I tried a tasty SLO County taqueria with huge portions. Here’s what I got for $25

In a small strip of restaurants just outside downtown San Luis Obispo sits an unassuming taqueria dishing up classic Mexican cuisine.

Taqueria Santa Cruz Express, 1308 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo, is a casual spot where hungry locals can munch on some tasty tacos or grab a burrito to go.

The Central Coast-based Mexican restaurant chain has two locations in San Luis Obispo and two taquerias in Santa Cruz, where the family-run business first got its start 32 years ago.

San Luis Obispo resident Maria, who requested her last name not be used, recommended that I visit the local taqueria for On a Budget, a monthly series where Tribune reporters try reader-suggested foods, drinks and activities around SLO County on a $25 budget.

“I’d recommend the burrito bowl from Santa Cruz,” she said. “Good portions, budget-friendly and, if you have a side of chips, (it makes) great nachos — no soggy chips.”

I love Mexican food, so I didn’t need much persuading to get on board.

I strolled into the establishment with an empty stomach just after 1 p.m. on a recent weekday, looking for a filling, affordable lunch in the middle of the work day.

Here’s what I got:

What is Taqueria Santa Cruz Express?

Locations: 1308 Monterey St. and 862 Foothill Blvd. in San Luis Obispo

I stepped into Santa Cruz Taqueria on a recent Tuesday afternoon and gazed up at the giant digital menu while I waited for another customer to order.

There was an abundance of choices, including burritos, tacos, tortas, seafood, nachos and quesadillas, as well as combination plates.

About 50 menu options were listed, along with 14 different types of meat to choose from.

I would have been overwhelmed by the options, but luckily, I had Maria as my guide.

I stepped up to the counter and ordered her recommendation, the burrito bowl. I chose pastor — marinated pork — as my meat option and then added an agua fresca to quench the thirst I had worked up from the walk over.

The woman at the cash register handed me a cup, plus a shallow paper bowl so I could grab a a few handfuls of free tortilla chips next to the eatery’s elaborate salsa bar.

I walked over to the soda foundation where three types of homemade Mexican drinks were available: horchata, mélon and jamaica agua fresca.

I chose the jamaica agua fresca, made with dried hibiscus flowers.

Once my cup was full, I picked up a pair of metal tongs and dove into a massive tub of crispy tortilla chips. Then I moved onto the salsa bar, where I was thrilled to find a wide spread of condiments for customers.

There were slices of lime and radish, as well as pico de gallo and bright red and green salsas ranging from mild to spicy.

As I was grabbing salsas, I was interrupted by a server handing me my food. My burrito bowl had been prepared in less than a couple minutes.

It was the fastest service I had experienced in a long time.

How I spent my $25 budget at local Mexican restaurant

I carried my food and drink outside to a table shaded by a red umbrella. I had two green salsas in front of me, a hibiscus-flavored agua fresca and an al pastor burrito bowl.

For my first bite, I dug a chip into one of the salsas. My mouth immediately burst into flames, or at least that’s what it felt like in the moment. The spicy salsa was tasty with hits of salt and jalapeno, but not for the faint of heart.

I grabbed my $2.65 agua fresca to soothe my burning tongue. The deep purple drink was really refreshing on a warm day. It had a light sweetness that wasn’t overly saccharine, followed by a tad of tang.

Next, I used a fork to dive into my burrito bowl, which cost $14.50.

The bowl wasn’t beautiful once I mixed all the fixings into a mass of rice, beans, meat and salsas, but it was extremely tasty. Every bite contained cool sour cream, flavorful meat, rice and beans and strings of cheese that were perfectly melted.

I used my free chips to dig out delicious scoops of the filling. I originally feared I would miss the tortilla, but during the meal, I was completely happy with the hefty portion I received.

On a balmy Tuesday afternoon, Taqueria Santa Cruz Express was the ideal lunch spot — quick, tasty and totally filling.

After tip and tax, my lunch total was $21.45, coming in a few dollars under budget.

Is Taqueria Santa Cruz Express affordable? See menu prices

Taqueria Santa Cruz may not be the cheapest Mexican restaurant in SLO County, but for the amount of food I received, I thought it was very reasonably priced.

I loaded up on free chips and salsa, which are available to all in-person customers, and I managed to only eat half of my enormous burrito bowl.

I grabbed a takeaway container and had leftovers for lunch the next day.

Plenty of affordable options are available at the taqueria, such as a soft taco for $3.50, a meat quesadilla for $5.80, a bean-and-cheese burrito for $7.35 and a torta for $9.40.

What are open hours?

Taqueria Santa Cruz Express’s Monterery Street location is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

The Foothill Boulevard location is open 9 a.m. to 11 p.m Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to midnight Friday through Sunday.

Where should I go next?

Have any ideas on where I should visit next in SLO County on a budget?

Send me recommendations at hpoukish@thetribunenews.com or by filling out the form below.

This story was originally published June 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "I tried a tasty SLO County taqueria with huge portions. Here’s what I got for $25."

Hannah Poukish

The Tribune

+1 805-781-7815

Hannah Poukish covers San Luis Obispo County as The Tribune’s government reporter. She previously reported and produced stories for The Sacramento Bee, CNN, Spectrum News and The Mercury News in San Jose. She graduated from Stanford University with a master’s degree in journalism.