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RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, BEAUTY,
HEALTH AND ART

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Testimonials

Freddie Durazo

I frequent Hot-n-Chili all the time and the food is always excellent. The professionalism of the staff and servers make you feel pampered and well taken care of. My glass of water was never empty and I got my food within 15-20 minutes. I highly recommend this establishment. Great food!

Diane Prø Nuñez

I’ve been to New Mandarin Garden twice in my vacations and i LOVE IT, my bf and i order different food and all has been great in flavor and they serve more than decent amount the people are very nice they have a lot of take out which means all the food is very fresh. Wonton Soup, Chicken Chow Mein, Cashew Chicken, Honey Walnut Shrimp

Sergi Villacampa

Favorite place Inka Mama's in San Clemente! Their ceviche is the best I tried on the entire trip. All the food we ordered was very good and the service was attentive and professional. Highly recommended!Ask the service why all the ceiling lights have a green bulb, there is a funny story behind it ;)

Shawn Brown

If you’re craving soup, The Ramen Cafe is the place to go! This is our family’s go to place in South Orange County. Their food is extremely flavorful with excellent portions. The 50/50 broth is delicious! Most importantly, they are all just really great people!

Sara Orton

These were hands down the best açaí bowls I’ve ever had. They are INCREDIBLE. The fruit is fresh and the flavor is amazing. I got the “T -Street” and I added peanut butter and mangos and subbed out the honey for agave. 10/10 would recommend!! I’ll be back every time I’m in town!

Beverly Crisman


Los Patios food and service is fantastic! Service was off the charts! I strongly recommend this restaurant, I will be back...

Ashley Wilhelm

Had an amazing experience at Vedder’s! The gal working was so personable, let us sample, and explained what great ingredients are in the ice cream! It’s so amazing to find a place that has options for dietary restrictions and intolerances! 10/10 recommend the bananas foster, the cookie dough, and the strawberry flavors! The ice cream tastes so fresh! They have GF cookies as well that were very tasty!

James Titus

Finding a Tardis! This was a very unexpected surprise, just roaming around looking for parking.

Nichole Pulver

A tardis in random town california. Loved it!

Andrew Salazar

It’s literally just a tardis

DB Z.


What an amazing find to have this cigar shop so close to our house. Very impressive walk in humidor with 2 levels and several alcoves with more varieties and quantity of cigars then I have ever seen in one place. Their cigars are very fresh and the service from staff is great.

WELCOME TO

Old Town San Clemente is a wild west outdoor shopping center with some of the best restaurants, shops, services, and attractions in the area. This hidden gem is the perfect Spanish spaghetti western destination for you and your family to eat, love, laugh and shop. The Wild West spirit thrives here. Saddle up for Incredible Wild West Food Adventures, from flavors from all across the world to guilt-free delights like acai bowls to dairy-free sugar free ice cream, gluten free poptarts, cakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls, brownies, chocolates and lots of wonderful clean eats.
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Start your day with clean eats breakfasts, acia bowls, gourmet coffee & teas, or spice things up with Indian and San Francisco-style Chinese cuisine. Savor the flavors of Inka-Peruvian, Mexican, and top-notch Japanese Ramen & Sake. Don't miss out on boba and a high-end bar featuring your favorite drinks, including Inka Cola and margaritas by the Mexican border. And the amazing hidden menu Tacodilla!
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Indulge in citrus breakfasts, pop-tarts, pancakes, crepes, parfait, avocado toast and for lunch enjoying the amazing salads, best Vietnamese sandwiches and chili-spiced burgers. Discover cigars & specialty wines and exclusive no filler vitamins you won't find elsewhere. Dive into secret menu items, explore the butterfly garden, and embark on a Wild West treasure hunt.
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Explore the historic origins of San Clemente, with its city jail, firehouse, police, and hidden services, including the original Nixon Museum location. In an inviting, romantic ambiance, discover art stores, beauty & health services, and delectable bites. Enjoy live music in the summer – there's something for the whole family at Old Town San Clemente.

LOVE - Strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties. Love chooses to set aside ones personal interest to help another.

About Old Town San Clemente and it's Demographics

KINDNESS - The action of being sympathetic, helpful, a relief, pleasing, Breath of Fresh Air, Listening, Helping Hands, Cheerleader, Forgiver.

Old Town San Clemente is located in
the city of San Clemente California.

San Clemente is a city in Orange County, California, United States. As of 2005, the city population was 65,338 and by 2024 it is heading toward 100K. Its population jump has been attributed to the closure of San Anofre nuclear facility.

Located six miles south of San Juan Capistrano at the southern tip of the county, San Clemente is roughly equidistant from San Diego and Los Angeles and many times middle stopping point of traffic from both large cities.

HISTORY

Prior to the conquests of the Spanish, the legend has it, California and San Clemente area was part of a huge Tarterian empire, where the California area was run by Queen Califia (How California got its name, pic below) whose army supposedly rode on flying on griffins that terrified the approaching Spanish, Chinese and Russian empires. Then when the Tarterian empire dissolved and this area was inhabited by those who came to be known as the Juaneño Indians. The Spaniards invaded and they founded Mission San Juan Capistrano, the local natives were conscripted to work for the mission and San Clemente became a natural harbor for the mission. Old Town San Clemente was the hitching freight change off between harbor, route to fenced enclosure (Avenida Palizada) and Kings highway (El Camino Real that linked all the missions), the road to Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The city of San Clemente was founded in 1925 by real estate developer Ole Hanson who named it San Clemente after a town in Spain. As it were, San Clemente Island was named after the city later since it is directly west of the coast. Because San Clemente being a natural port, Hanson envisioned it as a Spanish-style coastal resort town similar to Monte Carlo, and named it the “Spanish Village by the Sea.” In an unprecedented move, he had a clause added to the deeds requiring all building plans to be submitted to an architectural review board in an effort to ensure that future development would retain his theme of Spanish-style influence (for example the red tile roofs). The huge pier was built to accommodate cruise ships of the 1930’s as well as provide for luxury yachts like Monte Carlo. It was incorporated in 1928 with a council-manager style government. Because of Ole’s connection with Eisenhower, he was able to make the city the only city open liquor cabinets during prohibition.

During prohibition, Cruise ships would leave Los Angeles, head to Catalina to Gamble, and because there were no hotels in Catalina, the ships would then head to San Clemente to disembark and continue drinking and sleeping it off. The unique part of San Clemente is its location to transportation and its notable individuals could disappear by train, plane, automobile from San Clemente. Thus the Hollywood San Clemente connection was born.

Because the end of prohibition, the exclusiveness of San Clemente was no more, Ole left San Clemente and made a new home in Seattle where he would later become the mayor. After Ole's departure the legacy of what he created continued, and 20 years later the city built a police station in Old Town San Clemente as well as a location to manufacture the black iron gates used all over San Clemente. Old Town San Clemente was called the City Yard then.

San Clemente's years of being
the Capital of the Free Western World.

In 1968 President Richard Nixon bought the H. H. Cotton estate, one of the original homes built by one of Hanson’s partners. Nixon called it “La Casa Pacifica,” but it was nicknamed the “Western White House”, a term now commonly used for a President’s vacation home. It sits above one of the West Coast’s premier surfing spots, Trestles, and just north of famous surfing beach San Onofre.

During Nixon’s tenure, San Clemente was the capital of the Western World and it was visited by most world leaders, including Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev, Mexican President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, and Henry Kissinger, as well as businessman Bebe Rebozo. Many foreign governments also created offices here in San Clemente. Where Old Town San Clemente is, Nixon built new city hall and a state of the art facility for police, FBI, Secret Service and fire station with secret meeting rooms to support being the operating capital of the free world via Nixon.

Following his resignation, Nixon retired to San Clemente to write his memoirs. He later sold the home and moved to Park Ridge, New Jersey. The property also has famous tie to the democratic side of the aisle; prior to Nixon’s tenure at the estate, H.H. Cotton was known to host Franklin D. Roosevelt, who would visit to play cards in a small outbuilding overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city of San Clemente was really emotionally hurt by Nixon's resignations and the all the projects, leadership and employment that Nixon created just came to halt. The City quickly sold off Old Town San Clemente to a developer who hired the architect that designed Knott's Berry Farm to design it into a western theme shopping center in 1975.

Surfing legacy

San Clemente catches swells all year long, but its unique location and it catches waves making it the #1 Surf destination in Continental United States. Going from South to North, they include Trestles (technically just south of the city line), North Gate, State Park, Riviera, Lasuen, The Hole, Beach House, T-Street, The Pier, 204, North Beach, and Poche.

San Clemente is also the surf movie capital of the world as well as a premier surfing destination. This comes from its previous connection with Hollywood where they began filming the first Surf Movies in San Clemente, creating the whole industry of media for surfing. It is home to Surfing Magazine, The Surfer’s Journal, and Longboard Magazine, with Surfer Magazine just up the freeway in San Juan Capistrano.

The city of San Clemente has a large concentration of surfboard shapers and manufacturers. Additionally, many world renowned surfers were raised in San Clemente or took up long-term residence in town, including Hobie Alter, Jr., Shane Beschen, Gavin Beschen, Matt Archbold, Christian Fletcher, Mike Parsons (originally from Laguna Beach), Colin McPhillips, Rocky Sabo, Colleen Mehlberg, Greg Long, Dino Andino, Chris Ward, and many, many others. San Clemente High School has won 6 out of 7 most recent NSSA national surfing titles.

Education

The city is served by Capistrano Unified School District. Within the city, there are 5 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high school. Elementary Schools: Concordia Elementary, Truman Benedict, Vista Del Mar, Las Palmas, and Lobo Elementary. Middle Schools: Bernice Ayer, Shorecliffs, and Vista Del Mar. High Schools: San Clemente High San Clemente High School is the only high school in San Clemente. Ranked in the top 1.3% of schools nationwide, San Clemente also has an IB (International Baccalaureate) Program, a vast number of AP Courses. The music program also boasts a nationally recognized Vocal Arts Program with award-winning Madrigals, Women’s Ensemble, and A Cappella choirs. San Clemente’s IB students rank in the top 3% of the World for their IB scores and the program has expanded vastly in the past few years under the direction of Patrick Harris and Kathleen Sigafoos, the IB Coordinators of the School.

ORANGE COUNTY Demographics

Incorporated:

March 11, 1889

Legislative Districts:

* Congressional: 38th-40th, 42nd & 43

* California Senate: 31st-33rd, 35th & 37

* California Assembly: 58th, 64th, 67th, 69th, 72nd & 74

County Seat: Santa Ana

County Information:

Robert E. Thomas Hall of Administration

10 Civic Center Plaza, 3rd Floor, Santa Ana 92701

Telephone:

(714)834-2345 Fax: (714)834-3098

County Government Website:

https://www.ocgov.com/

CITIES OF ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA:

About Orange County

Orange County is a county in Southern California, United States. Its county seat is Santa Ana. According to the 2000 Census, its population was 2,846,289, making it the second most populous county in the state

of California, and the fifth most populous in the United States. The state of California estimates its population as of 2007 to be 3,098,121 people, dropping its rank to third, behind San Diego County. Thirty-four incorporated cities are located in Orange County; the newest is Aliso Viejo. Unlike many other large centers of population in the United States, Orange County uses its county name as its source of identification whereas other places in the country are identified by the large city that is closest to them. This is because there is no defined center to Orange County like there is in other areas which have one distinct large city.

Five Orange County cities have populations exceeding 170,000 while no cities in the county have populations surpassing 360,000. Seven of these cities are among the 200 largest cities in the United States. Orange County is also famous as a tourist destination, as the county is home to such attractions as Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm, as well as sandy beaches for swimming and surfing, yacht harbors for sailing and pleasure boating, and extensive area devoted to parks and open space for golf, tennis, hiking, kayaking, cycling, skateboarding, and other outdoor recreation. It is at the center of Southern California’s Tech Coast, with Irvine being the primary business hub.

The average price of a home in Orange County is $541,000. Orange County is the home of a vast number of major industries and service organizations. As an integral part of the second largest market in America, this highly diversified region has become a Mecca for talented individuals in virtually every field imaginable. Indeed the colorful pageant of human history continues to unfold here; for perhaps in no other place on earth is there an environment more conducive to innovative thinking, creativity and growth than this exciting, sun bathed valley stretching between the mountains and the sea

in Orange County. Orange County was Created March 11 1889, from part of Los Angeles County, and, according to tradition, so named because of the flourishing orange culture. Orange, however, was and is a commonplace name in the United States, used originally in honor of the Prince of Orange, son-in-law of King George II of England.

City of Aliso Viejo, 92653, 92656, 92698

City of Anaheim, 92801, 92802, 92803, 92804, 92805, 92806, 92807, 92808, 92809, 92812, 92814, 92815, 92816, 92817, 92825, 92850, 92899

City of Brea, 92821, 92822, 92823

City of Buena Park, 90620, 90621, 90622, 90623, 90624

City of Costa Mesa, 92626, 92627, 92628

City of Cypress, 90630

City of Dana Point, 92624, 92629

City of Fountain Valley, 92708, 92728

City of Fullerton, 92831, 92832, 92833, 92834, 92835, 92836, 92837, 92838

City of Garden Grove, 92840, 92841, 92842, 92843, 92844, 92845, 92846

City of Huntington Beach, 92605, 92615, 92646, 92647, 92648, 92649

City of Irvine, 92602, 92603, 92604, 92606, 92612, 92614, 92616, 92618, 92619, 92620, 92623, 92650, 92697, 92709, 92710

City of La Habra, 90631, 90632, 90633

City of La Palma, 90623

City of Laguna Beach, 92607, 92637, 92651, 92652, 92653, 92654, 92656, 92677, 92698

City of Laguna Hills, 92637, 92653, 92654, 92656

City of Laguna Niguel 92607, 92677

City of Laguna Woods, 92653, 92654

City of Lake Forest, 92609, 92630, 92610

City of Los Alamitos, 90720, 90721

City of Mission Viejo, 92675, 92690, 92691, 92692, 92694

City of Newport Beach, 92657, 92658, 92659, 92660, 92661, 92662, 92663

City of Orange, 92856, 92857, 92859, 92861, 92862, 92863, 92864, 92865, 92866, 92867, 92868, 92869

City of Placentia, 92870, 92871

City of Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688, 92679

City of San Clemente, 92672, 92673, 92674

City of San Juan Capistrano, 92675, 92690, 92691, 92692, 92693, 92694

City of Santa Ana, 92701, 92702, 92703, 92704, 92705, 92706, 92707, 92708, 92711, 92712, 92725, 92728, 92735, 92799

City of Seal Beach, 90740

City of Stanton, 90680

City of Tustin, 92780, 92781, 92782

City of Villa Park, 92861, 92867

City of Westminster, 92683, 92684, 92685

City of Yorba Linda, 92885, 92886, 92887

Noteworthy communities Some of the communities that exist within city limits are listed below:

* Anaheim Hills, Anaheim

Balboa Island, Newport Beach

Corona del

Mar, Newport Beach

Crystal Cove / Pelican Hill, Newport Beach

Capistrano Beach, Dana Point

El Modena, Orange

French Park, Santa

Ana

Floral Park, Santa Ana

Foothill Ranch, Lake Forest

Monarch

Beach, Dana Point

Nellie Gail, Laguna Hills

Northwood, Irvine

Woodbridge, Irvine

Newport Coast, Newport Beach

Olive, Orange

Portola Hills, Lake Forest

San Joaquin Hills, Laguna Niguel

San

Joaquin Hills, Newport Beach

Santa Ana Heights, Newport Beach

Tustin

Ranch, Tustin

Talega, San Clemente

West Garden Grove, Garden Grove

Yorba Hills, Yorba Linda * Mesa Verde, Costa Mesa

Frequently Asked Questions

The asking hat is better than the not knowing hat!

Is there additional parking?

YES, There is another parking lot on Miramar with more parking spaces than the main lot. When you look out the Miramar entrance you should see a sign that says Old Town Overflow Parking Lot.

Is there a Clean Foods Bakery place that has mouth watering Poptarts in Old Town San Clemente?

YES, Just new, Citrus and Co. has amazing home made poptarts from clean food ingredients. Amazing foods of Old Town San Clemente!

Is there a Famous No Sugar, No Dairy, Organic, Clean Sweets, Ice Cream store in Old Town San Clemente?

YES, Vedders Nice Cream! Good for your allergies, good for your weight, and so much more. Especially useful for the 50% of the population that cannot have sweets anymore. Now you can. They also deliver to your home and have pickups.

Can I bring my Pet to Old Down San Clemente?

YES, Most restaurants have an outside seating area where you can have a meal with your pet or meet others with pets. However, understand each business has their own policies of service. Probably use common sense to have them on a leash, quiet noises and such.

Do you have 10Min parking for food pickups?

Yes we have two 10Min signed locations next to horse barn in the middle of the center. Stores sometimes have their own spaces they label during times of massive deliveries or pickups.

What is Inka Cola?

Inka Cola is a soft drink that was created in Peru in 1935 by British immigrant Joseph Robinson Lindley. The soda has a sweet, fruity flavor that somewhat resembles its main ingredient, lemon verbena. Americans compare its flavor to bubblegum or cream soda, and it is sometimes categorized as a champagne cola.

~ SPAGHETTI WESTERN QUOTE:


“Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway!” – John Wayne

Visit Us At:

OLD TOWN SAN CLEMENTE

~ A Little Spanish Spaghetti Western Old Town ~

111 W. Avendia Palizada, San Clemente, CA 92672


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