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Ruby's Diner

3.3 (378 reviews)
Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Ruby's Diner Photos

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RUBY'S DINER ATMOSPHERE

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

Recommended Reviews - Ruby's Diner

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Reviews With Photos

Chicken strips
Smitha A.

We got there right at 12:15, prime lunch time. We waited at "wait to be seated" stand for about 10 mins before anyone even acknowledged us. We ordered the chicken strips plate and a gluten free classic burger with chili cheese fries. The fries were great. Everything else was meh. My daughter did enjoy the buffalo ranch sauce. We asked to sit outside even if it was chilly since the inside was a little smelly.

Ice cream
Jessica Z.

We came in for ice cream the manager assisted us fast, clean amazing service!!! Delicious ice cream. It's a little pricey 599 per scoop but worth it.

Patty melt with Onion Rings
Laura P.

We're from out of state and this was my first experience at a Ruby's and I really enjoyed it. Service was ok - about what you would expect from a "diner" but the food was fantastic and the interior is so cool - I wish I look photos of it, but I might have to go back for a root beer float before we leave town! It's very mid-Century modern and the cooking area is in a hollowed out Airstream. At our table we had a 1/2 tuna melt with a salad, a bacon cheeseburger and a patty melt with onion rings and everything was delicious. The party melt was one of the best I've ever had - tons of onions, gooey cheese and a nice crispy caraway rye. The onion rings were also amazing in a super crispy tempura type batter - there were just too many of them - I couldn't finish!

Getting the bacon cheeseburger and a Swiss mushroom burger.
Mike H.

Service was great, greeted quickly and sat, waiter was quick and attentive, brought water and coffee refills regularly. Food- burgers are ok, I could take it or leave it. Flavor ok. Sweet potato fries. Great! Hot, a little crispy, good flavor. Regular fries were good too. Place was clean, staff friendly, service was fast.

Menu cover
Kevin H.

Ruby's Diner Carlsbad, CA Food: We ordered the Fish & Chips and Seafood Combo, both came with fresh fried cod fillets, served hot I may add. The onion ring served hot also and was delicious. They also serve beer and wine. Service: super service! Ambiance: Old School diner vibe, employee in hats and uniform was great to see.

Water
Hannah H.

yummy food lovely service Ruby's Ruby's yum yum yum yum yum yum yum so lovely!! I love! Very calming very beach but no sand!! yay

Daniele F.

Tasty food and quick service in San Clemente during our ball game break. We had cheeseburgers, BLT's, seafood combos, soup, calamari, and shakes!!! Naomi did a good job serving us and we relaxed and talked on the outside patio until we were done. Thanks Ruby's.

Simple Salad
Tu-Quyen P.

One of the few Ruby's Diners left in OC and I'm so glad it's at this beautiful location with plenty of parking and indoor and outdoor seating. Service is super friendly as typical of this chain which I appreciate a lot, and the portion sizes I feel are a bit bigger than I remember, so nice bonus! The turkey sandwich is forever my go-to and it's so good with the sweet potato fries. Perfect for a weekend lunch on a beautiful sunny day.

Inside
Ane V.

One last stop before hitting the road. My SO and I decided to have an early dinner here. The place was not busy. The server let us sit anywhere we wanted. We opted for indoors and a booth. We both ordered burgers. The Ruby with Cheese. It was good, filling, and tasty. The fries were crispy and not overly salty. Our server checked on us in a timely manner. Location is pretty good. Outdoor dining is great if the weather permits.

The Classic with fries. So delicious!! The two slices of cheese and fresh buns really make this burger the best!!
Kelly M.

The Ruby's in San Clemente is always a must stop. The burgers and fries are always outstanding!

Alina S.

The only good thing on the menu - fried green beans. The service was slow and the only word that comes to mind is lazy. I ordered the BLT since it would be hard to mess that up.. The sourdough was greasy and had a strange taste. There was barely any bacon although it was a BLT.

Diane A.

Ruby's is a must stop while spending a nice afternoon at the outlets! The food was delicious, enjoyed a patty melt and onion rings. There is plenty of space indoors and outdoors. I enjoyed the festive decorations during holiday time.

Tran N.

Spacious restaurant for friends and family gathering. We were greeted warmly by the host. Nick, our wait staff of the day, was amazing and totally made our day. Nick went above and beyond to make our birthday celebration even more memorable. The food is great. Fish batter was crispy and fresh. Ruby sundae was a nice way to end our meal. Overall, great experience with Ruby.

Bacon Cheeseburger

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Service is terrible, waited 40 minutes for 2 eggs over easy and some toast. Waiters are distracted

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5 years ago

This location does not honor gift cards, even ones purchased at their location. They were rather rude about it too. Not ok.

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Page 6 of 10

Ruby's Diner Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Ruby's Diner

Nick's San Clemente - Asparagus Fried excellent.

Nick's San Clemente

4.4(2.4k reviews)
1.1 mi
$$

Love it here. First time visit. Celebrating a birthday lunch. We made reservations on Open Table…read more Easy and dependable. Reservations were definitely needed on a Saturday. Nick's hostess called me an hour before to confirm which was comforting. There is street parking which can be challenging as in any coastal community. I believe there is a close by public parking lot. The hostess was very welcoming and sat us right away. A.J. was an awesome waiter. He did not rush us and checked on us regularly and kept our water glasses full. Between the four of us we ordered the spinach and artichoke dip, three fresh Mahi Mahi blackened fish sandwiches. There are many side choices. We had the very yummy crispy fries and the tomatoes with blue cheese - so good. The sandwich and side was a huge portion. I had to eat it deconstructed as it was piled high with blackened fish, coleslaw, tomato, onion rings, fresh micro greens, tartar sauce all on a fresh grilled brioche bun. The sliced prime rib French dip was a home-run. The roll was toasted yet soft. The prime rib tender and flavorful served with Au jus (good enough to eat with a spoon or sip from the bowl). AJ made sure we had plenty of ketchup and ranch for the fries and creamed horseradish for the dip sandwich. My father was given a dreamy chocolate cake and card signed by everyone to celebrate his birthday. The dreamy cake was moist filled with chocolate chips and covered it a to-die-for chocolate ganache. We had an 11:15 reservation and the large restaurant and bar was filled up by noon. There were many celebrations going on around our table. San Clemente is a great coastal town and Nick's is equally as wonderful.

I would like to give a shout out to Chantelle, who made everything right from a past order from…read moremonths ago when I had ordered a cheeseburger well-done with only cheddar cheese and raw onion, and the girl who answered the phone got my order totally wrong. Which I complained about immediately to the guy managers and not one of them did anything to help me. I'm a local here and a regular here and thank you for making everything right Chantelle and I will continue to keep coming here because of your great customer service.. Grace, thank you for letting me help you get your apartment here in town and please keep sending your friends my way! Gina

Photos
Nick's San Clemente - Fried asparagus

Fried asparagus

Nick's San Clemente - Asparagus fries

Asparagus fries

Nick's San Clemente - Steak salad

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Steak salad

The Riders Club Cafe

The Riders Club Cafe

4.3(1.2k reviews)
0.4 mi
$$

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.

Photos
The Riders Club Cafe - Front counter and grill

Front counter and grill

The Riders Club Cafe - Two Hot Dogs Meal and Fries

Two Hot Dogs Meal and Fries

The Riders Club Cafe - Outside signage.

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Outside signage.

GiGi's by The Pier

GiGi's by The Pier

4.0(945 reviews)
1.4 mi
$$

Great location!!! Just steps from the beach, great views. Greeted by our host/server. We were…read moreable to choose our table and I chose one with a view of the pier and ocean. The food was good. A few surprises My sister ordered the Cali eggs Benedict the potatoes wee supposed to be smashed, they were halved. The avocado slices looked old due to the dark tone on them, not the normal green. My chilaquiles had black beans, not mentioned in the menu description; great surprise. There was supposed to be sour cream on my chilaquiles and there wasn't any. It would have cut some of the sourness of the chile verde sauce. I chose poached eggs in stead of fried ones. My eggs were over cooked and cold. I am pretty sure they were precooked. I would give them another try, maybe for lunch.

Service: The service was excellent. The waitress was very…read moreattentive and energetic. Everyone there had a very positive attitude. Which is a big plus. Food: We started off with the coconut shrimp. The coconut shrimp was good. The coconut was crispy and the shrimp was well done for the main dish. I got the Cali Benedict. It was Soooo good. The hollandaise sauce was so tasty. The shrimp was fully seasoned and the potato's were well seasoned and huge. I recommend people getting this dish. Ambiance: The ambiance was great. There wasn't really a lot of people so that was nice. Just kids screaming and cry from time to time.

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GiGi's by The Pier
GiGi's by The Pier
GiGi's by The Pier - Something delicious

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Something delicious

Hapa J's - Hapa Nachos w/ Kalua Pork

Hapa J's

4.1(1.4k reviews)
2.1 mi
$$

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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Hapa J's - DA BIG MIXED PLATE

DA BIG MIXED PLATE

Hapa J's - Feeling the Aloha at Hapa J's

Feeling the Aloha at Hapa J's

Hapa J's - OLD SCHOOL MAITAI

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OLD SCHOOL MAITAI

SC Cafe

SC Cafe

4.5(396 reviews)
2.0 mi
$$

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

S.C CAFE @ SAN CLEMENTE…read more Parking can be a little difficult since they only have a very small parking lot with maybe four or five spots available, so most people will probably end up parking on the street. My boyfriend and I got lucky and managed to grab a spot after driving by for a bit. I was really excited to try this place because I love small breakfast diners, and I usually go to Surfin Donuts right across the street, which has some of the best donuts. We came here on a Saturday morning around 10 AM, and the place was busy but still really cozy. There are only a couple tables inside along with some outdoor seating, but luckily we were able to get seated right away without a wait. The staff were also extremely friendly and welcoming. I ordered the biscuits and gravy with two eggs and sausage, while my boyfriend got an omelet with a Mexican-style sauce. Overall, I liked the food, but I do think the biscuits and gravy could've been a little better. The gravy itself was delicious, and the eggs were cooked perfectly, but the biscuits felt a little too dry for my liking. I also thought the sausages were pretty dry and maybe a bit overcooked. The potatoes though were super flavorful and definitely one of my favorite parts of the meal. What really stood out to me was the ambiance. The whole place feels super nostalgic and homey. They even bring out an actual paper check at the end, which made it feel like stepping back into an old-school diner from decades ago. Overall, I'd definitely come back because I loved the atmosphere so much, but next time I'd probably try something sweeter instead of going the savory route.

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SC Cafe - Inside

Inside

SC Cafe - Gabi burrito

Gabi burrito

SC Cafe - Cup of Joe

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Cup of Joe

Brussels Bistro - Mussels Provencal!

Brussels Bistro

4.4(470 reviews)
1.1 mi
$$

I am obsessed with the Mushroom Soup with Puff Pastry. The soup is creamy but doesn't feel heavy…read more The puff pastry makes it perfect! For my entree I always get the Hanger Steak. You can select from a variety of sauces but my favorite is the green peppercorn sauce. The steak is served with a side salad and your choice of another side. The balsamic dressing on the salad is delicious. I order the fries because they are amazing. I've always left Brussels Bistro satisfied and happy.

We are so glad to have found this place when looking for brunch option this morning…read more We ordered little mixture of lunch and breakfast and who doesn't love oysters on a half-shell first thing in the morning! They were nice and fresh-served with a little butter mixture, and of course, lemon and Tabasco on the side for preference. The oysters were a little small, but they were a good try anyway. We also started with a basket of sourdough slices which came out toasted and hot. Next was the Boeuf Bourguignon was just delicious! They definitely slow cooked the beef as advertised. And also a Mediterraneenne omelette w/some added Gruyère-the egg alone was probably the best fluffy omelette I've ever had! Everything was cooked with delicacy and care in the quality of the ingredients. You definitely get the quality of food that the prices call for. We will definitely be back because it's good quality food, and pleasant vibe with good service!

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Brussels Bistro - Inside decor

Inside decor

Brussels Bistro - Lettuce wrapped burger

Lettuce wrapped burger

Brussels Bistro

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Ruby's Diner - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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