I've been wanting to come here for over a year after a gentlemen on the street exclaimed, "Santa Barbara's best Mexican food is Los Agaves in Goleta!" Maybe I had a very high expectation after hearing this. It's a sit down place but one must order at the counter. So it's a half fast food/half restaurant experience. Pros: lightening fast food, free parking, plenty of outdoor seating. Excellent sauces. Cons: the enchiladas were hard and inedible because they were impossible to cut with a knife or to chew. No salsa's or pico are served with the chips. You receive a basket of plain chips and that's it. I think they must microwave to reheat their food? Why would the tortillas have a hard, leathery consistency like that? I love their sauces and grilled meat filling, but that's about it. I wish I could have eaten the full meal I ordered but I had to eat the filling only, because the tortilla wasn't edible. The food is plated delightfully and fulfills the visual senses. The food would be delicious if it was prepared in the right way. Honestly, I will probably head to Carlitos for Mexican food next time because it's more affordable, delicious, and generous. I don't regret coming here to experiment, but it didn't meet my expectations. read more

Los Agaves - Enchiladas Suizas - tough, leathery, rubber consistency. Impossible to eat. - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California

Their quality is going down. Los agaves was my favorite spot to go but the last few times I've gone staff was rude and the food was bland, cold, and not good. read more

I personally don't know what all the rave is about. From every foodie blog I checked, everyone seemed to bring up Los Agaves. It's just like any "Off the Border" or Mexicali joint around. Their food is either too wet, over-saucy, bland, and simple tasting. My GF and I came for dinner and we expected better. We came to the one on Marketplace because the other locations were super busy. I ordered the Chiles Norteno which were two poblano peppers stuffed with Monterey jack cheese and shrimp. This was decent but nothing fantastic or anything I haven't already had. My lady's Alambre's were super soggy, meat was too bland, and the plate was basically covered in green peppers; it was not good. The service was a bit slow, utensils were washed and refilled so we had to use plastic utensils. The chips were basic but the salsa bar was good. None of their hot sauces were filled either; c'mon guys! I'm not coming back and I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. BYE! read more

Los Agaves - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California

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I had the Agaves burrito and that tasted delicious. My friend had another burrito and he liked it. It's a simple service place where you order at the front. When the I am guessing owner or maybe just the manager isn't busy the service is top notch, amazing from the manager. Ambiance is in Goleta marketplace so it's beautiful. Dog friendly place. I think it is the manager who loves dogs. Very busy restaurant. Manager was busy training employees. read more

Ordered food to go they messed up the order did not get what I wanted. Seems to me they are only interested in getting Orders and out the door, doesn't matter if it correct. While I was waiting saw other customers complaining about there order. read more

Mala experiencia pedimos carne a la tampiqueña nos dieron un pedazo muy chico de bistec los frojoles estaban frios y el arroz igual. Me extraña la calidad y por ese plato pague 27.00 mas tax la porsion y el servicio mal Definitivamente NO volvemos El costo de los platillos no van con el tamaño read more

This place is a must have when visiting the area. Excellent menu selections and meals are served promptly. The salsa bar a variety of tasty options. Highly recommend! read more

Good service and weather. Tasty, good portions to share with my hubby. Burrito with a side of beans and a Bohemia.

Is the food good? Yes. Should you eat here? Yes. Here's why: They make their tortillas by hand. The lady makes eye contact with you the whole time she's doing it, she's that good. The flavors are deep and well developed. The food looks amazing on the plate. The salsas are fire. Here's what we got: combination plate with crispy chicken taco, beef sope, and cheese enchilada. Al pastor burrito chimichanga style. 2 mole enchiladas a la carte. The verdict: the meat quality is hard to beat. Every meat was so delicious and tender. 10 out of 10. The shredded beef on the sope was the best of all. The enchilada sauce is soooo good. A must try. The tortillas were amazing - no surprise. The one item that didn't really wow us was the one item we really wanted to try... the mole. It really didn't live up to the hype but that's ok because there's sooo much more here to appreciate. We will be back. Specifically to try the Chile relleno because they were out!! read more

Los Agaves - Al pastor burrito chimichanga style - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California

Great food! All my respect for the lady manager and her team members at Los Agaves in Goleta, CA. Nice vibe every time.​ read more

So yummy! The food is flavorful and served in large portions. Loved the salsa options and service was quick and attentive. Chill, comfortable atmosphere satisfied overall! read more

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Beautiful decor and ambiance! They had a great musician playing outside too. My family all loved what we got. I sampled everyone's dishes at the table and they were all quite delicious! Very satisfying. A wonderful and memorable meal and night. We will definitely come back when we're next in Goleta. read more

Not the first time this has happened to me in this location. This is the second time I have received a raw salmon. It is very disappointing to see that they do not care about their customers. I hope this message can bring awareness to prevent this from happening to others. read more

Los Agaves - Salmon plate - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California

Los Agaves is one of my favorite restaurants in SB. I'm so happy there's one in Goleta now. It's one of the restaurants that I always want to go to when I visit SB. I've never been disappointed by a dish when I go there. They have a good sized menu so I like to try different things each time. The agaves burrito is just as good as I remember. I want to try the agaves engchillada next time. read more

Los Agaves - Agaves Burrito - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California

Stopped by for lunch on a Tuesday around 12. The restaurant was very clean and spacious. We were greeted as we walked in. Menu is very easy to read and prices are reasonable. The horchata was very good, great cinnamon flavor and refreshing. The taco de carnitas was very flavorful! The huarache de asada was good but nothing special. Carne asada had good flavor and no fat. Salsa bar had different salsa flavors, limes etc. the chips were crunch and warm. Queso fundido was really good and a little different as it had chile chunks under but that was good. the combination plate had three items that were delicious and one was not. The sope was delicious! Not typical thick, fried sope. This one was fluffy red but very very good. Best thing by far! Hard taco was crunchy and good amount of filling. The chile relleno was not good to us. Either the batter was off or the oil they fried it in was old. The rice and beans were very good as well. We will be returning to try different items. read more

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It was good but not sure why all the hype. Enchilada green sauce was a little too sour for my taste. Tostada was amazing. Cheese quesadilla was cooked on the griddle with way too much butter/oil. read more

Our favorite Mexican restaurant in the Santa Barbara area, regardless of location. The food is always top quality and the service is great. It's not cheap, but prices are reasonable for what you get. If you leave there hungry it won't be there fault. I usually go for one of their fresh seafood dishes, but once in a while I have a hankering for something different like Molcajetes or Chile Poblano Campestre and I'm always impressed. read more

Still my go to place when in Goleta! I always get a glass a wine to enjoy with the free chips before my entree arrives. I had the Agaves burrito this time and it was delicious. Service is also fast. read more

Los Agaves - Agaves Burrito - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California

We phoned in our dinner order to Los Agaves and it was hot and ready in 15 minutes! We ordered the steak nachos, chicken mole enchiladas and the burrito mojado. I was a little apprehensive about ordering nachos to-go but wow, absolutely worth it! The nachos were still fresh and they were huge! They didn't skimp on anything at all with this order and the guac and steak were plentiful. The burrito mojado (not pictured) was great, I just took a bite to try it but the real deal for me was the chicken mole. Great flavor, and a huge portion too! The side pinto beans were also delicious, as was the rice! I would definitely get that again. Price-wise, each entree was around $16-18 post-tax. I think the most cost effective item in terms of quantity were the nachos, but you can definitely get two meals out of one visit. Everything we had here was delicious, I really enjoyed our visit and they followed social distancing for pickup well! read more

Los Agaves - Nachos with Steak - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California

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We visited Los Agaves a couple of weeks ago and loved it! One of the young ladies working there was so kind and patient. We ordered the tacos al pastor (the pork was seasoned perfectly) and the camarones guajillo (so buttery and succulent). So glad we came across this restaurant! read more

Los Agaves - Tacos Al Pastor and Camarones Guajillo - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California

I ordered the two-item combo plate and just chose two cheese enchiladas, which is my litmus test whenever I visit/order from a Mexican restaurant for the first time. It was flavorless, and the tortillas were tough from being overcooked. It wasn't inedible, but it was not delicious. I may try one of the other locations next time I'm working up that way, but this order was not a great first impression. read more

Halibut tacos were amazing but be warned there is a wait that comes with it. Salsas are all very fresh and delicious.

Food was super fresh! Margarito was yummy wish I had more but had to drive. Loved the shrimp tacos and fajitas full of flavor. The girls loved their food as well. Portions are large so left overs are great. A bit pricey but worth it as everything tasted so fresh. Staff was professional and extremely friendly. Will be going back often when I visit my girl at UCSB. read more

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Amazing! Mile burrito, salmon tropical, flautas and cal burrito! I can't wait to come back!

Solid Mexican taqueria location in Santa Barbara...came here on a work trip and both my coworkers told me I had to try the Molcajetes which I was down for and had the sea and earth variety which consisted of shrimp, steak, chicken, fish and some other surprises...this dish is so hard to explain but if you have never had it then a must try. You have to be a little patient because the bowl that it's served in stay scorching hot and keeps all the goodness very hot. My secret is to scoop out the deliciousness on a separate plate and let it cook down. This dish is served with fresh homemade tortillas and is so delicious! The service here was also amazing and anyone in the area should be giving this place a try. read more

Los Agaves - Sea & Earth Molcajetes - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California

One of our favorite places to eat in Goleta. We've tried many dishes and some of our favorites are the Los agaves burrito, Chile relleno, enchiladas (both roja and verde), tacos (soft and crispy shelled), and agaves salad. Their beans and rice are solid - the food overall tastes like it's made with good quality ingredients. Service has always been great, quick, and polite! Ambiance is busy/lively inside with a large outdoor space that tends to be our preferred. Highly recommend! read more

Recommended by locals: The Molcajetes, and a Burrito. We're coming from LA, and have no expectations -- vacation, enjoy! We were told this as a great place to enjoy Santa Barbara as a tourist, and local for a sit-down. Food: - Los Burritos: Little brother (local) recommends the Agavas Burrito. We got the Burrito Majado and it was huge!! - As a tourist, we were recommended and got the Molcajetes (large black lava hot looking stone bowl). Was very entertaining and sizzling hot the whole time. We got it without cheese. It comes with a cactus!! (Nopal). This dish is enormous. The tortilla is fresh. I think this could be shared among 2 people. - Get the avocado mild green sauce for your chip dipping pleasure. Decent. Can't complain. Outdoor patio and heaters were nice. This place also serves beer. Popular family restaurant, packed compare to the other food joints in the same plaza. read more

Yummy restaurant with great and authentic Mexican food. Came here tonight and ordered the chicken taquitos and chicken tostada. The plates are huge and delicious. Both were very good. The waitresses were helpful and kept bringing us lots of fresh tortilla chips. Pro tip: The green salsa from the salsa bar is the best! I will be back! read more

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This restaurant is great, and the food is amazing. They have a really yummy salad with beans and guacamole in a tortilla bowl which is really good! The service is normal, and the outside sitting area is 5 star! read more

We were visiting from out of town and we wanted Mexican food. It was close to our hotel so we thought we would give it a try. You order at the counter and they have plenty of seating inside or outside. We ate inside because it was quite warm outside. Seating was comfortable in a booth but they also have tables. We ordered a burrito and a combination plate so we could sample different items. They also have a salsa bar to try out with the chips. My husband said it was the best burrito he has ever had and was very filling. I had the taco and enchilada with a side salad that had a Mango and orange topping who was so yummy! Everything was delicious and the staff checked on us often to see how we liked the food. Plus it was fast! I highly recommend it!! read more

Great spot with great service. The family had Fajita burritos, enchiladas, ceviche, and chips and guacamole. All was great and was topped off with a Victoria beer and a mango margarita. We sat outside and enjoyed the weather and the birds chirping. Highly recommended. read more

Family meal change up plans already!! I guess los Agaves is switching up their family meal plans they had for 39$ today their conversation went like this " can I put in the burrito family meal? Los Agaves: I dont know if we still offer that ... ok we do Me: can we get 4 Mojado burritos Los Agaves: no but we can put the sauce on the side Me:ok can I get a chicken burrito and a shredded beef chimichanga? Los Agaves: we don't offer shredded beef for this deal anymore owner said no exceptions it's not as plentiful as chicken so we can give u chicken burritos we try to save the beef Me: never mind. Although the sign noted the deal wouldn't last forever who knew it'd be gone so soon or until the pandemic gets heavy again and they need the business again let that soak in read more

Got the California Burrito today at this lovely restaurant. Kinda sad they didn't have fries though. Other than that, it was a delicious burrito! It was very filling and all the flavors just blended together so well. Also loved the avocado salsa! read more

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The Chile Relleno Burrito . The flavor was so great and every bite was so enjoyable. I didn't want it to finish.

I've been to multiple locations of Los Agaves over the past few years and I am thoroughly impressed with their service, speed, and quality of food. Today I had a combo plate with 2 cheese enchiladas rojas and a side of rice and beans. The beans are really good and come in a cute tostada bowl and the rice is served in a beautiful pyramid shape. The presentation is top notch! The cheese enchiladas were pretty tasty although the cheese was not fully melted inside the enchilada which was a bit of a disappointment. The enchilada sauce was creamy and flavorful and elevated the whole dish! I even dipped some tortilla chips into the sauce. All in all, it was excellent food. I will be returning. read more

Los Agaves - 2 cheese enchiladas rojas with a side of rice and black beans. - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California

Was in the Goleta area for a family getaway and had dinner at Los Agaves. We ordered inside and sat outside. They gave us tortilla chips and three different salsas while we waited. We had the carnitas special, shrimp tacos and chicken/cheese quesadillas. Our girls who are 5 & 7 really enjoyed the quesadillas. Everything was really good and seasoned perfectly. It was so good that our girls wanted to go back a 2nd time. This time my wife and I had the mango salmon special and the ceviche. Once again everything we had was really good. The staff was very friendly and took good care of us. When we are back in the area Los Agaves will be on the top of our list to visit again. read more

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To be honest I am on the fence about this one.... The flavors are good and they clearly are well liked as the place is super busy but they do put cheese on everything and I do mean everything. Even in the rolled tacos there is cheese inside. Hmmm... having grown up near the Mexican border I do know where cheese belongs in Mexican food and what types... this is a bit over the top. read more

This place is awesome. The staff was great and the food was excellent. We had the enchiladas, the flautas and the mole tacos. Service was very fast and the place is very clean. I definitely will return to this restaurant read more

SO SO SO GOOD! This was my go-to spot for years! Now every time I'm in the area I have to stop by! It's open seating, you order and pay for your food first, go find a table, and wait for your food to arrive! Parking is plentiful but can get crowded depending on the season. My favorites: STEAK NACHOS - they're so big! - Definitely would share this with at least 2 other people - everything you would want in nachos! - there's also a salsa bar where you can get as much salsa as your heart desires! AGAVES BURRITO - seafood burrito with special sauce - it's one of their specialties and a must try if you like shrimp and fish - it's huge and comes like a wet burrito with sauce all over it! - also comes with rice and a small side salad CRISPY TACO/ENCHILADA COMBO - I love their crispy tacos that come with a little salsa and cotija - the enchiladas are super flavorful! I usually go with green sauce but red sauce is pretty good too! Overall I love this place and will definitely come back every time I'm in the area! read more

Los Agaves - 2 Items Combination (Crispy Taco & Green Enchilada) - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California

Every entree that I've have had at this place is soooooo freaking delicious! My goto is the Molcajetes! I prefer to sub in sea and earth (shrimp and steak) for the default chicken (which is also good, just personal preference). It comes out served in a very hot stone bowl, so be careful, let it chill for a few mins, cuz its piping hot, dont ask me how I know, but I do :) The shrimp were large, plump and not over cooked, perfect texture and flavor. The steak, was tender, and plentiful throughout the bowl. The little bits of chorizo and combination of spices and herbs gives you a great zing of spice with every slurping bite. All of their burritos are good, but my favorite is the agaves burrito. It comes packed with fresh fish and shrimp, and paired with their fresh salsa bar, you cant go wrong. Don't forget to order a homemade horchata and thank me later ;) read more

Los Agaves - Molcajetes With grilled nopal, Monterrey Jack cheese, chorizo, grilled cambray onion, avocado and homemade salsa.(sea and earth) - Bars Near Me - Goleta, California