Is there anything tacos can’t do? The humble, handheld snack sparked the recent food truck craze, earned its own colorful emoji, and prompted countless memes with bad puns (which we won’t taco ‘bout). Tacos also make for a delicious excuse to explore Santa Cruz County. Whether you reach for the sriracha or Tapatio, here are a handful of essential stops for your next epic taco crawl.
LAS PALMAS TACO BAR
A steady stream of families, beachgoers, and life-long regulars pour into this welcoming, family-owned taco stand situated steps from the shore. They’re here for crispy tacos loaded with traditional, savory fillings such as ground beef and piled high with shredded lettuce and cheese. These beloved tacos have been on the menu since Martin Mendez Sr., a former farmworker, opened the shop in 1955. Today, his grandson Rick Mendez continues the tradition, dishing up tacos alongside smoky, tangy enchiladas, breakfast burritos, and a whopping super quesadilla that staff secretly refer to as the Longboard Special. Brighten your meal with the vivid chile de arbol hot sauce, a homemade recipe passed down from grandpa Martin. Wash it all down with a cold beer or an Alameda Point Soda’s craft drink made from real cane sugar.
EL PALOMAR
Named for the transformed 1929 hotel it’s housed within, this downtown mainstay has earned a devoted following with its homemade Mexican food and potent Margaritas. Opened by Jose and Emilia Espinoza in 1983, the family-owned and operated eatery offers diners two distinct ways to get their taco on. The main dining room and light-filled cantina offers a full-service menu that features a carne asada taco plate with fresh, handmade tortillas, as well as a la carte tacos with a variety of fillings. An adjacent taco bar sports a more casual vibe and stays open late, slinging street tacos for a lively crowd. Don’t miss the weekly happy hour at each spot with Baja-style fish tacos in the cantina, street tacos at the Taco Bar, and discounted drinks at both.
LUPULO CRAFT BEER HOUSE
This popular taproom is renowned for its encyclopedic selection of craft beers, but perhaps lesser so for its locally sourced, organic grub inspired by the owners’ Mexican and Spanish family recipes. Their signature dish might be a trio of Oaxacan de pibil tacos with succulent, orange, and achiote-braised pork served alongside tangy slaw and pickled veggies. Other taco options include grilled carne asada and sauteed mushrooms with potatoes—each perked up with bottles of the locally made Itso and Notso hot sauces. Pair your choice with a creamy, Belgian-style saison, or ask the expert staff for another recommendation. Lupulo’s carnitas-fueled torta is a thing to be reckoned with for those willing to stray from the taco trail.
MIJO’S TAQUERIA
This solid spot in beachy Capitola serves up excellent fish tacos, including crispy Baja-style with lemon-herb crema and pickled radish slaw and seasonal grilled fish with pineapple-mango salsa. You needn’t be vegetarian to wolf down their hongos taco with umami-rich shiitake mushrooms, Oaxacan cheese sauce, and crunchy pepitas. The cozy interior offers a handful of seats, but your meal is best enjoyed two blocks away on Esplanade benches overlooking Capitola Beach.
WATSONVILLE
This vibrant south county town is a taco mecca thanks to a large Latino community and wealth of exceptional taquerias. Everyone has their fiercely defended fave, so we’ll simply offer an example such as D’La Colmena, where lengthy, lunchtime lines are for a good reason. Hidden within a market brimming with Mexican goods, a small kitchen and take-out window dishes up some of the best food in the region. Tacos feature a wide range of meats—from chile verde to chicharrones—but pork eaters shouldn’t pass up the carnitas.
MORE NOT-TO-MISS TACOS
The taco recs are near endless around Santa Cruz County. We would be amiss to not mention a few other local faves like Los Pericos near Downtown Santa Cruz; Los Gallos in Scotts Valley; La Cabaña Taqueria on the Westside; Taqueria Vallarta’s four locations including Felton, the Westside, Santa Cruz, and near Pleasure Point; and the list goes on and on. There are never too many tacos to try in our book, so happy taco trails!