50 Best Mexican Restaurants near Soquel

“the Salmon Tacos are to die for!!! I've been enjoying them for 18 years.“

“Excellent customer service today from server Heather. She totally accommodated the fact that I am gluten free and took her time to go over the entire menu with me, and she also made me up a fresh batch of gluten free chips. Heather is so knowledgeable and really kind and patient. i felt really cared for us.A customer and the food was very good too.“

“Great food , Great Margaritas! , Great service, 😊“

“It's really cute for a taco bell, and as far as taco bell goes, the food was made really well. Friendly staff, but not very many of them. I absolutely hated the kiosks they had installed. Only one register and 4 kiosks? I mean, at least there's still one register, but I'm always going to think that people make for a better reason to go somewhere. If the owners don't agree, then I probably won't be going there anymore.“

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

“EVERYTHING was amazing. can't get enough of this place . the warm bean dip and salsa is wonderful. the micheladas were super yummy. EVERYTHING WAS so yum.y and flavorful. best food ever“

“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“

“Delicious food Love eating here …“

“Been enjoying Manuels since 1966. Love the red snapper, the salad, flautas with guacamole...great food always! Hopefully coming to dinner tonight! ♥️“

“These are hands down the best carnitas tacos in Santa Cruz. No question. I don’t want to hear any debate. The carnitas were crackly/crispy on the outside and soft/tender on the inside. The quality here is leagues above everything else in Santa Cruz. This place is better than pretty much anything you will find in the South Bay as well which is saying a lot.“

“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 !!!!“

“Overall, a decent place. We stopped in after lunchtime so it was quiet. We both ordered the fish and chips (yeah, I know it's a Mexican restaurant). The shrimp and fish were very good. The fries could have been crispier. I'd visit again if I was in the area.“

“Really great to get really nice people nice atmosphere“

“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.“

“so delicious! everything we got was amazing especially the Quesabirria Tacos with consome!“

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

“Great service, food and atmosphere“

“Wow. Taqueria Los Gallos

Clean. Bright.

You walk in and immediately get the sense that this place takes its food seriously without trying to impress you with anything else. No gimmicks. Just a taqueria doing the basics right.

The breakfast burrito stands out.

It arrives hot, tightly wrapped, and packed with fresh ingredients. Eggs cooked just right. Good balance of fillings. Nothing greasy or weighed down with oil the way many breakfast burritos are.

You finish it and feel satisfied instead of sluggish.

That is the detail that stuck with me. A burrito that tastes fresh and still leaves you ready for the rest of the day.

Places like this become neighborhood staples for a reason.

Simple food. Done well. Served fast. And it leaves you happy when you walk out the door.“

“The Po Boy taco at this restaurant was the best shrimp taco ever! And there are a lot of good taco places in this town. One taco was a full meal for a very reasonable price. Fresh and made to order. The taco came with a platter of peppers and onions and radishes on the side. Free chips came with the order.The service here was fantastic. I will be having my Mexican food here! The setting is in the mall food court, which was not Ideal. But I would get that food to go anytime!“

“The best taqueria in Santa Cruz!!! My family and I highly recommend this place❤“

“Great chicken tacos 🌮 chips & salsa - the whole family enjoyed 👍🏼 Friendly service as well.“

“This was our first time there and the food was great and the atmosphere was great.. also had great service. We will be back again..“

“Where do I begin!? Favorite burrito spot since I was a child. The house sauce is literally the best in the world. I’ve yet to ever find somewhere else that has it. Everytime I come home to visit I go here multiple times. 12/10

Would recommend the pastor burrito it’s my favorite 🤩“

“This is a really good halal restaurant here in Santa Cruz. There isn't much of a halal restaurant here in Santa Cruz, and this has been a go-to for me recently. The owner is extremely nice and generous with the portions. Unlimited Chips, and there are a lot of exotic snacks.“

“Los tacos de lengua mis favoritos con aguacate. Y mi coca cola mexicana,“

“Got take out , super fast service. Great food , nice portions Carne Asada Tacos and Burrito. I had 3 shrimp tacos, the bomb !!👍😁👍👍.“

“Me ans my family loves this place service is great food is great they have vegetarian options i do recommend all the haters saying bad horrible dont go

Well brother sorry to say YOU ARE A LIER!!!! Best salsa vegie salsa hot salsa mild salsa good rice good meat good beans sooooooo good do recommend

Like dont go to taco bell or Mc Donald across the street please dont los gallos is to good no thi food GO YO LOS GALLOS OR I WILL FIND WHERE YOU LIVE“

“I came here on a sunny day in January around 12.30ish.
I ordered at the counter and tried to look for a table - but didn't find any - so got takeout
As soon as I was done I saw a table empty out - and I took that one.
The staff was kind enough to accomodate the change.
The patio view is superb and the tacos 💯
I got the chips and guac - guac was fresh, and had the creamy feel of the avocado and the salsas were spicy and tangy , the chips were crispy and the little sprinkle of salt made all the difference
The fish taco has fried fish and the taco was a great crunchy one with the spicy and crispy feels
The shrimp taco is a little warm taco with grilled shrimp and a little mellow sauces .
Overall good food and view 👍🏽“

“Delicious jackfruit tacos. Great for vegetarian, vegan. And one of the only places to get gluten free. We asked and the chips are gluten free although I'm not sure about cross contamination but no reaction. Chips and guacamole make a meal though in a pinch“

“First time trying this place and was pleasantly surprised. Veggies were fresh and made to order, the chile relleno was cooked beautifully. The server was very friendly and helpful and very flexible with plate combos. I could have even had a breakfast burrito in the afternoon on a weekday! Super happy. Only negative was the tables/booths hadn’t been wiped down despite the restaurant being completely empty. Planning to return here ?

Vegetarian options: Chile relleno, sides, veggie burritos, breakfast burritos, quesadillas, plates, etc. also was willing to substitute and got a big plate of fresh grilled veggies on the side (asparagus, Brussel sprouts, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions)

Dietary restrictions: Refried beans not made with pork/lard for a change so and no chicken stock/stock in the Spanish rice so was able to get for once. Server was accommodating when checking that everything was vegetarian for me. ❤️“

“Great part of Santa Cruz History Great Ride Food and Entertainment“

“The Al Pastor was dry, I like it aged and dry, not sweet. The tacos were large and with thinly sliced fresh cabbage, tomatoes and beans. The waitstaff was excellent and the chair was comfortable. I am disappointed they didn’t have taquitos and I did not see sides of rice and beans offered on the menu. ?“

“It sad to say the taqueria in my Town Tracy cannot even come close to the superior food .“

“When In Santa Cruz you got to hit up Tacos El Chuy. The food is delicious, people are great and friendly. Nothing like a hot meal and a cold beer. Tacos 🌮 are great and the Nachos are awesome.“

“The best very Good food Costomer sercice and atmosphiere the resturant is exelente this is betted than any resturant in santa cruz ca i recomend its like if my grandmother is making the food delisouse come you will miss out if you dont have a amazing day !!!“

“Great place to meet up with friends, for breakfast or anytime! Great beach and lighthouse view, and casual, comfortable atmosphere! I highly recommend!!“

“Staff was super friendly and they truly cared about the customers. I had the fish taco and it was amazing“

“Been going there since the early 2020's and it's always has been good...
Good quality food, enough to fill your belly, and even with the plates, sometimes enough to even bring home, love it being close to walking distance, nice restaurant...“

“How can we not be friends ✊. thank you for your kind Grindz and awesome hospitality 💯. Love your food and family 💚“

“My friend and I had breakfast at Evarits’s Comal this morning and it was FABULOUS! My veggie eggs Benedict was perfectly cooked, with one of the best hollandaise sauces I’ve ever tasted. The fruit accompaniment was delicious and fresh. Service was on point. I even got serenaded and served a yummy dessert when they found out it was my birthday. I wholly recommend this excellent restaurant!“

“I’ve been eating at Gordos for 22 plus years now. Favorite taqueria of all time. Always recommend it to friends, only leaving this review because the burrito I had last night was literally the most perfect burrito they’ve ever made for me. It blew my mind. I’ve literally ordered the same thing for 22 years almost weekly 😂 love this place. Thank you Gordos!“

“This place fire and smacks. Very good food and customer service. Modest pricing and a great meal/ experience overall. My friend recommended here and it did not disappoint. Big portions and welcoming atmosphere. Thank you Taqueria and staff for the cool experience/ hospitality.“

“Got the shredded beef enchiladas which were pretty good. Way too heavy on the sauce and a little stingy on the meat and side of rice but still good. Best Mexican rice I’ve had in a while. Good service from the people working there. Very small old place and can’t see the level of cleanliness in the back but I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Small free parking lot which I was able to use given it was a weeknight with the marine layer rolled in. No public restrooms.“

“The best Mexican food ever! 🙌“

“My husband and I decided to check out the restaurant for lunch and it exceeded our expectations. We order the empanadas as a starter and they were absolutely delicious. The tocos we ordered were so yummy. They had such flavor, texture had depth. The wait staff were wonderful; professional, responsive, and always attending to our needs. We can't wait to return.“

“El Toro Bravo was closed for 391 days following a Christmas Day gas explosion, that destroyed the apartment attached to the back of the restaurant. Luckily no one was seriously hurt!

We are so blessed to have El Toro Bravo back. The same great menu and warm friendly staff. I got the tacolotta and my wife enjoyed some taquitos. The sweet enchiladas sauce will entice you to eat the whole thing (pro tip ask for a to go box so you can save some)

The food is great and we ran into a lot of people we know so a fun dinner spot that you should leave full and happy“

“Been to many restaurants and Taqueria Santa Cruz is my absolute favorite. The professionalism within all the staff regarding customers needs alone makes me feel so welcomed. And the food is absolutely amazing. Whether breakfast, lunch or dinner they go above and beyond yo satisfy customer needs. I would highly recommend this small business to anyone coming in town or locals in the area. I flew from the Chicago area just to have some amazing authentic food. You are NOT going to be disappointed!“

“Food was good. We thought about going across the street to the grocery store and returning and they told us that if we did then we need to leave with our car. People were ok. But food was great.“