18 Best Seafood Restaurants near Soquel

“Thank you to Ken and his staff for an incredible birthday for my brother in law! Btw Ken makes the best mocktails!!!!! Such a stellar guy and artist with tasty creations. The mix of flavors were unreal! They always have INCREDIBLE food but the mocktails really took our breath away tonight! Thank you, we will be back :)“

“Great service, great food“

“great service and awesome views. happy hour was great, margaritas. the fish and chips were delicious 😋“

“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.“

“Calamari and chips. Only thing we order . 30 + years“

“We sat at the corner table outside with views of everything and had a great dinner. Started with custom martinis and oysters. The special grilled oysters with butter and lime were delicious. Then split a small Caesar salad and finally shrimp and grits for me and branzino and grits for him. All very good. Service was great too. Not an inexpensive dinner but well worth it. We will be back.“

“This was our first time at Hook and Line. It was recommended by friends. Easy to make reservations, service was excellent. Food nicely presented and delicious. We had all the " bites" : deviled egg, popcorn , smoked striped bass, and fried calamari appetizer. I ordered Monterey bay black cod which was delicious, my husband had halibut which was equally delicious, our friends had the hanger steak with potatoes and black cod. We loved our meal and enjoyed the excellent service.“

“Absolutely the best crab sandwich I’ve ever had!

Seaside Fish and Chowder at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a hidden gem that every seafood lover needs to visit. I stopped by on a whim and ended up having one of the most memorable meals of my trip.

Their crab sandwich is out of this world—sweet, fresh crab meat served on perfectly grilled sourdough from Sumano’s Bakery, crisped in butter until golden. The flavors were perfectly balanced, rich, and comforting without being heavy. You can taste the freshness.

The staff was friendly, the service was quick even with a crowd, and the location can’t be beat—right near the beach, with that classic Boardwalk vibe.

Highly recommend grabbing a crab sandwich (and maybe a bowl of chowder too!) and enjoying it while watching the waves. This place is a must-stop when you're in Santa Cruz!“

“So happy to have Johnnys open for lunch and Taco Tuesday ❣️“

“Lillian's Italian Kitchen is an absolute treasure! The authentic Italian dishes are made with love, and every bite is a burst of flavor. From the homemade pasta to the rich sauces, you can taste the quality of ingredients. The ambiance is warm and inviting, perfect for a cozy dinner or a special celebration. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, making your dining experience truly memorable. I can't recommend this place enough—definitely a must-visit!“

“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!“

“We found them by default

We came to go to another restaurant in town but they were closed because of electrical outage

So we drove around and found this GEM

We both shared a combo dish and it’s gone and good

We also ordered pork fried wontons
So yummy

We even had a lil to take home

You will not be disappointed : )

The photo is after we served ourselves“

“The food was outstanding, we had the one of the daily specials and our server was very friendly.“

“We enjoyed the dinner specials recently. Arrived here right before New Years, 12-30. I hade the daily catch and my wife had the steak pasta. Delicious. My fish was petrale sole, mixed vegetables, rice pilaf. Wife’s steak pasta was flavorful and creamy. We sat at the bar so service wasn’t the best but still attentive. Will return tomorrow. HAPPY NEW YEAR“

“Very clean market and mexican taqueria. The food is delicious with all the traditional options of a taqueria, including a help-yoursef salsa & chip bar. The market is small, clean, and caters items for quock neighborhood pickups and for beach goers.“

“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“

“Great service, food and atmosphere“

“They are open on Sunday!Wonderful authentic Chinese food(slightly less spicy for local tastes)- locally owned and friendly. Bustling, Casual sit down and take out. Lots of conversation in mandarin between kitchen, owners and hosts- which we love. We went in a large group and tried 10 dishes. Favorites were garlic chicken wing appetizer, spicy green beans, fish stew, cumin lamb, Sichuan style chicken, and the mu shu pork. We also like led the Sichuan tofu, scallops with broccoli, Mongolian beef (Chinese fajitas), and the candied walnut shrimp.“