Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Buffalo Nickel

    3.8 (345 reviews)
    ModeratePizza, American, Mexican
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Buffalo Nickel Photos

    Business Info

    BUFFALO NICKEL ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Buffalo Nickel

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Kelly B.

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

    Cindy W.

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

    Carne Asada and tortillas (corn or flour).

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

    Bloody Mary
    Gina O.

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

    Fresh chip and Shrimp Ceviche.
    Vince B.

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

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

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

    Tasty BBQ wings
    Steven D.

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

    Overcooked kids corn dog
    Amy M.

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

    Beef Taquitos
    Alina N.

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

    Camarones a la Diabla with corn tortillas and fajitas
    LeeAnn R.

    Food was delicious! They offer a shuttle from the golf cart rental to the restaurant. Make sure to confirm which stop since there are two. Runs on island time but worth the wait and convenient service. We were seated inside as a group of six. Service was excellent. Favorite dish was ceviche with spicy cucumbers. I'd go back just for it!

    Sampler

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jona H.
    161
    138
    269

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    28 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rick G.
    0
    20
    54

    30 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gina O.
    1
    93
    209

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Matt J.
    27
    31
    30

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Steven D.
    169
    114
    215

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Pat T.
    1
    47
    1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of P S.
    8
    481
    18

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jamie S.
    223
    45
    23

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marcus S.
    13
    21
    17

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Carey C.
    56
    101
    65

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Food and service is always good. I like it better than the buffalo bill restaurant. They don't charge you for theatre

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Buffalo Nickel

    Is the Buffalo Nickel still open?

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

    View All 2 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Pizza 614 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Avalon Grille

    Avalon Grille

    3.8
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$

    Great food and drinks with superb service. Our server was Rushton and he was attentive and…read morepersonable. I will definitely request him on my next trip to the island!

    May 29, 2026 | Catalina Island, Avalon | What a beautiful & elegant restaurant with memorable…read moredishes! Seabass is top tier, the candlelit moody lighting at dinner & cozy atmosphere, topped off with excellent customer service from the moment we walked in made Avalon Grille a great way to dine with friends! Seabass | Mouthwatering delicious! While at the Taste Around Avalon event, Seabass was on the menu & immediately caught my eye! Seeing the chef cook the dish at a grill on the patio during the event was exciting! Served fresh onto my plate & met with pure pleasure to my tastebuds... I knew I had to have it again! Seasoning, tenderness, & pure delight with every bite! It was one of my favorite dishes at the event! I highly recommend! Lobster Mac & Cheese | Shared | Yum, the combination was amazing, as well as noticeable & flavorful bites of lobster was full-on yum! Beet Salad | Shared | Yummy! I absolutely love beets & this salad was delicious, as well as refreshing! Friends Shared & Enjoyed | Pork Chop, Seabass, Espresso Martini & Dragonberry Mojito! Bottle | Wine was on point! We shared a bottle of delicious Red Wine! Discovered | While at the Taste Around Avalon, it was immediate love at first bite of the Seabass! The flavor, tenderness & seasoning...yes, please! The dish made such an impression that I knew it would be the perfect place to have dinner with friends on their first night on the island! Customer Service | Top tier! Our server Elvis was amazing, helpful with the details of each dish we inquired about & attentive! Thanks again! Overall | Yes, please! Simply writing about the Seabass makes me crave a bite! I highly recommend Avalon Grille, as it's an all-around win!! Let's go!

    Photos
    Patio dining
    Patio dining
    Sausage of the day
    Sausage of the day
    View from the outdoor patio

    See all

    View from the outdoor patio
    Original Jack's Country Kitchen

    Original Jack's Country Kitchen

    3.7
    (1.5k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    My mom and I recently visited from Europe, and it was our first time in the United States. I was…read morehonestly pretty nervous about ordering because English isn't my first language, and my mom doesn't speak English at all. Justin was the one who helped us, and he made the whole experience so much easier. He introduced himself, was very patient with us, and never made us feel rushed. He gave us time to look through the menu and answered all of our questions with a smile. My mom was worried about not being able to communicate, but Justin made her feel comfortable and welcome from the start. That meant a lot to us. The restaurant itself also had a really warm and cozy atmosphere. We loved the country-style interior. It felt welcoming and relaxed, which made it even easier for us to enjoy our first restaurant experience in America. Justin also took the time to recommend some great places to visit on the island and even gave us some suggestions for Los Angeles. You can tell he genuinely cares about people and wants them to have a good experience. This was honestly one of the best customer service experiences I've ever had. Justin played a big part in making our first trip to America such a positive memory. Thank you, Justin!

    The restaurant has a cozy and comfortable country-style interior with a charming old-fashioned…read morefeel. They offer a wide variety of breakfast options, so there is something for everyone. Unfortunately, my experience was disappointing. The food took a long time to arrive even though the restaurant was not busy. I also asked for extra plates, but they never arrived. To make matters worse, by the time the food was served, it had already cooled down. It was disappointing, especially considering it wasn't during a busy period. I really liked the atmosphere and menu selection, but the service and food timing definitely need improvement.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Chilaquiles
    Chilaquiles
    Indoor seating

    See all

    Indoor seating
    Topside by NDMK

    Topside by NDMK

    4.1
    (222 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Unfortunately forgot our servers name (he's a true Catalina local), but we thoroughly enjoyed the…read morebanter and his energy. He was lively and informative (had a fun background too!) Food was great, view is amazing (we came on an overcast morning so I can only imagine a true blue sky). I had the lobster Benedict, my husband had a burrito, and our daughters had pancakes. All was flavorful and well portioned. Would suggest!

    We went when it was the dinner rush, but there were still a few tables left. It took us a while to…read moreget seated given that there was only one group ahead of us and there were empty tables. Once we were seated though, we were happy we go to pick a seat by the window for dinner during sunset, so it was a really nice way to end the night! I liked the dark seas pasta the most since they gave a decent amount of lobster and shrimp and the noodles were nicely al dente. I wish the sauce was creamier and less gritty from the cheese. The lobster roll was good, but honestly there was a bed of spinach on the bottom under the lobster which felt a little cheap given it was a pretty small lobster roll to begin with. I'm not sure if this is a Catalina Island thing since we noticed this across several restaurants there, but give the people more fries! I shouldn't be able to count how many there are. The broccolini was good as well and nice and soft, but again the portion size was tiny--I paid $6 for 5 broccolini...Overall, it's a great option on the island where they probably have to import most ingredients.

    Photos
    Topside by NDMK
    Lobster ravioli - local lobster caught near Catalina
    Lobster ravioli - local lobster caught near Catalina
    Rooftop at night with lights and ambiance

    See all

    Rooftop at night with lights and ambiance

    Buffalo Nickel - pizza - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...