later for lunch after some time at the beach we sat on the outdoor patio. Definitely the spot for regulars and larger groups!

    Kelly B.

    Great take out! Arrived to the island late as restaurants were closing and they delivered food all the way to our hotel, Zane Grey. Large portions of food, and drink (yay!) we could have shared. Nachos, burritos and salmon meal were all warm and tasty.

    Cindy W.

    We biked here from Avalon to have lunch during our stay in Catalina. If you are arriving by the helicopter, the restaurant is located right next to the helipad. The portions here were very generous, so our quesadillas and Ceviche were more than enough for two with leftovers to go. The prices were very reasonable too, given it was located outside of Avalon downtown. So why not the 5-stars? Well, the service was extremely slow. And the servers all seemed to be slightly tunnel vision and not able to multitask. It could also be that we were there right after a large group has cleared out, so the server chose to spend time cleaning the table versus giving us the menu. Lastly, the quesadillas were on the greasy side. I would recommend budget extra time when dining here.

    Fresh chip and Shrimp Ceviche.
    Vince B.

    After exploring Avalon on foot all day, our weary legs clamored for a break and our seafood loving taste buds curious to try what the island has to offer. Something light and fresh since our dinner is in three hours. A local highly recommend Buffalo Nickel. Although a little distance away from the town, their van service picked us up near the golf cart rentals and also took us back to the town proper. Their shrimp ceviche was indeed worth the little drive. It satisfied all four of us with some generous helpings of salsa & chips. The place wasn't packed today - only three tables occupied. The music playing was just the right volume and we can hear our conversations without having to shout even when the speaker was right above the end of our table. More importantly, the price is perfect.

    This is the Carne con Chili, with beans, rice, and a tiny salad. This was absolutely amazing!
    Martin C.

    The portions are ridiculous, so be prepared to get your grub on. The service is superb, and the ambiance will immediately relax you. This is a locals type of place, and you have to get a ride up to the restaurant. There's outdoor dining with heaters also, but we dined inside.

    Bloody Mary
    Gina O.

    We had the pleasure of eating here Friday night. They are extremely friendly, if you call the restaurant they will come and pick you up from town and take you back. The view outside is absolutely stunning, plus you can watch the helicopters coming and going. The prices are very reasonable as well especially for the area I definitely recommend visiting

    Carne Asada and tortillas (corn or flour).

    Best Restaurant on Catalina Island! Go early order a cocktail (Wine) and enjoy the Pacific Ocean and a Sunset. Be respectful to the servers, they have good Days and bad Days, most work 2 to 3 jobs on the island. ALL items on the menu remain FAN favorites. Huge portions, especially the ChilI Rellenos that were made to perfection with homemade salsa. The Steak Catalina "EXCEPTIONAL". Servers Pedro and Kevin, who were Outstanding throughout the night. Just another Memorable and Fantastic Dinner.

    Tasty BBQ wings
    Steven D.

    Still amazing! Best prices on the island, consistently awesome quality and definitely some of the best service I've experienced on the island so far. Highly recommend especially with the warm weather upon us! What a great spot!

    Overcooked kids corn dog
    Amy M.

    Cute off the beaten path restaurant. Unfortunately, my daughter and I had unpleasant experiences. Her kids corn dog was way overcooked and so were her fries. My nachos, had a hair sitting along my sour cream. I showed my husband. I thought I removed the hair, and he even asked me if I got the whole thing. I didn't see it, so I took a dive in. My first bite I was pulling hair out of my mouth. Gross. I was starving as it was out first night in the island and a long day an I had 't eaten anything that day since breakfast, so I continued on. Thinking back I wish I hadn't. However, luckily I didn't find anymore hairs and the nachos were a'right. The waiter was pleasant and he did take the corn dog off and nachos off our bill. We gave extra cash, because our intention wasn't to get free food, but to bring it to their attention. My husband was totally happy with his chimichanga and had no issues tho so maybe my daughter and I just had a bad night I wouldn't go back here this trip tho, as it was a total turnoff for now. It was also cash only the night we happened to dine in, so not sure what the reality of payment situations are other nights. But not everyone carries cash and I didn't see an atm on site.

    Beef Taquitos
    Alina N.

    It had probably been over 15 years since we had been here so we decided to check it out again. We had a group of 8 and were told to call to get the shuttle when we were by the basketball courts. We waited about 20 min after calling and still no shuttle so we called again and the man who answered was very apologetic and sent the driver right away (not sure what miscommunication happened with the first call). The shuttle arrived less than 5 min later. It is a minivan so the driver had to do two trips since there were 8 of us. Once we arrived we were seated pretty quickly inside. The place was full and had a very fun vibe. Our waiter was the best - very friendly, talkative, and giving us a lot of different recommendations. We all ended up ordering Mexican food and it was all delicious. Housemade salsa and strong tasty margaritas were a bonus! Although we didn't get a pizza, the pizzas smelled and looked amazing. Afterwards we took the shuttle back. Having learned later about the new circuit transportation on the Island I think it would've been faster to just take that over to the restaurant to save some time. Overall we all really enjoyed the energy of this place, loved our waiter, our food, and drinks. We won't let 15 years pass again before returning. We will have to add the Buffalo Nickel to our restaurant rotation on our next trip!

    Camarones a la Diabla with corn tortillas and fajitas

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    7 years ago

    Go here all the time! Service is Great and the food is delicious. Pasta night is always fun. Good vibes

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    Food was great! Everyone was very friendly, and the restaurant is really cool. The buffalo burger is great! Will be going back!

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    Page 6 of 9

    Ask the Community - Buffalo Nickel

    Is the Buffalo Nickel still open?

    The Buffalo Nickel re-opened on Friday November 3rd, 2017. They suffered a kitchen fire and they closed for approximately 9 weeks. During that time, they took their time to do a full restaurant re-model. The outcome was excellent and they are back… 

    View All 2 Questions

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    Maggie's Blue Rose - Chips & Salsa (not complimentary)

    Maggie's Blue Rose

    3.9(1.1k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Most Recently: May 30, 2026 | Maggie's Blue Rose has excellent customer service, tasty bites and…read morestrong drinks! Shrimp Enchilada & Mango Salad | Discovered this dish at Taste Around Avalon & it was quite a memorable combo! There was flavor upon flavor in every bite! I highly recommend! Chips & Salsa | Delicious!! Love the salsa and the crisp tortilla chips! Guava Margaritas | I first tried the guava margaritas at Taste Around Avalon, which made quite an impression! Most recently, while taking a break from shopping, one of my friends and I stopped to have a quick drink on a very hot day! We had no idea the glasses would be so huge! Lol! The drink was also strong this time! I'm a lightweight, so I enjoyed a few sips, but definitely couldn't finish all of it, not even half of it! If you like large flavorful drinks, this is the place! Customer Service | Wildly friendly, and accommodating! Once, when several friends surprised me on the island at once, we all dined here! It was our last meal before catching our ferry, so we had very little time! Maggie's Blue Rose was kind enough to accommodate us, a total of about 10, as well as get our meals to us quickly, including excellent customer service! #grateful We had a variety of food! Overall | I'm looking forward to exploring more of the menu, as well as updating my review one day!

    We wanted Mexican food as soon as we got off the ferry, and Maggie's looked like one of the better…read moreoptions. First, it was SO hot inside the restaurant. If you decide to eat here, definitely sit outside. Our server was also sweating so much that I was worried sweat was going to drip into our food. I ordered a piña colada, which was okay, and the Lazy Green Enchiladas. Unfortunately, "lazy" was pretty accurate. The enchiladas and beans had basically no flavor at all. The green sauce tasted like jarred salsa, and the chicken was plain, bland boiled chicken. My husband got the fish tacos, he said they were okay. Overall, this was a disappointing first meal on the island. I wouldn't eat here again and unfortunately wouldn't recommend it. Oh, if you want Mexican, the sunset bar and grill was good!! And great service!

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    Maggie's Blue Rose - Bar Area - No "Auto-Gratuity" signage

    Bar Area - No "Auto-Gratuity" signage

    Maggie's Blue Rose - Nachos with steak

    Nachos with steak

    Maggie's Blue Rose

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    Coyote Joe's - FIRE

    Coyote Joe's

    2.8(650 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Most Recently: May 30, 2026 | Coyote Joe's is an amazing Mexican restaurant with a variety of…read moreoptions on the menu! It's also a wonderful place to go if you want a late night bite, as it's open late until 2 AM! Fish & Chips | Delicious & flavorful alongside tartar sauce, & filling! Under From the Sea is where you will find this dish! Salmon Plate | Yes, please! Generous portion of salmon! It's a tasty dish, alongside flavorful rice and beans! Chips & Salsa | I really enjoyed the crispy tortillas and flavorful salsa! Chocolate Cake | Decadent! I did share with friends, as to the rest, I enjoyed every chocolatey bite! Haha! Decor | Festive & fun! A coyote sits on top of the frame of the restaurant and a vibrant Marigold entrance welcomes you at the door! Restaurant is very colorful, rich colors all around, as well as photos and artwork! I was also here when it was decorated for the holidays in October of 2025! Seating indoor as well as on the outdoor huge patio! I've enjoyed both! Customer Service | Wildly friendly! Hi, Nancy! I know Nancy from around the island, at another location! As soon as we spotted each other inside of the restaurant, we screamed, but not loud (hahaha!) and hugged each other! I had no idea that she worked here! Always fun to see a friendly face! Late Night Bite | Open late night until 2AM! Many of the restaurants on the island closed before 10 and sometimes before 9 AM! Overall | Yes, Please! An array of flavorful dishes, festive atmosphere, and friendly customer service... Let's go!

    Beer was warm and flat. Margarita was weak…read more We finally got our food at least 1/2 hour after serving. My husband's food was barely warm. Mine was hot but it was terrible. I took five bites and I was done. Do not EVER eat here.

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    Coyote Joe's - Decor during October!

    Decor during October!

    Coyote Joe's - Special burrito they are known for. Shredded beef for Jake. Superb! Size for three people!

    Special burrito they are known for. Shredded beef for Jake. Superb! Size for three people!

    Coyote Joe's - Happy hour Paloma

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    Happy hour Paloma

    Buffalo Nickel - pizza - Updated September 2026

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