Ah, San Clemente. Land of surf shops, Spanish-style villas, and beachfront cafes where the avocado toast costs more than your parking ticket. This coastal town isn’t known for its breakfast scene, but if you know where to look, you can find a few spots where you’ll actually want to start your day.
Belgium Waffle Haus
$ | (949) 215-2950 | WEBSITE
This cozy, always-busy breakfast spot is charming without being overly precious. It’s been a local favorite for years now, and it’s still the first place you should think of when you want to enjoy a great breakfast in a space that’s slightly nicer than your average diner. There isn’t a ton of table seating, but there’s a counter where you can usually find a stool, and you’ll likely find some outdoor seating as well.
The waffles are soft inside but crunchy outside, and the fruit toppings look like they came out of a magazine. The friendly staff and owners create a welcoming atmosphere, and the restaurant is very clean and relaxed. Popular items like chicken & waffles, breakfast burritos, and smoked salmon toast are highly recommended. The breakfast burrito is considered one of the best, with a great twist of tater tots instead of hash browns.
The coffee, including the Spanish latte and lavender options, is well balanced and not bitter. The ambiance is cozy, and the service is warm and attentive, making it a perfect spot for breakfast or brunch.
Sunny Side Up Doughnuts
$ | (949) 545-7792 | WEBSITE
Just off the main drag in San Clemente, you’ll find Sunny Side Up Doughnuts, a cozy-looking spot with a few booths and a counter that you can perch at for a quick bite. The fancier brunch spots nearby are a little more exciting, but it’s easier to get in and out here, and you usually have a good chance of snagging a table. So think of this place as your ultimate reliable choice.
If you swing by on a Saturday morning, however, you can expect to wait elbow-to-elbow with a crowd of folks who just rolled out of their beachside bungalows, all drawn by the promise of those cloud-like donuts and George’s warm greeting.
RJ’s Cafe
$ | (949) 218-5757 | WEBSITE
This is the best breakfast spot in South County. In addition to cinnamon rolls that are divine enough to qualify as a religious experience, RJ’s Cafe has plenty of patio tables that tend to be occupied by people with well-behaved dogs. You can either grab a table and get some eggs benedict to accompany your coffee, or you can hang at the counter and eat a chicken fried steak while you watch the Sunday morning rush.
IHOP
$ | (949) 361-9455 | WEBSITE
IHOP is a reliable breakfast spot in San Clemente that manages to be accommodating despite its predictable offerings. There’s a bustling main dining area where you can enjoy a hearty meal with the family, a quieter section near the back that’s perfect for older patrons, a bright corner by the window that’s ideal for a leisurely morning, and plenty of seating that keeps things moving.
A lot of people seem to stop in for a quick bite on the way to their day, so if there’s a short wait, a table will likely open up if you’re patient. The 55+ BLT comes with about 2.5 to 3 slices of bacon, and the menu includes dietary options like fish and various drinks. The service is consistently attentive, with staff ensuring prompt seating and food delivery, making the experience enjoyable from start to finish.
Proud Mary’s Restaurant
$ | (949) 493-5853 | WEBSITE
Proud Mary’s has been a Dana Point favorite for years, and you can tell. It has a bright, airy dining room with large windows that look out over the water, and sometimes the whole place smells a little like fresh coffee and sizzling bacon. But it’s a classic spot, and it’s your best option for unpretentious breakfast in San Clemente that won’t cost $25. Like every other popular place in the area, Proud Mary’s is a bit of a scene on weekends.
If you want to avoid a wait, stop by when they open at 7am.
S.C. Cafe
$ | (949) 366-0626 | WEBSITE
As any longtime San Clemente local will tell you, S.C. Cafe used to be a hole-in-the-wall. But that was years ago. Now, it’s more of a modern diner with California twists and creative breakfast items like Gringos Burritos and Bea’s Omelette. The food is obviously more affordable these days, but at least it’s delicious and very well made. Bring a few family members, or stop by with your roommate when you want to enjoy breakfast and can’t handle the wait at fancier spots.
If it’s warm outside, grab a table in the indoor-outdoor casual setting.
Sugar Shack
$ | (949) 498-0684 | WEBSITE
Sugar Shack is a charming but unassuming little place. It feels like a cross between a cozy grandmother’s kitchen and a classic American diner, and it’s perfect for when you want a breakfast in San Clemente that’s more welcoming than a chain restaurant and less pretentious than a trendy brunch spot. The space is small and homey, with checkered tablecloths, warm lighting, and a few window booths where you can settle in and enjoy a $12 plate of fluffy pancakes.
Be sure to share one of their giant cinnamon rolls.
Broken Yolk Cafe
$ | (949) 388-0292 | WEBSITE
From the folks behind the popular breakfast scene in San Clemente, Broken Yolk Cafe is the size of your average beachside diner, and it’s perfect for when you want to fuel up and enjoy a good eggs Benedict. You can take a seat at the counter and watch the friendly staff work their magic, or settle into a booth and dig into some Nutella crepes or a healthy egg substitute scramble.
The atmosphere is welcoming, and the location near the ocean adds to its appeal, so keep this place in mind for family breakfasts.
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
$ | (949) 767-8950 | WEBSITE
Snooze is a breakfast joint, and it’s the kind of place where you bring a group of friends or family when all you want to do is eat something tasty in a room that stays cheerful. There’s a great happy hour on breakfast drinks like mimosas—and seeing as how everyone seems to know this, it can be hard to find a seat here.