It's been 3yrs since we been there and does not taste the same and not the great service either, not from the hosts but the woman going around serving water. Not sure what was her deal! She was serving water like she didn't want to be there and no friendly smile or saying you're welcome.. when I told her thank you multiple times. The drinks were mid.. my did not taste like alcohol and no flavor at all. The food was very bland, no flavor, the guacamole was missing lime and salt.. my enchiladas were covered in too much cheese, I couldn't tell what I ordered. I didn't finish my plate, just ate a 1:4 of it.. Sorry for the waitress for not leaving a decent tip, but this place went down hill.. read more

I met a friend for lunch today.I ordered the chicken enchilada with beans and rice.I also got a diet Coke The food was very tasty.Icalso got a flan for dessert The service was very good.There is plenty of parking read more

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Haven't been here in years, thought we would return. Sadly, was not as it used to be, at all. We started out with good friendly service and warm chips. Off to a good start, then the plates arrived. The chicken tacos and enchiladas had zero flavor and were so dry. It's boiled and shredded but has no flavor. They don't put any red sauce or sour cream garnish. The taco shell tasted like grocery store and broke to pieces immediately. On the taco was shredded white meat, lettuce, and a tiny bit of cheese on the top, not melted, looked like pre-shredded package cheese. The beans didn't taste right, maybe canned beans. Not good. The outside seating was nice in a warm sunny day but we won't be back. Not the OG it used to be. read more

Little Tampico - Refried beans - Mexican Near Me - Soquel, California

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YUM!!! Food was great but the ambience was excellent. We sat outside on the covered porch. And service was also excellent.

Hasn't been the same quality since Covid. Too bad because it was a go to place for great Mexican food.

I just love this place! They have very good food! You have to try the Chimichanga. It's so yummy! They grill it instead of deep fry it so I feel like I'm eating a little healthier ha. I've always been happy with what I order, but I'm stuck on that Chimichanga! You also have to try the appetizer Oreja de Toro, so delicious! read more

Little Tampico - Gorgeous new paint! - Mexican Near Me - Soquel, California

Been craving Little Tampico for awhile so I stopped by today and picked up a to go order. Chicken Enchilada Verde plate. The beans and rice were really dry and the Enchilada had no sauce. Guess I won't be craving this anymore. read more

Great service, delicious food, and margarita pitchers! Little Tampico is always a go to spot for Mexican in Santa Cruz, their chips and salsa are also incredible. read more

Little Tampico - Margarita Pitcher - Mexican Near Me - Soquel, California

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We moved out of state, and we haven't been back to Little Tampico for several years. In fact, we haven't had good really good Mexican food since we moved out of California . We were so happy to see that twas open and stopped by for a late lunch. We sat by the window so we could see the creek, and it was just like I remembered . My husband got some kind of combination plate and I Ordered the Beef Tampico special. (Has always been a favorite of mine.) I ordered the Cadillac Margarita and my husband ordered the "Mollie". Our server was very fun and attentive. The chips were free-flowing, and the salsa was great. read more

It was the worst dinner we've ever had... I couldn't eat the shredded chicken , it was so tuff. They have certainly gone downhill.

Heather makes the best drink in town. Get the Chile Verde woth a Vodka Molly you won't be disappointed read more

Little Tampico - Mexican Near Me - Soquel, California

Great service, great food and margaritas. What else needs to be said. Make it at least once a week.

Love the ambiance and food and Heather is an amazing bartender and more. We had the fajitas for two with chicken. We always get a side of fresh jalapenos to throw on while it is all sizzling. The Mollies is so worth the price! read more

Little Tampico - Mexican Near Me - Soquel, California

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This is by far my favourite restaurant in Santa Cruz, I've been coming here for over 20 years! In all that time, the food has remained delicious and the service has continued to be warm and friendly. Although I'm hesitant to call this "traditional" Mexican cuisine, each bite is absolutely delicious. Food: I have yet to eat something I don't like. My personal favourites are the Julio's burrito (I love that they have a vegetarian-friendly filling for this!), Killer Quesadilla (amazing, cheesy goodness), and the beef chilli verde (spicy, savoury, and oh so cozy). Another favourite: their creamy herb salad dressing. I dip my veggies in it and I dip my chips in it, I could easily drink a gallon of the stuff. For dessert: I'll always get the chocolate mud pie. The cookie base is concerning my addictive. Service/Seating/Parking: The service is wonderful! The staff is very attentive and kind. The seating is definitely on the more casual side but it's very cozy. I highly recommend sitting in the downstairs patio on a warm day, there's a pretty stream that runs by the restaurant. Finally, keep in mind that parking can be a little tight and you may need to park in the back or on the street if it's a busy evening. read more

Little Tampico - Fajita Salad with the amazing creamy herb dressing - Mexican Near Me - Soquel, California

The owner is a kind gentleman & the staff follows closely behind in welcoming energy. The Molly's will fuck you up. The Olitas plate will fill you up. My fav choices on the Olitas plate: beef enchilada, chicken tamale, shredded beef taquito, & beef tostada. Your welcome. Try their jalapeño poppers. A nice dinner location for family dinner to overview the creek and local ducks. OR A equally as great bar spot for a few margis. read more

Only come at lunch Solid food and great service! Love Gigii and Heather. The Mollies are good. read more

WOW what happened? I thought it was a completely different restaurant. I've ordered the same dish for decades. Chili Relleno and chicken enchilada. The chili relleno was NOTHING like it used to be. The enchilada had a completely different sauce...and one that was not tasty at all. It used to be a very tasty red sauce and lots of it. This was a totally different sauce and didn't taste anything like the one I was used to and had been the same for decades. WHAT HAPPENED? I asked the waitress if the owners had sold to new people. She said no. But even the beans had no flavor. The Relleno had no flavor and was totally different and the sauce for the enchilada was something completely different than it used to be. WHY would they change anything?...because it was very very good before and very very tasty for decades. The food was totally completely different. Not good...quite bland and boring. I would never eat there again. HOW SAD though. My whole family has loved the food there. I'm at a loss to understand why they would think what I was given tonight was tasty. It was not and it was a shock besides a big disappointment. Because the food was always the same and very good each and every time. Predictably excellent. I'm sorry for anyone eating there now and not experiencing how good it used to be. I've eaten the same thing there since the 80's. Probably eaten there a 100 times if not more. THIS was totally and completely different. Bland boring and just completely different. WHAT HAPPENED? read more

Little Tampico along the Soquel River in Capitola has been my favorite for 40 years. The food is excellent, service is very attentive and I am never disappointed. Large eat in bar and warm ambience. Truly a gem!! read more

I felt so cared for and the food was delicious! Detailed breakdown below: **Service, 5/5** Cathy is so sweet and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the night. Thank you!! **Decor, 5/5** Huge space with multiple seating options: indoor or outdoor patio, indoors, or at the bar. Wood cabin-vibes makes this cozy for family and friends! **Presentation of the food, 5/5** From the chip baskets to the stone salsa bowls to the mounds of colorful beans and veggies, each plate looks divine and ready to dive into. **Taste of the food, 5/5** - Virgin mango margarita, 5/5: This was DELICIOUS! Basically a mango smoothie with bright citrus notes and a floral taste that I can't pinpoint. It balanced out the beans, chips, and other heavier foods. - #2 Tamale and taco combo, 5/5: I got a prawn taco and a chicken tamale, which also came with beans and rice. The rice was fluffy, the beans had a ton of flavor, and the tamale was soft and stuffed with chicken. The prawns in the taco were juicy (you have an option for soft or crunchy tortillas, and an option of pico di gallo or lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese) -- I would've added some of the salsa from the chips to add in some moisture, but I didn't because the salsas are a bit spicy. - Mud pie, 5/5: AMAZING! The giant pile of whipped cream and chocolate syrup, the rocky road chocolate ice cream, and of course the crunchy cookie base. So good and so nostalgic -- I hadn't had an ice cream cake in a while. **Other notes** Parking can be tough during busy hours, you may need to park on the street. read more

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I got the enchilada and it was good. My time visiting the restaurant was just uncomfortable since my last visit. I didn't feel the fun atmosphere I have excperiencced in past visits. I looked around and realized the normal bartender wasn't there. The normal laughter and fun were missing. I hope Gigi isn't gone. I just really enjoy the atmosphere when she works. read more

I haven't been here in years, until last week. It was as amazing as ever, or maybe even better than I remember. I was driving south from San Francisco to Monterey this past Wednesday. I decided to take the coast highway to enjoy the scenic route. I got hungry about midway through my drive, and looked up "restaurants near me" and decided that Mexican food sounded great. I sat at the bar and was greeted with a big smile by the warm friendly bartender. After suggesting and making the perfect cocktail for me, I decided to stay seated there and chat with Gigi through my entire delicious meal. Sincere, funny, friendly and so entertaining as she continued to multi-task her way through the lunch hour which had a few local diners in house that were obviously in her fan club as well. One of my best spontaneous lunch break decisions in years! Thanks Gigi and her team at Little Tampico! I will be back soon!! read more

I have been eating at Little Tampico since I was 19 yrs old. I am now 65. This is the best place I have ever been. Chile Verde is amazing service is even better. Try it you will love it!!! read more

After some staff changes this place is back to being the bomb locals favorite it used to be. The fajita meat is off the chart awesome and if you are lucky enough to meet Heather, either behind the bar or waitresses, you are in for a treat! Totally recommend! read more

Great place for happy hour .. killer margs and great food... and stellar service ...well done Heather... and Little Tampico .... We'll be back read more

our lunch selection was very good. The portions were more than we expected. Excellent service and a relaxing atmosphere. The cheesecake dessert was excellent. read more

Good food. Very friendly staff. Best margaritas. Thank you Heather for great service. Ambi was authentic

Just meh... The restaurant has a bit of atmosphere with a nice river view from the back. And that must be the draw. Chips and Salsa are my litmus test for what will follow and that theory didn't disappoint in this instance. Not good. Tad on the stale side, from bag with a mediocre salsa, likely from can/jar. All three entrees were basically take home for the dog. Not authentic in the least, and just played full of sauce. Would return if meeting people for drinks, but not to fill that itch. read more

Very Dog friendly, happy hour: $5 margaritas, $13 chicken nachos. Kathy was our waitress: so sweet, makes all the desserts, so welcoming. We had her lemon curd cheesecake and it was delicious. read more

Food was great, chips weren't as good as previous visits ( not warm and bit stale) salsa was delicious. Service was very good. read more

The service and the chips were excellent However our food was terrible. I ordered the enchiladas and my partner ordered the chili relleno. The meat was very dry. The beans were dry too.. just add water:) The margaritas were very strong and seemed like it had artificial color mix. The chili relleno was like an omelette with a chili in it (which seemed like it was from a can) with enchilada sauce. Unfortunately we won't be back for the food... read more

Great lunch at the bar with the best bartender, Gigi! She made our day so fun! She and the owner introduced us to some very good tequilas.

My husband and I have been going off and on for a few years, the food has always been good. We always eat in the bar and sit at the bar. Today we walked out without finishing our meal, not because the food was bad. We know the bartender, we often have interesting conversations, but today he went wild. I thought we were talking about how he was doing, and he went completely down a rabbit hole; I could not follow him so I asked for context and to explain what he meant, but it just weirder until he became rude. My husband confronted him on the rudeness and he obviously forgot that he works in a service industry. We closed out and left, my lunch was 1/4 eaten and my drink the same. I don't know if the owners or other staff know what goes on in the bar because they don't spend much time there, and we have never seen him like this before. Understand people have challenges in life, but when you have a public facing job, you better keep that stuff inside until you have safe place to spew it out. Doing so to a customer is very unprofessional. We will not return. read more

The order showed delivery to be delivered between 11:45 AM and 12:00 PM. "Ring the door bell and hand it to me". The door bell never rang so it wasn't handed to me. I checked my computer and it showed "delivered at 11:30 AM." I do not sit at my computer all morning long to trace any orders. I had ordered two Enchilada Verdes with Beef. Both were with chicken. I don't care for chicken. My son ate his. I set mine aside and will do away with the other chicken. I'll try to warm the remainder for dinner. It will take some time for me to reconsider doing another order. read more

After living here for five years we tried Little Tampico for an early Saturday night dinner. It was an amazing experience. The atmosphere was amazing and the staff particularly, Heather were beyond compare to any dining experience in the area so far. Will be our go to dining establishment for our family and visiting friends... read more

I'm so pissed right now my mouth is burning so bad. Ordered the prawn flautas today which used to be large cheese easy and delicious . Instead I got frozen shrimp and a ton of jalapeno 2 slivers of onion and some potato bits? no beans no salad got some rice so guess I should consider myself lucky. This used to be my go-to spot but wow it's really gone downhill. read more

Little Tampico - Yuck more like Jalapeno flauta - Mexican Near Me - Soquel, California

We have been going here for a few years, but I think the food has gone down hill. We went on a busy Friday night. The beef did not taste good. It was pretty tasteless. The prawn tacos were ok. The food is nothing to be excited for it was blah!!! We will not be visiting this restaurant again. I would not waste your money going to Little Tampico!!! read more

Went pretty late at night had a great house margarita the rice and beans were super good. Chip served with two salsas. I had the platter with a little bit of everything and hubs had massive amounts of cheese (enchiladas) guac was fair. But as I've learned here in Santa Cruz take the good with the bad it kind of evens out. Very loud folks here but cool deco lots of parking and in and out tables. Our server was great! read more

Little Tampico - Platter and cheese enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Soquel, California

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I literally almost cried when I tasted what was sold to me. The order consisted of steak fajitas with rice and beans. + Chicken Tacos The issue lied within the entire plate... as well as the Chicken Tacos. -The Tasteless retried beans with a super mound of cheese that was hardened to itself . ? This was quite visually unappealing, I may add. The amount of cheese made no sense. I can make an entire entree qusadilla with the portion of cheese they wasted. -The spanish rice tasted and smelled like it was plain white & steamed. Had no aroma nor taste, whatsoever! -Steak fajita meat itself was the only half tasty bite, although the dish had too many onions, not enough bell peppers. Also fajitas aren't supposed to be a wet dish. Lastly, The boiled chicken tacos were bland, not spiced or mixed with any aromatics or herbs. The red sauce that was applied tasted canned and watered down. Overall not much care was given into any of these food items and thats the exact opposite of what Mexican Food is. read more

The service, the food and the Ambiance was awesome. Highly recommend this restaurant. The people are very nice and really helpful

Great Margs and Amazing Team! Thank you for being a great place to go for a quick happy hour :)