Restaurants in Santa Cruz

“Mad Yolks gets Mad Props!

This was by far one of the best breakfast sandwiches I have ever had. All of the ingredients tasted very fresh & the brioche bun was extremely soft and fluffy! We also ordered a side of Dirty Tots which did not disappoint; the Japanese curry and Sunny-side-up egg combo was unique and delicious. I highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for a quality breakfast sammy.”

“This place is amazing and worth driving from San Jose or wherever you are in the Bay Area to this spot in Santa Cruz. There are other Brazilian places, but this place has the food. The appetizers are amazing. The salad was wonderful and fresh and the steak cooked perfectly.”

“11th hour coffee is the best in town! Small batch quality direct trade coffee roasted with love. Happy to support a local growing business in the community.”

“great service! delicious, authentic Oaxacan food. We will go back!”

“They make the best ice cream in town, with over 100 flavors to choose from”

“Vim is amazing. My girlfriend and I have been several times and it's always phenomenal. The menu is creative and the flavors are always incredible. Keep it up chefs!!!”

“I love Pana!! It’s a hidden gem of the Central Coast. Serving up amazing Venezuelan food, the arepas are so good! If you’ve never tried an arepa you are missing out… I recommend the Reina Pepiada (shredded chicken, avocados, and mayo) or El Tiburon (shrimp, mozzarella, avocado) and of course an order of delicious fried plantains! I discovered the Pana Food Truck at the CSUMB campus (they are most often in Santa Cruz) and I was pleased to find that they have a location at the SAP Center in San Jose. Highly Recommend!”

“Very good food and amazing customer service.”

“they went out of there way and made me crab egg benedict when I asked about it not knowing it had been a mother's day special. so nice!!! and it was delicious. thankyou!”

“The food overall tastes good, but there are some parts that are a bit disappointing. Still, vegetable dishes such as bok choy and eggplant salad are delicious. I think it would be better if the fried rice was stir-fried a little more.

The Sichuan style chicken wings were spicy and really delicious.
The fried shrimp was good and the vegetables were also good.
The service leaves something to be desired, but the food is
I think it's good overall and good for family gatherings.

but,
I think it is wrong to give a bill including a tip even though there are not 6 people. Tips are fair when you receive good service.
It is supposed to be paid, but I think there are cases where people who don't know end up paying tips. Of course, you mentioned it when you gave the bill, but there are cases where you end up tipping without knowing, so please be careful.”

“Always so good and the owners are really nice to my dog and I. I have no problem suggesting this place to anyone. Every time I have the person has been very thankful”

“Had an absolutely stellar burger here today and the carrot cake was gorgeous. Great vibes in this place and the ladies running it have wonderful energy.It's so rare to find healthy, tasty and fulfilling plant based food at this standard.Needless to say, I'm looking forward to returning.Highly, highly recommended!”

“Had some time to kill and stopped in for a pleasant surprise. Delicious coffee and friendly, smiling employees made the morning far more pleasant, I'll go back if I'm in the neighborhood...

Parking: If you're there at the right time parking shouldn't be hard to find but definitely avoid Fridays and Saturdays.”

“Staff is always friendly and the food is great! Thank you”

“I am so glad we tried this delicious restaurant. We were hesitant because we already had favorite sushi bar, but I think this might be our new go to, especially for a quick dine in meal or takeout. My parents, who are not easily impressed, said the fish rolls were fresh and delicious. I was so excited by all of the vegan options I hardly knew what to choose, but all three vegan rolls that I shared with my family were excellent. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. The space is tiny, so it isn't ideal for a big group or a fancy date, but it was clean and inviting.

Vegetarian options: They have rolls with vegan fish and cream cheese as well as more traditional vegetable based options.”

“Amazing! That’s all that needs to be said. See you next visit!”

“What a delightful surprise! I’ve lived in Santa Cruz county for over 30 years and explored this area extensively, but it wasn’t until my devoutly Catholic friend and I were walking West Cliff & she said “let’s get coffee at St Joseph’s!” And I thought maybe they served free coffee and donuts in the back of the chapel or something. Tucked in the back of the parking lot is a lovely space with an outdoor patio and a full service coffeehouse. The people working there are friendly and warm and the coffee is outstanding. There are other great specialty beverages and various pastries and snacks. We got our beverages and split an absolutely divine (see what I did there?) banana butter cake. On a cold day, one can inside on a big velvet sofa in front of a fireplace. Wonderful! I love that - so far - only locals know about it. For the merchant’s sake, however, I hope they can stay in business because I will be a regular guest!”

“Every time we drive over from San Jose we eat there.”

“My wife and I live a mile and a half away, but we often walk down to Steamer Supply just to get one of their awesome egg burritos and pastries. This is a hole-in-the-wall place with picnic tables scattered about outside, located in a large park and adjacent to Steamer Lane, so you can enjoy the ocean and surfer views while you're there.

Kid-friendliness: Steamer supply is located in Lighthouse Field, surrounded by paths and open fields, so there's lots of room for kids to run around and explore.”

“Delicious food and fantastic for larger events. We had our pre-wedding gathering in Capitola Beach and were looking for a food truck to cater for us. We ordered a TON of tacos through them and they were amazing. Everything was so organized also which made it easy for us. Highly recommend! :) Thanks again The Real Taco!”

“Great service, great food”

“The staff is amazing! The food is amazingly fresh and flavorful. Hands down this Restaurant was a huge highlight of our vacation. Thank you for an awesome dinner, and making us feel right at home!”

“11th hour coffee is the best in town! Small batch quality direct trade coffee roasted with love. Happy to support a local growing business in the community.”

“I love Pana!! It’s a hidden gem of the Central Coast. Serving up amazing Venezuelan food, the arepas are so good! If you’ve never tried an arepa you are missing out… I recommend the Reina Pepiada (shredded chicken, avocados, and mayo) or El Tiburon (shrimp, mozzarella, avocado) and of course an order of delicious fried plantains! I discovered the Pana Food Truck at the CSUMB campus (they are most often in Santa Cruz) and I was pleased to find that they have a location at the SAP Center in San Jose. Highly Recommend!”

“The best breakfast joint in town ?

Been coming to Zachary's since 1984. The dishes are consistently so good, the ambiance is Santa Cruz, what can I say, and the service is amazing.”

“This place has some really delicious drinks and great food. I also love how dog friendly it is. I came back twice in a weekend.”

“Creative menu and great atmosphere”

“I really enjoy coming here. It's a little out of the way for me, but I stop by when I can. I mostly go for coffee, but I also like the dumplings, noodles and breakfast burritos.”

“We came here as a family of five and the staff were very accommodating for our group. The staff were wonderful and so enjoyable to talk with. There were plenty of vegan options and we enjoyed all the food. The flavors were incredible and everything felt fresh. The mushroom curry was one of our favorites! I would highly recommend coming here.”

“My husband and I had a great breakfast I got a breakfast burrito and a frittata. Both were very good and big great food for a great price and the customer service was amazing.”

“Very good service and welcome (sometimes a little feeling of being "rushed" - people are waiting to be seated). Courteous, smiling.
Atmosphere: an American diner feel but more... cozy, subdued.
As for gastronomy: very correct (it's not starred, but it's tasty and plentiful).
Finally the price... for us Europeans it seems excessive - but I think that for Anglo-Saxons it is within the norm $115 for two. Without wine, and with shared starter+dessert.”

“This place is great! Really helpful service, the food is also delicious. Love the enormous selection of turkish delights. I got a rose and pistachio one (I'd never tried Turkish Delight before, just always remember it from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe) and it had just the right amount of sweetness. This is a great lunch spot, and good parking.”

“Best service and food in Santa Cruz county!!!!!!”

“Wow!!! The flavor of the food reminds me so much of my favorite Mexican restaurant when I was a kid. The food is absolutely delicious! I’m very impressed. The chips are really good too.
I got the two item combo plate with a carne asada taco and chicken enchilada. The taco was my favorite.

I live in San Jose but am definitely driving back here just for the tacos!!!!

Thank you!!!”

“A great place to eat, shop, and walk around. It’s also home of the Diversity Center, Santa Cruz County’s LGBTQ+ Center.”

“Delicious fish tacos and salad. Generous amount. The bartender is terrific and makes the best Mexican coffees. The service is outstanding and I highly recommend the Point for your eating enjoyment.”

“Great scone mixes - even my BIL now likes scones! Very fast delivery (I live out of state) for mixes. The Lemon Curd is delicious - on top of scones or licked off of a spoon.”

“Been there couple times now. Food is very good & staff friendly. View at sunset is amazing & constantly changing from the rotating floor. Will definitely choose Makai again!”

“The best Taqueria in town! Definitely overall service and the food 20/10 ! The team is beyond the amazing. The ambiance is chill and good for family too! This is one of my fav. Un taco crispy al pastor con aguacate y no habichuelas ! Enjoy! Thanks Guys”

“A very delicious but reasonable price Chinese Restaurant. The regional flavor is mainly Cantonese taste that is what we prefer. Recommended.”

“Great atmosphere . Great food. Great servicev”

“The Service is great !!! Beef taco is wonderful :) Also they do an American breakfast if you desire.Everything iv had is really good !!!”

“Just a wonderful time popping into this pleasant cozy establishment and enjoying some sips. It is a “tasting room” setup, specializing in “flights”, but can accommodate a little off the main fare if the tasting selection is not to your preference. But again, it is a tasting setup, not a wine bar, so the amount is limited & bottles available for purchase (at a reasonable price I might add) cannot be consumed on premises. So if you find yourself shopping downtown and want to get off you feet for a little while and enjoy a nice selection of wine for tasting, walk a couple blocks over from Pacific on Church and I’m sure you’ll enjoy their selection and the friendly staff.”

“First time there. By far the best pizza I’ve had in a long time. I highly recommend it.”

“Awesome”

“Such a good experience the past few times I’ve visited. Tonight really topped them all. Ernesto was working and greeted my girl and I as soon as we came in. He talked to us about the limited time collectors meal going on and was very friendly. Great attitude and service. I’ve genuinely never felt more appreciated at mcdonald’s it’s crazy. Thank you for being so kind and making not just us, but everyone feel welcome (i heard him greeting and saying goodnight to other people). On top of all that, despite it being fairly busy, the food was great. Like seriously the best mcdonald’s i’ve had in a while ! ^_^”

“It's McDonalds. The service was a tad slow but they were very busy. No drive thru here but I don't do drive thru anyways. I ordered on the app and had it brought out to my car. Quarter pounder with cheese extra pickles and no onions and a fish sandwich. Both were cooked perfectly.

Parking: Free parking lot but not that large”

“una de mis comidas faboritas”

“so delicious! everything we got was amazing especially the Quesabirria Tacos with consome!”

“We visit here whenever we're in Santa Cruz! The vegetarian options are many. The egg salad was good (the rye it came on, amazing) and the Chicken Artichoke (breaded) was really good. Half was enough for one person - in my opinion. We got two other veg sandwiches that were also good.

Vegetarian options: Soups, sandwiches, etc. Plenty of veg options.”

“Little on the pricey side but, what isn’t these days? At least here you feel like it’s worth it eating out - because their food is delicious!

One of my favorite Indian spots period, not just in Santa Cruz. Can’t miss with just about anything on the menu but I typically go Butter Chicken and Palak Paneer with some rice and garlic naan and my partner and I will happily get a couple of meals out of it, each. Now if they’d only add like a Lamb Saag or something to the menu - we’d rejoice! But everything in the current lineup seems solid.

Namaste is a goated Santa Cruz establishment - give them all your money.”

“Always vegetarian and sometimes vegan. So much choice :-) The almond soft serve ice-cream is the best vegan ice-cream that I have ever tasted. The staff are happy to help and both times that we have eaten here we have been given a few free plums with our order.”

“Fun place …..also has a taco truck for food.”

“Go here. Ice cream. Do it. Had a strawberry float. It was ? Don't be like the idiot that had one that made the lady warn me their homemade strawberry soda wasn't very sweet. You have ice cream in the float. Just consume them together.”

“Favorite roaster around! Haven't had a bag of beans I don't like. Currently on a kick of pulling shots and making lattes with After Party. Super thick crema and great tasting notes. Don't see myself changing up from Cat & Cloud anytime soon!”

“Really good breakfast joint. Very busy and parking can be difficult in this area. Was not thrilled that 2 tables were sat before us even though they came in after us. Manager sat is quickly though after I made him aware.”

“Just dropped in so my GF could get some wifi and get some deal done. Great brews but just ordered the wings and frys to snack on and I can say best fries and wings ever and the brews just helped wash down it all. Food the kind when your killing time and it still stays excellent cold. Such a chill space to kill time when your in Santa Cruz for a wedding and arrive early”

“Friendly staff, attentive, fast service, yummy food ?? I ordered Eggs Benedict with avocado ? and 1 banana pancake ? which sat just before full after 16 hour fast ?‍↔️

Parking: Behind the restaurant there is only 3/4 regular spots and 1 handicap parking ?️”

“First time customer, couldn't decide between the Big Sur and the Sunset Beach. Took a chance and ordered both. No regrets on ordering both. Absolutely love them!!! I highly recommend this place.”

“My sis had the beer no complaints.
..We usually get fish and chips at most breweries by the sea....these were yummy....just a touch more salt and perfection ?”

“Traveling with friends and found this amazing please. The food is fresh with amazing flavors. A definite “must try” restaurant”

“Best BBQ in Santa Cruz. Craft Beers and Live Music. Friendly staff.”

“Very helpful customer service. The flower arrangement delivered was exquisite and promptly delivered. So nice to have a reliably tasteful source of flowers for those important life events.”

“Best Thai food … we been in so many Thai restaurants but this is way better, small family own they cook everything great and fresh. Need to Come and try it highly recommend”

“Selection of condiments is unmatched!”

“love the salmon teriyaki rice bowl. miss the Tiger Prawns”

“5* for the Baristas and the Product. I go here a lot and they are one of the few places I can usually get a good Iced Americano. After their old crew left I was worried I'd be hard pressed to get a good drink again, but there's a new guy there who makes them great every time. Wish I knew his name to give him the credit.”

“This place is LIT ever since they started accepting EBT, last time I was here a mentally disadvantaged old man was collecting trash and organizing it into small piles on his table. Needless to say the police arrived shortly, and after getting the mans attention from across the dining room and beckoning him over the old man quickly got to his feet. Visibly flustered, the man muttered a few indiscernible phrases before pointing at the officers and clearly shouting 'YOUR GOING TO JAIL!' and hurling a taco at them!(I'm assuming, the taco never actually got close to either of them and instead hit the roof)The two officers immediately sprung into action safely subduing the individual before he could blatantly ignore any more health and safety codes or engage in any more unprovoked attempts at physical violence. Thoroughly amused I return to waiting for my order to be called(about another 30 seconds) After receiving my food and filling my soda at the fountain, I head out to my girlfriend's car, as I walk through the doors I'm not even slightly surprised to see 12 more police cars and a motorcycle and about 25 more officers one of which is finishing up interviewing my girlfriend. As we get into the car I noticed she's got a huge grin on her face .After I ask what's so funny she tells me the cop that interviewed her ended the interview with the question 'At what point did you know they were cops?' Now for the whole ride home I'm left wondering why that's even included in the line of questioning...”

“This location, part of the city, is very populated with homeless people and trash that they collect and leave around. I was at Urgent Care for most of the day and hadn't eaten all day. So I stopped to get my almost favorite burger! The food was very good, and I went through the drive-through, so I didn't see the inside. The parking lot was very empty, and I actually thought they were closed.”

“They were so kind to tell me that if I get a steamed latte with decaf shots and it's cheaper than steamed milk with decaf shots in that was pretty amazing that they let me know that”

“When I saw the sandwiches, I thought they were going to be dry. I was pleasantly surprised at how juicy they were. I really liked the Crisy Fried Mushrooms, which were good, with the buttermilk ranch sauce. The Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich was a little spicer than I expected, but it was still very good.I will say that I did think the food was overpriced.”

“We recently had a big family lunch at the Burger King in Santa Cruz, and let me tell you, they impressed! It was a Sunday afternoon, and while we were practically the only ones there, our large order for 6 people took a bit longer than usual. Totally understandable!Here's the amazing part: despite the wait and what seemed like a short staff, our order was perfect. Not a single missing item, everything exactly as we ordered on the mobile app. Huge props to the staff for handling our big order with such accuracy, especially while being short-handed. There was only 2-3 people working there when we were there.”

“Coffee conspiracy is by far my favorite roaster (and now cafe) in Santa Cruz. Eddie is genuinely kind, hard-working and determined, and I’d definitely recommend stopping in to give his coffee a shot!”

“Excellent cocktails!, good atmosphere and the people who prepare your cocktails are very friendly and have good topics of conversation.
I would definitely go back for a cocktail ?there again”

“I don’t understand how an amazing coffee shop can, at there discretion, close there coffee shop at any time they want? Why would u treat loyal customers this way. Sometimes posted in Instagram, sometimes not. So inconsiderate of daily customers. Very disappointing to walk all the way there, excited for my greeting from the staff and my great latte, only to find a note on the door, closed at 11:30? How can u feel good about people showing up and not open and it isn’t even close to 3:00? Confusing to me how everything else but this one issue can be perfect?”

“One of my favorite lunch places downtown, you get two bowls to fill up with whatever you want, and a good variety of sauces to choose from and customize, then they cook it right in front of you, staff is very friendly and helpful, it's about $15 per plate and I usually get a couple meals out of that”

“This is always my goto coffee shop when in Santa Cruz. The Americano (or any other coffee we get) is always on point. The bagels... Ohhhhh the bagels. You have to try for yourself but they are always fresh and amazing. Go check it out! You will not regret it.”

“very good and Shelby s sunny disposition makes it even better. definitely our new favorite place for breakfast.”

“Outstanding food and Hawaiian music playing! Had a fantastic evening!”

“Favorite roaster around! Haven't had a bag of beans I don't like. Currently on a kick of pulling shots and making lattes with After Party. Super thick crema and great tasting notes. Don't see myself changing up from Cat & Cloud anytime soon!”

“great food, fast service, outside eating on a beautiful day

Parking: jacks is on the corner. several parking lot and street parking, all within 1 block.

Wheelchair accessibility: no steps anywhere. the door is your only problem. though u can call in an order or talk through the pickup window as it is where orders are taken.”

“Excellent gyro with lamb and beef. I had a black tea drink with it. Outdoor seating was perfect.”

“their meats are out of this world good. some of the best I've been going to tons of taquerias for years. tacos are legit. burritos are huge and balanced perfectly. my new spot! ORALÉ !!!!”

“Lovely, little takeout gem with fresh sushi made the morning of. They don't play that day old game. I recommend getting there early to grab the most popular rolls. They also have some very cool, authentic Asian trinkets and the lady I met was super fun to talk to.”

“The best fish and chips in Santa Cruz hands down, love their tartar sauce too. It would be awesome if coleslaw was available instead of fries for a lighter option.”

“Everything in SC is over priced, this spot has increased prices but not as much as others. They are generous w the chips and salsa and the service is fast...pumping out food all day long”

“Engfers is the best Pizza in Santa Cruz - No question about it!!! Great staff as well. My partner is from Brooklyn, she knows pizza - she agrees, it's the best in town!”