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    Xclusive Riviera

    4.6 (77 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Xclusive Riviera Reservations

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    XCLUSIVE RIVIERA ATMOSPHERE

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    Main lobby of the San Clemente Inn during the holiday season.
    Debbie M.

    Having moved from Orange County to Encinitas, I am regularly meeting friends "halfway" for brunch, lunch or dinner I came across this amazing secret spot recently. It is located inside the San Clemente Inn property. It is a beautifully decorated intimate bar and restaurant. This full bar has a wonderful specialty cocktail menu and many types of tequila. The food is upscale Mexican and the seafood options are exceptional. We spoke briefly to the owner and head chef and he was very proud of the newly restored restaurant. There is plenty of parking and the lobby of the hotel is a lovely place to sit and visit following a great meal or cocktail or both . If you are local, you might wanna put this on your list for someplace new to try.

    Win 8.

    Ate here before when it was just Riviera. Xclusive was great! Food was excellent. My wife had the eggs Benedict and I had the Chilaquiles with Carne Asada. Sooooo good. So tasty and flavorful. Matthew was very courteous and helpful. Underrated restaurant and low key. Would HIGHLY RECOMMEND

    Coconut margarita
    Lisa B.

    I love everything about this restaurant. It's easy to get in, it's not loud and there's plenty of parking, which is always a plus in San Clemente. The restaurant itself is very simple, but comfortable and the food is delicious! Our server, Hailey, is amazing. She's always on it and she remembers you....which I love!

    Michelle G.

    Nicely situated inside of the San Clemente Inn. I really enjoyed the food. The complimentary chips, bean dip & salsa were a nice start. Excellent cauliflower taco as veggie option with side rice and black beans. I asked for flour tortilla vs corn. I really enjoyed it. Hubby enjoyed the lobster and shrimp enchiladas. Beautiful lights around bar, lounge Latin music in background and chic decor. Good service. I give it a 5 star for hotel food and 4 for standalone restaurant.

    Strawberry margarita and berry sangria
    Linda V.

    Staycation in the area and we're looking for the trolley stop to pick us up. Happened to walk up a ways and decided to stop in for breakfast before our stop pick up time. Glad we did. It was first thing in the morning around 11am and the place was empty, except for our bartender/server. I want to say his name is Frisco because we saw another guy come in to talk to him and call him that. He took our drink order first of strawberry margarita for me, and a berry sangria for the bf. For margaritas there was a huge variety when I asked what kind they make: cucumber, strawberry, pineapple, the list went on. I just asked because I wanted strawberry so that's basically the extent of what my mind remembers. Our bartender/server made an amazing omelette (couldn't find the breakfast menu we saw on the list of pictures people posted here) but we got the version with green sauce, paired with option of fruit and toast. It was the perfect amount for us that he gave us 2 plates for. The restaurant overlooks San Clemente inn's pool and spa area. I thought service and food was excellent. Recommended.

    Inside
    Nancie M.

    We came here on a Sunday hoping to get a brunch but unfortunately just missed the noon cut off. So ordered the combo plate with chicken enchilada and carnitas taco and both were very good. Chips and salsa with each order with beans all perfect. The waiter was super attentive there are large tvs oerfect for watching the games and large bar in the middle with ample seating . Overlooks pool area and ample parking. Perfect hidden gem

    Calamari on happy hour
    J A.

    Such a great spot for tourist staying at the hotel and locals!! They did a great job from the restaurant that was here prior- service is impeccable, food comes out quick and everyone at the bar is nice. AND an incredible happy hour with tasty entrees that may be a good match for south of nicks. It's a quiet space and well done.

    Shrimp taquitos Ceviche with tostada shells Homemade chips and salsa
    Mindy W.

    I recently stayed at the San Clemente Inn and needed dinner one night so I thought worth a try. I little bit on the pricey side but once you get the food it is worth it!! I got it to go so I can't say much about the ambiance but the serves fast and friendly. He even brought it out to me in the lobby as I was keeping my grandson busy. I ordered the shrimp taquitos and the ceviche and they threw in chips and salsa Everything was amazing. The ingredients were fresh and so tasty. Even the chips and salsa were homemade and light and crispy. Most of the time I find homemade tortilla chips to be dense and a little too crunchy, but not these. Would highly recommend

    Old Fashioned
    RoseMary F.

    After a stroll on the beach, we had time before dinner for a drink and appetizer. I tell you, when you're walking about in an unfamiliar area, you see and discover more than if you were driving by. We saw a sign for the Riviera Restaurant. We didn't have a reservation, but we were able to get a seat at the bar. Cisco is the Manager, he was very friendly and shared the story of ensuring the restaurant would be open for Valentine's weekend. The staff were very helpful and friendly, they made us feel very welcomed. Complimentary tortilla chips made on the premises were served with a trio of dipping sauces. The menu included Mexican cuisine and Prime Steak. It sure was tempting to stay for dinner, but we had other reservations and needed to freshen up at the hotel. I will definitely bookmark this restaurant and return with a dinner reservation. This is truly a hidden gem, try it when you're in the area, and don't forget to tell'em that Rosemary sent ya!!

    Lobster and Lobster & Shrimp Enchiladas
    Dennis F.

    Upscale Mexican is an understatement. My wife and I a couple of friends enjoyed a wonderful casual lunch w/ seafood enchiladas, shrimp taquitos, green chili pork and civiche which I would strongly recommend ALL of them. Our server was impeccable and attentive. Can't wait to return and try something else. BTW - Tuesday is taco Tuesday all day!

    Ribs appetizer
    Peggy A.

    Very good! I had the ribs appetizer, 4 small ribs, fries and Cole slaw , it was enough for a meal for me! The meat fell off the bone!! My husband had the chicken cordon bleu, it was good as well but not great, I felt the mashed potatoes were fake and not enough flavor, although I will admit my taste buds expect strong flavor since the dumb Covid vaccine.

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    7 days ago

    The San Clemente Inn finally has the restaurant it desperately needed. Excellent food, friendly staff and nicely appointed.

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    10 days ago

    Delicious Happy Hour food and great tasting Margaritas! Ambiance is wonderful and fabulous service

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    28 days ago

    A group of 6 of us went for dinner last night. All of our food was so good, the service was great and really affordable! Highly recommend.

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    4 months ago

    Food is fabulous! Great service! My favorite dish is the octopus taco, it's tender and flavorful.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Xclusive Riviera

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    South of Nick's - Birria tacos

    South of Nick's

    4.4(3k reviews)
    1.6 mi
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    One of my favorite spots for delicious Mexican food in South OC! They have plenty of great options,…read moreyou really can't go wrong with anything! I tried the stacked birria enchiladas for the first time and they were phenomenal, the red sauce was amazing! Plenty of drink options as well, I got a blood orange margarita and it's definitely one of the best margaritas I've ever had. Definitely recommend giving that one a try! Service was excellent and staff were all very friendly and professional. Can't wait to come back again to try more yummy things!

    It's been years since I've been here. Ambience inside is very sort of sports bar around the bar…read morearea and masculine with a Mexican touch booths and seating. Our young waiter was very peppy and friendly in what I consider an overly familiar kind of way. Not my style but I can't fault them for it. Chips and salsa were brought to the table, good as before. Plates-beautiful presentation, some items better than others. Pork Mole Enchilada-meh, the mole was on the sweet side, not very punchy, not memorable. Shrimp Taquito-amazing, tasty shrimp with nice spices and garnish, pinto beans well pureed and good. Mexican street corn-pretty good, a little heavy on the mayo. Food was good and solid, but not a WOW! There is better Mexican out there around here for the same or lesser prices, so don't go here for the value, go for the ambience and if you like drinks and/or expensive tequilas, they've got plenty of those too. Desserts were very generous, flan with caramel and candied pecans was delicious, creamy, firm, not flabby like some flans can be. Churros-rolled into a circle and fried, served with vanilla ice cream, caramel, candied pecans too. Desserts were the best part of the meal. I enjoyed eating here, once. Twice, I won't.

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    Avila's El Ranchito

    Avila's El Ranchito

    3.5(626 reviews)
    1.5 mi
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    Just recently came here for the first time, recommended by a friend. We were mostly checking out…read moredowntown San Clemente and all its shops and restaurants and pier. Great little town to explore. This was our lunch spot. We had already walked for a couple hours. Avila's is a beautiful restaurant and fairly spacious. There is parking on both sides of the street among the shops on Avenida del mar. We were really thirsty and the busboy, Christian, got us 3 iced teas and chips like within 2 minutes. Super nice. Rafael was our waiter, and we ordered quickly. 1. Two taco combo platter, chicken and shredded beef. 2. Tacos and Caldo, my friend ordered with tacos. 3. Mama Avila's soup which came with chicken and lots of other things, and a tortilla. All 3 were delicious and filling. I always get a two taco combo plate since I love this meal, and to compare to other restaurants. This was great. The tacos perfect and flavorful. We will come back. Next time I will order the fajitas. I believe this is a chain with like 10 stores or so, so check to see if any are in your area. A very nice lunch with two fine lady friends as well. Thx Rafael for always checking on us and the iced teas to go.

    Took the redwood/sentient boulder and my canine roommate to Avila's El Ranchito, and let me just…read moresay, oof, it was great. We sat outside because I am with dog (she is my roommate and i need to win her back bc rn she's #teamBoulder, the traitor jk i love her). No regrets. The patio was cute, vibey, and most importantly: accommodating to both mammals and photosynthesizing, mineral-based lifeforms. The Food Mama's Soup (me): Someone's mamá absolutely poured love, healing, and probably generational wisdom into that broth. It was warm, rich, comforting -- like emotional support in liquid form (with chicken and rice in it, some of my 5th year phd dread melted away) . 10/10 would cure seasonal sadness tho. Chinga Lingas (Boulder): First of all, elite name. Second, imagine a taquito that went to therapy, discovered abundance, and decided to become more. More filling. More pastry. More crunch. Fried, stuffed, glorious little rolls of joy. They were EXCELLENT. the tall-tree-rock shared with me. Plus points for the boulder. The Service The Boulder runs slightly cold (geologically predictable), and the staff LIT A HEATER POST next to us without us even begging. Just quietly activated warmth like hospitality professionals. Next time, I would absolutely order Mama's Soup again. I would absolutely bring my dog and my mineral companion back for more chinga lingas and heat.

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    Chelas Mexican Kitchen - Chile Verde Burrito Wet

    Chelas Mexican Kitchen

    4.3(240 reviews)
    3.4 mi
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    We were in the Laguna beach area during optimal brunch time so a lot of breakfast-y restaurants…read morewere PACKED. Little unassuming Chelas was the perfect little spot for some brunch. They had a nice dog friendly ground level area so we could bring our pup. We ordered their chicken tortilla soup, 1/2 pint of guac, and burrho de alambre! 10/10 for everything. The chicken tortilla soup as hearty and toasty, perfect for the cooler weather. The guac was exactly my style, not too salty, not too tart, and demolished in no time. My husband really enjoyed his burrito from the speiclas menu as well!

    Got my hair cut today and after that difficult task was done I was hungry. Luckily nearby was…read moreChelas. Been here before so it was an easy choice to slide on in. I have been jonesing for a good bean and cheese burrito for some time now. Over that time I have been very disappointed in the B&C burritos I have come upon. Some even from my trustworthy B&C places. This was my first B&C burrito from Chela's and was looking forward to their version. At the last minute, without warning, planning or any notice I ordered my bean and cheese burrito wet. I was feeling kinda wild! Also, I asked for some chips and salsa in the side. When it was rung up, the cost was quite high and it made me step back. So I did question the charge. I didn't realize that when I ordered chips and salsa the guy thought I meant another full order of large bag of chips and a pint of salsa, not the little bag and little cup you get with your order. A nice gal helped fix that and the order cost looked much more reasonable. Whew! Financial crisis averted. I sat down after getting my Diet Pepsi (won't hold it against them that they don't have Diet Coke). Soon after, I was brought a small bag of chips and some salsas. Get the chipotle and you will not be disappointed. Shortly after that my plate with a HUGE bean and cheese burrito with lots of sauce, cheese and a drizzle of sour cream. Check the pic out, it's a beauty. The taste did not disappoint. Great beans, ooey, gooey cheese inside and out. The wet sauce was great. I thought it would be a verde sauce, but it was red. Next time I will see if they have a verde version for me to try. Just a really great B&C wet burrito. Delicious. With the chips, I only ate half the massive burrito and am already looking forward to lunch tomorrow to eat the other half. I don't give out 5 stars to many places. They have to blow me away with food, service, consistency, on and on. Chelas is an order at the counter and they bring it to you kind of place. The people taking orders and bringing food are quite nice and always willing to see if you need anything. The food has been consistently very good. All wrapped up, it's one of my favorite places around. Great job.

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    Adolfo's Mexican Food

    Adolfo's Mexican Food

    3.8(258 reviews)
    1.2 mi
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    I've had their birria tacos before and they were good so, today after a long day I ordered their…read moreregular carne asada tacos and one chicken asada taco and they were TERRIBLE. Save your money and order something else from their menu, like their birria. I ended up getting birria tacos instead. The service was not the greatest, a little attitude and not customer friendly. I hope they do better in their new location.

    I believe they have new management team and food is way better than before. The prices are pretty…read moreinexpensive, I got Asada Burrito with extra meat with tax and tip total up $19.19. Got this to go and it's about a 30 minutes walk back home and it was still warm. Yes, I can get a burrito from Chipotle but it's not close by me and ordering delivery would be double of what I paid here. The burrito was hefty, I could only finish half and saved the rest for next day for lunch. The meat were juicy, not dry and full of flavors. Comes with rice, beans and pico de gallo. I get a bag of cheese from Ralphs to do the modification of having a crispy cheese crust and that made the burrito into a 9.2 out of 10. (see pic) Overall, I'm glad this place isn't cash only anymore and the food is much better than before. Definately coming back when I'm craving a burrito or carne asada fries. (Yes, I know there are way better ones in Buena Park and Santa Ana but I don't live near there nor want to be stuck in traffic again) This place will do for now.

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    Chelas Mexican Kitchen

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    4.2(41 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    First-time visit and I was pleasantly impressed…read more I was greeted by Jose at the counter and asked him about the machaca burrito. He confidently told me it was the best around if you're looking for a breakfast burrito, so naturally, I put him to the test. I grew up and worked in Los Angeles for over 40 years and have had my fair share of great burritos. The burrito came out quickly (I was the third customer), and the presentation was very nice, cut in half and served with chips and salsa. It was hot and clearly made fresh to order. The shredded beef had a slight crisp to it without being dry or overcooked, and there was a generous amount inside. The bell peppers were cooked perfectly, well-seasoned, and still had a nice crunch. The Colby Jack cheese paired with the refried beans, eggs and really rounded everything out and took the flavor to another level. This was easily one of the best machaca burritos I've had. Jose was absolutely right, and I appreciate the recommendation. Afterward, I had the chance to chat with Jose and learned that this is a family-owned restaurant. He truly exemplifies great customer service, and I enjoyed the conversation just as much as the meal. I will definitely be returning and recommending this place to others. Looks like they also have a solid weekday happy hour. Highly recommended.

    Plenty of parking. Ok for groups…read more They do have one tv for watching sports. Staff is always friendly. Typical fast food Mexican menu. Something for everyone. Can call ahead and order food to go.

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    Xclusive Riviera - bars - Updated May 2026

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