Single crystal of L-serine methyl ester hydrochloride (LSMEHCI), was grown using slow evaporation solution growth technique. The grown crystal was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction and the presence of functional groups were identified by FT-IR analysis. From the Optical transmission spectra of the grown crystal the optical energy band gap is found to be 5 eV and the refractive indices (n(x), n(y) and n(z)) were found using Brewster's angle method. The melting point of the material obtained using melting point apparatus is 168 degrees C. The thermal stability of the crystal was investigated. The second harmonic generation was tested with different particle sizes of powdered LSMEHCI by Kurtz-Perry powder method using Nd:YAG laser, which established the existence of phase matching. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.