Restaurants in Santa Cruz

“The food is absolutely delicious (the Picanha is perfection) and all the staff were super friendly. The restaurant is clean and spacious! We will definitely be returning!”

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

“This is my favorite place for breakfast and brunch in Downtown Santa Cruz. The bread is made fresh in-house every day, and you can really taste the difference. Their eggs are local and super fresh, which makes everything feel more homemade.

The chicken is cooked in a style that reminds me of Taiwanese fried chicken cutlets. It’s crispy and full of flavor. I always get the mushroom scramble. It’s my favorite dish. The curry rice is also really good.

The drinks are tasty and not too sweet. I always order the fresh squeezed orange juice. The space is cute, the colors are warm, and the staff is friendly.

If you’re visiting Santa Cruz, definitely come here for breakfast before heading to the beach.”

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

“We had the most amazing food and dining experience. I felt like we were in a Michelin starred restaurant.
The appetizers and main courses were unique and so well executed.
Loved to Brussels sprouts and Butter Charcuterie Board. Our table had pork tenderloin, chicken and sea bass.
Everyone couldn’t believe how good their dish was!”

“What an absolute incredible find! Excellent food and totally authentic experience.

Must try- spicy lamb noodles if you like heat! So flavorful!

Mushroom chicken dumplings! They’re red and delicious!

Everything is EXCELLENT and I say this as a connoisseur of hand pulled noodles”

“Very good food and amazing customer service.”

“Got to try these delicious arepas at a sharks game. They are so good. Now I want to try them all. 10/10 def recommend.”

“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”

“This is a cozy cute place with delicious café de olla, and Mexican dishes, live music and kind owners, convenient location to have food before walking to the beach.”

“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.”

“This is the place to be for your mornings! The coffees and eats are Vietnamese or Cuban inspired, which really sets them apart from other standard coffee shops (and more delicious too). Their atmosphere is second to none; every inch is covered with style and locally sourced art, even the floor itself. To top it off, it's a female-owned small business, so come support your community here!”

“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.”

“The BLT Hot dog was really good it has a good snap to it the bacon lettuce and tomato was nicely even I was able to taste all three things. Had the slider as well it was really good size the taste was really good not to heavy when done eating the buns are nice and soft. Really enjoyed everything really recommend and will be coming back.”

“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.”

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

“Soo near our ocean your family will love the vibe of Shrine Coffee. Laid-back atmosphere with real cups and plates! No matter your background &c your welcomed with LOVE & LIGHT! Oh, no matter your denomination &c stop on bye for Sunday services &c "Come As You Are"! Be yourself! You will certainly Depart smiling aswellas energized!

Parking: Great Coffee aswell friendly staff aswell guests...

Kid-friendliness: Yes!

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes!”

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

“Great service, great food”

“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.”

“A must visit spot while in Monterey for authentic tasty meal, great dining experience.”

“Great tacos and great view🏄‍♀️”

“Best breakfast we had during our stay in California. Unfortunately we were only in Santa Cruz for one night so didn’t get another chance to eat here. Steak, eggs and homemade potatoes were amazing! Also very good coffee.”

“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.”

“great space to eat. all of the staff stayed busy attending to guests, refilling any of the food bins, cooking of course, and overall (again) keeping a watchful eye for guests walking through. did i mention attentive? i went with my family and we live 2 hours away. i would DEF go again. thank you for such a nice experience 🙌🏽💯”

“Great food, atmosphere all the waiters are nice. Great location.”

“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!”

“Been my go-to restaurant in Santa Cruz for years and the food and service is always great! My favorite is the refreshing Acai bowl and the la Madeira ( beef with mushrooms cooked in a creamy Madeira wine sauce).

Parking: Their private lot is cramped and always full. It's hard to get in and out of so it's easier to park in the residential area and walk there.”

“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!”

“I ordered The Masterpiece and my friend ordered The Moon and they were wonderful. I would definitely return again. And the best part is that they had a whole page in their menu that just said in big letters VEGAN which made it very easy for us to order and made us feel that they wanted our business as well. Notice that there's a flower in the pictures on the plate so they definitely win points for their plating.”

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

“The owner was amazing… A beautiful man with an incredible story who came from Syria!! I enjoyed the very flavorful lentil soup, falafel bowl, Dolma, and delicious gluten-free vegan desserts!! I would highly recommend!”

“Delicious! Had some of the best Mexican food of my life here! crispy warm complimentary chips were also great. Highly recommended. They have a bail at their exit that you were supposed to ring if you enjoyed it, and while we were there we saw every single person leaving the store ring it on their way out!”

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

“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”

“This is a great Italian restaurant. We loved the atmosphere, the service and the food. Our server was excellent. We loved the fried artichoke hearts to start. The salmon, pastas, and lasagna were delicious. There was plenty of parking in the back. They also had a full bar and nice wine selection. We would highly recommend!”

“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!”

“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”

“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”

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

“I ordered the chicken Cobb salad and it was amazing. The chicken was well seasoned and well cooked. The portions of all the toppings were plentiful and I got a bit of everything in every bite. I especially loved the beets. Would definitely order from here again! The Mac and cheese was really good too.”

“Great cocktails and appetizers”

“Among the best California wines I have ever drunk!
Alex was very welcoming. He speaks perfect French and knows everything about the history of the vines from which his wines come (some of which are a hundred years old!). The wines are excellent, in a very light style which is more reminiscent of the finesse of great French wines than the American style. Among my favorites, pinots! delicate and with light fruit notes; a riesling with a perfect balance between aromatic profile and minerality, and an orange wine with an incredible nose... among others.”

“We ate here for the first time, so we ordered several dishes. The soup of the day was incredible! The Oblo burger was filled with flavor! The salad was huge (in a good way) with a delicious beet purée. The octopus appetizer was special and unique. After going there for the first time I would highly recommend. The prices were mostly reasonable, we were actually surprised by this since it tasted and felt like fine dining. Price was well worth the food, especially for the salads/burgers/appetizers.”

“We only started eating at McDonalds about a year ago when we were traveling. Over that time, one of the things we have noticed is the food is fairly consistent in quality and taste. So, what sets one McDonalds apart from another one? The customer service!

We found the employees here, to be very nice! At a lot of McDonalds, they try to avoid taking your order and point you to a kiosk. Not at this one! When we walked in, there was someone who came over to the register and asked us what we would like. Quite refreshing!

Also, they were really busy, and the empty tables were dirty. So, we went over and asked for a towel to clean one, and the employee (we think the manager) came right over and cleaned it for us. They also went and cleaned others tables after ours, which we didn't expect.

Overall, the food is what you would expect from a McDonalds, but the service is great”

“una de mis comidas faboritas”

“A very accessible location located near the "mouth" of Santa Cruz, CA it is to the left on Ocean Street off of hwy 17 south for those heading to the beach.
There is NO Drive Thru at any McDonald's in Santa Cruz County. They do have Mobile Order Parking.

Parking: While there are parking spots this is a very convenient location especially for those heading out of town as it's the last "Fast Food" location heading out of Santa Cruz to hwy 1 South, or North. Hwy.17 North.
I would imagine parking on a busy weekend would be difficult however there are some free street parking located near by.
I would suggest using the App.
I was able to walk in, as soon as I opened the door, there was about 8 people in a busy lobby and I walked in grabbed my bag and soda showing a worker my mobile App order number.”

“Delicious casual vegan lunch food. Ordered "It Ain't Chkn' Sandwich". It is fully vegan and comes with lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles, and house sauce. You can make it spicy by requesting grilled jalapeños and spicy house sauce. Updated from previous review on 2025-03-29”

“Food has been awesome. Taste was on point. There are a lot of options if you are Coconut afficionado in gravy based cuisines (including vegan options). Absoultely recommended for a visit if you're driving on the scenic route.”

“Nice walk up, busy on a weekend but lines go fast. There's a line to order (pick a number from the ticket wheel first), a different line to pay and then they call your number when the food's ready.”

“I love my family member, but they don't use DoorDash and request I DoorDash for them. This is great, except not always, as you can imagine - especially because they can be picky with their add-ons. Which is why I'm writing this review: because Gilman's CAME THROUGH this Thursday night.

My loved one wanted a burger, and I think Gilman's Smashburger is one of the best in Santa Cruz. They're on DoorDash, so I recommended it as an option. My loved one said that sounded great, with two requests: NO sauce, and NO cheese.

Unfortunately, on Gilman's DoorDash menu, you can't request no cheese, and they don't allow for written requests (which is so valid). And as we all know, just because you select "No [Ingredient]" doesn't mean it'll actually come without the despised ingredient.

So, I had to pick up the phone and call Gilman's to make my special request. Reminder: They don't even allow written requests. I CALLED IN a request. The shame was nearly unbearable.

However, Koa was a total homie and got my name before I sent in my order. Koa then confirmed with the chef, Adan, that there would be no cheese and no sauce on the burger. Koa was kind, friendly, and didn't make a single sigh of frustration at my request. THE RELIEF I FELT: immeasurable.

The burger arrived without sauce, and without cheese. My loved one was THRILLED, and I was able to avoid dealing with DoorDash support/refunds/etc.

Not only are you getting the best burger in town when you order from Gilman's, you're getting amazing customer service as well. 10/10, five-stars. THANK YOU Koa and Adan! You've made my life easy. Customer for life over here.”

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

“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.”

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

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

“Delicious, nutritious, ingredient quality is clear in the final dish.

We were in love with the flavor of the chicken noodle dish as well as the beef momos.

10/10 will be sure to visit again.”

“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.”

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

“This was honestly the best food truck food I have ever had. I eat healthy all week, but I know when I go to a brewery on a weekend, I’m gonna have to make some compromises! No compromises had to be made for this food, as they had tons of healthy options! But healthy doesn’t always mean delicious, but this place was truly some of the most delicious food I had ever had at a brewery! (Humble Sea beer garden on the Santa Cruz wharf) I'll search out this food truck anytime I'm back in the Santa Cruz area.

Vegetarian options: Absolutely delicious!”

“We were there for a music event late Jan 2025. HH drink specials were tasty but was disappointed on how cold it was inside the restaurant. Both doors, front & back, were wide open during the entire evening show (48 degrees outside). Even the band mentioned how cold it was before beginning their set. All the customers wore jackets. Also, the harsh lighting was way too bright throughout the restaurant. I wanted my sunglasses on. Please read the room & tone down the lighting & warm the place up, then we’ll be back. Mahalo”

“Great little spot to grab a burger. It was busy on a Saturday evening and I could see why. Some sitting inside and out. Plenty of parking across the street. The cheeseburger and fries were delicious. Definitely a place to visit again.”

“We stopped in on October 11 during happy hour. Being from Michigan, we did not know what to expect. Our daughter, now an Aptos resident, said this was her favorite place for sushi. We could see why! The flavors and variety of items were excellent. Best of all was our server Isabell. She was great; friendly, attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Great food, great service. Thank you.”

“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?”

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

“The food was delicious! I couldn't stop eating. Had the shortrib ravioli - amazing. It was our first time eating there. We live near La Placa Bakery in Ben Lomond and a friend recommended that we try the food at Bedda Mia. Well worth the trip.”

“I've been to this vegan place today. I had the Tofu bowl and my partner had 2 Tacos and the plantains. I highly recommend the plantains. They're more on the spicy side but so good. Unfortunately, they had no other sides in stock anymore. But tbh. The bowl was full and I wasn't able to finish it.”

“Selection of condiments is unmatched!”

“Great prices! Love this place fabulous memories 💕”

“Junko is wonderful - the best! 🍣🍱😋”

“First time customer here and I got the famous Philly cheesesteak on rosemary bread - my only regret is that I should have ordered the bigger size sandwich, it was real good. Plus customer service was great!”

“Wonderful owner and some of the most delicious food in Santa Cruz!”

“Such a gem of a spot! Also, the owner is so gracious and knowledgeable -- she made it feel like walking into my friend's living room and catching up over a great glass of wine.”

“Chocolate Dipped Sandae (7$)The "Chocolate Dipped Sandae" that has ice cream between two crackers is a good try. It costs 7.09$ and you can choose between "Almonds" or "Peanuts" in the Sandae. We chose Almonds and liked it.”

“HIDDEN GEM Best ever! So you HAVE to give this place a try! Alex was our server tonight. She was excellent. Food was amazing. Prices fantastic. Choose over Akira all day long, no wait ... reservations for party larger than 4 but sushi bar is stellar!”

“Awesome stinging nettles pizza and fried chicken with butter beans! Wow. 😁”

“Best place for food, fun, and friends! If you're looking for great food, and great service, don't hesitate to come on in!”

“this is a must stop when I'm in Santa Cruz I love the pizza here”

“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”

“A delightful ice cream shop that provides great seasonal flavors and a few non-dairy options as well. The highlight here is definitely their marshmallow fluff for $1 atop a waffle cone, but it is also incredible how they're the only creamery in-town that makes their ice cream from scratch!”

“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!”

“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.”

“Such a great little bakery and market with some of the best tamales I’ve ever had. Hands down my favourite place to get tamales and conchas in Santa Cruz 11/10 highly recommended”

“I've been there at least 4 times. The ingredients are excellent. I had the zucchini, the mushroom and margherita pizza, the Parmigiana salad and the focaccia sandwich. Loved all! Place is super clean, atmosphere is pleasant. Not a real restaurant but a great place for a quick and savory bite with friends or co-workers.

Vegetarian options: several vegetarian pizzas and salads available as well as a focaccia sandwich.”

“I would give this place 5 stars if I could!! They have a fully vegan menu and the options are delicious. I go here all the time :))The price are pretty decent because the servings are huge. Food comes out pretty fast, no sit down, service is great. I usually get the vegan cali burrito and add beyond meat! Delicious”

“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.”

“The best taqueria in Santa Cruz!!! My family and I highly recommend this place❤”

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

“Best salmon and chips ever. We usually go to the one in Aptos. Same great food but I enjoy the atmosphere in Aptos more.

Kid-friendliness: Casual place but it is a pub so drinking .”

“The Real Taco had good authentic Mexican food. They opened at noon but it took 30 min to get food out because they literally opened at noon. So food wasn’t ready to come out for a bit. You can pay with card and order at the window or the exterior order tablet. They are parked in a lot attached to a brewery, so several people were having beers and waiting for food. It got quite busy at 12:30. Their presentation was beautiful. Food was fresh and very tasty. I had the fish tacos. My husband had steak tacos. I’d for sure eat here again and try some other options.

Parking: Parking was on the street and was more difficult because it’s a busy street

Kid-friendliness: You could definitely take kids here. Outdoor picnic seating.

Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible”

“Lovely and causy place, where you can enjoy your coffee quietly and won't be chased away if you don't order stuff in a row. Be aware: Coffee is stroooong (even stronger than in Europe!) ☕”

“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!”

“Great food for a very reasonable price. I had the compound chicken and it was delicious.”

“HIDDEN GEM Best ever! So you HAVE to give this place a try! Alex was our server tonight. She was excellent. Food was amazing. Prices fantastic. Choose over Akira all day long, no wait ... reservations for party larger than 4 but sushi bar is stellar!”

“Amazing restaurant!!! Best experience over all!”

“Nina ROCKS!!! We wandered in on a whim and she did not disappoint! This place is the best little dive/ hip spot but you’d never imagine just walking by. The atmosphere is chill and fun, she made us feel completely welcome and we met some of the regulars. She turned the whole place into a Karaoke party and the whole bar got into the vibe. We ended up staying until the next shift came on and late into the night. These guys and gals really know how to show you a good time. The cocktails were great and the prices were really decent. We will definitely be back!”

“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?”

“Thank God for Aunt Nettie’s pies! I discovered them at Wild Roots in Felton… I need to find out where I can get my mitts on these pies apart from WRs because sometimes they’re sold out often.”

“So because of one employee the tall blond with long hair seams to think he's going to decide who gets to buy herb, I had left a review about this guy's discriminating and attacked me. The manager talked to me and she is punishing the crap employee for his unprofessional attitude so I'll give you 5 star just for addressing the problem. He should of been fired since he does it to everyone and coworkers say he does these things to them too. But everyone deserves a chance, he treats me again like that and I'm not giving a review I'm going to my attorney. Thank you management, it no good have one person making a nice dispensary look like crap.”

“I live around the corner from Garden Deli, where Reuben's Taco Truck is located {except when he has a catering an event}. I ignored it for a couple months, thinking the food would be marginal at best. Then I was feeling lazy, so walked over and got dinner, expecting to be underwhelmed. OMG!! I was so effing wrong. Their food is So Fricking Good that I've gotten dinner there almost once a week ever since!!”

“This is my favorite place for breakfast and brunch in Downtown Santa Cruz. The bread is made fresh in-house every day, and you can really taste the difference. Their eggs are local and super fresh, which makes everything feel more homemade.

The chicken is cooked in a style that reminds me of Taiwanese fried chicken cutlets. It’s crispy and full of flavor. I always get the mushroom scramble. It’s my favorite dish. The curry rice is also really good.

The drinks are tasty and not too sweet. I always order the fresh squeezed orange juice. The space is cute, the colors are warm, and the staff is friendly.

If you’re visiting Santa Cruz, definitely come here for breakfast before heading to the beach.”

“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 !!!!”

“Delicious! Had some of the best Mexican food of my life here! crispy warm complimentary chips were also great. Highly recommended. They have a bail at their exit that you were supposed to ring if you enjoyed it, and while we were there we saw every single person leaving the store ring it on their way out!”

“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.”

“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.”

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

“Friendly staff and great food. Wish we were passing every day.”

“Best breakfast we had during our stay in California. Unfortunately we were only in Santa Cruz for one night so didn’t get another chance to eat here. Steak, eggs and homemade potatoes were amazing! Also very good coffee.”

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

“I had a very delicious Chicken Apple Brie Sandwich and Chai latte.”

“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!”

“great space to eat. all of the staff stayed busy attending to guests, refilling any of the food bins, cooking of course, and overall (again) keeping a watchful eye for guests walking through. did i mention attentive? i went with my family and we live 2 hours away. i would DEF go again. thank you for such a nice experience 🙌🏽💯”

“Food is delicious. Service was top notch. Staff is extremely friendly.”

“Great food, atmosphere all the waiters are nice. Great location.”

“We were there for a music event late Jan 2025. HH drink specials were tasty but was disappointed on how cold it was inside the restaurant. Both doors, front & back, were wide open during the entire evening show (48 degrees outside). Even the band mentioned how cold it was before beginning their set. All the customers wore jackets. Also, the harsh lighting was way too bright throughout the restaurant. I wanted my sunglasses on. Please read the room & tone down the lighting & warm the place up, then we’ll be back. Mahalo”