A cute little spot in San Clemente, this place embodies everything I imagine in a beach city gem. The Nachos are hefty in both portions and flavor. Everything worked well together, and omg that Cheese pull. What this place IS, IS because of the details. The setup, the décor, the AMAZING workers and how cheery and helpful they were... the cucumber/lemon water, the samples of yogurt while you wait, and the hot sauce options, all make for an enjoyable experience. Good food can be found anywhere, but when you pair that with an atmosphere that is both soothing, welcoming, and charming... you've got a home run. Oh speaking of details? WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE MUSIC? I don't know if it's like this everyday but the oldies playing ties everything together. Summers here have got to be magical that hit on beach city nostalgia. They've got alcohol. What? So you know we had to try what they had on draft. This Active Culture location is pretty popular too, because as I write this. People are pouring in, and door dashers are picking up. Winner. Winner. Fresh ingredient dinner. read more

The space felt cozy and casually charming with a coastal bohemian aesthetic that fit San Clemente perfectly. Dining tables inside, but most sit in the small outdoor patio tucked neatly into the front corner of this cafe; ideal for sunny days and people-watching. For this visit, I opted for a beverage (no food). Oh, and I did fro-yo tastings too. THE DRINK. - Orange Creamsicle Shake. Sweet, creamy, and citrusy with a subtle tang that nailed the nostalgic creamsicle flavor. Highly recommend! THE PARKING. Street parking was available nearby, but we had to pay attention to the posted time limits because it seemed a little complicated (to me, at least). THE VERDICT. Loved the orange creamsicle shake, but I also spotted a date shake on the menu, which only means another visit is needed! read more

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Active Culture is always packed on the weekends because it's honestly such a good meal post beach break. It's healthy and quick which also makes it a good option to take out and eat at the beach directly. I'm so happy they finally added chicken as a protein option you can add on, but the star of the show had to go to the nachos and the orange creamsicle smoothie!! I'm not kidding when I say this, I'd take this smoothie over the erewhon's orange kinsicle smoothie. read more

Active Culture - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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The food here is always fresh and plentiful, with generous portions and great quality. They frequently offer specials for locals, which is a nice bonus. The frozen yogurt flavors are consistently delicious, and the staff is friendly and patient. There's also plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating, making it a comfortable spot to enjoy a meal or treat. Highly recommend! read more

Active Culture - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Great spot to stop in for a quick smoothie, which is exactly what I was looking for! Service was fast on a Saturday morning. Love the variety in their menu, the smoothie I ordered was very refreshing and filling (and decent price), and I hope to come back soon to try other items like their açaí bowls and froyo. It's street parking, so really depends on time of day. read more

This place is on the Main Street of San Clemente. Cute place & service was great. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Parking can be tough. I came with some friends and we all got some sort of bowl or tacos. Everything was good. After our meal, I ended up getting a peanut butter smoothie. It had coconut in it and it was delicious! I would definitely come back. read more

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So refreshing and tasty!! Inside the restaurant is clean and so many froyo options to choose from. They have a ton of fresh and flavorful toppings that you can add to your bowl as well. The froyo is made and serve yourself. Highly recommend if you are looking for a healthier sweet treat. read more

Active Culture - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

LOVE! food is so healthy and fresh and delicious. My favs are the wholesome bowl, breakfast burrito, and not your mamas nachos. Smoothies and frozen yogurt are also AMAZE! Service is friendly and nice and ambiance is great get to see del mar and scope out the good shopping! read more

This was my first time at this family-owned business and found it thru my trusted Yelp App. I was in the mood for something healthy and fruity. I walked into a very chill shop. The staff behind the counter was friendly and helpful since I was new to the AC family. I ordered a meduim Bountiful Acai Bowl. It had greek yogurt and organic Sambazon© Açaí topped with organic granola, banana, blueberries, strawberries, flaxseeds, as well as organic agave nectar. Sooo yummyyy!! It's exactly what I needed to nourish my body. Thank you AC for your dedication for serving foods that fuel our bodies and souls :-) read more

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I love Active Culture more and more, every time I come. I love their healthy ingredients. I recently had the potato tacos and holy decliousness! They were filled with crisp slaw, ripe avocado, and had a super yummy drizzle of fresh sauce (maybe a tahini ?). They have fresh cucumber and regular water, as well as various drinks like kombucha or sparkling waters. Also, if you're not hungry for a meal, I highly recommend their fro yo. I'm craving it right now. They even offer gluten free and vegan options and have an array of various toppings. So much good! The only negative is there's very little parking around. read more

Active Culture - Potato Tacos (2 Tacos) - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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I eat here at least once a month. Excellent clean and healthy food. Great vegan options. I love that they have locals day once a month 50% off makes it even tastier. Got the hummus quinoa salad, vegan chili soup, and blue dream shake. Great service, upbeat music, lots of seating. Excellent health food and place overall! read more

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Incredible local SC spot! This has been on my list for the last 2 years. Since I am moving here in the next few months I am digging deeper into the local spots. I'm not super into vegan food, i love vegetables but a lot of the food is GMO soy and seed oil focused, which I am not into at all. I noticed Active culture does it right and goes lighter in these ingredients. Today I had a protein shake with house made almond milk and butter, hello protein, bananas and ice. It was Excellent! I will 100% be back. read more

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Ate there twice in two days. Great options for me (vegan) and plenty of options for my daughter (not.) killer food and the best fro yo I've had in forever. read more

I have been to the Actuve Culture in Novato, California and it was a memorable experience. I just recently found out that they have a couple of locations in Southern California. I visited the one here in San Clemente on the way back from a long hike. I was very dehydrated and what I usually go for is açai bowl. I went ahead and tried the protein açai bowl which has nuts and fruit. The bowl is a very good sized portion and even though I was hungry, I could not finish it and had to take some home. They have self serve yogurt and free samples also. Additionally I grabbed their lentil burger to go because it is so good and flavorful and very filling. It had a hint of curry, which I like. I like the shop. I like the walkable location. I like the menu. The staff is very friendly. Casual. Street parking. Please come and create your own adventure . read more

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Food: Clean food using simple ingredients. Their menu emphasizes choices that are vegetarian friendly. I got the quesadilla with OG sauce and was genuinely impressed by the flavor of sauce. The presentation was nice, but I wish the avocado were mashed like they are in the nachos so that you're not stuck trying to dissect giant slices. The nachos were really good and the creamsicle was a good blend of cream and sweetness. Service: Everyone was really friendly and you leave your plates at the table to be bussed by the staff. Ambiance: the interior is very clean, modern minimalist and well organized. read more

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We've been a few times and haven't been let down yet. This time I got a velvet acai bowl with peanut butter. I really want some fresh fruit and it hit the spot. My wife got a pecan pie smoothie which was very tasty. It was basically a date shake with pecans and maple syrup. It was a little sweet but nice to share. read more

Active Culture - *SPECIAL* Pecan Pie Shake - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Place is pretty cool, menu is up my alley, clean, simple food. We did come on a VERY busy day, it seemed every kid from SC was there that day, I can see why this place is so appealing, but it was a little crowded so we took out food to go which isn't bad when you park with an ocean view. I ordered chili, I have to say, it was pretty darn good! Came with a side choice, not bad at all. I can't wait to come back and try some of their other creations. Will post pictures next time. read more

Love their big salad. Excellent deliseus for lunch or dinner. I leave the littice out. read more

Summer feels like it started especially when you walk into a place like Active Culture. This place serves up delicious tasty foods along with delicious smoothies and they also have froyo! I tried two of their smoothies, the berry tasty and the blue green envy. The berry smoothie was sweet and tarty, while the blue green envy was sweet and nutty. My personal favorite of the two was the berry smoothie, but both were equally refreshing, especially on a hot day! The workers here are so friendly! Ordering is done at the front counter. There's also plenty of seating inside and outside. They're also super close to the beach and downtown so you could grab a bite and then explore. The only downside is parking since most of it is street parking. read more

I wish more places like this were in LA, because it would pop off there. Healthy, aesthetic, and delicious. I came here solely for the froyo but heard great things about their savory menu items. I came here on a late Friday afternoon and to my surprise they have a 50% off deal on Fridays from 3-5pm for froyo. The froyo serving stations are clean and the flavor offerings are all so good. I tried their peanut butter, tart, and coconut vanilla, all of which tasted great. My only complaint was that the coconut vanilla consistency was very liquidy. I would definitely come back to satisfy my froyo cravings. read more

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Saturday night, not too busy. Very pretty if you sit at the patio during sunset. We shared the SC rice bowl for a light meal and enjoyed it! We were surprised by the bright flavor and even our 4 year old ate some happily. They had a kombucha on tap that caught my husbands eye and I heard it's good. They also have a variety of drinks on a fridge. Staff are also nice and helpful. We'd come here again. read more

Honestly, this is one of the best healthy spots in south Orange County. The food is flat out excellent here. The service is always solid. They usually are pretty quick with making the food as well. It comes out hot and fresh too. The breakfast burrito is my go to. Check out their menu online to see what comes with it but boy is it good. It's the perfect size burrito too in my opinion. Not over the top large, but certainly not small. Cheers! read more

Active Culture - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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I was going to get my usual coconut shake, but I ended up going with the blueberry seasonal shake and it was a wonderful decision. Absolutely delicious. I would most definitely order it again. Go try it before they take it off the menu you'll thank me later. read more

First of all, I am a very passionate meat-lover with a distrust of vegetarian restaurants. So, I begrudgingly decided to try Active Culture. Actually, I didn't realize the nature of the menu until I got there, and I was too lazy to leave. So, I searched the menu until I found something I thought I might tolerate. I found the Wholesome Bowl because the woman behind the counter recommended the OG sauce. And, it had avocado, which I love. I added an egg, which was a good move. The bowl was really good and a very good portion. I look forward to trying some of their other bowls. And, I feel just a little bit healthier for the experience. read more

I love active culture!!!!!! I appreciate their clean menu and variety but I really am there weekly for the frozen yogurt, it's so creamy and tastes so fresh. I also never feel bad from eating it so I know it's good real ingredients for a sweet treat! read more

This is a veggie/vegan paradise. Parking can be a pain at times. Great indoor/outdoor seating. Everything is vegetarian and most things can be made vegan. The nachos are humongous. Appreciate the generous dollops of fresh salsa, sour cream and guacamole. Especially the guacamole. The orange dreamsicle shake was dreamy. Tasted just like the popsicle of years before. Portions are large. Enough to share. read more

Multiple visits to a couple locations and loving this place. After a 2nd visit here, I am so glad to know it's in the heart of town here in San Clemente. The date shake gets me every time. It's my healthy(ish) guilty pleasure. But, I always get a meal too. My favorite is the kale salad but honestly everything has always been delicious. This location has a self serve frozen yogurt area for an added experience. I tasted a couple on my last visit and was impressed. I am most interested in a meal or shake for a place like this, but when that froyo craving hits I think it will be worth a try. read more

Active Culture - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Nice fresh and easy lunch spot, thank you for being able to make the potato tacos vegan. I had the vegan chili, super filling and very bright with added cilantro and onions. You order at the counter and food is brought to you at your table, we were able to snag a nice window seat. Definitely seems to be a local favorite, the place was filled up at 1 for lunch. Very nice servers, thank you for putting up with our menu questions. read more

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Fun eatery for truly healthy food, from morning til night, breakfast til dessert. They have it all. Bright, cheery spot. Vegetarian/vegan options. So I ordered the Kale Quinoa Bowl, and it wasn't until I was at home writing this review that my husband asked if I got quinoa in my Kale Quinoa Bowl! Huge bummer, because I didn't! I was tired after a long day and it didn't even occur to me. No wonder I'm feeling a little hungry now. Husband's Evolution Bowl was great. Perfect portion size. Service lovely. We're visiting from out of town and we're last here about five years ago. So happy it's still here. Even though the quinoa was absent from my bowl. Next time! read more

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Stopped by this place during a stop in OC. Very vegetarian friendly, though a bit on the pricey side Portion sizes were decent, and the food was tasty but nothing mind blowing so to say. If I had to get something on their menu again, I would definitely get the burrito and nachos. A minor comment - we had to keep switching our plates because they were all dirty, which was a bit annoying read more

Food was amazing, service is a little less than desired it's like they don't want you to be there. It was my first time and I am excited to try it but the staff was unapproachable and the one who did help me was kind of demeaning - I read the name wrong and she corrected me and rolled her eyes. Outdoor seating and indoor is good. Outdoors is on busy street so you get all the street noise. Will I come back? Yes for the food definitely not the customer service. read more

Active Culture - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Active Culture is a cool spot and all the employees are super nice! Really great service here! The food was good, but in my opinion, a bit pricey for what it was. It's a fast and casual place & everything on the menu is healthy and makes you feel great after. Worth a visit if you're looking for a fresh, wholesome meal! read more

Active Culture - Prosciutto Egg-El Sandwich & Wholesome Bowl - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

We shared a "velvet" acai bowl & a breakfast burrito with potatoes, & both were so good! We didn't care for the chips & salsa, but we ended our meal with tasters of yummy froyo. Grateful to see vegan & vegetarian items on the menu, too! We'll definitely be back to try more good, clean food. read more

Perfectly portions and toasted bagel just right. You will enjoy this delicious egg bagel sandwich. The service here is amazing and the restaurant is very nice and clean. You must stop in when in the area. read more

Active Culture - The Deluxe Egg-El Sandwich is AMAZING! - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Great location & great food! I got the date smoothie it was tasty but not sure if I will order again. I do recommend the wholesome bowl it is my all time favorite & I get cheese on it! Also ask for half rice & half sweet potatoes for your base. Overall love that this store has a fro-yo diy station in store to try all of the flavors! read more

Active Culture - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Happy to say that Active Culture was kind enough to reach out and address my previous issue. While it may have been minor they understood the frustration and disappointment. As I said in the last review, the quality of items here is absolutely amazing. If your looking for a good Acai bowl/smoothie, we would all recommend Active Culture before any other near by location! read more

Active Culture - Vegetarian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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I like their yogurt and come in often when they have peanut butter and pumpkin yogurt. The rest of the flavors are good but those are my faves!! read more

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Service on the phone and in person has been so much better over the last year. The only problem is parking, now!

Loveee this place!! First and favorite place to eat when my family first came to sc and it's refreshing and healthy of course and full of flavor I personally LOVE the wholesome bowl. And they have sweeties to enjoy after. Nice lighting, kid friendly with a little play space, and really kind workers read more

I've been to other Active Culture locations, including the Laguna Beach one, but the San Clemente spot is definitely my favorite. It's way more mellow, spacious, and has plenty of seating without the usual crowd. The food was amazing--the house burrito was huge (I split it and was still full), and the quality was even better than other locations. The Lavender Bloom shake was delicious! The service was super friendly and quick, and the whole vibe was adorable. 10/10 experience--I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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