Lito's Mexican Restaurant

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Closed

$

$$

🌮 Mexican

Santa Barbara

casual-dining

4.5
Popular Santa Barbara spot for Mexican take-out with limited seating, known for enchiladas, tacos, and hearty breakfast burritos.

$

$$

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Lito's Mexican Restaurant

Santa Barbara

$

Enjoy hearty breakfast burritos, carnitas, and classic Mexican dishes in Santa Barbara. Casual spot with limited seating and fast takeout service.

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About
4.5
(
619
)

Lito's Mexican Restaurant offers a casual, cozy dining experience focused on fast, flavorful Mexican comfort food, especially beloved breakfasts.

Guests enjoy generous portions of classics like breakfast burritos and carnitas, alongside friendly service and convenient takeout, delivery, and dine-in options.

What to Expect:

    🌯 Hearty breakfast burritos
    🌮 Traditional Mexican dishes like carnitas & menudo
    🍺 Beer and coffee offerings
    🪑 Limited indoor seating with a cozy atmosphere

Important Information:

    No reservations accepted; walk-ins only
    Accessible entrance, parking, and seating
    Free street parking available; some difficulty at peak times

Arrive early for breakfast specials as peak times get busy.

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Haley's Review of Riot BBQ
Riot BBQ on South Delaware feels like a backyard cookout run by a Top Chef, because it is. Chef Manny Barella and pitmaster Patrick Klaiber have teamed up to blend Monterrey flavors with Texas-style smoke, and the results are seriously craveable.

The brisket steals the show: tender, deeply smoky, and finished with Barella’s bold spice rub. Get it solo or wrapped in buttery Raquelita tortillas. The pulled pork brings heat with ancho, guajillo, and morita chiles, and the al pastor ribs are sticky, sweet, and slightly charred in all the right ways.

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📍 Local Insights

🌯 Breakfast Burritos Are a Must: Regulars swear by the huge, flavorful breakfast burritos as the best way to start the day.

🚗 Peak Parking Challenges: Street parking is free but can be limited near peak hours; plan accordingly or arrive early.

☀️ Weekend Menudo Special: The menudo is a popular weekend hangover cure; best picked up early before it runs out.

🍽️ Limited Seating, Fast Turnover: Seating is limited but staff move quickly, making early visits smoother and less crowded.

⏰ Hours

Monday: 6:30 AM–3:00 PM

Tuesday: 6:30 AM–3:00 PM

Wednesday: 6:30 AM–3:00 PM

Thursday: 6:30 AM–3:00 PM

Friday: 6:30 AM–3:00 PM

Saturday: 6:30 AM–3:00 PM

Sunday: 7:00 AM–3:00 PM

👉 Best For

Breakfast lovers, casual dining, takeout, authentic Mexican food

Lito's Mexican Restaurant

514 E Haley St
,
Santa Barbara
,
CA
93101

Review Sentiment

Based on the 50 most recent Google reviews
Lito's is celebrated for its generous portion sizes, flavorful breakfast burritos, and welcoming staff. While most praise the fresh, authentic dishes, some note occasional issues with seasoning and customer service delays.

Last updated on

January 9th, 2026

From The preserve

Standout Dishes

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The Selection

Accommodations

Course Stats

Angler’s Offerings

What You'll Find

Breakfast Burritos, Carnitas Burrito, Menudo, Pozole, Tri-Tip Burrito, Chile Relleno, Bacon, Taquitos, Tortas, Chile Colorado Burrito, Pork Adobada Taco, Bean and Cheese Burrito

📆 Best Times to Visit

Arrive early for breakfast burritos, especially on weekends when menudo is popular; late mornings get busiest. No reservations; plan to walk in.
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