I went to just to check it out after going to the bank next door. I saw it was pricey and I know acai can be expensive but I wanted a treat. I felt the shop was nice and welcoming, it wasn't too loud and they partner with dune coffee roasters as well which is cool to see local partnership. Unfortunately I felt the açaí bowls were too expensive for my first visit - so I tried an acai smoothie instead. the smoothie was good! I had it right before work and thought it was a great cool treat. it was a great size and had some pollen on top or some kind of topping like acai does if you choose it (I usually do). I might find the time to treat myself to an actual bowl but I'll maybe come again for a smoothie. would be awesome to earn some kind of rewards or discount as a student or frequent visitor! read more

I ordered a blue moon smoothie, it's not too sweet. The smoothie is on the pricier side. Overall it has good taste and it was blended pretty good I wasn't drinking chunks. I didn't have to wait long for my smoothie to be made. The interior was pretty basic, they also had outdoor seating. read more

Backyard Bowls - Blue Moon Smoothie - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

Great açaí bowl. Got the large island bowl to split among two for a light breakfast. Fruits were sweet and fresh and the drizzle of honey on top was delicious. Mostly outdoor seating. There wasn't too much of a wait on a sat morning. read more

Backyard Bowls - Island Bowl, regular 24 oz - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

While I luv their bowls, the service is terrible. I ordered one small bowl, and 20 minutes+ later, it still was not easy. When I went to the counter to inquire, the young staff looked more confused than I was and seems lost, both times ding my order and to express any acknowledgement that anything might be wrong. Maybe saturdays don't staff a manager? read more

So good! Everything is always so fresh and it is truly one of the better acai bowls I've had. The staff are super friendly and everything my friends and I had was always delicious. read more

I love açaí bowls and Backyard Bowls is such a perfect spot to enjoy them. They have a great selection of options and their ingredients always taste fresh. My favorite choice is the island bowl with peanut butter on top- sooo good! I really enjoy the Goleta location for dining in. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Plus the parking is super easy. The staff always seem to be in a good mood. I recently enjoyed hanging here for a bit and did some work on my laptop, though they do not have wi-fi. read more

Backyard Bowls - Small island bowl add peanut butter - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

This place is great for a healthy breakfast. I had a banana blueberry bowl, so good. Staff is super friendly. There are a few tables outside on the shared patio. read more

Their mermaid smoothie has no consistency. Every time I pick up from this location the color is too light as if they barely put any pitaya or blue spirulina. The picture below is how it's supposed to look like read more

Backyard Bowls - NEW Mermaid Smoothie - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

i love backyard bowls! another classic locals adore. if you get any açaí bowl, i recommend adding bee pollen if it didn't already come with it, it makes it so much more flavorful and delicious. but yeah come here, all the bowls are delicious. it's pretty pricey but perfect for a special treat! read more

Stopped by here for a light and refreshing lunch while in Santa Barbara for a few days to move in! Backyard Bowls is my go-to for high quality acai bowls in the SB area. The restaurant is cute with some outside and indoor seating! I love their unique wooden log tables. The menu is pretty extensive, with acai bowls, oatmeal bowls (until 11am), smoothies, and toasts. There are options for gluten free granola, add ons, protein, etc. sizes range from small to large, with the exception of the Santa Barbara bowl that is only offered in large. We ordered the Power Bowl (regular) and the Berry Bowl (large) to share amongst three people. I loved my Berry Bowl, the base tasted so bright and refreshing and it came with a plethora or strawberry, banana, blueberry, and granola! The Power Bowl came with crushed nuts, banana, granola, and blueberry. I was not as big of a fan because the peanut butter flavor was extremely prominent in the base, but my brother loved it! Service was friendly. Overall- the most solid acai bowl place in the Santa Barbara area. read more

Backyard Bowls - Berry Bowl, large 32 oz Power Bowl, regular 24 oz - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

Horrible customer service at the downtown Santa Barbara location. We order two bowls - Berry Bowl and Island Bowl - to go, with no customizations. It took 35 minutes to get our order, while several people who ordered after us got theirs within 5-8 minutes. We asked 3 times what was taking so long, and then just kept saying, "Yours is coming up." Never again, and never again will I tip before receiving my meal. read more

My go-to spot for açaí bowls throughout my undergrad! I tend to go for bowls with a plant based milk like hemp or coconut rather than juice because the milks make the base creamier. Most of my orders have been the Santa Barbara bowl, which used to be called the Backyard bowl. It's pretty much the classic açaí bowl, but the toppings are loaded on! The bee pollen adds a fragrant, flowery element. Since it only comes in a large size (about 1.5 servings), I prefer splitting it with someone. When I didn't share and tried to finish the whole thing, I would be stuffed and cold; the regular size is a perfect portion! The Power bowl, formerly called the Gainz bowl, is delicious if you like peanut butter, but quite rich. I had trouble finishing the regular size because the peanut butter flavor was getting too much! The inside can be loud with the blenders roaring and whirring, so I'd snag a table outside if you're eating it there. Parking isn't an issue in the strip mall. If you have a physical stamp card, they'll still take it but won't give out new ones since their loyalty program is now through phone numbers. Overall, Backyard Bowls really hits, especially after a hike or workout! read more

Backyard Bowls - Santa Barbara Bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

Went to this place pre-COVID, and WOW! I'm a hardcore smoothie bowl aficionado and Backyard Bowls is definitely in the top tier. They give massive portions of granola and fruit, the base is just as smooth as a smoothie can be, and taking the whole bowl into account, it wasn't overly sweet or sour. The workers are also super sweet; they coached me through the deliberation process of picking a bowl and made sure I was happy with my order. Very enthusiastic, efficient service! Only took a few minutes to get our bowls. The inside is also decorated in a super cute way, it's giving me all kinds of inspiration with the shiny wooden tables and succulents everywhere. The location is also prime for a post-grocery-shopping pick me up, with lots of parking outside. I can't wait to be back for more icy goodness! read more

Backyard Bowls - Island Bowl in the front, with two Berry Bowls in the back - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

Ug, I hate to write this review since I am generally a fan of the Backyard Bowls franchise. I will say that I prefer it over their biggest competitor, Blenders in the Grass. However, Oakberry inside Paseo Nuevo truly takes the crown when it comes to açaí bowls. Based on my Yelp Check-Ins, I have been to this Goleta location three times; I even became the "Duke" today. These visits have allowed me to have a decent idea of some things they could improve upon: - My largest complaint is inconsistency. The past two times I have requested to not add certain items to my bowl. For instance, this morning I had the Spartan Muesli with the ask of skipping the goji berries, coconut flakes and almonds. After arriving home with my take-out and taking off the cover, I then realized it had all the above... The order was typed in as 'with' instead of 'without,' even though it normally comes with those items?! (Image attached). The previous time they still put almonds when I requested it without for the Power Bowl. I unfortunately have an odd intolerance to almonds so I try to scoop them out. For the price and being a place with the goal of being healthier and open to various dietary limitations it is disappointing. - Their bowl options are MASSIVE. I'm a 5'8" male and I can't finish their Regular size açaí or porridge bowl. Why they don't have a children's size? The "Small 16 oz" bowl (again still too large) is only available in the Island, Berry and Power Bowls. - They claim to be sustainable on their website, yet the American portion-sized bowls cause a lot of waste. Not to mention, the bowl is paper, but the spoon appears to still be made of plastic. Correct me if I'm wrong... - While the staff is often very busy and courteous, they tend to be young college age employees who don't seem to really care about their work. Sadly, it isn't just this business that has this issue given that finding staff can be tough so I tread on this lightly. All in all, I want to like Backyard Bowls but the inconsistency is too common. Hopefully this review with constructive feedback will be read by management so when a visit down the road I can remedy it with an improved rating. (P/S: I am not asking for anything of value in return, just that changes are made). read more

Backyard Bowls - Berry Bowl, regular 24 oz with bee pollen - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

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Nice staff. Great options, fast service. I wish they had chia pudding, and a more visual menu but otherwise great spot read more

very tasty yogurt without added sugar, all products are fresh, fruits are delicious. great idea for a healthy breakfast or snack. I like the concept of this place read more

Backyard Bowls - a bowl of fruit salad with strawberries, bananas, and blueberries - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

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Backyard Bowls is very fresh and refreshing, if you're that's what you're looking for. Ordered: Island Bowl + Berry Bowl which were both $9.95 each. Next time I would definitely change the base of the Island bowl from the coconut mylk base to an apple juice base. The Regular size is plenty enough for just one person. The Large would be prefect to share for two. Plus, a large costs about $12. They do have an small outside patio area to sit down and eat at. read more

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Today I used my $10 birthday reward which was nice. I love the island bowl. I have been coming to Backyard bowls since they opened and I like sticking to the island bowl. I think I have strayed a tad from this order and wasn't pleased. They have a lot of healthy foods here. I especially loved coming here when I lived within walking distance. The ambiance is clean and well decorated. There is not a lot of decorations which makes the small local look bigger. read more

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Hi, my name is Kara and I'm a Backyard fact... Seriously though when I think of what I prefer to eat most of all this is in my top 3 to 5 choices of all food for miles around... So glad to have multiple locations and that this business is still going strong through Covid... I've had no real quality issues and I really appreciate the excellent ability to now finally add and change and substitute items because I've had a problem with the bananas forever being always a part of the blend and it's such a blissful feeling to be able to check a box now and not have to be the only one... yayyyyy love it!!! Great to be able to customize and aside from the obvious sort of necessary and included with change price increase, I understand and can accept the slightly higher costs in comparison to a few other local spots that try hard but still are beat out by your size and generous portions and well cut strawberries etc. as you all have been doing it for longer and just have it down. Always a pleasure to do business with you and look forward to coming into the store however my deliveries have been on point the last number of times and almost every other food I get has mistakes so thank you for being so attentive to your own substitution list and addition choices... because other places can't even seem to get my basic order correct! Keep up the good work and I'll be a customer for life...5stars! read more

On the one hand I really like this place but I've had issues at both the La Cumbre and Goleta locations with the avocado toast - for some reason the food preppers dump an absurd quantity of salt on top of the avocado (and it was a skimpy quantity of avo for $11) Normally it's good but 3 or 4 times it's been inedible due to the salt. I should remember to request no added salt but it's not something I'd normally think about with avo toast. The watermelon radish was oddly dried out and much thicker than usual. Lastly I ordered but did not receive an island bowl to be eaten on site. Looks like maybe a Santa Barbara bowl? And everything packed to go. read more

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I was staying at the Kimpton Goodland right next door to this complex. We were visiting for a wedding and not necessarily looking to have indulgent meals while traveling. Enter Backyard Bowls! From the hotel, it's a five minute walk. I ordered the island bowl and added peanut butter for protein, and my boyfriend ordered the power bowl. We both really loved what we got. The good news is that the bowls are pretty big--we were expecting something a lot smaller. That being said, I could only finish half my bowl so I wish there was a smaller size offered. I guess that is a good problem to have, especially in a pricey/expensive area like Santa Barbara! We actually stopped by after an early morning hike by the beach and it really hit the spot. We appreciated the light meal in advance of a long day of eating/drinking/dancing. read more

Backyard Bowls - Power bowl and Island Bowl (with peanut butter added) - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

By far the best açaí bowls in the Santa Barbara area! There's something about the bowls and how they hold the perfect amount of sweetest! Their portion sizes are also great! I recommend getting a small unless you can eat a lot (then get a large)! Definitely worth the price! read more

Backyard Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

So yummy. I had the avocado toast here and it was sooo good. Very simple but delicious. Acai tastes fresh and healthy, too. Only thing is that there isn't a lot of seating and the outdoor seating can be a little cold. read more

YUM! Okay, so I bookmarked Backyard Bowls years ago, perhaps before they expanded?!? But I hadn't made it back to Santa Barbara so I had to wait. And wait. Sigh. Finally, we come for a visit back to UCSB and I get to stop in for our breakfast. It was a foggy, cold morning so unfortunately I couldn't sample one of the amazing bowls I'd been craving. So sad! Daughter ordered one though - the Island Bowl. It was enormous so she shared a few bites with me. Happiness restored! ;-) My tastes of her bowl we're delicious; I would've loved a whole bowl. I opted for the Backyard Oatmeal (also known as Mama's Oatmeal in some stores, I think). The warmth of this meal hit the spot. It was tasty and filling. A generous, creamy bowl of hearty oats! Hubby got he avocado toast. Looked small compared to our meals, but he was satisfied! Lost a star for the the tiny amount of indoor seating. Too cold to sit at the table outside, but the strip mall vibe wouldn't have been especially interesting. read more

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Oh my goodness I had the most amazing PB&J bowl from here! They use steel cut oats and it was so yummy. This protein/carb/fat perfectly balanced bowl kept me full for 7 hours!! And the taste was to die for. I did order on the app at 8, said it would be ready at 8:20, it was finished at 8:35. I didn't mind, I'm in no rush. But for someone in a rush, just something to keep in mind. It's so worth it though! I'll definitely be back! read more

Backyard Bowls - PB and J oatmeal with strawberries - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

Stopped by when driving home for an açaí bowl. Clean and welcoming. Friendly helpful staff. Various sizes available- the large is huge!! Plenty of choices- generous portions; yummy deliciousness- a few tables indoors and outside as well. Large free parking lot. Would definitely return. read more

Backyard Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

Delicious food and great service! beautiful display of the avocado toast. I got everything on it to get the full potential and it was yum. The smoothies interested me bc they contained ashwagandha, which has numerous health benefits. Will definitely be visiting again with others! read more

Backyard Bowls - Avocado Toast Blueberry Fields Smoothie Power Bowl, regular 24 oz - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

Really great food and service. Avocado toast and Island bowl are standouts. Catherine always has a good attitude and greats me whenever I come in read more

Backyard Bowls - Avocado egg toast - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

Yum! Great serving size but I wish their take out containers were shorter and wider because the tall cylindrical container makes it hard to eat the toppings with the açaí without making a mess. I recently ordered the Santa Barbara Bowl and I loved the fresh honey, banana, blueberries, and strawberries. All in all, the bowls are delicious and I will definitely be returning for some refreshing açaí bowls! read more

Backyard Bowls - Santa Barbara Bowl (32 oz. Only) - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

I had been driving for 3.5 hours and did not have anything to eat! I was early for my meeting so I stopped in at Backyard Bowls around 9:45 AM and ordered a Berry Bowl ($8.95). There were people sitting outside with their dogs. I placed my order and got my acai bowl within a few minutes. The young man asked if I wanted honey on top and I said "sure". I omitted the goji berries from my bowl. I thought the consistency of the acai was nice (not too thick or too runny) and it wasn't too sweet either. Overall, it sure saved me from the possibility of being "hangry" or passing out before I had to conduct training for a group of people. LOL While I was eating my bowl inside, I noticed they allowed dogs inside. A large black poodle made its way inside while his owner ordered. Dog-friendly places are always a plus in my book. I would be back if in the area again. 66/100 Reviews 2017 read more

Backyard Bowls - Berry - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

I live next door to this backyard bowls. I've visited about 40 times since the beginning of work from home due to Covid. I order online. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. They're AT LEAST 30 minutes late with my order. It was fine when I was working from home so they can make me late for anything, now even when I order the night before, I know I'm not going to get it in time for them to not make me late for work. They used to be my go to for breakfast, after this latest experience I realized I had no idea why I was still coming here. If you have a lot of time to wait and you're just chilling with friends for an hour or two, this is a great place to come, otherwise you'll probably want to go somewhere else. read more

Always the go to place when in SB! The best bowls in town, hands down! Island Bowl or Protein Bowl!

Terrible service. Young college students working here with poor communication skills. Have customers waiting over 20 mins for a smoothie. (Not during a rush hour-- which would be understandable for a wait). You can get something similar at Blenders across the street for less money. Thought I would give the smoothie a try, it's very watery. read more

Backyard Bowls - Rose Glow Smoothie - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

They have the absolute slowest service ever. Why does it take over 20 minutes to make a smoothie?! read more

This is where I had my first açaí bowl years and years ago and it's still one of my top choices years later! I always get the berry bowl in small. Their fruits are always fresh and they add tons of honey!! read more

Backyard Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

Hands down best açaí bowls in the area. We tried the gainz bowl and the avocado toast. Shared with 2 people this was a very filling and healthy breakfast. We got the large açaí bowl that was too big to finish I would say you could share the regular size with 2 people. We will be back when we are in the area! read more

Backyard Bowls - Gainz bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

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The best Açaí Bowls in Santa Barbara ~ my only complaint is I wish they had more locations!

I love acai bowls and this place specializes in acai bowls. I needed a healthy pick-me-upper after eating so poorly the last couple of weeks and this fast meal option was the way to go, especially since everything is fresh and healthy. They sure know how to make everything look so pretty too=D In terms of sizing, if you're looking for a full hearty portion then get the regular. But if you're looking for something light and portion controlled, I thought the kids size was more than enough. My favorite bowl here is their Island Bowl. I love coconut shavings and if you do too, then definitely order this one. Second best alternative would be their Berry Bowl if you're not a coconut fan. read more

Backyard Bowls - Top to Bottom - Island Bowl And Berry Bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

Absolutely delicious! I got the GREEN BOWL: Spinach, Kale, Lime, Ginger, Acia, Banana, I substituted the apple juice for coconut milk! This made for a perfectly smooth base! Great texture, extremely satisfied with the consistency! Anyone who has veggies blended (especially kale) understands how chalky & wrong this can go! Middle layer: Granola Toppings: Half blueberry, quarter strawberry, quarter banana, honey drizzle. BOMB! Huge portion the small is most definitely enough as a mild snack for two! Enough for a meal substitute for one. Super friendly staff, helped me modify my bowl so it wasn't too sweet! Will defiantly be back when in Santa Barbra. Good job HR! Kudos to the gentleman at the register & and the sweet chick with the septum piercing & rad tattoo on her ankle! read more

Backyard Bowls - Green Bowl! Perfectly layered, dive your spoon right on down to the bottom and scoop! - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Goleta, California

Pretty good spot, their bowls are always super tasty (personal favorite is the warrior bowl) I started ordering pick up from here during the pandemic and they've always had my order ready by the time I go there. Staff is always friendly whenever I walk in Highly recommend if you haven't tried it out read more