TOP 10 BEST Restaurants in Santa Cruz - Updated November 2024

"Wait staff and food was excellent. Whenever I am in the area again I look forward to trying other items in the menu. I had the black bean burger and..."

Elizabeth Sutfin

A K

"Shrimp tacos were bomb! Went around 10:30-11am and was able to get seating and had no wait yet at the counter. Staff was really friendly with..."

T Sripun

"Amazing seafood and some of the best views of the water. This restaurant has been my family's go-to for years. The indoor seating was closed, but we..."

Jonathan Vargas

Surfrider Cafe

"One of the best veggie burgers around! They even make their sourdough buns in house. Their fries are incredible too. I liked this place so much that..."

Ilisha

"First time here and this place did not disappoint. Wait person was super nice and attentive. We tried their pumpkin and chocolate shakes..they..."

Jovic Snyder

"Great food and excellent service! Huge portions, so be sure to be hungry when you get here. Both the burgers, fish tacos and BBQ wings are tasty and..."

Madelene

"Great food. We tried the avocado fries, sweet potato fries, the southern fried pickles, the Popeye burger. It was all very..."

Rob Harrison

"I got the chipotle stuffed burger. It comes with a jalapeno poppers stuffed with cheese on top. Just the right amount of kick for my tastes. I got..."

steve mcadams

"Great quality food, nice tap selection, friendly service, this is one of my top place to take friends from out of town. Or when I really just need an..."

Ryan Baker

"The burger and beer were good. They were a 5 star then... No American Express, as I travel and need to use company card this drives me crazy. Still..."

Kevin Marcussen

"Had a great experience here. Service was fast and accommodating, even though it was very busy! Food was tasty with generous portions. We weren't..."

Chris Moth

The Crow's Nest

86/100 (2673 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

"Stopped by for a late lunch and was disappointed that the main dining room was closed until dinner service, however, we were directed to the grill..."

Pamela Henschel Deiab

"We live close so we eat the often. The service is very good they always have enough Servers etc. to take care of the large volume of people that come..."

Colette Browne

"The Crowsnest is a place I always visit when I’m in SC. Came here for dinner Sunday. I had the fish tacos with mango with a nice light herb aioli..."

Lisa Orlando

"Dinner yesterday evening was delicious! We had a large group of ten, and our waiter was awesome!!! Very nice and courteous! I definitely would..."

Jacqueline Roque

"Great casual atmosphere. Was there for the live music, the John Michael Band, at the bar upstairs. Fun great time! Ate appetizers, the fresh made..."

Jane Shaffran

"The food was fantastic, the service terrific, sitting on the patio was relaxing. I'll be eating here..."

Jean Walsh Sabolevsky

"The Crows Nest is an awesome place just to relax on the beach. The clam chowder is excellent It's a must if you visit with a nice glass of..."

Antonino Holmes

"The service was great fast drinks on point food..."

Denise McNeil Hines

"The Crows Nest will always have a place in my heart after many years of working with them and for them I will always patronize their..."

John Motta

"Great view -good service -happy hour is great.. smoked salmon is delicious,& clam chowder is tasty..."

Eva Cantrell

"Great ambience, background music, big screens with variety of sports, the beach view, lighthouse, sunset, tasty food, polite..."

Dan Valcazar

"They have the best salad bar in town! And the view of the harbor.... well you just can’t beat..."

Marci Gomez

Tacos Moreno

Wheelchair Accessible

Lunch

Dinner

Cheap Eats

"Excellent food preparation was done by them, one of the tastiest food that I tasted in this..."

Calvin Alvarez

"Had the Burrito Supreme Al Pastor and it was hands-down the best! Loved the cabbage in it instead of soggy lettuce. The beans and the beans were..."

Kimberley Cuachon Haugh

"Had a veggie burrito and a veggie quesadilla, great taste. My friends had the Al Pastor burrito and they loved it. Would recommend this place. Cash..."

San

"great tacos after playing Delavega disc golf course - cash only - get one of each including the Lengua - was my first time and DANG ! really tender..."

Anthony Pastor

"Every time I think of trying, they are closed. Finally made it early and the carnitas are..."

tom curtis

"Burrito supreme al pastor TOP NOTCH. Cash only. Glad I had..."

Asta Baker

El Jardin Restaurant

85/100 (1559 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

"First time there, the restaurant is beautifully designed and very traditional Mexican. The service was over the top from the hostess, waiter, food..."

Margarita Jimenez

"Best pork nachos, great atmosphere and friendly staff....they never..."

Mari-Jo Hogan

"Great place the workers are fantastic great service and food is awesome . Just loved..."

Taz Pesqueira

"Best Saturday and Sunday brunch ever! Endless mimosas and great food. A favorite in my..."

Brandi Yates

"Fresh, wonderful food, lovely outdoor patio and superb..."

Amy Pinkerman Williams

"Excellent service, great service, beautiful..."

Josefina Acevedo

"Loved the food! They never left me without a mimosa! Will be eating here..."

Nicole Lopez

"Love this place and the owner is amazing too! This is a must try when in Santa..."

Natasha Coulter

"Cute restaurant! Good food and we received excellent service from Manuel who made us feel welcomed. Will come back whenever we are in the..."

Adriana Angel

"I really liked the atmosphere, very pretty inside. I loved the mimosas! Our waiter was really friendly! I just wish the salas was more spicy.. it was..."

angelicaescoo

"Pleasant waiter....Food meh, Michaleda not bad. I've been to 3 different El Jardin Restaurants. So far the Manteca location has been the..."

Dominica Powell

"A economical fantastic lunch menu. Large portion sizes served by a friendly, attentive staff. The fajitas salad is wonderful. Other members at our..."

Harvey Mains

"Great margaritas and fajitas. Caught it on a late Wednesday night and had phenomenal service. I look forward to trying the Santa Cruz IT next..."

Jason Abraham (Jason Abraham Photography)

"The food here is excellent, but the service is superb. When you are inside it feels as if you are off the beaten path. It brought me right back to..."

Kathy Kern

"A cut above most of the Mexican restaurants in town as far as the taste profile. They don't really have vegetarian options though they were willing..."

Sarah

Harbor Cafe

85/100 (1186 ratings)

Homemade Whipped Cream

Country Steak Breakfast

Tacos

Polenta Benedict

Mexican Tofu Scramble

XL Mimosa

Small Pomegranate Mimosa

Wheelchair Accessible

"This is my favorite place to have breakfast or lunch. The food never disappoints and the staff is amazing. It’s become a weekly thing to go here. I..."

Ron Andersen

"Great food and drinks just the wait is long I guess all Entertainers are not all v.i.p ..lol. Just celebrated my B-DAY today there ... Heeeey . Lol...."

Gabriel Alamillo Garcia

"The best food and the best staff, especially Christy, Lindsey and Rocco! Love everything about it. It is a must visit when in Santa Cruz. Bonus~they..."

Donna Riege Deaton

"This place is exceptional!! We have visited this spot a few times and it has been amazing each time even if you have to wait an hour on the..."

Sarena Hollenshead

"Our group was staying down the street so we walked down to the Cafe. It looked crowded but the wait was worth it. Ample portions and cooked just as I..."

Connie Gulick Weiman

"One of my favorite places to eat in Santa Cruz. I am not a young one, but have been treated like family there. Love the food and our service has..."

Kathy La Vars

"This place came highly recommended by a couple we met at a local brewery the night before. The sun was out so we enjoyed a killer breakfast made with..."

Stacy Hildreth

"Get the Cali eggs bennidict, it's the. Great breakfast place. A must have anytime in Santa Cruz. Great service, great food, great..."

Cody Patterson

"Small local restaurant with great food and drinks. Being a small restaurant there is a wait most of the time but on weekends the outside..."

Daniel Coy

"Service and food was excellent. FAST service! Obvious from the large crowd that this is a favorite place. The waiter was more than 5..."

Charlotte Jensen

"Great spot for tasty breakfast. Outdoor seating if you want to bring your pup. Awesome veggie burrito and Cali Benedict. Be prepared to wait... but..."

Dorissa Mitchell

"Amazing staff, phenomenal grub, perfect location! Love this place. Best breakfast burritos of Santa Cruz. But don't just take a rockstars word for..."

Adam Pierce

"Honestly the best breakfast I have ever had. New favorite place!!! They have me for..."

Shane Bettes

"We had a big group and the food was all delivered pretty much together. No one had a bad breakfast and the service was satisfactory! Love eating at..."

Dan Sturdivant

"Breakfast is amazing. Great flavor, portion, and..."

Miguel España

"Harbor Cafe is a great brunch / lunch location. It’s a tiny little spot on 7th Ave near the Harbor. They don’t take reservations and are on a..."

MJ Stearns - Your Local Real Estate Expert

"One of the best option for breakfast, brunch and lunch around Santa Cruz. Great food, great serve and nice atmosphere. Plan ahead to go there and be..."

Cris Vasconcelos

"You know it's a great place if there is a wait with free coffee refills. They also text you when the table is ready. The food was very tasty. Had..."

Richard Frock

"This place was so good! My family ages 2 to 62 enjoyed the menu. The service was impeccable and safe eating..."

Darla Worden

"I have been eating at harbor cafe for about 9 years now. There is so much I love about this place. The atmosphere is 5/5, a relaxed breakfast place..."

William Richard

"Definitely coming back had a great time!! Once I get a second home out here I can definitely walk to get a mimosa at the outside bar that they..."

MARIAH CAVAZOS

Tacos Moreno

"Excellent food preparation was done by them, one of the tastiest food that I tasted in this..."

Calvin Alvarez

"Had the Burrito Supreme Al Pastor and it was hands-down the best! Loved the cabbage in it instead of soggy lettuce. The beans and the beans were..."

Kimberley Cuachon Haugh

"Had a veggie burrito and a veggie quesadilla, great taste. My friends had the Al Pastor burrito and they loved it. Would recommend this place. Cash..."

San

"great tacos after playing Delavega disc golf course - cash only - get one of each including the Lengua - was my first time and DANG ! really tender..."

Anthony Pastor

"Burrito supreme al pastor TOP NOTCH. Cash only. Glad I had..."

Asta Baker

"This tiny hole in the wall is the ultimate in Mexican food. The taste is so unbelievable. It makes your mouth water for more. The quality is..."

larry samonek

Lupulo Craft Beer House

Wheelchair Accessible

Dinner

Lunch

Mid-range

"Fantastic craft beer house in downtown Santa Cruz. The selection of beers is amazing and is rotated regularly. The range of bottles and cans is..."

Nicola Balmain

"This locally owned gem is a craft beer lover's paradise. What started from a small craft beer place has grown exponentially into the best place to..."

Pablo Yale

"Pussy is my favorite color and this place has a killer tap line. Great place and staff. They have bottles too. This place gets 6 facebook stars +..."

Kjetil Berntsen

"One of, (if not the best), craft beer destinations in Santa Cruz area! Great tap list, delightful people, tasty food and energetic fun vibe! And..."

Jackson Wignot

"The food here was delicious! And, if possible, the service was even better. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Special shout out to Ryan and Joan..."

Carla Rebelo

"A must visit in Santa Cruz , great beer , food , shuffle board , good music , happy bartenders and fellow bar mates any time you visit this place...."

Samir Masri

"Great setting and amazing service. The beers on tap were phenomenal - our server was extremely knowledgeable and encouraged us to sample different..."

Mark Schoeffel

"Awesome service. Really too notch servers. Amazing food well crafted and great beer. Great atmosphere! A must visit while in Santa..."

Lisa Van Gelder

"Lupes!! Love that place :D Excellent beers and great friends. Top spot to chill..."

Dimitrious Nichols

"I enjoy going to Lupulos. The staff are awesome and their food is..."

Reyes Noelia

"I had a great IPA and it was fun listening to the Ragtime piano players over the weekend. The food and beer is highly..."

James Kelly

"BEST craft beer place in Santa Cruz area that doesn't brew on-site! Sante and Cellarmaker and Fieldworks!? Oh my! Such a handsome staff. Perfect..."

Cruz Knudson

"Best selection of beers in the area, always somthing on draft and in the fridges that you will NOT find anywhere else. Food is solid, highly..."

Mike Densmore

"The food here is amazing. The bread alone that comes with the meatballs is 5 stars all on its own. (Apparently the starter is 5 years old and her..."

Renée Artigues

"Family friendly spot! Staff is great, beer selection wide and grade A. Food menu revamped and these tacos were..."

Ed-steminator *

"This is a must hit for any beer lover in the area. The best curated beer selection I've seen literally anywhere. The staff, especially Tom, are..."

Alex Staneski

"A great beer and tapas experience. The empanadas were delicious and the beer was great. The staff were super friendly and helpful, highly recommended..."

Wil Michael

"Excellent food, excellent drinks and excellent service. The carnitas tacos were very flavorful and juicy and the accompanying salsas were also great...."

Joey Babcock

"Delicious food (tacos are delicious!!!) and always a great selection of beers and cider. This place has always had a great vibe. Good music, people,..."

Jill Robeson

"Great craft beer. Love the art. Friendly staff. 4 out of 5 because I like to taste the beers on tap before buying, and I could not. That said, the..."

Wendeline de Zan

Aldo's Harbor Restaurant

83/100 (1043 ratings)

Accepts American Express

Free off-street parking

Wheelchair Accessible

"Aldo’s is a wonderful restaurant on the Santa Cruz harbor. Displaced several years ago by seawall reconstruction, they haven’t lost a beat...."

Jim Holtan

"Very good restaurant right near the harbor! We got light appetizers - calamari and coconut shrimp and I had no complaints. It was delicious and if..."

Ethan Mitchell

"Aldos was serving food outdoors before it was the thing to do. A couple friends and I have been meeting here for Sunday breakfast for many years...."

Curtis Postle

"Aldo's is great and a favorite for my family. Just be aware that the main reason to go to Aldo's is the view and ambiance. Nothing happens fast..."

Ben Harmon

"Had the best fish tacos I've ever had. Nice view lots of outdoor seating and great..."

BradleyJay Kolander

"Good site for delicious seafood. normally i would have posted a pic but food looked so good i couldn't stop. definitely worth going back to. the bill..."

R Hudson

"Great old school diner style food located in beautiful yacht marina. Lots of dogs 🐕 playing in the grass. Cool boats ⛵️ to look at. The food..."

Scott Corder

La Cabana Taqueria

83/100 (1751 ratings)

Tacos de Chicharrones

Maya Vegetarian Supper Burrito

Quesadilla

Meat Mexican Sandwich

Beer

Tacos Veggie Tacos

Taco salad

Vegan Tolteca Burrito

Wheelchair Accessible

"I moved to Mexico and found myself longing for La Cabana. I cant hype this place enough, it’s too good to be true. Amazing vegan-veg options with..."

Mckenzie Gannon

"Some of the best tacos of my life! I hate to admit this, but better than any taco I’ve had in Chicago IL or Austin TX, and I love their tacos...."

Gene Ha

"This place is great! I was amazed by all the vegetarian and vegan dishes on the menu here. They even had some permanent menu and rotating options. I..."

Alexa Barnes

"Very nice people run this restaurant. You can sit in or outside or order take out. Fast service! I had a chicken burrito and it was good but not..."

Brig Cooley

Taqueria Los Pericos

83/100 (1354 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

"Two of us came for dinner, it was really busy but food came really fast. Free chips and many different types of toppings. We got four super soft..."

SB

"This place is really good. Jumbo burrito is massive! Very good food. Heard the street tacos were good and pretty spicy. I would definitely eat..."

Gregory Kuhn

"We were in the area for a Spartan Race. Needed to do some food loading the day before. Picked a random Taco spot on the map. Couldn't have picked a..."

Victor V.

"I heard about the hype and thought I’d check it out. It’s great for being in downtown Santa Cruz. Parking was easy. The tacos come packed with..."

Elaine Lee

"There’s a reason this place is packed 100% of the time. Best taco spot I’ve found remotely close to downtown. The salsa bar is bountiful, and the..."

Gnome Chomsky

"California burrito is tasty. Tacos are good chicken and pastor. Chips and salsa were open salsa bar fill up to go. Roxy liked the the Asada and..."

brian “El footeay” foote

"Great Mexican food restaurant. Not much room to dine in, but excellent food. Get in line and wait for it...."

Glen Chandler

Las Palmas Taco Bar

82/100 (4297 ratings)

"Awesome food! Tacos are delicious. The place looks like a total dive but it's always got a line. That's what got us to try it initially, the line out..."

Kirsten Selzer Lake

"Been eating here for 40 years! The best Chili Verde anywhere and the homemade salsa is fire! Soooo good! I found out I can get it to go, in cups,..."

Jill Nichols

"Wonderful Tacos and great outdoor seating if you have a dog with you. Recommended by Siri! Did not disappoint. Very reasonable..."

William Blockie

"We finally tried it and we loved it!! The food was awesome and I loved the Christian music playing in the background. We will definitely be back...."

Cheri Garcia

"Awesome food!!!!!!! Best place around with real authentic..."

Erica Webber

"I love mexican food. They make the best burrito i can honestly recall having. Everything is fresh, even the spices. I just wish they had a franchise..."

Tim Stanton

"This place never disappoints. Good food nice people Love..."

Robert Zwanenburg

"Bien tasty!...highly recommend when in Santa Cruz...."

Ismael Alaniz

"The tacos are so good and the service is always excellent. We come here everytime we are in Santa Cruz...."

Tig Ger

"Best crispy chicken tacos in town and sloshed them down with a cold..."

Stephen P Lear

"Super veggie burrito! Been getting it for 17 years! Sooo..."

Anahata Neuman

"Came to Santa Cruz for a company retreat and somehow to this quaint little restaurant that was definitely decorated by someone who is passionate..."

Karl Castillo

"I saw the sign that said they had famous crispy tacos. I decided to give it a shot. I tried a shredded beef and shredded chicken crispy taco. Both..."

Rick Salgado

"Really good food. I got a combo platter, their crispy tacos are pretty delicious. Nice staff, reasonably priced for the area. Can't wait to come..."

Katie Baunack

"A Santa Cruz tradition. The food is very flavorful and cost friendly. Really enjoyed the chilie Verde plate. Venue is low key and not fancy but chill..."

Adam Campbell

"Best breakfast burrito I have had in my life. Super friendly and funny staff too. Go..."

Theresa Nelson

Restaurante Los Pinos

Wheelchair Accessible

"Veggie buritos with french fries. I think it the only place in town that dose it it's so..."

Arion Cartwright

"Awesome salsa. Good fair priced food, and lots of..."

Dave Horvath

"Wanted to share this, My husband went today to buy me this shrimp plate OMG it's the best ever this place has the best food and service if your in..."

Esmeralda Gaitan Figueroa (Essi)

"Love this place. Locals catching the soccer game, chips crispy, sauces/salsas tasty n spicy, tacos legit. I am an out-of-towner but will hit this for..."

Nathan Mueller

"AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD. Literally amazing the enchiladas, beans, rice were amazing!!!! Service was also so kind! UCSC students get a discount w/..."

Liliana Vazquez

"Javi serves the BEST Chavela around!! His food is just delish!! A definite must when in the Santa Cruz..."

Yessica Frescas

"There is another more popular place around the corner (based on reviews online), but it was packed out and the digital menu was broken so I walked..."

Corey Potter

"In the north end of Pacific Avenue, behind the Clock Tower is this gem. Friendly service and great..."

Sofia Hernandez

Riva Fish House

81/100 (2717 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

"We came quite late in the evening but been served really well. We took fish and chips, crab 🦀 sandwich and calamari with fries. Everything was so..."

Fari Blues

"We live locally; and Rivas is a top favorite. When crab is in season, we are on the wharf A Lot. We go between two places. One for the bread and..."

Donna Owens Lindseth

"Amazing place. I am here on business so I ate at the bar. Great food, great view and great locals. You’ve got to give this place a..."

Holly Padilla

"As usual we ate at the bar. I had my usual calamari while my husband had the prawns. Both were deep fried with fries and a giant sliver of �...."

Sharon Crespo Reneau

"Our new favorite place to eat in the boardwalk!!!!! Had so much food had leftovers. The calimari was great, the cod was great, everything was..."

Shari Collondrez

"Oh my goodness, the service here was just the best! Fantastic people, excellent service and awesome food. I definitely will be coming..."

Tami Bacon

"The first time I was brought here was in 2012 and knew I wanted to return so usually every time I am down near the boardwalk I strive to hit this..."

Shelley Marie Rosenberry

"This is the only place we eat at on the wharf. Best food ever the staff are friendly and the service is quick! � It..."

Beatrice Vasquez

"Lots of tourist traps and this is right on the warf but this was really good. Tilapia Vera Cruz was excellent according to the miss'. I had Philly..."

RW

"Fresh fresh fresh and local. Will definitely..."

Dsb

"Possibly the best clam chowder and calamari I've ever had, and I live near the ocean! Service was fantastic, especially given our group size of 18! I..."

Heidi

"Amazing seafood at unbelievable prices. I had fish & chips for $10 and my husband had cioppino for $15. This will now be our go to restaurant in..."

Alisha Pratt

"Amazing Clam Chowder. Oh my gosh this place is amazing! I always have to stop in here when I come for a visit to the west coast. The sour dough..."

Heatherjill47

"I live in Santa Cruz and I eat here at least once a week!It is the most amazing fish place I know!The Fish and Chips is there best..."

Alice Montro

"Good menu, good service, fair prices....had to wait about 30-35 minutes to be seated....but what do you expect on a Saturday evening. It gave us the..."

D

"Inventive, varied and flavorful menu with good vegetarian options, all at extremely fair prices (unlike most of the other wharf restaurants)...."

Berry

"Excellent chowder! Gotta try the Fish and Calamari. On the water, walking distance to..."

Johnny Gomez

"This is a fantastic restaurant. We stopped in Santa Cruz on the way to Monterey and found this one from a small list of the local seafood..."

Reichen Yoo

"Great location on pier. Nice ambient. I would recommend dining inside if you mind birds (pigeons and seagulls) roaming outside. We had the Shrimp..."

Ananya Chakraborty

"We had dinner here tonight and everything was great, from the service to the food. I had grilled salmon with French fries and a house salad and my..."

Beth Silva

"Stopped in for lunch today and was not disappointed. I had the spicy linguine with clams and veggies, it was delicious. It came with a cup of clam..."

bbrene'

"Really enjoyed the food here. Had the bread bowl clam chowder. You can't beat the views and the prices are reasonable. Our waitress Danielle was..."

Nathan Nicholson

"Nice restaurant! Our waiter was awesome and the food was very good. We dined outside but some areas inside had beautiful views too. It was very busy..."

Adeline CHAUTARD

"Went here for dinner with my beautiful wife and kids for her birthday. I ordered steak and shrimp tacos. My son had salmon sandwich with fries, wife..."

bay area cosplay bac

Taqueria Santa Cruz

81/100 (1667 ratings)

Burrito and Salsa and Chips

"Great fulfilling comfort food. Well made, very delicious and fatty. Fair pricing too and some very enticing and exotic options on the menu too (beef..."

Ziv Weissman

"A small eatery with really good meats and comfort food. I came here for my fix of papas y huevos with some rice and beans. Simple and to the point,..."

Ayesha Zahid

"Delicious food. Huge portions. Great value. Staff are super friendly. Restaurant was clean. Highly..."

Jennifer Jasmine Venkataya

"While the shop doesn't seem like much, I had the best torta of my entire life here. Creamy sauce. Unbelievable bread. The perfect amount of spice...."

LaLee Lo

"Was very good food ask for a burrito bowl with no rice was made keto..."

Brenda Driver

"Such an amazing lil spot. So thankful we stumbled upon this joint. The food and crew were terrific. Can’t wait to come..."

Seth B

Dolphin Restaurant

Wheelchair Accessible

"My first visit because they serve Manhattan Clam Chowder, many others don't . Our waiter very polite and attentive. I split a meal with my friend..."

Virginia Yamamoto

"We have eaten two days for dinner at the Dolphin, great food, great terras and our waiter Jeff is a good..."

Sjaak Betjes

"I hadn't been here in years, but had great memories coming here gowing up. I brought my family here on Monday night and had an amazing meal. The..."

Jennifer Thurston

"I hadn't been here in years. When I was younger, I'd come with my family (seemed like 3 times per week) and always got a hamburger. Everyone started..."

Cyd Haulter

"Our experience was wonderful the staff was so friendly the food was delicious and whoever does the windows I and cleans the patio works his butt..."

Teri Butler Varner

"The clam chowder was the most delicious than I never ate. The service was really efficient and friendly. My family and I are planning to come back..."

Martha Rocha

"Great food, service good and such a beautiful..."

Jill Petersen Travis

"The food is awesome and the view at the end of the peer is beautiful! I make sure to stop by every time I'm in..."

Tony Trujillo

"Just had breakfast, very good, great service and awesome..."

Toni Thomas

"Great Clam Chowder and great music!!! An oase of rest when you come from the..."

Ilonka Betjes

"This seemed like a nice place but a bit dirty. The tables weren't wiped down properly and we were bombarded with pigeons(not the staff's fault). I..."

Emilia Florean

"Great food, great price. I ordered the clam chowder bread bowl and the fish and chips. The clam chowder was delicious, perfectly seasoned and quite..."

Kristina P

"Very unassuming from the outside, but the views are beautiful and this was probably the best meal I ate on my trip. I had the crab cake Benedict for..."

Madeline Markus

"It’s great to enjoy a good walk down the wharf then end to have lunch at Dolphin’s. Great chowder, calamari and fish and chips👊🏼. It’s..."

Danny Duarte

"Great food but a bit pricey. Clam chowder bread bowl was delicious. Lots of birds waiting for food to fall on the ground some even sit on the table..."

Alice Blancas

"Chowder bread bowl for the win, cant go wrong. But what was even better than that were the signature fish tacos, wow some of the best i've ever had..."

Sean Reyes

"Excellent food! Peaceful and relaxing atmosphere in the morning. Service was a little slow to get started, but was great afterward. Crab Benedict was..."

Matthew Malnar

"Typical wharf restaurant. Food is good. Service is above average. We did enjoy the fish plates, sole and sand dabs. Saw burgers go by, looked..."

Bradley Nakaji

Suda

80/100 (1510 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

"Great quality food and excellent cocktails! I wish the menu had a few more choices, but overall I was very happy with what we got. I had the salmon..."

Amy Dahlberg

"Had the fried artichokes and fish tacos. Both were good, fried artichokes we're great. Patio allows dogs! Service was great and they have extensive..."

James Kennedy

"This was my 1st time at Süda. The food was fabulous. I had the salmon special and it was one of the best salmon meals I've had in a long time! The ..."

Tonya Souza-Large

"Wow. What a find this place is. My group had an amazing dinner there, with everyone having a reason to brag about their order. I got the New York..."

Atheer Khan

"Had a nice dinner on Tuesday. Taco Tuesday! This was the place to be seeing as it was so busy. We sat at the bar and the bartender Danny was amazing!..."

Random lee

"Good flavorful food, generous portions, modern vibe and decor, good service but felt a little rushed. The drinks were delicious...."

Aimee McNally

Hula's Island Grill And Tiki Room

80/100 (3005 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

Johnny's Harborside

Accepts American Express

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

"Visited Johnny's rather last minute with 9 of us. They accommodated us in about 30 minutes even though they were packed. Laura was our waitress. ..."

Shelley Davidson Cummings

"Great service and good food! A gem place on a Friday night especially for locals. A server named Nina has exceptional customer service! She can make..."

Fredrick Wing

"Excellent seafood, perfect, professional service and a lovely unpretentious neighborhood vibe. The best Creme Brulee I have ever had, anywhere. Don't..."

Susan Pemble

"Just wow!! Best meal I’ve had in months!! Crab cakes were amazing, steak was cooked perfectly and melted in my mouth. And those mini desserts will..."

Sheri Lunamoré

"Super lekker gegeten , voorgerecht was verassend lekker en hoofdgerecht was top . Jammer alleen dat je nadat je je vork neerlegt voordat de wijn op..."

Eric Bartels

"Love this local spot. Friendly staff, fresh food, great views and parking is typically great. Fish tacos or Fish n Chips are always a great option...."

Jen Lorenzini

"Superb food, excellent drinks, an amazing view and happy staff. My favorite seafood restaurant in Santa..."

Payson Mcnett

"First time at Johnny’s, very friendly wait staff, good service, delicious food and a wonderful view over the..."

Debbie Macdonald

"Love this place. Excellent food, cocktails and fun atmosphere. My family visiting from San Diego were very impressed and loved taco..."

George Daniel DeLeon

"Hard to feed a family of five well, until you go to Johnny’s. Calamari, beef sliders, chicken sliders, chicken wings & margaritas all at happy hour..."

Tammy Giulian

"Amazing service, amazing views, amazing calamari and fish bites and great crab cake! Potato skin was good and the margarita was ok (never had one..."

Jub Jub

"Loved the clam chowder, salmon burger and dessert bites! We went for happy hour and ended up staying for dinner, went home stuffed and with plenty of..."

Sheila Grammond

"The food was pretty good. Drinks were good. We decided to come here because Phil's Fish Market was way too busy and crowded. The garlic bread was..."

Steve Sabu

"Clam chowder was super delicious! The food was fresh… but very less options to choose from… The place altogether has great service and comes with..."

RUTUJA GIRMAL

"Really a perfect treat. Fish right off the boat and onto our plates, into our mouths, now swimming in our belly’s and the fish seems to have had a..."

Cyclistlaw Motorcycle and Bike Crash Attorneys

"A lovely seaside setting to enjoy the excellent offerings at Johnny's Harbor. Fresh fish prepared straight from the dock, "undressed" or "decked out"..."

Lisa Greco

"WOW - What amazing service from a server, Michelle plus kitchen manager, Greg. I found Johnny's Harborside menu to be exactly what we needed due to..."

Joanne Day

"Views of Santa Cruz marina. Good Service, good food. Clam chowder soup was surprisingly flavorful and zesty. The tangy salsa with fish tacos elevated..."

Anu Potnis

"Nice view and exceedingly eager service. Wasn't crazy about the food, but that has more to do with my Croatian expectations of seafood than the..."

Ida Martinac

Taqueria Michoacan

"Love this place! I especially love the shrimp burrito but everything on the menu is delicious and..."

Cheri Byrd Hughes

"Taqueria Michoacan is a taqueria on Eastcliff and 15th. Great place to grab some food before heading down to the beach, dining in or takeout. My..."

MJ Stearns - Your Local Real Estate Expert

"Incredible! They've captured what the perfect pescado burrito should be and consistently deliver the absolute tastiest, every time. My favorite..."

Logan Stribling

"I've lived in Santa Cruz for a while now, and no matter where I go, or what I try, I always end up coming back here. Taqueria Michoacan is without a..."

Orion

"The Greek philosopher Plato popularized and defended the Theory of Forms. This philosophical framework contends that the physical world we interact..."

Matthew Klope

"I LOVE this place! The food is fantastic, the best Mexican food in the bay, fight me on it! Parking is in back. Be respectful, love is made into the..."

Sam Cassidy

El Palomar

79/100 (1374 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

"Went to dinner here for my birthday on Friday 11/17 (party of 4). We got there about 8pm, and were seated originally at a table that was gonna he too..."

Constance Lynn

"This place is delicious. Had the red snapper taco; it began with a handmade tortilla, refried beans, sauteed red snapper, finely chopped cabbage and..."

Mariella Romero

"Service was great!!! They were unexpectedly very busy and my server was still very attentive to our table. The food was outstanding My 6 year old..."

Carolyn Cornaggia

"There is no better Mexican food in our area. Everything is perfectly fresh and yummy. The service can't be beat and the staff is so easy on the..."

Rebecca Hanson

"Excellent food, amazing people and an awesome family oriented establishment! Love this place!..."

Emanuel F. Barros

"we drive every 2 years from Montreal canad to santa cruz... and eating at your restaurant is on our To do LIst.... we love the place and the..."

Jessy Ann

"Great food, great service , the atmosphere is great, sat in patio , they have TV's outside, very..."

Javier Magallon Jr

"It was Sunday afternoon. No wait. Large booth for the five of us. The waitress, Sarah, was very friendly and hospitable. The food was excellent!..."

Lorenzo John Mares

"Our go to spot for Mexican food downtown. Everything is good. Great service. Excellent bar..."

Toby Gray

"This review is based almost purely on the delicious chips and salsa! To die for. I was only in for a drink but got the free chips and salsa which I..."

Deborah Claire

"Best carne asada I've had almost anywhere. So tender and juicy. Perfect wrapped in house made corn tortillas. Friggen' yummy..."

William Charles Jeffries III

"It's beautiful and naturally lite and a fun place for lunch the food was..."

Carolyn George

"Had dinner with my wife food was good. I had Joe's dinner plate and it was screaming..."

Alex Sobreyra

"I was waiting for my girlfriend to have dinner with her and I finally got to try that El Camino Real Don Julio Tequila it was good but it's not worth..."

Steven Shaw

"My son, daughter and I had dinner at the El Palomar this evening. I had the Chicken Tortilla Soup which is absolutely delicious. The best I’ve had..."

Deloria ManyGreyHorses

"Amazing Mexican food! Tried their Jose platter! Awesome! Tried their Carne Asada Ranchera! Awesome! And their chimichanga! Awesome! I always come..."

Richard Lee

"I remember when El Palomar was the happenin place, the bee’s knees, the destination for the best Mexican food in town. With that high vaulted..."

Elija Bandersnatch

"All of the staff were very attentive to us. Their food was some of the best I've ever had. The chips, dinner plates (seafood tostada, seafood..."

Marisela Gutierrez

"This place is great! The Horachata and Margaritas (strong...lol) were delicious. The customer service was great! We ordered burrito, sopes (different..."

Carlos Pineda

"I have not had Mexican food this favorable in a while. Service was great everyone was friendly. Had the choice of eating on patio or inside. I had..."

Vickie Pattillo

"Would definitely return for the food for sure. We had the carne asada ranchera plate and it was cooked really well. Well seasoned too. They have..."

Jessica Campos

Cafe El Palomar

78/100 (1307 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

"My favorite place for huevos rancheros. Best breakfast anywhere. Love to share Leo’s Special at dinner time. Go you won’t be disappointed. Staff..."

Matthew Cocchi

"Good food and drinks! Even though they were still serving breakfast they still managed to provide Matt with his lunch request; a vegetarian burrito..."

Mike Cruz

"We enjoyed everything great shrimp cocktail, chile relleno, carnitas plate and peach margarita. I definitely recommend this place, fresh corn..."

Melissa Tita Flores

"Love this place!! Make a trip every once in awhile just to eat here. Beautiful scenery and Great food. One of My..."

Yvonne Bernard Gilgo

"Knockout view of our beautiful coastline🌊...food consistently fresh and tasty🌶...and service wonderful ...efficient and..."

Becky Gibson Hughes

"Love their happy hour. Love their tortilla soup. Love their shrimp burrito dinner plate. Love their salsa. Love their friendly staff. Love the..."

Nikki Frediani

"Always a fun place, plenty of locals. Small bar tho seats like 6 ppl. It’s right on the..."

Christina Green

"They have uncle Dave's on tap!!! Great service and great food with a gorgeous..."

Mary Cardoza

"Food is always consistently good. Service can be spotty seems like they don’t have enough..."

Deb Rimmer

"Very good place to eat. The service was great and so was the food. Had a couple of aquariums. Very nice place to..."

Susan Andjames Turner

"Great food, Fun bar and a wonderful staff! Monday night hang..."

Tammy Philbin

"Upon waking in I was greeted immediately. Extremely helpful and nice staff. I’ve tried a few things. Cheese enchiladas Chicken enchiladas Chili..."

Lord Van Cannon

"05/01/2022 It was a Sunday and lots of people at the beach. I didn't want to give up my free parking spot in front of the beach so I decided to..."

Undercover Astrology

"Its always a nice day to sit at Cafe El Palomar and have a margarita and ceviche! they have THE BEST views, large portion sizes, and awesome drinks...."

The C Group BHGRE

"We LOVE this place. The food, service, cleanliness, and value is always superior. The views of the beach, lighthouse, sand volleyball whether sitting..."

Lana Cracchiolo

"Been coming here for the last ten years, great food, kid friendly and good service. Chile verde burritos wet are my favorite. I also love the..."

Lynn Brown

"Great view, great service, vast menu with options for everyone. The tortillas are home made and totopos are the best anywhere. Highly..."

C T Shea

"Over all, customer service and hospitality was okay. The servers were great when asking about refreshments and chips and salsa. Our server was very..."

Tania Enriquez

"Very delicious and plenty of food. Good service, great..."

Byron Lima

Seabright Social

78/100 (1791 ratings)

Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich

Grilled Veggie Sandwich

Ala Carte Street Taco’S –7

Calamari with Chili Lime Mignonette

The Popeye with Mushrooms

Fish Tacos

Naked Wings

Tapas

Pinsa Pizza with Marinara & Mozzarella

Wheelchair Accessible

"I went to here the other day for an early dinner/happy hour. In the picture we have two garden salads with green goddess dressing and added salmon,..."

Loren Morse, REALTOR

"Came here on a whim as we were on a weekend walk. Stopped in for an early dinner and the place was really busy outside. We had our dog with us and..."

Mike B.

"Seabright social is a fun spot to grab some brews and food while waiting out the rain or just hanging out in Santa Cruz. They don’t have many..."

Jes The Foodie

"Haven't been here since they became "Social" and was nearby today so I stopped by. Got there mid-afternoon so seating was easy. Service was great! He..."

Mark “Jake” Jessen

"So glad that my favorite neighborhood spot was able to reopen under new ownership. The interior has a different, cosy vibe. The patio is where I..."

Veronica Zaleha

"We love this place! We live in the Bay and every time we come to Santa Cruz we have lunch here. We had a little trouble with the waitress both times..."

Madison Copple

Planet Fresh Gourmet Burritos

"It doesn’t look like much on the outside, but the shop is so cute! The burritos are giant and some of the best I’ve had, at a fraction of the..."

Annalyssa Brown

"My new favorite burrito place in Santa Cruz by far! I'm a local and can't believe I just found this little gem. Wasn't too adventurous, just got the..."

Kimberly Kaupert

"I haven't been to Planet Fresh Burrito in years and I'm so glad I came back! I had a pork burrito bowl with black beans lettuce and salsa and it was..."

Susanne Millar

"I liked Planet Fresh before they closed sometime ago, but now its even better. I'm blown away by how could their pork is. I got my mom a pork super..."

Jesse Cummings

"Always delicious each time I go. Always get a BBQ pork burrito, but those specialities are fire as..."

mitch mcmahon

"My favorite Mexican-fusion place. Thai burrito is the..."

S A

Firefish Grill

75/100 (1452 ratings)

Wheelchair Accessible

"My wife and I both had the Baby Spinach Salad and it was absolutely great! The view was great! The staff and service was great! Would recommend..."

Matthew Quesada

"The snapper was absolutely delicious and the service (Carmen) was fantastic. With a gorgeous view and full bar, this place is a must when visiting..."

Heather Mechling Eckels

"I only go for the abalone � Their specials always sound so great! Because there was only 2 of us, we were seated right away. Last night, my..."

Cassie Hart Arellano

"Excellent, friendly service and amazing food. I had scallops Monterey and the dish was to die for. My husband had he halibut and it looked delicious..."

Cyn Graves

"My husband, father & I went for lunch today, The service and food were both excellent. I had the crab cakes which are the best I have ever had. My..."

Judy Busalacchi Bekker

"My favorite seafood restaurant in Santa Cruz. They have always been great, the food is amazing, and they are nice to my kids. The Rockefeller is my..."

Nicholas Michael Ranger

"Amazing crab cakes and risotto was absolutely delicious!!! From appetizer to cocktails to entree it was all magnificent! I used to live here I now..."

Theresa Wiles

"Great company, Awesome weather, great view. During the week not so crowded and we got right in and had a cute waitress that was pretty attentive ...."

Jarrod Kane

"Best place to have a romantic dinner in Santa Cruz. Food and service were excellent. Having the ocean as your backdrop made it even more appealing...."

Vince Tuzzi

"Best salmon dish (I'm pretty sure) I've ever had. Awesome service, great view of the ocean. Top..."

Mark Crutchfield

"My husband and I were looking for this restaurant for one hour and nobody could help us. So, finally we are here and they did a good quick service...."

Inna Nechypurenko

"Awesome fish dishes of course Sand Dabs! Wonderfully accompanied with a Chardonnay caper sauce! I sit at the bar where the drinks come fast...."

Bruce B

"Overall, we all liked it. We ordered Grilled Seabass topped with lobster sauce & served with mashed potatoes and spinach on bottom . We also ordered..."

Glamagirl

"Excellent food and service. My husband got fish stuff which he loves and I go chicken. Excellent on..."

Bernice

"The dinner specials were awesome. Mom had tender cooked albalone, big sis had a perfectly seared ahi, little sis a moist and flavorful stuffed..."

Kim B

"Enjoyed our meals. My wife and I had lunch here at a recent trip. My wife is from the East coast, and rarely likes the Crab Cakes she gets in the..."

JB

"Best on the Wharf!. Had the steak and rockafeller prawns, very good. Service was great and the place looks nice. The new kitchen was a cool idea. Way..."

Bryan

"Loved it!!!!!!. My family and i enjoyed firefish!! chowder is the best!!! i had mesquite grilled salmon with hollandaise sauce.maybe the best i've..."

Charlie

"We were celebrating our anniversary here again. It's a nice place to be for special occasions. Restaurant is located Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and..."

Amir Virani

"Well made cocktails. The food was fabulous. So beautifully presented and the flavors amazing. I had the 5 coarse special; crusted chicken over..."

Margaret Lund

"Great fish and chips - I especially like the mixed seafood platter with fried prawns,scallops, calamari and fresh fish. Visit and say hi to the sea..."

Lainey Cameron

Taqueria Vallarta

Wheelchair Accessible

"Plenty food and quick service. Tacos & the asada dishes seem to be their specialty with hefty meat servings. Flavor is ok, ordered the enchilada. The..."

Anabel Hernandez-Mejia

"One of the things I miss terribly in Colorado is good Mexican food. There are many good taquerias in Santa Cruz, but this is my favorite. ..."

Robert Bixby

"Always great food. Fresh and served quickly. The homemade salsas are..."

fuh kinay

"All around great food options that is truly affordable. This is a stable for the local community and also a great spot for visitors out of town. The..."

miniqooper

"Amazing tacos!! The shrimp, al pastor and the carne asada was soo good. And definitely filling! Gotta eat them quick for take out, or it gets soggy...."

Dhanurja De Silva

"This was the best burrito (I'm a vegetarian) I have ever eaten. And it just got better from there... The salsa at the bar, the chips...just..."

Shai Plonski

"Al Pastor and Fish Tacos are soooooo delicious! Carne Asada and Grilled Pollo are not bad too. Definitely coming back..."

K Min

"The food here is excellent. This is undoubtedly the best taqueria experience in California. You order at the counter and they bring your plate to..."

Michael Moran

El Hermoso Mar

Wheelchair Accessible

"WONDERFUL GUACAMOLE the guacamole made my heart explode with joy. Maybe it was because I was very hungry, maybe it was because there was a myriad of..."

Nathaniel Antonick

"Authentic Mexican food right across from the beach and boardwalk. Prices average to any restaurant. They were very friendly and nice atmosphere...."

Natalie Lugo

"Decent food, lots of vegetarian options. Tastes good, and more genuine than any of the Boardwalk food, so logically gets really crowded on summer..."

Zoe Nicoladis

"Good food. Took forever to order, but food come out quickly. Small out door seating, lots of indoor seating as well. They serve beer as..."

N DB

"Really really great tasting food i tried a little of everything in the 3 days was there burritos especially the fish WOW damm..."

Francesso Olivia

Ideal Bar & Grill

70/100 (3744 ratings)

Baby Back Ribs Monday All Day

New England Clam Chowder

Grilled Fish Tacos GF Until 4pm Only

Clam Chowder

Gilroy Garlic Fries

Eggs Benedict

Berrilicious Lava Flow

Stuffed Salmon

Toasts

Calamari

Roasted Garlic & Brie

Ceviche

Calamares

Clam Chowder Breadbowl

Wheelchair Accessible

"Great food & customer service from the servers. Not so much from the young lady that seats you. Phenomenal view & beautiful day to eat on the deck...."

Lou ggle

"Great food! Went here with nearly 10 co-workers and we all had a blast! You have to try the clam chowder in a bread bowl, they are known for it! We..."

Kyle Lowman

"The food was amazing, the service was fantastic! We only waited about 5-10 minutes for a table. Once we were sat, our server was quick! She took our..."

Katie Roberts

"I come here sometimes on my days off to have a drink 🍸 and some good food. The staff is friendly and the service here is typically good. There's..."

Davisu Echo

"Food was tasty, service was good as well. Stuffed salmon and the mexican mimosa were absolutely delicious. A little pricey, but its seafood on the..."

Tabitha Paige

"We ordered the grilled garlic and brie charcuterie board as well as the fish tacos. Both were solid choices, especially the tacos. Market price for..."

Marx Moley

"I would give it a 4 Star since all of our food came out cold but the clam chowder made me give it 5 stars. This has some of the best chowder I've..."

Brad Hodges II

"The service was good and the ambiance was nice. We ordered the Brie cheese plate with garlic and was happily surprised by the presentation (pic was..."

Samala Bernier

Las Olitas Cantina & Grill

70/100 (1000 ratings)

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