One of Southern California’s most picturesque destinations is Santa Barbara. With sunshine nearly year-round, most visitors come to enjoy the wine country of the Santa Ynez Valley with only a short stop here. But one of the most delicious and underrated ways to experience the city’s ever-expanding food scene is with a taco tour. Don’t just commit to one restaurant on the wine property or downtown. Instead, sample multiple taco styles in a standout destination.
So we decided to experience this first-hand with Taco Tours Santa Barbara, taking their original private 2.5-hour afternoon tour and sampling five winning tacos along the way.
State Street
The entire tour takes you through downtown Santa Barbara’s cultural center. While you walk to each location, you will see historic Spanish-style architecture from local architect Jeff Shelton. The neighborhood is filled with boutique shops, cafes, and eateries. They even have the State Street Promenade, a car-free pedestrian zone.
Your knowledgeable local guide will provide a brief history and facts about the area as you proceed to each stop. On a typical California weekend, this place is busy as ever, and a great opportunity to see the place come alive.
Lilly’s Taqueria
The perfect start to our taco tour is somewhere you probably would not have discovered on your own. This little tucked-away spot on a dead-end street is so unassuming you wouldn’t believe that they have some of the best authentic tacos in all of Santa Barbara. A husband and wife operation with only two locations, it’s a local favorite and a definite must-stop for first-time visitors.
A classic taqueria favorite, the street-style chicken fajita taco will hit your taste buds with its zesty, smoky flavor. The sauteed onions and bell peppers will make it taste even richer. Top it off with multiple choices in their custom salsa bar for a little fresh spice or tanginess.
Note: What I personally like about this taqueria is their specialty of steamed selections on the menu, including beef cheek and tongue. After the tour ends, circling back here to pick up some takeaway steam items for later.
Casa Comal
What you will enjoy about this place is that it didn’t start here in California, but originated in Mexico City. With a focus on traditional recipes with locally sourced ingredients, these tacos are amazing. Their outdoor seating is especially festive, as they seem to have left decorations in honor of DÃa de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.
You will be served the restaurant’s standout birria taco, one of the most popular taco styles currently trending on the foodie scene. Having just eaten birria on a food tour in Mazatlán, I wanted to see if there had been any subtle differences in cooking methods. Those who choose can also have this meal with a glass of the house sangria, which really complements the rich, savory flavor of the meat.
Downtown Eats/M Special
Here you have a previous pop-up, then a food truck and catering service, before finding a home inside this local brewery. The chile relleno is the only vegetarian taco you will have on this tour: a lightly fried stuffed poblano pepper. Throw a little salsa on top to really balance out that savory richness.
You will also receive a nice sample glass of local beer from M Special, which pairs excellently with this taco. It’s casual, quick-service, and with extra time, so it’s a nice break to get you off your feet and watch the sports games on one of several televisions.
The Blue Owl
For those who enjoy trying new fusion menu items, the Blue Owl combines California and Asian flavors. They’ve been featured on the hit Food Network program Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with host Guy Fieri. The Banh Mi Pork Tacos were especially tasty, with a spicy salsa that gave them just the right amount of kick, a spicy food lover like me would enjoy, and they also combined very well together.
The ambience of this place would have to be called bohemian hipster. You have coffee shop couches, diner-like booths, and regular long tables. On the wall is a mismatched array of displays, including art, food, and music. They also help support the local artistic community with live music and open mic nights for the Santa Barbara residents.
Baja Sharkeez
A well-known downtown spot on State Street, this California chain of six locations offers a mix of Mexican cantina, sports bar, and beach-town culture from Santa Barbara to Newport Beach. On a Saturday night, this place can get packed quickly. It provides a mix of casual Mexican and American cuisine.
You will finish the tour here with a classic shrimp taco to give you a taste of coastal Baja seafood. Complimented with a margarita, you will really enjoy that crunchy, bright taco with some tangy sauce and citrus profile as the tour comes to an end.
Conclusion
I found the entire tour to be quite enjoyable. There was enough walking between the different stops that I didn’t feel full by the end of the tour, nor did I feel like I didn’t get enough in portions to be hungry. I found the group I was with very friendly, and we got to talk about a lot of different subjects over our tour.
Each place had something unique, and I also enjoyed learning that this tour swaps out stops for others due to different operating hours. The chance of not knowing which place you will end up can be very appealing and exciting. Overall, it was a perfect way to spend part of a day in Santa Barbara.