Healthy eats Wait to…read moreorder was quick but wait for food to be ready was long on a Sunday lunch hour Order then sit down and wait for your food . Indoor outdoor seating, both. Out is nice on a warm day Can get the doner meats over salad instead of rice if you want more veggies

I stopped by to pick up take-out to bring to Birichino wine bar:…read more- 5/5: Turkish delight is great. I tried the pistachio, chocolate, and roasted hazelnut. Great chew. - 4/5: Baklava pistachio: quite good. texture not perfect. Too sweet. - 4/5: Falafel wrap: It uses cheap lavash. Flavor is good, but skimpy on the falafel.

Bypass the cardboard burger from McDonalds, Burger King, or Jack-in-the-Box! For just a dollar or…read moretwo more, try the Mediterranean Burger at Achilles By The Sea! I've been thinking about trying the food at this place for years and today I finally stopped in. The Mediterranean Burger was juicy and plenty big to fill me up. No fries needed! It was loaded with tomato, lettuce, and caramelized onions and the sauce had just a little hint of spice. VERY flavorful! The atmosphere appeared clean. Staff was very friendly. Just an overall EXCELLENT first time experience. Definitely going back to sample other menu items!

The falafel here are as good as their other location, which is among the best falafel I've ever had…read morein the US. We weren't as impressed with the shawarma or Achilles chicken, which both came out a bit cold and with small portions. Staff were very nice. Prices were absurdly high (easily $60 for a fast causal dinner for two), but that's pretty typical for Santa Cruz

A real Italian deli in Boca! authentic all the way, and so many delicious dishes to choose from…read moreI will be back and try many different items on the menu Expertly done and a true treasure

If you ever imagined what a friendly urban NY do-it-all local market with deli, butcher, coffee…read morestation, and ethnic selection would look like, then AJ's Market at the Chevron gas station in Soquel will completely change how you think about convenience stores. Yes, they have gas and a car wash, but that is just the beginning. Inside, there is a gourmet kitchen serving up locally harvested seafood and Harris Ranch meats. The burger here is hands down one of the best in the county. It is technically fast food, but nothing like what you would expect from that term. AJ's goes way beyond typical gas station fare. You will find organic produce and treats from around the world like English biscuits, real maple syrup, and a Southeast Asian spice rack. They also offer an impressive selection of local wines, baked goods, ice creams, and coffees. Owner Akhtar Javed, originally from Pakistan, opened the market in 1987 after falling in love with Santa Cruz. He became a local legend after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake when he let customers take what they needed and pay later during the power outage. AJ's Market is a true gem and worth the stop whether you need gas or not. P.S. AJ also carries dried cuttlefish so you don't have to travel to San Jose or find a Ranch 99. P.P.S. In addition to the coffee station, they also had a full cooler of Marianne's Ice Cream!

Amazing food, Amazing Service, Amazing Ambiance…read more Quaint family owned restaurant in the heart of Seaside. The Tempura roll and the Gyoza are amazing! The best Miso soup I have ever had!

We did a takeout at this highly rated restaurant. Since it was a week night, there was only one…read moretable eating in. I ordered the combo (filet mignon and shrimp with fried rice). The fried rice was really fluffy and flavorful. However the shrimp and steak were a bit overcooked (did not look like the photos). I am sure things would have tasted much better if we dined at the restaurant directly. I would probably give it another try in person next time we are in town.

We were quite impressed with all the 8 diff dishes we ordered. Every single one stood out. The…read morelamb shank, octopus, salad, the appetizer plate, and the rest were all deliciously enjoyed! The service was great, & the atmosphere was lively! We're happy we picked this place during our Santa Cruz visit. Highly recommend!!

Visited again and was really hoping to update my rating bc I want to support Arab owned businesses…read more Rating was still around a 3.5. This time we ordered the kefta dinner and another dinner that was one kefta and one chicken skewer. Definitely better than the wrap I had last time. And the chicken and rice were particularly good. Still disappointed they don't have tahini sauce for these items. Both served with tzatziki, which doesn't fit. We paid around $80 for this with one nonalcoholic drink. Unfortunately, as before, the service was still not great despite the restaurant being empty. The woman (same one as last time) was nice but just not that attentive. My drink came well after my meal. The bread service came when we were almost done. I did notice a guy going around to other tables. Maybe he was the owner and he was a lot more attentive to other tables. Still love the Arabic music. However, With the mediocre service and food lacking real Arabic accoutrements, I cannot recommend but also can't say don't go.

Four of us, all adults, visited Royal Taj India Cuisine in July, 2024, arriving as the first…read morecustomers at opening for their lunch buffet. Everyone in our group had a connection to Nepal and to a lesser extent India, whether through having been born there or having lived or traveled there extensively. By the time we finished, most of the restaurant was full, including with families. We were pleased to find an Indian buffet in Santa Cruz, and found many of our favorites on the buffet, including chicken tandoori, meat and veggie curries, basmati rice, daal (lentils), naan (bread), pakora (deep-fried fritters), raita (yogurt), salad, chutneys, and more. However, we all agreed that, while there was a good variety of food on the buffet and it was of acceptable taste, some of the curries were bland and watery, lacking the depth and complexity of spices usually found in Indian food. We wondered if the spiciness had been toned down for presumed American tastes? Some other reviewers also mentioned that the buffet included chai (warm sweet spiced milk tea); I'm disappointed to have missed this personal favorite! I forgot how much we paid for the buffet, but it seemed reasonable for the Santa Cruz area. The restaurant was bright, with a mix of tables (with white tablecloths) and booths. We didn't see too much of the staff, but they were helpful when called. The bathroom could use more attention. Parking was sufficient, easy to access, and free. The restaurant offers catering. We would return when next in Santa Cruz.

Me and my wife wanted to try an Indian restaurant but something affordable. Then, we reached out to…read morethe restaurant and they informed us that they have buffet going on till evening. We went there for buffet - all you can eat just for approx. $ 15*/person. It was a littlebit laid back place but we appreciated the hospitality, authentic food, a lot of options - Naan, Rice, Cauliflower with potatoes (Aloo Gobi), 3 varieties of Chicken curry, Pakoda (Fritters), Salad, Roasted Chicken, Lentil soup, desert - Gulab Jamun, Raita. We were amazed by their service. Extremely affordable! In my experience, this restaurant is the most affordable with lots of choices. Highly recommended!!!

Favorite things recently? Texts from my exes, eating halal, and doing cardio.... Duh !!…read more But eating halal feels just as good as a text from an ex. I love the falafel gyro. Yum! Perfect amount of protein and sauce ratio. I love this mom & pop shop ! It's homey and i love Lebanonese food!

Food was great, price was right, workers were friendly, what more could you ask for? Quiet seating…read morearea, walking distance to DLI.

Great food, fast service. The Balaclava case is insanely delicious. I've made it a mission to…read morereturn several times to try and taste them all.

We wanted to have some falafel after our trip to natural bridges state beach. We wanted something…read morefilling but with less carbs so we ordered the chicken shawarma plate. It was plenty for 2 people to share. We were full afterwards. There is plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. The ambiance is nice although one group was being noisy so we went to eat in our cars. Parking can be a bit difficult to find but you can park on the street or right across. The service was quick and they provided us with utensils and napkins without us asking. They even gave is the red and white sauce! Making this a regular spot after beach day!