This place is absolutely terrific! It is so fantastic to find somewhere near the water that is fun and has reasonable prices! Not to mention that each of the dishes we ordered was amazing! We went right at the end of the day for their opening hours and yet, they were super happy to serve us and there was no shortage of items available. We tried several different things just to check out their menu and they were all yummy. Highly highly recommend the truffle fries! This is somewhere I will definitely go back. Very often! read more

Highly recommend their sushi sando -- the star of the menu. And lemon mint lychee was very refreshing. Shrimp po'boy was pretty simple taste profile and too greasy for me to finish. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Sushi sando (top left), shrimp poboy (bottom), taco (top right) - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

So happy we found something close to the water that wasn't all seafood and that my husband could enjoy. He is not a big seafood guy, and when you're by the water, it feels like every restaurant usually specializes in seafood. Happy Cat Eats had a chicken sandwich that looked really appealing to him. After we got our food from the wharf, we drove over and sat at their outdoor tables while we waited for his order. The chicken sandwich was DELICIOUS. I actually liked it a little more than my own food and almost traded with him. Too bad he doesn't like clam chowder! The onion rings he ordered were just as good. The tempura batter was a 10/10. It wasn't oily at all, which is the key to a good tempura fry. We loved the weather, and all the tables had cover, which made it even better. It was a beautiful day made even better by their food. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A waterfront location that serves a little bit of everything from breakfast, lunch to drinks and happy hour. This was my first stop of the morning and I was hungry and didn't want to wait too long anywhere else. Therefore, I stumbled upon this cafe which was not crowded. Their menu is diverse, they include dessert, lunch, alcoholic drinks, etc. I ordered the breakfast burrito with sausage: W/GRILLED POTATOES, MAC & CHEESE, SCRAMBLED EGG & SAUSAGE Very flavorful, unique and the mac & cheese was a new one to me. A high carb burrito to get me going while I continued to explore downtown SB. 5/5 I also ordered an orange juice, really delicious and fresh. 5/5 loved it. I sat facing the beach and it was very relaxing. I enjoyed my breakfast here and overall a nice experience. read more

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We stopped here for breakfast while visiting Santa Barbara and honestly really liked the place. The location is great, and the ocean view makes the whole atmosphere very relaxing. I had the tacos, my BF got the breakfast burrito, and both were really good. Everything tasted fresh and simple in a good way. The only thing I didn't love was the seating -- the chairs weren't very comfortable if you want to sit and stay there for a while. But overall it was a really nice breakfast spot, and I'd definitely come back. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Cappuccino - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Coffee shop and bites along the beach. Stunning views, decent amount of seating considering location and how popular they are. It's a convenient and cute spot to stop at if you're having a hankering for food and enjoy a touristy area. Despite the long line, the staff works quickly to take and driver orders in a timely manner. Also what a CUTE NAME! read more

Happy Cat Eats - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

*Rating this experience with a child & grandparent* This spot was recommended to us by the lovely people at the Santa Barbara Visitor Center. We learned that this casual, beachside walk-up restaurant is the sister concept to the upscale restaurant of Oku, a sushi restaurant. Menus are different but has the same owner, so it has a similar concept and plays with flavors of umami well. We ordered the chicken bao tacos, Chinese chicken salad, and a kids meal hot dog. We really enjoyed those tacos! I loved the Asian flare of the chicken, and that it was served in a bao. The salad was big in portion and tasted fresh. A good way to get some crunchy greens in! The kids meal hot dog was, well, a hot dog! I appreciated that they had a kids meal. We loved the causal vibe of this place. Right by the ocean, sand as part of their decor, and open seating concept. Will come back here for another visit! read more

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Amazing!! Such a creative menu! Ordered to go and it was ready in 15 minutes. When the bag was handed to me I couldn't believe how heavy it was for two $13 breakfast burritos! Wow! Bigger then a remote and thicker then an arm! These burritos were stuffed with egg, carnitas, potatoes, and... Mac'n'cheese! Like a really creamy cheesy Mac! The tortilla is perfect and grilled to a nice crisp. Top it with the green sauce and it's killer! One burrito feed 4 big appetites!! We have a whole burrito for another day!!! read more

Happy Cat Eats - Bfast burrito - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

You can't beat sitting near the beach with good food during a nice warm Santa Barbara day. I love the outdoor seating and how you get a beautiful view of the coastline. The shrimp po boy was somewhat small but without enough shrimp for every bite. It was perfectly fried, not overcooked. The slaw was fresh and the sauce helped punch up the flavor. The lychee lemonade was refreshing, a bit sweet so I definitely recommend getting the version with alcohol. The cinnamon roll was tasty and soft. Great frosting. They have a great menu filled with street food. There is a lot of variety, I can't wait to come back. Parking is tricky. I ended up walking over from the Funk Zone. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Shrimp po boy, lychee lemonade, cinnamon roll - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Happy Cat is right on Cabrillo, across the road from the beach. You walk up and order your food and they deliver it to your table. It's all outside dining. The employees were very friendly and helpful. Great service!! I had the Now Burger and my wife had the fish tacos. The fish tacos were some of the finest that I have ever eaten. Large piece of perfectly cooked fish and plenty of very flavorful slaw. The hamburger was huge with a double smashed patties. It was fabulous. The fries were extra but they were incredible. Overall, it was a great meal. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Wow burger - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Interesting little spot for a quick bite! All seating is outdoors but right across from the beach so there is a nice beach breeze. Had the Wagyu burger and it was very decent, brioche bun and the Wagyu was good, not great but good. Guava/Green Tea iced was good just a bit acidic so be aware of you're sensitive, as it gave me a little twist on my stomach because I'm a bit sensitive to acidic drinks. Good and quick service was a big plus! read more

Happy Cat Eats - Order then sit down - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We just arrived. Ordered food. Weather and the view are beautiful. So far the service is great. Staff is polite and very welcoming. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Everyday happy hour 4-6PM - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

What went well---EVERYTHING! I can't say enough about how great it is to eat right on the main beach walk. Great views and patio. The person at the service window was really friendly and suggested I get a box because the burrito is really big. I've never had a Mac and cheese burrito before and it was fantastic. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Mac and cheese breakfast burrito with pork belly. NA BEER - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Just got fish and chips to go! Absolutely amazing!! Perfect crisp! Great tartar sauce! Coffee was excellent as well, and seemed very reasonable!! Super nice people as well! read more

Happy Cat Eats - Fish and chips, asked for extra crispy and got it! - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Happy Eats Cafe is centered around outdoor dining. You walk up to a register, order, and find a seat while you wait with your number. They had lots of yummy items to choose from. We got two of the sushi sandos. SUPER good. I would come back to try other things! It was very nice, right by the water. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Sushi Sando - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My wife and I ordered the Chinese Chicken Salad and the Sushi Sando and split both, which worked out perfectly. After reading that the Sando was shareable, I definitely agree because I don't think I could have finished it on my own. The salad was great, with perfectly crispy wonton strips, tender/flavorful chicken and a really good dressing. The Sushi Sando was super unique and unlike anything I've had before. Crispy rice as the "bun" with crab meat, tuna, and seaweed salad inside made for such a fun and delicious combination. Both dishes were light and refreshing. My 5-year-old had the hot dog and it was surprisingly high quality and a really good size. It was served on a Hawaiian roll with a great-quality dog, and since he's pretty picky, the fact that he ate the whole thing says a lot. Overall, it was a great experience. The ocean is right across the street, so the view is a huge bonus, and we also really appreciated how clean the restrooms were. Note: You order at a window and the servers bring your food to you. There's a free 75-minute parking lot down the alley, or you can try parking across the street. read more

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Nice little spot! You order before choosing your seat, however there is no menu at the ordering window so best to memorize what you want or walk up with the menu. The main reason I came was for a cinnamon roll. I was one left in the window display. When we ordered, the girl with the short pink hair said "sorry but we're all out". I paused and said "well what about the one right there?" And she goes "oh well yeah I guess we have that one. Is that fine?". Idk if she was trying to hold it for herself or what but that was a weird interaction. She wasn't rude but wasn't friendly either. We ordered: 1. cinnamon roll- rather meh! There was nothing that stood out about it. 2. gingerbread latte- didn't like this. It didn't taste like gingerbread at all and was very weak and froth heavy 3. sushi Sando - unique! It was pretty good but not great. The crispy rice's edges are sharp so that was a little unpleasant. The flavor was great . 4. crispy bao trio- our favorite! This had a great mix of textures and the chicken was perfectly sauced! A nice spot with potential but I don't think it's a must visit. If I come back, I'm just getting the bao tacos! read more

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Happy Cat Eats is great! My husband and I stopped by for lunch after visiting to Art Walk. He ordered a smash burger and I had the soy burger with cheese. We shared fries. Both enjoyed our meals. We sat outside and it was a beautiful day for it...a bit crowded. Service was good. You order at the window and they give you a number and bring the food to your table when it's ready. It's very casual, very efficient, a good place to grab a bite. read more

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We loved this wonderful waterfront restaurant and were pleasantly surprised to hear that Happy Cat Eats and Oku Restaurant have the same founders! The ambiance was absolutely stunning, the staff was friendly and attentive, this spot is budget friendly and we absolutely loved the variety of delicious bites and drinks! read more

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I've been here in the summer and spring. It gets pretty busy during lunch time during the summer but my group was able to get a table without a problem. The food came out quickly and was pretty good. My toddler enjoyed the acai bowl. That was one of the reasons I wanted to come back during my vacation recently. I ordered it online and I came on time. I saw there were 2 bowls there. Then someone took them and said it will be a few minutes. I was a little confused about the situation but I eventually got my order. The granola was definitely the star of the bowl. If you like cinnamon this was definitely packing in flavor. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Food was great : breakfast burrito and cinnamon roll. Shared it with my sister and it was plenty. The blueberry matcha was good as well. The service was kind of slow, but we weren't in a rush. Our friends didn't like their food, the tacos, no flavor even with added salsa. Overall, I'd go back, but wouldn't go out of my way read more

Happy Cat Eats - Cinnamon roll - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Looking for something light for dinner so we stopped by this outdoor eatery. Great menu, order at counter & pick a table. We ordered the Asian Chicken Salad & the Crispy Chicken Tempura salad - both different but delicious! Large portions, light salad dressing. Nice spot to people watch & enjoy a casual meal. Friendly staff too. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Crispy chicken tempura salad - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I stopped by Habitat Eatery to grab lunch for myself and a few coworkers, since it's close to my work and right across the street from the beach. The location is phenomenal--you really can't beat sitting on their outdoor patio with an ocean view. The setup is casual: you order at the counter, pay, and then find a seat while they bring your food out. The menu is fairly simple with a few unexpected items thrown in, but everything seems to work well together. I ordered four or five burgers with fries, and while the food was good (not the best I've ever had, but solid and different), the total came out to about $90. For a counter-service spot, that felt pretty steep. That being said, the staff was friendly, the place is clean and fairly new, and the location alone makes it worth checking out. While the prices might keep me from coming here all the time, it's convenient for me and I'll probably stop by again when I want something quick near the beach. read more

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Great food with a family friendly atmosphere. It's across the street from the beach. Easy to get seats even on a busy Memorial Day weekend dinner. Sushi sando was on point. Fries were great. Saw someone get the smash burger with the chili relleno and it looks fantastic. Staff were very nice as well. read more

Delicious food, stunnning beach views, and quick service. This small spot is a gem in SB. Located right across the street from the beach its the perfect place to stop for a quick bite. One thing to Note all items are sold separately. No fries included with burgers . If you're in the area this is a must try! read more

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Conveniently located on Cabrillo street right across the waterfront/beach. If you are hungry after a playful time in the ocean or on the beach, this is the perfect go-to place. I am a cat lover, so I naturally loved the cute "cat" name. The food blew our minds... super delicious fast food. 1. Truffle white gouda wagyu burger (5/5) The Wagyu beef was very flavorful and the mushroom adds a smokiness flavor to it. There wasn't a lot of truffle flavor when you eat it altogether as a burger, but you can taste it when you eat just the bun part; I think the bun soaked up the truffle oil(?). Overall, I wouldn't call it "truffle," as it was more of a mushroom wagyu burger. If you like mushrooms, this is one satisfying shroom burger. 2. Happy Cat Wagyu Burger (5/5) Double patty of perfectly cooked meat that's paired with caramelized, grilled onions in between 2 crispy, pillowy brioche buns. This burger came together in a harmony of flavor. Even better if you compliment it with a side of truffle fries 3. Cauliflower Bao Taco (5/5) The bao bun had a nice crisp on the outside from being lightly toasted on the grill, but yet, still maintained the soft, pillowy texture overall. The cauliflower was seasoned well with a sweet and sour chili/chipotle-like sauce. It is topped with fresh coleslaw that added a nice crunch to each bite. Super satisfying. 4. Earl Grey Matcha (3/5) Satisfies the matcha craving, but definitely wouldn't say this is the best matcha beverage I've had. The matcha is not very strong and the earl grey tea flavor was barely noticeable. I am glad they allowed adjustments to the sugar level. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Cauliflower Bao Tacos - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Pretty yummy, definitely high calorie food. We got the breakfast burrito, avocado toast, and cappuccino for $34. Great location and view!

super popular place in santa barbara definitely for a reason. the loaded carnitas fries are definitely a must try, the cheese is a little heavy but the avocado and carnitas definitely help balance it out. kinda big, good for sharing, and a good price as well. the breakfast burrito was absolutely amazing, the mac and cheese added a unique taste and it also is quite big, i would say share between 2 people. for the fries, i would reccomend sharing between 3 people. very easy to find seats no matter how busy it is, and although it isn't service to table, the food runners are still very helpful. overall had a great experience and can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu! read more

Happy Cat Eats - carnitas loaded fries - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This place is so good! We ate here 2 of the 3 days that we were in Santa Barbara! Love the fish tacos and shrimp po' boy! Slaw on top was excellent and fish and shrimp were crispy and seasoned well! Seating was casual with a beautiful view of the beach. read more

Happy Cat Eats - shrimp po' boy - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We came last night for dinner. I have had several friends recommend this restaurant. So I was really excited to try it! The menu alone has so many good options, it was so hard to narrow down and choose. I ended up getting the fish sandwich, my husband got the happy cat burger. Everything tasted pretty delicious, the food was brought out promptly. The service was excellent. I can't wait to return to try the breakfast and brunch! All the coffee specialties and drinks looked amazing!! read more

Happy Cat Eats - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The service was great, and the food was delightful , they were so tasty and I'm bummed this is 2 hours away from my house. These hit exactly as you think they would. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Ddl smash burger, fries, mac and cheese balls, lemonade lychee mint - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Went to pick up food on New Year's Day and was very happy with the quantity and taste of the food! Their breakfast burrito followed the classic eggs, bacon, potato and mac n cheese! I was so surprised when I bit into the burrito but very glad that it all balanced out extremely well. We also ordered their avocado toast which had generous portions of avocado and a perfect over easy egg on top! The yogurt parfait was also a great way to end the meal, making us feel refreshed for the day. read more

Wow this place is awesome! Food is great! The service is a bit slow but the food is tasty! The ambience is nice because it is in front of the beach but we had a bus stop in front and was a bit loud for a bit! read more

Happy Cat Eats - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A beach side brunch with outdoor seating? Who could also for more? I was able snag a seat by the sidewalk on a sunny day and it was a good time. Happy Cat has some fun coffee and matcha mixes and a good lineup of brunch favorites and some with fun twists. I ordered at the window and got a weekend special, the carnitas Benedict, and it was brought to our table pretty quickly. The flavors were great, but the food was on the colder side. But, it was outdoors on a cooler morning, so it may have just been normal heat loss. Overall, the servers were so nice, the drinks were tasty, I'd definitely go back to check out other brunch specials. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Cinnamon roll - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Terrible food and drinks. Avoid this place. Great location terrible execution. Such a bummer.

One of the juiciest tastiest burgers I've enjoyed in a long time: the wagyu smash burger with Asian slaw add on. Glad they brought extra napkins! Didn't hurt that we were so near the ocean with blue sky and palm trees, while under the generous shade of a patio umbrella. The sushi sando was also a hit--crunchy rice instead of bread on the two sides of the sandwich. Ordering was easy at the window and then the kind staff who brought our food out also offered us cold water when she saw we didn't order drinks. Took a long walk along the beach and on State St afterward, appreciating the 70 degree weather (it's 90 where we live!) read more

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Shoutout to Yelp Elite Angela for this awesome food stop recommendation. I always trust her expertise at picking restaurants so we went with the casual and cool Happy Cat Eats for our weekend hang. Instantly I was drawn to their huge menu - tempura fish, burgers, chicken sandwiches, eggs benefit, this place has it all! It was amazing sitting outside in the beautiful weather shaded by umbrellas but with views of the ocean across the street from us, it was the perfect girls day. Staff at Happy Cat Eats are super lovely and friendly. Very welcoming vibes as a first timer. The food was amazing and shoutout to Angela for recommending the Mac & Cheese Balls. Food Coma at its best. We shared: * Tempura Fish Tacos * Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich * Tempura Onion Rings * Mac and Cheese Balls I loved every bite, A+ food all around. Probably by favorites if someone made me choose would be those Mac and cheese balls and the tempura fish tacos were pretty stellar. Loved this spot so much and definitely a must for breakfast and lunch. You can't beat the views and atmosphere plus it's nice to have a stellar meal that won't break the bank! read more

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All the food was delicious as always It's a great place to chill back and just relax and check out Santa Barbara read more

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Stopped by Happy Cat Eats in beachside Santa Barbara and overall had a pretty solid experience! We tried a few items and there were definitely some highlights. The Chinese Chicken Salad was fresh and generous in portion, which I appreciated. That said, the chicken itself was a bit of a letdown--cold, dry, and not quite enough of it. I usually enjoy mandarin slices in this kind of salad for a sweet contrast, and while this one didn't have any, it was still enjoyable overall. We also had the Parmesan Truffle Fries, which were perfectly fried and crispy, but the flavor didn't quite hit the mark--I'd go with the regular fries next time. The Chicken Tempura Sandwich was the standout for me. The tempura was light and crisp, and the gochujang sauce added a bold, delicious kick. Really well done! To drink, we tried the Lychee Mint Lemonade, and it was super refreshing--light, bright, and just the right balance of sweetness and tartness. I'd definitely come back to try more off the menu, especially since they have a happy hour that looks pretty promising. A few minor misses, but overall a good spot with potential. read more

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Super chill spot with lots of choices. We got the rice burger with ahi poke, the lavender ube latte and the açaí bowl for $40~. Everything was delicious, fresh and laid back. I also loved the compostable straw they provided, it was very sturdy. Staff was chill and the seating areas were really nice. Wish there was a self serve water station but that's my only gripe. read more

Happy Cat Eats - Burgers Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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