One of the true, great holes in the wall! BFF & I stopped here before heading over to Santa Cruz to see MUDCRUTCH & his recommendation couldn't have been more yummilicious Scarfed Cheese Quesadillas & Bean & Cheese Burritos (me - veggie beans....be sure to ask for the whole beans!) & BFF got the meaty refried beans Slurped Roseita Strawberry Margaritas....YES margaritas made w/ Sangria. Sounded interesting & BFF said I wouldn't regret it & man, oh man, was he right. YOU GOTTA TRY THIS! Staff was super busy yet super-nice, b/t all the eat-in peeps (like us) & the take-outers but they handled it just fine & we got our food lickety-split.....so did everyone else. Attentive enough to always have a full drink but not hovering so we could talk in peace This is a gem of a place, family owned & right in the heart of Capitola. Walk out, cross the street & you're on the waterfront to walk off all that scrumtiousness read more

The bf and I stopped by to grab a few tacos to enjoy on the beach. We ordered chicken, beef and prawn crispy tacos. The total for four tacos were a bit pricey at almost $16 for tacos a la carte. But we were lazy to cook. Our order was up in a few minutes and when the gal handed our bag over, I was surprised that it weighed a ton! We grabbed a grassy area a little ways down to catch the surfers and opened our bag of goodies. The tacos were huge and overflowing with goodness! Veggies, some refried bean purée and jammed packed with meat! Fantastic crispy shell-- Guess I know why they cost so much now :) Tasty tacos in hand, beautiful beach in front of us, watching surfers catch some waves..... pretty deluxe Saturday afternoon. read more

Great location, lots of seats available. I ordered the tacos (carnitas, because I dig pork) since one of the previous reviews thought they were great. My brother ordered the carne asada burrito, we also got a quesadilla for the gremmies. Now to their credit, the orders did come out fast and accurately. And I could be totally biased living in San Diego, but the taco was tasteless and burrito was cold. When the manager told my bro that a carne asada burrito was supposed to be cold ( c'mon dude seriously - we are in California not Alaska - don't try to sell me that.) and then tried to fast talk his way out of it - maybe the sour cream made it cold - you know sour cream is cold. Again, yes we know sour cream is cold - but the entire burrito? The manager finally conceded and took the burrito back nuked it (yup you heard me right..nuked) and proudly plopped it in front of my brother. We shook our heads, paid our bill & bailed. Dude seriously - whatever...Yelp will hear about this. read more

Sometimes you gotta respect a bold scam. Everything is weirdly grey and feels like it came out of a tube or the 2 for 1 grocery store deals on meat about to go bad. Ordered a $20 "falling apart tender" carnitas dish that amounted to dry grey meat cubes. Taco salad also grey. My gf finished the salad and it made her sick. I sent mine back and got some interesting passive aggressive pushback on it. Waitress seemed surprised and asked why I didn't like about. When I pointed out it was overcooked and under salted she was nice enough to explain that carnitas are supposed to be crispy. Which is funny considering the main moisture of the dish was the clammy oustide where the crisp on carnitas usually goes. All in all kind of a fun entertaining experience. read more

In Capitola this week and decided to try somewhere new for lunch. Stopped by El Toro Bravo right near the beach in Downtown Capitola and got a great meal. The waitresses were super friendly and prompt. Drink and chips came immediately along with some great salsa. Ate a Enchilada/Taco plate, both with Carnitas. The crispy taco was stuffed full and the enchilada was fantastic. Served with beans and rice. I would return for lunch anytime. read more

Excellent chicken nachos! Served with real cheddar cheese, shredded chicken, tomatoes, refried beans, sour cream and guacamole. Ordered them to-go and my husband and I ate them picnic-style while sitting on a bench overlooking the beach. Our order was served to me quickly, came with plenty of napkins, forks, and was packaged neatly. Friendly service, too. read more

Oh my gosh, when I want delicious cheese enchiladas, El Toro Bravo hits the spot. I was introduced to this place by my boyfriend when we were both students at UCSC. His family has been stopping by here on their camping trips since he was a little kid and have been big fans of El Toro Bravo for the last 20 years. His family's devotion to this restaurant is such that when one of them eats here, that person calls the others to brag and make them jealous. I moved away from Santa Cruz over a year ago, and still have not found enchilada sauce that compares with that of El Toro Bravo. It's really interesting because it's not the normal red mole sauce you find on most enchiladas, but an intriguing reddish-orange color. The best part is that they are not stingy with it, your plate will come half-covered in the wondrousness. I don't know what they put in that stuff (crack?), but it's addictive. My boyfriend and I were down in Moss Landing for a whale watching trip, and we made it a priority to go to El Toro Bravo in Capitola for lunch afterward. My little brother came along, and all three of us feasted with pleasure upon their delicious offerings. We all ordered the No. 8 "La Arena," 2 enchiladas + rice +beans. My bro and I chose cheese for our enchilada filling, and my boyfriend got beef and added an additional taco onto his order for good measure (we were all starving). Needless to say, there was very little conversation as we gorged ourselves. Note to onion-haters: most of their dishes come with onions, but the waitress is usually nice enough to ask if you want onions in your enchilada/taco/etc. Just in case though, if you loathe onions, you should request they be left out. Anyways, to wrap up, it's a pleasant and simple Mexican restaurant that serves amazing enchilada sauce in the lovely Capitola village. As other Yelpers have mentioned, you can park in the lot across the street for free, for about an hour if you get validation from El Toro Bravo. The parking lot attendant is quite the character (he wears a santa hat pretty much 24/7 and has a tendency to yell), he is really friendly to middle aged dads, but rather snarky to everyone else. read more

I enjoy this places Chimichanga's - sometimes it isn't what I expect as the first time it was obviously deep friend yet multiple times after the first time which got me to return the plate has come out different, almost like a wet burrito. Yet I still am not complaining because I didn't send it back because it didn't look the same I enjoyed it and it wasn't an issue with me as I still felt the same satisfaction from the meal. Also the service just needs to hear your demands, if you want something just ask!!! They will provide... however if you sit there and wonder if your water glass will be filled - you'll be waiting for a long while, they have a solid staff but maybe they aren't the best at reading minds. Who is? read more

We walked out of Brittania Arms for rude service and wound up here. Waitress greeted us right away, got our drinks and gave us our menus and chips with salsa. I ordered chorizo with eggs, no rice or beans. My friend ordered a chicken enchilada. Mine was cooked perfectly and the chorizo was tasty. Tortillas store bought, handmade would have been better. Friends enchilada was yummy. Great service, yummy food. Will be back! read more

Awesome food, so good my wife and I drive from San Jose to Capitola just for the food. I've been coming here for 10 years and everyone I bring is hooked. The best enchaladas (especially with there salsa all over it) and there tacos are to die for. Have tried most the menu and nothing made me wish I didn't order it. A must for anyone who loves authentic Mexican food! read more

Hands down one of the best enchiladas I've ever tasted. Old family recipes are for real like the 808 kick drum is to hip hop, haha. read more

El Toro Bravo - Chili verde pork is mouth watering finger licking omg ahhh! - Mexican Near Me - Capitola, California

This is the place where you can buy the best crab taco with reasonable prices. Love the people that works here. Great service. Parking space an issue in summer and rush hours. I suggest to plan your visit accordingly. read more

Over priced , cheap food, slow service. We won't go back. We ordered two dishes. Took 20 minutes to get it, food was below average. Dry hamburger , old fries. They need to consider who they are up against. read more

I know I know this place has been here forever...I believe now it is time for the owners to consider an update of the cruddy decor especially for the price of the food and consider the quality (or lack thereof) of their comida (food). I had a horrible carne asada burrito (who the heck boils asada meat - YUCK) in a freezing cold restaurant, with odd tasting enchilada sauce on top of a very hard tortilla. The burrito had only boiled asada (again yuck) and lettuce. What the heck? No beans, no rice only bad tasting meat? Ok I have said enough. But really people where is the good mexican restaurant (not taqueria) in Santa Cruz County? read more

Too bad there isn't a "STOP SIGN" as a rating. The burrito was sloppy, disgusting brown lettuce, ground beef was even worse...soggy tiny ground up (like puke). I think the cat yacked it up first before it got to my plate. Go across the street --- much better. There was a line, and I wanted to try something new, that was a mistake this time around. ...and what kind of mexican restaurant doesn't have Carne Asada?? read more

The young adult with the curly hair gave me great service and would definitely recommend to my primos and tios.

For lunch I had: Taco Salad: I'm trying to be healthy here and while the portions were nice, it didn't stand out. The chips was very nice however. Crispy and not too greasy. Great deal on beer...$13 for jug of beer which was enough for six of us...awesome. Service was subpar...they seem to be very tired and just didn't seem to care. The chef kept staring into space thinking about surfing or something. They need some kind of team building event seriously. read more

Wonderful authentic Mexican food. The owners were very sweet, they are the granddaughters of the original owners. This is a wonderful family owned restaurant with great food right near the beach. What more could you ask for? read more

I wish I could give 3.5 stars. It's better than 3 and not quite 4: - friendly service - hot, cheesy, beany goodness - love the straight salsa with the chips. Perfect, perfect heat - great location Ground beef is a little bland, but just load it up with that killer salsa! read more

I was so hoping for a wonderful dinner here as it is walking distance from my house. My girlfriend said they had great fish tacos so we gave it a shot even though it was completely empty on a Friday night! The food was not good - I could not finish mine, it was that bad. Fish tacos - tasted ok but smelled fishy. I cannot eat fish if it smells even the slightest bit fishy. Hubby says they tasted a bit fishy too. Chile Relleno - eggs on top of a tiny sliver of chile and a tiny sliver of cheese - greasy and ick. Cheese Enchilada - sauce was blah - nothing special. The sauce makes the enchilada so this was a thumbs down experience for me. I won't be going back. read more

I was in town for a field trip with our school district summer camp and decided to stop by here for lunch. The atmosphere is great here, like an authentic cantina with the wonderful smells of grilling food hanging in the air. The service was prompt and the food is absolutely delicious. I would recommend this place if you're a Mexican food lover and/or looking for a quick bite that hasn't sacrificed quality. read more

I love their Sangria. And yes I know that is Spanish, but it's still good. I like that they have the option for veggie and seafood in their tamales and enchiladas. The beans are standard... I think they need a little update with a whole bean option. The spot is a while in the wall. However, it's the best Mexi you can get in the Village. read more

A cute homestyle Mexican place in the heart of the Capitola espalande. Nothing fancy, just a solid place if you're okay with a no frills type of joint. I ordered a chicken soft taco, and one was more than plentiful. Pretty authentic flavors, if you ask me. The fresh chips and salsa were really great, as well. read more

3 stars overall with 4 stars for food. My husband and I went there yesterday. El Toro Bravo is a family owned business. Then entrance to the restaurant is basically the back end.of the restaurant; it is a little confusing. It is small - 10 tables and it seemed to be very busy. On a Saturday during dinner there was only one person taking orders, so that part took awhile, but the food came out pretty quick. My husband ordered the taco and enchilada combo. He said the enchilada was one of the best he's had. He finished everything on his plate, as if he licked it clean. I ordered the carnitas platter. YUMMY! It's a good reliable Mexican restaurant. It was recommended by a friend and a guy ordering food to go commented and said that it was worth the wait. We only waited 5 minutes to be seated. read more

It's OK I guess, the service was nice. The food was kind of bland for me, the salsa was week- everything was covered in cheap cheese, the same kind in my chili relleno. Why cant more restaurants use the good Mexican cheese, esp if its a cheese based dish. ! The Rice was dry ect... I would have to be really hungry to go back and spend my $$$ There are just better places in our Area. I was really hoping for a better meal, the reviews are so good... read more

Carnitas soft tacos come overloaded with pointless shredded iceberg and salsa fresca; once you wade down to the actual tortillas and meat, they're quite yummy. Chile verde is also delicious; beans and rice are also really good, as is the salsa that comes with the chips - it has a nice kick. The sangria is dangerous. Pricey, but that's due to the location. read more

The service was slow even wi th empty house. The food has no flavor. Thos was disappointing considering the yelp stars. I have had much better food. We won't come back here. read more

El Toro Bravo - Enchilada and taco combination - Mexican Near Me - Capitola, California

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Great service and excellent food. Seat 49 ppl, so it's a small place but great atmosphere and right next to the beach! Ps the machaca is the bomb! read more

On the Beach: El Toro Bravo is around the corner of the Capitola Esplanade just a couple hundred feet from the beach. This restaurant offers my favorite prawn cocktail of all time, served in a large soup bowl with a spicy but not viscous cocktail sauce and avocados. Also, the crab taco is awesome, with lots of shredded crab and cheese. The chips are good if they are fresh, and the salsa is okay. They have beer but not wine or other. El Toro Bravo is the only mexican food in Capitola, and it competes with all of the seafood restaurants on the main Esplanade. Toro Bravo does not have a/c, so it is to be avoided on really hot days. 2.7 read more

I really enjoyed my vegetarian tacos. Service was quick and friendly. I would come back here again for delicious Mexican food!

Ordered a burrito to go and was so dissapointed. I paid 9.50 for a burrito that wasn't Even rapped so it was basically a ton of beans cheese rice and chicken with a tortilla over it. The waitress told me to wait outside even though the entire restaurant was empty and it was cold outside. Overpriced and dissapointing. read more

El Toro Bravo - Burrito wasn't wrapped tight so the entire thing had already fallen apart. - Mexican Near Me - Capitola, California

This place is 5 star all the way. My family lives in Capitola, and I beg to go to El Toro every time I visit. The place has been around for at least 15 years (probably much longer) for a reason. The beef enchiladas are superb (absolutely the best in California IMHO) --ground beef with juicy white onion drowning in beans, cheese and sauce. So good it makes me wish I were reborn as an enchilada. The salsa is also amazing. Top it off with a Negro Modelo and you're good to go. Expect to leave fat. read more

It is too Americana for me it is good but not great I have had better. My review is based on food not service because the service is great .

This is light beans on the special, we always go here but not anymore. We ordered food to go and it was just of beans when we asked for light beans, extra sauce...threw the food away and now eating cereal thanks el toro you just lost another customer! The food normally has been good but this time it was gross, dry and bland... I now give this place a -0 star!!! read more

El Toro Bravo - Beans overload! - Mexican Near Me - Capitola, California

We had some Fish Tacos and a Crab Enchilada. They were absolutely amazing. The Crab Enchilada had real chunks of crab in it that were full of flavor, and a delicious sauce. The Fish Tacos were packed full of delicious veggies, peppers, hot sauce, and fish. It was an amazing experience. read more

Solid family run shop right by the beach. Perfect place to get a to-go burrito and walk down to watch the surfers across the street. Lots of seating, and they love groups so bring your friends. Personally, I always get the super burrito! read more

This is my all-time favorite mexican food in California, period. The enchilada sauce is so, so good, you will be licking it off your plate when the food is gone. Their salsa is also really good. It has a great location, you can see the beach from the restaurant. You can walk off your meal afterwards by checking out all of the little shops in downtown Capitola. Great place to have lunch or dinner while at the beach, or shopping, or hanging out at the bar. I don't even live in Santa Cruz any more, and I still make it a point to go to El Toro Bravo whenever I visit! read more

One of our favorite places in Capitola. They made it easy to pickup curbside but we sure do miss the old days hanging out talking to the workers. Great food. Vegan menu! The chips and salsa are addictive! read more

Absolutely the best! I love this place. Everything I e had is fantastic. Quesadilla, tamales, tacos, ceviche...the list goes on. Horchata is delicious. Family owned and operated. It's a must go when in Capitola! read more

One of the best Mexican food experiences I've had in a long time. Shrimp and steak fajitas were awesome and they totally hooked my son up with his meal. He is very picky and really only likes shrimp when going to a restaurant. I asked for about 4 shrimp and some tortillas and they piled them high for him. Great service, great prices, cool spot in downtown Capitola Village. I will definitely go back for more! read more

El Toro Bravo - Combo shrimp and steak fajitas, crab enchilada and a made to order kids meal with shrimp! - Mexican Near Me - Capitola, California