Coastal Cowboy CA Eats — Restaurant in San Clemente

We were really excited to try this new spot after reading so many positive reviews. The atmosphere and vibe are great, and it was very busy when we went, so we expected a bit of a wait. Unfortunately, our food took over an hour to arrive and ended up being pretty disappointing. The beet salad didn’t work well with the crunchy quinoa, the fries were overcooked, the brisket tacos were greasy and came with the wrong toppings ( the toppings were for the carne asade tacos ), and the surf & turf was both greasy and not cooked properly.

What made it more frustrating was that the manager (or what seemed like managers/owners) was present but never checked on us, even though they were engaging with other tables. On the positive side, our waitress was very friendly, apologized for the delay, and did check on us after a while.

I really appreciate that they don’t use seed oils, though maybe the heavy use of tallow made the dishes feel overly greasy. Overall, I love the concept and the vibe here, but the execution just wasn’t there yet. I may give it another try in a month or so once they work out the kinks, but for now, it...

Wow — what a gem!

We are so happy this place is here! From the moment we walked in, we loved the atmosphere — it’s warm, welcoming, and perfectly fitting for a relaxing and enjoyable meal.

The service was outstanding. Every staff member we interacted with was incredibly friendly, attentive, and genuinely seemed to care about our experience.

And now… the food. Wow. Just wow. We tried the fish tacos, fries, chips, and the rodeo mac and cheese — and every single bite was beyond good. The flavors were bold and fresh, and everything was cooked to perfection. Honestly, I didn’t want to stop eating!

We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit. This place is an...

Absolutely amazing! Coastal Cowboy delivers on every level — the ambiance is fabulous, the food is outstanding, and the overall energy is vibrant and welcoming. We had such a great time, and I was especially impressed by the focus on clean, high-quality ingredients. Chef Jared’s passion is evident in every dish — from the thoughtful exclusion of seed oils to the use of grass-finished proteins and everything in between. It’s rare to find a place that puts so much care into both flavor and health. Coastal Cowboy...