Chad's Photos
CHAD'S ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
More like Chad's
Recommended Reviews - Chad's
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
The line was so long when we arrived. They don't take names down, you stand in line and then wait til they have seating for your party. It was a 15-20 minute wait. Our server quickly brought out the complimentary little muffins! We ordered the harmony smoothie and it was pretty good. I ordered their California Burrito with fruit. The burrito was huge and the fruit was beautiful! Sometimes fruit cups have sad fruit, but this was so fresh! We also ordered the Huevos Rancheros and Santa Barbara Omelette. The staff were so friendly and routinely checked on us. Kinda pricey but good, solid meal.
We walked to breakfast one morning and the line was very long. However, the line moved at a good pace, they brought tater tots for everyone in line. They also had cucumber infused water and watermelon infused water. Once it started to sprinkle they brought out umbrellas. The food was good and the service was friendly. It was a busy loud place with lots of families.
This restaurant was the old Sambos. Such a cute little spot and has an ocean view from the patio. It does get crowded, but we were lucky to get there at about 8 AM before the crowd poured in. The inside is pretty cool. Love the orange booth seats. They also have pictures giving some of the history of Santa Barbara, which is really nice. The service was very good, even though they were shortstaffed. The food came out quickly. They started us off with a complementary basket of a variety of muffins. Since I am gluten-free, I could not have them, but my husband said they were very good, especially the pumpkin and chocolate chip mini muffins. My husband had oatmeal while I had scrambled eggs with spinach and onions and hashbrowns. They had gluten-free pancakes available so that was our breakfast dessert. They were so good you could not tell they were gluten-free. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
While visiting SB, we heard that this breakfast spot was the place to go! We stopped by on a Thursday morning around 8am and it was packed! We waited to get a table outside and it was perfect. Looking at the ocean and all the people, nice summer morning, We ordered a Mocha, fresh OJ, Corned Beef Hash and Chad's Huevos Rancheros with the tater tots, freaking delish! Everything was on point and as you would expect from a diner. Food came out in a timely manner, considering how busy they were and the staff very cool. Parking can be a challenge and they do have a lot, but fills up fast. If you are in town visiting or a local and have not been, get on over to get some delish breakfast!
Went out on a friend's weekend trip to Santa Barbra and we had to check out Chad's. We heard such great things and it was not a letdown. The atmosphere was great. We were seated really fast even even though it was packed, which is a good thing. The service was great friendly and the food was just spectacular big portions with lots of flavor. You don't get that everywhere we'll definitely have to come back next time. We're in the town.
We loved this place so much we went twice on our vacation. It is very well run and efficient. Both times my mom and I split the Pops combo which they put on separate plates for us which was such a nice touch. Everything was great, good coffee, good scrambled eggs, good pancake, but the star was the French toast. So many places overcomplicate French Toast and it doesn't need to be. If you want a classic and great French toast order it here!
Excellent place for breakfast Great speedy service and delicious food. The California Benedict was fresh and delicious. Our server Elliot was lovely I would give t a 10 if possible.
I've been coming to SB for vacation for 5 years and this was finally the trip that I got to try Chad's. I always saw how busy it was so I made my family wake up early to beat the spring break crowd. There were any tables available for 3 but luckily there were 3 spots at the counter. My toddler was thrilled with sitting at a "new" table. The staff was very kind to my toddler and even surprised her with some bunny ears since Easter was the following weekend. She was beyond excited. As for the food, I was having a hard time deciding but ended up getting the ahi tuna Benedict. My husband got a veggie omelet. He left no scraps. I loved the tuna. It was seared just right. I normally do not finish my plate but this time I did. My husband tried it and he enjoyed it as well and he doesn't like Benedicts. Next time were in town, I will be come back for the tuna.
We decided to give this place a shot because the reviews were glowing, but it turned out to be mid, as the younger kids would say While we waited, they offered some muffins that were so delicious, I almost considered moving in. Once seated, we started with the muffins, but unfortunately, that was the highlight of the breakfast. It was like the rest of the meal was just there to make the muffins look even better. The food had all the flavor of a cardboard box. The only thing that saved the day was the pancakes. We ordered the Q steak quesadilla, which was colder than my ex's heart, but we were hungry, so we just went for it. We also got some pancakes with eggs and ham, and the ham was so mediocre, it tasted like it had been living in the fridge since the dawn of time. The service was friendly and quick, which was a blessing because if I had to wait any longer, I might have started gnawing on the table. I wouldn't wait over 30 minutes to eat there. It's definitely not worth the wait, unless you're really, really hungry and have nothing better to do than stare at the menu.
Chad's is an absolute must when going to Santa Barbara! We stopped here for breakfast before making our drive back home to the IE. Even though it looked busy, we only waited for about 3-5min before being seated. The outdoor seated was pretty packed, but there's a lot of tables inside that were available. Of course like us, most wanted to sit outdoor. It was such a beautiful day! We started off with in-house made muffins that came out warm with a side of butter. This was a first, I've never had free muffins! It came with mini chocolate and blueberry muffins. I ate most of them lol. For breakfast I got the corned beef hash Benedict, which I ate the entire thing! I love how much spinach was on it. I also ordered a hazelnut cold brew, delicious! My husband got corned beef hash with extra crispy hash browns. He was a bit skeptical because of the type of corned beef they used, shredded (like in the can which he prefers) vs larger pieces. When our server said it was the bigger pieces he wasn't sure if he was going to like it, but again another plate wiped clean! My mom got the Belgian waffle with fruit to top. She was very happy with the SIZE of her fruit bowl. Another plate finished! Overall very happy with our experience here. We will definitely be back during our next trip to SB!
What a beautiful diner right across the street from the beach! The food was fresh and the presentation was impressive. We went around 7am on a Saturday so it wasn't too busy but they do have a small parking lot in the back and if you want pleasant outdoor seating, I'd recommend arriving earlier in the day.
Chad's in Santa Barbara was such a great experience. The food was really good, the service was awesome, and the views made it even better. It's the kind of place where you can just relax and enjoy the atmosphere while eating. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and they were delicious--super flavorful and a perfect breakfast while enjoying the ocean view. Everything tasted fresh and well made. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome. Between the great service, good food, and beautiful scenery, it's definitely a spot I'd come back to when I'm in Santa Barbara. If you're looking for a solid breakfast with a view, this place is worth checking out.
Love this place! We saw it as we were riding bikes along the beach and decided to try it. Great service- friendly staff and food came out in a timely manner. Food was delicious. I ordered the ahi tuna english muffin with Hollandaise sauce and eggs on top. It was a good amount of food and very flavorful! My husband ordered the egg breakfast with a side of chicken sausage and pancakes. Also, delicious. They also give you mini muffins as a starter. Two of them were made from pancake batter- fantastic! Highly recommend.
1 day ago
I came here for an afternoon snack of onion rings. Just something to hold me over for a few hours until dinner. I love the batter of the onion rings were crumbly and not smooth. Everyone was really friendly here. read more
9 days ago
I stopped by Chad's in Santa Barbara, California, for breakfast. The line was pretty long when I arrived, but surprisingly, I was seated within about 10 minutes. I ordered the steak and eggs, which came with tater tots and pancakes. The steak was flavorful, and the eggs were cooked exactly the way I asked. But I have to give a special shout-out to the tater tots, they were amazing! They honestly reminded me of my childhood. I also tried the corned beef hash, which came with potatoes, eggs, and pancakes. The corned beef was pretty good and, most importantly, wasn't overly salty. The portion sizes for both meals were decent, and there was plenty of food. The customer service was great, and the restaurant was clean and welcoming. On top of that, you get a nice ocean view while you eat, which makes the experience even better. Overall, I really enjoyed Chad's. Good food, great customer service, decent portions, a clean restaurant, and a beautiful ocean view. I would absolutely return! read more
2 days ago
The line was so long when we arrived. They don't take names down, you stand in line and then wait til they have seating for your party. It was a 15-20 minute wait. Our server quickly brought out the complimentary little muffins! We ordered the harmony smoothie and it was pretty good. I ordered their California Burrito with fruit. The burrito was huge and the fruit was beautiful! Sometimes fruit cups have sad fruit, but this was so fresh! We also ordered the Huevos Rancheros and Santa Barbara Omelette. The staff were so friendly and routinely checked on us. Kinda pricey but good, solid meal. read more
1 day ago
We walked to breakfast one morning and the line was very long. However, the line moved at a good pace, they brought tater tots for everyone in line. They also had cucumber infused water and watermelon infused water. Once it started to sprinkle they brought out umbrellas. The food was good and the service was friendly. It was a busy loud place with lots of families. read more
This restaurant was the old Sambos. Such a cute little spot and has an ocean view from the patio. It does get crowded, but we were lucky to get there at about 8 AM before the crowd poured in. The inside is pretty cool. Love the orange booth seats. They also have pictures giving some of the history of Santa Barbara, which is really nice. The service was very good, even though they were shortstaffed. The food came out quickly. They started us off with a complementary basket of a variety of muffins. Since I am gluten-free, I could not have them, but my husband said they were very good, especially the pumpkin and chocolate chip mini muffins. My husband had oatmeal while I had scrambled eggs with spinach and onions and hashbrowns. They had gluten-free pancakes available so that was our breakfast dessert. They were so good you could not tell they were gluten-free. I would highly recommend this restaurant. read more
While visiting SB, we heard that this breakfast spot was the place to go! We stopped by on a Thursday morning around 8am and it was packed! We waited to get a table outside and it was perfect. Looking at the ocean and all the people, nice summer morning, We ordered a Mocha, fresh OJ, Corned Beef Hash and Chad's Huevos Rancheros with the tater tots, freaking delish! Everything was on point and as you would expect from a diner. Food came out in a timely manner, considering how busy they were and the staff very cool. Parking can be a challenge and they do have a lot, but fills up fast. If you are in town visiting or a local and have not been, get on over to get some delish breakfast! read more
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you so much for the awesome review! Sounds like you got the…
1 month ago
Went out on a friend's weekend trip to Santa Barbra and we had to check out Chad's. We heard such great things and it was not a letdown. The atmosphere was great. We were seated really fast even even though it was packed, which is a good thing. The service was great friendly and the food was just spectacular big portions with lots of flavor. You don't get that everywhere we'll definitely have to come back next time. We're in the town. read more
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you so much for the great review! We’re glad you chose Chad’s…
1 month ago
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you for your review. We're glad our team took good care of you…
We loved this place so much we went twice on our vacation. It is very well run and efficient. Both times my mom and I split the Pops combo which they put on separate plates for us which was such a nice touch. Everything was great, good coffee, good scrambled eggs, good pancake, but the star was the French toast. So many places overcomplicate French Toast and it doesn't need to be. If you want a classic and great French toast order it here! read more
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you so much for visiting us twice during your vacation! We’re…
2 months ago
Excellent place for breakfast Great speedy service and delicious food. The California Benedict was fresh and delicious. Our server Elliot was lovely I would give t a 10 if possible. read more
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re glad you enjoyed…
I've been coming to SB for vacation for 5 years and this was finally the trip that I got to try Chad's. I always saw how busy it was so I made my family wake up early to beat the spring break crowd. There were any tables available for 3 but luckily there were 3 spots at the counter. My toddler was thrilled with sitting at a "new" table. The staff was very kind to my toddler and even surprised her with some bunny ears since Easter was the following weekend. She was beyond excited. As for the food, I was having a hard time deciding but ended up getting the ahi tuna Benedict. My husband got a veggie omelet. He left no scraps. I loved the tuna. It was seared just right. I normally do not finish my plate but this time I did. My husband tried it and he enjoyed it as well and he doesn't like Benedicts. Next time were in town, I will be come back for the tuna. read more
5 months ago
We decided to give this place a shot because the reviews were glowing, but it turned out to be mid, as the younger kids would say While we waited, they offered some muffins that were so delicious, I almost considered moving in. Once seated, we started with the muffins, but unfortunately, that was the highlight of the breakfast. It was like the rest of the meal was just there to make the muffins look even better. The food had all the flavor of a cardboard box. The only thing that saved the day was the pancakes. We ordered the Q steak quesadilla, which was colder than my ex's heart, but we were hungry, so we just went for it. We also got some pancakes with eggs and ham, and the ham was so mediocre, it tasted like it had been living in the fridge since the dawn of time. The service was friendly and quick, which was a blessing because if I had to wait any longer, I might have started gnawing on the table. I wouldn't wait over 30 minutes to eat there. It's definitely not worth the wait, unless you're really, really hungry and have nothing better to do than stare at the menu. read more
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We always…
2 months ago
Chad's is an absolute must when going to Santa Barbara! We stopped here for breakfast before making our drive back home to the IE. Even though it looked busy, we only waited for about 3-5min before being seated. The outdoor seated was pretty packed, but there's a lot of tables inside that were available. Of course like us, most wanted to sit outdoor. It was such a beautiful day! We started off with in-house made muffins that came out warm with a side of butter. This was a first, I've never had free muffins! It came with mini chocolate and blueberry muffins. I ate most of them lol. For breakfast I got the corned beef hash Benedict, which I ate the entire thing! I love how much spinach was on it. I also ordered a hazelnut cold brew, delicious! My husband got corned beef hash with extra crispy hash browns. He was a bit skeptical because of the type of corned beef they used, shredded (like in the can which he prefers) vs larger pieces. When our server said it was the bigger pieces he wasn't sure if he was going to like it, but again another plate wiped clean! My mom got the Belgian waffle with fruit to top. She was very happy with the SIZE of her fruit bowl. Another plate finished! Overall very happy with our experience here. We will definitely be back during our next trip to SB! read more
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We love hearing that the…
29 days ago
Business owner information
Chad S.
We’re very sorry you had this experience. Everyone who walks through…
What a beautiful diner right across the street from the beach! The food was fresh and the presentation was impressive. We went around 7am on a Saturday so it wasn't too busy but they do have a small parking lot in the back and if you want pleasant outdoor seating, I'd recommend arriving earlier in the day. read more
Chad's in Santa Barbara was such a great experience. The food was really good, the service was awesome, and the views made it even better. It's the kind of place where you can just relax and enjoy the atmosphere while eating. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and they were delicious--super flavorful and a perfect breakfast while enjoying the ocean view. Everything tasted fresh and well made. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome. Between the great service, good food, and beautiful scenery, it's definitely a spot I'd come back to when I'm in Santa Barbara. If you're looking for a solid breakfast with a view, this place is worth checking out. read more
10 days ago
Love this place! We saw it as we were riding bikes along the beach and decided to try it. Great service- friendly staff and food came out in a timely manner. Food was delicious. I ordered the ahi tuna english muffin with Hollandaise sauce and eggs on top. It was a good amount of food and very flavorful! My husband ordered the egg breakfast with a side of chicken sausage and pancakes. Also, delicious. They also give you mini muffins as a starter. Two of them were made from pancake batter- fantastic! Highly recommend. read more
1 month ago
Visited this place when me and my sister came from the LA area. It was so amazing from the service to my drink and food . Elliot was nothing but attentive . The ambiance was so cute . Will definitely return 10s across the board . read more
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you so much for the kind words! We're thrilled you and your…
1 month ago
My sisters and I really enjoyed our visit mid morning today Sunday 8/16/26 . 20 minutes wait, but worth it. Everything was delicious. I only ordered the Green smoothie but tasted my sisters pancakes, tots and chicken club. Our server was so kind. Can't remember his name, but he had curly hair. We will definitely be back. read more
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you for the great review! We're glad you and your sisters…
1 month ago
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you for this amazing and very entertaining review! We are so…
While on my birthday trip to Santa Barbara, I stopped at Chads for breakfast since I have heard Scott it through the grapevine. The service was amazing and I want to shout out James! He gave me free coffee and even gave me another cup to go! That's some of the best coffee I've had because I'm not usually a coffee person unless I'm traveling. I believe it's from Santa Barbara Roasting Company. I sat facing the ocean which was a lovely vibe. I had the Huevos Ranchos and it was DELICIOUS! Thank you! read more
1 year ago
This is a highly recommended place and appears to be very popular. We were a party of two & were able to find seating at the bar top area. The service was very busy so things came out when it was available. They did have to remake the steak as they did it well done before & we had ordered it med rare, they corrected it. The steak could have had more seasoning The eggs Benedict were tasty. The little muffins were the best part! The service was attentive, however on a busy day expect for things to be held up! read more
18 days ago
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I sincerely apologize for how…
Chad's *December 14th, 2025 *7am- Sunday *4 Stars Environment: *Indoor and Outdoor Seating *Walking Distance to Beach *Friendly Staff *Clean and Welcoming Environment Food/Drink: *Black Coffee *Pops Combo (eggs over medium) with sausage & waffle *Corned Beef Hash & Eggs (scrambled) with house potatoes & sourdough bread *Corned Beef Hash & Eggs (scrambled) with pancakes & hash browns *California Burrito with fruit Stopped by this last place for breakfast before heading home after the 24 hour trip to Solvang/SB area. The location of the place is great with large portion sizes. My group of four got the pops combo, corned beef hash & eggs, California burrito and a combination of the different sides. Overall everything was great, only thing we would note is that (1) the waffle could have been a bit crispier, (2) burrito had a little too much cheese for my taste, and (3) the sausage was a little bit too salty and oily for me. However, a nice surprise was the complimentary mini chocolate muffins provided. It was a thoughtful touch, though definitely on the sweeter side. The location is a big plus, sitting right along the beach with a great view. The restaurant itself felt clean and welcoming, and the staff was friendly. A solid breakfast spot, especially if you're looking to enjoy a relaxed meal by the ocean. read more
17 days ago
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you for the feedback. We’re sorry the hash browns and smoothie…
22 days ago
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you so much! We love hearing from longtime Santa Barbara…
11 months ago
My wife and I really enjoyed our last day brunch here. We were seated immediately. We had an awesome waiter named Ben. He was very attentive, gave wonderful suggestions and his tableside manners was warm and welcoming. My wife ordered the Floretine omelet with home potatoes and pancakes. I ordered the corned beef hash plate with bacon. We both ordered a mimosa flight. Ben was very accomodating with our flavor substitutions. Everything came out hot and delicious. We both loved all of what we ordered. Lastly, the place and the Halloween setup is to die for. They really outdid themselves and we enjoyed the vibe! read more
1 year ago
We were told this was a great place to try out when visiting Santa Barbara. We went around noon and it was packed with a line outside but because it was 4 of us, we were able to get in quick! Hosts were nice and the place felt like a diner / restaurant. We were greeted by Cole and he was friendly We ordered a club sandwich, chicken club, fire in the whole burrito and the California burrito. In addition, 3 Mimosa flights! Yum. We all enjoyed every bite and every sip. My California burrito tasted more like a good Mexican burrito at first then once I got half way through the eggs and bacon made an appearance. I watched everyone enjoy each bite of their meal and I would want to come back just to try each dish. The Mimosa flight was gooood. The flavors were: cranberry, grapefruit, mango and orange. My favorite were the grapefruit and mango. You gotta try it! The mini glasses were cute and the ratio of champagne to juice hit the spot for sure. I may just have to drive two hours and get more food read more
3 months ago
Business owner information
Chad S.
Hi Jessica,…
1 month ago
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We are happy to hear that…
8 months ago
We ordered the florentine omelette to go and it was DELICIOUS! Soooo tasty and portions were perfect for two people! So tasty and they even gave us the cute muffins to go as well and it almost tasted like little chocolate chip fluffy pancakes. Such a cute setting in the restaurant as well with an amazing view on the patio! And I think my favorite part was the service - the whole team were so friendly and so many were smiling - despite it being a busy Sunday morning brunch rush! Thank you team for such a wonderful brunch - will be planning to be back to try more on the menu read more
3 months ago
Business owner information
Chad S.
Bri, Thank you so much for the review. I hope you continue to have a…
2 months ago
If I could give a 6 I would. The food -the service was 100%. Plus a view of sterns wharf and the beach across the street. I had ham and egg scramble superb. The mimosas are giant. Best coffee ever. Local coffee roster read more
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you so much! We love hearing that you enjoyed everything from…
4 months ago
Business owner information
Chad S.
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed your…
2 months ago
Came for brunch today and never coming back again. We got seated right away but had to wait 30 minutes for someone to take our order. Food looked good but was super mid and cold. Poached eggs were pretty much hard boiled eggs. The ahi fish was also over cooked and cold. The huevos rancheros w/ chorizo also made us sick right after leaving the restaurant. Don't come here unless you're looking to have diarrhea and lose a couple pounds. We didn't ask for our food to be remade either because our waiter never checked back up on us. read more
Business owner information
Chad S.
We’re very sorry to hear about your experience. What you described is…
8 months ago
3.9 stars? I don't think that's fair. Don't know what people are complaining about but our experience here was fantastic. Ordered the corn beef hash and split it with the little woman. The meal came with these little tiny muffins, half a basket of blueberry and the other half chocolate. Excellent little complementary starter. Beautiful atmosphere, hard to beat. Have a little patience because the line is long and the space is tight. The servers were excellent and frequently passed through to help with any needs. Definitely will come back and revisit when we're in town. read more
Page 1 of 48
More info about Chad's
216 W Cabrillo Blvd
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Directions
(805) 965-3269
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.chadscafe.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
Chad's Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Chad's
Do they have bottomless mimosas?
They are known for their flight of mimosas. I do not think they do bottomless ones.
Do they deliver or have take out options?
We do take out, but no delivery. We are open from 7:00 am to 2:30 pm. Thanks for thinking of Chads. Chad owner
Do you serve gluten-free pancakes French toast or waffles or gluten-free bread/toast?
Yes, in fact our server felt the gluten free pancakes were better than the regular pancakes!
When did Sambo's change it's name to Chad's?
My grandfather Sam Battistone and his partner Newell Bonnet open Sambos in 1957. My wife and I purchased the business in 1994 and wanted to keep it as the first and last Sambos. But with current political environment it was time to change the…
Do you allow dogs on the patio?
When I visited, I saw multiple groups that had dogs. They have a pretty large outdoor seating area where dogs can join the party.
Are you open at 7 or really 7:30? When we went there at 7 we could not even get seated by 7:35. The 2 hostesses said the servers were not ready yet?
We open at 7:00. We had some issue with a cook not showing up on time and we are currently having a labor shortage. We are doing our best to keep open at our scheduled hours but sometime we make mistakes. I apologize that our team was not ready…
Does anyone know the recipe for Sambo's hash browns? I've spent years tying to reproduce them without success. Sure wish they'd re-open here.
I am unsure what recipes we used in the past, but we use shredded fresh potatoes and cook them on about med heat on the grill (you could use a pan). We then put butter on the top and a little salt and pepper. Hope to see you in Santa Barbara…
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
97 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
7 years ago
3 years ago
11 years ago
11 years ago
14 years ago
5 years ago
10 years ago
6 years ago
8 months ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
16 years ago
10 years ago
5 years ago
11 years ago
11 years ago
12 years ago
9 years ago
