Highest-rated cheap eats in Santa Cruz by diners

Americans spend a lot of money on eating out—in 2024, that totaled $1.54 trillion, or nearly 59% of all food spending. So, it's only natural to want the best bang for your restaurant dollar.

Value has become a key component of what diners look for when they eat out, with more than 7 in 10 consumers eyeing menus for value meals. At the same time, many diners also look for something new and exciting, hoping to sample new flavors or food with ingredients that are too expensive to make at home.

Many ethnic cuisines also provide a lot of value because they aren't as expensive to produce. Many Mexican dishes fall into this category because tortillas are cheaper to produce than bread. Many Asian cuisines, including Chinese, Filipino, and Cambodian food, also rely on low-cost ingredients and simple food preparation techniques.

Food trucks and street food vendors also offer cheaper food, thanks to lower overhead costs. Their limited menus typically focus on one type of food, allowing them to simplify purchasing and pass the savings on in the form of lower prices.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cheap eats restaurants within 10 kilometers of the Santa Cruz area using data from Yelp. Data is as of Aug. 8, 2025. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only businesses with at least 20 reviews were considered, and a cost of "$" (out of 4) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than five locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

Tacos Moreno

1 / 30

#30. Tacos Moreno

- Rating: 3.9/5 (459 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1053 Water St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Ming's Palace

2 / 30

#29. Ming's Palace

- Rating: 3.9/5 (170 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4720 Soquel Drive Soquel, California
- Categories: Cantonese, Szechuan
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria Jalapeños

3 / 30

#28. Taqueria Jalapeños

- Rating: 3.9/5 (196 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 206 Laurel St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Henfling's Tavern

4 / 30

#27. Henfling's Tavern

- Rating: 3.9/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9450 Hwy 9 Ben Lomond, California
- Categories: American, Chicken Wings, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

Restaurante Los Pinos

5 / 30

#26. Restaurante Los Pinos

- Rating: 4.0/5 (271 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2019 North Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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Salsa's Taco Bar

6 / 30

#25. Salsa's Taco Bar

- Rating: 4.0/5 (331 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1710 Brommer St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mexican, Vegan, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Pizza My Heart

7 / 30

#24. Pizza My Heart

- Rating: 4.1/5 (414 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 209 Esplanade Ste A Capitola, California
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria Los Gallos

8 / 30

#23. Taqueria Los Gallos

- Rating: 4.1/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 235 Mt Hermon Road Ste C Scotts Valley, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

The White Raven

9 / 30

#22. The White Raven

- Rating: 4.1/5 (261 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6253 Hwy 9 Felton, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Castagnola Deli & Cafe

10 / 30

#21. Castagnola Deli & Cafe

- Rating: 4.1/5 (182 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 201 Monterey Ave. Capitola, California
- Categories: Cafes, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

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Taqueria Los Primos

11 / 30

#20. Taqueria Los Primos

- Rating: 4.2/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 425 Barson St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Stevenson Coffee House

12 / 30

#19. Stevenson Coffee House

- Rating: 4.2/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1156 High St. Stevenson College Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Internet Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

De La Hacienda Taqueria

13 / 30

#18. De La Hacienda Taqueria

- Rating: 4.2/5 (290 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 354 Washington St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Guang Zho Chinese Restaurant

14 / 30

#17. Guang Zho Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (341 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3150 Portola Drive Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Los Gallos Taqueria

15 / 30

#16. Los Gallos Taqueria

- Rating: 4.3/5 (245 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 18 Victor Sq Ste A Scotts Valley, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Erik's DeliCafé

16 / 30

#15. Erik's DeliCafé

- Rating: 4.3/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 102 Rancho Del Mar Aptos, California
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

The Point Market

17 / 30

#14. The Point Market

- Rating: 4.3/5 (541 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 23040 East Cliff Drive Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

San Marcos Charquito Tacos y Tortas

18 / 30

#13. San Marcos Charquito Tacos y Tortas

- Rating: 4.3/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 718 Capitola Ave. Capitola, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Mijo's Taqueria

19 / 30

#12. Mijo's Taqueria

- Rating: 4.4/5 (360 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 200 Monterey Ave. Ste 2 Capitola, California
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

Deke's Market - In Mah' Belly Deli

20 / 30

#11. Deke's Market - In Mah' Belly Deli

- Rating: 4.4/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 334 7th Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Grocery, Delis, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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iCrave

21 / 30

#10. iCrave

- Rating: 4.5/5 (240 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1601 41st Ave. Ste Q Capitola, California
- Categories: Creperies, Coffee & Tea, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Masoods Liquor & Deli

22 / 30

#9. Masoods Liquor & Deli

- Rating: 4.5/5 (124 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7970 Hwy 9 Ben Lomond, California
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

Garden Liquors & Deli

23 / 30

#8. Garden Liquors & Deli

- Rating: 4.5/5 (343 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1815 Soquel Drive Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Delis, Turkish
- Read more on Yelp

La Placa Family Bakery

24 / 30

#7. La Placa Family Bakery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9280 Highway 9 Ben Lomond, California
- Categories: Gelato, Pizza, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

Five Star Taco Catering

25 / 30

#6. Five Star Taco Catering

- Rating: 4.6/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: San Jose, California
- Categories: Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp

Raymond's Catering

26 / 30

#5. Raymond's Catering

- Rating: 4.6/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1156 High St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

Left Coast Sausage Worx

27 / 30

#4. Left Coast Sausage Worx

- Rating: 4.6/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 107 San Jose Ave. Capitola, California
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Food Stands, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Mariposa Coffee Bar

28 / 30

#3. Mariposa Coffee Bar

- Rating: 4.7/5 (102 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1010 Pacific Ave. Ste East Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cuban, Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Happy Dog Hotdogs

29 / 30

#2. Happy Dog Hotdogs

- Rating: 4.9/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 324 River St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Street Vendors, Hot Dogs, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp

Paradise Dogs

30 / 30

#1. Paradise Dogs

- Rating: 5.0/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 388 metros.

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