50 Best Vegan Restaurants in Santa Cruz

“Great tacos and great view🏄‍♀️“

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

“Great service, great food“

“The food was absolutely incredible! I’ll definitely be back!!!“

“As a Brazilian I can say without a doubt this is the most authentic Brazilian food you'll get in Santa Cruz. Excellent staff/ service, yummy traditional Brazilian dishes, amazing appetizers, excellent selection of drinks and oh may the deserts!!!! This place rocks and will hopefully be with us for a very long time. Family owned.“

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

“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 restaurant is amazing. Definitely worth visiting. Small and romantic. And the food..... Fantastic. I visited from out of town, had a late lunch. This is a place worth going to. The staff is warm and welcoming. I would definitely come back.“

“Absolutely delicious, we cleaned our plates ☺️ we got the chicken and beef brisket plates and they were both fresh and perfectly balanced. The pomegranate matcha latte was excellent as well.

ETA: the food was so good we also got a shawarma wrap to share. It was SO good; I usually hate dill but these chefs are such experts that it actually complemented the flavors of the wrap and I found myself enjoying the flavor of dill for the first time in my life 😆“

“Authentic Arepas! 5 star service. Everything was made fresh and delicious“

“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.“

“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.“

“3rd visit and each time I’ve been impressed with the food and friendly service. Vegan selections plentiful and well marked. Today I had garlic tofu noodles and my husband has kimchi dumpling soup. Generous portions and just the right spice. We also started with the fresh spring rolls with added braised tofu - they were fresh and crunchy! We’ll definitely be back!“

“During our 2 night mini vacation in Monterey this week, Feb 2 & 3, 2023, we bought a package of these cookies from a liquor store, on Lighthouse Avenue and now consider them to be our all-time favorite cookie.“

“My wife and I had a great time. The pizza was awesome! Highly recommend 🍕“

“I had the Italian meatball sandwich

It was so delicious, and it got better with every bite.

You did NOT miss Zoccoli’s!

I’m coming back for every one of your sandwiches! Thank you! 😋“

“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.“

“Delicious and fast service. Coffee wasn't the best but the free refills were great.
The real standout was the Sourdough pancakes. I got them with seasonal fruit and whipped cream (bananas and walnuts this week) and splurged on real maple syrup. Super delicious and reasonably priced.“

“Small but wonderful little sushi place! Place looks unassuming and like a standard sushi joint but you have to try their Peruvian style sashimi! Each piece of fish has its own unique sauce and it was all really delicious. The orange sauce which was also on some rolls is so bright and delicious!
Staff was super sweet and service was fast.
Definitely worth trying!“

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

“Color me impressed. If you follow me than you know I have expectations based on price point and this place didn't disappoint. It actually impressed me!!! Great service, wonderful ambiance, well made cocktails and every plate was exceptionally prepared.

Now, my usual disclaimer, if you're not a foodie you might not feel the same. I say this as I was talking to someone and he fully acknowledges he eats for survival and isn't a foodie, but came here for his girlfriend. He felt it was okay and would've preferred his usual pizza spot, but his foodie girlfriend loved it.

And no matter how full you are order dessert, it's what the chief was trained in and it show“

“I really enjoyed this place. as a long time strict vegan, they answered questions kindly, and in ways I felt good to eat here. I had a lovely little chop salad, that really hit right as I was in need of vegetables.😄Followed it up with Tom’s Bright Eyes Surprise that was nice.“

“Great food, excellent service and inviting atmosphere. Whether getting take out or dining in the food is always good, and you get a lot of high quality food for your money. The staff are friendly, and ordering is fairly straight forward but you will need a phone. Having pictures of the dishes though is incredibly helpful, and I didn't notice anyone struggling to order with this system. Great for a going out with family or friends or grabbing a dish for yourself!“

“Feels like Portland bottled up in a little pizza joint. The real star, whatever red sauce they use on the pepperoni pizza. Is that cheddar cheese they bake into the crust?

Perfect place to eat after a day at the beach, biking, walking, or if you’re looking for a quality detroit style.

We will definitely be returning and this place has made it onto our list of recommendations for our friends looking for a bite to eat.

Chipotle-Pineapple Cider is 10/10

Thank you Bookie’s! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our time.“

“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.“

“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❤️❤️“

“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!“

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

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

“I got an everything bagel with the tofutti, it was a good bagel and they put on a gracious amount of cream cheese. It was also super cheap, 4.90 with tax. It was a cute space and they were quick even though it was super busy. I’ll definitely go back.“

“I was coming down from San Francisco back to LA and stopped by to this place. Very colorful with art painted on the walls inside. Food was fantastic 10/10. After ordering I didn't have much interaction with staff but at the time of ordering my food the cashier/waitress seems pretty nice. They have a huge menu, so I'm sure there is plenty to try.
1.ordered fish taco 🌮...it's a very big tacowith double tortilla. If you're not a big rate this one taco should be enough (Forgot to take picture 😞).
2. I also ordered, a plate that came with 🐔 🥩 🍤🍚🫘. Huge plate enough to feed 2 people. I'm a fat ass so I ate it all 😆.
3. They have free unlimited self serve tortilla chips with a salsa bar you can have while you wait for your food.
4. They do have a wet bar. I had a beer 🍺 (it was a hot day 🥵)
5. Restroom was clean. Only one toilet 🚻.
6. Free agua Fresca refills. You refill it yourself.
If I'm ever up there again I'm Santa Cruz again I'm coming to this place again. Not sure why I didn't pictures.🤷🏽‍♂️“

“Went in here real quick before catching a flight in the afternoon and was pleasantly surprised by the place.

The food is great and the owners are really nice! Great gem in Santa Cruz for a quick bite and a drink. Highly recommended!“

“I live around the corner from here and like to recommend this spot to friends whenever they're visiting my neighborhood. The vibes are great.

There is a bartender named Mayonnaise and she's the coolest person in the world.“

“I ordered two crispy carne asada tacos rice and beans. It was really good and put together well. The crane asada was tender and of course it was all delicious. I go often and I do recommend Salsas to fam and friends. Five Star every time I go.“

“very friendly staff, clean restaurant and delicious food.“

“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.“

“Ive been working in restaurant as for about 4 years. Cafe Brasil is one of the best brunch/breakfast I’ve ever had! The place is a beautiful Brazil styled Cafe. I started with one of their green smoothies and it was just what I needed after a long night out. Then I ordered one of their chicken plates and it comes with beans,rice and fries or side salad all at a really reasonable price. Everyrthing was delicious and my Brothers and I loved everything. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a good breakfast or smoothie place.“

“Absolutely loved my first visit here! The vibrant, colorful decor instantly transported me to the Mediterranean, and the warm, welcoming staff made the experience even better. Every dish was bursting with flavor — fresh, authentic, and made with love. This place just earned a permanent spot in my rotation. Can’t wait to come back!“

“My husband and I love coming in for the lunch buffet. It's so delicious!“

“I enjoyed browsing and hanging out in the shop and the Nashville lions mane sandwich was really good! Would definitely recommend as a cool spot to browse (I got some gifts and learned about mushrooms lol) and eat something super yummy and unique.“

“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“

“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!“

“My buddy and I spent the day riding Mt Bikes in Santa Cruz. I’m not completely sure where we were riding but it was just above the ocean and we eventually rode past an area growing huge brussell sprouts. And we got to witness another biker crash into a huge puddle so the day was very entertaining. Before driving home we stopped for a bite at Jacks and it’s the perfect local burger joint in Santa Cruz. If I lived here, I’d come to Jacks all the time. The fries are great, the burgers are great and the ambiance is perfect. We sat outside and felt our day could not have gone better.“

“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“

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

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

“I love Canton Restaurant. The food is delicious and the service is great!👍“

“Delicious food, kind servers, true authentic Mexican food. No hassle, no frills - so far, I've had the Siete Mares and Pescado Fritos and both were the best I've tasted in all of Santa Cruz County. I got my order as To Go so the atmosphere I didn't really get into but there were people there enjoying their food and sports on TV. A nice surprise.“

“Amazing food. Exquisite taste expertly prepared. The wait staff is so attentive and friendly. Loved everything from start to finish!“

“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“