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    El Palomar

    3.7 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    El Palomar Reservations

    Order El Palomar Takeout or Delivery

    El Palomar Photos

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    EL PALOMAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - El Palomar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Enchiladas Verdes
    Kimberley H.

    First time here we met friends that were visiting California for lunch. It's a little deceiving to find because it's in the back of the building. But a very pretty restaurant great architecture. There were nine of us and they did a great job with Service. The food was very good and the margaritas were well done. I had the chicken enchiladas and my boyfriend had the chicken quesadilla both were excellent. Would definitely go back.

    Chill Rellenos, Carnitas combo
    Panette P.

    Gave four stars instead of five because I waited at the front door while the staff stood in the galley on their phone, ignoring the business and customer (me) waiting at the front door for five minutes. Poor management not to require their staff to stay off their phones during their shift. Having worked at a restaurant I know there is always something to do. If you are on the floor working, stay off your phone!!! Food was 5 stars. Combo plate of chile Relleno, carnitas, rice, black beans. Good rellenos are rare- this one was excellent. Flan, made in house, for dessert. After being seated, service was attentive and friendly. Will be back.

    I ordered the shrimp burrito it was good with plenty of shrimp. It came with rice and beans
    DJ P.

    We were in town from TX and had a craving for Mexican food. So we decided to visit here. We were seated immediately with good service. We had 8 guests in all, but our food came out quick and good. The complimentary chips and salsa was fresh and delicious also. I would return.

    Fajitas
    Silpa D.

    Everything tasted fresh and full of flavor. You can tell the ingredients are quality and the recipes are authentic. A great spot for real Mexican food--simple, satisfying, and delicious.

    Chimichanga

    The staff was super friendly and the dining area looks great and super clean. The food came out quickly and was great. Even the salsa they give out was so good and perfectly spicy. Definitely will go again.

    Hibiscus margarita
    Joanna M.

    This location is easy to miss if you aren't looking for it. It is tucked back into the building. There is metered street parking around this location. We got there on the early side of dinner time and were seated right away. By the time we left, they had a wait for a table. The service was good, knowledgeable about the menu and efficient in handling her area and checking in. It is a pretty interior with high ceilings. The food was good. I got the shrimp in diabla sauce and it was spicy but not too bad. I really enjoyed the flavor. The beans were good but I wasn't a huge fan of the rice. I got the hibiscus margarita and it was good.

    Huachinango Guajillo

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    3 months ago

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    Johann E.

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    4 months ago

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    Johann E.

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    7 days ago

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    Johann E.

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    13 days ago

    I have been going to this restaurant for 40 years. It is dependably the best Mexican food in Santa Cruz. Great margaritas too!

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    19 days ago

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    2 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    21 days ago

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    2 months ago

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    2 months ago

    The food was great but the service was so horribly bad I would never go back. Do not go here

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    4 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Yummy! Bloody Mary's, nachos, best salsa and I think they have new chips. Thinner and lighter.

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    Johann E.

    Thanks, Kaye! We sent you a private message!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    Johann E.

    Please check your inbox for our private message when you get a chance!

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

    I love the fajitas. The portion size has decreased a bit over the years hence the 4 stars instead of 5 but they are really good

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    6 months ago

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    Hi Carla, we sent you a private message! Please check your inbox.

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    8 months ago

    The taco bar side of this location is a gem. Simple menu, amazing quality food, and most of all a friendly hardworking staff. Never change!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    Page 1 of 29

    El Palomar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Palomar

    Are the beans vegetarian? Is it cooked with lard?

    Our beans are vegetarian! They do not contain lard.

    Are children allowed in the cantina?

    Yes, always.

    View All 5 Questions

    The Real Taco - Surf and turf burrito

    The Real Taco

    4.4(159 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    Family-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    All the way from Tahoe and man oh man that burrito was amazing and there's parking which is a hard…read morething to find around here haha Stop on by Quick update the next day I stopped for a veggie taco the next day....BEST TACO I've ever had. Great flavor and the veggie taco has rice!! Yum Service is fast very nice as well and there are a few tables out front to sit and eat. Stop here you won't be disappointed

    Had lunch here today with the family…read more.. Pros- food was tasty. There were plenty of seats, both shaded and in the sun. Very dog friendly...including ours, there were 4 dogs in total. It's also in a cool location, several other eateries and drink spots to check out. We had 2 super burritos that were customized (one no sour cream, one no beans, both with 2 meats. The crispy beef tacos (fam favorite), and a fish taco (too spicy for me!), oh and chips and salsa. Cons- the super burritos were supposed to come with guacamole, but neither did. Didn't think about it until my son asked, but we were pretty much done eating at that point. We also had to pay for chips and salsa. Never a fan of that. The bag of chips and the salsa containers were also small. If you're going to charge, you should make it worth it for the customer(s). With tip, it was just over $70 bucks in total. Overall we all enjoyed our meal. Next time I'll look for the guacamole earlier, to make sure we get it! The location is near my son's place, so we will likely be back!

    Photos
    The Real Taco - Real taco:choice of meat,cilantro,onions,rousted Anaheim peppers,mozzarella cheese and salsa

    Real taco:choice of meat,cilantro,onions,rousted Anaheim peppers,mozzarella cheese and salsa

    The Real Taco - Súper taco: choice of meat,cilantro,onions,guacamole,pickles onions and salsa...

    Súper taco: choice of meat,cilantro,onions,guacamole,pickles onions and salsa...

    The Real Taco - Fish burrito.. rice,beans,pico de gallo,red cabbage and spicy mayo sauce!!

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    Fish burrito.. rice,beans,pico de gallo,red cabbage and spicy mayo sauce!!

    Copal - QUESADILLAS DEL MERCADO w/ added chicken

    Copal

    4.2(440 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    delicious oaxacan food, very hard to find in the bay area. i dont live very close but will be…read morecoming back

    I can't remember the last time I ate somewhere where everything was really good and the service was…read moregreat. My fiancé and I came with our dog and were seated in their patio. The patio is covered and there's a pathway leading to it from the parking lot which is helpful if you have a dog with you. The server immediately offered to bring us some water for our dog in a to-go container. The table already had a water carafe and clean glasses. We ordered our coke zeros, the antojito platter, ceviche, two mole negros and lechecilla for dessert. The ceviche was fresh and the tostadas were crispy. We marveled at all that came with the antojito platter. It came with taquitos, memelitas, molote, quesadilla with epazote and mushroom, chapulines, some queso fresco and a small serving of guacamole, salsa and pickled red onions. Everything was delicious. I even worked up the courage to have a chapulin and it actually tasted good! Perfect portions to share and still feel a bit full off of it. I've had mole negro before and each time was forgettable. When we tasted our mole negro, we immediately knew that what we were having was legit. So many complex flavors coming together beautifully. We already stuffed ourselves with the appetizers, so we had to take the rest to go which pained us because it was so good. We wanted to finish it right then and there because it was warm and tasty. It was still great the next day as leftovers. The dish came with big tortillas and some rice which had some slight flavor to it. I told my fiancé that if all this food was this good, we couldn't leave without trying their dessert. We got the lechecilla. It tasted like a Mexican chocolate panna cottage but creamier since panna cotta uses gelatin. It came with strawberries, whipped cream and I think a dusting of chocolate or cinnamon. We devoured it quickly. Servers were attentive and very patient. Like I said, we brought our dog with us. We kept having to readjust her so she wasn't laying out in the servers' way (she's a German Shepherd and Husky) but she still decided to lay down in their path numerous times (we tried!) and even then the servers were very kind. They checked on us frequently too. We know we will definitely be back.

    Photos
    Copal - Inside Dinning room

    Inside Dinning room

    Copal - Tlayuda

    Tlayuda

    Copal - Mole Nachos

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    Mole Nachos

    Taqueria Jalapeños - Breakfast burrito with chorizo

    Taqueria Jalapeños

    3.9(204 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $

    first and foremost i want to plea to the cooks : STOP ACCOMMODATING TO WHITE PEOPLES TASTES BUDS!!…read moreADD THAT SALT AND SPICE!! PLEASE!!! i truly do not want to say the quality is suffering from when i used to get them. I lived two blocks down and they were always my go-to. gen some of the best tacos in downtown santa cruz. ny partner got a carnitas burrito and the flavor was just lacking so much in the beans and rice. i added my fav green sauce to every bite which was upsetting bc i love that sauce and used more of it faster. ill still go whenever i need a good taco - unsure if they do taco tuesdays still but def a good time to try them out. their horchata is also one of my favs in town!!

    Semi-affordable, and decent food, but temper your expectations…read more At Taqueria Jalapeños you'll find relatively affordable and average tasting Mexican food. The shop is tight, compact, and grungy. Parking is minimal but there are a few spaces outside the restaurant.. But what the shop lacks for in size they make up in character. Once you enter, you are greeted with a wide menu with plenty of options that range from weekly specials to Birria Tacos to name a few options. When I had their special California Burrito I was a bit disappointed by the quality of the meat. The carne asada was tough and was full of cartilage. It came to a point where I had to dissect the burrito to remove the carne in order to enjoy the burrito. I will probably not be returning unless there is truly nothing open in the area and I am absolutely starving.

    Photos
    Taqueria Jalapeños - Fanta onto the street

    Fanta onto the street

    Taqueria Jalapeños
    Taqueria Jalapeños - Birria. I ate one, you get 3

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    Birria. I ate one, you get 3

    El Palomar - mexican - Updated May 2026

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