Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
The taco tradition on Milpas Street is built around hand-pressed corn tortillas cooked to order, filled with roasted pasilla chiles, marinated grilled meats, and fresh salsas made daily. La Super-Rica Taqueria has defined this style since 1980, operating on a blackboard menu that changes with what arrived from the market that morning. The format is cash-only, counter-service, and eat-standing or at outdoor tables.
Milpas Street developed as the primary Latino food corridor in Santa Barbara across the 20th century, serving the Mexican and Central American community that predates the city's modern tourism-oriented identity. La Super-Rica Taqueria opened in 1980 under Isidoro Gonzalez, a former Spanish teacher, and operated without national recognition until Julia Child's 1985 television endorsement made it a pilgrimage destination. The taco format at La Super-Rica has not changed since opening in 1980.
2 editor picks for Milpas Street Corn Tortilla Tacos in Santa Barbara, ranked by editorial score. All Santa Barbara signature dishes · Milpas Street Corn Tortilla Tacos across every city.
Cash-only counter on Milpas since 1980. Julia Child's favourite Mexican restaurant in the US. Daily blackboard, hand-pressed corn tortilla tacos.
OrderHand-pressed corn tortilla tacos, Roasted pasilla chiles, Lomito suizo
Michelin Guide Mexican on Milpas Street. Freshly made tortillas, complex moles, and ceviche from family recipes. Loyal neighbourhood following since opening.
OrderMole negro, Handmade tortillas, Carne asada
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