Fish tacos are a defining part of eating your way through Santa Cruz County. Shaped by the coastline and a deeply casual food culture, fish tacos here show up in many forms, from classic beer-battered styles to grilled fish topped with bright, fresh salsas. This guide highlights standout spots across the county where fish tacos shine for their flavor, consistency, and local love. Whether you are visiting for the weekend or looking to deepen your own Santa Cruz bucket list, these are the places worth seeking out taco by taco.
Tacos El Chuy
Tacos El Chuy is a permanent food truck parked just outside Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing on the far Westside, making it a natural stop for locals gathering for beer, food, and an easygoing outdoor meal. While the truck has earned a strong reputation for its birria specialties, the fish and seafood tacos are a big part of what keeps people coming back. The fish tacos feature well-seasoned fish cooked on the Blackstone and served on corn tortillas with fresh toppings that keep each bite bright and satisfying. Shrimp tacos lean richer, with layers of flavor and texture that make them especially popular, and the Mar y Tierra option brings seafood and carne asada together in a way that feels indulgent and filling. Portions here are generous across the board, and the seafood tacos consistently deliver on flavor, making Tacos El Chuy a reliable Westside destination for anyone seeking standout fish tacos beyond the usual expectations.
Los Gallos
Los Gallos is a go-to taqueria for fish tacos across Santa Cruz County, with three locations, two in Scotts Valley and one in Boulder Creek, making fresh seafood tacos especially accessible for inland communities. Known for their enormous portions, Los Gallos serves fish tacos piled high with well-seasoned, fresh fish and generous fillings, to the point where a single taco can feel like a full meal. Fresh pico de gallo adds brightness and crunch, giving the taco a refreshing quality that balances its size. Their shrimp tacos are equally popular and just as generously built, making it easy to mix and match. Hearty, flavorful, and deeply satisfying, Los Gallos stands out as a reliable stop for seafood tacos that consistently deliver.
Steamer Lane Supply
Steamer Lane Supply is a longtime local favorite, known as much for its location as for the food itself. Set just steps above the water, this casual food shack looks directly out at the ocean, making it one of the rare places where you can eat a fish taco while watching waves break below. Their fresh fish taco features grilled rockfish cooked in lemon-chipotle butter, topped with shredded cabbage, salsa verde, queso fresco, crema, chermoula, fresh herbs, and lime. The taco feels thoughtfully built, with the grilled fish staying moist and flavorful and the toppings adding freshness and depth rather than masking the fish. Sold individually and generously portioned, it is an easy choice whether you are grabbing one after a beach walk or ordering a couple for a full, satisfying meal. Steamer Lane Supply stands out for pairing quality fish tacos with one of Santa Cruz’s most iconic coastal settings.
Los Pericos
Los Pericos is a downtown Santa Cruz taqueria with a long-standing reputation for standout burritos and legendary carnitas, but its fish and seafood tacos deserve equal recognition. What makes Los Pericos compelling is its range. You can come here for a classic coastal fish taco built around grilled fish and fresh pico de gallo, or lean into something more playful and indulgent that blends Baja influences with comfort food sensibilities. Their Baja-style fish tacos are especially popular for how generously they are built and how well the flavors come together, while shrimp-based options like the Gobernador-style tacos bring richness and depth that set them apart from more straightforward seafood tacos around town. Rooted in traditional Mexican cooking and made with consistency and care, Los Pericos is also a reliable late-night stop, staying open until 11 pm, which makes it one of the best places in Santa Cruz to satisfy a serious fish taco craving after most kitchens have closed.
Johnny’s Harborside
Johnny’s Harborside pairs fish tacos with one of the most iconic waterfront settings in Santa Cruz, overlooking the harbor with boats coming and going throughout the day. The restaurant is known for elevated coastal cuisine and a menu shaped by the daily catch, with a strong focus on sustainable seafood sourced from local fishermen whenever possible. That approach carries through to their tacos, especially on Taco Tuesday, when the lineup expands, and the harbor fills with people settling in for an easy, midweek meal. Fish-forward options like grilled rockfish and other seafood-driven tacos highlight fresh preparation and thoughtful toppings, making tacos here feel at home alongside the restaurant’s oysters, cocktails, and classic harbor favorites. With its combination of scenic views, locally focused seafood, and a popular Taco Tuesday that draws both locals and visitors, Johnny’s Harborside stands out as a go-to spot for fish tacos in a true Santa Cruz harbor setting.
Miches and Ceviches
Miches and Ceviches is a seafood-driven spot just a few blocks from the iconic Hook surf break, making it a natural stop to grab food to go and head toward the water. The menu centers on fresh, citrus-cured seafood, and that influence carries through everything they serve, including their tacos. The Tacos de Pescado estilo gobernador feature lightly fried tacos filled with sautéed tilapia and melted cheese, layered with vegetables, purple cabbage, and avocado, with house-made chipotle mayo on the side. They are rich, filling, and still grounded in fresh seafood. Tostadas play an equally important role here, especially for ceviche lovers. The Tostada de Ceviche de Pescado con Mango highlights fish cured in citrus and mixed with onion, tomato, cucumber, serrano peppers, mango, and cilantro, delivering a bright, refreshing bite that pairs well with the coastal setting. Miches and Ceviches stands out for offering tacos and tostadas that feel like natural extensions of a menu built around fresh seafood.
Tacos Al Fuego
Tacos Al Fuego is located inside The Hangar in Watsonville, offering a casual, counter-service spot known for fresh ingredients and house-made tortillas prepared every morning. That attention to fundamentals carries through to their Baja fish taco, which stands out for its bold, confident flavor. The flaky white fish is fried until crisp, adding texture without overpowering the fish itself, then finished with plenty of sauce and a mango cabbage slaw that brings both crunch and sweetness. The taco leans into spice and contrast, creating a lively, satisfying bite from start to finish. Alongside a broader menu of burritos, quesadillas, and other Mexican specialties, Tacos Al Fuego earns its place on this list as a reliable Watsonville stop for fish tacos that deliver on flavor, freshness, and generosity.
Ranch Milk
Ranch Milk is a unique, family-owned and operated Mexican restaurant, tap house, and gas station that has earned a reputation as one of Santa Cruz County’s best-kept food secrets. Inside, it opens into a welcoming market and dining space serving authentic Mexican food alongside a rotating selection of local craft beers. Their fish tacos are a standout, with a Baja-style option available either lightly battered and fried or made with grilled fish, both topped with a light slaw and chipotle mayo that keep the flavors fresh and satisfying. Do not miss the house-made salsas, especially the award-winning spicy peanut salsa, which adds an extra layer of depth and heat to the fish tacos. Whether you are fueling up, grabbing food to go, or settling in with a beer, Ranch Milk is a memorable stop for fish tacos that consistently deliver.