16 Best Mexican Restaurants near Santa Ynez

“This is gonna sound crazy, but this is one of the best Mexican spots I ate in literally the world (my family is from Mexico City too so I grew up eating tacos)..The salsa aguacate was so rich no salsa falsa, the other salsas were equally as yummy! Gordita was filling and so was the carnita asadita taco, truly delicious flavor and not cheap ingredients. you can taste the difference here with every bite! Also the tortillas must be handmade def not store bought. I really need to find an excuse to come back here. Also there is a car wash and very cheap gas all connected, definitely a good place to stop !!! I wish I could go back here I’m dreaming of it, also very nice family working ❤️👍 for the price and flavor you need to come here !!“

“A perfect ending to a perfect day in Santa Ynez valley. Great company, great conversation, stiff drinks (Substituted Mezcal for Tequila in our Margaritas) and stellar service. My brother and sister-in-law are strict vegetarians. When we realized their vegetarian tostada's came with Mexican rice cooked in chicken stock, our hostess Kaitlyn was personification of equanimity and professionalism. Without skipping a beat and with grace took away their plates and remade their orders . Remained attentive to our needs , no awkwardness. It is said that salsas make or break a Mexican restaurant. The salsas for me were too mild but Kaitlyn and the rest of the staff had stellar service, were very welcoming, and their spirit and warmth more than made up for the lack of fire in the salsas... Though my brother found the salsa fiery too. And the drive back as the sun set and drenched the Santa Rita hills in amber glow was a cherry on top of the already great mood thanks to. Kaitlyn and the staff at Dos Carlitos (and the stiff drinks). Thank you.“

“Their breakfast burritos are delicious, and they’re friendly as well. Would recommend the habanero sauce if you love spice! 🙏 Perfect place for a quick stop or for a loaded breakfast ☺️“

“Amazing food friendly people must go spot !“

“Delicious!!! Highly recommend! Very authentic. And the hibiscus juice was delicious!!! After the margarita 😁“

“Freshly prepared food, not greasy but filling! There are lots of options and specials on the menu. Friendly meals to the stomach and friendly prices to the wallet. The service was quick and attentive. I had grilled fish with veggies and rice. Big portion and tasty! Will come back again next time when I'm in town.“

“This is an amazing spot with great food! Highly recommend“

“We have a good experience with our young & Sharp bar tender, the German-American Lamar, he was so very attentive. The wine testing pretty good, tasted the industrial wine flight, We bought the bottle of Five Hearts.“

“Very good food chips feshly made and salsa was good“

“Good Tortas & Great Birria!!“

“This is an amazing spot with great food! Highly recommend“

“Amazing food and even better service!
Taco Roco is one of my favorite places to eat! The food is absolutely amazing, the prices are great, and the staff is super friendly and welcoming. When we came in, they took about 10 minutes to go over the whole menu with us, giving us different options and choices without ever making us feel rushed.

My family is big and we usually take a little longer to order, which sometimes upsets people at other places — but not here! Everyone was so patient and kind. Julian and Michelle were especially wonderful! They were incredibly friendly and helpful. Michelle even helped my sister take care of her baby girl so she could sit down and enjoy her meal. That meant so much to us!

The staff here is great, and a lot of them are local, which makes the whole place feel even more comfortable and welcoming. We always have a great experience here. Highly recommend Taco Roco if you want delicious food and amazing service“

“All i can say about the new Tonos in town is IMPRESSIVE, a great dining experience, clean. Staff courteous and helpful, reasonably priced. amd food awesome.. if you haven’t tried it you should, will definitely be back!“

“Best Mexican food in the Valley. The crispy tacos are real ! They use real corn tortillas and fry them.. Just like I do at home. There is real chicken, real shredded beef no Mystery meat. The Horchata is very good. The food is very good I live in the valley and this is the best place for Mexican food reasonably priced too.“

“BBQ sandwich Pork and the Tru Tip sandwich“

“Going to this place is always an extreme example of people looking for another place to work. Normally you won't see these people the next time you visit. They are just looking for a paycheck not very happy that normally very dry. I always go into the restroom to see what quality they're cleaning is normally to find it's non-existent. But if you want a meal late night meal and you have the munchies this is the place you want to go regardless of the staff.“