Came to Santo Mezcal for lunch from San Fernando Valley. They have the most amazing Mexican food…read more Every dish we order was full of flavor and enough for our party of 3 to share. We had the Mole Negro, Ceviche Verde and the chicharrón dish. Oh and a Jamaica drink made with Mezcal. I would keep going back to try all their other dishes.

This a beautiful restaurant in the heart of State Street and the restaurant food is even nicer…read more Santo Mezcal is modern Mexican done right. Service was warm, fast, and super knowledgeable. Highly recommend for lunch, dinner, or happy hour! Not your typical Mexican spot -- elevated, creative, and so delicious. Santo Mezcal in Santa Barbara blew us away. Seafood-centric menu with a real mixology focus. The ribeye tacos were cooked perfectly, the Halibut Verde Ceviche was bright and fresh, and the salsas are next level. Drinks are super well-balanced, not too sweet. Nice, trendy, casual vibe. Worth a reservation -- it gets busy. This place was one of several great meals we've had in SB. Highly recommend!

So this spot was actually put on my radar by my mom and my brother, and while we were visiting her…read moremy brother and I had to swing by to see what all the hype was about. Right off the bat the server and staff were the ones to greet us and they were extremely sweet and welcoming, messing around with us and just had a fun personality overall. They actually gave us a sample of every single flavor which caught us completely off guard, and that alone helped us narrow it down to about 40 empanadas to take home. Yeah I said 40, and those were gone in two days. The dough on these things is so flaky and perfectly cooked, buttery in all the right ways. I was a little worried going in that the meat might end up dry but nope, you bite into these and the moisture just seeps out and smacks you with flavor immediately. We tried chicken, pork, beef, even the veggie one, and every single one was phenomenal. If I had to pick a favorite it would be the pork for sure, it had this savory taste with just a little hint of sweetness that matched perfectly with the pastry. Honestly cannot recommend this place enough. It has actually become our go to appetizer whenever we gather as a family for the holidays now, that is how good these are.

I ordered Buena Onda for the first time as a TRUE EMPANADA LOVER & was excited to try their…read moreempanadas (I got the box of 12 so I could have variety) however, I was disappointed in the size and overall quality of them. Here is my ranking: Beef - 9/10 (the best by far & actually filled, just the way I like) Ham & cheese - 7/10 (not enough filling, mostly dough) Caprese - 5/10 (barely any cheese & basically all dough) Chorizo - 7/10 (bland flavor but well filled) Mushroom - 8/10 (I love mushrooms, but this was also somewhat bland although well filled) They were pretty small compared to others I've had & their chimichurry sauce was half oil (I make a better one at home)...unfortunately I wouldn't pay this price again for the quality I received.

I am at Corazon Cocina all the time in Ventura , so was I was happy to go to the OG location!…read more My favorite taco is the Norteño. I literally only need one and I am full. Quick service. It was busy but orders come out quick. Always love the SB Public Market. Corazon is literally one of my favorite spots.. in Ventura, Carp or SB!

Corazon Cocina is a Mexican seafood restaurant located in the Santa Barbara Public Market in…read moredowntown Santa Barbara. It was featured on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list but started off as a pop-up. You get in line and order your food. Then you get a buzzer that rings when your food is ready. They have some dedicated seating for customers but you can sit anywhere in the public market. We got the al pastor ($6.95) and coliflor ($7.95) tacos. The sizes were bigger than normal but I thought they could've used a little salt and the al pastor was a little tough. The sal de mar ceviche ($23.95) could've used more salt and lime but it was still refreshing with the watermelon. For drinks both the passionfruit margarita ($21) and hibiscus margarita ($24) were good. You can ask for their three salsas of varying spice levels. The food and drinks were on the pricier side too but we didn't think the quality matched the price.

Came to Santa Barbara for a day trip from Solvang and enjoyed our lunch here. We ordered at counter…read moreand sat outside. The tacos and burrito were so delicious. It hit the spot. Salsa with chips was really good too. You can tell everything is made fresh. Service was friendly and helpful guiding us through what to order. They share space with another restaurant that's focused more on seafood. Casual yet comfortable spot. Looking for tag to coming back!

Food made me severely sick. Salsa arrived in containers with the containers inflated with air (this…read moreis usually due to massive amounts of bacteria) so couldn't eat it. Quesabirria had bones in it. Absolutely terrible meal. I used to love this place, sad what's happened

I love Milk & Honey for its inviting atmosphere and unique, flavorful menu. The prices are also…read morereasonable for dining out, though the portions are on the smaller side, so you may want to order at least two dishes and a couple of drinks if you're looking for a more filling meal. My favorites are the Lamborghinis, the Brie with bread, and the Krimschaw Pilsner. I've visited this restaurant many times, and the service is generally good, though it can be inconsistent. Some visits have been excellent, while others have been just average, depending on how busy the restaurant is and which server you have. Overall, I would definitely return again and again for a delicious light meal and the enjoyable atmosphere.

My family and I stopped in for dinner while visiting Santa Barbara, and this ended up being one of…read morethe pleasant surprises of our trip. Overall, the food was excellent, the ambiance was welcoming, and the service was outstanding. One thing we especially appreciated was how family-friendly the restaurant felt. They had old-school cartoons playing on the TVs above the bar, which was a fun touch that kept everyone entertained. One thing to know before you order: the "tapas" here are much larger than what we've experienced at traditional tapas restaurants. We ended up ordering far too much because we expected smaller, shareable portions. Fortunately, that's a good problem to have, as everything was delicious. Just keep the portion sizes in mind when ordering. The drinks were also solid. The sangria leaned a bit more toward fruit juice than wine for our taste, but the other cocktails we tried were well-balanced and enjoyable. Between the great food, generous portions, excellent service, and relaxed atmosphere, we'd definitely recommend this spot to anyone visiting Santa Barbara.

This is my second review of Opal Restaurant, and once again, the food and service were excellent!…read more Our waiter was very attentive, respectful, and helpful, which I really appreciated. He brought our food and drinks promptly, and everyone in our group enjoyed their meal! My paella was sooooo delicious, with a great variety of seafood, perfectly cooked, moist rice, and just the right amount of broth--not too much unnecessary liquid (thank you very much!) It was exactly what I was hoping for! Our waiter also helped me choose my wine and was very knowledgeable about the different varieties and their flavors. I really appreciated his recommendations and help. Another great experience at Opal. I'll definitely be back!

5* experience to end a holiday weekend on a high note! I'll be honest, Opal was the restaurant I…read morewas "least hyped" for before visiting. Not because it did anything wrong, but because a couple other options had gone more viral. Just goes to show you can't trust social media for anything. Let's start with the service, which was excellent from our awesome server Sam to our hostess to all the other servers we interacted with. My husband and I commented on how insanely in sync the restaurant was -- SO friendly, going truly above and beyond. Whoever owns and manages this place has clearly chosen some superstars! Then the food.... Just incredible! I had the duck breast and was devastated when I ran out of pieces. The sauce was so delicious and the risotto was excellent. My husband had the ribeye, which was cooked to perfection. Cherry on top was a sweet dessert surprise for our anniversary! Opal, we will be back!

As usual, still coming back after over 15 years and loving it each time! Fantastic service,…read morewonderful ambience, and the food is always consistently delicious! Gambas Ajillos and The Albóndigas are still some Of our faves

The food tasted great, although the presentation wasn't especially appealing. I understand that…read morethis may simply be the traditional way tacos are served. Unfortunately, the service was disappointing. Our server offered chips and guacamole, but we weren't informed there would be a $20 charge before they were brought to the table. We were also told over the phone that our party of six could split the check, but when it came time to pay, that wasn't possible. On the positive side, the outdoor seating was lovely, and the restaurant has its own parking lot, which made it convenient for my guests. Overall, while I appreciated the food and the convenient location, the service issues made the experience less enjoyable for my guests and me. Because of that, I don't plan to return.

We order: #1- Taco de Bistec…read more #6- Taco de Rajas #12- Pechuga Suiza #18- Guacamole #19- Frijol Súper-Rica #20- Gordita de Frijol (VERY Spicy) # Arroz A La Mexicana Two drinks - Jamaica & horchata The food and the drinks and service was excellent. My advice get there couple minutes before they open. It can be a long wait if you don't. Not much available parking. Park on the side streets. Bring CASH only.

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!

Best Mexican food in Santa Barbara and possibly the US. Mole out of this world. Cocktails are…read moreamazing. Who thinks to mix mint and mango?

We had no idea where to eat in Santa Barbara, but Flor de Maíz absolutely nailed it…read more The food was fantastic, but the real MVP was Giovanna, the hostess. I asked if she had a romantic table, and she fired back with a joke that had us laughing before we even sat down. Talk about a first impression! Her personality, energy, and genuine hospitality made us feel like regulars from the moment we walked in. The steak was outstanding, the atmosphere was perfect, and the service matched the food. First impressions matter, and Giovanna absolutely crushed it. We'll definitely be back. Thanks for making our night so memorable!

Alcazar has a great menu. The food and drinks are both so yummy. The steak is absolutely amazing…read more Ray and Kyle were so personable and friendly. This is a great date night spot. I always enjoy coming here!

Fun! We came for happy hour which is 4:30-6…read more Service was great and fast. We sat outside which was perfect except my back is probably sunburnt from the sun behind me. DEFINITELY get the pollo crema tacos! These are a must have and my favorite thing that we got. Caulifornia was alright, I'd say a little undercooked for my liking but the flavor was nice. Salmon dip was yummy, I'd recommend getting extra peppers because I loved having a bite of pepper with each bite of dip! Sangria was a bit too spice full, like a strong flavor of cardamom or something. But it was fine overall, I wouldn't get it next time. I'd recommend this place if you're in the area for some small bites and drinks. We're going to dinner right after this so it was perfect.