Despite Southern California’s well-deserved reputation as the epicenter for vehicular dependency, the train system in Orange County — stretching from San Clemente to Brea — has 11 stations-slash-stops, many of which offer a bevy of eateries, cafes and cocktail spots near the depots. Enter the Orange County Register’s new transit dining series.
Our first stop? San Clemente Pier and other San Clemente stations. Only fitting as the seaside track has been repaired and reopened in April. Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner rail services once again connect Los Angeles, the Inland Empire and Orange County to San Diego County.
Keep in mind that selected venues throughout the series are each within a reasonable distance of their stop, whether on foot or by wheelchair, with no major roads or freeways required to access the good grub waiting for you.
San Clemente Pier Station
While this station drops passengers smack-dab onto the beach and a nearby dining area, only four Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains per day stop at the station (two trains in each direction), with Metrolink’s Orange County Line and Inland Empire-Orange County Line stopping at the station on Saturdays and Sundays. Riders stepping off the platform here will be rewarded with one of Orange County’s best small-batch coffeehouses and a handful of choice eateries. Best of all, most of these venues are within a stone’s throw from each other.
Please note that weekday Metrolink service does not stop at the San Clemente Pier Station; however, four Metrolink Orange County Line trains and two Inland Empire Line trains stop in each direction on the weekends (12 total stops). The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner also services the area seven days a week, making two stops at the San Clemente Pier in each direction.
Bear Coast Coffee: Founded by comedian-turned-restaurateur Jeff Clinard, Bear Coast Coffee, with two other locations in Dana Point, has rapidly emerged as the leader of the third-wave coffee scene (a movement in coffee emphasizing high quality beans and brews over pinky drinks and garish merchandising) in South County. In addition to expertly made and deeply flavored espresso drinks and small-batch coffees, Bear Coast Coffee offers a stellar lineup of grab-and-go food, including a feta egg sandwich on a brioche bun, avocado toast that piles the avo high, a bacon breakfast burrito, and ricotta toast with seasonal jam. 618 1/2 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente; bearcoastcoffee.com
Caterina’s Gelato: Providing a (better) alternative to standard ice cream fare, this place features more than a dozen house-made rotating flavors, which might include lemon cookie, smores, pistachio, and more. They even make homemade bone-shaped dog biscuits. Be sure to sit outside to take in the oceanic views as well as the beautifully tiled facade. 614 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente; instagram.com/caterinasgelato
Cosentino’s Pizza: This slice house offers standard pizza pies, ranging from classic margherita style to clearly contemporary chicken bacon ranch; boneless chicken wings with blue cheese dressing; a host of salads; custom calzones; and a foot-long meatball sub made on toasted garlic bread. Patio seating provides choice views of the beach. 626 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente; cosentinospizzamenu.com
Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar: Opening in 1982 on the San Clemente Pier, this seafood joint offers some of the best outdoor dining in Orange County. Menu highlights include fried calamari, crab and shrimp cocktails, clams, fresh oysters, mussels, coconut shrimp, clam chowder in a sourdough bowl and Oysters Rockefeller. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 611 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente; thefishermansrestaurantsanclemente.com
La Galette Creperie: This French comfort food spot features titular crepes filled with sundry flavors, including mushroom and spinach; bacon, egg and cheddar; smoked salmon; berries and cream; and Nutella and banana. Also on the roster are avocado toast, French toast, goat cheese salad, and roasted chicken sandwich. 612 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente; lagalettesc.com
Pierside Kitchen and Bar: While this sit-down restaurant serves a contemporary menu with hearty dishes like short ribs, seabass and shrimp scampi, its whimsical cocktail menu shouldn’t be missed. Must-sip libations include the Papagayo featuring jalapeño tequila doused with lime and pineapple; the Dust Devil, a cognac and Jamaican rum concoction tinged with demerara sugar, mace and allspice; the Wedding Crasher, a mixture of vodka, cacao, lemon, coconut and passion fruit; and Freefall, a potent blend of blanco tequila, lime, passion fruit, cilantro, Xila and mace. Have one. Have three. Have eight. The nearby train stop will get you home safely. Open for brunch, lunch and dinner. 610 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente; piersidesc.com
San Clemente Station
The city’s northernmost train stop in North Beach, nearly two miles from its sister station, lacks the abundance of eateries compared to the Pier Station, but a handful of choice restaurants can be found in spitting distance of the platform.
Metrolink service stops at the San Clemente Station on weekdays a total of 15 times (six Orange County Line trains heading to LA Union Station, five Orange County Line trains heading to Oceanside, two Inland Empire – Orange County Line trains in each direction) and on weekends with 12 total stops (four Orange County Line trains in each direction and two Inland Empire-Orange County Line trains in each direction).
Beach Hut Deli: This shop (with another location in Dana Point) features nearly a dozen sandwiches with names honoring beach culture. The North Shore comes with ham, turkey, pastrami, Monterey jack and Italian dressing; the Beach Bikini features sliced turkey, cream cheese, cranberry sauce, sunflower seeds, spinach and mayo on wheat bread; and the Santa Cruz is a pastrami number with avocado, bacon and cream cheese. They also have toasted sandwiches, like the turkey-and-cheddar Spicoli, a chopped pastrami-and-Swiss cheese Malibu, or the Righteous Ruben. 1844 N El Camino Real, San Clemente; beachhutdeli.com
Landers: Located in a gorgeous Spanish-Mediterranean building on El Camino Real near the train tracks, Landers was described in 2021 by our former food critic as “(p)art retail boutique and fashion brand, part bar, part restaurant, it’s the sort of place that a travel guide-book would refer to as a ‘concept store.’ And the concept here is sort of Wild West meets the California surf lifestyle.” How can you resist? Menu highlights here include classic comfort foods like hamburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, pulled pork, house-made potato chips, steamed mussels, and fish and chips. The extensive cocktail list features potent, Western-themed concoctions bearing names like the Dolly Patron, the Copperhead, or the Calamity Jane. Continuing with the boozy vibe, the 21-and-over set can enjoy a Guinness float for dessert. (Don’t worry; all ages are welcome here.) Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner 1814 N El Camino Real, San Clemente; landersliquorbar.com
Moulin: Croissants, fresh baguettes and other French favorites can be found at this Parisian eatery. Located inside the circa-1937 Casino San Clemente building (reason enough to check it out), the 60-seat bistro comes with an ocean-view patio, pastries and bakes galore, steak frites, sandwiches and more. Open for breakfast and lunch. 120 W. Avenida Pico, San Clemente; moulinbistro.com
