A Santa Barbara staple is expanding its reach. Mony’s Taqueria, which is beloved in its original Funk Zone location for its homestyle Mexican cooking, has opened a new location in UC Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) University Center (UCEN), providing students, staff, and visitors with the same tasty flavors that have made them a local favorite.
Founded by Monica “Mony” Diaz, a native of Colima, Mexico, Mony’s originally began as a food truck before opening its iconic Anacapa Street location in 2013. It has since become a local treasure, known for its authentic flavors, friendly service, and homestyle Mexican cooking.
The expansion to the UCEN came about after UCSB approached the restaurant. “[We] thought it would be a great opportunity to be involved within the UCSB community and surrounding Goleta area,” said Carlos Diaz, owner of Mony's and son of Mony Diaz.