Tacos Moreno, Santa Cruz

less than one star. Cold dry horrible. I have had a good burrito there (it was lunch time and I was there for dinner tonight) but tonight it was not edible. I took it back and the one they gave me to replace it was the same. I didn't think it was possible to make such a disgusting burrito. Is there a new night crew? if I was the owner and saw my staff serving food like that, I would be angry. No one would think that was anything but terrible. To give me the same dry horrible old tasting cold burrito again also shows it was not a mistake. I will never go there again. In addition, my stomache hurts and feels naseous. I am not a picky or sensitive eater either.

Love this place.. There salsa is the best. Burritos are super good. 5 stars in my book

From a Santa Cruz Local: This place has gone downhill. I agree with the other negative reviews. (burnt & overdone meat, little amount of meat put in burrito, and so-on) The friends that I took would not eat there food since the BBQ Pork looked like mystery meat to them. What a bad Sunday lunch we had. All the food went in the trash. What a waste of food. To make a long story short, Taco Bell for half the price would have been better. ( Period ) Sorry Tacos Moreno, but you have lost a few more customers. My dog eats better meat then they serve. The salsa = its okay if you like chipotle.

I had heard a lot of great things about this taqueria and was looking forward to an excellant experience with outstanding food. However, what I got was horrible service, burnt/overdone meat in my burrito and an overall let down. The server/cashier was in fact extremely rude and seemed put out by my request for a cup of water which was a half full dixie cup when I finally got it. I would not recommend this place at all and in fact it is probably the worst place I've eaten in Santa Cruz, taqueria or not!

Tacos Moreno is one of the better mexican food places in SC but it is very tempermental. All of my comments are on the water street location unless otherwise noted. Sometimes the staff (especially the younger staff) are disrespectful and rude. If you get the older staff (who probably have a vested interest in the business) it is a wonderful experience where they will add fresh cilantro if you ask for it, whereas the younger staff will do no such thing. The staff at the UCSC branch has always been wonderful to me when I go there (but it is more expensive). This is one of the only mexican restaurants in the area that has bbq'd beef as a meat choice and it is usually wonderful. There are times when the food is really bad though...I go there so often that it might be a little unfair because I know how their best tastes. When they are on their game, the food cannot be beat. I would've given the restaurant a higher rating but they are really inconsistant.

Without a doubt the BEST taco bar ever - they've had lines out the door since before taco bars became the rage and appeared on every corner. I've had everything on the menu including the tongue, it's all OUTSTANDING. This unpretentious little place has been serving up the best mexican food in Santa Cruz for decades. I remember seeing little Carina Moreno eating beans from a bowl when she was a child, now she's a champion boxer... If you are in town for WHATEVER reason, don't pass up this amazing opportunity to wrap your lips around the best mexican food you will ever taste...my favorites? Quesadillas, chased by a bbq pork taco or burrito...or maybe the chili verde...or the bbq chicken...sigh...to hard to decide, just get one of each and take it all home!!!

A little Mexico on the Eastside: Go for the tacos, stay for the burritos! The line of patrons lined up out the door most of the day, rain or shine, pretty much says it all for this place, and it's how they hooked me one day as I was driving by. Taco Moreno's is one of our best valued neighborhood eats on the Santa Cruz Eastside. I have never left this place disappointed (or hungry) in all the years I've gone there. Senor Moreno and his familia truely know how to pull it all together and make you feel at home in this casual dining. The Chile Verde and BBQ beef burritos complimented by their traditional salas truely are some of the best in the area to enjoy along side a cold Bohemia beer. This is also a great, quick and inexpensive place where you can call in ahead and stock up before friends show up for the Monday night or weekend games. You can usually find parking close by in front, or in their parking lot around the back of the place. This is another place I always tell friends about and to experience for themselves, because everyone should know about Taco Morenos. U.C.S.C. students can experience Tacos Moreno at their on campus location.

all the hueros here are half-right and half-wrong. yes, tacos moreno is some of the best inexpensive mexican food in the bay area and maybe the state.. however, the burritos are not what make this place special. it's the salsa, the al pastor tacos, and the corn quesadillas. trust me, you've never had a quesadilla like this before. i worked with an all mexican (oaxacan) painting crew, and those guys would only order the al pastor and the corn quesadillas. i think that says something. i grew up in san jose and santa cruz, went to college in LA, lived in SD for five years, then returned to SF, so i have a decent understanding of what this state has to offer in the way of mexican food. tacos moreno is right up there, but everyone knows the best mexican food is in watsonville, homey! yep, watsonville! ask about it! you might have to ask in spanish, but it's worth the effort.