The food, service and ambiance are superb. Ironically we were going to another taco place but it…read morewas closed today. My husband and I were delighted to experience such a clean, fresh restaurant. The prices are right as well. Highly recommend!

Los Agaves On De Lavina St. -- A Rare Review from Someone Who Hates Writing Reviews…read moreI spent 25 years owning a business. I know what good service looks like, and I know what entitled looks like. I never write reviews -- I watched Yelp destroy good people over bad nights, and I swore I'd stay out of it. Tonight changed that. I sat at the bar. It took the bartender over five minutes to acknowledge I existed. Another five to ten to deliver a Coke. I ordered dinner and waited forty minutes -- which I might have forgiven, except getting his attention was nearly impossible the entire night. No eye contact. Body language that made clear I was an inconvenience, not a guest. Every interaction felt like I was interrupting something more important. When I finally got him to check on my order, he went to the computer and discovered he'd never placed it. I walked out. I noticed the people around me weren't faring much better. The slowness wasn't just my experience -- it was the room. Los Agaves appears to be a popular place, and maybe on another night with another bartender it earns that reputation. But entitlement has a way of spreading when nobody checks it. I hope management is paying attention -- because a beautiful restaurant dies one invisible guest at a time.

Back to table service! Yay!!!…read more Attractive and very clean restaurant with great service. Truly delicious Mexican food. I love pozole - Cc's rendition is top notch and comes with all the extras to put in the soup including avocado, chopped onion, a whole fried tortilla to break up into the broth and Mexican oregano (the small is more than enough for one hungry person or to share with two).Homemade chips come with a four salsa selection ranging substantially hot to a delicate tomatillo green. I tried my tablemate's tacos, all three varieties were very very good. I've had takeout from here, but it's really worth going in person because the food is nuanced and best when piping hot as it's made.

Corazón Cocina is located inside the Santa Barbara Public Market (food court like setting). Just a…read moreheads up, the parking lot is extremely tight, and finding a spot can be frustrating, especially during busy hours. This is a Michelin-recognized spot in 2021 and I came in with pretty high expectations. Unfortunately, the seasonal fish ceviche was a major letdown. The albacore tasted overly fishy and had a stringy texture. The combination of watermelon, cucumber, and avocado was creative and refreshing, but the fish itself was disappointing. We ended up picking around it and eventually threw away all of the albacore because we didn't feel comfortable eating it. Thankfully, the tacos were a completely different story. We ordered the skirt steak taco and the octopus taco, and both were fantastic. Great flavor, well-balanced, and easily the highlight of the meal. The other downside was the service. The guy taking the order was dismissive and turned away when we told him about the quality of their fish in their ceviche. Between the disappointing ceviche and lackluster service, it was the tacos that were the saving grace.

This place has one of the best happy hour deals, the food was amazing along with the complimentary…read morechips and salsa. We had Ruby as our server and she was so attentive and nice. The ambience of the place makes you feel like you're in someone's home. Definitely a must stop during your time in Santa Barbara.

Corazon Comedor is a vibrant cantina style Mexican eatery serving up food made with love and…read moreculture. This spot is located on State Street where there is street parking all around the area. Inside, they have a beautifully decorated interior with lots of seating. Wifey and I ended up getting the Carpintero Burrito, Enfrijoladas, and the Black Beans & Plantains. Everything hit the spot and it was a great meal to start us off for the day. All of the staff here are super friendly and welcoming. Definitely stop by if you are ever in the area!

Finally made it to La Super-Rica Taqueria, and it absolutely lived up to the hype! This Santa…read moreBarbara staple, made famous in part by Julia Child, had a line wrapped around the building--and after trying it, I completely understand why. We ordered the #3 tacos and the #16 Especial Plate. The #16 was the standout: steak, melted cheese, and those hatch/pasilla chiles were an incredible combination. What I loved most was how much it felt like a true local institution. The line was full of people who clearly knew and loved the place. If you're passing through Santa Barbara and see a long line, don't turn around--get in it. It's worth the wait! Definitely recommend!

I always leave with mixed feelings. Food is good but sometimes there's just too much cheese to…read moremeat/veggies. I finally brought all my kids here today and they enjoyed the food. Portions are hit and miss depending on what you order. For the 5 of us, we paid $98. There's usually a line but once you get to the window, they never rush you and are so kind. As always, remember cash only!!!

A Must-Visit in Santa Barbara If you're visiting Flor de…read moreMaiz, you absolutely cannot skip this place. We ordered the pulpo and the chicken mole, and both dishes were incredible. The pulpo was perfectly cooked--tender with a great char and packed with flavor. The chicken mole was rich, balanced, and deeply satisfying, with that classic complex mole flavor that keeps you going back for another bite. What really stood out, though, was the service. It was phenomenal from start to finish--attentive, friendly, and genuinely welcoming without ever feeling rushed. The staff clearly care about the experience they're giving guests. The food, the atmosphere, and the service all came together for a great meal. If you're in Santa Barbara, make sure this spot is on your list. Highly recommend.

We came in as a group of 14 for a reservation and the food itself was genuinely delicious -- the…read morefresh corn tortillas and ceviche were my favorites, and overall the flavors were great. That said, the service experience really brought things down. We arrived at 3:00 for our reservation but weren't seated until 3:20. Once we were seated, it took a while to get settled -- some guests in our own party were slow to get moving and had clearly had a lot to drink, so there was a strong smell of alcohol at our table for a bit, which added to the chaos of getting everyone situated. On top of that, the staff seemed overwhelmed the whole time. There was a fiesta event going on, so the whole restaurant was using plastic cups instead of glassware, which felt a little unfestive for a place at this price point. The music was also very loud, which made it even harder to flag anyone down for service. Despite it being clear the staff were short-staffed and stretched thin, no one offered any acknowledgment, apology, or gesture of care for the wait or the overall experience. The food quality (minus the steak) makes me want to come back, but the service needs real improvement, especially during busy events. The steak in particular didn't match its price -- it tasted more like a $35 steak than what we were charged.

First time at this awesome restaurant! Everything was so delicious and fresh here ! Right when we…read morewalked in , we felt the friendly , warm cheerful atmosphere ! We loved having the Ceviche Tostada and Arroyos Enchiladas, didn't even have leftovers because we finished it all , it was so good (and the portions were a good size!) thank you everyone at Los Arroyos!

This is a clean and nice Mexican restaurant off of state ave in Santa Barbara…read more The manager Anthony was so kind and friendly The food was sooooooo good and spicy sauces bar was great Next time I am in Santa Barbara I am definitely going to go back and enjoy this very nice and clean restaurant

We sat at the bar and Brian N. made our drinks and served us. 10/10 margarita & made special shots…read morefor our anniversary! Brian is super friendly, charismatic, and clearly very skilled as he whipped out tons of drink orders for all the tables too. The food was delicious and came out fast, very hot and fresh. We had attentive service, in a great restaurant atmosphere. This is one of our favorite restaurants in all Santa Barbara county.

Good, clean, and nice looking space with wonderful staff. (A tad overpriced)…read more Appetizer: ceviche tostada Main: mole plate And a fountain drink $68.

After a very disappointing meal the day before, I knew EXACTLY where I needed to go to redeem my…read moreexperience and I was absolutely blown away by Loquita. Every single dish was an absolute banger. The flavors, the textures, the ambience, and every single part was crafted so carefully. The pulpo was so tender it had me smacking the table and everyone around needed to order it bc "they'll have what he's having!". The paella was the gift that kept on giving and I was like a coal miner after his shift the way I left absolutely no grain of rice untouched by the end. The fish complete with ikura and citrus on top had every combination of refreshing but nourishing and delicious--I was absolutely spellbound. Finally, we enjoyed the creme brûlée and I wanted to cry. It was the perfect finish to one of my favorite meals of all time. I will be back so soon!!

Wife and I have enjoyed dining at Laquita in the past, but this time was disappointing overall…read more Pros: Food/waiter service was excellent even though it was an extremely busy Saturday night. Highly recommend reservations for any day. The crudo dish was great. Sauce and presentation was excellent. Cons: The fusion styled sauce and misc ingredients added to the beef carpaccio dish was over the top. Keep it simple. The Pulpo dish did not have a sufficient portion of octopus. Only two and half small pieces for $29. Ridiculous. Bar/cocktail service was an extremely long wait. All nearby tables also waited an extremely long time for drinks. Recommend adding another bartender on busy nights.