50 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Santa Cruz

“The vegan options were awesome! They were understaffed and couldn’t remember our two drinks we ordered. Which took a while had to go remind them, Just two coffees. The food was very good though. Probably need to hire more people though to handle the amount of traffic and remember the orders. Updated from previous review on 2026-02-27“

“We arrived early on a Saturday morning - from what we heard, this was a good way to avoid the rush and larger parties. We were greeted immediately by Patricia with a warm welcome and a brief history of the multiple vineyards and the family. We were also excited to hear that there were oysters being served out on the deck.

This is a gem of a spot. The rustic tasting room with maps of the surrounding areas, history of the family, history of Bonny Doon and all of this set in the foothills amongst the redwoods. I would highly recommend making this a stop along your travels or taking an extra day to explore Beauregard Vineyards and the beautiful woods and coast.

Now to the reason why we really stopped in - VINO. We had their tasting flight which was perfect for someone who is unfamiliar with their production. All of the wines we tasted were well structured, balanced and exciting. Their effervescent Pinot Noir won, with the sun and oysters to pair making it the perfect mid day sipper. Right behind and equally as tasty is their unoaked Chardonnay and Syrah-Grenache were easily added to our list of favorites.

Stop by and check it out for yourself.“

“Great tacos and great view🏄‍♀️“

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

“The food was delicious, the service was excellent. We went on mother's day weekend and it was packed but for good reason. Even with it being packed our service was excellent and speedy the food was delicious and brought to us quickly. Highly recommend to anyone who hasn't tried it.“

“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.“

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

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

“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.“

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

“the star ingredient here is eggs & they’ll taste good no matter what you order. i got the mad chick, the fried chicken has never failed me- taste & texture wise it’s taiwanese fried chicken. the other ingredients like the aioli & of course the fried egg made it a very hearty sandwich. the lilikoi green was tart & refreshing.“

“Food and beer or beer and food Both sooo good, as always 💝🍺🍕“

“It’s the best, most authentic Italian food restaurant in Santa Cruz, and the ambience is so comfortable and inviting.“

“Food was delicious! We were able to sample the sauces before ordering, there are lots of options to choose from, and we were able to customize our bowl to just what we wanted. We shared a medium bowl (2 of us) and were satisfied. They were friendly and answered all of our questions, too!“

“Over in San Francisco from Perth Australia and popped in for a couple of beers, awesome spot and great beers, staff were super friendly and even grabbed some merch, get yourselves over and support these guys and have a cracking pint or four“

“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.“

“Delicious food Love eating here …“

“Great fresh food and quick friendly service. Had the Beef-Teki combo with a salad & drink. Yum!“

“The food was fantastic and the service was on point!“

“Great service, great food“

“Absolutely fantastic Italian restaurant! The food was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. Every dish we tried — from the pasta to the desserts — was delicious and perfectly prepared. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the service was attentive without being overwhelming. Great wine selection and authentic flavors that made the whole experience memorable. Highly recommend for anyone looking for amazing Italian food, and I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“Good food really good vibe“

“I initially went here with my family not know how many vegan options they have! I ordered the fried udon with tofu and it was delicious. The service was great as well, but it went over our heads at first that we had to pay at the counter. Just a heads up for those who end up waiting for their check to get picked up! Definitely going to come back here as a vegan staple.“

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

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

“Best sushi in Santa Cruz. Most innovative rolls we have had in a long long time. We opted for the real seafood rolls as opposed to the vegan fish this time but I can't wait to go back and try those next. Great service, food and price. We will definitely go back for more...“

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

“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 !!!!“

“Awesome tacos and I love the salsa selections- so much to choose from. Everything is fresh, delicious, and authentic. The corn tortillas are super fresh, and I love the crispy tacos! Make the street taco vegan with beyond and you will thank me. Mmmmm!!!!!“

“Nice atmosphere and great food. I got the regular al pastor burrito and it was soooo good, and really nice big portion. Even though I was stuffed after eating it, I wanted another because it was so good. Also, the food came out quickly so I would recommend even if you don’t have time to dine in.“

“We had such a wonderful experience at MJA thanks to Ron! We were a bit overwhelmed by the size of the wine list and thankful that Ron guided us through our tasting. It felt like we were at the tasting with an old friend! We were very impressed with each wine we tasted. And highly recommend stopping in!“

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

“Love the fish and chips along with a new favorite… chicken pozole soup. Need some radish and cabbage to top it off!“

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

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

“Cafe Brazil is definitely my favorite place in Santa Cruz!
Rafael was amazing , fast , friendly, and super helpful with my American husband that does not speak Portuguese yet.
I super recommend this place if you are looking for a delicious Brazilian food. Great location, great people and a delicious food!
5 ⭐️ for real! 🇧🇷“

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

“Best falafel wraps, bowls, and salads I've had anywhere. Everywhere else is now a disappointment. All the toppings make a full flavor explosion, and the falafels are tender, fresh, and plentiful. The servings are generous (we often share between 2 people). The options allow extensive customization. The owner and staff are great. All in all, a favorite stop for us locals.“

“They make a good burger. It’s simple. Like it was done right, at the best backyard spot. That person you want grilling your burger, they got them. And then they got the people who know how to put it together so it doesn’t get messy. This sounds like a ridiculous review but I feel like if you know you know. None of us took pictures - we ate it too fast. I feel like that’s the best kind of review.“

“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“

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

“food, fantastic, service, fantastic, quality, fantastic, you need to experience this place to truly understand how great this place is. thanks Alfredo!!!!“

“Awesome tasting here! Recommend sitting at the bar, John was really great to chat with and really passionate about his wines. Came on a Wednesday when the market was on right outside and he was cool with me bringing oysters in. Such a fun space, full of personality, so would be nice for a glass or a catch up as well. 10/10 experience :)“

“Friendly service and excellent food!“

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

“Great tasting dough! Fake characters to get to the 25 requirement“

“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.“

“So yummy, very refreshing also addicting.“

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

“Love Hindquarter! Been going for many years mostly for dinner/drinks but am now also loving their delicious lunch specials which change daily. You can enjoy lunch specials until dinner menu starts at 4 pm! Deserts are great and the 3 berry cobbler with vanilla icecream is incredible! Highly recommend!“