We moved to SC in early May and have been wanting to try Coastal Cowboy ever since. No seed oils and garbage in their food, our kind of food. The first move is you walk in and order at the counter, the line moves quickly and the girl who took our order was very knowledgeable and friendly. You can tell these employees are trained well. They give you a number and you grab a table. We were there on a Saturday night at 6:45 and we had no problems getting a table. Pro tip: Order beers & appetizers at the counter and then hang and have a couple of drinks and order dinner with your waitress. The food: Tallow Fries - Must order, the best fries you'll ever have. With the homemade ketchup good lawd! We got 2 baskets for 4 of us. We should have gotten 3 baskets. Coastal smash - 2 Pattie's, no seed oil sauce, pickles, onions, cheese on a fabulous brioche style bun. My wife LOVED this. Brisket tacos - An absolute winner. Smokey, salty, tangy, plenty of umami with cilantro and pickled onions. Fire! The only thing i would have loved was some sort of salsa. Maybe there was and I missed it. Caesar salad wrap chicken - this was a sleeper hit. My daughter is a Caesar salad conissuer and this was right up her ally. And with avocado oil Caesar dressing, no garbage! Comeon. Grilled fish tacos - very fresh and good. I think there was a sauce but these were dry. It needed more sauce and some salsa. Mind you the quality was there, so I had no problem eating them. But they were a bit bland honestly. 10/10 friendly service 10/10 easability if ordering and seating. 9/10 Food This will become one of our favorite family spots no doubt. Thank you Coastal Cowboy for caring enough to be seed oil free and health conscious with your cuisine. read more

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Great menu and very clean place. Looks new. Ordering at the counter isn't my thing and then asking for a tip. Ugggg. I don't mind tipping servers however ordering at the counter isn't service. Cool that you can eat at the counter but still having to order in a line rather than a server. Restroom very clean! That's a huge plus. Pricey place however what do you expect from a tourist place. Ahhh. Restroom so clean I had to leave a gift Food was very tasty . Got fish n chips and a side of rice. The rice was A+. Fish and tarter was very good. . Why not give five stars. Well. Service for a 22 buck 2 piece fish n chips could use some help. read more

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We popped back into San Clemente for a visit and, found that many of our old favs were no longer doing so well, so it was time to make a few new ones. Friends recommended Coastal Cowboy highly, so we gave it a go. I grabbed the smash burger, fries and Mac n cheese. Burger was quite good, great flavor and fresh ingredients. You can taste that grass fed beef, as well as the tallow they cooked the fries in, which was a flavor bomb! Now the Mac and cheese was really disappointing, with too much spice and not enough actual cheese. We sent it back and they said that happens often, so they remade it with the kids version and it was much better, but probably not something we'd get again. You have to go to the counter to order and they bring the food out, which is fine, but makes it a bit chaotic when there's a line. Overall, grass fed meats, tallow cooked fries and a great vibe is worth the visit, so make sure to check it out. read more

Coastal Cowboy - Front counter - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Eclectic. Decent food and decent service. Super informal, relaxed, no frills. Probably better for lunch than dinner. Outdoor seating options. Check out the menu online before you go. read more

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I wish more restaurants like this existed. Clean ingredients, cool vibe, and delicious food. You place your order up front and find a table. I got the southwest chicken wrap that came with a side of their addictive homemade maple bbq chips. While it is on the pricier side, the wrap was enormous and really tasty. It was packed with chicken and veg, and their sauce mixed in was fantastic. I'd highly recommend stopping in for some good eats. read more

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The place is nice and the employees were friendly. I didn't care for the fish and chips. The fish had no seasoning whatsoever. The fries were cold and soggy like they have been sitting out for awhile. I was there at opening so everything should have been fresh. It was hard to eat my meal. I doubt I will return. read more

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The ambience is really great upon entering with a lot of natural lighting. It could be that I ordered the wrong thing, but I was expecting something different when I got the al pastor ahi tuna tacos. They were pretty expensive for what it was - tuna a little overcooked and with a not-quite-pastor feel for the sauce. These would be great as raw tuna tacos with a seasoned al pastor flavor instead! Will probably try something else if I return, as what my friends got looked great. read more

Fun place for bar food and drinks. Coastal Smash with Tallow Fries hit the spot but I do like my smashed burger on the really smashed and crispier side and my fries not as crispy (or well done). Also ordered were their House Potato Chips, Rodeo Mac n Cheese, Baja Fish Tacos and Golden Saddle Cake. All good for bites with drinks and to share. Counter service with your food delivered to your table. Pretty quick. Parking on a Saturday early evening was really tough. Wear comfortable shoes as you may need to walk a ways. read more

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Didn't go there. You said it was reasonable, SERIOUSLY $25.30 for fish & Chips. &18 for a taco. In what world is that reasonable??

I've been here many times!! Love their chicken sandwich and house chips. Love that everything is made fresh without seed oils! Wish I had a picture to share. Recently came for drinks. They have a great spicy marg! Such a lovely vibes. Their patio is so fun for a little happy hour drink! Will always come back! read more

Coastal Cowboy - Spicy marg - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

Great restaurant in hot weather. Wonderfully homey feel and really nice service. That being said, the food was squarely in the OK column for me. We had the seaside baja fish tacos and the fish and chips. Both were ok, but a little under seasoned. Good in a pinch if you're in the area, but not something I would drive out of my way for. read more

Coastal Cowboy - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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A great casual food experience with clean, delicious food and friendly staff. Great menu with classic beach favorites and healthy options. read more

Coastal Cowboy - Shrimp and Chips - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Great spot for health conscious folks who are trying to avoid consuming seed oils. Tried a couple of things: tallow fries, dirty cowboy fries, Asian crunch salad and the Al pastor ahi tuna tacos. Personally I was thrown off with the ahi tuna being cooked. It was my least favorite from what I tried. I didn't realize there was a burger patty in the dirty cowboy fries due to the lack of flavor. Don't get me wrong, for a healthy dish it was still satisfying, but something will missing in flavor. Service was amazing! Staff were attentive and kept this new spot clean at all times. There is bar, table and booth seating along with outdoor options. There's a couple of TVs at the bar for sports games and live rodeos shown on the additional TVs throughout the restaurant. I'd definitely come back to try other dishes. Overall I'd recommend, and think it's a great spot for San Clemente read more

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Our first time dining at Coastal Cowboy this past Sunday. They have a great selection of food and cocktails on their menu. When you arrive you order at the cashier and then you seat yourself. The restaurant has a good atmosphere and an outdoor patio. My husband is partial to sitting at the bar. I ordered the Tuna sandwich and my husband got the Sunset Club sandwich. The portions are huge, I took half home, and we were impressed with the quality. You get fresh chips with your sandwich order. The service was excellent and prices were decent. I would definitely come back again. Food 4/5 Atmosphere 4.5/5 Service 4.5:5 read more

Coastal Cowboy - Barrel Roll Tuna Sandwich - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Great burger spot with delicious burgers and some of the best tallow fries! The fries were crispy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The service was friendly, and everything made for a great experience. Definitely worth coming back! read more

Coastal Cowboy is a bright and shiny new addition to Del Mar main street in San Clemente. Good food, good drinks, good service, open air vibe. We chose to sit at the bar and had great service. The menu caters to semi-quick eats and good drinks. Tons of gluten-free options without even asking, which is amazing! All of their fried food and tallow fries are gluten-free so that means that it's safe for people with pretty severe allergies. The drinks are extensive, offering tap plus cans plus wines plus handmade cocktails. The menu is everything from vegetable sides up to complex salads, multiple sandwiches and burgers, fried foods and tacos. Lots of options for the kids, including butter noodles, which will make the pickiest little eater happy! It definitely is crowded and a small footprint. There's an outdoor patio, indoor seating and a bar. There's also a walk up register. Expect to feel busy lines, but also enjoy your food. Definitely casual, definitely lunch might be the best time vibe, and will be a place we come back to in the future. read more

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So I took my sentient boulder (emotionally stable, sturdy) to Coastal Cowboy for a little yeehaw-by-the-sea moment. I also took my furry roommate (demoted from my fur-child bc she has started showing more respect for the boulder than me). First impressions? It gave Pinterest board labeled "Surfboard Ranch Energy." Clean, coastal, vaguely western, like a cowboy who owns property in Dana Point and says things like "Let's circle back." My childhood dentist had a very similar theme.. (that says more about my dentist lol) The Food Double smash burger (his): Apparently solid. Respectable. Did not ascend him into another plane of consciousness (I think), but also did not disappoint. A sturdy, emotionally available burger--is what I imagine... he didn't reach enlightenment from where i sat. Herb chicken salad with Texas caviar (mine): It existed. It was fresh. It was competent. It did not inspire poetry. The Texas caviar did not, in fact, lasso my heart. West Coast IPA: Fine. Drinkable. It did not align my chakras, but I finished it. The Service Now THIS was yee-haw-great I forgot my glasses because I am apparently 100 years old in a 30-something body, and the staff kindly read the entire beer menu to me without a single ounce of judgment. Just pure hospitality. That's community. That's frontier kindness. The Vibe It's a solid "let's grab food and talk about nothing and everything" spot. Not a culinary awakening, but a comfortable little not-so-discreet-people-watching-venue. Would I drive across counties? No. Would I go again if my geological companion suggested it? Sure, it's a walkable location, and accepts my dog. Coastal Cowboy: steady, pleasant, not trying too hard -- kind of like dating a rock who brings you peace instead of chaos. read more

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100% recommend. Service was great and we got a seat out on the patio on a sunny day in January, what else could you ask for? Food was delicious (brunch menu!) and coffees were solid -- you don't have to choose between a good coffee and a good breakfast! Def coming back the next time we're in the area. read more

Coastal Cowboy - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Really cute place on the main drag. Great story about the owners originally being construction designers and opening up their own place and all the details are very evident. It is definitely fast casual, but the food is very upscale. Oh order at the front take a seat and they will bring your food. Everyone is super friendly. We tried the beef salad and the southwest chicken wrap. Both were very delicious and big portions. The house made potato chips are worth the visit. read more

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What a completely fun place this is...especially for Christmas! They have gone so over the top with their decorations but it makes it extra fun! Even outside of the Christmas decorations the place itself is adorable. They even have art from local artists! This was my first visit and I only came in for lunch, they have a large menu on the wall and you just order at the counter and go find a seat, they will bring your food out to you and clean up the table after you. My husband and I split a quinoa salad with grilled chicken. It was definitely delicious and honestly the perfect size for one! Next time we'll both get our own ha ha read more

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Cute and spacious decor. Plenty of menu options. You order out the counter and they deliver your food to your table. The Al pastor Aji tuna tacos were good. The tuna could have been a little bit more flavorful. The sweet corn chowder was delicious. Plenty of favor and lots of toppings. read more

Coastal Cowboy - Soup - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Stopped in to Coastal Cowboy for lunch yesterday. It came recommended by more than one friend so I knew I had to see for myself. The fare is classic "California coastal" with burgers, tacos, salads and a full bar as well as beers on tap. I went with the classic coastal smash burger and it was fabulous! The patty was cooked perfectly, the cheese melty and the secret sauce drippy goodness. The burger also came with pickles and grilled onions. So delish. I was not super excited about the fries, but I did LOVE the sauce that came on the side. I wasn't imbibing that day so I chose an iced tea to go with. It's walk up style where you order at the front, get a number and sit down wherever you like. It was packed at lunch time, which was nice for a newer restaurant. So I sat at the bar to free up a table for people with larger parties. There is outside seating with table enclosed on a front facing patio. The front of the restaurant is open letting the ocean breeze float in. The staff are very laid back, happy you are there, but not overly eager. Just attentive and chill. I like the vibe a lot. As for the festive Holiday decor? So festive and really fun. Every inch is decorated and cheery. I love it! What a fun way to celebrate the season! Can't wait to go again! read more

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I like the open-&-airy atmosphere at this order-at-the-counter restaurant, with a variety of seating options: booths, regular and high-top tables inside, with outside seating available, too. A big plus for me, the staff was impressively and appreciatively positive, friendly, and willing to help! While orders are placed at the counter, the staff delivers one's orders to the table, which have dispensers of forks and napkins (my thoughts are that the forks should be stored tines down to avoid having the tines touched by others' hands -- that's just the germaphobe in me). We all enjoyed sharing the side of delicious House Beef Tallow Fries ($6)! Hubby said his Coastal Smash Burger ($15) was only OK; however, I found the wedge of burger that I was offered quite tasty. Son enjoyed his attractively-presented Smoked Beet Salad ($13) + (a generous plank of) Yellowfin Tuna ($11). My Quinoa Salad ($12) satisfied my desire for eating something fresh and clean tasting -- perhaps rather bland on its own, without added protein. Fun find! read more

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The few times we have come have been during the week and it was busy both times. The service is quick and friendly. You order at the counter and then you need to find a spot to sit. They have indoor and outdoor seating. We got the salad and fried chicken sandwich. Both well priced and delicious. They have big screens inside that will have various sports playing. They serve beer, wine, and limited cocktails. If they get your order wrong, they work quickly to fix it. If you're looking for a casual place to eat, this is your spot read more

Great food! Came here on Veterans Day with my family to grab a bite to eat. Food was good and came out quickly! Staff was friendly. Ambiance as far as decor was cute.. but it was loud and chaotic. Don't come here if you want to have an intimate quiet meal. We shared the beef tallow fries which were delicious! I had the club sandwich which was tasty! So big I brought half home. Even the chips served in the side were good. Also* You have to order your food before you sit down... And you have to keep your tab open and close out before you leave which I think is kind of odd .. read more

Coastal Cowboy - Club sandwich - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

We were so intrigued by this restaurant that just popped up in San Clemente the fact that they don't use seed oils or additives and their choice of cooking their fries burgers is with beef tallow. You can really taste the difference and the quality It's a great place to hang and watch a game at the bar or in one of their little tables very dog, friendly people, friendly kid friendly the staff are wonderful . Mike, our bartender to very good care of us . Plenty of street parking . And the smash burger was the best ! read more

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My wife and I checked out this brand new spot in downtown San Clemente and instantly got Arizona cowboy meets coastal surf town vibes. Think desert charm with ocean breeze energy. The mix of rustic and modern decor just works, and the whole place feels effortlessly cool. The owner came over and shared the story behind his vision. He's a super friendly guy with an awesome family story that makes you want to root for the place. We ordered the crispy chicken sandwich, and wow, it was perfectly cooked, juicy, and packed with flavor. The order-then-find-a-seat setup keeps things easy, and the dipping sauce options? Elite. As a proud sauce guy, I was impressed. Overall, great food, cool atmosphere, genuine owner and a new favorite when in town that nails that "coastal cowboy" blend read more

Coastal Cowboy - Crispy Chicken Sandwich - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Great lunch spot- little hack, you can sit at the bar and order there. The other bonus to that method is interacting with Amanda! She was so attentive and had great recommendations. The smash burger was awesome, get the double! Great music, food and people. Will be back! read more

Coastal Cowboy - Smash burger - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

It's an interesting concept. You order at the counter and then when you ask servers for refills they seem annoyed. Not to mention they don't check in on you. Food is just okay. I think it's a bit overpriced for what you get and the lack of service. read more

It's family-friendly, which makes it a bit noisy and chaotic, but the food has been consistently good both times I've been there. I just take my orders to go. read more

So...... My meal was actually very solid. I ordered the asada tacos and a side of cowboy caviar. Both were very good and a nod to the caviar that worked perfectly as a side to.the tacos. The atmosphere was perfect for San Clemente.. pretty relaxed..open air and chill. My complaint is the service. I sat at bar and all the waitresses looked high school age and honestly kind of acted like it. I got a beer quickly...but nobody bothered to ask if I wanted any food for over 20 minutes... I know it's summer and your young...but be professional. The staff spent more time hanging out around the kitchen pass through talking than interacting with customers. The place has potential...but needs to get service dialed in. read more

A great place to grab lunch while at the beach that serves delicious burgers and fries with no seed oils. This spot is very popular so expect it to be busy which means a bit slower service. However,the burger and all the fixings were super good and they offer a version of animal style fries (like in-n-out) but a bit more elevated that are worth stopping in for. read more

Update 10/8/25: The Cowboy Coastal owner was nice enough to reach out to compliment my review after we had a great experience at his place. I want to clarify a couple items from my original review so you have a better understanding of the situation at CC. While I had mentioned the fries were $6 in addition to the cost of my chicken sandwich, the actual charge for a side with any handheld is $4. The $6 is for a separate order of fries without ordering a handheld. In addition, something that I did not know, the handhelds come with a side of homemade potato chips included. Good to know. Go! Eat Well!! HAVE FUN!!! read more

I loved this place. Parking is a little tricky since it's a busy area. I was able to go on a weekday. I ordered a cheeseburger and fries and grabbed a spot outside on the deck. I lovedddddd the burger. It was messy (but not in a bad way). I probably could have shared it with someone. The food on surrounding tables all looked great too. read more

Coastal Cowboy - Cheeseburger and fries - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

I got duped. I knew this was not my best option but wanted something with some freshness. I mean, the food was fine, the patio and dining space are nice, but this feels much more like a fast casual instagram spot than place to get crave able eats. It is a bit strange ordering. The line was slow moving because for whatever reason. People seemed so stuck on the menu, and asked tons of questions which was weird because the menu is quite straightforward. I got the chicken wrap. The pulled chicken was flavorless. I mean, no smoky, no nothing! The ranch sauce was good, but nothing to write home about. Everyone raves about their tallow fries. They are french fries, nothing special. They get the job done. At the end of the day, a perfectly average fast casual meal. It was not memorable, nor do I crave a return trip. The food is fresh, and ingredients are good, just a bit lacking on my trip. Maybe I just got a bad batch of chicken! read more

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I came to Coastal Cowboy for the first time this weekend. I have heard so many great things. This is the type of place where you order at the counter and then they bring the food to your table. I don't think I ordered the right thing because for me, it was just ok. I've heard their beef tallow fries are to die for! I got the quinoa salad, and it was lacking flavor. I added avocado for $7!! That seems a bit ridiculously priced. It was a busy night and this restaurant is new, so I expected our food to take a little long, but I think it was nearly 30 minutes. I actually had to check with one of the servers, because it felt especially long for just 2 salads. I'm curious to try other items here in the future. read more

Coastal Cowboy - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Such a fun new spot on Del Mar!! We went to Coastal Cowboy on a Friday around 5 and it was already pretty full. You walk up to the counter to order before finding a seat so we were lucky to get a table for 4. There's a mix of high tops, low tables and booths. We ordered the kids Mac n cheese, the spicy chicken sandwich and the brisket sandwich. Everything was really good and came out super fast for how busy they were. They have a ton of fun cocktails and beer and wine. The ambience of the inside and outside is also really fun. Definitely well-designed and great vibes. Highly recommend trying it out and very kid friendly!!! read more

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Very crowded, hard to find a place to sit but seeing it crowded is a good sign anyway. I ordered the Asian chicken salad, hardly any chicken though and since I'm gluten free I couldn't have the dressing that it came with, bummer. It was okay, nothing special for what it cost. I think some nicely grilled chicken on top rather than the few small pieces would make it much better. My daughter had the chicken sandwich and she loved it, husband had the burger and it was okay he said, not quite worth the price and you'd think it would come with something but it's all extra. We ordered fries, my family liked them but I didn't really care for them either, sorry ( I hate to sound like a complainer ). I'll come back and try something else and leave a more positive review next time hopefully. read more

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We were excited to try this place. It's on the Main Street in San Clemente so there are plenty of interesting shops to visit before or after your meal. The menu has some good variety. We tried the smash burgers and the club sandwich. My kids were raving about the smash burger and the club was amazing and on delicious fresh crusty bread. A little too much meat for me but that's pretty normal everywhere. I just took some out. The sides you order separately so the menu is kind of a la carte style which I like so you can get any side you feel like or none at all. The beef tallow fries were too beefy flavored for me but they seemed popular. I much prefer duck fat fries! Beer options were good. Service was friendly, you order at the counter and take a number. Small restaurant, but clean and relatively fast food service. read more

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Try a nice place today - I only ordered the sweet corn soup - it was a big disappointment to me - it was more of a puréed soup‼. The taste was nothing like corn to me - it's a place where you order at the counter and then they bring you your food. I prefer to be waited on by waiters and have my food delivered to me so that was a minus for me.. very nice atmosphere the place was packed so evidently the other food on the menu must be great. I will have to come back and try it again & maybe i'll be able to give it more stars next time. read more

Coastal Cowboy - American Near Me - San Clemente, California