Lilly's Taqueria

Value for money is very good. The staff is friendly and smiling. They don’t even put the machine offering to tip into your face. The tacos are pretty basic and simple yet delicious and the portion of meat is very large. Chicken and beef tacos were a bit on the simpler side. The pork tacos were more delicious to me. The tripes tacos with the fried option were nice to try but had a very specific taste so I only recommend it if you are into trying different parts of animals. It’s a nice place for a quick bite and authentic simple meal, I can recommend

The tacos are bomb. Really good quality meat and not over priced. Salsas are are very good and lots came to eat here. The service was fast.

Insanely good food! Super quick service. Cachete tacos were amazing, and definitely recommend getting the onions and peppers

Amazing place for tacos! A lot of variety and super quick - no wait time. Self serve salsas and toppings.

This place is as authentic as it gets! No frills and only a handful of tacos to choose from, but regardless of what you pick you will NOT be disappointed!

Very straightforward, counter service, authentic street style taco joint. Very reasonable, everyday sort of prices. We met locals who have gone there regularly for decades it seemed. Quick service. Very happy to have this in the mix of the different Mexican and taco restaurants around.

Love this place. Stop anytime we drive down south. The tripas are my favorite, crispy and good portions. Brought my dad, who is very critical of his Mexican food- he got up after eating his tacos and ordered more. He loved them, I knew I had found a gem when he approved. Authentic and delicious.

Some of the best tacos in Santa Barbara! Very efficient staff, choice of tacos is extensive - and the salsa bar can solve world peace! Just a perfect spot to grab a great taco and a Jarrito!

I love this taqueria a lot, especially when I have friends in town and they are craving tacos. I arguably think 4 tacos is the perfect serving sizes for someone who has been walking around state street all day. There is no AC inside so it's not ideal to eat during the summer heat, so we took ours to the wharf to eat with the ocean views. The cashier spoke English and Spanish and switch back between each with me and my friends. Very tasty, would absolutely come again!

Loved this place so much I wanted to come back the next day! The service is fast, vibe casual, and the tacos hit the spot. We tried the cachete and tripas, which were both very flavorful, excellent texture. I also love that you add your own onion, cilantro, and hot sauce! Perfect for onion lovers like me. We didn't have time to stop by again during our visit, but looking forward to next time I'm in SB!

Decided to stop for a quick bite at Lilly's Tacos on my way back to SoCal and I'm glad I did. Walking up to the restaurant itself it's nothing fancy, just the order counter, indoor seating, and a few small tables on the sidewalk. It's a very casual taco shop perfect for a quick meal. Lilly's menu is also super simple, they have street tacos, street tacos, and more street tacos. From what I saw on the menu, that is all they serve, so if you're looking for hard tacos, burritos, or other dishes, this isn't a good fit. Ordering is simple, You choose your meat and the number of tacos you want and they'll put it together before you can even put away your wallet, it was that fast. I ordered some Asada and Tripa (intestine) tacos and I have to say their tacos are great. They're nothing fancy, no crazy toppings, just meat and corn tortillas. There is a self-serve bar however that offers a range of Salsas, chopped cilantro, onion, and limes. The carne asada was flavorful and they weren't skimping on the meat. I ordered the tripa crunchy and they were really great. All in all, this place has all the makings of a great taco shop without all the fluff. It's relatively affordable and you can be in and out within 30-minutes. Would come here often if I lived in the area. All in all, would recommend giving it a try.

We went to Lilly's for lunch, and even though they had a line out the door, they were taking orders fast and moving people through. They have a small menu of different types of authentic tacos. I really liked the pork and grilled beef tacos. My husband tried some of the more adventurous tacos, like the lengua (tongue) and cabeza (head). The tacos were simple and delicious. We were happy with the meal! We really enjoyed the salsas and hot sauces, too.

Lily's still has the best tacos de ojos in the world!!! Literally, I have only found good tacos de ojos in San Miguel de Allende, and here. I have lots of good tacos around me in West LA, but I gladly drive all the way here for the ojos. The BEST!!

My husband and I rode bikes to try this spot and the food was delicious but the service was meh. It's set up like a typical taco shop you order up front, pay, and they hand you your tacos. Nothing extra or fancy about it. You dress them yourself. We tried adobada, carne asada, and cabeza and enjoyed them all and they give you plenty of meat. The salsa has a great spice level as well. The service was kind of odd, we ordered and paid, and were handed the plates. And as I walked away and was about to place onions on top the lady in front snatched the plate out of my hand and walked away with the plate. Just super odd encounter that made it feel like I did something wrong and she was kind of rude about it.

So I had my second dinner of the night here last night. I'd eaten something lighter in the evening but was feeling a bit peckish and needed a little more to eat, as I'd had a really active and adventurous day. I knew you Yelpers didn't lead me wrong, 'cos there was a small queue outside the door when I arrived (8pmish on a Friday). Very straightforward - order at a register, and your food will be up a few moments later from a counter (just a few inches away). It was super speedy and the tacos were delicious. I added some of the medium salsa to mine - it had a good little kick. I'm not adventurous when it comes to my food, so I had one chicken fajita taco and one asada. But, as some other reviewers have noted, you can eat any part of a cow here -- or you could also get a veggie taco. 2025: 25/100

Absolutely hidden gem. Simple menu of Absolutely delicious tacos! Affordable! 3 pastor and 4 asada, filled to the rim of doubled fresh tortillas. Salsas on the bar were homemade and a great kick, spicy! Fresh chopped cilantro and onions. The place was packed and the line never ended.

For sure, here's a super casual, short review. It's the kind of thing you'd text a friend. OMG, Lily's Tacos is the real deal. No frills, just amazing tacos that taste like the best thing you've ever had. I got 2 carne asada, 2 Cachete, 2 lengua, and 3 cabeza it's ridiculous so delicious. The line is worth it, I swear. It's seriously a must-try.

Food came out very fast, the menu was easy to follow and order from. The place was very clean with lots of seating area. The portions were very generous as well as the price. They had their own bar to add onions, cilantros, and radish separately. They also had three sauce options varing in spice levels. Overall, very good place to grab a quick taco bite. The el pollo taco was the best for me personally and the tripe had a bit of a stronger bitter flavor but my girlfriend enjoyed it a lot because she liked tripe.

Tacos got pricier since we last visited 2 years ago. Staff are very dry, serious and not very friendly. And worst of all, my husband has been battling food poisoning since eating here a few days ago last Friday 8/29/25. I think the cause were the chicken tacos or the tacos adobados since those were the only different taco meats we got. Wouldn't recommend and never going back.

My eyes were bigger than my stomach. This is one of those places where the tacos are pretty big. I ordered 5 and should have only ordered 3. You order at the register in the front, and they call your order. Self seating on the side, super casual, eat and then leave vibes.

This place did not live up to the reviews. The carne asada was dry and flavorless. If you wanted any flavor you had to drown the taco in onions, cilantro, and salsa. At least the carnitas and pollo asada were okay. But overall not worth it when there are so many other great spots in the area.

Roach crawling on the walls and even after I reported it and requested a refund for about $30 (we just couldn't stomach eating our tacos anymore after that sighting right behind and above our table), we were asked to "hold on" because they needed to telephone a manager first to see if we could get the refund! ‍ We waited a few minutes and then decided to leave and go eat elsewhere. Terrible customer service, poor leadership/management skills, uninviting ambiance and decor of a Mexican restaurant, staff seemed untrained. On previous occasions I've found a hair in my food so this was definitely it for me and my family...never going back!!! Also...the tongue was undercooked and the asada was overcooked.

Authentic and quick experience. You order and the tacos come out very quickly! We tried the pork and Asada tacos. We liked the pork taco more -- the meat was tender and fatty. Salsa bar was also fun! The carne asada meat was a bit tough. Good for take out inside an authentic taco shop.

Authentic Mexican tacos that are absolutely delicious. These are the best tacos near the UCSB campus and a can't miss place to grab lunch or dinner!

Below average tacos. Maybe it's cause I'm from LA, spoiled with good tacos. Sauces are mediocre. The tortillas don't even taste like it has been on the grill, barely touched. - Steamed tacos (ALL) 2.1/5 All of them were tender except for one, it was light brown in color. They all kind of tasted similar in terms of beefiness, and differed in tenderness (gelatinous). - Tripas crispy taco 2.7/5 Deep fried tripas, they're very crispy. Free street parking

Looking for SoCal street tacos? This is the place. Delicious and generous size. Friendly staff and atmosphere.

I give it a 5 on food 7/5 if I could. service 3.5/5 sometimes kinda mean but I mean that's a small price to pay for tacos Ambiance I mean pretty good. everyone seems to be enjoying there delicious tacos! I love how they put fried veggies on the tacos just so CHeF'S KIsSsSssS

I spent the weekend in Santa Barbara, first time ever actually. I usually am just passing by but gaaaahhh daaammmm was I missing out! I had no friggin idea SB got down like this!! These tacos were probably some of the best I've had in my life and I've had A LOT of tacos. Everything I ordered was so flavorful and not too greasy but juicyyyy. They hit my tastebuds with a quickness and did not turn back LOL Oh yes and they had a really unique meat choice "beef eye", lemme tell you this was super tender no seeing the actual eyeballs just had that tender lovin flavor we all need in our lives haha. Will definitely be back to SB and you bet your MF azz im coming back to Lilly's. PEACE!!

Delicious tacos - don't be fooled, they may look "small" but are PACKED with meat. All of them were delicious in flavor. This is cafeteria style where you order and pay upfront then wait for them to call your name - afterward you find a place to sit. These tacos are not overpriced. They have a salsa bar too. Loved it and can't wait to stop by Lilly's when I'm back in SB.

Tacos were super mid. Someone had recommended this place to my boyfriend and I so we expected some delicious tacos but they honestly lacked flavor. They were also pricy for tacos. The service was fine.

Came here while driving thru town. Standard tacos- nothing special but affordably priced.

While this restaurant was cranking out both freaky fresh and freaky fast tacos, it also just got my team of distance runners acting... freaky. Order cautiously at Lilly's Tacos, or you might be overwhelmed with an unexpected elation that causes you to streak from State St and dive into the freezing ocean. The level of late-night energy corresponded directly with the amount of tacos consumed. For example, on one end of the spectrum, my friends and I were just there to sample, and we appropriately stayed on shore around the bonfire. This contrasts with Andrew (or maybe it was Gabe), who downed 5 tacos in the afternoon and proceeded to commence the polar plunge.

The lengua was decent but not the best. Asada was too basic and lacked flavor. Not the 5 star reviews. 11 tacos, 1 drink, 50 bucks. It's just a hype.

This has become a go-to staple every time we visit Santa Barbara. The tacos here are straightforward, but what really makes this place stand out is the flavor of the meats and the generous portions. There's always a line, but it moves quickly thanks to the super-efficient staff. The person at the register gets orders out fast--and they accept cards and don't even prompt for tips. Respect. On my last visit, I ordered the Asada, Adobada, Lengua, and Cabeza tacos: Asada - Classic grilled beef. Some pieces were even slightly crispy, which made me think they leave a bit of fat on there (not complaining). Not the most tender asada I've had, but the flavor was solid and satisfying. Always a safe choice. Adobada - Pork, similar to al pastor, mixed with pineapple. I hadn't noticed the pineapple before, but it was a great combo of sweet and savory. Not the absolute best I've had (there are slightly better ones in L.A.), but still tasty--and again, some crispy pieces, which was a nice touch. Lengua - Stewed beef tongue, chopped into tender bites. This was the standout for me. Perfect saltiness, rich beef flavor, and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Honestly better than many versions I've had in L.A. Definitely ordering this again. Cabeza - Another slow-stewed meat, similar in richness to the lengua but with a texture more like shredded beef or pulled pork. Also very flavorful and tender. If you like braised meats, this one's for you. What's also great is that each taco comes double-tortilla'd, and because they pile on the meat, you could easily split one taco into two. There's a salsa bar too--just note that grilled onions and jalapeños are extra (about $1.37). This place is clearly a local favorite, and for good reason. Flavorful tacos, hefty portions, fast service, no pretense. I'll definitely be back whenever I'm in town.

Fire!!!! Literally everything here is delicious. Tacos only! Best you'll have in the area! Very flavorful meat and soft fresh tortillas. There's 2 salsa bars so you can dress up your tacos just how you like. They put a lot of meat in the tacos too. Perfection!!! Staff is friendly and service is fast. Plenty of seating inside.

These tacos are amazing! Do yourself a favor and go have some today! I've got a salsa bar and excellent service. These are the tacos to eat in Santa Barbara.

A local fave, def would've never found this place otherwise. Cheap and gets the job done. Lots of meat and you can customize it to your liking. If you Wanta get away for the touristy hustle and bustle , this place is a find.

You'll find more than just the regular carne asada at Lilly's. On the menu: beef head, cheek, tongue, tripe, lips, and eyes! I don't do organs, but my bf was intrigued with the eyes on the menu. One ojo taco for him, and one carne asada taco for me. I made sure which was which, as I definitely wouldn't want to mix them up! Verdict: he wouldn't know it was eyes, other than that he knowingly ordered it. A few gelatinous strips were in there, but it might have been mixed with some carne asada as well. Overall, ok but wouldn't order again. I thought my carne asada taco was pretty standard, a bit on the chewy/tough side. The salsa bar had all the fixings including a variety of salsas, onions and cilantro, lime wedges and spicy radishes! Fast casual joint.

I had the lengue. It was pretty good. Didn't blow my socks off. The service was very fast.

The tacos are amazing. Quick service and the options are great. Definitely going back

The tacos are real good for sure one of the best taco spots in Santa Barbara ladies in there are little cold but fire food for sure

I love Lilly's tacos though I will say I think I prefer the Goleta location. They have parking out front and there's plenty of seating room. The tacos are cheap and filled to the brim with chicken and grilled veggies. The tortillas weren't cooked as well so they were a little chewy but still tasty. Also love the salsa options, the hot is actually hot and flavorful. You can also put onions and cilantro on top.

Lilly's Tacos was my absolute go-to spot during college and it never let me down. The quality is consistent no matter how many times you go, and it's the best bang for your buck at its price point. What sets Lilly's apart is the variety of meat options you don't often find at other Mexican establishments in the U.S. My personal favorite has always been the soft tripe tacos while my friends prefer the crispy tripe for the crunch. The menu is straightforward, the cashiers are always friendly and efficient, and orders are delivered very quickly. The self-serve salsa bar offers a range of spice levels, onions, limes, etc. Seating is also self-serve, keeping everything casual and convenient. Lilly's Tacos is everything you want in a taco spot: affordable, convenient, consistent, and, most importantly, delicious.

Great tacos, meat is always fresh. All the essential condiments are there. Quick, easy, always hits the spot nicely!!!

Superb. My friends and I have come three times and loved everything. My personal favorite is Cachete (cheek). The steamed meats are juicy My friend A got both the soft and crispy tripe and three of the steamed ones (head, cheek, tongue) and loved them all. In short, you can't go wrong Tacos come out super fast and they take card. Staff is very nice

Authentic tacos with 3 choices of sauces. Lots of sodas, including Mexican coke and Sprite. Family owned with friendly and fast service. Be ready to speak spanish as some employees do not understand English. A bit of a cafeteria ambiance but so is the price! If you want solid tacos with no thrills, this is it! PS, the mild sauce was only mild for people who eat fire for a living -- sample before you commit!!

Best tacos in town! Fresh, authentic Mexican food with a kind and friendly staff! They are always quick to get your order ready too. I have ordered for 6 people and it took 5-10 minutes. Great spot and a Santa Barbara staple!!

Parking: open lot, free Reviews are so great but experience was average. I am from LA so I love my taco spots. I love that this place had tripa and it was crispy but it really lacked flavor. What i really liked was that there was a sauce bar, onions, and radish available. All in all, would not come back

This was a fast casual taco joint for some interesting meats. They have your usual chicken and Carne Asada but they also have eyes and tongue. Ordering is very straightforward just counter service and your tacos. Come out within minutes. There is a self serve in the restaurant with lime wedges, different salsas, radishes, and various toppings for your tacos. I appreciate that you can top them anyway you'd like but I thought the meat was just OK.

I have been going here for years. No frills taco place. Order, sit down and eat. Fast service and no long lines even during lunch and dinner times. The salsa bar is kept clean and tidy. Ample seating and tables are always clean

A meal at Lilly's is an absolute must while in Santa Barbara. You can't go wrong with anything on their menu, but personally I love the adobada. Ordering is quick, and the tacos are ready in no time. I love the self-serve salsa bar and how the meal is always so good it's consumed in seconds. There's a reason I come back every time I'm in the area!

Any taco joint with a Low Rider out front ..... Lilly's is a simple cafeteria style taco joint with the basics to satisfy any appetite in quick fashion. Order, pay, and staff constructs tacos to order. Basic 2 corn tortillas covered in your meat/veggie of choice (recommend beef tongue - Lengua). The. You take your plate to a cold bar and add toppings. Perfect mix of onions and cilantro then heat it up to your liking or just enjoy the perfectly flavored tacos without salsa. 5 salsas to choose from the darker the spicier. None too bad and packed with flavor. My three things: 1) I know you don't like the idea of beef tongue. DO IT! 2) 50/50 meat to onion & cilantro mix is perfect 3) Of the three thought the green salsa was the best overall flavor and had a nice little kick.

Kind of hole in the wall spot but it came recommended. My friends who eat meat enjoyed their tacos. Their vegetarian option tacos are pretty lacking though so not a good spot for vegetarians (like me).

This place was very disappointing. It is rare for me to not finish my food and I ended up tossing my tacos because I just couldn't get myself to finish them. Asada was dry and overcooked to a point I thought I was chewing on rubber. Sauces were flavorless and tortillas tasted like they were store bought. I've been Yelping for some time now and I reserve one star only for special occasions and today I decided to use my one star button because this place was just that bad. Everyone that gave positive and raving reviews about this place should be drug tested immediately.

If al vapor is your thing, I recommend the variety of meats prepared in this fashion. Bomb ass taco's with fresh handmade tortillas.

Some friends recommended Lilly's, so we had high hopes. Unfortunately, the food is just OK. The beef in the beef taco was dried out and lacked flavor. The chicken taco was better, but nothing special. There is plenty of seating and a salsa bar for your tacos. The staff is friendly. Parking is available on the street.

Dare to say even better than tacos I've had in LA?! Lilly's Tacos were absolutely delicious - fresh, flavorful and AUTHENTIC. The cashier was very helpful taking the time to let us know the different types of meats they had available for the day (my husband is all about the cow tongue, cheek and etc). Highly recommend to anyone in town looking for authentic and delicious local tacos. P.s Parking might be hard to find on the weekends.