McDonald&#x27;s

This is a great spot for tacos and a staple for me every time I'm in Santa Cruz. Food is great,…read moreparking is terrible, and prices are okay but during peak hours there's a line out the door. You have to find parking maybe blocks away and walk here but it is a very good place. Also tons of offerings for food. Do not let your eyes order for you because their super taco is massive. I thought the super taco just meant it was a regular street taco with more filling inside but I was severely mistaken. It is an actual burrito size tortilla. If you want to end your day with great food and a nap, this is the place to do it

This is the last time I will be coming here. The main cashier had a very bad attitude yesterday. I…read morewas reading him my order of 2 items. Mind you, there was a long line. I was trying to help him out, as I'm in the hospitality business for high level profiles. He responded and told me he's an old guy, but very rude when I told him the two items and he just cut me off while I was talking . It was a chicken burrito with refried beans, no rice & carne asada fries. He also threw my receipt at me. I get it if you under pressure, but never take it out on a paying customer because you can't work well under pressure. He left a bad taste in my mouth with his bad attitude. I will not be coming back. Be kind to your customers especially i was trying to help you. Lol. The meat was overly cooked. The burrito still had rice in it. Fries were very oily. I still tipped him, even though he didn't deserve any of it. Bad service. Bad attitude.

Menu

Breakfast #1

See all

Outdoor seating

Betty Burgers

3.8(1.5k reviews)

I've eaten at this Betty Burgers many times because the food is usually good. It's not the best…read moreburger in Santa Cruz but it's a decent and I want to support the businesses affected by the road closure. This visit was a little disappointing. The burgers seemed sloppier than usual and just weren't as good as they've been in the past. What really bothered me, though, was the 3.95% credit/debit card service charge. I didn't notice it until after I had already paid because the only explanation was printed at the bottom of the receipt. If you're going to charge customers an extra fee for using a card, that should be made very clear before they order so they have the option to pay cash. Between the food that wasn't up to par and an added processing fee, this visit just wasn't worth it. I don't mind paying for good food but I don't like feeling nickel-and-dimed over an extra charge that wasn't obvious before ordering. Transparency goes a long way.

We stopped by for some take-out to bring with us to our beach picnic. They were having a FIFA watch…read moreparty at that time so customers were enjoying their food while watching Spain and Argentina play. I ordered the Point Grinder which is a burger with bacon, sauteed mushrooms, bleu cheese and green onion and it was a great combination! The only reason why I'm giving a 4/5 stars is because my patty was still very red instead of a standard well-done. My friends and I also ordered one side each and tried garlic fries, sweet potato fries and onion rings and all were delicious. Garlic fries were seasoned well and had lots of garlic, sweet potato was slightly thick cut and soft and yummerz and the onion rings wasn't just batter, it had thick slices of onion! Their ranch was also creamy and aromatic! Parking could be difficult on a busy day! 9/10 would recommend!

Inside

Chicken | Garlic Fries

See all

The Duke Burger

McDonald's

2.5(144 reviews)

I'm not going to review the food, because all Mcdonald's are the same. This review is for the…read moreemployees and the service. In the hunt for hello kitty x godzilla toys. This location had the last one I needed to complete the set. The employee was nice enough and went out of her way to check in the back for the box of the one I needed. Also allowed me to purchase the toy without the meal. Also allowed me to purchase 7 of them without any question or hint of judgement. Great experience overall.

I guess ketchup is the new picante sauce. Employees should read clearly and make sure the correct…read moreproduct is in the bag. It's not that hard. Monday @ 515am. Short lady.

I guess ketchup is the new picante sauce. Smh.

See all

Dining area

Fosters Freeze

2.7(115 reviews)

1.0 mi

Great service excellent milkshakes. I haven't tried the food yet. But people tell me it's fine. I…read morecan't get past the milkshake because it's so damn good.

Came with a group of 10 after hanging at the boardwalk. Not sure how but an order was missed…read morealthough we ordered all pretty much the same thing. But they were so quick to correct it and make it quickly for our hungry child. My onion rings were mostly broken pieces. My chicken sandwhich was really good but i was expecting more of a kick. Their fosters freeze sauce was good but just reminded me of mayo and ketchup. It was definitely very fulfilling! The kids enjoyed their ice cream cones

Order counter/menu

See all

Indoor seating

Nick the Greek

4.1(446 reviews)

0.7 mi

Service was amazingly fast and cashier was very knowledgeable. I needed to know that options were…read moreavailable for vegetarians and she was very helpful. Food came out very quickly and it was tasty. Parking was easy to find nearby in a nice part of town.

I recently tried Nick the Greek and had a great experience overall. I ordered the steak bowl, and…read morethe food was delicious--the steak was flavorful and cooked well, and everything tasted fresh and well put together. The service was also really good. The staff were friendly, helpful, and made the whole experience smooth from start to finish. The ambiance was casual and welcoming, making it a comfortable spot to grab a meal whether you're dining in or taking food to go. Overall, a solid place that I'd definitely come back to!

Front Counter

See all

Taco Bell

2.5(118 reviews)

Best taco bell experience i've ever had...what!!! late night it's 2am on 8/28/2026 - these guys…read morebetter be management or get raises cause the place is so clean and my order was perfectly crafted. i sat in and ate and they constantly cleaned & my food was hot?!?? which im not use too hahaha coming to this one more often - thanks guys!!!!

Totally understandable to preserve food and keep it cold…read more Is it necessary to have the main area for customers to be 55 degrees? It might be great for the employees in the hot kitchen area, but is it nice or fair to us that are all wearing ski jackets? It's also not great for the environment. Please stop freezing us to death

See all

Surf City Grill

3.4(67 reviews)

1.3 mi

Ok I have to say that these were the most unique deep fried artichoke hearts I've ever had. They…read morewere wispy with chunks of heart. They were delicious and I couldn't stop. The ones at the bottom were all greasy, and they did give me a little gi trouble later (after destroying two baskets lol). Try these they are super yummy!!

This is the spot for a giant corn dog! Can't go wrong with ordering corn dog and garlic fries. Food…read morewas crispy and delicious. This is good to snack on with one other person. Lots of staff working so they're pretty good with cleaning up the tables.

Texas Donut

See all

Deep fried artichoke hearts

The Picnic Basket

3.8(1k reviews)

The food was good and fresh. We just thought they were priced pretty high, over$17 for a deli…read moresandwich.

It's a nice convenient place to go to for break or snack if you are staying at or close tot eh…read morebeach. Coffee and service were good. So issues there. I personally will not be ordering food from there. My wife had a ham and cheese croissant, with tiny tiny piece of cheese and a sliver of ham. The breakfast burrito was not, just not. Never had red cabbage with a breakfast burrito and will never, . Maybe someone will love it, just not for me. Avocado toast was okay.

Inside

Frittata Panini

See all

Inside

Chipotle Mexican Grill

1.9(319 reviews)

0.4 mi

Okay there are several things wrong at this location: 1. No…read moretrash can outside by their patio tables 2. The one trash can outside was full and overflowing 3. Employees need to be trained... or delegated duties better by their supervisor - why so many employees and yet so dirty? The tables outside were filthy we had to find wipes to clean the table 4. Customer service could be better, the employees seemed annoyed I love Chipotle so this was disappointing though the food was decent. This is a sad Chipotle, corporate should get involved *I will say though their bathrooms were stocked*

Mark was the man starting and finishing my order. He insisted on getting my order all upfront…read moreinstead of as we went along. So I told him. Then, at each step he had to ask me again what I wanted because he forgot and got it wrong. I lightheartedly said that's why I prefer to tell you as I go. He gave me a funny look. At the end, I asked for a lime wedge, just like I always get. He got rude and said no. The woman started ringing me up , he was helping the next customer and I asked her if they had lemon wedges for the iced tea. Mark raised his voice, interrupted my conversation with her, and said No! I asked her if I could buy a wedge, a half a whole or any part of a lemon or lime the way I normally do. Again, he awkwardly stopped helping his customer who looked at me with a look of what I can only describe as , cringe, and then started scolding me for asking about a lemon or lime wedge. I asked the girl if I was conversing with her or him, again he aggressively inserted himself saying, you don't have to talk to me. ( I was not talking to him to begin with). She then asked him to confirm my order so she could finish ringing me up, he was rude to her and refused to speak. I said, sir, hello, she's asking you my order. He gave me a dirty look and with a rude tone told me my order, instead of her. She stood there silent looking very uncomfortable. Then I tried to ease the tension by making a joke saying, I didn't know limes were so controversial. She gave me a dirty look and repeated they don't offer limes. I said, I know, I'm not asking for a lime, I was responding to his attitude and the general uncomfortable atmosphere. She decided it would be a good idea to make it worse by saying a sarcastic rude comment. Horrible customer service.

See all

Jack in the Box

1.9(149 reviews)

0.4 mi

The current 2 star review tracks. I needed to use the restroom and get a small fry. I stopped…read moreinside and spoke to the team member at the cash register. I explicitly told the team member that I needed to use the restroom, and that I wanted to purchase a fry first, then use the restroom and pick up my fry afterward. Initially, the team member did not greet me nor respond. They rolled their eyes and put their head down a few times. I asked them if they could take my order and if I might use their restroom. The team member told me that in order to use the restroom, I had to purchase something first, which was already my intention. After purchasing a small fry for nearly $4, the team member unlocked the bathroom. Upon exiting the bathroom, I noticed the team member was standing at the entrance door, looking at the bathroom door. The team member then entered the staff area. My fry wasn't ready yet. The team member fixed the fry, bagged it, and handed it to me without a thank you or any customer service-oriented farewell. There were no napkins inside the bag. I looked for napkins without any assistance, then I asked for some, and the team member simply pointed to them. Why was the team member watching and waiting for me to come out of the bathroom? Why were the fries not bagged when I exited the bathroom? Why was there no napkin in my bag? So many more questions...

I'm writing this review mostly so everyone can see what a $3.19 cheeseburger looks like at this…read moreJack in the Box. This isn't a review on Jack in the Box in general, but this particular location is sloppy and really doesn't mind if you get what you pay for or not.

See all

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

14 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Marcos B.

86

11

4

2 years ago

The McDonalds franchises in Santa Cruz are currently falsely advertising their nationwide promos. They advertise their $5 meal deal for a McChicken or McDouble with 4 piece nuggets, fries and small drink, but charge a dollar up charge for a McDouble meal deal compared to a McChicken meal deal. Beware and take part of the class action lawsuit for the wrongful advertising taken place in these franchise locations. They have to abide by nationwide promos and are taking advantage of people who are not aware. It may seem like a little inconvenience, but if it doesn't end here, then where will it end?? It's the franchise owners that are responsible, taking advantage of the people of our community. read more

Jaymie H.

177

123

19

9 years ago

This place needs to be knocked down and built all over again. It's nasty inside , nasty outside. The cashier Anthony is either a complete asshole or just slow. I hate this place always have but my daughter wanted me to stop for her so we did. I have been here several times and vowed never to go back. I told her to never ever make me go back there again. Not only are there several meth heads loitering but a few homeless who fight and beat the crap out of each other for a spot in the parking lot. Not family friendly and crap service. read more

Junior J.

302

7

1

12 years ago

A McDonalds dominated by transients. Witnessed two homeless back to back accumulate almost 20 minutes time in the bathroom taking away from the line of actual paying customers. Was forced to have my 3 year old urintae in the parking lot by our car because I refused to have him use a bathroom after knowing someone was using periphinelia in it. No drive thru so if you must go I would suggest grabbing your food to go. read more

Brian K.

276

89

17

15 years ago

Not awesome One of the worst mcdonalds i have been to. Some of the staff can barely understand english, this language barrier may explain why there are so many homeless and druggies hanging out in and around the mcdonalds. The worst instances of homeless in this mcdonalds is when it rains. Literally every seat/table has at least one transient just hanging out. read more

Angel M.

22

93

8

15 years ago

It's McDonald's. It's disgusting even when it is "good." This place on Ocean Street is no exception. The grungiest dirtiest people come here; ghetto hoodlums, crack heads and homeless people. Be prepared for a knife fight... That's all there is to say. Some employees don't speak english that well, but whatever. It's McDonald's. read more

Michael O.

18

27

0

7 years ago

Typical McDonald's, except the food is slower to prep, and I would go more often if it weren't for the homeless bums sitting outside all the time. I wish they would chase them away so I can stop by and get food more often. read more

Karleigh F.

0

1

0

3 years ago

Their food is disgusting as is their corporate. The workers deserve to be paid a hundred times better, but it's all the corporate that makes McDonalds a horrible place to eat. read more

Sandra M.

0

2

16

10 years ago

Please do NOT come here, this place is disgusting, and dirty and not to mention their bad customer service!!! My pictures speak for themselves! read more

Tom Y.

2

127

1

12 years ago

Isn't it bad enough that they don't have a drive thru, do you really need to have homeless street rats inside begging for money as well ..... read more

Ed F.

0

2

0

8 years ago

Bum Haven, stay away! Filthy and dangerous! If you're looking for a communicable disease you've come to the right place.

SantaCruz L.

1

8

0

16 years ago

they need homeless patrol at this location. i get hit up for change every time i go in

Martin H.

0

7

0

10 years ago

Absolute worst collect of idiots work here. Never going back.

Boo L.

3

81

63

11 years ago

I really don't know why I'm talking

Celeste E.

0

4

3

11 years ago

i

McDonald's - coffee - Updated September 2026

People who viewed McDonald's also viewed

Betty Burgers

3.8

(1.5k reviews)

I've eaten at this Betty Burgers many times because the food is usually good. It's not the best…read moreburger in Santa Cruz but it's a decent and I want to support the businesses affected by the road closure. This visit was a little disappointing. The burgers seemed sloppier than usual and just weren't as good as they've been in the past. What really bothered me, though, was the 3.95% credit/debit card service charge. I didn't notice it until after I had already paid because the only explanation was printed at the bottom of the receipt. If you're going to charge customers an extra fee for using a card, that should be made very clear before they order so they have the option to pay cash. Between the food that wasn't up to par and an added processing fee, this visit just wasn't worth it. I don't mind paying for good food but I don't like feeling nickel-and-dimed over an extra charge that wasn't obvious before ordering. Transparency goes a long way.

We stopped by for some take-out to bring with us to our beach picnic. They were having a FIFA watch…read moreparty at that time so customers were enjoying their food while watching Spain and Argentina play. I ordered the Point Grinder which is a burger with bacon, sauteed mushrooms, bleu cheese and green onion and it was a great combination! The only reason why I'm giving a 4/5 stars is because my patty was still very red instead of a standard well-done. My friends and I also ordered one side each and tried garlic fries, sweet potato fries and onion rings and all were delicious. Garlic fries were seasoned well and had lots of garlic, sweet potato was slightly thick cut and soft and yummerz and the onion rings wasn't just batter, it had thick slices of onion! Their ranch was also creamy and aromatic! Parking could be difficult on a busy day! 9/10 would recommend!

Pleasure Pizza East Side Eatery

3.5

(567 reviews)