Manuel's Mexican Restaurant

I had dinner here yesterday and got the guacamole for starter which had cheese on it so those who are intolerant should specify no cheese on the guacamole. The Guacamole was good. I had the special of the day Chicken Enchilada with a fantastic mole sauce and came with a unique salad that had garbanzo beans on it and a unique dressing, unique and surprisingly went well together. The enchilada was fantastic and was a large portion. The special also included ice cream. I chose the mango-banana which was as delicious as it sounds. I usually go with chocolate as a default but this was worth the change for the night and finished off the spice of the entre very well. The service was great overall, they were quick to take care of things(keep drinks full, clean up plates as you finish, check in to see if you need anything else). They all seemed to work as a team on never did anyone tell me they needed to get my server to help me. Whoever I asked just took care of it. Great! I was told this is the best Mexican place in Santa Cruz for traditional food, I don't know if it is yet, but it will definitely be tough to beat and is definitely a favorite restaurant of mine now in this town as a must visit for anyone looking for great Mexican food. I'm very picky with Mexican food and this place definitely makes the grade.

Salsa was excellent, nice and spicy but not too hot. Chips were okay, could have been fresher and the bowl a little bigger. Food was okay - I ordered enchiladas (chicken & beef) - beans and rice were really good. Place is small, very lively - solid service - I'd try somewhere else if I returned to the area - not because this place was bad but because it wasn't awesome.

I made reservations for 6:45 arrived at 6:00 guy said ok we will get you in sooner if possible we where seated by 6:15 service was great and good was delicious the beans and rice had great flavor i had the special it was red snapper was delicious place was packed on a Friday night well worth it definitely coming back

Manuel's is a family-owned restaurant that has been there for several decades. They use high-quality meats that put Manuel's at the top of our list when looking for Mexican food. They have an unusually large staff, which is probably a good thing since the restaurant packs customers in very tightly and stays busy all day. Since the start of the pandemic, they've offered outdoor dining across the back alley -- wonderful when the weather is good. It's located right next to Seacliff State Beach Park, off Hwy 1 at State Park Drive in Aptos.

Few places with indoor seating during covid days. Pretty authentic vibe which you would find in the food flavors too. Good standard menu options including margaritas. If you are a strict vegetarian then you may want to check with them first for options e.g. they didn't have veggie fajitas or veggie taco salad. Otherwise if you are in town then definitely worth a visit.