New Restaurants in San Clemente in 2026: What Is Open, What Is Coming and What We Could Not Confirm

Ask three people about new restaurants in San Clemente and you will get three different lists. Some of that is because the town really is changing. Downtown and El Camino Real have seen a run of openings, and the City's own planning report notes that restaurants and event spaces are among the projects it has permitted and built in recent years. Some of it is because online lists copy each other, and a few of the most-shared ones mix up dates.

How we sorted it. We trusted, in order: the restaurant's own website or press release (such as Zov's site and Broken Yolk's announcement), the San Clemente Times, then trade outlets that cover openings. We treated real estate blogs and delivery-app listings as leads only, because several disagreed with each other and with the Times. Where something rests on a single source, we say so. Opening dates and hours change quickly in a new restaurant's first months, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you go.

Which San Clemente restaurants are actually new?

Here is the whole picture in one table, sorted by how well each claim holds up. Details on each follow.

One correction is worth making up front. Parlor appears on several real estate blogs as a 2026 opening. The San Clemente Times reported that it opened on Monday, July 22, 2024, in the former Brick Restaurant space, as the newest concept from Vine's owner Russ Bendel. It is still a good place to eat. It is just not new this year.

What do we know about Zov's in San Clemente?

Zov's is the most talked-about opening of the year, and its details are well documented. The San Clemente Times reported in November 2025 that the Tustin-based California-Mediterranean restaurant group was preparing its first San Clemente location on Avenida Del Mar. Zov Karamardian founded the company in 1987, and it has restaurants in Tustin, Newport Coast and Irvine. CEO Armen Karamardian said the company had owned the building for several years and worked through delays to convert it into what he described as a coastal, light and bright restaurant with indoor-outdoor dining, a large bar and an upstairs private dining space overlooking Del Mar.

The restaurant's own website now says "Now open" and lists the address as 155 Avenida Del Mar, the phone number as (949) 850-8262, and these hours: Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations are linked from the page. We did not find an official opening-day announcement, and one blog's April 28 date comes from a single non-official source, so we do not state an opening date.

What to expect on the menu comes from the Times interview before opening. The signature dishes the company said would carry over include the roasted rack of lamb with a pomegranate-garlic reduction, the mezze platter, herb-crusted salmon with za'atar, the lamb burger, angel hair pasta and the brand's "ridiculous sundae." Unlike the Tustin flagship, the San Clemente restaurant has no bakery, and no San Clemente-only dishes were planned at that time. The company described the design as coastal casual with an upscale feeling, a refreshed look that differs from its other locations. The City's June 2026 planning report lists the building as a permitted and completed project of 4,605 square feet, with a restaurant on the first floor and event space on the second.

Dining on Avenida Del Mar and thinking about living nearby? Read our Downtown and Pier Bowl guide. See Downtown & Pier Bowl

What is Luna Grill, and why does the building matter?

Luna Grill opened on Monday, July 27, 2026, at 700 S. El Camino Real, according to the San Clemente Times. It is the San Diego-based chain's 61st location, and it took over the building that long housed Adolfo's Mexican Food. The company, founded 22 years ago by Sean and Maria Pourteymour, serves made-to-order Mediterranean food including flame-grilled kabobs, bowls, wraps, salads and pitas. The restaurant is the kind of chain location that is useful for a quick weeknight meal, and the Times story makes it more interesting than that.

The Times reported that the project took nearly a year because of construction, delays and unexpected renovations. The company's chief marketing officer said crews found KFC branding under the local Mexican restaurant's branding, and that the roof had no pitch, so water had dripped into the middle of the restaurant for 60 years. Luna Grill rebuilt much of the interior, including the stairs, roof, studs and flooring, while keeping the classic Spanish-style exterior. Inside, a surfboard handcrafted by Chemistry Surfboards is displayed for local surfers to sign, and the company said it is partnering with the Western Surfing Association.

A few practical details from the article. Meals are prepared after the customer orders. The company said proteins are marinated for 24 hours, gyro meat is shaved fresh and sauces are made daily. Its Club Luna app offers $5 off a first purchase and, according to the company, Kids Eat Free promotions Monday through Thursday. Promotions change, so check the app before counting on a deal.

Love eating out downtown? Compare San Clemente's neighborhoods. Compare neighborhoods

What about ILYA?

ILYA is technically a 2025 opening, but it is new enough that many people still think of it that way. The San Clemente Times reported that it opened on December 3, 2025, on South El Camino Real, and that it is chef Charbel Hayek's first Orange County restaurant. Hayek, known for the Los Angeles restaurants Ladyhawk and Laya and as a Top Chef contestant, describes ILYA as Western Mediterranean cooking built around fire. The Times described an open-air dining room with a Cycladic-inspired design and an open kitchen. The name comes from the Greek word for olive tree.

Dishes named in the article include wood-fired tiger prawns with black lime butter, dry-aged king salmon in sauce vierge, lobster spaghetti, patata bravas, escargot and a mezze platter. Listings give the address as 1502 S. El Camino Real. Hours differ between listings, with OpenTable showing dinner from 4 p.m. and other listings showing different days, so call or check the restaurant's reservation page before you go.

What is happening at Miramar Food Hall?

Miramar Food Hall opened on June 18, 2026, in the former Miramar Bowling Center in North Beach. It has 15 food vendors and two bars, and it sits next to the historic Miramar Theatre. We cover the vendors, hours, building history and the details where sources disagree in our Miramar Food Hall guide.

How are the new restaurants connecting with the community?

Each of the openings the Times covered talked about local ties, which is worth noting because a new restaurant's first year is when it decides how it will fit into town. Zov's CEO said the company's 38-year history includes nonprofit partnerships, school involvement and youth-focused support, and that it planned extensive pre-opening training, soft-open events and community engagement to introduce the restaurant to local residents. Luna Grill's marketing chief described fundraising events for local organizations, a partnership with the Western Surfing Association and hopes to build ties with local athletic groups and youth sports programs. At ILYA, chef Hayek said he goes to a farmers market every Sunday to pick ingredients and wants to meet the locals.

These are statements of intent, not track records, so we would not rank restaurants on them. They are a useful thing to watch, though. If you live here, it is worth noticing which new places follow through, such as sponsoring a local team or hosting a fundraiser.

How do you choose among them?

It helps to match the restaurant to the occasion, using only what the sources say. For a special dinner with table service, Zov's and ILYA are the two with reservations, full bars and designs the Times described in detail, a coastal casual look at Zov's and a Cycladic-inspired open-air room at ILYA. Zov's lists lunch every day and a wide range of hours, and ILYA's dinner-only hours in listings suggest a different kind of evening. For a quick, made-to-order meal on a weeknight, Luna Grill is the counter-service option, with orders prepared after you place them. For a group that cannot agree, Miramar Food Hall puts 15 vendors under one roof, and our guide lists them. For breakfast, the hall's Egg&Out and Immersion Coffee Co. list 8 a.m. openings, and Broken Yolk is expected later this year.

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Which restaurants are announced but not open?

Broken Yolk Café, 201 Avenida Del Mar

The San Diego-based breakfast and brunch chain announced on June 23, 2026 that it will open a San Clemente location at 201 Avenida Del Mar, which it described as less than a mile from the pier. It will be the brand's 30th Southern California location. The franchisee, Nick Harris, operates eight Broken Yolk Cafés, and the company said the opening is planned for late 2026. That is a target, not a date, and we found no opening date, so do not plan a breakfast around it yet. In the meantime, our food and drink guide lists other breakfast and brunch spots, and our Thanksgiving guide covers holiday dining leads.

Jimmy B's, 204 S. El Camino Real

What Now OC reported on April 13, 2026 that Jimmy B's was set to open in San Clemente that May, based on a liquor license filing and social media posts, and tied the project to restaurateur Jim Bellino. The menu had not been announced. We could not find an official announcement or a confirmed opening, so we treat Jimmy B's as unconfirmed. If you want to go, check its own social pages first.

Petrol Club, 824 N. El Camino Real

The San Clemente Times reported on March 27, 2026 that Petrol Club, a specialty coffee shop and gathering space for car enthusiasts, was preparing to open at 824 N. El Camino Real, with a soft opening expected in early April. The founders said the property was a gas station in the 1960s and later a car dealership. We did not find confirmation that it opened, so treat it as unconfirmed.

Taqueria Luna, 129 Avenida Del Mar

Taqueria Luna shows up on delivery apps at 129 Avenida Del Mar, and some real estate blogs say it opened in June with a mariachi band. We found no local news story, press release or restaurant statement confirming an opening date. It may well be open, but we cannot confirm it. A search for Taqueria Luna will also bring up coverage of Luna Grill, which is a different restaurant.

Why do San Clemente's restaurants matter so much?

Partly because restaurants are where visitors spend their time. The City's June 17, 2026 report on hotels and economic development used mobile-location data covering April 2025 to March 2026 and found that, during overnight trips to San Clemente, the top visited categories were restaurants (about 29%), retail (26%) and groceries (18%), with hotels at 13%. The report said that in other nearby cities, overnight visitors visit their hotels and then go elsewhere, and it noted people staying in Dana Point may come to San Clemente restaurants and shops. It put total visitor spending at roughly $68 million.

That context explains why new restaurants are tied to the City's larger conversations about hotels and downtown. Our guide to what is being built in San Clemente covers the hotel projects and the City's draft options to encourage more of them, and our 2028 Olympics guide explains why lodging and dining will matter even more in July 2028.

Questions about living near the restaurants? Ask Alex. Talk to Alex

How can you eat well downtown without the stress?

New restaurants are busy in their first months, and downtown has its own parking quirks. A few habits help.

• Reserve or arrive early for dinner at places that take reservations, such as Zov's and ILYA, and expect waits on weekend evenings.
• Call before you go for anything on our unconfirmed list. A phone call settles it faster than any article.
• Check the City's downtown parking map. The City's Community Maps page links a Downtown Public Parking Map showing time-restricted areas.
• Try off-peak times. Zov's lists lunch hours every day, and a weekday lunch is easier than a Saturday night.
• Walk it. Avenida Del Mar and the pier are close to each other, and our Beach Trail guide and beaches guide show how to combine a meal with a walk.
• Give a new restaurant a few weeks. Menus, hours and service often settle after the opening rush.

For more places to eat, see our food and drink guide. If you are thinking about living near the restaurants and shops, our neighborhoods overview and moving guide explain what each area is like.

Frequently asked questions about this topic

Alex Yu

Real estate advisor

My approach is simple: educate first, advise second. I'll give you an honest, block-by-block read on San Clemente so you can make the best-informed decision, whether you're buying, selling, or just exploring.

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Further reading

• Zov's San Clemente (official site)
• San Clemente Times: Zov's to bring California-Mediterranean cuisine downtown
• San Clemente Times: Luna Grill opens in former Adolfo's building
• San Clemente Times: Chef Charbel Hayek opens ILYA
• San Clemente Times: Parlor opens, Vine owner's new concept (2024)
• San Clemente Times: Petrol Club to open
• RestaurantNews.com: Broken Yolk Café announces San Clemente opening
• What Now OC: Jimmy B's to open in San Clemente
• City of San Clemente: Planning Commission staff report, June 17, 2026 (PDF)
• City of San Clemente: Community Maps (downtown parking map)
• Miramar Food Hall guide
• Where to eat in San Clemente
• Downtown and Pier Bowl
• San Clemente neighborhoods

Figures are from the cited sources and change over time. Confirm current details with Alex or the MLS before making decisions.