Came here with my family and was pleasantly surprised by how good the tacos were. We ordered the asada, adobada, cabeza, and lengua tacos, and every single one came out fresh, hot, and full of flavor. They have a great salsa bar with plenty of toppings, so you can customize each taco exactly how you like it. No fancy atmosphere, this place is all about serving delicious, authentic tacos. The menu is simple, but everything is done right. If you're looking for a quick, satisfying lunch, this place definitely hits the spot. We'll be back! read more

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We asked for carne asada tacos and they said, "Say less, I know just the spot." That's how we ended up at Lilly's Tacos. You order at the counter, grab your toppings at the side bar, and wait for your freshly made tacos to come out. They call your name when your food is ready. They also have a small fridge with canned drink options. The tacos were really good! I usually stick to carne asada, but they also offer cabeza, lengua, and cachete -- cuts that are more unique and harder to find, so definitely try those if you want something different. It definitely feels like a local favorite. The line can get long but it moves pretty quickly. I went on a Saturday afternoon and street parking was easy to find. read more

Lilly's Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Lilly's Taqueria (not tacos) is such a great place! We've been coming to this place for 12+ years, even after college and it's always a hit! Their quality hasn't gone down for the price going up and we appreciate that very much. I just wish there was more vegetarian friendly options. The one they do have they have seasoned veggies that are perfectly seasoned but it's not as filling as ofcourse the meat ones. If they had rice + beans I feel like that would really be a game changer here especially for the vegetarians! When we came in it was busy, as it usually is but the line moved fast, service was fast, and the workers are kind, to the point since they're busy. They clean up fairly fast when people leave their tables too! There's a lot of space to sit in the restaurant, parking is scattered throughout the street. Can't wait to come back again! read more

Lilly's Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

If you're looking for some quick tasty tacos, this is the place to be! When looking up for some taco options, this place came up on the search list, and boy did it deliver. A small counter to take orders, a limited selection but very selection delivered. One section had the order station and the kitchen, and two more sections were for seating. They had a kind of sauce station, which was nice as each customer can customize per their preference. This place was buzzing with people even on a Thursday afternoon, can't imagine on weekends. We got 3 tacos, each being $3.49, very affordable, but extremely tasty. I personally preferred adobada which was delicious. Chicken fajitas were great too. Definitely recommend this place for a quick bite or a full fledged meal. read more

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Taco tour in Santa Barbara by a local Lily's Tacos has been around forever, and this is the original on Chapala. Started with the tripas, only offered Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Asked for extra crispy! Not exactly good for your heart but if you crave that chicharron-type crunch, this is the one. Crispy, clean and savory. Add onions, cilantro and a splash of lime for acidity... maybe it helps dissolve some of the fat Next, cachete -- beef cheeks. Tender, flavorful and definitely not bland. Add plenty of freshly chopped onions and cilantro. You can smell the freshness! Then lime and your choice of mild, medium or hot salsa. They give you two tortillas per taco and mine was piled so high I divided it and made two tacos from one. Why not? Delicioso! Fast-paced, cozy spot and the staff had big smiles. Happy cooks, happy meal, happy me! So happy to come back. Cost - $3.50 per taco! Awesome deal! read more

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The food was tasting, tacos really good, everyone was nice and ambience quiet because we get there when they almost were closing, but they didnt rush, so it was good. read more

This place is a nostalgia staple. It's probably been twenty years since my first visit and not a whole lot has changed. Simple grilled and vapor style tacos. Even though it's only tacos they have a good variety of meat options (one veggie too). What sets this taqueria apart is its al vapor style tacos. If you have never tried cabeza or lengua tacos this may be your place to try. One of the few places I order lengua or my favorite, Cachete, tacos. Cachete is beef cheek. They also have labio (lips) and ojos (eyes) if you're more adventurous than me. I find them slightly chewier to my liking. What completes this no frills, straight up taco spot is its salsa bar. Salsas are tasty and I'm always throwing a lot of toppings on top. Quick and successful lunch! read more

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It's fast and convenient and you can sit down and eat. There's free street parking by it. They have hand sanitizer near the cashier. There's a salsa bar where you can add your condiments. The spicy salsa was nice and spicy and very flavorful. be careful not to add too much. I like my meat to be slightly crispy and they do that right. But the tacos are not hot but still good. read more

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Sooo yummy, delicious, quick and fun. Ate here after my elopement. I recommend to everyone visiting SB for some good and safe gluten free tacos. read more

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I love this taqueria a lot, especially when I have friends in town and they are craving tacos. I arguably think 4 tacos is the perfect serving sizes for someone who has been walking around state street all day. There is no AC inside so it's not ideal to eat during the summer heat, so we took ours to the wharf to eat with the ocean views. The cashier spoke English and Spanish and switch back between each with me and my friends. Very tasty, would absolutely come again! read more

Lilly's Tacos - Asada Marinated chicken Tongue - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Theres a reason why the locals love this place so much. Super quick, no frills super authentic taco spot. Great adobado!! read more

Lilly's Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I was hungry after leaving the Santa Barbara Mission, so I went to buy tacos. I went to Lilly's tacos, a place I had never visited before. You must go-authentic tacos with all the toppings. I ordered 2 veggie, chicken and asada tacos. They were delicious! If you need a quick, satisfying bite to eat, this is the place. read more

Delicious, authentic tacos. Maciza and pastor for me. Don't forget to add the grilled onions!

We went to Lilly's for lunch, and even though they had a line out the door, they were taking orders fast and moving people through. They have a small menu of different types of authentic tacos. I really liked the pork and grilled beef tacos. My husband tried some of the more adventurous tacos, like the lengua (tongue) and cabeza (head). The tacos were simple and delicious. We were happy with the meal! We really enjoyed the salsas and hot sauces, too. read more

Lilly's Tacos - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I kept hearing about this place so we had to give it a try. It's just OK. Nothing amazing, just a regular street taco. They literally have only tacos so expect to spend about $20- $30 a person if you want to fill up. read more

Lilly's Tacos - Adobada,Carne Asada and Chicken. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Fast, clean, lip licking good tacos!! Highly recommended for a quick meal. Try the beef cheek! read more

Lilly's Tacos - Taco - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

No frills, quick service taco spot. I love this place for a quick affordable lunch and have been often, but if you're looking for a more in depth culinary experience this might not be your place. Tacos come with your choice of meat or veggies with a salsa bar that offers lime, cilantro, onions and 3 salsas. read more

Lilly's Tacos - Asada tacos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

First stop after landing in Santa Barbara? Has to be Lilly's Tacos. Rolled in here about an hour before closing and there were still plenty of locals ordering up some plates of deliciousness. Line was about 5 deep when I arrived but service was prompt and friendly. Plenty of indoor seating with two different salsa stations to choose your level of spice. The shop wasn't too noisy and was welcoming. If you're in the area for some authentic tacos run, don't walk, to Lilly's. read more

Lilly's Tacos - Steak & Grilled Pork - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We stopped by to see what all the commotion was about and they were good tacos. The salsa were very good. Nothing mind blowing. The place was clean. The service was fast. The food was good. read more

Lilly's Tacos - Asada Adobada - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Absolutely hidden gem. Simple menu of Absolutely delicious tacos! Affordable! 3 pastor and 4 asada, filled to the rim of doubled fresh tortillas. Salsas on the bar were homemade and a great kick, spicy! Fresh chopped cilantro and onions. The place was packed and the line never ended. read more

Lilly's Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Fantastic experience at Lilly's Tacos! We came closer to 6 pm and didn't have to wait a minute to order. We ordered 5 asada tacos and one Jarritos which came out to $21! The tacos came out within minutes, they were piping hot and overflowing with meat. The salsa bar is self serve, along with toppings if you like cilantro and onions, as well as radish and limes. I believe the tortillas were homemade, they were soft and flavorful. The tacos were very good. Two is more than enough if you're a light eater which I am not, but they were plentiful for me. Some of the best tacos in Santa Barbara. I highly recommend it for a quick lunch or dinner! read more

Lilly's Tacos - Asada tacos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Update: if I am hungry and in the area...this is the best place for a quick, affordable taco meal. I just wish the tacos weren't so bland.

Loved this place so much I wanted to come back the next day! The service is fast, vibe casual, and the tacos hit the spot. We tried the cachete and tripas, which were both very flavorful, excellent texture. I also love that you add your own onion, cilantro, and hot sauce! Perfect for onion lovers like me. We didn't have time to stop by again during our visit, but looking forward to next time I'm in SB! read more

Decided to stop for a quick bite at Lilly's Tacos on my way back to SoCal and I'm glad I did. Walking up to the restaurant itself it's nothing fancy, just the order counter, indoor seating, and a few small tables on the sidewalk. It's a very casual taco shop perfect for a quick meal. Lilly's menu is also super simple, they have street tacos, street tacos, and more street tacos. From what I saw on the menu, that is all they serve, so if you're looking for hard tacos, burritos, or other dishes, this isn't a good fit. Ordering is simple, You choose your meat and the number of tacos you want and they'll put it together before you can even put away your wallet, it was that fast. I ordered some Asada and Tripa (intestine) tacos and I have to say their tacos are great. They're nothing fancy, no crazy toppings, just meat and corn tortillas. There is a self-serve bar however that offers a range of Salsas, chopped cilantro, onion, and limes. The carne asada was flavorful and they weren't skimping on the meat. I ordered the tripa crunchy and they were really great. All in all, this place has all the makings of a great taco shop without all the fluff. It's relatively affordable and you can be in and out within 30-minutes. Would come here often if I lived in the area. All in all, would recommend giving it a try. read more

Lilly's Tacos - 4x Asada and 2x Tripas Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

For sure, here's a super casual, short review. It's the kind of thing you'd text a friend. OMG, Lily's Tacos is the real deal. No frills, just amazing tacos that taste like the best thing you've ever had. I got 2 carne asada, 2 Cachete, 2 lengua, and 3 cabeza it's ridiculous so delicious. The line is worth it, I swear. It's seriously a must-try. read more

The meat was so incredibly dry, it made these hard to enjoy. Will definitely choose another taco spot next time I'm visiting Santa Barbara. read more

Lily's still has the best tacos de ojos in the world!!! Literally, I have only found good tacos de ojos in San Miguel de Allende, and here. I have lots of good tacos around me in West LA, but I gladly drive all the way here for the ojos. The BEST!! read more

Lilly's Tacos - Salsas, limes, onions on ice - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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So I had my second dinner of the night here last night. I'd eaten something lighter in the evening but was feeling a bit peckish and needed a little more to eat, as I'd had a really active and adventurous day. I knew you Yelpers didn't lead me wrong, 'cos there was a small queue outside the door when I arrived (8pmish on a Friday). Very straightforward - order at a register, and your food will be up a few moments later from a counter (just a few inches away). It was super speedy and the tacos were delicious. I added some of the medium salsa to mine - it had a good little kick. I'm not adventurous when it comes to my food, so I had one chicken fajita taco and one asada. But, as some other reviewers have noted, you can eat any part of a cow here -- or you could also get a veggie taco. 2025: 25/100 read more

best street tacos that i've ever had, what more must i say? the tacos were so flavorful, and the people were very friendly! you get to customize your tacos read more

Lilly's Tacos - we ordered Asada, Adobada, and Fajitas De Pollo tacos! this is the pollo one (chicken). ALL EXCELLENT!!!! - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Food came out very fast, the menu was easy to follow and order from. The place was very clean with lots of seating area. The portions were very generous as well as the price. They had their own bar to add onions, cilantros, and radish separately. They also had three sauce options varing in spice levels. Overall, very good place to grab a quick taco bite. The el pollo taco was the best for me personally and the tripe had a bit of a stronger bitter flavor but my girlfriend enjoyed it a lot because she liked tripe. read more

Lilly's Tacos - Two carne asada tacos, two el pollo tacos, and one tripe taco - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We had a chicken, asada, and adobada taco. They were just fine. Not vert flavorful or good quality. The street Tacos El Triunfo are so much better! read more

Tasty authentic Mexican street tacos! Highly recommended and a must when in Santa Barbara!

Authentic and quick experience. You order and the tacos come out very quickly! We tried the pork and Asada tacos. We liked the pork taco more -- the meat was tender and fatty. Salsa bar was also fun! The carne asada meat was a bit tough. Good for take out inside an authentic taco shop. read more

Lilly's Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Food was great but I didn't get the Lengua or Cabesas tacos o ordered. Place was clean and quick but the teceii in it was clear what I ordered. Don't know how they messed it up. read more

This place did not live up to the reviews. The carne asada was dry and flavorless. If you wanted any flavor you had to drown the taco in onions, cilantro, and salsa. At least the carnitas and pollo asada were okay. But overall not worth it when there are so many other great spots in the area. read more

My husband and I rode bikes to try this spot and the food was delicious but the service was meh. It's set up like a typical taco shop you order up front, pay, and they hand you your tacos. Nothing extra or fancy about it. You dress them yourself. We tried adobada, carne asada, and cabeza and enjoyed them all and they give you plenty of meat. The salsa has a great spice level as well. The service was kind of odd, we ordered and paid, and were handed the plates. And as I walked away and was about to place onions on top the lady in front snatched the plate out of my hand and walked away with the plate. Just super odd encounter that made it feel like I did something wrong and she was kind of rude about it. read more

Below average tacos. Maybe it's cause I'm from LA, spoiled with good tacos. Sauces are mediocre. The tortillas don't even taste like it has been on the grill, barely touched. - Steamed tacos (ALL) 2.1/5 All of them were tender except for one, it was light brown in color. They all kind of tasted similar in terms of beefiness, and differed in tenderness (gelatinous). - Tripas crispy taco 2.7/5 Deep fried tripas, they're very crispy. Free street parking read more

I haven't been here for a decade but I remember how well seasoned the meat was, how fresh the guacamole was and how cheesy the cheese was. Well.....imagine my surprise when I get to this place with my family and not only do they dont season their meat, like asada was cooked but not even salt was added to season it. The condiment bar didnt have guacamole, no sour cream and no cheese. Tf?!! How are you charging soooo much for a taco that you can get with more flavor at taco bell. Such a let down this place ended up being. Not coming back for sure. read more

Great tacos. A real taco spot. I suggest you come hungry and gorge. I've been a since they opened in a narrow shopfront and there was such limited seating and people sat on the sidewalk kerb to enjoy a juicy taco. read more

I spent the weekend in Santa Barbara, first time ever actually. I usually am just passing by but gaaaahhh daaammmm was I missing out! I had no friggin idea SB got down like this!! These tacos were probably some of the best I've had in my life and I've had A LOT of tacos. Everything I ordered was so flavorful and not too greasy but juicyyyy. They hit my tastebuds with a quickness and did not turn back LOL Oh yes and they had a really unique meat choice "beef eye", lemme tell you this was super tender no seeing the actual eyeballs just had that tender lovin flavor we all need in our lives haha. Will definitely be back to SB and you bet your MF azz im coming back to Lilly's. PEACE!! read more