South of Nick's - Laguna Beach: A Coastal Haven for Mexican Cuisine and Cocktails

Let me tell you, we were pleasantly surprised with South of Nick's considering how average of a restaurant Nick's is. We started off with the table chips, salsa, and beans. Although simple, the salsas and beans were wonderful. Those chips though were some of the best table-chips we've ever eaten! Some were a bit unevenly and overly salted but the ones that were salted just right were chef's kiss. So crispy and crunchy, brought out hot and fresh, and really just the perfect tortilla chips. For the main course I ordered the tres enchiladas del mar. WOW. These were outstanding. The tortillas were soft and fresh, each filled with a good amount of seafood (shrimp, crab, and lobster, respectfully) and the sauces - WOW. The two sauces I believe were like a shrimp and lobster bisque turned into an enchilada type sauce. They were so damn good. Rich, savory, one slightly spicy, and just so decadent. The green sauce may have been like a salsa verde but still fresh and wonderful. My mom had the tinga burrito which was stuffed with filling and so full of flavor. And the last hit was my dad's birria enchiladas - rich, meaty, saucy, flavorful, oh so good. The only disappointing item was the frozen coconut drink, it's basically a pina colada. It's hyped up to be something unique and special and honestly it's not bad at all and it's very smooth and creamy, but flavor wise it's not all that. Overall, the portions are great, flavors are outstanding, and service was excellent. I would gladly return!

JT was AMAZING!!! My parents brought me here for the first time while visiting and we had a memorable experience. The entire staff was super friendly and JT provided excellent service- friendly, knowledgeable and attentive! The food is delicious! I had the El Jefe Burrito and the butter cake dessert- a must try. Highly recommend! Mahalo Nui JT!

We stopped in during Fiesta Hour for some light, flavorful snacks and it hit the spot. Complimentary chips came right away with fresh salsa and creamy bean dip, addictive and perfect to munch on! The ahi ceviche was fresh and bright: zesty lime citrus marinade, cucumber for that cool crispness, red onion, tomatoes, serrano kick, super yummy and refreshing. The margaritas were the highlights: the cucumber margarita was so crisp and clean with muddled fresh cucumber and citrus, super refreshing! The spicy watermelon margarita brought that perfect sweet heat balance with jalapeño kick and fresh watermelon, strong, balanced, and delicious. Great happy hour value all around. Our server Mila was outstanding, super friendly, attentive, and made the experience welcoming and fun. Service was top-notch! Nice booth seating with decent ocean view. Will be back!

This was such an amazing dining experience! We were welcoming for our reservation with smiles on a lovely Friday evening. At first I was a little skeptical of the vibe because the ceiling was low, and I knew beforehand the sunset was going to be real treat. When we were sat at the table we had to most stunning view of the ocean. The wait staff was excellent, especially with dietary restrictions (gluten, dairy) and the food was divine. The blood orange marg was also great. Thanks !!

Everything was great. Definitely try the seafood enchiladas. The staff is nice and the view from the bar is very relaxing. It gets busy so you may need to wait, but it's worth it. The restrooms are very clean too. The downside is parking. Its easiest if you go to the garage behind it.

gorgeous place to sit. ocean view. outstanding food. wonderful service tho they get very busy. if you’re a burrito person—get it an get it wet. and if you love coconut, the frozen margarita is more than slightly life changing, but note that it’s almost like a dessert, so you might want to consider ordering after your meal. the complimentary salsas are sooo flipping good too. 10/10 would drive out of my way to eat there again.

On my top list of my new favorite Mexican spots South of Nick’s in Laguna Beach was absolutely amazing. The food was outstanding, I ordered the 3 item combo a chicken mole enchilada the beef taco and steak taquitos full of flavor, fresh, and perfectly prepared. Every dish we tried exceeded expectations. The service was just as impressive, attentive, friendly, and truly exceptional from start to finish. The atmosphere added to the experience and made the night even better. Definitely recommend this place if you want great Mexican food and top tier service in Laguna Beach.

La Tablita and Steak tacos were delicious! Tablita was a little more salty than we would have liked but otherwise great dish.