Nomads Canteen

4.0 (467 reviews)

ModerateComfort Food

Open • 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

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Nomads Canteen - Da Kine Cuban - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

Nomads Canteen - Mor of the ceiling - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

Nomads Canteen - Baja bowl. Delicious & filling..with Wahoo. - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Nomads Canteen - Lower patio - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Eve T.

I had the shrimp and an ahi tuna salad. The bartender was sweet and friendly. The place is very clean so and the food is delicious. She said everything is good. So yes even the veggie kabobs. Yuuuummmm

Austin S.

Talk about fresh, talk about light, talk about delicious! If you love just a super casual bar with quality food and good vibes then nomad's is the place to be! Their shrimp is superb I got the app and the shrimp bowl. The bowl was amazing. The salsa, rice, veggies, beans, cucumbers all went together so well. A perfect blend of acidity, sweetness, fresh, and light! An evening on the patio with this bowl of awesomeness was just what the dr ordered! Oh, the service was great, too! Friendly servers with attention to detail and good vibes!

Elisa G.

This is a new discovery for me and San Clemente, it's next-door to Surfside fish and it's easy to miss so you have to know where you're going. It's a happening bar with lots of craft beer choices. I ordered Ahi tuna and shrimp too and each was only 1 skewer and cole slaw so that was a bit surprising when I got home and opened the recyclable container. Hailey is worth coming here for. She's very sweet and helpful! Next time I'll dine in and I'm sorry I forgot to take a picture of the food!

Sammy B.

If you are in San Clemente I would 100% recommend Nomads for a lunch spot! This eclectic beachy bar and restaurant is connected to a hotel in the heart of San Clemente. The ambiance includes surf memorabilia, plenty of boards, and even a crocodile across the back wall. The service was great! Our waitress was efficient and polite. She constantly was refilling our drinks. To eat we got the cool cuke poke bowl, pork dio chile verde bowl, carne asada tacos, and the quesadilla. The stand out dish was the cool cuke bowl. it was simple and refreshing but had delicious flavor. My dad is currently on a restrictive diet and this was PERFECT for him, he even said he could eat two more bowls! I would love to come by and try some of their cocktails and appetizers!

Midori G.

A group of 4 stopped in on a Wednesday night. They weren't too busy so we were seated immediately. I was immediately shocked at how affordable the pricing is. I ordered a salad with grilled ahi and the creamy coconut dressing. I was very satisfied with the meal! The portions are decent but not so much food that you feel like you're stuffed. They have indoor and outdoor seating with space heaters for chilly nights. The service was very fast and attentive. Definitely a good casual spot for dinner and drinks!

John M.

The kid was visiting from college and wanted to hit some of her favorite local places and Nomads made the cut. Personally, I am not a fan from previous experiences. I just have not had something that makes me want to come back. But, the kid wanted to go, so we did (just like going to S of Nick's while she was home). It was a beautiful day in SC, as usual, so we sat out on the patio with some umbrellas to hide us from the sun. Our friendly server greeted us, gave us some menus and took our drink order. According to the receipt, her name was Cortni. Very nice and took great care of us. As I picked up the menu to pick something out, I was skeptical about finding something I would like. I tried to keep an open mind. The kid said I should try the Poke, but I have had that in the past and was just OK. Also, I do not like mango. So, the kid ordered the half and half poke. I was going back and forth on several different items and finally chose the Da-Kine Cuban. According to the menu, this is Nomad's version of the classic Cuban sandwich. Grilled Spam (instead of the traditional ham, BRILLIANT!), pork carnitas, melted Queso Blanco, Pickles, Spicy Mustard. On the side is Charro, Coco-Rice, Metate Corn Tortilla Chips. I asked for extra pickles and for some extra spicy mustard on the side. The wife chose the Asian Beef Low Carb Bowl: Spicy Srirach grilled skirt steak over cabbage, green onion, carrot, cucumber. Soy sauce, lemon juice, sesame seeds. As we enjoyed the sun and our drinks, the patio was filling up and getting a bit crowded. The servers was bustling up and down the patio keeping filled with drinks and food. All were smiling and everyone was having a good time. Some more than others.** Our meals arrived and we jumped right in, well after I took pictures of everyone's lunches for this review. The Kid: she loved her poke bowl and ate it right up. The Wife: Really enjoyed her Asian Beef and I tried some and it was pretty tasty. Very simple meal, but she liked it. Me: The Da-Kine Cuban looked good as did the sides. Interesting to have rice & beans and then tortilla chips as well, but it really worked. I was using the chips to spoon up the rice/beans mixture. It was really tasty. Now to the sandwich. What do the kids say, Da bomb? Is that right? Spam cooked perfectly, great carnitas, lots of pickles, great spicy mustard and nicely melted queso. BOOM! Wow, this was a great sandwich and something I would have again and again when we come back. Did you hear what I just said? I want to go back. To Nomads. Really! Loved it. Since I ate all of the chips and rice/beans, I only ate 1/2 of the sandwich. Luckily for me, I had the delicious sandwich the next day for lunch. YUM! Go. Eat Well. HAVE FUN!! ** having more fun than others. A group of guys were fairly obnoxious, drinking, loud and spreading their chairs on the tight patio so that it was hard for the servers and customers to move around. I heard them say they were the Tesla Boyz of Talega, but I may have misheard them. HA, HA, HA! I did get the feeling that they were regulars. Not a restaurant issue, just a clueless people issue.

Isai R.

I've only had the Pink Tacos, so I can't really comment on the other food, but I can confidently say they were the worst tacos I've ever had. I saw the photos of them on "taco holders," which is usually a red flag, but I was dumb enough to mindlessly take the cute waitresses suggestion. The ahi was overcooked and the dominant flavor profile is the cream they top it with. The flour tortillas felt like they were barely warmed and the whole plate was a soggy, gloppy mess. They do photograph well though. Always trust your gut and don't get duped by attractive employees.

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Diane F.

74

12

11

3 years ago

A very cozy rustic vibe inside, a nice patio with umbrellas and palm trees on what looks like a dock to the water. One thing I would have the management consider, is the walkway from the kitchen to the bar dining area, have some type of a door put up. To block the kitchen view from the seating area. That would make it top-notch! read more

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Eric A.

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2 years ago

Pretty simple... friendly beach atmosphere, excellent healthy food, good service, good drinks! This is my go to place to bring out guests visiting us to show them how cool San Clemente is. read more

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Mai F.

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17

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2 years ago

Absolutely love the food here. My favorite and go to every time I want to have something light tasty and a little bit spicy. The Jaco Poke Bowl, it's light and will fill you up. read more

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Maryanne A.

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3

3 years ago

Just the vibe we were looking for this Sunday for a late lunch. I got the Pomegranate Margarita which was very refreshing, not too sweet or syrupy. We got the Porko Dio and Muther-Clucker which were both filling and tasty. Overall enjoyed our experience and the service was also good. read more

Nomads Canteen - Porko Dio - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

Nomads Canteen - Pomegranate Margarita - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

Nomads Canteen - Mother-Clucker - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Hassan T.

0

11

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1 year ago

What a place to sit, relax, eat and enjoy a drink. My wife and kids visit this place on weekends just to enjoy sitting out on the deck and enjoy a bite and a drink. Servers are always pleasant and friendly. The menu has been thoughtfully put together, it's fun and delicious. They have outdoor heaters to keep guests warm during cooler weather. read more

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Anna M.

40

70

42

3 years ago

Ordered basic carne asada tacos with no spice, they got in wrong both times and it took ages to get my food on a Saturday afternoon around 3 when it wasn't busy. Waitress took off and we were left unattended for a long period. Tacos were cold and tasted like cardboard. Poor service and bad food 0/0 read more

Nomads Canteen - Worst tacos every - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Rob T.

0

12

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1 year ago

Food wasn't great and it's not very interesting atmosphere-wise. Parking can be a real pain if the lot is full. If you want atmosphere go down to the pier, and if you want food go elsewhere. read more

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Julie S.

31

51

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3 years ago

I sat on the deck with my dog, the waitress brought him ice water which was cool. EZ parking in their lot. Priced reasonably. read more

Nomads Canteen - Great Margarita. Not too sweet-cake slice, paper straw..lovely. - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Christian N.

34

67

7

2 years ago

No good tequila bar has margaritas on tap made with soda water. If you want mediocre food and meh margaritas made with soda visit this place. The only reason for two stars is the service far outreaches the pseudo-tequila bar vibe. When I asked for a Cadillac margarita without soda they informed me that their margaritas were in a batch mix. Upon tasting the margarita I'm not sure there was more than 1/2oz of liquor in it. San Clemente has a false notion of good food. It's a tourist town with tourist town food and Nomads is not the exception. read more

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Brad H.

37

8

0

2 years ago

The blonde female manager on duty immediately harassed me and my family when we exited our car. She assumed that we were not going to eat at Nomad's, and was immediately confrontational and rude. I will never come back, and will encourage anyone else I know to do the same. read more

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Carson W.

0

1

0

2 years ago

Let's start with the food. I've eaten here twice and got sick both times. Not to mention my steak appetizer was cold! The service is terrible and I always feel forgotten here. This is a place for a drink and only a drink! I've only been food poisoned twice and this spot is 2 for 2 on me. Do not eat here! Ambiance is the only plus. read more

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Frank A.

0

11

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3 years ago

What a pleasant surprise! Not much to look at. Try the food and drink and you will be surprised! read more

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Meg S.

3

13

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2 years ago

We love Namads! Great vibe and a nice place for a Saturday or Sunday lunch! We both had the pome bowl and chips with guacamole both were delicious! read more

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Issak D.

169

39

29

2 years ago

Great vibes and good location. Walking distance to the beach and the service is just awesome!!!! Delicious food and good amounts.

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Malcolm B.

2

33

8

2 years ago

An absolute delight. The boys and I visited and were all very hungover but we were craving the spam bowl they have which is absolute fire. I'm talking avocado, mango, grilled spam, rice, black beans with a sauce they throw on. It's gluten free too. Anyway Christie served us and she was very attentive and everything was honestly perfect. Very nice lunch. Only thing I will say is that the steak appetizer thing absolutely has to be an even number. It came out with 5 pieces and if there was 6 it wouldn't have been awkward but Tyrus and I basically took the last 2 pieces and Christian didn't get a 2nd piece since there were 3 of us. The meat was good though and the Asian coleslaw slapped harder than that one black dude on the Grammies. read more

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Paddy O.

0

13

4

5 years ago

We tried a smorgasbord of menu items, everything was very good. The menu has a lot of items. The chickens wings were excellent (some of the best I have eaten). Our favorite drink was the watermelon margaritas The mangos margarita was not my favorite. The poke would get a recommendation also. Great patio and we had good service/server. read more

Nomads Canteen - Patio dining, Poke, watermelon margaritas, chicken wings - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Janira R.

101

210

4 years ago

Location is great , ambience was nice, drinks were good , price was reasonable but food ... let's just say "Chipotle," is tastier .. if you like authentic food , this is not the spot . Overall good experience, good service , would be back for drinks , chips and Guacamole ... read more

Nomads Canteen - Shrimp bowl (5) shrimp $15 - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

Nomads Canteen - Chips and guacamole - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Grace R.

0

17

7

3 years ago

Been coming here since the beginning. The food is consistently good. Atmosphere is chill. Dog friendly. Nomads never disappoints!

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Kim P.

126

27

5

4 years ago

We stayed at the Nomads Hotel downstairs from the Canteen, and we must have ate and drank here at least 4-5 times during our stay. The carnitas bowl was the best my husband has had- he couldn't shovel it in his face fast enough! Everything was fresh and seasoned well. They're margs are soo yummy- try the Pama. The selection of tequilas is ridiculous (in a good way). Owner came and said hello and all the servers are friendly. If we're ever back in San Clemente, we'll definitely go again. read more

Nomads Canteen - Watermelon margarita - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Archie S.

Elite 26

2649

1351

2239

7 years ago

From what I hear nomads is one of the staples of San Clemente. It's a nice restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Their cuisine seems to be mostly California coastal cuisine, as they do have a lot of fresh seafood. They do have a bar inside, and a list of cocktails they serve on the menu. I decided to start off with the Ahi ceviche. It was really tasty by the way. Definitely surpassed what I imagined. It is served with avocados, and some chips on the side. For my main course I got the half-and-half poke bowl which comes with Ahi tuna, coconut rice, avocado and mango slices. This was simple, yet very tasty and filling. I certainly enjoyed my meal and the experience here. Service is very good, and you get to have a good view of the city of San Clemente when sitting outside. read more

Nomads Canteen - Half and half Poke Bowl. - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

Nomads Canteen - Ahi Ceviche. - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Cat H.

Elite 26

701

1062

105

7 years ago

I was in town on my way back up to Newport and stopped to see some friends. They recommended this place so she could bring her dog to see my dog. Unfortunately her dog was too hot in the sun so he bailed with her roommate. The six of us left enjoyed some drinks, a large quesadilla, the shrimp skewers, chips and salsa and what looked like a plate of wings the guys were devouring. Our service was incredibly slow but kind. She forgot drinks each time she was asked. The ambiance is cool with fronts of a van and a Jeep holding succulents. read more

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Heather P.

0

230

1

2 years ago

They are supposedly a tequila bar (according to the server) but they use agave and don't have Grand Marnier for their cadillac margaritas. Nice spot, but drinks are not so great. Neither was the service. read more

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J C.

0

45

15

3 years ago

Friendly service and reasonably priced food and drinks. Casual vibes and a patron was nice and honest enough to run my phone out to me that I'd left behind. read more

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Andrea C.

39

4

0

3 years ago

Great little location. Service is great and attentive. All the food options are so delicious. Love their spam dish!

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Keanen B.

1

71

5

5 years ago

Ordered a "grande guacamole" supposed to be served in a "giant bowl" which would just be sort of alright for 11 dollars but what I got is a small side of guacamole for 11 dollars, no grande, no giant anything. Tiny very regular side portion of guacamole worth about $3, either they accidentally gave me a side of guacamole or they ripped me off entirely. read more

Nomads Canteen - "Grande guacamole" served in a "giant bowl". It's the size of a small side of guacamole for 11 dollars wtf - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Bree B.

Elite 16

0

437

137

3 years ago

My new patio favorite sit down place. Fresh, wonderful. beef or chicken are both excellent! I got a bowl and it had good flavor- chunks of tender and juicy chicken, cheese, and tomato -- that's full of flavor. Simple and delicious! The atmosphere is delightful, the drinks menu is well done I'll come back, a lovely leisurely lunch was had read more

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Layla B.

0

1

0

2 years ago

Food is great but the service is the WORST! The service is pretty much always bad but tonight has been the worst ever. Our waitress was rude and didn't check on us a single time. Why can't they find waitresses that at least like their job a bit? Do better! read more

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Matthew L.

Elite 26

261

214

1006

7 years ago

Second time here and it doesn't disappoint. Only change since last being here was that they now have an amazing tequila selection. No shots; just good sipping tequila. Their beer selection will make you happy as well. The meals are hefty portions, so you will leave full and buzzed from their goodies. Love that the decor is very simple and casual. The poke is as good as any Hawaiian spot. Definitely one of my favorite San Clemente spots. read more

Nomads Canteen - Poke - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Jack R.

1

12

1

3 years ago

The food is great. Since discovering Nomads I've been working my way through the menu. Absolutely the best fish tacos I've ever had. They serve 3 and they're so loaded it's a challenge to get through 2. read more

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scott s.

0

87

0

3 years ago

Looks like a youth hostel from the streets though it's and great, unique hotel. My very picky wife used to 5 star places loved it. The restaurant is around back...kind of a dive making great food, drinks and service. Large outdoor patio...in the parking lot. Funky, fun and friggin delicious. Very affordable, big portions. read more

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Jesus C.

395

94

14

5 years ago

Terrible service And terrible food I saw a little girl leave then brooom on the table WHO DOES THAT!? read more

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Austin H.

0

1

0

2 years ago

Worst dining experience I've ever had hands down. Sign said to seat yourself, went and sat down. Was seen sitting down and was passed by my server 4 times without a single acknowledgement from her. Ending up just getting up and leaving to find another restaurant with servers who aren't rude. As we're walking up the stairs from the lower outdoor deck we were told "thanks" from our would be server. Came from out of town and heard nothing but good things about nomads. Unfortunately will not recommend or be going back when I'm in the area again. read more

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Jennifer T.

6

30

24

4 years ago

Loved this hidden gem! So many yummy sounding options, I can't wait to go back. Today I had the salad with ahi and hubby had the vegetable tacos. The salad was huge and delicious. Hubby raved about the tacos. They have a large selection of beer on tap as well as cocktails. Fun, surfing decor and surfing on TV. read more

Nomads Canteen - Cool decor - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Ron M.

157

44

5

3 years ago

I hate even giving this place a review. Not because it's bad but because it is such a gem. I grew up in a SoCal beach community and feel like this place is a slice of something that is special about growing up in a beach community. Sharing and telling everyone how amazing this place is may ruin it for those that can appreciate it for what it is. The food is amazing, the vibe, I could surf in the morning hang out here go back check the waves go out again and come back to just chill. If you didn't grow up in a beach town, you can come here just sit down order something and enjoy the experience. It is something that should be appreciated and maybe kept to yourself. read more

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Steve A.

79

5

0

3 years ago

Great service, food, and atmosphere. I would Def return to this place when in town after surfing

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Greg S.

0

19

1

2 years ago

Best poke around...absolutely love the Jaco Bowl! Tuesday is also a great deal with $3.50 24 oz cans including Modelo.

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Emilee C.

505

16

1

3 years ago

Literally my favorite restaurant in San Clemente. Every menu item is SO good. I'd literally eat here every day if I could lmao

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Rosie S.

67

146

164

7 years ago

Best resturant in San Clemente. The food is so clean and well done. All of thier recipes are selected thoughtfuly. Thier drinks selection are epic and the best local beer. If you are a surfer or love the environmwntenvironment you should deff visit. Cherry on top, they have a hotel which i will rate (5 stars) separately. read more

Nomads Canteen - Tuna sandwich - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

Nomads Canteen - Poke- epic - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

Nomads Canteen - Beer - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Joe P.

0

11

69

2 years ago

Food here is always top notch. Love the poke and carne asada. Kid friendly as well. I come here every time I am in San Clemente.

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Paul H.

1

33

126

4 years ago

Great food and the waitress was very good to us. It's a bit exposed outside so bring a jacket on a windy day! read more

Nomads Canteen - a group of people sitting under umbrellas - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

Nomads Canteen - a plate of chips and guacamole - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

Nomads Canteen - Comfort Food Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Page 2 of 12

102 Avenida Cabrillo
San Clemente, CA 92672
Directions
(949) 481-4153
Call Now

Hours

What time does Nomads Canteen open?

Nomads Canteen opens at 11:30 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Nomads Canteen close?

Nomads Canteen closes at 10:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Sun 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Nomads Canteen take credit cards?

Yes, Nomads Canteen takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Nomads Canteen have catering options?

No, Nomads Canteen does not have catering options.

Does Nomads Canteen have a happy hour?

Yes, Nomads Canteen has a happy hour.

Does Nomads Canteen serve alcohol?

Yes, Nomads Canteen serves alcohol. Full Bar

Indoor Amenities

Does Nomads Canteen allow dogs?

Yes, Nomads Canteen allows dogs.

Does Nomads Canteen have TVs?

Yes, Nomads Canteen has TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Nomads Canteen have bike parking?

Yes, Nomads Canteen has bike parking.

Does Nomads Canteen have outdoor seating?

Yes, Nomads Canteen has outdoor seating options.

Does Nomads Canteen have parking?

Yes, Nomads Canteen has parking options. Street Parking, Validated Parking

Other Amenities

Does Nomads Canteen have free WiFi?

Yes, Nomads Canteen has free WiFi.

More Info

Health Score

Nomads Canteen Reviews in Other Languages

Spanish
2 Reviews

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Coastal Cowboy

This place is awesome! Justin gave us the best recommendations and everything was delicious. My…read moreboyfriend is celiac, and he was able to have a crispy chicken sandwich for the first time in his life! We'll definitely be back. Great people, great atmosphere, great food.

We moved to SC in early May and have been wanting to try Coastal Cowboy ever since. No seed oils…read moreand 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.

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Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen

Wonderful place post hiking. It's casual and has great quality food and service!…read more Our waitress was so kind! I wish I got her name for this post. Thanks for taking care of us! And hats off to the chef.

I'd give it 3.5 stars, maybe on a different night it would have rounded up. Service was pretty…read moresparse so I rounded down. Every time a server came over we had to flag someone down. We sat for probably 10 minutes before anyone greeted us, it was 3:30pm so it wasn't very busy, maybe 3-4 other tables. Every time someone came after that we had to wave someone down for water refills, never asked anyone if we wanted more drinks from the bar, nothing. Had my father in law asked for more ice tea and they never even started a new pitcher in 15 minutes. It was not busy. The place had a to of gluten free options which is a reason I wanted to try it. My server had no idea what gluten was. For a place that had half the menu marked as gluten free I was really surprised she really had no knowledge of the menu, but she was nice enough to go ask some questions when i pressed a bit that I wasn't vegan, and it was like an allergy. The food was good, portions were large enough and everything was pretty good as far as the food. Not sure why the service was so incredibly patchy and absent when we ate at 3:30 and the place was 2/3 empty. It was pretty good, I may try again but for the price point I think the service can be a little better. Nice...but slow. Definitely need more training on the menu! Mid. Not bad. Not great.

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Burger (with wedge fries)

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Chili and Corn Bread

Aloha Mr Pete's

4.3

(169 reviews)

0.2 mi

A long time favorite of mine for their breakfast burritos. Today I got one with Portuguese…read moresausage. Delicious, but I do have some comments. - I prefer my eggs fully scrambled in my breakfast burritos. Fully yellow scrambled and the last couple of times it was more white and yellow eggs not scrambled. - Potato chunks were much too large today and a couple not quite done. - A couple extra pieces of sausage would have been mic These are not show stoppers but would be more on line with what I like in a breakfast burrito and my expectation for Pete's as one of my top rated breakfast burritos in the San Clemente Tri-State Area. Go. Eat Well. Have Fun! Mahalo!

Went there twice in two days. Great service. Clean tables…read more The Mac nut waffles were good except the nuts were slightly over roasted. But the loco moco with corned beef hash was so good that I came back the second day to try it again. As good as any I've had in Hawaii.

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Nick's San Clemente

We went to Nick's for our Honeymoon dinner and Malia made sure that the night went perfect. The…read moreservice was amazing, the ambiance was perfect, and the food was outstanding! Thanks again for having us!

Our waiter Matt was outstanding and went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of and…read morehappy. I went there for my anniversary and he made it feel so special. He was so accommodating to my boyfriend's dairy sensitivity also! Thank you Matt for being so awesome! Our food was also amazing. Highly recommend. We will be back.

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The Riders Club Cafe

These are the best burgers I've ever had. Everything I could ask for in a burger, and they do it…read moreright, every time. The variety of toppings is also plentiful and perfect to build the burger of your dreams. The best thing though, hands down, their waffle cut sweet potato fries paired with their house ranch. I can't recommend them enough. I love that they both always taste fresh and delicious. I would include a photo, but every time I order them, they are gone in a flash. Service is done with a smile and a friendly energy. As far as ambiance, I'd say it's like a casual beachside kinda joint. (in my opinion anyway, ofc) I've been a loyal diner here for the last 10 years, and I'll keep coming back.

The Riders Club Cafe is a convenient spot to refuel without feeling rushed. It's much more casual…read morethan a dining restaurant. We were not particularly hungry so we all had our chili hot dog and one kid's meal. My husband had the single cheeseburger. Seriously, the chili hot dog is amazing! It is a must-try item on the menu. The chili was delicious with a perfectly cooked beef hot dog. The sized portion was great too. I also recommend the Rice Crispy Treat and homemade chocolate pudding. They were super good. They've got indoor and also great outdoor seating depending on what is available or your preference. There is also a heater installed on the patio to make the outdoor dining comfortable. However, coastal evenings can turn chilly even in summer so bring a warm jacket or sweater. This will be very helpful to make a significant difference in your comfort.

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Front counter and grill

Two Hot Dogs Meal and Fries

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Outside signage.

Hapa J's

Was in town for a wedding and decided to give this place a try…read more If I could give more stars I would. Delicious! I've never had a Spam tempura and now that's all I want from now on! The bar area was cute and TV's playing sports games. We were seated quick, our food came just as quick and left with full happy bellies. Will comeback when craving a Spam Musubi and in the area!

Went here for date night last week- it has a lot more seating inside than I had expected!…read more Good service- 5/5 The ambience - 3.5/5 - the ambience wasn't my favorite, maybe it's a little better in their main restaurant area but we were seated to the left when you walk in and while there are a few booths in that area it was mostly outdoor chairs and tables and sort of odd lighting. Just very very casual and not totally comfortable. Food- 3.4/4 out of 5 - I got the Luau plate and LOVED the chicken!! Everyone else was right- that chicken thigh deserves its own plate. I also really enjoyed the coconut pudding/jello thing that came with it and the sausage link. The pulled pork was just okay, not very well seasoned but not bad. The side of "dressed greens" was just some lettuce without dressing on it, and I thought the macaroni salad was fine. The last thing that really disappointed me were the sautéed veggies :/ they were just soo oily and had no seasoning to them at all. I didn't eat any of them or the un-dressed 'salad'. My husband got the chicken katsu plate, he said the chicken katsu was fine but the fries on the side were cold and not crispy, they were kind of chalky in the mouth and didn't taste fresh. Some parts were definitely a 3/5 but my chicken thigh was so good and the portions are *huge* so I feel like they deserve a 4/5? All in all, I think I'd come back if I wanted to go out with someone but save some money and we'd split one of the plates (the portions really are huge).

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DA BIG MIXED PLATE

Feeling the Aloha at Hapa J's

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OLD SCHOOL MAITAI

Jimmy's Famous American Tavern

Great evening out at Jimmy's!…read more Beautiful weather outside with a nice view of the harbor. Drinks were good, but the spinach and artichoke dip was the favorite. We ordered the fish and chips and the smashed burger. Both were tasty. Service was friendly and prompt but never too pushy, which is always appreciated.

I live in Los Angeles and my parents live in San Diego so we choose Dana Point as our Midway meet…read morespot for breakfast and chose Jimmy's as our most recent visit. I'm happy to report that it was a great breakfast with very nice service and extremely easy parking. It's located in a large shopping center with a giant parking lot attached all around it. Service was also very fast and inside of the restaurant is quite large, there is a bar as well as many different seating areas so they can host many different sized groups. We stopped in for brunch and I will admit the menu was a bit more lunch focused but still had some great breakfast options on it. I started off with the Elote street corn appetizer and thought it was great. It was corn ribs, and every bit of it was very tasty. For my breakfast, I chose the Chilaquiles and added avocado and bacon, which I would highly recommend. It had some great flavor and overall I was really happy with it. The whole meal was really nice and I would definitely recommend anyone searching for a great breakfast or lunch option.

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SC Cafe

You sit down hungry, leave full, and consider becoming a regular…read more This is a family owned diner in the truest sense, meaning: The coffee cups are all different, like you're drinking out of a cabinet curated by three generations and one aunt who collects mugs from roadside attractions. Immediately comforting. Felt chosen by the mug--mine was a Hersheys s'mores cup :) My date (who is aight... possibly good... TBD... also over a foot taller than me) confidently interjected when I was reviewing the menu for the nth time: "Anything with the ranchero sauce really good." This comment completely derailed my order decision-making process, but in a way that felt supportive, if not academically rigorous, maybe even data driven. So I ordered something with ranchero sauce. I asked if they had spicy tanchero sauce bc my dish came with mild ranchero sauce, our server with kind eyes asks me "you want salsas on the sides?" I heard angels singing, the clouds parted to let the sun through. I LOVE SALSAS Then he says these magical words "the salsas' spice levels kind of vary daily, depends on the day" :') THEY MAKE SALSAS IN HOUSE?!!! The food is honest. The salsa is abundant. The coffee is good as you try to spy what other c cups are of Would return. Would trust the ranchero sauce again. Would possibly bring the tall man back, height difference not-withstand :) ok. High likelihood

After a night of camping, sleeping on the ground, this cafe hit the spot. It's diner food but…read morebetter. In the sense of comfort and how laid back it was. The wait staff are all young and beautiful, much more relaxed people watching vibe and lots of reading material around. Got that Bea omelette and it was a fine fine log of spinach, eggs and cheese. Everything is evenly peppered in and rolled up to create substantial bites. Those hash brown taters were greasy but just what I needed with them crispy bits of skin. The burrito was also delicious, sloppy and makes sleeping on an uneven ground all the more worth it. But even if that wasn't an issue I would still come back here on a regular basis if I lived closer.

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Brussels Bistro

Second visit at Brussels Bistro and both times were solid. Perfect spot if you're looking for a…read moregood list of Belgian beers, both bottled and on tap. Food is also great. It's tough to find good mussels with a very of sauce options but they've got that covered for you here. First visit, I had the White Beer sauce and that was fantastic. It was just the right amount of beer to not be overpowering. Second visit, I had the Garlic and Crème and wow - if you like garlic, this is an excellent choice. Creamy, garlicky, but again not overpowering. My toddler had the chicken breast plate and luckily it was a hit for her (of course the fries more than anything else). The chicken breast was moist and tender, so that made this an easy choice. Brussels Bistro is now becoming a must visit when in San Clemente - can't wait to go back!

Came on a weekend afternoon. Was able to find street parking a block away pretty quickly. Street…read moreparking was not metered and free on Avenida Del Mar. Place was not busy when we arrived. They had a few tables. They originally wanted to seat us inside, but we requested the open window seat. Our waiter tried to sell us wine when we sat down. We ordered the Creamy Chicken with Ratatouille for $29 and Steak Frites with red wine sauce for $34. The Creamy Chicken was really good and fun to eat with the puff pastry. The Ratatouille was alright, we were not a fan. We got the Steak Frites medium and felt like it should've tasted better. We did appreciate that we did taste the red wine. The Belgians fries were hot and crispy. They were quite generous with the salt. The decor was nice. The food was descent. The kept refilling our water without us asking which was nice. We did not like that the waiters kept rushing us to leave at the end when there were plenty of open tables. The place was packed by dinner time when we returned to the area.

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Inside decor

Lettuce wrapped burger

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Inside

MRK Public

Someone said you guys are closing!!! No! Please don't! I love you guys!…read more From your pork belly banh mi, to your sticky wings, Thai flavoured mussels, your specials and all your beautiful faces! Rounding up the family and friends for an MRK feast. Y'all are the best

First time customer and will be returning. Food is…read moreexcellent. Its a gastro pub but more of a fusion of Asian, Mexican, Italian & American. Micro brewery craft beer is good, wide selection. They also serve wine. Prices very reasonable

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The House Burger

Asada Cantina + Kitchen

Locally owned & operated

Free parking

Consistently good food and drinks! The service and ambience…read moreis great too. Our family enjoys it very much

This review for Asada is long overdue. I really love their food and cocktails here (especially the…read moreMexican Candy!) and while I've had some things that weren't my favorite, everything I've tried has been delicious. One of my favorite appetizers here are their bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers served with a blackberry jam and pickled onions...I get this pretty much every time. Lately I've been coming on Tuesdays to take advantage of their all-day Happy Hour, which is one of the best in town. Crispy carnitas tacos and the hibiscus margaritas are my go-to's, and the fresh chips and salsa served gratis are always delicious and hot. I wanted to take a moment to shout out their fantastic team of servers and bussers especially. Luna, Lindsay and Cesar have all been exceptional servers; their knowledge of the menu and their genuine kindness makes our visits that much more memorable. I don't often catch the name of the bussers, but they are extremely good at what they do. There's a few restaurants in town that hire staff and don't seem to train them well, so they struggle and it's apparent... but that's not the case here at Asada, where everyone is professional and really go above and beyond. It's easy to see how well their service flows (although the host stand could benefit from having people who are more outgoing; they seem to have timid people up there a lot, and it can be awkward when they're too timid to properly greet guests--just something I've noticed, having worked in restaurants before I tend to be hyper-aware of such things). My favorite section to get seated is the booths near the back which tend to be quieter, and also offer a nice view of the sky during the sunset and evening hours especially.

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Smoked pineapple & watermelon crush

Crispy Taco Plate

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Crab & Shrimp Ceviche

Rare Society

Delicious food and AGM Josh went out of his way to make our Anniversary special. Thanks Josh!read more

We came here for a friends 40th bday and we were not disappointed…read more We had a group of 8, and normally I loathe large group dinners, but this was executed perfectly. Each server has multiple helpers, so it really makes the whole experience lovely. We had all the things. The steak board, the seafood, the starters, the salads. Each one was prepared in a really nice way. We didn't have one thing that wasn't truly spectacular. The sommelier was cool and friendly and approachable. The staff wasn't stuffy or pretentious. They were all just helpful. The setting is gorgeous. Very modern with mid-century touches everywhere. This is a great place for a date, for a nice night out, for an occasion worth celebrating.

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South of Nick's

This place is the full package, great food, impeccable service and an incredible selection of high…read moreend tequila.

South of Nick's is hands down one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. From the moment you walk in,…read morethe atmosphere is warm, lively, and welcoming. The service is consistently outstanding. The staff is attentive, friendly, and always makes you feel like a valued guest. The food is absolutely incredible. Every dish is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The chips and salsa are addictive, the margaritas are some of the best around, and you can tell they put real care into every meal that comes out of the kitchen. Whether it's a date night, dinner with friends, or a family celebration, South of Nick's never disappoints. The quality is consistent every single time, which is hard to find these days. If you're looking for amazing Mexican food, exceptional service, and a great atmosphere, this place is a must-visit. Easily a five-star experience, and I'll keep coming back.

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Check In Here Reservations Highly Recommended

Filet salad

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Get the mezcal with smoked pineapple cocktail. It's so drinkable

Coastal Cowboy

This place is awesome! Justin gave us the best recommendations and everything was delicious. My…read moreboyfriend is celiac, and he was able to have a crispy chicken sandwich for the first time in his life! We'll definitely be back. Great people, great atmosphere, great food.

We moved to SC in early May and have been wanting to try Coastal Cowboy ever since. No seed oils…read moreand 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.

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Dinning area

Seasurf Fish

Take out service was friendly and fast First time I have…read morebeen here. and ordered the tuna bowl. It was great and the place was doing a lively business. I will be back soon and eat in. Nice atmosphere inside and out, extensive menu and good local beer selection

Fantastic seafood spot with fresh fish, crisp and flavorful fish & chips, and salads made with…read morequality ingredients. The portions were generous, the service was friendly, and everything tasted fresh and perfectly prepared.

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Prepped and ready for pick up orders

Poke Nachos and a cold beer for the win!

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Motif is the best!

The Bagel Shack

Great bagels 100%…read more But someone tell me why there was a 6 inch long black hair inside of my bagel? Not on or under but quite literally inside the dough itself. very odd.

We got recommendations from two different people that this was the best local spot for breakfast -…read moreand it was great! We tried about 6 different bagel between all of us and they were all great! They have a very good selection of fresh home made bagels. They have good toppings. They had a full breakfast menu also, but we just did delicious Bagels.

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Front counter

Lowers Bagel Sandwich

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Partial Menu

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19 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Emily C.

219

10

2

8 years ago

The menu was very interesting and appetizing but our waitress Tasha was very inattentive and and unfriendly. We ordered chips and salsa (which is $5 btw) and drinks and then she never came back to our table or any other table for over half an hour. 3 or 4 other tables got food and left before we could even order. Once we ordered my mom ordered it without cheese and sour cream because of an allergy, and half an hour later we still hadn't gotten food and had to remind Tasha of our order. She never put it in. Then it came out 20 minutes later and my moms had cheese and sour cream so we sent it back. And when it came it just wasn't satisfying. Definitely will not be coming back. read more

Jojo E.

0

6

0

13 years ago

Pretty cool vibe here. Kind of a "surfed this afternoon and now grabbing a beer and some grub" feel. They have plenty of beer on tap and the food is decent. They have done a nice job of finding a niche in San Clemente that separates them from the rest. I would not say that it's great, but definitely fine for what I wrote above - getting a beer and some food in a surf atmosphere. The location has not had great success with other ventures so I wish them luck! read more

Eldon B.

10

12

0

11 years ago

Coming here had been surprised with some great varied food items. of them I had two at the last time here and was not bad rather foods can cling to my brain and sometimed requests me to have them. The charge is fair and I will be back to the place. read more

Bob W.

0

3

0

11 years ago

Probably the best poke bowl around ''jaco poki'' The bowls have a great grilled flavor.. grilled shrimp, beef and chicken bowls,, all good, A little on the pricier side by a couple bucks, but worth it read more

Nelson O.

83

27

2

5 years ago

Their poke bowls are so fresh, the spicy chicken dish is a favorite, and their beer selection is the best in town! I love the surfer laid back vibe of this place with awesome staff! highly recommend. read more

J J.

0

3

0

10 years ago

Of all the places in San Clemente to have a decent patio unfortunately you cannot enjoy it. Slow poor service. Mediocre food. Unprofessional bartenders. Don't waste your time.. read more

Briana O.

0

16

0

3 years ago

If you like to eat in the parking lot by the rubbish bins be my guest. Food and service . Ambiance dive bar style. Not for me and do not recommend. read more