“ Great service and big portions! Detailed breakdown below: **Service, 5/5** Although Los Agaves feels more fast casual because you order at the counter then seat yourself, the staff was super friendly and attentive. Definitely some of the friendliest staff ever + our food came out pretty quickly and we were able to easily flag someone down when we needed anything. **Price & portion, 5/5** Prices might feel a little steep at first, but feels totally worth it once you see the portion sizes. Even their complimentary chips come in a huge basket and you can self-serve at the unlimited salsa bar. **Taste, 4.5/5** We got the seafood enchiladas and it was great -- packed full of tender, flakey fish and bouncy whole shrimp. The entire dish was also a flavor bomb with layers of savory, sweet, and smokey notes. I was also impressed at how the enchiladas maintained their structural integrity even though they were doused in the smokey red sauce (which wasn't too spicy at all!). If I had to nitpick, my only complaints are that the smokey sauce might've been a little bit overwhelming and I think the dried cranberries in the house salad were cherry flavored which I didn't really enjoy. **Other notes** Lots of parking in this plaza. Restaurant can also get a little busy but the staff are super efficient at clearing tables, so you'll probably get seated within a few minutes. ”

“ ***Updated Review*** OMG I was on a mission to find the restaurant I ate at 11 years ago. I remember it being so good but could not remember for the life of me. Luckily, as I was searching I found my old review...I was disappointed on how short it was lol. So, 11 years ago the experience and food was amazing...to my surprise, it still was a hit. This location does get pretty busy and the parking lot is little so you may need to park on street. Make sure to read street signs to ensure you do not get a ticket. The concept of the restaurant is you order first, then find a seat (but people don't obey that). I ended up ordering the Birria Flautas special with rice and an Orange Jarritos. Unfortunately, I forgot to order a side of beans, which I basically went for the rice and beans. The flautas were perfection, heaven sent. The meat was very tender, the flautas were fried perfectly, not too hard and not too soft. The meal was in a bowl filled with the consomme of the birria which was also not spicy. The rice was also great and very authentic. I wish I can cook my rice that perfectly. Luckily, I ate some of my son's beans which was also delicious. We will definitely be back because we love the food here. Last time we visited in 2013, we kept ordering refills of our rice and beans lol. It is that good. So next time we are in town, we will def be stopping by. See you soon! ”

“ Los agaves is one of my favorite restaurants and I feel like this Santa Barbara location specifically is amazing! It is a must stop for me every time I'm in Santa Barbara. I've tried a variety of things on the menu over the years and everything has been really good. My absolute favorite dish is the Agaves enchiladas though. This is a shrimp and fish enchilada with a creamy Chipotle sauce on top--so delicious and honestly the best enchiladas I've ever had!! It also comes with a side salad and Mexican rice which are both amazing as well. If you have room for dessert, I highly recommend getting either the flan or the churros. The ambiance of the store is actually really nice and looks more upscale than the price point is. Service here is really friendly and the employees usually check up you often. I believe there is a parking lot in the back, but we've always been able to get street parking easily in the front. ”

“ Really amazing Mexican food! The neighborhood feels authentically Mexican, and it seems to be a local favorite--even though it's part of a franchise. The quality is excellent, and the servers are attentive, refilling chips and checking in even when it's super busy. It does get crowded quickly, and lines can form through the door, but they move fast. It's a bit of a squeeze to reach the salsa bar and bathrooms, but the salsa bar is fantastic, and with unlimited chips, you can try as much as you like. I ordered the Agaves enchiladas and the molcajete, and both were packed with flavor. The molcajete especially impressed me with its generous portions of chicken and shrimp hidden under a mountain of food on top--seemed endless, but we managed to finish! Everything tasted on point, and I left very satisfied. They also have a cool tequila bar, complete with a condiment cart. ”

“ I went today around dinner time and there was a bit of a wait for take out orders but I didn't even care! The tables were packed but the restaurant is spacious enough to accommodate bigger parties. This spot has high quality Mexican food. I got the Cazuela Poblano and a beef Chimichanga. Both out of this world delicious! I didn't get picture of the chimi; it was devoured lol. The staff was friendly trying to get through all the orders. I make sure to stop by when I'm in Santa Barbara. ”

“ My first time at Los Agaves and I was not disappointed! There was one previously in Oxnard but closed down so I had to try out the restaurant in Santa Barbara especially since they had such great reviews. First of all, their menu is extensive and for someone who is super indecisive, I just went with the classic crispy chicken tacos. Everything was super packed with flavor . Really nice and crispy. The rice that came with the meal was delicious. I have to commend them on their sauce bar too. There is soo much sauce variety. The picture does not even depict all of the sauces that were available and all of them were really good! I love how they also bring over chips for us to share. Really completes the meal. The people that I went with all really enjoyed their meals as well! I would definitely come back here if I'm around the area again. ”

“ Incredibly nice and friendly staff!! You order at the register and they bring everything to you but the staff is checking on you making sure everything is good - even offered to take a family photo. The service stood out 1000% here for me. The food came so quick it was almost criminal. I was surprised how they made something so hot and fresh so quickly without sacrificing quality - it needs to be investigated. We all loved our food - I had the tacos Al pastor which was different than your usual street taco. Very filling. Location is very clean and pretty decor. Highly recommend ”