La Super Rica is a beloved Mexican gem in Santa Barbara, serving up homemade fish tacos and tamales with fresh, hand-pressed tortillas in a casual, cash-only spot.
"You’ll find no shortage of tourist-clogged restaurants in Santa Barbara and La Super-Rica is one of them. Thanks to Julia Child proclaiming this order-at-the-counter Mexican spot as her favorite restaurant in America, you can come here almost every day of the week and find lines around the block. The good news is that the hype is real—the food here is worth the wait. It’s hard to go wrong with any of their tacos or chicken suizas, but if you don’t order the Super-Rica Especial (basically a giant plate of chilies, cheese, and marinated pork), don’t bother coming. " - brant cox, garrett snyder
"Katy Perry loves it, Julia Childs loves it, so there’s a pretty good chance you’ll love it too. Definitely the most well known Mexican food joint in Santa Barbara, come here and try one of their many taco offerings or daily specials. Try and come right when they open or on a weekday, as the line can get pretty long. Also, cash only! A must-try: La Super-Rica Especial (marinated pork and cheese-stuffed pasilla chile), or the Chilaquiles, tortilla chips covered in a spicy tomato broth sauce and topped with cheese and green onions (offered on Mondays and Thursdays only)." - Amanda Proudfit
"Arguably Santa Barbara’s most famous restaurant, La Super-Rica was founded by Isidoro Gonzalez in 1980. People still flock to the modest building with a covered patio for the thick, pressed-to-order corn tortillas that made Julia Child a regular. Order the tacos de bistec made with chunks of beef that are pounded thin and salted directly on the flat-top grill." - Mona Holmes
"Thanks to Julia Child proclaiming that this was her favorite restaurant in America, La Super-Rica is easily one of the most popular spots in Santa Barbara (if not the entire California coastline). But trust us, this order-at-the-window Mexican spot is worth the long lines. La Super-Rica's tacos, chicken suizas, and gorditas make this a must-visit for anyone in SB. We recommend ordering the Especial, a platter of roasted chile pasilla stuffed with cheese and topped with marinated pork, confidently and often. " - brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins, garrett snyder
"Perhaps the most iconic restaurant on this list, La Super-Rica has been providing Santa Barbara — and endless tourists — with quality Mexican food for more than a generation. Famously loved by Julia Child, the restaurant still serves up all manner of fresh Mexican food, complete with hand-pressed tortillas." - Karen Palmer, Eater Staff
