Santa Fe Café

Have not been to Northridge, can only speak for Burbank. The place there was cool. Nice, low-​key atmosphere, good Mexican food and good service. Family owned, I believe. One of those places you can sit and relax (or work) for as long as you want. Loved it. Hope the new locale serves them well.

The Santa Fe Café that was on Pass Ave. in Burbank has moved:
It is now in Northridge. Go check it out!

Once located in Burbank/​Toluca Lake, it has now relocated Northridge, CA at 8319 Louise Ave. Their loss is our gain!
This wonderful Mexican alternative spot is not your traditional Mexican restaurant. It’s much lighter, and dare I say, healthier. Their unique parmesan tortillas make their tacos to die for. Both the chicken and the shredded beef were very tender. As a margarita snob, I have to say that the Cadillac Marg has some subtle ass-​kicking potential (very nice). I can’t wait to go back to try out their very impressive menu of breakfast burritos!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I went on tour for a measly three months, and the first thing I planned to do when I got back (the FIRST thing, I kid you not) was go to Santa Fe Café for my «usual» breakfast burrito. Honestly, when I saw the closed sign with the «coming soon — some bullsh** restaurant that isn’t Santa Fe Café» banner in the window, I almost started crying. I have friends and bands who come to town and stay at my house and specifically request that I take them here for breakfast burritos!
PLEASE RE-​OPEN! YOU CAN USE MY HOUSE!
(Stupid recession. I hate you.)

So I’m writing this while actually enjoying the carnitas burrito. (Thanks to the wonders of the internet, and take out).
Now the carnitas burrito is good. It’s actually what I order whenever I go here. Mainly because it’s not as greasy as your typical carnitas burrito (yes I know the greasier the carnitas is the better), but it retains its texture and taste and for somebody who is watching their weight and wants to pig out (hee hee) it’s a good place to go.
However, the reason why I give this place three stars is because in the past (back when I wasn’t a Unilocal member) ordered the chile relleno, it was alright. Your typical chille relleno is a bit spicy mainly because it uses poblano or pasilla chile pepper. They didn’t and I was a bit sad, because I love my spicy chile relleno. They also used some sort of instant rice and it ruined it for me, it reminded me of cafeteria food.
That event didn’t stop me from going because of the other times I’ve been there. If you decide to go stick to getting a burrito and go during lunch time when they have specials.
It also doesn’t hurt when the staff are nice people and are willing to hold your order while running errands when you order your lunch and have to run to the supermarket.

If you are trying to eat heathy or just want some awesome mexican food, this is the place. The quesadilla are out of this world and the Torta sandwich is the best I have ever had. I also recommend the ranch tacos. If you are going for a healthy tip try the Pollo Plate. It is very flavorful and good for you too!

The owners/​staff are wonderful and friendly, and all the food is homemade and very tasty. The look of the interior and its location (strip mall parking lot) give the vibe that it would taste like a Tom’s #19 sandwich joint, but everything I’ve eaten here is top notch.
I recommend the burritos — they feel like they were actually ‘prepared’ and not just rolled up assembly line style.
Like the other reviewers said, a great alternative to Poquito Mas or the taco truck (even though I heartily enjoy both).

I love this place for the homemade chips and the chicken quesadilla. It’s fried and big and very yummy. They have a good selection of drinks too. Been going there for years to have lunch. Try the quesadilla. Not much of an interior but the food is not bad at all.

I have this problem where I order more than I can ever eat in one sitting. Like, WAY MORE than anyone should eat in one sitting.
I did that at Santa Fe Café.
Not a good choice. If you’re gonna load up on food, at least make it some place decent.
I ordered two parmesan steak tacos and the gringo breakfast burrito. Doesn’t sound like a lot, but they really load up on the chips with your order, which is probably the only nice thing about it all. The food is mediocre at best and from someone who loves breakfast burritos, I would not order one from here ever again.
I don’t know why I did this, but instead of eating the burrito made for breakfast at 9am in the morning, I ate the tacos first. Bad choice. You fill yourself up on tacos that are average and cover yourself (and your work clothes) in parmesan at the same time. And it’s not even fresh parmesan, it’s like the stuff you put on top of pizzas — the powdered stuff. I could have done that myself!
I ate the burrito later in the day so it was a bit cold (and probably not as good as it could have been fresh), but even cold, I can tell you that the sauce they pour in this thing kills it for me. It’s not salsa — no chunky tomatoes or bits of onion and cilantro — it was sauce. Like, almost like a mole type sauce. I like that stuff, but I definitely DON’T want that in my breakfast burrito.
Santa Fe Café has signs all over the place saying how their tortas are amazing, but after eating all that crap (and when I say crap in this context, I mean it), I really can’t give it another go. There’s got to be better places out where I can order bags of food to stuff my face with.

It’s like eating in a country store. I had the tamales, which were okay, but I’ve had better rice ‘n beans. C’mon, how hard is it get rice ‘n beans down? My friend had shrimp nachos (not on the menu – how Get Shorty). Eh. I’ll pass next time, just like the name of the street it’s on. (ba-​dum-​dum)

I think this place is okay. The salsas are bland. The tacos are a bit unusual being covered in parmesan at all. I go their with some of my friends and enjoy it alright but am never wowed by anything here. It just all seems so average. I don’t really consider it Tex-​Mex or Mexican. It’s just very Americanized Mexican food. I don’t think I’ve ever been here by myself and would probably never go except that it’s two blocks from work.

I went there around 5pm and the place was DEAD… I think since it’s in a strip mall it’s more of a place to go for lunch, but again I could be wrong seeing how it was only 5pm and the dinner rush may not yet have come to be.
the food was pretty good, nothing spectacular… and the atmosphere was nothing to talk about, but the waitress/​cashier was a nice lady.

This place is pretty good. Not stellar, and not bad. Certainly better than the quick places nearby. The chips and salsa are particularly good. The entrees, okay enough. While not authentic, it tastes pretty good.

Oh my gosh, I love this place. They are always friendly and efficient, and the prices are great!
I really recommend the vegetarian tostada because it is just brimming with yummy cheese, rice, your choice of pinto or black beans, and (holy) guacamole. My mother is obsessed with their nachos, and my father loves their burritos, which is no mean feat as he typically doesn’t like Mexican food. You won’t be sorry you didn’t go to Taco Bell.

Sunday morning — In search of a breakfast burrito. Unilocaled a few breakfast places in Burbank before finding the glowing reviews for Santa Fe Café. Before you could say «tomatillo» we were zooming through Burbank to find this hidden gem. It’s right across the street from the Avalon at Media Center apartments in the Vons parking lot. Next to Togos and Pet Mania.
Got there around 10:45 am and had the whole place to ourselves. It took awhile to take in all of the items on the menu board, as well as the specials and the breakfast/​brunch menu (they also have a low carb menu). I finally settled on the Gringo Breakfast Burrito (not a gringo, but love the name!) with bacon and the boy had the same with no eggs (weird, I know. Even the waitress was baffled by his request!). We settled into a booth on the wall and noted the spacious interior and tvs on two walls (no neck strain trying to figure out what he was watching!).
When our burritos came out they were delivered to our table with thick, crispy chips — just the way I like ‘em! Tried a few different salsas from the salsa bar, and stuck with the tomatillo. The burrito was big and chock full of potatoes, eggs, bacon and salsa that had juuuuuuuust enough of a kick to it.
More customers trickled in as we finished up, and as we sat there picking through the last of the chips, the boy and I continued to pour over the menu to figure out what we wanted to try on our next visit. Maybe the fish tacos? Or the carne asada? Or the torta? Even on a full belly, they all sounded so good… We’ll be back for sure.
FYI — They have a few beers on tap, as well as a selection of wine. And on Sundays they serve a champagne brunch. Oh, and be kind and please bus your own table.

Nicely done Unilocalers! I came here the other day and thought for sure the place was closed down, because really, what restaurant kicks ass in a Vons parking lot? I did locate it and the food was really good!
Fish tacos are delish! Battered and fried (no, not REALLY lightly, but not dripping with grease, either). The lettuce was fine, and the tortillas were lightly toasted, which is a nice touch. Sauce was runny and yum.
My mom had a chicken burrito which was tasty, topped with cheddar and tomatillo sauce. Salsa bar is awesome and the chips are real and on the thicker side… ALSO, I love the paper cups for salsa – the less plastic crap to throw away, the better!!! Next time I am all in for the parmesan tacos (they don’t do them on the fish ones, because that would be nasty)!

Hands down, my favorite lunch spot ever. This is not your typical greasy, calorie-​laden Mexican food. Everything is fresh, light, and healthy, and their parmesan tacos are amazing! It’s the perfect place for a quick meal, as their service is fast and easy. Their chips are top-​notch, and you can choose from an array of salsa from their self-​serve bar. I have never been disappointed with my experience at Santa Fe Café — actually, far from disappointed! I love this place!

They may not be authentic mexican, but they have the best carnitas tacos or torta sandwich I have ever had. This sandwich supposedly is one of the top ten sandwiches in the LA area (Ask them for the printout if you don’t believe me) and they have other items — like the parmesan dusted tacos – either chicken or steak, which is ooh so deliciouso. You can request white meat chicken if desired. Their Nachos are the best as they stay crunchy even when packed to go. But too bad everything else doesn’t stay good when it cools down.
Another reason why I love this place is the fact that Rosemary — one of the Cashier’s was so nice to take a pic of my son (flatter, flatter). You can check out their Star studded wall of pics — they have Clint Eastwood, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Freddie Prince. I know it’s no big deal since it’s in Burbank, but thought I’d mention… :)

Stephy was kind enough to pick me from the airport and take me directly to Santa Fe Café. (Do not pass Go. Do not Collect $ 200.)
She was bragging about their parmasian dusted taco shells, and boy, howdy, they are indeed tasty.
Dos tacos por favor. Good chips and a nice salsa bar to boot.
Minus one star for iceberg lettuce with the fish taco instead of cabbage. Still, that’s being nit-​picky, and go and check it out for yourself.

More like Santa Yum Café.
This place is yummy and especially yummy if you aren’t looking for that 3 hour coma that most mexican food puts you in after eating it. Light fare at it’s finest and tastiest.
Must Trys:
Their Deelishious parmesan crusted vegetarian or Taos tacos
The fish tacos (cuz really, who doesn’t enjoy a good fish taco…)
Their famous Santa Fe Torta with chichen or steak, lettuce, tomato, onion, sliced avocado and mayo. Trust me, it is a winner.
They are also affordably priced and they do catering and takeout, but no delivery. Poo.
And it’s in a lot with tons of parking!