El Palomar
Mexican Restaurant$$$$
Downtown Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
"Great Enchilada de Camerones."(2 Tips)
"Order a house Margarita (da best) and then ask for restroom code."(9 Tips)
"Delicious tacos & awesome margaritas made with seleccion 1146"(13 Tips)
"happy hour margaritas and $2 street tacos"(7 Tips)
56 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- Mexican food
- margaritas
- happy hour
- good for dates
- good for groups
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Cristina B.September 28, 2014Want a perfect amount of food while having a drink? Go with one of their sopes. I do the snapper, shrimp or grilled chicken. If you're a bit more hungry, get rice and beans with it. You're all set!
Zach McNairJuly 19, 2015The service and the food here are top notch. Coming here with our kids, we felt at home, and everyone engaged with our little family. Man. Will eat here much more often. Fajitas & Moscow Mule ftw!
Katie VetaliceJuly 21, 2014Really good entrées. I had the cheese enchiladas and they were amazing. The chips that they serve are obviously store bought which really ruins the amazing salsa they have. It was pretty good overall!- Order a house Margarita (da best) and then ask for restroom code.
Morgan C.January 14, 2014Love this place! Wonderful service, great food, excellent happy hour deals, and did I mention Wonderful service! Fresh smelling place - restaurant and bar, gorgeous and clean.
S MSeptember 8, 2016We had the sopes with beans and rice, very good! We were offered a box to take away, since it was way too much for us, 2 meals for the price of one!
Chuck DavisonOctober 27, 2011Great little place in an old hotel lobby with lots of options. Tacos are good. Hand made tortillas and a hint of cabbage. Prawns are really baby shrimp. Asada has great flavor. enough w/ critic try it- Marek MineckiSeptember 27, 2014Standard Mexican food but very well done... happy hour margaritas and $2 street tacos are a great way to start the evening.
Chile Relenos, Sopes, and Fajitas are excellent. Order a pitcher of Mescale margaritas and you are set!
Cyndi SmithNovember 2, 2011Being from Texas, I've been searching for a *LONG* time for decent Mexican food in California... These guys do a great job! And their margaritas are wonderful.
Amy LeighFebruary 22, 2015Great food, got new tortilla chips and they are so much better! Crispy and so fresh
I love this place! Always excellent service, tasty food and great drinks!- Paweł FeldmanApril 2, 2013Great Enchilada de Camerones. I hateted the service though. I'm not really used to those fake American smiles and I had just one too many in here.
Try the chile verde - It was so good... Ate it before taking a picture!
Phoebe DanhauserApril 11, 2012The Enchilada de Camerones are amazing I always ask for an extra! Delicious!!!!
The best carne asada in town, without the full sit-down restaurant experience.
Heather RApril 13, 2011Try the tamales. Very good. Beans are yummy but they're made with lard. Not so healthy.
Stuart DavisAugust 30, 2012They say the bathrooms require tokens and are only for paying customers - not the case! Which I hate to take advantage of but it was an emergency of the bladder.
Whitney W.November 19, 2011Terrible service, took 10 min to even be acknowledged. Waited 30 min for my nachos and never received them because the kitchen made quesadillas (which I also never received). Never saw a manager.
Jose Antonio Lopez ArquelladasDecember 12, 2011Simply the best Mexican restaurant that I've tried. The burritos are really big and the Camaron's one it's really good. A happy hour from Mon. to Fri.!
198 Photos
Foursquare © 2025 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Serving Santa Cruz since 1983 with unique & fresh Mexican cuisine and 80 different selections of fine tequila!
Closed until 11:00 AM (Show more)
- Mon–Wed
- 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
- Thu
- 11:00 AM–9:30 PM
- Fri
- 11:00 AM–10:30 PM
- Sat
- 10:00 AM–10:30 PM
- Sun
- 10:00 AM–9:00 PM
(831) 425-7575
Features
Reservations
Yes
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Drinks
Beer, Full Bar, Cocktails
See More
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