I am a local who lives in the neighborhood. This is a wonderful old Mexican style Cabana place. The menu is simple but the food is good and fresh and solid. They have great drink specials and nightly specials and it's just a casual place to sit outside and be waited on and get some good old school Mexican food in Santa Barbara. I've seen some bad reviews on this place but I honestly don't get it as we've been there many times and have never had a bad plate of food or a bad experience with service. read more

I'm giving 2 stars only because I felt like the staff was genuinely trying their best, but unfortunately, the service was incredibly slow. The quality of the food was also noticeably poor, and it was pretty clear that some of the items on the plate had been microwaved. It's unfortunate because the location is really cute and has a lot of potential, but the overall experience was disappointing. I definitely won't be coming back. read more

Always the very Best! A friend and I visit every Saturday. Typically order the 2-item combo: Crunchy Taco Dorado(Picadillo/Ground/Beef)--Cheese Enchilada with Beans and Potatoes. Of course, this is a common Combo ordered at Mexican Restaurants, but it is rare to find Picadillo'ground beef tacos, and they are awesome. The salsa is fresh and homemade. Be sure to ask for the Hot one too. The Menudo is hands down the best period. Succulent soft Tripe, excellent Hominy in a delicious savory broth. The friendliest and most attentive service that never fails, even when they get busy. read more

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First time eating here was 35 years ago and it has been great over the years. However, came here yesterday and it was terrible. So much, my wife couldn't finish her meal. The pork was dry and tough in both our meals. The sauces were also on the bland side. As far as the service, we had to ask several times some items (tortillas, plates, napkins). It felt like they didn't want us there. It's going to be quite a while before we go back. read more

Went here with my family while traveling through Southern California and we could not have been happier with our choice, our server was kind and attentive and food was absolutely delicious. To make things even better they offer homemade salsa in both mild and spicy and we really couldn't get enough of it, this place should really have more stars than it's been given! read more

Bad food. Dry chicken. No salsa in take away bag. Terrible customer service with major attitudes.

Really good Chile Rellenos and menudo, Coffee is weak but service is good and food is tastsy. Breakfast if only till 10:30am.

We were there on Taco Tuesday, 3 tacos for 6$, it is a really good deal, especially their tacos very tasty. Carnitas and pollo are very good, care assda an average. Very friendly staff and good atmosphere, good customer service. In many places food is served in plastic plates, but here they are served in beautiful plates and they brought us tea in ceramic mugs, I really like it. It's immediately obvious that they care about their visitors; they also brought extra hot water for tea. They also dog friendly and it's nice read more

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I didn't want to come here after seeing the reviews but was brought here by someone who wanted to dine here. Ambiance was nice and the complimentary chips and salsa were tasty. I ordered three carne asada tacos ($10) and was served old fashioned warmed over dried out steak that was gristly. The cilantro and onions on top were tasteless. So disappointed. My friend had the pastor tacos and the pork was tasty. Wish I got that. read more

Definitely come for the margaritas and crispy tacos! It was surprisingly good! Nice service and chips and salsa were delicious! Ohhhh and did I mention that they have reasonable prices for SB. read more

Rose Cafe - two margaritas on a table - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Rose Cafe is consistently great. All of the staff are welcoming and helpful, the food is delicious, and the ambiance is fun. I love the chicken enchiladas verdes, but I've never had a bad experience or item there. My husband loves their menudo, chicharones con chile, and anything with their chile verde. Plus, they serve breakfast all day and they have a great happy hour! read more

Rose Cafe - Chilaquiles con Chile Verde - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I have been craving Mexican food lately, Rose Cafe famous chile relleno,Was just what I had in mind. I stopped by on a cold January evening and sat inside even though a beautiful fire pit was blazing outside. I ordered the spicy margarita with Tajin on the rim olus a birthday shot of Hornitos Reposado. The ambiance was cosy and convivial, the service just right . I ordered the chile relleno combo with a cheese enchilada and topped with sour cream, rice and beans too. It was so good. Its been a long time since Ive returned, but it was like being in a grandparents home, comforting and the delicious food. read more

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We go to Rose Cafe all the time and get takeout or delivery when we can't make it there. The staff is always so sweet and friendly. We love their salsa. I crave their huevos rancheros so I usually get those and love them, but the tacos and pancakes are both great as well. Their cocktails are delicious, too! We love to sit on the patio, which is comfortable year round, cute, and chill. read more

I have been hearing about the Rose cafe for years from various SB relatives : the Moms, Sisters, Nieces, Nephews. They all rave about this joint. Today it is my Sister's birthday and she decided she wanted to come here for an early Lunch. Over the years a business/friendly relationship has developed between my family and Lalo and family who are the owners. So i was super looking forward to this meal. When we arrived about 11am it was jumpin. The physical plant is a little tired and worse for wear looking but the seated patrons seemed to enjoying themselves. The service was stretched and i had to ask for service which i have no problem doing . the service was also a bit scattered and un- focused but the crew was at least apologetic and willing to help as well as they could. We ordered: Bohemia Beer: rich, creamy, malty...delicious. Coffee: weak, watery, flavorless Large order of Nachos: more like a tortilla chip casserole with the whole thing inundated with melted cheese and over portioned with sour cream and guacamole. (yes, silly me, complaining...heh?) Flautas( a la carte) very good, lots of chicken inside and garnished with fresh veggies and fried very well meaning not too much. Chorizo and Eggs with Charro potatoes and Beans: Good quality chorizo sauteed with the right amount of eggs. Not overcooked. sides of Beans and Potatoes' were likewise nicely spiced. The Beans were de la olla and the potatoes were sauteed in the Chorizo oil: delish! Service was as noted today above. Parking is in front or in back. There is a Service Bar serves Hard liquor and a good selection of Beers. A Hit and Miss Lunch today at the Rose Cafe. Not bad, sometimes very good. i will be back. Cheers! read more

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The food is great. I love this place so close to home. The people and the service are always friendly and attentive. Love the patio. When we go I am super relaxed and enjoyed every meal. Thank you Rose Cafe read more

Delicious chicken tacos and carnitas sopas. Rated 4.4 by 344 reviews. Friendly service.

I order from Rose Cafe but usually its through Doordash so i never noticed their cute outside patio until today. I mainly order 2 things from here. Its hard for me to order something different because i love those items so much. The guadalaja tacos or the menudo. Most places only have menudo only the weekends so but Im able to count on Rose cafe whenever im craving menudo! read more

Rose Cafe - Menudo Soup - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Honestly I came in not expecting a whole lot I'd never had breakfast here. Came with a friend. I ordered a 2.2.2 and let me tell you the pancakes are actually pretty good I ordered a side of potato which was ok eggs were also ok friend ordered the cheese omelette and that thing was cheeeesy the stretch was crazy I was really impressed haha over all I would say there was one older gentleman there that helped more than the servers he brought out the food he refilled our waters he brought us more napkins and hot sauce and a check and a box but he wasn't the waiter. But he was fantastic. over all specifically for the pancakes, the sausage links,and the older gentleman's service I would absolutely come back read more

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Unfortunately I have to give an overall four star bc my husband said his meal was not a five. Good! Just not as good as mine ! I ordered Chicken Enchiladas Verde! We both enjoyed that dish!! It was YUMMY!!!! Some Of The Best I've had in a long time. The Family must be proud. It shows in their hospitality. We went early, right before 4:30 so we were able to find parking and prime seating. Shortly after people started flowing in. They let us order a side of chicken for our pups. Conveniently cut it up for us in tiny bite size pieces. Super Sweet People! Puppy Friendly Patio! (9/13/22) read more

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My first experience here, around lunch time, I must have ordered the wrong thing. It didn't leave much of an impression. But I've been back twice in the last two months and they've knocked it out of the park both times. The "small plate" with an enchilada and crispy taco is money. This is super satisfying Mexican food, with lots of flavor and awesome beans. I crave this place now after exercise, when I'm operating at a calorie deficit. My mom and girlfriend love it, too. Also, a friend visited from out of state and said it was the best chile relleno she has ever had. My only complaint is that they charged $7 for a bottled Modelo. what is this, Dodger Stadium?? read more

My absolute favorite Restaurant in SB esp for breakfast. I eat here every time I come back and visit SB never miss a chance read more

Rose Cafe - The best place been coming here for 30 years Never disappoints - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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My family has been coming to the Rose Cafe for years and the service is always really friendly. After the few years of Covid (and us not eating out), we came back and the owner immediately recognized us and commented on how big our kids had grown in the meantime! Wow, they really pay attention to their customers! Of course, we don't come back just for the service - the food is delicious! The only reason they haven't earned 5 stars is because we think they changed their salsa recently, and my husband has LOVED their previous salsa for years! My daughter, too; they're thinking it wasn't as spicy. Great ambiance here; I love the wall murals, colorful decorations, and the music they play (which is never too loud, thanks!). read more

Been coming here since I was a kid. I love the family vibes. Best rice and beans EVER and if you're looking for a mean margarita Vanessa's got you covered!! Rose cafe never disappoints. read more

I haven't been to Rose's in years, but I was feeling like old school Mexican. I love the new outdoor seating, they have definitely put a lot of thought and effort into their parklet. I had their chili relleno with cheese enchilada, my hubs had this massive chili Colorado burrito and my son had crispy tacos. All were great and just what I wanted and expected. Plenty of chips and salsa and great service. Support local! read more

My husband and I came on a Wednesday around 5:30pm and were seated outside and served right away. Laid back vibe, some people were in small groups, pets allowed, and families with younger children too. We had the order of 3 tacos each (al pastor, pork, and carnitas) all of these were delicious! They were also very reasonably priced - $8 for 3 tacos. We thought the tacos wouldn't be enough so we also ordered a shrimp quesadilla to share but the tacos were very filling and he only had a piece of te quesadilla. Beers were 2x1, our final bill was around $40 - very surprising for SB prices and the quality of the food. Our server was very nice and attentive - awesome service! Will need to come back to try their breakfast menu which also looked good! read more

Rose Cafe - Order of Tacos Mixto - carnitas, pork, and al pastor - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Food. Rose Cafe has by far the best menudo in town, and probably as far as LA area. If you order the "cup" it is very generously served. Don't miss the side of pata. It is incredible, and it nicely complements the cup of menudo. You can't beat the price either. More reasonably priced than anybody around here I'm read more

Hands down the best Mexican food the Santa Barbara. Food and service are always on point! My husband would eat here every day if we lived there. The enchiladas are amazing, make sure to ask for extra sauce as it's good to dip the chips in. Nice to enjoy there outdoor seating and people watching. Have a margarita and enchilada and you will be thankful. read more

Rose Cafe - Best Mexican food in Santa Barbara - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We had always gone to the "downtown" Mexican food restaurants, since that's closer to home. However, lately we have been frequenting Rose Cafe for several reasons. Though it's up on the Mesa, the parking is SO much easier than downtown. We also bring our doggie -- usually we sit out on the cute patio, crank up the heat lamps if necessary, and she is able to enjoy the atmosphere and passers-by greetings as we dine. My husband gets the street tacos and they never disappoint. I get the crunchy tacos -- ask for them "Guadalajara style" for a huge dollop of guacamole on the top! Fave drink - a rumchata! It's horchata in the adult version. Rose Cafe has become one of our go-to date night joints. A special shout-out to Angelique - she is always so friendly and accommodating, stepping in wherever needed. If you're a Mesa neighborhood resident, we have no idea why this wouldn't be your go-to 'hood dinner joint! read more

Rose Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The Rose Cafe has been on the Mesa since the 1980's, and I've been eating there for many years. They have the best enchiladas in Santa Barbara, and you can take that to the bank. They don't seem to receive the acclaim that some other Mexican restaurants get, but The Rose is my favorite, bar none! read more

Best chicken burrito, perfect every time. Service is fantastic, staff is super friendly. Parking in back. Clean, open space inside and outside. read more

The older woman Who is taking orders is rude,I took a sit n she came,rude since the beginning,she had other ppl next to me a Mexican family of 8 she was nice and attitude,she had one more table one guy she was nice to him as well...but to me she was really aggressive n angry she said let me take yur older n speak louder cuz I have so much to do inside...I didn't even want to stay but I did,I was nice to her,the food came out never offer me anything to drink besides my beverage(alcohol) but I see how she will come to other tables,ask for it...she continue her attitude the food was not great!!! I do not recommend this please this was my second time here and I got treated the same way! I will give it O stars read more

Rose Cafe - Yu can see the other table also I'm not done with my drink....but still it feels like she's kicking me out - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We ate outdoors for breakfast. Great huevos rancheros. There are several versions. We tried two of them and they were both outstanding. We prefer over easy eggs and these were spot on. Nice ambience on a beautiful SB morning. The outdoor seating is nicely decorated, colorful and set off the meal perfectly. The service was exemplary in a low key thoughtful way. Great spot for a simple standard. read more

Rose Cafe is a nice spot on the mesa but let's be open about one thing here, if you're in Santa Barbara you can find at least 20 better places to get Mexican food. Come here for the happy hour specials and the good neighborhood vibes but don't expect too much from the cuisine. Breakfast burrito seems to be the most popular option but I cannot personally vouch for it. read more

Rose Cafe - Combo plate - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Never had a bad meal here.. we got in on time for happy hour and got 2 for 1 beers so that was cool .. they are just solidly tasty every time .. they do have some unusual hours so check before you go read more

We loved our breakfast here. Took granddaughter out to breakfast, she loved it, great choice for family. Decor very colorful and waiter friendly and helpful, attentive to our five year old granddaughter. She really enjoyed the attention. We chose basic breakfast and everything was delicious. There are lots of choices on menu if you want something more than basic breakfast. read more

Rose Cafe - Really colorful wonderful decor - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We used to come to Rose Cafe and the food was great. However, this trip I ordered a Chicken Enchilada and when it arrived I cut into it and it was hollow. I looked for the shredded chicken or the chicken breast inside the enchilada and saw the chicken was cut into small cubes throughout. What? Totally unacceptable for a chicken enchilada! I was also disappointed with our server as she never checked back with us after we received our food (something easy to do) and walked right by us when our ice tea glasses were empty (another thing that's easy to do). Sorry but you lost our business as there are too many other decent Mexican restaurants in Santa Barbara. read more

We ate inside and we both enjoyed our meals. The cheese enchiladas are so good, different than what you get in other restaurants. They have onions in them, delicious! I was able to order a la carte due to dietary restrictions, and that's not always available at other restaurants. We enjoyed the decor, very bright and cheerful, we'll be back. Our waitress was very pleasant, we enjoyed visiting with her. read more

Worst Mexican food , Margaritas ever. Cute restaurant but the food and service were awful. I asked for a Cadillac Margarita with no salt. Came with salt and so sweet I couldn't even drink it. Ordered the Shrimp and a Chile Relleno. Both were practically inedible. The service was very inattentive . There was no one in there. Won't be returning anytime ever. Such a shame for a local place. read more

Absolute worst restaurant. Super funny to deliver a burrito with rice only in it, but absolutely ridiculous to receive. When I called to get a replacement, I was told they were to busy to deliver another one. Additionally, I was met with an attitude and told I didn't have a right to be upset. read more

Rose Cafe - A rice only burrito - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Best Mexican food I've had in SB. Lived here 11 years and went for the first time today and am happy I did! Beans are bomb, Chile verde was amazing. Great service. read more