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    Manuel's Mexican Restaurant

    4.0 (1k reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 11:30 am - 11:00 pm

    Manuel's Mexican Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    MANUEL'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Manuel's Mexican Restaurant

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    Carne asada taco
    Bekah C.

    When I walked in i immediately felt welcomed. They were so friendly and happy I was there. The music playing was perfect ambience. I was by myself so I took a spot at the bar. The treated me just the same as everyone else. They offer a lunch menu with a wide variety. I ordered the carne asada tacos and house margarita and was beyond impressed. They provided consistent service. I will definitely be coming back.

    Classic Mexican Food
    Everett R.

    Manuel's Mexican Food Restaurant is the best in the area. You're greeted at the door with a welcoming smile and positive energy. The food is outstanding with huge portions. You will never have to ask for tortillas chips and salsa. They just keep coming. Service is second to none. You won't be disappointed.

    Enchilada plate
    Trent P.

    Manuel's is a great Authentic Mexican restaurant! The service is a 10/10 every time, the food is great (I would recommend the special, they sever you so much!) The ambiance is great with low lighting. Overall great experience each time we have dinner here. Great Drinks!!

    Chicken enchiladas and chile Colorado
    Cynthia W.

    Amazing!!! They give out free salsa and chips and their salsa is so tasty! I've tried the chicken enchiladas, carne asada tacos, and chile colorado plates. Every dish has been great and they all come on hot plates! The beef in the carne asada tacos is so flavorful and tender. The chicken enchiladas are delicious and the sauce pairs so well. Their service is fast and very friendly. I'll definitely come back again when I'm in the area! :)

    Compo plate=taco, tamale, and chicken enchiladas
    Michele G.

    Hey there party People Final stop on my tour along the coast to beat the heat we stopped at Manuel's for Dinner. The perfect little Mexican casa vibe. I had the Chilli Verde. The pork was so tender it broke apart using my fork. It needed more Verde sauce for flavor. The rice and beans were ok but I am a rice snob so it takes allot to impress me. My hubby got the combo plate with a taco, tamale, and enchiladas. He really enjoyed the tamale the sauce on it was robust and spicy. My Brother-in-law got the Saturday special which was a bacon and cheese wrapped shrimp. It was a little lacking in flavor and the cocktail sauce was underwhelming. Over all the food was good but everything was slightly under seasoned except the salsa, it was super good. Be kind to one another

    crab and shrimp tostadas
    Ethan W.

    Really lively and busy, but despite the big crowd they seated us really fast The portions were really hearty and food was pretty tasty! Their seafood dishes really stood out and didn't have any fishiness to them. Menu is priced in the higher side but they also don't skimp out and give plenty of fish / crab / shrimp and guac! I also appreciate that the margaritas aren't light, you can definitely taste the tequila ;)

    Chile Colorado
    Eric R.

    Good food, very friendly and welcoming service. Prices not bad for a tourist area. I had the Chile Colorado combination plate. I couldn't finish. I was full about 2/3 the way into that plate. The meat was perfectly tender, the sauce could use a little more heat, but definitely not bad at all. Wife was stuffed 1/2 into her Tostada. She said it was very tasty. The place got packed at around 5:30pm on a Saturday. The place has been in business since 1965. They definitely are a good place. We enjoyed this place and will come back.

    The artwork in this restaurant really cool!
    Matt C.

    So this is a must try place and it's very popular with locals and tourists. The seating is limited. Try to get there early. The staff is super friendly and helpful. A great place to celebrate your birthday. The entire staff comes around and wishes you a happy birthday. I saw this while waiting for my take-out order. Their homemade chips and salsa are great!!! The portion sizes are huge! They have a large assortment of top shelf drinks. A definite must try if you're in the area. They've been in business for over 60 years. So they must be doing something right.

    Combo plate with cheese enchilada and beef taco.
    Ethan S.

    This may be the best Mexican food I have ever experienced. By far, the beef nachos were the absolute best ever with loads of cheese, generous loads of guacamole, and huge dollops of sour cream. The margaritas were strong. Oh and the rioja salsa was amazing. The beef taco and cheese enchiladas were also good. But the best part, hands down, was the service from the amazing staff. They are friendly. They are engaging. They smile and greet you with a handshake and call you, a friend. There was a crowd gathered outside when we arrived. They were all waiting to get a table. And so we waited for 30 minutes. And we are glad we did because it was so worth the wait! Ask for Adislao. He's your new best friend.

    Chili relleno and enchilada combo
    Kellie M.

    SPECTACULAR! This was the best Mexican food I've ever had. My wife agrees. We got there when it opened at 11:30 and there was already a line at the door. Once we were seated the place filled up fast. Definitely a popular spot. Even though they were packed, they never let my drink sit empty. Totally awesome. They give you complementary chips and salsa. The salsa was delicious. They made sure our chips were always full too. I ordered The beef taco, beef tamale combo plate. I ordered 2 flour tortillas on the side. My wife had the chili relleno and enchilada combo plate. Everything was so delicious I feel no words do it justice. The best refried beans and rice. Everything was hot and fresh. I seriously can't wait to go back.

    Chips
    Aden G.

    For me, the immediate impression of Mexican is the chips they serve and they were good. Crispy and not oily. Chilli reyeno is bready/eggy and good. I prefer chilli filled with stuff rather than a bready one but nonetheless enjoyable. Burrito and enchilada were fine as well. Refried beans had nice flavor. All foods not too salty which is great point. All in all good experience.

    Chicken burrito with beans and rice
    Gavin C.

    I first came here from Ohio while visiting family in 2021 and it has left an impression on me ever since. This place serves some of the best Mexican food I've ever had. Coming back here in 2025, my opinion still stands. The servers were friendly and attentive. The salsa has a spicy kick, yet has a delectable smoky flavor which I couldn't get enough of. I ordered a chicken burrito with beans. The chicken was moist and the tortilla had a soft fluffy texture. The place has such an inviting atmosphere, and really gives you a sense that this place is family-owned. I had no idea that Manuel's has been serving Santa Cruz locals since 1965. I can see why it has lasted so long.

    Red Snapper

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    18 days ago

    Best in town. Come here frequently and they are always very consistent and always top quality

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    4 months ago

    The service was great here and they were busy! Everyone was hustling. The vibes the food and the drinks were great.

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    4 months ago

    Delicious! Be sure to make a reservation if you don't want to wait. The best spicy margarita!

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    Manuel's Mexican Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Manuel's Mexican Restaurant

    Is the fish in the fish tacos grilled or fried?

    Fried

    What happened to eating outside? They had the most beautiful flower garden eating area? It was gone? the flowers are still there?

    The county permit to serve there was temporary. Due to the timing of the county’s extension of the temporary permit and staffing shortages, we are currently unable to serve outdoors.

    What kind of cheese do they use for the cheese enchiladas?

    The yummy kind!

    Open for takeout during Covid2020?

    Yes

    Hi! We are looking for a local place to dine for my upcoming birthday- I am vegan but want regular options for my guests. Questions: Does your rice contain chicken bouillon or chicken stock and do your beans contain lard or butter?

    Hi Tara, Thanks for your questions and Thank you for considering Manuel’s. Yes, the rice is made with chicken stock. The whole beans, which we always have available are… Read more

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    I believe this place is permanently closed and replaced by another restaurant…read more Food was good. Service and ambience okay.

    Food was excellent, after a couple of tweaks for us vegans!…read more The veggie burrito (without crema and cheese) is so delicious! It tastes like the best seasoned fajitas but wrapped up in a tortilla. The veggie comes in a spinach tortilla, which makes you feel like you are eating so healthy too! They have amazing hot sauces. We could only have 2/3 because one has crema, but wow they were delicious. The red salsa they serve with their chips (which were fresh as can be the two times we ate here in the past month) was scrumptious. It is clear that someone in the kitchen cares enough to cook with great spices, and to make sure things are done incredibly - not overcooked, not undercooked, not overseasoned, not underseasoned. The food is amazingly flavorful. The person who helped us was incredibly kind. We were greeted with a smile and she seemed to really enjoy meeting our needs. That was really refreshing in a world where everyone seems to be in a hurry to get somewhere else. It led to a great experience. The place itself is definitely not fancy. There's a little patio out back that is cute. We ate at a table directly in front of the window. We now make this a destination when we are hanging out along the Monterey Bay as it is truly one of the best spots for a quick bite of Mexican food that is super flavorful!

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    Pastor taco, ordered without onions

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    Manuel's Mexican Restaurant - mexican - Updated May 2026

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