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Best Restaurant and Food in Santa Cruz - Laili, Santa Cruz, CA

Laili

4.7
4.7
2883 Reviews
$30 and under
Mediterranean

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 6 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Charming
Laili is our expression of love through food and service. We offer a unique menu made up of fusion Afghani Mediterranean items that include kabobs, wraps, flatbreads, pastas, and spiced lamb and chicken dishes as well as delicious vegetarian options.

Laili Restaurant "BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT", Good Times 2023, Voted #1

Rich Mediterranean Flavors with a Unique Afghan Twist in the Heart of Downtown Santa Cruz.
Currently taking reservations for lunch and dinner, walk-ins welcome too.

Dine in our elegant, secluded, off street patio. Visit our website for event information.

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mediterranean, Afghan
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Tue–Sat 12:00 pm–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (831) 423-4545
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Catering
    Get Laili’s Food at your location! Call or email us for prices and availability. Parties 50-500
  • Private party facilities
    Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or hosting a corporate gathering, Laili Restaurant can accommodate all your special event needs.
  • Private party contact
    Xander Nicolai: (831) 423-4545
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Cruz
  • Cross street
    Pacific Avenue
  • Parking details
    Take advantage of free parking located on River Street at Front Street. In addition to metered street parking, there is also a parking lot at Front Street and Soquel and also at Locust Street and Pacific Avenue.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Lunchtime Oasis

    Multiple dates available
    Come experience lunch time at Laili, the hidden gem of Downtown Santa Cruz! Sit and relax on our gorgeous patio and enjoy the sunshine, the beautiful vines and flowers all around that envelop you with the feel of a secret garden, and of course, our delicious, fresh food! We offer special lunch time combos, an amazing wine list and delicious and refreshing non-alcoholic options like our fresh Ginger Lime Soda. Take some time to slow down and treat yourself.
    Lunchtime Oasis Photo

What 2,883 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Best Overall

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Best Food

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Best Service

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Best Ambiance

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Best Value

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Innovative

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Healthy

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Neighborhood gem

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Romantic

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Good for special occasions

  • Santa Cruz / Capitola / Aptos

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Laili in Santa Cruz is celebrated for its "delicious food," "excellent service," and "beautiful ambiance." Guests love the courtyard dining and diverse menu, featuring standout dishes like lamb shank and eggplant. Although some find it "noisy" or "pricey," most patrons praise the "wonderful service" and "satisfying experience."

2,883 Reviews
  1. Amanda

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved our time there for dinner! Appreciate our time there.
    LailiResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you for dining with us! We're so glad you enjoyed your time at Laili and appreciate your kind words. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  2. Sara

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We celebrated my daughter’s birthday and the entire staff was incredibly professional and attentive. The food was excellent and timely. The outdoor patio was gorgeous!
    LailiResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you for celebrating your daughter’s special day with us! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the food, service, and beautiful outdoor patio. It was our pleasure to make the occasion memorable for you. We hope to welcome you back for many more celebrations in the future! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  3. Lisa

    Sacramento

    11 reviews

    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another exotic and tasty meal at Laili’s. The flavors, textures, service and ambience never let me down. I will be back.
    LailiResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled that you continue to enjoy the exotic flavors, textures, service, and ambiance at Laili. It means so much to us that we can provide a consistently great experience. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  4. bob

    VIP

    New York City

    126 reviews

    4.0

    126 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Lovely meal. Chose restaurant because they had trout on the menu. Eggplant in a pomegranate sauce was tasty. Choice selection was varied but I would have liked to have seen more fish on the menu. Missed my espresso after dinner but their French press was good. Pleasant and attentive service. A bit too noisy.
    LailiResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you for dining with us and for sharing your thoughtful feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the trout, eggplant with pomegranate sauce, and our French press coffee. We appreciate your input on adding more fish options and will keep it in mind for future menu updates. We also understand that noise levels can vary, and we’ll continue striving to create a comfortable dining experience for all our guests. We hope to welcome you back to Laili soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  5. Nancy

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Food is good, fresh, and well prepared. As everywhere right now prices are high so it is not often we will be able to return.Love the environment and lighting!
    LailiResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted that you enjoyed the fresh, well-prepared food and the ambiance at Laili. We understand that dining out is a special occasion, and we truly appreciate you choosing to spend your time with us. We hope to welcome you back whenever you’re able to visit again! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  6. David

    VIP

    Chicago

    52 reviews

    5.0

    52 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed a creative menu with exotic flavors combined with excellent service in a beautiful setting.
    LailiResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted that you enjoyed our creative menu, exotic flavors, and excellent service. It’s wonderful to hear that our setting added to your experience as well. We look forward to welcoming you back to Laili Restaurant soon! Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  7. Maxwell

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I don’t love this place the food is Fantastic! The staff is very friendly and attentive.
    LailiResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you for your feedback! We're delighted to hear that you found the food fantastic and our staff friendly and attentive. If there's anything we can do to enhance your experience further, we'd love to know. We hope to have the pleasure of serving you again soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  8. Jane

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great juicy chicken kabob and delicious Matoo dumplings. Service attentive.
    LailiResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted that you enjoyed our juicy Chicken Kabob and delicious Mantoo dumplings. It's also wonderful to hear that our team provided attentive service. We appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another great meal soon! Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  9. Brooke

    VIP

    San Francisco

    15 reviews

    2.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    I usually love this place but bummed valentines wasn’t my favorite experience. I understand it’s a busy holiday but prefixed menu sucked , dessert I ordered sold out … just disappointing. I expected a lot more given the price .
    LailiResponded 5 days ago
    Hi Brooke, Thank you for your honest feedback. We're truly sorry to hear that your Valentine’s Day experience didn’t live up to your past visits. We understand that expectations are high for special occasions, and we regret that the special menu and sold-out dessert left you disappointed. We did have the regular menu available on top our special event menu. I apologize if that was not made apparent to you by our server. Your support means a lot to us, and we sincerely appreciate your understanding on such a busy evening. We hope to have the chance to provide you with a much better experience on your next visit. Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

  10. Bryan

    Central Coast

    11 reviews

    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Dined on Valentine’s Day where they offered only a prize fixe menu which offered little variety and nothing that really appealed to us. The prices were jacked up for the occasion and the food was as okay but nothing great. I had dined at this place once before and was impressed, but this experience did not leave us wanting to return any time soon.
    LailiResponded 5 days ago
    Hi Bryan. Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your Valentine’s Day experience didn’t meet your expectations. Special occasion menus are designed to create a unique dining experience, but we understand that variety and value are important, and we’ll take your thoughts into consideration for future events. We did have the regular menu available in addition to our special menu and we do our best to ensure that every guest is aware of the options and apologies if that was not offered to you. We truly appreciate your past visit and are disappointed that this time didn’t leave the same impression. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future for a meal that better reflects the experience you previously enjoyed. Sincerely, Xander N. GM Laili Restaurant

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Laili offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Laili also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (831) 423-4545.

Laili is rated 4.7 stars by 2883 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 6 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Laili

101B Cooper St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Pacific Avenue
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Cruz
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Tue–Sat 12:00 pm–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mediterranean, Afghan
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Take advantage of free parking located on River Street at Front Street. In addition to metered street parking, there is also a parking lot at Front Street and Soquel and also at Locust Street and Pacific Avenue.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (831) 423-4545
  • Catering
    Get Laili’s Food at your location! Call or email us for prices and availability. Parties 50-500
  • Private party facilities
    Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or hosting a corporate gathering, Laili Restaurant can accommodate all your special event needs.
  • Private party contact
    Xander Nicolai: (831) 423-4545
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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