[dropcap size=big]S[/dropcap]anta Barbara’s Mexican restaurant landscape mirrors the pretty beach city’s own scattershot demographics. Where Spanish colonial revivalist-styled margarita destinations packed with spendy clientele, screaming students, and Fiesta-focused tourists mingle with more modest— and occasionally world-famous— taquerías serving a steady flow of working people, informal family outings, and salt and sea foam-encrusted surf folk in search of a solid burrito.
As Santa Barbara continues to be a prime weekend driving destination for Angelenos and those beyond, we put together a practical guide to separating the city’s best taco and L.A. TACO-approved spots from its abundant chaff. Reminder: Tacos are also absolutely the best type of food to soak up all the wine after tasting your way around the Santa Ynez Valley, too.