Just for background about me, I have experienced a bit of a learning curve. Today's lunch, however…read morewas like I struck gold. I had the chicken soup definitely hit the spot. Not only was the [cornish game chicken] whole and stuffed with rice - and other yummy stuff - but it was Gluten-free. I have made the dish myself mostly from ingredients found at the store: including ginseng and another root I couidn't identify. I've heard Korean food consummately used many types of roots. This was a treat foremost because I could sit outside. I AM NOT 100%. I got some of the furikaki rice seasoning that is gluten-free, for my rice. Lastly, i want to appreciate Choi's for the intact wishbone in my soup. It was nice to feel nurtured by the mom-and-pop store. Will be back!

One of my favorite spots when I'm craving a beef bulgogi bowl! I've always been so happy to have…read moresuch incredible and flavorful food near where I live. The staff are incredibly nice and they were very attentive to us when we arrived. We were able to enjoy an outdoor table and the food blew us away! I had their beef bulgogi bowl and I was floored by the flavor of the beef and the how fluffy the rice was. I want to try everything on the menu so I'll be visiting again very soon.

Leaving reviews for all my favorite spots in town in hopes that they stay here forever. Secret Bao…read moreis perfect. The Kung Pao Cauliflower has never disappointed. The Udon Carbonara is insane. Their baos are 10/10. And don't even get me started on the passion fruit or matcha crème brûlée when they have them. Truly one of those places where I want to order everything on the menu every time. Please never leave us, Secret Bao.

Excellent food and good service at this popular place. Prices are fair. Cool vibes although at…read moredinner it gets loud. Not an extensive menu although as first timers we still struggled to make our choices. More traditional choices and fusion ones, like the fantastic poke tacos. First time trying Korean fried chicken. Was good but a little dry. My friend's beef wide noodle dish was amazing. Next time I'm in town I wanna enjoy another meal here.

incredible food and awesome experience will be back a+ experience…read more really appreciate the kind service. great ambiance.

I ordered the Szechuan Hot Diced Beef, Korean Cheese Diced Beef, and the Spam Musubi. The spices…read moreused in both beef dishes had a very peculiar, overpowering flavor--so intense and tingly that it genuinely startled me. For a moment, I wondered if I was having an allergic reaction, but it turned out to be the unusual seasoning itself. It had an odd basil‑like, numbing quality that I couldn't quite pinpoint, and it made the dishes difficult to enjoy. The Spam Musubi was the only item I found truly edible, and it was actually very tasty. I also ordered a Thai Tea (50% sugar) and a Strawberry Smoothie (50% sugar). Both drinks were delicious. Total cost: $75.82

Oku is one of our favorite restaurants in the area. The food is amazing and the service is amazing…read more Can't beat the rooftop patio at sunset.

I had dinner here last night for the first time. It was an unseasonably warm, Sunday evening. I…read morereally wanted to sit on the roof top but no space. The menu has an assortment of what I would consider appetizers / small plates, sushi rolls noodle dishes and dessert. The price point is really sporadic. I had the David's Addiction roll and I really enjoyed it. It was a little spicy. I wish I had a bigger appetite to have eaten more here. I had the POG cocktail. It was ok. I wasn't super excited about it. This place seemed like one of the best options near the pier.

Situated in the Santa Barbara Farmers Market complex, Empty Bowl is an inviting space where you can…read moresit right at the bar and watch the wok action. Service is friendly and the food well prepared. Menu options are limited, but everything is delicious. Recommend going at happy hour. There's usually a special offer.

Located inside of Santa Barbara Public Market, Empty Bowl is located towards the center of the…read moremarket. They offer Thai dishes including noodle bowls, small plates, and handmade dumplings. We got the Northern Thailand Curry Noodles "Khao Soi" and the Tom Yum Noodles. The Khao Soi had egg noodles and chicken in a curry base broth with coconut milk, fish sauce, pickled mustard greens, cilantro, green onions, and housemade chili oil. They also give you crispy egg noodles to put on top. I appreciated that they wrapped this separately in foil, so they didn't get soggy right away! The chicken pieces were quite large, but overall the broth was tasty! I enjoyed the Tom Yum Noodles! For these, they use flat wheat noodles with Thai chili paste, bunashimeji mushrooms, white button mushrooms, fish sauce, red jalapeño, galangal herb, makrut lime leaves, lemongrass, cherry tomatoes, and cilantro. I chose chicken for my protein. The tom yum flavor really came through! They also give a pretty big portion! Since they are located in a food hall, you can sit at any of the tables. Empty Bowl will give you a pager, so you know when to return to the counter to pick up your food.

We visited Sama Sama Kitchen around 7:30 pm on a Sunday and were seated immediately. The restaurant…read moreitself is beautiful, and I loved the overall ambiance and vibe inside. There's a parking garage a short walk away, along with street parking nearby, so parking wasn't too difficult. We ordered the Crispy Rice Salad, Chicken Satay, and Nasi Goreng Jawa to start, then added the Larb Gai afterward. Honestly, our original three dishes would have been plenty for three people, and adding the fourth ended up being too much food. The Crispy Rice Salad was BY FAR the star of the meal and absolutely lived up to the hype. It was so refreshing, flavorful, and easily one of the best crispy rice salads I've had. It was also the one dish from our meal that felt truly memorable. The Chicken Satay had a really good sauce, although the chicken itself leaned a little dry. The Nasi Goreng Jawa was good too, but tasted like a fairly standard fried rice to me and didn't stand out much. The Larb Gai was refreshing, but after having the Crispy Rice Salad, it felt like a much less memorable version of those same bright flavors. I honestly found myself wishing we had just ordered another Crispy Rice Salad instead. The staff was friendly, although service was a little inattentive at times and it could be difficult to get someone's attention. There was also a small mix-up at the end where I was handed the wrong physical receipt. The amount on the actual payment terminal was correct, but the receipt itself wasn't ours and the mistake hadn't been noticed before it was handed to me. They also have a gender-neutral bathroom, which was pretty clean during our visit. One random thing to watch out for is the sink because the water comes out surprisingly strong, so turn the nozzle on slowly! Overall, the food was good, but the Crispy Rice Salad was on another level compared to everything else we ordered. I'd definitely come back for that alone and would be interested in exploring some other dishes on the menu next time.

Sama Sama Kitchen in Santa Barbara on State Street. You thought Michelin stars were only for fancy…read morewhite‑tablecloth spots... Meanwhile Sama Sama out here serving Bib Gourmand realness with reasonably priced plates. Santa Barbara flavor, Michelin‑approved, and zero starched napkins required. Pet friendly patio! #SantaBarbara #michelinguide #BibGourmand #foodtok #indonesian

I got a side salad that was great and the tomato bisque soup. Very good! Good for vegans too!read more

We could hear live Blues playing down the street which meant there was life. We had just left the…read moreSanta Barbara Bowl and wanted something to eat after the show ended at 9pm. Not much was open which is how we ended up here. The place was super hot so we decided to order our food to go and there was a super annoying drunk guy ahead of us in line. I felt bad for the 17 yo employee stuck interacting with them. We ordered a sandwich with shrimp in it. L said it was good but the title shouldn't mention shrimp as they were super teeny tiny and basically non existent. I got the gluten free fried rice bowl with chicken spicy. It was not spicy at all, and the chicken was a bit dry, however I could taste the flavor of the chicken and the meal was bland enough that I knew I would be okay. Earlier in the day before the bowl we went to a winery and I had a headache, so this food for me last night worked especially since we picked it up to go and had it at our Air BnB.

This place was so good, I had to take out my phone to take notes. Each dish blew me away, and I…read morestarted texting my friends about it before all 9 courses were done. Had reservations for 7 pm dinner on Friday. The place wasn't busy during our entire dining experience. Aside from a larger table of ~10 people and 2 smaller tables, the place was empty, which was nice and quiet for date night and anniversary celebration. The 9-course Kaiseki was plate after plate of flavor. Highlights: - Course 4: Somen with sweet broth, grilled beef, and grilled green onion. THIS. The beef was so good, I refused to swallow, so I could savor the flavor. Fatty in flavor. Lean in cut. Somen cooked to perfection. - Course 7: Chilean sea bass simmered in bonito chicken broth with daikon and green beans ~ THE SEA BASS WAS GAS. Marinated in miso before grilling, the tenderness and juiciness of the sea bass is locked in prior to simmering in the broth. Chicken broth with the bonito added depth to the dish. - Course 9: Black sesame pudding with tangerine jelly ~ THIS. This dish embodied the level of black sesame I expect for any dish. Tangerine jelly cuts through as a nice refresher for the next bite. Perfectly not too sweet. All in all, I had the best experience. Each component of a dish adds its own flavor that completes the dish as a whole. Ultimately, one of my favorite culinary experiences that took my taste buds on a journey! Would return!

I went for the first time last night and I have to say I had high expectations and left…read moredisappointed. Of the 8 courses I only liked these 4. The food was just not that good honestly. It was $600 for my husband and I, it was not at the level. They only had two white wine options which were both Chardonnay. The service was a 10/10. The ambiance was odd, super bright and no one else in the restaurant after 7:45.

Couldn't recommend more!!! By far the best spicy tuna crispy rice, amazing portions, TOP NOTCH…read moreservice. Also had a delicious roll. Love the sauces love the plating. The food was brought out super quick and the server was so kind. The restaurant is very cute and great for a lowkey date or a family dinner. Super friendly pricing!! We will be back

Sun Sushi is located in a nondescript strip mall on State Street, but their food is mostly really…read morefresh and delicious. The miso soup was pretty "meh", but the salad with its miso dressing was tasty, as was the shrimp and veggie tempura; nothing outstanding, but on point. The pork-filled gyoza were also fresh and delicious. The "Bluefin tuna 6 ways" was outstanding: each presentation highlighted different cuts of the fish and each one was delicious and a bit different, really good. My girl had some green tea mochi she liked; I tasted it and it didn't do much for me, but... Wine pours by the glass are generous and reasonable, and the service was just fine, courteous and attentive. This is a small restaurant and it can get kind of noisy and crowded, but that's also a testament to the fact people know how good this place is. If you're a local you probably know this, but if you're a visitor (like we were) be sure to check this place out if you're in Santa Barbara and craving really good Japanese food. Recommended.

Best take I've had in my entire career genuinely amazed by how delicious a bowl of soup and noodles…read morecan be the ginger is top tier as well as there shrimp gyozas the chicken steamed dumplings were to die for now don't get me started on the service they were extremely nice and very quick

Overall wonderful experience! Food was delicious. Both…read morerolls we got was enough in terms of quantity. The unagi rice bowl was very good. The spicy beef udon was a really good choice if you like spicy. The broth was fire! The chaschu ramen was amazing. The pork was so soft, like melt in your mouth. The spicy miso wings and edamame were a good surprise. The wings had such a yummy sauce. Service was commendable. They were all attentive! Perfect for a lunch out after the zoo or other family activities in the area. Casual and family friendly inside. Although I have to mention the bathroom did not have a baby changing station.