Restaurantji presents Santa Barbara's standout Mexican dining destinations.
“Don't trust anyone who tells you to get the chicken tacos. Those individuals do not like flavor . Instead of getting the usual grilled I went with the steamed options and the Maciza and Cachete were outstanding. Moist and tender, the meat has a butteriness to it as both meats come from the skull of the cow so it's not a muscle that's overly used. Delicious!“
“An amazing local find that could easily be overlooked if you don’t know it’s there - but man is it worth the visit! The food is great; fresh, delicious, and authentic. Classic bean and cheese burrito and chips & guac were a perfect pairing for me; highly recommended. Our only advice - visit when the weather is nice, as there is no indoor seating.“
“My friend and I went here after having coffee, at Handlebar. We walked in and were immediately welcomed in. They have excellent food, servers and most importantly great customer service! They truly care about the display & presentation of the food on the plate they serve you..., and about your overall experience here.“
“First: buy all the tacos. Each is a different taste. Each is a unique experience. And each is worth buying.Second: this review is after two months of eating here. And it remains the same. The tacos are delicious. The ceviche was HUGE and I overestimated my appetite. Finished it all like a champ but the food was somehow light enough to consume it all without feeling like death.Service is what you’d expect out of a food market and the atmosphere is as good or bad as you like. It’s really how you feel about food markets. Either way, delicious.“
“Every time I'm in SB I have to stop in . Ceviches are always fresh and very flavorful, tacos are delicious, and they have a great Mezcal selection, too. Javier, our server was very knowledgeable, professional, and genuine and made a great recommendation for a cocktail with Sotol.“
“We really enjoyed our meal here. We went for lunch on a Friday, around 1p. There was no wait, and plenty of available seats. Service was quick and friendly. I had a Rajas con Queso and a Lengua taco. Partner ordered an Alambre plate. 3 tacos and a beer was just right for each of us. Lots of filling and good solid tortillas to hold everything.Parking:There are several parking spots directly in front, if your timing is right. No parking lot. We got lucky. Hopefully you will too!Seating:There are a few small tables and open counter seating inside, as well as some outdoor window stools where you sit out on the sidewalk and look in.Dogs:We usually bring our dog out with us, but didn't this time because we weren't sure of the seating arrangement. Outdoor seating could work for a well behaved dog, or (like ours), in a stroller. Keep in mind the outdoor stools are shared with a sidewalk, and Milpas is a very busy street.Side note: Me being curious about the name, I found this on the local website Siteline: "Pipeye’s motto (“Diga no a la pirateria!!”), written alongside the name, translates to “Say no to piracy,” which I assume reflects irritation with imitators." Followed by: "The Pipeye slogan is a cheeky homage to a popular anti-piracy phrase used in the 80’s and 90’s in film and music."(peep-eh’-ye)“
“I had a solo dinner at Corazón Comedor while passing through Santa Barbara and could not have more of a charmed experience. My server Ray was incredibly warm, kind, and helpful, and made my experience as good as could be. And the food was absolutely delicious!“
“: Authentic Mexican Cuisine at Its Best** If you're craving a taste of Mexico in Santa Barbara, look no further than Los Agaves. From the moment you step through the door, the aroma of sizzling spices and freshly made tortillas transports you south of the border. The menu boasts a delightful array of traditional Mexican dishes, each bursting with flavor and authenticity. Whether you're indulging in savory tacos, zesty enchiladas, or hearty burritos, every bite is a testament to the chef's skill and dedication to genuine Mexican cuisine. But it's not just the food that keeps patrons coming back for more. The friendly staff and impeccable service make dining at Los Agave's a true pleasure. Whether you're dining in or ordering catering for your next event, you can expect nothing short of excellence. In a city known for its culinary prowess, Los Agaves stands out as a shining example of Mexican gastronomy done right. Highly recommended to anyone seeking a taste of Mexico in the heart of Santa Barbara. ---“
“Such a cute spot and the food is incredible! Ordered the Los Alamos Burrito and both a hot and iced churro latte. I could have this combo every day on repeat it was so incredible. The people that took my order were so kind as well. Absolutely recommend!“
“La Paloma went above and beyond to make our wedding day reception memorable. From the service the decor the food everything was amazing!! The staff, manager, and chef did a great job checking in on us congratulating us and making sure everything was perfect. We couldn't have chosen a better restaurant for our wedding day. Thank you La Paloma Cafe for a very special day!! We look forward to dinning here again in the future.“
“We came here and were excited that we found a restaurant that had Oaxaca food. Jessica is an awesome Server and was eager to make sure our experience was 5 stars. She recommended our plates and drinks and have to say that everything was top notch. We 100% percent recommend Flor de Maiz. Also ask for Jessica, you will not regret it!!!“
“Wow! We heard about this restaurant. We all were blown away by the depth of flavors and the great service. They were quite busy!It has a large patio with picnic tables and some indoor seating. Order at the counter and they serve you.I had the quesobirria tacos. They were rich with a wonderful jus (weekends only). The chicken taquitos were loaded and very good. My son ordered the Emoladas. Very rich mole sauce slightly on the sweet side. The molecajete was beautiful.Great little salsa bar with some unique salsas. I think we've found a new favorite Mexican restaurant! Parking can be tough on the weekends.“
“Awesome stop for some authentic Mexican food! The Quesabirria will blow your mind, the Nopales Tacos are amazing, and I was not disappointed by anything I ordered! Asada, Pastor, Barbacoa! Yes I want to try everything!Vegetarian options: Had alot of options for vegetarians from vegetable tacos to mushroom and cactus (nopales) substitutes.Parking: No prob!“
“Legendary spot! Cult classic Mexican food. Very casual and a few different locations all over town.Vegetarian options: The rajas burrito is a great vegetarian option!Parking: There are half a dozen spots in their lot and more on the street, but it can get crowded during the busy times!“
“We ordered the mushroom tacos (vegetarian option), chicken tacos and an horchata. They double up on the tortillas for their tacos so by ordering two I ended up with 4! They were really really good and flavorful, the mushroom tacos are substantial and the cheese layer on top was really good and slightly crispy. The chicken tacos are also loaded and flavorful, they reminded me of chicken enchiladas, my toddler loved them so they're kid approved! (& not spicy). Their horchata was amazingly good, not too sweet and not at all grainy. Definitely coming back on my next SB trip. **tip** their parking lot is pretty small, so I would park across the street and walk, SB is a walkable town after all!“
“Stopped in before 9am to try their small burrito special. From 6:30-9 there are an array of breakfast burritos for $5.95 plus tax. This is the perfect size burrito in my opinion. Opted for the egg, bacon and cheese version with hot salsa on the side. Delicious. Would come back to try the chorizo, egg and potato. The service was great, staff super friendly, clean, and cutely decorated. Also it smelled really good walking in. Enjoy!“
“Great service and in a great location. We had their campechana tacos and birria with cheese taco, yum. The campechana tacos was the best from other spots we tried in the area. A bit pricey per taco but the campechana taco made it worth it. I enjoyed the pickled onion on the birria taco and the crispness was perfect.“
“Food is great their is just a heavy set cashier that seems a littleIndifferent to me. Her tone of voice is a little stand offish and body language and I observed her with other custermers right after me which she was super friendly and animated with so it’s just me she appears to not like.Been coming her 18 years“
“Delicious food, great customer service, great prices and hospitality! We will be back on the next family trip. My dad said, "I haven't had such delicious Mexican food in a long time!" I recommend the Quesabirrias; they are delicious! Thank you.“
“?? food was fire!! Warning cash only!!Taco de rajas was cheesy goodness authentic flavor- love the fresh handmade tortillas. Beef taco had generous meat, Tacos come with 2 tortillas, enough meat and rajas to make 2 tacos ??I also had the tamale with vegetables, good veggie and sauce topping.The kids had Quesadillas - they loved them!Hubby got chorizo and adobada /pork.The salsa bar is pretty simple, 2 salsa flavors and some pico de gallo.We'll def be back to try all the other optionsWe arrived around 8:30pm on Monday, there wasn't much line, but it quickly filled in. We got lucky and got a parking spot inside, otherwise you may have to park on the main street or in towards the residents.“
“This place has amazing birria. I had the birria de chivo, in a Mulita and in a Vampiro. The vampiro was my favorite. Service was great. Recommend recommend. Of course expect to pay for what you get. Around $20-30 per person. Only thing you’ll have to work for is parking.“
“We came across Los Arroyos while walking downtown and it's always hard for us to pass up Mexican food so we stopped. We were greeted by several employees as we entered, handed a menu and we ordered. Great selection on the menu and also at the salsa bar. It's self seating and there are plenty of tables/booths, it was busy when we arrived but were served quickly and the food was great. Nothing better than homemade tortillas with your fajitas! The restaurant and restrooms were very clean and we definitely recommend a meal here if you're in the area. We parked nearby on the street but there are many parking structures in the area and Los Arroyo's is just a few feet off of State Street, very easy to find. Enjoy!“
“Best Burrito in Santa Barbara, if not all of California. You have arrived at the intersection of the best produce in the USA and the best recipes of Mexico. Low key, all are welcome, Super (Cucas) consistent menu. Personal preference: Super Burrito: no rice, add guac ?, pollo or carnitas, and Verde sauce. Bring a friend, it's a lot of food.“
“Came in before closing and had an amazing duck mole and a generous carnitas portion. The octopus was tender and delicious as well. The service and staff were all extremely friendly and happy. I have to say as someone who worked in a 3 star Michelin restaurant this is a place that is doing everything right. Can't recommend enough come on by grab a cocktail or two and dinner.“
“Excellent tostada, tacos and burrito for our first time trying this place. Very friendly staff even though I arrived within half an hour of closing. Fresh and delicious chicken, carne asada and salsas. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes - it won't be long!“
“What a great dinner we had!! This place has totally changed for the better! I picked up dinner for my family of 4 and we were all very impressed. I had the chicken enchiladas and they were delicious! Kids had wet burritos with the best verde sauce I have had in town. All the food was fresh, hot and well-prepared. Great job Del Pueblo, we will be back.“
“I was driving back to my hotel a bit disappointed with my most recent dinner. As I am about to pull in I see the truck out of the corner of my eye and man what a find!! The tacos coming from this truck are straight FIRE!! Simple and delicious. Thats how a taco is supposed to be. It was so good I came back the next night.“
“This was my third time ordering the birria grilled cheese special - it is one of the best things I've eaten in Santa Barbara! But, sadly, this past time I ordered it, they didn't seem to grill it long enough (see photo). The cheese wasn't all the way melted and it didn't have a full coating of crispy bread on the outside like usual. The other two times I had it were both phenomenal! The esquites was refreshing and delicious.“
“Wow, what can we not say about Rudy's. We were just in Santa Barbara for our anniversary and did some wine tasting off the strip. We were in serious need of some carbs, if you know what I mean. We walked a couple blocks to Rudy's and were very happy we did. This place was super quaint and delicious.“
“Love it- easy low key and friendly service! I actually love that we got to order our food at the counter- so quick! The gal was really nice, handed us free chips and cups for the salsa bar which included habanero salsa, spicy avocado salsa, and green thick salsa plus limes and lemons, onions and cilantro. We got the huevos- so good, corn tortillas or flour tortillas on the side with one corn tortilla, eggs over easy, runny delicious refried beans and red rice- big portion - have enough for a second meal! The coffee was good too and the patio is dog friendly! They had a grill on the patio too, intriguing“
“Go here. Come early. Get the menudo with Pata (weekends). Add an extra order of house-made tortillas. This place is beast mode. The lengua tacos are TOP SHELF!! And hit the salsa bar hard! Their sauces slap.Kid-friendliness: Always kids inside.Wheelchair accessibility: Parking for wheelchair accessible and easy access to the entire restaurant and bathrooms.“
“Our SB Amigos recommended LPAC to us when we inquired about some nearby comida Mexicana. I called and made a reservation for the 7 of us, and we were seated immediately upon arrival. We sat on the patio, and they brought over two heaters. Our Hostess was so welcoming and sweet. She heard my daughter talking about being chilly and she is the one who arranged for them to bring on the heat. It's a really cute place, and there was a lot of laughter and happy chatter outside. We were given three bowls of salsa and 2 baskets of chips, everyone was pretty hungry so were quite happy for the generous portions. Our server wasn't rude, but he wasn't exactly friendly either. Totally professional, just kind of a serious vibe. The food was excellent, I had chicken tacos. The chicken was delicious, and the rice and beans were absolute perfection! The flavor of the rice was just like home made, with enough savory tomato and very tender rice. I usually pick at the rice and beans when they're on the side. I can not deny, I devoured these! I had a guava margarita and it was wonderful as well. When our server came around again, he asked our daughter, "Are you done, Sweetie?" That was a kind gesture, and put a big smile on her face. Muchas Gracias, and we will be back the next time we're in town.“
“The chorizo breakfast burritos were fresh and cooked to order. But don’t let that deter you if you are in a hurry, the wait was extremely short! The burritos are both the perfect size, as well as the perfect mix of eggs, cheese, potatoes, and chorizo!The salsa verde is absolutely delicious and would highly recommend getting it for your burrito or anything you decide to order from them!We will be coming again! 11/10“
“I'm half Mexican and I grew up with good authentic Mexican food, homemade with tortillas made with a wood board and roller pounding at 4:30 every morning .my point is I know good Mexican food but I've never been to hot for burritos.A girlfriend came over to watch a movie and she said she bought some burritos.I wasn't to thrilled but I thought oh well.she hands me the burrito and I just about dropped it,it was so dam heavy.And it was wrapped up tight.when I bit into the burrito it was the best thing I have in s long long time.I highly recommend it.And Anna the lady on the phone when I called to order next day was the sweetest lady you could ever speak to at the milpas location.sorry for the long story but they earned it.and they deliver.Mark Diaz..“
“YO this place is OFF THE CHAIN in the morning!! Forget Jacks Bagels or a lame gas station.....Grab your donut/breakfast sandwich and morning coffee from these guys.....You will immediately see and smell what I'm talking about when you enter the place. You're welcome.“
“I am giving this place 5 stars for the EXCELLENT SERVICE - the server was awesome and so helpful and accommodating. We had a great experience here. My husband loved his entree- pork shank recommended by the server. HUGE and delicious with homemade tortillas - YUM. Everything was fresh and delicious for him. Fantastic Margarita - my favorite item here along with the salsas from the salsa bar. So my only wish is that there were more vegetarian options. The rice has chicken broth :( so I couldn't do my favorite rice and beans combo. That being said, they did have a nice veggie beans option. I would go back again for the great service, yummy margaritas and salsas either way.“