I stopped by El Chuy in Santa Cruz after a day at the boardwalk and a swim at the beach and WOWW! It was exactly what I needed. I ordered the quesabirria and the birria ramen, and the birria was hands down the best I've ever had. After living in San Diego for four years, I truly thought SD had the best birria, but I was wrong. This completely exceeded my expectations. The quesabirria was perfectly cheesy, ooey gooey goodness and sooo crispy. Every bite had that rich, savory flavor, and the beef was incredibly tender, literally melts in your mouth. The birria ramen was also really yummy and such a fun twist. My only note is that I wish there was a bit more meat, and I ordered it spicy which ended up being hotter than I expected but it was still super flavorful and worth trying. Overall, the food quality is amazing, and you can tell they put a lot of care into it. I would happily drive 1.5 hours to come here every day if I could. Definitely a must-try spot if you're in Santa Cruz! read more

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9% service fee. That's a rip-off. Food-wise: 4/5: Birria tacos: Good, but beef could be more marinated. Tacos could be more pan fried. read more

Tacos El Chuy - Birria taco. $4.50 + 9% service fee - Tacos Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Kiosk to order through makes line very slow. Food was blah at best, orders were wrong and we waited 35-45 minutes for this catastrophe AFTER ordering. They had put out 25 orders between us and the people in front of us. Avoid this place at all possible. read more

Prices for ordering online are twice as expensive than ordering from the truck. There is no posting of this difference in pricing on the website. Very deceptive practice. 3 single items cost $28 online compared to $13.25 off the truck. Food was mediocre. I expected something better. Not going back. read more

Food is disgusting and the customer service is terrible.Do not go here go to another taco truck instead of this one.

I just had the 'Burrobirria,' and it is easily the most unique burrito I've had in a long time. The way they cook the tortilla in the sauce, leaving those flavorful grill marks all over, is amazing. The birria portions are generous, and the consommé cup for dipping is like a Mexican-style French dip. I actually saw this on a reel by 'Ando Perdida' and knew I had to try it. It was such a unique experience and definitely made it worth eating out. Highly recommended! read more

These guys (and gals) make THE BEST quesabirria I have ever eaten! You have got to give them a try! What's better is there mobile location near the take in friendly breweries and wineries of the west side! An "order" of quesabirria comes with 3 tacos and a cup of consume for dipping. The consume is perfectly skimmed and has no floating grease and the flavor is incredible! Don't forget the napkins though as this is a messy meal! The burrobirria is a burrito version of this trendy classic that is huge and super tasty. The giant flour tortilla is cooked super crispy with cheese on the inside. It's really good! There are other goodies I haven't tried yet but they are on my list like the birria ramen, the double queso quesabirria, and they also have other meat choices that I'm sure do not disappoint! Check these guys out! read more

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Solid taco truck. There were a couple food options in the vicinity but I decided to go with Tacos El Chuy. Since I wasn't too hungry, I ordered just two tacos: the Birria Taco and Al Pastor Taco. There is a self-order kiosk in front of the taco truck. They will call your order once it's ready and you can add the sauce onto your tacos at the sauce station. I enjoyed both of the tacos, the meat was nicely cooked and the flavors were good. read more

Tacos El Chuy - Birria Taco and Al Pastor Taco - Tacos Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I would not eat here the guy working the truck is very unsanitary I seen him drop food on the floor then pick it up and put it on someone's plate he also is very rude to people of color I'd be very careful eating here read more

Unfriendly not welcoming. He does not change gloves or wash hands. Seems discriminatory towards females and/or females of descent. Would NOT recommend!! read more

Overhyped & Underdelivering! I've given this taco truck three chances because I wanted to see why a few influencers keep raving about this place. The first two visits were decent in terms of food, but the poor customer service has been consistent and my last experience sealed the deal. The owner comes across as unwelcoming, almost as if you're bothering him. There's a self-service kiosk, but no clear signage for pick-up vs. to-go orders, which can be confusing. On my most recent visit, I'd ordered ahead to avoid the long line, and waited off to the side to try to ask for help instead of getting in the line for new orders being placed. So when I tried to politely get the attention of "Chuy," I barely got the words "excuse me..." out before he cut me off with an irritated, "I'm making food!" It was dismissive, embarrassing, and completely unnecessary. Thankfully, another employee finally helped me, but by then the damage was done and to make matters worse, my order wasn't even good. Between the rude treatment, lack of organization, and mediocre food, I won't be returning or recommending this spot. In a small town food scene, customer service matters just as much as flavor, and this place is coasting on hype rather than hospitality. The Real Taco is right around the corner from here and offers better food/service! read more

Glad I read the reviews and got the quesabirria. It was rich and earthy served with a flavorful broth. It did take longer than I expected but it was delicious and worth the wait! read more

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I was really excited to try Tacos El Chuy after driving four hours. I ordered a pambazo with chorizo and a birria burrito, then took my food to the beach to eat. Unfortunately, the experience was really disappointing. The birria was burnt, and even the consommé tasted burnt too. On top of that, my pambazo did not have chorizo like I ordered -- it had chicken instead, and barely any at that. After such a long drive and being so excited to try this place, I was let down by both the quality of the food and the incorrect order. read more

Food is good when they get the order right. Unfortunately, it's a coin toss for the cook to read the ticket correctly and get the order right. 3 or 4 times now the food order was wrong. read more

Tacos El Chuy was posted up outside of Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery, and it was genuinely a perfect combination. I had the chicken quesadilla on a corn tortilla as I am gluten intolerant, and it was one of the best I've had, on a blue corn tortilla! The salsas were delicious as well. My partner had the birria tacos and they were also great! Highly recommend this experience! read more

Don't eat here if your brown! Burrito had no flavor and the salsa was very watery! My burrito was $14 and my friend couldn't finish his. Seen lots of ppl of European descent like it though. read more

Tacos El Chuy - Burrito - Tacos Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

WowaWooWiiieeee!! I knew this place was gonna be great! Okay, I didn't know, but I trusted my Fat Gut, and when there's food involved, he's usually right. Except when it isn't. Also! I just wanted a couple of the Birria Tacos cuz I had been busy stuffing my face with other sweeties from the other restaurants in the little Plaza. It was the perfect amount of food and an unreasonable amount of flavour and awesomeness. Probably gonna have to come back here literally every single time I go to Santa Cruz. M'lady got the Birria Ramen. Holy F*** Butts! This was AMAZEBALLZZZ! With THREE Z'S BABY!! I can literally not believe it was so good. Gotta eat it quickly though, cuz the noodles get all soggy and whatnot if you wait too long. Or if you've been in the bathroom regretting the Birria Tacos... ;) HEYO! No ragrets. read more

Tacos El Chuy - Tacos Birria. Oh em gawd. - Tacos Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Nah. They wouldn't give me a one ounce ketchup cup of consommé to go with my taco, said I could only get some if I paid for a full 8 ounces or got the three taco plate. I even left a $2 tip on a $9 bill. Food was ok. read more

Excellent Quesabirria tacos at a reasonable price!! Pairs well with Santa Cruz Brewing beers a few steps away (and allows outside food). read more

Tacos El Chuy - One of three Quesabirria tacos in my order. - Tacos Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

This taco truck has some bomb tacos!!! I got 5 birria street style tacos & a burrito & they brought my food out fairly quick! They also have an ordering machine that lets you pay with card which is super convenient! Definitely recommend this place for tacos, I enjoyed them down the beach they were amazing, I will be coming here again :) read more

Tacos El Chuy - Birria tacos - Tacos Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I called in for a order of quesabirrias, Chuy answered quickly and confirmed the order for pickup. I arrived and he was super friendly. He handed me a few cups for salsas and the taste journey began. The salsas were alll super tasty. Not too spicy, and packed with flavor. The consome was nice and hot, perfect for dipping your quesabirrias into. Thank you Chuy! -Jose read more

Tacos El Chuy - 1 of the 3 quesabirrias in the order. Salsas are delicious as well as the consome. - Tacos Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I seen this place on a influencers page. It looked so good and it was not as hyped. We ordered to go, so obviously we ordered a lot of food. I ordered the side guac with chips, enchiladas and torta with a side of beans/ rice. 1st thing wrong, they ran out of bags so I had carry all the food by hand. Secondly, there were no chips with the guac. So I didn't even get to eat it because they didn't give any utensils to eat with. The enchiladas were bland and cold. The food was mid for sure and eatable just not happy with the service and overall experience. read more

Really good carnitas burrito! I wish they had pork Chile verde as a meat option, but what they did have was really good. Perfect spot to grab a burrito and then go wine tasting :) food came out fast and was very good! My friend didn't like that there was lettuce in his burrito but I really enjoyed it. I especially loved that the tortilla had a good little crunch outside the soft interior. read more

Tacos El Chuy - Menu - Tacos Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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I saw this spot on an Instagram reel and it was highly recommended. I'm a big fan of birria tacos and anything comparable. This truck is located in the back of a restaurant on the west side of Santa Cruz. Plenty of parking and a nice color taco truck to help it stand out. Menu was semi limited to burritos, tacos, enchiladas and the special "birria ramen". The noodles were squishy but very flavorful. Not your typical ramen feel, but had some spice kick. The meat was a bit above average. Not bad! They have a nice outdoor seating section that was enjoyable. Give the ramen a try folks! It's different! read more

The shrimp tacos were amazing. I didn't love the beef tacos, quite dry. Overall it was great, I'd highly recommend.

Best damn birria I've ever had, in burrito or tacos. Truck was clean, friendly, and a short stroll over from Santa Cruz Brewery (where you can bring any food to your table). read more

Everything was amazing; I ordered through DoorDash and they made sure my food was wrapped well. Bonus points because it was still hot when the driver delivered. The only bad thing is how good this food is because I don't want to order it every day. A plate with a beer hits the spot, I'll definitely be going back for more read more

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We are so happy with our decision to serve Chuy's tacos to our guests at our wedding welcome party. Months before the event we came and sampled all the tacos. For the event we ended up going with carne asada, chorizo, al pastor, and vegetarian. The chorizo is especially outstanding! Everyone LOVED the tacos, Chuy and his team were really nice, and they kept the line moving really well! Chuy was easy to work with in planning the event. Highly recommend!!! read more

This truck does the best birria tacos , not Iike other ones around the area. This place is really good, need to try more food items.

Don't tip them! They don't even tip the delivery people who provide the ingredients to make their over priced food!

They were next to Santa Cruz Brewing Company and we decided to try them. Their quesabirria tacos are one of the best we have ever had. The meat is cooked to perfection and are accompanied by a very tasty consommé. They are a little spicy thou! We also had a carne asada taco with avocado and was delicious. We liked the fact that they serve it with only one tortilla. read more

Tacos El Chuy - Quesabirria tacos! Some of the best we have ever had. - Tacos Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Food is always amazing. Our favorite meal is the quesabirrias. Waiting for your food can take a while sometimes so make sure to order ahead so you don't have a long wait. Staff is always very kind and with smiles on their face. One thing I do wish for is seating without having to go to one of those other local places. Great experience though! I devoured my food before I could take a picture. Maybe next time. read more

Lacks flavor, over priced, letdown. Food was extremely wet. I was able to ring out my burrito. Mexican rice was as white as me. Lacks serious flavor. Jalapenos in Santa Cruz is better, cheaper, and fast. read more

Delicious tacos! We spontaneously tried this taco truck while looking for something to eat after checking out the monarch butterflies in Santa Cruz. The line to order our food moved quickly but the wait time to receive our food afterwards was a bit long on this busy day (Black Friday). Tacos were worth the wait though! There is no place to sit so we sat at the long bar table from one of the nearby breweries that was empty and no one had a problem with it. I'm grateful for that because this would've been very risky to eat in the car without spilling. I ordered a single queso birria taco and a single camaron taco, and my partner ordered 2 carnitas tacos, which he modified by adding cheese and avocado, and a side of beans & rice. We both got Mexican cokes too. Our order came out to $34 after tax and tip, which in my experience is middle of the road pricing compared to other taco spots. My tacos were absolute flavor bombs! So delicious, with the perfect ratio of all ingredients. If you are sensitive to salt, you won't like these. But I like salty food so it was fine with me. My partner enjoyed his tacos too, but his rice & beans never came out by the time we finished our tacos. They were still cooking so he asked for another taco instead and they gave it to him, no problem. Overall awesome tacos, would definitely recommend and would eat here again if I'm in the area. read more

Delicious quesabirria tacos, some of the best I've ever had. We stopped in per my friend's recommendation, finding them nestled in a parking lot surrounded by breweries and small shops. Immediate negative for me- no seating, and not really any accesible seating nearby unless you sit at another business. I ordered the quesabirria taco plate, which came with three tacos and consomé. There was no one else there, so my order was the only ticket up. Despite this, it took over 10 minutes to receive my order, I thought it would've come quicker. They have a few salsa options- I loved the tomatillo. They also had precut limes, but most were dried up and looked dirty, I had to dig to the bottom for ones that looked fresher. Regardless, the tacos were delicious. Great flavor, and good amounts of meat and cheese. The consomé was delicious, and had a nice spice to it. I thought the prices were very reasonable, so I'll be back to try again! read more

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This used to be my favorite taco truck but with the new self order kiosk it's just horrible. I was the only person there and tried to order from the man standing inside. He had earbuds in & just pointed at the kiosk, barely acknowledging my presence. I started making an order at the machine, then it prompted me to add a tip, etc. What?! The service is terrible. I decided to just leave. I won't be supporting this type of experience. read more

GET THE BIRRIA TACOS! The birria is delicious and the consume is absolutely amazing! Flavorful, spicy but not too hot! Ugh! Just amazing! That sums it up! So glad we came over to try it after being at the brewery next to it! Not sorry at all and definitely will be back when they are! Especially if they come down the hill to San Jose! read more

Tacos El Chuy - Birria Tacos Birria - Tacos Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Staff is very friendly & order came out pretty quick. These are the best quesabirrias I've had. Not overly greasy & the tortilla was nice and crunchy. If you get the order you get a side of consome that is so delicious! We liked it so much we came back again the following day. The food truck is located around lots of little tasting rooms and other food options as well. Not to far from the food truck there is a communal seating area where you can enjoy your food. read more

Tacos El Chuy - a colorful food truck - Tacos Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Gave them two attempts to show common courtesey and won't be attempting a third. Literally--is it just me? Cuz I when people make u feel ur patronage is completely unappreciated...?? Im kinda like, 1. Why tf are u chosedly in the service industry?? Also if u can't smile and greet a customer--and I have to greet YOU, and ask if I can make an order? Uh, lol, maybe cash me my check out? Cuz I'm doing your job. Minus one star for the literal actual complete lack of seasoning. Minus one star for how unbelievably UNFRIENDLY employees. Minus 1 star for the crazy long wait for basic ass quesabirria ... minus 1 star for warm drinks. And Yelp won't let me deduct their last star so I'll just end it there. read more

I was in town for the day and saw them on Instagram. Nothing but negative experiences with them. 1. They were not at the location their schedule said they would be. I saw a few people looking for them. 2. They were almost 1.5 hours late according to schedule. I texted, and they gave me a new time, and they were 30 minutes later than even that. 3. Birria wasn't anything special. Not very flavorful. It tasted good with the consome though. 4. They seem very proud being woman owned/run. But it's a man doing the scheduling, taking phone calls, and orders. Definitely not worth waiting around so long for. read more