21 Best Seafood Restaurants in Santa Cruz

“Great service, great food“

“great service and awesome views. happy hour was great, margaritas. the fish and chips were delicious 😋“

“Calamari and chips. Only thing we order . 30 + years“

“The food was outstanding, we had the one of the daily specials and our server was very friendly.“

“So happy to have Johnnys open for lunch and Taco Tuesday ❣️“

“Absolutely the best crab sandwich I’ve ever had!

Seaside Fish and Chowder at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a hidden gem that every seafood lover needs to visit. I stopped by on a whim and ended up having one of the most memorable meals of my trip.

Their crab sandwich is out of this world—sweet, fresh crab meat served on perfectly grilled sourdough from Sumano’s Bakery, crisped in butter until golden. The flavors were perfectly balanced, rich, and comforting without being heavy. You can taste the freshness.

The staff was friendly, the service was quick even with a crowd, and the location can’t be beat—right near the beach, with that classic Boardwalk vibe.

Highly recommend grabbing a crab sandwich (and maybe a bowl of chowder too!) and enjoying it while watching the waves. This place is a must-stop when you're in Santa Cruz!“

“The food was outstanding, we had the one of the daily specials and our server was very friendly.“

“I love The Boardwalk. It's always a good time over there. Everything about a beach town is always fun. Such an amazing vibe everytime I go.“

“Great clam chowder, decent prices, amazing view.“

“Our family returned to Santa Cruz for a visit and we found Lilian's kitchen! We enjoyed a delicious meal(we are 6) our kids enjoyed their meals and we enjoyed a lovely glass of wine and a perfect atmosphere. The staff was kind and attentive, prompt service and there details on our food that are often overlooked on other tourist town restaurants...not Lillian's! A must was the tiramisu with coffee after dinner....I am in love❤️❤️“

“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!“

“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“

“Gilda’s at Santa Cruz Beach is a charming brunch spot with a nostalgic diner feel and a breezy view of the boardwalk, perfect for a relaxed weekend meal. The vibe is casual yet lively, with additional counter seating and the aroma of sizzling breakfast classics filling the air. Their new tomato juice and Modelo beer combo is a refreshing, savory sip that pairs surprisingly well with a late-morning feast, while the classic Bloody Mary is dressed to impress with olives, celery, lime, and a pepperoncini kick.

The food hits all the right comfort notes—crispy, golden-brown hash browns cooked to perfection, a light and fluffy Belgian waffle piled high with fresh strawberries and a dollop of creamy butter, and all the usual breakfast favorites served hot and hearty. It’s the kind of place where you can fuel up for a day on the beach while indulging in a little extra flavor adventure.“

“Great food, great staff, great service!“

“Really great spot to get burritos. Other than Taqueria Santa Cruz on Soquel and the Pericos downtown, both this spot and the new one in Aptos are pretty good.
I gave it a 4 star because the last 3 times I've gone, I've asked for my tortilla grilled and they haven't done it once yet after confirming they would.
Other than that, great quality since it seems Michoacan across the street has gone down in quality.“

“They are the best Chinese restaurant in town. Very friendly staff and amazing cook. We had some rockfish freshly caught and they did an amazing job preparing them to 3 different delicious meals including tofu fish soup, spicy fish filet in chili oil, and steamed fish. The price is very seasonable. The cook even came out to us to communicate the flavor preferences which made us feel welcomed and valued. Overall 10 star experience we recommend any fishermen to take their catch here and be surprised how good they can taste!“

“幾個年輕有為的年輕人用理想來經營的用餐環境，大大推薦“

“First time checking this place out and I have to say I was really impressed with the pupusas! The chicharron con queso pupusas were delicious! I also really enjoyed the empanadas de platano. Definitely will be coming back soon :)“

“Great local spot for authentic Mexican food. The flavors are great and they offer a lot of different meat options that are all cooked, and seasoned nicely.

The place was populated with locals which made us feel like we chose the right spot.

Initially we were nervous about ordering, but the lady running the counter was so incredibly nice, offered suggestions, and walked us through the whole process with patience and a friendly demeanor.“

“Thank You Haley you have Outstanding Customer Service!! Thank You Pono the food was delicious and thank you for having your cooks wash their hands throughly!“

“UPDATE..OCT 10TH. SERVICE SUCKED. THE LONG BLONDE HAIR WAS TAKING SHOTS WITH GUEST INSTEAD OF DOING HER JOB. TWICE I SEEN HER LOOK AT OUR TABLE AND IGNORE THE EMPTY DRINKS OR THE FACT THAT I WAS TRYING TO GET HER ATTENTION. TERRIBLE SERVICE. WILL NOT GO BACK.“