19 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 😋“

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

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

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

“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.“

“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 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!“

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

“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“

“Came here during a trip to Santa Cruz for my mom’s birthday. We wanted to go to a nice restaurant for dinner so I made a reservation for this beautiful place ahead of time. Our reservation went smooth, the restaurant wasn’t packed but had a decent amount of people, and the experience was very lovely.

They have a nice sized menu, different salads and pastas, various wines, and tasty desserts. I had gotten the fiochetti and it was delicious. All of us enjoyed our food and felt satisfied at the end. Definitely recommend and if I’m in the area will be back!“

“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.“

“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“

“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!“

“Veggie burrito and most everything else is great. Atmosphere is meh. Don't skip the carrots or the salsa. Amazing. Perfect to-go place for either tacos or burritos. Spicy meats leave you wanting more. Come back. You will like it. Lots of locals here“

“Great food, great staff, great service!“

“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!“

“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 :)“

“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.“