One of Southern California’s most picturesque destinations is Santa Barbara. With sunshine nearly year-round, most visitors come to enjoy the wine country of the Santa Ynez Valley with only a short stop here. But one of the most delicious and underrated ways to experience the city’s ever-expanding food scene is with a taco tour. Don’t just commit to one restaurant on the wine property or downtown. Instead, sample multiple taco styles in a standout destination.
So we decided to experience this first-hand with Taco Tours Santa Barbara, taking their original private 2.5-hour afternoon tour and sampling five winning tacos along the way.
State Street
The entire tour takes you through downtown Santa Barbara’s cultural center. While you walk to each location, you will see historic Spanish-style architecture from local architect Jeff Shelton. The neighborhood is filled with boutique shops, cafes, and eateries. They even have the State Street Promenade, a car-free pedestrian zone.
Your knowledgeable local guide will provide a brief history and facts about the area as you proceed to each stop. On a typical California weekend, this place is busy as ever, and a great opportunity to see the place come alive.
Lilly’s Taqueria
The perfect start to our taco tour is somewhere you probably would not have discovered on your own. This little tucked-away spot on a dead-end street is so unassuming you wouldn’t believe that they have some of the best authentic tacos in all of Santa Barbara. A husband and wife operation with only two locations, it’s a local favorite and a definite must-stop for first-time visitors…