Zocalo

Antonio

3 years ago

Very kind workers. Everybody was welcoming and made sure you were attended to the moment you came through the doors! They have vegan options too! From what I was told, anything on the menu could be veganized (add vegan chorizo, remove creme, remove cheese, etc) with the only exception of the rice. That was made with chicken broth. They were super kind to let me know from the start! To be honest, it is a wonderful place to stop by if you want to eat some very great comfort food with wonderful service! Will be coming back again! 5/5😁😁 Also, they do have restrooms! They speak English and Spanish by the way! 😁

ashley zhou

2 years ago

WOW the food here was amazing. the tacos were so flavorful and delicious, and the rice and beans were also super good. i also got a cup of horchata which tasted so good. the only thing was that the ceviche was a bit too sour for my taste. still, this place was great. service was amazing too. definitely recommend!

Will Heo

year ago

Seriously their quesabirria is so amazing I can't get enough of it. Dip it in their consomé, which is other worldly btw, and you get the perfect bite. The only downside is your fingers are gonna smell like birria the rest of your day. Oh, I totally forgot about their horchata latte. I'm telling you, if you haven't made up your mind about what to get for dinner and you haven't tried their their quesabirria yet, then you now know what you should get tonight.

Brandi Calderon

10 months ago

I ordered the pozole and it’s by far the best I’ve ever tried And I’ve had some good pozole but this tops them all 🤩🤩💣Very flavorful and I highly recommend. I don’t ever leave reviews but it was to good to not.

Giorgio Nicoletti

11 months ago

I had dinner at Zocalo several times while I was staying in Isla Vista. The food is absolutely fantastic, everything I ate was amazing. Special mention to the Quesabirria, it quickly became my favorite Mexican food. I also loved their Horchata. Prices are very fair, and service is spot on. Do come here! It's worth it.

Aggie Veloz

2 months ago

Item #1: Breakfast burrito....just the right amount of chorizo so it doesn't overpower the rest of the ingredients. Beans are mmm good. - In my opinion, if the beans aren't good neither is the rest of the food.- I had mine without sour cream just a personal preference and added avocado. It was absolutely delicious. The guacasalsa and red salsa are also a hit. Item #2: enchiladas with eggs. The sauce... Was so good. It was a light color unlike most enchilada sauces but it was bursting with flavor. Abuelita latte... I had it iced. If you're a fan of abuelita chocolate order it. I was expecting mine hot but I got it iced. You can order it hot or iced. I was never asked how I preferred it but either way it was delicious. Next time I'll specify hot so I can feel the nostalgia. The food we had at Zócalo was delicious. They won't disappoint. Have a taste... Don't take my word for it.

Yoly Rodriguez

2 months ago

Chefs kiss! The food is soo good here! My husband and I heard a lot about this place and we finally got around to visit since we live in L.A. let me tell you! We ordered 4 things off the menu and all of it was rich in flavor! We ordered aguas frescas: the Jamaica was fresh and perfect with sweetness. The horchata was delicious. It didn’t have the little grain. It was perfect. The pozole is 10 out of 10! It’s rich with flavor! It came with a freshly made tostada, avocado, salsa, lemon you name it! They didn’t miss a beat. It was hot and so flavorful! The chicken flautas did not disappoint! They had so much chicken and it wasn’t bland. The chicken had great flavor. It was paired with rice and beans and let me tell you that too was rich in flavor! Did I mention it came with avocado!! The burrito divorciado was on another level! Both salsas were fire. It wasn’t too spicy but yet had great flavor. The steak had like a char flavor and took the burrito to another level! And finally enchiladas suizas were mouth watering! Yes we ordered all this! Of course it was so much we had to take it home but I couldn’t help but write this long review to say how this authentic Mexican food is rich in flavor. My husband and I are leaving really happy with the food, happy with the service and the vibes! We will definitely be driving from L.A again!

Yes PERSONalize

month ago

Great service. Helpful staff. A bit expensive, but the food tastes great. My only negative will be that they did not have radishes, and we were sold 9.5+ PH water. I'm more negative on the product offering. Read up on PH water to make your own mind. We had lunch takeout and the food was ready on-time and still warm when we ate it.

Claudia

6 months ago

We ate lunch here yesterday, it was delicious!!! We had the quesabirria tacos and the burrito divorciado without the tortilla, good portions and very tasty. The staff is very friendly and good atmosphere, there is convenient parking across the street. Hope to come back to Santa Barbara soon to eat here again.

Amex Eats

2 months ago

IF you're visiting Isla Vista and craving authentic Mexican food, Zocalo is an absolute must-try. This casual order-and-pickup spot delivers flavors that rival some of the best authentic Mexican restaurants I've visited. I ordered the Quesabirria, and it was incredibly satisfying—crispy, flavorful, cheesy, and packed with perfectly seasoned meat. Every bite was rich and delicious, and the consommé took it to the next level. What truly surprised me was the Horchata Latte. It was strong, authentic, and expertly crafted, with the perfect balance of coffee and traditional horchata flavors. It's not something you find everywhere, and it is absolutely worth ordering. The food is fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Whether you're a student, local, or just passing through Isla Vista, Zocalo is one of those places you'll want to visit again. Authentic, delicious, and memorable—highly recommended!