East Beach, a scenic stretch of coastline in Santa Barbara proper, draws in beachcombing travelers and local volleyball players alike. After a full day of splashing around, a nearby taco stand is a popular next pit stop, and many opt for famous spots like La Super-Rica, the colorful place made famous by Julia Child. 

Some hungry locals head straight for the batting cages.

Just past the train tracks sits East Beach Tacos, a minuscule stand with a walk-up window and picnic tables that overlook both the street and the cages themselves. Eating some of the stand’s signature battered fish and poke-infused tacos is inextricable from the sound of errant thwacks nearby. Yet the taco stand’s quirky location belies that this teeny operation is hawking what may be some of Santa Barbara’s best seafood tacos.

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The owner of East Beach Tacos, Mike Anderson, didn’t initially set out to become a batting cage taco proprietor. Originally hailing from Ojai, Anderson spent a formative period of his life in Santa Monica, surfing during the day and going out at night. During those excursions, he often fueled up at a tiny walk-up window, located on Lincoln Boulevard, bearing no-frills, delicious Mexican food. 

The exterior of East Beach Tacos in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Feb. 26, 2026.

An arrangement of tacos including the banh mi and fish taco at East Beach Tacos in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Feb. 26, 2026.

The menu at East Beach Tacos in Santa Barbara,........

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