Super quick service and very friendly staff. I ordered the bean dip burrito, which is a new special. I got it with birria and guac - super delicious and I got it within 5-10 min of ordering. The burrito is seared, nothing is falling apart. I love that there is both outdoor and indoor seating PLUS free WiFi. Overall, the vibe on the inside is very clean, very modern. I love the tiling all around and the two TVs. A great place for lunch or to relax and have a beer read more

Little Alex’s - Bean dip burrito with birria and guacamole, med salsa - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

... this is not Mexican food. I feel like if you went to a Mexican restaurant in Russia, this is what it would be like. I ordered the chimichanga burrito, ask for no meat . The chimichanga burrito is a deep fried burrito with beans and rice, lettuce, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.... Nowhere on the menu de description does it state that I'll be getting a burrito with a bag of mixed frozen vegetables from Walmart in it. I KID YOU NOT, I got a burrito with minimal rice and beans stuffed with broccoli, lima beans, and carrots and corn exactly like the frozen bags of mixed vegetables you can get at the grocery store. First off on the menu description it didn't say any of this would be in the burrito And second, why in the hell would anybody ever put broccoli lima beans carrots in a freaking burrito? What in the white tarnation?!! Well, other than my odd burrito, my husband got the fajitas. They were so so not anything to write Home about. Also, there was a mixup with our order. The staff knew it, but didn't tell us. When I walked up to the staff to let them know that my daughter's chicken chimichanga burrito didn't have chicken in it. He stated to me "oh yeah, I realize after I dropped them off that I accidentally swapped them". Well, I had ordered a burrito with no meat and he thought he served me a burrito with meat, to which mine didn't have me either. But if you thought you were giving me something with meat in it, and I specifically asked for no meat because I'm a vegetarian why would you not notify me? Please do yourself a favor and if you want Mexican food go to a Mexican restaurant... like a real Mexican restaurant. Not this establishment. ...broccoli in a $&@$ burrito ‍ read more

I have been coming to Little Aleks's for some time, and I really enjoy this place. I'm someone who prefers very dry fish tacos, and they usually do a great job, especially with the cheese on top. I've also met the owner, and she is genuinely kind and caring. You can tell she puts her heart into this new restaurant. Their salsas are incredible and always a highlight. On this visit, there was a bit of confusion while ordering, and I received tacos that were much wetter than I had intended, with a pink sauce. When I tried to clarify, the interaction felt a little uncomfortable, particularly since it happened in front of other customers, which made it feel more elevated than it needed to be, almost like a brief Seinfeld "no soup for you" moment. That said, the tacos were remade correctly, and I appreciated that they made it right. I truly like this place and want to continue supporting it, and I hope this was just a one off situation. Overall, the food is consistently good, and the heart behind this restaurant really shows. Whatever happened to where the customer is always right? Why did it go to the point of not believing me? read more

Quick and friendly service today. This is a great place to eat at since they have both outdoor and indoor seating. I'm a fan of their fish tacos for Happy Hour! 5.99 for 2. I'll be back and I'll try something else next time! read more

See all

Food is great ! Excellent service super clean.. I know this place for a while we used to go to the old location in montecito but I'm so glad they open a location now we get to enjoy their food for years to come thank you so much. read more

The space is clean and the ambiance is appealing. The staff were helpful and nice. Little Alex's is an old SB restaurant that closed down because they lost their lease. I am happy to see they found a new space at the old fresco. We had a chicken taco salad and kids nachos. Little Alex's is not your super "authentic" mexican food. It is more simple and a little mild. Which I do not think is bad. There are probably 100 authentic Mexican restaurants in Santa Barbara. It's nice to have another old school SB option. read more

Little Alex’s - Taco salad w/grilled chicken. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Terrific 1st visit to a local-owned quality restaurant! If you're a Santa Barbara Local or simply visiting... I highly recommend Little Alex's! After hearing about it from friends, I finally had the chance to go for dinner. I went with some friends / kids / dog and we ordered then sat on their large patio. From ordering to service, the staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating! We ordered a mixed assortment of happy hour favorites, drinks, salads, and some Mexican food favorites. Everything was prepared perfectly and tasted delicious! 5 Stars! Thank you Little Alex's! read more

Nice taco place. Unfortunately, terrible tacos. Like, gotta be ranked worst. Especially for the price. SB has so much more to offer.

I was very disappointed with my ala carte chili rellano this morning. It did not look or taste fresh. The boy at the counter was nice and brought my order to me. It looked vacant as there was only one other person. There was no coffee ready at 9:30 but they made it when I ordered it. IThe coffee was good. I feel like I threw $10 away ordering that chili rellano. When they first opened I ordered the same thing and it was delicious so I don't know what happened. I had been fasting for 12 hours and was extra hungry after a blood test. I threw it in the trash and will not be back. read more

Five Stars Isn't Enough for Ayden Ayden is genuinely on another level. From the moment he walks in, you can tell you're dealing with someone built different. The work ethic? Unreal. The consistency? Automatic. The attention to detail? Surgical. What sets Ayden apart isn't just skill -- it's presence. He doesn't just show up; he elevates everything around him. If there's a standard, he exceeds it. If there's a challenge, he handles it calmly and makes it look easy. You almost forget how hard something is because he makes it seem effortless. Professional, reliable, and somehow still humble about it -- which honestly makes it even crazier. If you get the chance to work with Ayden, take it. Five stars feels disrespectfully low. read more

Little Alex's is a solid spot with plenty of seating and ample parking, making it a convenient choice for a casual meal. The staff were friendly and attentive, which made for a pleasant experience overall. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the soft steak taco I ordered. The meat was really tough, and unfortunately, I wouldn't order it again. On the other hand, our friends mentioned they'd come in for happy hour before and loved several of the items on the menu, especially the potato taquitos, which they highly recommended. So while my taco didn't hit the mark, I'd be willing to give it another try for some of the other dishes--especially during happy hour. read more

See all

We love to go to Little Alex's and really enjoy their food. The tortilla chips are the best in town and they have a nice variety of salsas. It is a relaxing place with indoor and outdoor seating and their staff are friendly and efficient. read more

Ayden is honestly the best employee at Little Alex's and the reason the whole place feels different when he's there. He was on top of everything all night, making sure we were good, keeping the energy high, and making us feel welcomed from the second we walked in. What really made it legendary though was when he came and sat down to eat with us for a bit, just talking and vibing like we had known him forever. He was sharing random life advice and little pieces of wisdom that were actually meaningful while still being funny and real. It never felt forced, just genuine. He turned a regular meal into a memorable night and you can tell he truly cares about people, not just the job. read more

I'm soooo glad that Little Alex's is back! My heart shattered when they were forced to shutter their longtime Montecito location a few years back. But you can't keep a good menu down and Lynette and Dan Briner are back and better than ever! The location is perfect and the remodeled Fresco looks fantastic! I love the large patio and indoor eating spaces. The bar is a wonderful addition and I can't wait to enjoy many happy hours there. Great service too! My go-to pollo asada (grilled chicken) taco salad with a side of pico de gallo AND ranch came out promptly and was just as delicious as ever. read more

Little Alex’s - Great local beer list. Mostly on tap too! - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

I appreciate that this seems to be the only Mexican restaurant in town that doesn't belligerently cross contaminate everything with wheat. But most of the very young staff doesn't seem to know what they're doing. And I could have done without one of them running his hands through his dirty hair before helping customers. But the food is good, and the portions are generous. read more

Always fresh and delicious! I ordered chicken taquitos and bean dip. The chicken taquitos are full of perfectly seasoned chicken! It seems like there's a whole chicken breast in each taco. The tortilla is crispy and flavorful. The bean dip is like a party in your mouth! I don't know what's in it, but definitely add some to your order! read more

Little Alex’s - Bean dip - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Love this place! Locally owned and operated, friendly staff and good food. The California burrito with guacamole is my favorite read more

I was sad to see Fresco leave but wow what a great family owned restaurant Little Alex's is...we enjoyed the fish tacos. I carried out but things were clean and the counter staff are cheerful and happy to suggest items from the menu. The tacos came out pretty quickly. Will definitely return. read more

We called ahead with a large group reservation, the staff had everything ready, was so attentive, we felt very VIP! For such a large group, everything was so dang good, and even the presentation was so lovely I took a picture of my Primo burrito, which I rarely do. My mom said they were the best fish tacos she's ever had. This is my new go to spot, especially because it has a patio. read more

Little Alex’s - Primo Burrito :) - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I would say if you're in the mood for both Mexican and Italian you should try the nachos with Marinara salsa. Or maybe the tostada salad with Italian dressing... It wasn't inedible, but it also wasn't good. Customer base must be the unsuspecting tourist who doesn't know any better. Meat had no flavor, salsa tastes like marinara. Come on... Mexican food in California should be much better. We have standards to uphold. read more

Service is ok. Ambiance is basic. FOOD is worst I ever ate! It's not real as Mexican burrito because their Primo Burrito taste like I eat metal from their red sauce. Those asada carnes is not that kind meat that they use " chunk steak" that no tasty just bored plain. I know what real Mexican taste is! Also their food cause me feel uncomfortable and little nausea... won't go there again! F those place! read more

The food was so yummy and the service was so amazing!! Thank you guys for a wonderful night!!

This place has a nice outdoor dining area and good space to sit. We came here for happy hour and ordered the fish tacos, shrimp ceviche, shrimp ceviche tostado and the French fry nachos. The fish tacos are on the tiny tortilla and have cabbage, chipotle sauce, tomatoes, green onions and a fried fish. The shrimp ceviche had avocado, tomatoe, shrimp, and red onions. It also had chips to eat them with. The shrimp ceviche tostado was the same thing but on a tostado. I prefer the chips over the tostado. The feench fry nachos has real cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, and we had asado on it. The food here is good, but I wish it had a little bit more spice. If it was a little bit more spicier I think it would have been up to my taste, but I know everyone has a different spice level. I definitely want to come back again to see if they're consistent with their food though. Glad they do have happy hour though! read more

See all

I'm so disappointed to leave a bad review but the return of Little Alex's has not being going well. My first time coming my food was ok but everything is much more expensive and they don't even give you free chips and salsa anymore. Today I decided to try again. I got their chicken soup and it was served to me cold. How gross. Also- no chips and salsa. I also paid $4 for a soda and the soda they serve is so bad. I've never heard of "tractor soda" before and there's a good reason- it's absolutely terrible. It's sickly sweet and low bubbles. Save your money and visit any of the Mexican restaurants we have in town. Anything would be better than here. read more

The chicken & rice soup is amazing & the perfect thing for anyone who is not feeling 100%. Their ceviche is also always yummy.

I love Little Alex's chicken soup. Very tasty, fresh and healthy. Ordering online, however, is very difficult. Last two times my order was blocked, showing a 403 Forbidden Page. You should tell your point of sale app co. to fix this. You may be losing devoted customers. read more

The rajas soup has such a depth of flavors. Truly outstanding! Try it. It tastes fresh and has a ton of vegetables.

Little Alex's! So good to have you back and in our neighborhood this time! Classic, fresh, delicious.

Excellent service- so polite and attentive. Service was quick. They have a happy hour with app specials (3pm-6pm) and they serve breakfast all day. It was dinner time- I ordered a breakfast burrito (I think there was only one piece of bacon in there, but they toasted the tortilla well which made up for it). He got the menchaca- generous portion. We are looking forward to returning. read more

I got food poisoning here. Safe to say it was my first and last time eating at this place. Stay away.

The food is delicious here, especially the beef tacos rajas, the huevos rancheros (red or green sauce) and the primo burrito with steak or chicken but do request the yummy green sauce instead of the default red sauce. The chicken soup is the best when you are feeling under the weather and comes mild, medium or spicy! Order the guacamole to go with their freshly made delicious chips. The restaurant is very clean and the staff is very friendly and helpful. It's a pretty little place and very family friendly. read more

I am from Phoenix and came to Santa Barbara to visit my daughter. Friends in Phoenix suggested we go to Little Alex's restaurant. I'm so glad we did! The food was beyond great! Everything was fresh, homemade, flavorful, and full of color. We ordered the two soups on the menu which were homemade and absolutely delicious. We were so happy to find soup that is nourishing, colorful, and tastes delicious! The chips were fresh and warm, and the pico de gallo was out of this world. Everything tasted like it was just picked from the garden. If you love homemade Mexican food that is fresh delicious and reasonably priced-This is your place. While you are here, you can also enjoy a great variety of adult beverages. We will be back! read more

See all

Staff are great--love the family atmosphere. Food is consistent, always a fun place for happy Hour and it's definitely a favorite for locals. Had a dinner party for 10 recently and not only was our to-go order ready on time (early?) but everything was exactly as we ordered it. When does that ever happen?? NEVER. Thank you Little Alex's-we appreciate you! read more

Really disappointing. Unfriendly service at the order counter and indifferent food doused with rubbery cheese. Wouldn't rate in the top fifty Mexican places in SB. I'm told this was a popular place in Montecito; mystifying. read more

No chips and NO salsa! Great food, but no chips and salsa when you sit at the table. You have to PAY for it. Very disappointing! read more

i was excited to try Alex's after hearing how well liked it was in Montecito. The servers and order taker were very friendly and helpful. Food was delivered to the table in a timely manner but the food itself was bland and flavorless. There was no Mexican flavor or it was so minor that it was not possibly to experience. Restaurant itself was clean with many outdoor tables to enjoy. read more

Very excited that Little Alex's is back! The quality of the food remains top-notch and flavorful. Other comments state prices are too high and now one has to pay for chips and salsa; there are other places that charge more for less quality food and chips that are stale. But their chips, they are voted as best chips in town, made fresh! The outdoor patio has lots of seating and the chairs inside are very comfortable; It's always clean. The soup is always a go-to, get the hot when sick, works every time in feeling better quickly! read more

Hard shell tacos are to die for... also highly recommend the chips and mild salsa... and the pebble ice machine with fancy lemonade station... mmmm so delicious. read more

Wanted a simple veg. burrito to go. They were nice to give me some options even though there were no veg. burritos on the menu. So I got beans and cheese and rice (not much else!), but it was as dull and boring as any burrito this side of Albertson's. The salsa saved it but I had to specifically ask them to give me some, it didn't come with it (unlike everywhere else). So if you're veg. or vegan I would avoid this place. And it makes me wonder whether they understand how to make something flavorful! read more

Finally! Glad to have Little Alex's back. This is their new location in the five points shopping center. Great food, great service! The chicken soup is a must try. Best I've had by far. read more