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!!!“

“Tofu Muqueca here was excellent. Rich and complex, plenty of tofu and squash + other vegetables. The farofa was really nice - a crispy little addition / topping for each bite. Got some very spicy hot sauce for the dish as well (ask wait staff). Clearly marked vegan options on the menu. Would like to try their Vegan Feijoada next time. Cozy interior, friendly staff, on site parking. Definitely recommended.“

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

“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“

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

“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.“

“Glad this place is here it’s so good. The spicy chicken sandwich is bomb. The hash brown sando is good too. The fries are amazing. They have tasty vegan ranch too. Th e soft serve is super tasty. I thought the lobster sando was yum too. Highly recommend.“

“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.“

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

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

“Solid Sichuan flavors. The beef noodle soup and sichuan dumpling soup are very filling and authentic. The broth is pretty salty but the fresh veggies and quality dumplings more than made up for it.

Server was a young UC student who was very polite, attentive, and professional.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“I've been here as a young man & it hasn't changed at all. The chicken parmesan sandwich is my go-to for a hot sandwich, while the muffeletta is the best cold sandwich I've ever had. I highly recommend grabbing lunch there before hitting the boardwalk.“

“This was the absolute best breakfast I’ve had in maybe years I don’t know when the last time I had a breakfast like that was!! They do like a potato mash on the side, but it’s perfectly crispy on top and bottom and has amazing flavors!!! The service was just over the top. This is definitely a kind of little restaurant I would support. I’ll definitely try coming here every time I come down to visit.!! Most definitely recommend!!“

“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 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“

“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!“

“Delicious food Love eating here …“

“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“

“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.“

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

“Best place in Santa Cruz by far! I try to go at least once a week. The crew is what make this place so special! Go there to feel a little bit how Brazil is warm when we talk about food, how people take care of each other and you dont have to pay $$$$ to eat good food! One of the best value for what you get in Santa Cruz. Good quality food and welcoming and warm crew! Prato feito or Fish fillet, also feijoada are the best!“

“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!!!!!!“

“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.“

“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 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.🤷🏽‍♂️“

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

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

“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!“

“Absolutely delicious food. I got the vegetarian soup and it had a clean yet flavorful broth, tofu with a deep blackened flavor, fresh veggies, and a robust chili sauce. Small menu but well executed. Friendly service and a casual vibe. We also got some local kombucha. Dog friendly- even brought out some chicken for our dogs!“

“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.“

“I actually haven’t eaten here yet, but I don’t have to have eaten here to know that it’s a highly recommended place to go. I was just sitting here waiting for my haircut and I had two people ask me if I needed help within minutes. That’s good customer service and when I let them know, I was actually not providing business. I’m just waiting for a great cuts. They didn’t give me a hard time. They said no problem and let me sit here anyways awesome. Highly recommend this place“

“4.5 stars (but gave 5 because Google Maps doesn’t allow half-stars)

I’m not usually a burger lover. I visited Jack’s Hamburger for the first time on a friend’s recommendation—and it really impressed me! I tried the tri-tip steak sandwich, and it was fantastic. The steak was flavorful and juicy, though one of my friends got a slightly overcooked piece, which made it taste a bit bitter. That was the only minor downside.

The portion size caught me off guard—it’s huge, especially for someone with a small stomach like me. Still, I ended up finishing the whole thing because it tasted so good!

I wish there were a Jack’s closer to home (it’s over an hour’s drive), but it was well worth the trip. Great experience overall!“

“I stopped by Penny Ice Creamery on a Saturday evening and had a great experience! We ordered the Dark Chocolate and Honey Walnut Yogurt Jam ice creams -- both were delicious. Each scoop comes topped with a house-made toasted marshmallow, which was a fun and tasty touch I'd never had before.

What's also great is that you can sample as many flavors as you like before deciding -- and the options rotate daily, so there's always something new to try. The vibe was relaxed, and the staff was friendly.

If you're in the area and craving something sweet with a twist, definitely give this place a try. I'd happily come back!“

“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!“

“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“

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

“The secret is, this is the best mexican food around. The machete taco is the signature dish, but there are plenty of other good things on the menu. Ask for some green hot sauce, some salt and get at least two machete and a bottle of coke; you won’t regret it. I particularly think they do beef well here. I’m pretty sure the family that runs this place is from Isla Janitzio in Michoacán and they are honestly just the sweetest people. Don’t just get the same things as you would at some of the other popular taquerias locally that are Mexico city style.
I ate here about once a week for over a decade and having moved away I miss it dearly.“

“Great atmosphere . Great food. Great servicev“

“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!“

“This was a great experience, I'm very happy we came here. Very reasonably priced, the guy serving us had exceptional service, attitude, etc. Maybe the only downside is minimal seating, but I think it's fine. We were the first customers and he gave us free chips, salsas, and guac! Other than that we got street Tacos and crispy Tacos with birria, shredded chicken, and El pastor, all good! And the churro was a good size. Come here!“

“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 Bagelry in Santa Cruz is exactly the kind of neighborhood spot that turns a quick breakfast run into a highlight of the day. Even at peak weekend rush the line moves briskly, thanks to a seasoned crew who balance speed with a laid-back friendliness; one cashier looked understandably fatigued after what must have been a long shift, yet she still kept orders flowing with impressive efficiency. Inside, soaring ceilings and eclectic décor—complete with a framed photo of the resident cat—make the cozy space feel open and welcoming, while the small patio offers a sunny nook for lingering. My everything bagel with vegetable spread (toasted) and a pain bagel slathered in butter both arrived hot, perfectly chewy, and packed with flavor, easily rivaling pricier cafés yet ringing up at just about ten dollars total. Between the inclusive vibe, genuine staff camaraderie, and consistently excellent bagels, The Bagelry proves you don’t need to overcharge to deliver an unforgettable, feel-good breakfast experience.“