Taqueria Agave - Santa Cruz

5 stars for hitting perfect sweet spot of price vibe atmosphere food. I knew I'd found a winner the first time I came and it started getting filled with Mexican couples and families and working guys.

It feels like it's been here forever but opened fairly recently. 2008

I found it because they also do a small popup for food for Moe's Alley so I figured might as well check out the mothership

Bonus points for the pickled potato which I've never seen before!

I enjoyed the food here. We had lunch after a shopping spree. We ordered the chicken enchilada combo plate and a torta. It was delicious and was able to take some home for dinner. I love that they offer the pickled carrots. The red salsa was one of my favs there. Its a clean place to eat and the staff is friendly and fast at getting orders placed.

Perfect Santa Cruz hole in the wall restaurant. Packed mostly Hispanic amazing food love it.

Okay...so not really fair...
The food was great (had a BBQ pork taco that was delicious), they had a chips bar and let you take as many warm chips as you want and they have a nice salsa/veggie bar that is great.
The service was phenomenal for a Taqueria...as well as the atmosphere...still...how can I say five stars when they are not supposed to be a five star restaurant?
I can say...I plan on going back...and hopefully bringing friends!

First time I ate here (a week ago) I took out the combo with chile rejeno, chicken enchilada, rice & beans and reheated it at home - it was good, but not great (probably because of the take-out and delay in eating). But the other day I returned and took out 2 carnitas tacos, and they were GREAT! Like $6.25, including chios and salsa (which they toss in for free), plus very friendly service - it can't be beat! You can eat outside at their counter, or take-out. This is definitely becoming my go-to place for carnitas tacos or a carnitas burrito - delicious!

Food is AMAZING!!! But you're going to need to wait a bit for your food. Still.. It's definitely worth the wait!

Been going here for several years, it just feels comfortable and I like the food, but I'm a blue collar kinda guy...

Great no frills fish tacos! Generous portions.
Lengua was also very tender and generous.
It's all a little wet though, drain or beware.

very good taco bar. classic set up. fresh salsa friendly staff it has a neighbor hood feel. get the car washed at whalers and walk down while you wait.

I love this place. It’s consistently good and the portions are huge. I’ve tried several different dishes here over the past year and they are all delicious. The counter people are always friendly and inviting. Love the salsa bar!

The best darn value-for-money Mexican food place in Santa Cruz, period. AMAZING salsa bar, chips, pickled and chopped fresh veggies, all complimentary with your meal! Huge variety of meat options, plus a dedicated veggie menu. No frills order at the counter but restaurant quality fare. You can get a days worth of fresh delicious food for under $10, with a burrito, chips, and salsa. Can't be beat!

Very fast service they give you plenty of meat

What a great independent neighborhood taqueria! Their staff are so welcoming warm and inviting! The Star of the show is the salsa bar! Also the restaurant is very clean and that makes me feel more comfortable exploring the menu rather than taking a safe bet out of convenience, oh yeah I also love getting the horchata from here!

Bomb food. Good salsa bar. Great customer service. Goooo….

This is our go to Taqueria in Santa Cruz for burritos. Their portions are always generous and the staff is very friendly. They are very quick as well! We’re never waiting for food long. I order their already large turbo burrito and add Carne Asada, they always pack that thing thiccc. (Other taquerias have denied this request so Agave has my heart). Would definitely recommend

So so good, this is real food. Got the carnitas super burrito and carne asada quesadilla. Great potions. Salsa and chips bar, chips make a great addition to put in burrito or eat up the bits that fell out of ur quesadilla. Only thing Carnitas needed a bit of salt but there’s some salt at every table and I prefer under-salted so I can control the amount.

O so good !
Love the enchilada plate. Warms my inner soul ! Or maybe that's the roasted jalapeños !haha. Salsa Bar is great. One of these days I need to have there soup. Someone is always eating one when I'm there. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Great service always. It's like your not just a customer, your Familia.

Came here while waiting for the car wash and it was one of our best meals in Santa Cruz! Enjoyed sitting outside and watching the kitchen. Great michelada and shrimp tacos. Big portion of guacamole.

Great food. Try the soup!

Good food. Eating in this time, the food was good again.