I just wanted to take the time and leave a review for this amazing company! They catered for my wedding reception in Santa Barbara by the beach. Their service was absolutely amazing, as well as their communication and timeliness. The food was delicious so much so that all of my friends and family praised how tasteful it was. The drinks are yummy too! I couldn't be more happy with how everything went. I was already a customer previously before my wedding, and I really enjoy their tacos and burritos! If you're wondering if you should use them as a vendor for your upcoming event, definitely do it! read more

We stopped by about 20 minutes before closing because of all the great reviews, but unfortunately the customer service was really disappointing. As soon as we walked in, the woman working the register seemed visibly annoyed that we had come in before closing and rolled her eyes at us. She immediately said, "Umm, we're closing, so you want to take it to go?" We were already planning on taking our food to go, so the attitude felt completely unnecessary. While we were waiting for our order, another customer walked up to ask her a question, and she continued staring down at her phone and completely ignored her. The woman actually had to say, "Excuse me?" just to get her attention. I completely understand wanting to wrap things up at the end of a shift, but if a business is still open, customers shouldn't be made to feel unwelcome for coming in during posted business hours. We specifically chose this place because of the great reviews, so this was a really disappointing first impression. read more

Maíz Picante - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I really liked the food. It's like gourmet tacos. I ordered the Los Cabos, Beyond Steak and Mulita tacos. They were all very delicious. The Birria and Carnitas tacos were good as well, but not as good as the three above. read more

This place is stellar. I'm In town once a year and I always come to check more of the menu out here. The lines are way juicier than last time so that was a plus, and now that I know how big their tacos are, I didn't overeat. Two tacos is enough but 3 if you can eat a bunch of food. Love the pretty array of salsas they bring out. This place is some of the best authentic Mexican food in SB. read more

Maíz Picante - Sexy goodness - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Authentic Mexican food with excellent service I love this spot always my Go to. very clean and the ambience is perfect. read more

Maíz Picante - Margaritas - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

You should not be going anywhere else in SB for tacos. Seriously. THIS is the spot!!! They've got the best tacos, the most reasonable prices, and the staff is so friendly and kind. There's about 8 tables for seating inside, and it's order-at-the-counter. Quick, easy, delicious. They have everything you could possibly want, including vegan options that don't suck! read more

Amazing! I'm from LA I know good Mexican food. This place I was skeptical of, just bc it's Mexican food in this area. My goodness it is good. I got the Tacos Tijuana Al Pastor and the Green Enchiladas with Steak, and the Quesadilla with steak. All were amazing the salsas are awesome and pickled radishes were so good. Don't skip on this place. It's clean, service was quick, price is fair for the quality and taste. Will be coming back! read more

We order tacos and quesadillas at Maiz Picante at least 2-3 times a month. The quality is exceptional, and the service is fast. Never stayed for dinner as we leave around the corner but the place is clean and cute. I highly recommend this place. read more

Gave this spot a try while visiting Santa Barbara. They have a great selection of authentic Tijuana style tacos. The tortillas felt homemade (not sure) and were delicious! All of the tacos we tried were good, I especially liked the lengua taco and the shrimp one. Service was good but a bit slow for a taco spot. It's a small place, with a minimal decor. It has tons of parking in the back. Will definitely be back to try more! read more

Maíz Picante - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Recently on Reddit, I saw someone call Maíz Picante one of the underrated taco shops in SB. My mom and I were in the area and decided to stop by for dinner! To start, I got a tamarind jarrito to drink -- good ole reliable! To eat, I ordered a chicken taco as well as a crispy vallarta taco. My mom and I took a seat by the window while we waited for the food to come. While we were waiting, a little plate was brought with a variety of salsas and some toppings for the tacos! It was a nice little spread since it included red and green salsa. After 5 minutes, our food arrived. We dug in right away! Everything was very delicious. The chicken taco surprised me as I was worried it may be kind of bland. However, the chicken was moist and delicious while the potato was creamy and added a nice balance. With some grilled onions and salsa on top, it was perfect! The crispy vallarta taco had a nice balance of textures as well and was everything I wanted! Overall, my mom and I were very happy with our experience at maiz picante. Her and I have been back since this first visit and will continue to return! read more

Maíz Picante - Chicken taco, Crispy Vallarta Taco - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

When we first walked in no one acknowledged that we were there for a long time, to the point where we almost turned around and left. But someone finally showed up and we put in our taco order. Was very excited they had vegan options! I ordered 3 vegan tacos: beyond pastor, roasted veggies, and vegan crispy. The flavor was amazing! Very well made and I enjoyed every bite. read more

Maíz Picante - Vegan tacos - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Such delicious food! The flavors, and the service are amazing. The inside is a cute little small space which is cozy but also reminds me of a mom and pop restaurant that treats their customers so well. I always love to come here for their food! Recommend! read more

Absolutely delicious! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The tacos were amazing, and the quesadillas were perfectly crispy with great filling. Loved all the fresh toppings and sauces too. Great food and great experience -- definitely coming back! read more

Maíz Picante - Quesadilla - Chicken - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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My favorite place for tacos in Santa Barbara. Delicious meats, salsas, tortillas, and all for such a reasonable price. They have seafood as well but I really think you are doing yourself a disservice but not focusing on their various meat offerings. I genuinely believe that their lengua is the best in town. It's so tender and flavorful, and instead of cubes, they slice it. They use great cuts and their combinations are all extremely flavorful. I also enjoy the crispy carnitas. They also have other dishes like burritos, enchiladas, and papa rellena but really, the tacos are where it's at. They also have great margaritas and aguas frescas. I always eat at the restaurant but I generally see most people order take out. I do think getting to eat the tacos right off the grill is the best way to experience it. read more

Went for lunch. Small, but nice seating area, clean and bright. Order at counter, food brought to table. My comments on the food stand - this is seriously delicious food. There is parking behind the building. read more

Passing through and found this place. Great options for vegans, my husband loved his steak tacos, tortillas are fresh and delicious

Epic tacos -- some of the best I've had this side of the border. The lengua is perfection. Could not recommend more highly. read more

Maíz Picante - Lengua taco and crispy vallarta taco - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Carnitas tacos and Elote was amazing. Carnitas tacos came stuffed full of meat, but the tortillas were well made and did not break. Salsas were abundant and complimentary to the flavors of the tacos. The Cabeza was only so-so and my sister said the Al Pastor was awful. Personally, I never get Al Pastor unless I see a trompo, so didn't even think about getting it. Got an Agua Fresca as well, made with cucumber and pineapple which was super refreshing. As an aside, was also told by another patron, while sitting in the restaurant with my siblings that we "are a beautiful family." Amongst another rambling that we didn't understand lol. We took it to mean SB probably doesn't get many "diverse" visitors or something read more

Maíz Picante - Cabeza and Carnitas tacos came stuffed - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Aces MX restaurant in Santa Barbara. Jamaica margarita was the surprising highlight, as was the fact that the vegan substitutions were all very well-seasoned, so you didn't miss the meat except for the texture. Shrimp tacos were also well done. Atmo was just average - maybe overly brightly-lit - but local color of suburbanites out on the town more than made up for it. read more

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There was a time when I did not believe vegan meat other than burgers can taste good, but I was young and naive. Nothing was ever the same once I stepped foot into this place. Now every time I go I would get at least one if not more vegan supreme! The food they serve here is seriously good! The vibe is super casual, and the staff are very friendly. Give it a shot if you haven't! read more

This was recommended by a friend and it did not disappoint. Worth the drive. We were unable to decide on which tacos to get so, we tried a couple. They were AMAZING AND DELICIOUS! the service was prompt and the food was fresh! The restaurant was clean and the Agua Frescas are a must try. It's a small place, we went during the week so it was not full. Highly recommend the birria tacos. The meat was juicy and Tender. The shrimp taco was very tasty not bland at all! read more

Maíz Picante - Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I really enjoyed my one taco here. I ordered the steak taco, which came in like one large thin piece like if you were to get from a backyard Mexican friend's BBQ. I think the other reviewers nailed it. You have so many great Mexican food joints here, and you start becoming less inclined to try new spots because you have your staples. ie lily's tacos, Los Agaves, the shop in Public Markey, Los Arroyos ... etc And I can safely say this is a great spot to keep in the back pocket too. read more

So good! Would totally come back. Loved the guac on the tacos. I wasn't a fan of the carne taco itself but everything else was great. read more

Maíz Picante - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Their agua frescas are excellent! We got the pineapple/pepino and mango/passionfruit agua frescas and mixed them with jarritos.

This place was hard to get to because of construction but we had to go. It's not your basic taco spot. HOWEVER, the prices are like your basic taco spot. AMAZING choices and not your average choices. Vegan and veggie options galore. My friend and I ordered to go with all 4 salsas on the side. Salsa choices are insane. Everything is super clean (like beyond clean and pretty) and the music playing made me even happier. I got one of the vegan tacos as well as one of the shrimp ones and it was delicious. Staff is so nice. Highly recommend!!!!!!!! read more

I live over 150 miles away, and this is by far one of my favorite places to eat tacos! They are absolutely delicious. I've only been three times because of the distance, but every time I'm in the area, this is one of my first stops. It's definitely worth the drive! Please go and taste their delicious tacos!!! read more

Place used to be bomb. I got weird chopped cold chicken on my tacos tonight, no love. Thank god for the creamy green salsa.

Good was delicious and the drinks were good too ! The service was nice as well. The indoors was small but clean. read more

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Best burrito in Santa Barbara. Randomly found this place because I was in the area for a meeting. The service was absolutely fantastic and the food flavor, detail and execution were incredible. 10/10! read more

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Great flavors, great salsas great device. For a new spot, they have the formula down right. Another great no frills taco joint to join the SB taco safari. Enjoy, we will be back! read more

Saw the 5 star rating on Yelp so I had to come check this place out and I'm so happy that I did! If your looking for GREAT authentic Mexican food, don't look any further. Small resteraunt with about 15 tables, can get busy around lunch time so just a heads up. However, once you order, the food is out within 10 minutes. Ordered two tacos to try. Went with an al pastor taco and a taco of asada Tijuana style and they were both so good! Handmade tortillas, bold flavors, great salsas, these tacos hit every note for me. Would highly reccomend that you check both portions out! The Al Pastor is Trompo style (vertical rotisserie) so that was a huge win in my book. Overall would define my come back and eat here again. Thanks Miaz Picante for the great lunch. Till next time. read more

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Stoked the have vegan tacos! Tacos were phenomenal! The fried crispy vegan and potato and beans was just okay. The guac was whack too. Not fresh, not good. The salsas were all really good and the service was great. The vibe was fine it's not much of a sit down fancy place but they have beer! read more

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I love this place. Quick service, but super quality food. I've tried a lot of their tacos, but my go-to is the enchiladas with pastor. They are cheese enchiladas with the tastiest verde cream sauce I've ever had. They then pile on really tender and flavorful pastor meat. Served with yummy beans and the usual fixings on the side. I crave these every couple weeks and have to have them. read more

Maíz Picante - Enchiladas - Pastor - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A friend recommended this spot as a meet-up for lunch during the work day and it was perfect! Great location and tons of seating inside. We were able to order our food and snag a table right away. You order at the counter and then food is brought to your table. They also bring you a selection of salsas and taco toppings- delish! I loved the taco options and ended up ordering the pastor camaron and a grilled chicken taco. Both were incredible. Everything tasted fresh and made to order. Plus, it's inexpensive! Definitely a great taqueria. Highly recommend and I'll be back :) I noticed they have parking in the back after I already found street parking. But plan ahead for that! read more

Maíz Picante - Selection of salsas and taco toppings - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Truly exceptional Mexican food in a simple modern space with nice people. My new favorite tacos in Santa Barbara read more

The best find during our weekend in Santa Barbara. Maíz Picante is a taqueria serving Mexican street food including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and enchiladas. They also offer margaritas, cocktails, and aguas frescas. We were pleased with all the tacos we tried. My favorite tacos were taco tijuana topped with guacamole, quesa birria, and sirloin steak topped with potatoes. I appreciated the salsa sampler they provided that ranged from mild to habanero. Service was quick. You order and pay at cashier then find a seat. Our food was served quickly during both of our visits, despite the restaurant being busy. Highly recommend stopping by Maíz Picante. You won't be disappointed! Pro tip: Check in to Yelp before ordering to use the 25% discount offer. read more

Maíz Picante - Burrito - Sirloin Steak + Tacos (2 chicken, 2 sirloin) - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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While attending the Santa Barbara Film Festival, my husband and I needed something quick before our screening--enter Maiz Picante. With a 5-star rating, expectations were high, and I'm happy to say it delivered a solid, satisfying meal that was exactly what we needed. The food was fresh, flavorful, and well-seasoned, making it a great option for a casual bite. It wasn't one of those "I'll be dreaming about this for weeks" meals, but for a quick stop, it more than did its job. Service was friendly and efficient, the atmosphere was relaxed, and everything came out fast--perfect when you're on a schedule. If you're in Santa Barbara and want something quick, delicious, and hassle-free, this place is definitely worth checking out. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. If you're in the area and craving Mexican food, Maiz Picante is a great go-to. read more

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Vegan options were amazing!! We got seconds. They have three vegan taco options and one vegan crispy taco option all of which are recommended though pastor and steak were our favorites! read more

Usually one of my favorites to order from DoorDash or just a regular pickup. Lately it's a hit or miss whenever I order. Placed a delivery order on DoorDash for four items. One sirloin steak burrito, one papa rellena, kids chorizo quesadilla and one kids shrimp quesadilla. I requested extra meat and no veggies on the papa rellena. Got charged $3 for the extra meat which I didn't receive and my food had cilantro and radish and it's obvious someone tried to pick it out. The shrimp in the quesadilla was so salty and the chorizo was salty as well. Also not sure if it was the dasher or the restaurants fault, but the bag was a mess the chorizo quesadilla leaked all over the bag along with the burrito and the papa rellena. read more

Maíz Picante - Burrito - Sirloin Steak - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Everything was magnificent about Míaz Picante Taqueria. From the service to the cleanliness to the tacos and to the desserts! I highly recommend you visit this taco spot so far the best in Santa Barbara! And visit me on Instagram @taco_diva2025 read more

Maíz Picante - Chicken and cheese, steak and guacamole, potato and shrimp, and birria with a side of grilled onions! - Tacos Near Me - Santa Barbara, California