Great service and great food! The menudo is amazing. I can't wait to go back and try more of their items. We just moved here from Los Angeles and have been looking for a new go-to mexican spot. This is definitely in the running ! read more

Delicious authentic Mexican food. Hike in the wall off the beaten track but worth the effort.

Heard pretty good things about this place so decided to give it a try. I got the breakfast burrito with sausage and was pretty disappointed. It wasn't bad, but it just wasn't worth the money. The burrito lacked flavor and tasted like something that I could make on my own for cheaper. The service was good though and maybe there other options are better, but the breakfast burrito is a no for me read more

It may be called Lito's Takeout but every table was occupied by 9am on a Sunday. I can see why it's popular: my breakfast of nopales & eggs came in a container weighed down with generous portions of rice, beans, and guacamole. I also got fish tacos to go but, really, the breakfast was enough to last me most of the day. read more

Lito's Take Out - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I've been coming here on and off since 1993 and have gotten the same thing every time (with two exceptions), as it is absolute perfection.. Bean and cheese burrito, chips and salsa, and a Coke. I have to warn you that the burrito can be a bit challenging as it's rather big and a blowout is not an uncommon occurrence. read more

In these times of COVD-19 it is absolutely necessary to seek out those foods that make you (us) feel good, feel fine, feel that all is right with the world...at least for a 1/2 hour or so. Exercise and reading only go so far. I drove to SB to deliver to my family a number of baked goods that i had prepared for them . I also have to admit that after 6 weeks i missed them including the 3 kiddoes though it is very very sad and uncomfortable not to be able to kiss and hug all of them. On top of that we all wanted to be extra safe and so we were all masked and gloved for the visit which added another layer of weirdness to the whole thing. But after awhile we got used to the singularly off-putting situation as they began to nosh on all of the goodies i brought plus a glass of good wine or two didn't hurt at all. i had asked my niece to pick up a few orders of my favorite SB Posole from here and we all proceeded to savor the rich, satisfying bowl of home made goodness that is Lito's Posole. There are several guideposts that must be reached whenever i eat the very specific broth/soup specialties that are Posole or Menudo for that matter. 1. The Meat must be butchered so that the pieces of pork (Posole) are medium size...not big chunks or little pieces that resemble mouse droppings. 2. The Hominy must be fresh not from a can and believe me you can really taste the difference. 3. The toppings must be freshly cut and plentiful and the oregano must be mexican not mediterranean. Lito's also offered fresh garlic which you do not see in many places. It resembles a green onion though the bulb is much fatter and the taste is like no other: herbacious, pungent, acidic and even overpowering if it is not sliced thinly. i use it in chicken broth as a sub for the regular garlic. 4. The Posole broth must be rich with pork, onions, garlic and the chili used must be made from dried peppers that are soaked and processed not made from packaged ground chili. Here they use Guajillo peppers which are very tasty though mild. i prefer New Mexico chile which Guajillo resembles in taste though New Mexico is spicier yet the heat is warm, full flavored and rounded and not biting as in, cayenne. Lito's does all of the above in spades. The Posole we ate last week even though we had to reheat was very delicious. The pork, the hominy, the toppings, the chile broth all blended into a rich, savory, healing bowl of soup. I can't wait to try their Menudo which they did not have and which i think they only offer on the weekends. It was nice conversing with my family, sharing a meal: a meal that was warm and inviting and supremely well prepared. Here's to better times! Cheers! read more

I work nearby and when I'm in the office, this is my go-to lunch spot! Lito's staff are SO nice, and food comes out fast. The most massive burritos you've ever seen. The burritos, tacos, specials, and rice & beans are all amazing! If you bring your own tupperware, they'll fill it up for you too :) read more

BEST BURRITOS in Santa Barbara!!! Hands down. Every time I go in, I think I'm going to try something new, but I'm so obsessed with my current choice of burrito that I have yet to branch out! This place is SUCH a hidden gem. The service is kind and genuine, the ingredients are fresh, and the portions are wonderfully generous. Word of advice: This burrito is delicious but it is FILLING. So maybe plan to have a siesta after indulging. read more

We drove from LA and sat in 2.5 hours of traffic for some pozole and carnitas burrito. Best Mexican I've ever had and one of the best meals of my life...and that's not an exaggeration. Great customer service and very welcoming. Don't hesitate on coming to Lito's. read more

Lito's Take Out - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Lito's has been around for years and YES the food is amazing! BUT to pay $2.25 for a small bag of chips is ridiculous. Eat there and all you can eat chips are FREE. Lito stop ripping off the local people that have been supporting you for years. On another note your staff should NEVER dip chips into a container of salsa that's being made. That's not safe food practice. read more

Stopped in for a quick breakfast burrito. It was awesome. Great portion, great price. Included chips and salsa when dining in. I'd definitely stop in again. The staff were super friendly too. read more

Husband was starving and wanted burritos. Came in, ordered. Nice waitress and friendly service. Servings were huge and very inexpensive. I had the pork chile verde. Meat seemed very dry and not very flavorful. Hubby had the breakfast burrito which he said was overall good. The sauces they serve are very tasty and gave the burritos a lot of flavor. I think he enjoyed his burrito because he totally just covered it in sauce! I wouldn't go out of my way to come back but if I was in the area and wanted a quick bite I would come back because they were so friendly and welcoming. read more

We love Lito's. Amazing breakfast burritos, killer guacamole, great salsas. Clean, careful, safe... And friendly service. It's a legendary downtown Mexican spot for good reason... read more

Absolutely the best Breakfast burritos in Santa Barabra and very good Mexican food. staff is always wonderful and helpful!

Came to SB for Memorial Weekend and found Litos. I ordered the chorizo breakfast burrito and it was delicious. I had to have my sour cream and guacamole with it. The chorizo was not salty like I thought it would be. The sour cream and guacamole enhanced my burrito and I was not disappointed. It's good to call in advance so your food is ready. You still have to wait in line to pay but you save the wait. Come here if you're looking for Mexican food. Thanks. read more

Best food & service! Saw it on food Network and it was a just like the review! Everything on the menu is great really. The staff is really nice too! read more

Lito's Take Out - Burritos for days! So good! - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

THE ABSOLUTE BEST BREAKFAST BURRITO IN THE WORLD!! We always get the chorizo, egg and cheese with a side of sour cream and salsa and it's HUGE. My husband and I often share it. And it's super Affordable! read more

One of my favorite burrito places in town. It is a fantastic family owned business with great service and great food. Always a pleasure eating there! I get a bean & rice burrito, but I also enjoy their carnitas, breakfast burrito, and their tri-tip burrito! read more

I love love love these burritos - but the workers are so rude! I have a couple more time that I'll go there and be treated like crap before I stopped going for good read more

This was the best breakfast burrito I've ever had. The staff was super friendly. Highly recommend!

beware when ordering online (which you're forced to do since they never answer the phone). although it says 10 - 15 minutes, expect to wait and your order to take at least 25 - 35 minutes (i ordered1 burrito only). also be sure to thoroughly check your order before leaving. my order: chile verde burrito($9.40) - cut 1/2 and split ($0.15 extra) - wet w/enchilada sauce & cheese ($0.75 extra) - add jalapeno - add cilantro - add onion - add chile verde sauce - tomatillo inside - green salsa inside - red salsa inside - add tomato - add lettuce - add egg ($1.25 extra) - add rice - add whole beans - add beans - one extra side salsa ($0.50 extra) - 1 side green (hot) what the did not include: - cut 1/2 and split ($0.15 extra) - wet w/enchilada sauce & cheese ($0.75 extra) - add cilantro - add chile verde sauce - tomatillo inside - green salsa inside - red salsa inside - add tomato - add lettuce - add rice - add beans - one extra side salsa ($0.50 extra) - 1 side green (hot) not a positive experience when you pay extra and they miss 50% of your order. i was in a rush and made the mistake of tipping them and not checking my order before leaving. read more

Ordered a breakfast burrito was over charged and it was very plain and bland. Would never return

Best fucking breakfast burritos I've ever had. It can get expensive with the additions but it's worth it honestly. And the salsa is fire

It was amazing. We ordered through their website and it was easy to navigate. Pick up was easy and quick. Most importantly the food was outstanding. The chorizo breakfast burrito was to die for. Amazing flavor, good portion size and the burrito was very consistent on every bite. I will be going back very soon. This is without a doubt one of the best breakfast burritos in town read more

We came for breakfast on a Sunday morning. It is a small and very busy place. Nothing fancy. The service was fabulous. We received chips and salsa while waiting​ for our breakfast burritos. We ordered the breakfast burrito with sausage and the bean and rice breakfast burritos. They were quite large and full of flavor. I could not finish the whole burrito and saved half for lunch. The prices are also very reasonable! read more

Lito's has been a "go to" place for me for years. However, a few days ago when my husband and I decided to go there for lunch, it seemed like we paid too much for our order. All we had ordered was the enchillada lunch plate combo and a chile relleno "a la carte". It came out to almost $28. The lunch conbo was $14.95 and included a soda. My husband got our bag minus the soda. When he went to request his soda, the cashier explained to him that he did not get one because he ordered the dinner combo that came with two enchiladas and no soda. It was 12:35! He physically pointed to the lunch combo menu when he stated what his order was. And he definitely didn't ask for 2 enchiladas OR the dinner combo. Since this is the second time this has happened to us there, I HAD to say something. After they took the enchilada out and gave us his soda, we also got a refund for the difference which was around $6 for us to get what we actually wanted. The morena with the tattoos at the front counter is clearly shady. But the remodeling that was just done looks great. And the food is still awesome. Just get a receipt. read more

I went to pick up burritos for myself and my husband and we have loved Lito's for years so disappointed in their burritos unbelievable must have gotten touristybecause people in there we're not locals, and there was actually iceberg lettuce in my Carne Asada burrito, in what world would anybody do that?? Crazy YUCK Sooo sorry to write this review read more

Lito's is soo good. The girls here are so nice. Its small but cozy and the food is delish!!! The flavor hits you when you walk in the door. Lunch specials are a great price and includes a foutain drink. I will post pictures soon read more

Nope! I ordered 4 chile relleno burritos, we got 4 pork burritos. It was either Chile verde, but there was no sauce, or carnitas. They were very bland, no onions, no cilantro, This was our first visit and really disappointed when we got home 45 minutes later when we were really looking forward to relleno burritos read more

Hands-down the best breakfast burrito ever. They never compromise on quality of ingredients. The serving sizes are huge definitely can get 2 full meals from a burrito. Great family & local run institution for breakfast and lunch. Enjoy! read more

SO disappointing! chips were old- salsa ok but could be better they forgot to bring us our food then after waiting 15 min they came and asked us what we had ordered (2 pozoles) they insisted we only ordered one so I whipped out the receipt and YES they charged me for 2. Then the pozoles cane they were SOOOOOO SALTY and flavorless. I COULD NOT EAT we just left. so sad. not much for kids and they did not want to accommodate us read more

Wow, just wow. We got the veggie burrito and it's the best we've ever had. The guacamole is stellar. Salsa is on point. Highly recommend ordering online bc this place is packed! So wish we lived in Santa Barbara, bc I want to go back and try everything they have! What an awesome stop!! read more

Had a potato, egg, beans, and cheese burrito. Sooo good! It wasn't greasy and it was a perfect ratio of all ingredients. The salsas were amazing. Oh and they have lard free beans!! The lady who took our order was super nice and they had a credit card sanitizer, and cleaned every card after swiping and before giving back to you. Covid approved! read more

I live in San Diego and the Mexican food here is on point! Santa Barbara has it's fair share of great Mexican food as well, and Lito's is the real deal. We stopped here for a late breakfast before heading home. OMG! Best Posole I've ever had! My wife had the machaca plate, and our friends enjoyed Chilaquiles and a sausage and egg croissant. I was lucky enough to meet the owner Ernie and spend a few moments with him. What a delight! I caught him in the back finishing up some Tri-Tip on the grill. What a pleasant surprise when he brought a sample to our table! This is a must visit restaurant for anyone in the area. They open and close early so call to be sure. Parking is challenging, but can be found. We had to walk a couple of blocks but the reward was worth it. read more

See all

Wow. I have been a customer of Lito's since I was in high school. Go Dons! Carnitas are the best I have had, anywhere. Period. Great menu. You can't go wrong. Next time you are craving authentic Mexican, this is the place. read more

First time visit! 5* for the Carnitas!!! I enjoyed the green chile Plate and a beef taco. Tacos are huge!!! Busy. Really strick on tables. You need to order FIRST before you sit down. read more

See all

This place is my absolute FAVORITE!!! The food is amazing and the staff is so friendly!! I'm always in a hurry and never have to wait long! Even better cause they now set up online ordering and paying!! My favorite item is the taquitos covered in red sauce! read more

I eat here pretty often. On one hand I am happy it's a hidden gem but on the other hand I would love to send these guys more business. They are always friendly and the food is great. There is a huge selection to choose from so you can't get bored. Breakfast burritos and lunch specials? Boom. read more

Green Chilaquiles were amazing. Didn't get much beans and rice which kinda sucked but it tasted amazing.

We are Mexican food snobs for sure, and Lito's is the best! Tiny little place on a side street in downtown Santa Barbara - by far the best chile relleno and fish tacos we've ever had. If we were locals it would be our go-to every time. Do NOT miss Lito's! read more