When you're on vacay you just want to try all the things and sleep. Well, the sleep part may be just me. Anywho, our first dinner in Santa Barbara was here, and I wasn't disappointed. I wanted to try everything, but the way my stomach was behaving, I couldn't. Our waiter was great with recommendations. So settled for their signature wings, smashed cucumber salad, and the Japanese style fried rice. I took half of it back with me b/c I couldn't part with it. Lol. My tablemates left nothing on their plates, so I believe they enjoyed their meal as well. read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I am obsessed with Sama Sama for two reasons : their incredibly thoughtfully executed craft cocktails and creative southeast Asian cuisine. Just a feast for the senses here. I first actually discovered Sama Sama through one of their pop-ups with Topa Topa, and instantly became intrigued. So naturally when I was in SB next, I had to check out the flagship. And I was not disappointed. This is the second time I've been here, and the cocktails were really outstanding - shoutout to the bar manager and her extremely unique concoctions. Another plus - they are very dog-friendly here! And what a beautiful space. read more

See all

I came here with my nephew and we enjoyed it! We parked on the street and came in around 2pm on a Sunday - it wasn't packed at all so that was nice to us! We got the crispy rice salad, signature chicken wings, braised pork noodles, and the morning after plate. The crispy rice salad was super flavorful, I really enjoyed it and would order again. The signature chicken wings were cooked perfectly and had a very tasty bbq sauce covering it, I loved the noodles in the braised pork noodles (also very flavorful), I couldn't done without the morning after plate. The chicken satay in it was dry, fried rice wasn't flavorful, smashed cucumbers could've used another day to marinate because they weren't flavorful either. Service was friendly, also there's an already added 20% gratuity added to the bill - they let you know about it beforehand as well! I was totally fine with it because out server was super friendly. read more

Beautiful ambiance, friendly servers, and delicious food. Ordered the crispy rice salad, the bok choy and duck salad, braised pork noodle and one of their specials for the evening (a coconut noodle soup). The flavors were delicious and this was enough to feed three people at a very reasonable price. Some cons are the water tasting a bit funny and the braised noodles were too salty for my liking. Everything else tasted wonderfully and our server was so kind. Would come back. read more

So this place is I guess of the same owner of Little Sama in Ojai, and Strange Beast. I was happy to try it! They had their famous wings which are my favorite wings in the world. Literally everything we ate was flavorful. read more

See all

My first review because it was diabolical. Insane prices for lack of flavor and portions, really did a disservice on representing south East Asian cuisine flavors. Bland or just salt, no other flavor profiles, If so, weak. Ordered signature wings, pork braised noodles, and the Bok choy duck salad. Only redeeming item was the wings but even so, cannot justify $17 of the tiniest wings ever. The salad and noodles were so flavorless I can't believe they earned a Michelin bib. I Service was ok. We went around 6:15 PM. I wish I can get a refund. Ruined my day trip to SB. read more

Used to live this place but today we ate here and the black cod was over seasoned so much so you couldn't taste the delicate fish at all - just a harsh pepper taste. It was cooked to perfection but the taste was overwhelmed with spices. The spareribs were a little too spicy for us but otherwise good. read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Black cod in banana leaves - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

I am very upset that it took me years to finally come here because I have been MISSING OUT! Came in with a friend on a Thursday and found out it was happy hour (5-6pm)! The ambiance was great and the staff were friendly as they explained each dish and their recommendations! We ordered the Jamu Margarita, the Signature Wings, the Chicken Satay, and the Nasi Goreng Jawa. Everything was so delicious but the WINNER was the Nasi Goreng. We equated this to just the best fried rice dish we have ever had. This is exactly how I would want my fried rice to taste. I'm still thinking about it now! Don't think about it, just make your reservation and come the Sama Sama. You will not be disappointed! read more

See all

Food - food was amazing. We got the Brussels sprouts, Vietnamese wings, braised pork noodles, and the spare rib. Everything was so delicious. My favorite was the braised pork noodles. Packed with so much flavor and the pork is so tender. I believe it's a peanut based sauce tho so be aware of that if you have any allergies. Service - the service was alright. It was probably cause we were seated outside so it was hard to spot us but our waitress did what she could. Food came out at a reasonable time. Ambiance - I wasn't seated inside so I can't commentate on that but outside was pretty standard. I wish there were more lights and heated lamps around. read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Brussels sprouts, Vietnamese wings, braised pork noodles, and spare rib - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Loved their food!! We got the Nasi Goreng Jawa (5/5) and the green papaya salad (4/5). I only wish they had more vegetarian/ vegan options. Great, cozy ambience and friendly staff - they made it a point to ask us about our dietary preferences and restrictions before they could give us recommendations. Definitely going back! read more

Amazing Asian fusion spot on State Street in Santa Barbara! We tried their signature wings--packed with flavor and just the right amount of spice--and the chicken satay, which was juicy with a delicious kick, topped with crispy onions and scallions for extra crunch and flavor. The family-style portions were generous, and gratuity was already included in the price. We had few margaritas that tasted very refreshing. The chill and relaxed ambiance made it even better. Our server, Izzy, was fantastic--super knowledgeable about the menu. Definitely planning to return and explore more of their dishes! read more

See all

Sama Old, Sama Old The brainchild of two culinary school friends, one who specializes in BBQ and the other in Indonesian cuisine, has brought a lot of success to their joint venture of Sama Sama Kitchen in downtown Santa Barbara. After ten years and multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand awards, they continue to produce some of the most delicious Indonesian inspired cuisine I've ever had the pleasure of trying. The Good: *Service was terrific from our server, Tony V. *Dog-friendly outdoor seating *Great location in DT Santa Barbara near the historic courthouse. *Reservations via Toast *Their "award-winning" wings frankly deserve every award they can muster because they were fan-fucking-tastic! Spicy, sweet, crunchy, and that great tamarind flavor that I adore. This is a "MUST-ORDER" item. *Fun and delicious mixed drinks that are even interactive. *Local brews on-tap *Braised Pork Mie Goreng was also packed full of flavor and those noods... *swoon* I could literally eat this dish every day and never get bored of it The Meh: *Most likely, you'll have to pay for parking, but it's not egregious. *Food is (not surprisingly given the clientele) a little underspiced for Indo cuisine, but make sure to ask for some Sambal to rectify matters. *Nasi Goreng (fried rice) and chicken satay in the Morning After were a bit lackluster, but to be fair they were consumed after the Mie Goreng and wings, so maybe just a bit of a let down on the mental side. The Ugly: *Self-entitled clientele berating the staff over nonsense. I won't get into it too much, as it's not my fight, but be careful of Darrens and Karens. Conclusion: One of the few Michelin-rated spots that's worth the hype and praise. If you're visiting SLO County, it's definitely worth a trip. read more

See all

It isn't hard to see why Sama Sama has earned itself Bib Gourmand status from the MICHELIN guide. Signifying good quality and good value cooking, this rating sums up Sama Sama almost perfectly. We happily sat at the bar, experienced excellent service from our bartender, and loved the cozy, dimly lit interior with plenty of bustling voices for a Wednesday evening. We split three dishes, all of which delivered a unique spin on classics. - Signature Wings: recommended by our bartender, these tamarind-soy glazed bbq wings, with a touch of lime and cilantro, were finger liking delicious. I only wish the skin had been a bit crispier. - Fried Brussels Sprouts: oof these brussels were unique in the best sense of the word. The flavor combination may raise some eyebrows, but it just works! With caramelized fish sauce coating each sprout, finely chopped almonds and sweet dates, hints of lime and herb, and finished off with pickled onions, these bites will stick with me. - Braised Pork Noodles: dishes that declare meat as one of their main components, and then deliver with a generous portion of said meat, are some of my favorites. Stir fry noodles are smothered in some sort of sweet sauce and mixed with numerous pieces of tender, soy-ginger braised pork shoulder and fresh vegetables. Our bellies were bursting, but no pork shoulder left behind! Moral of the story, Sama Sama offers excellent Southeast-Asian inspired cuisine in a cozy, warm environment right off State St. in Santa Barbara. Although prices are slightly high for portion sizes, the unique flavors and quality of the food make up for the steeper bill. Overall, fabulous experience! Would definitely recommend. read more

See all

We had the tenders and the std wings. Flavor was excellent, the tenders were 5star, but I'm giving Sam's Sama 3 stars because the all 8 of th $17 before tip wings were all the flats of the wing ( the 2nd segment) and out of the 7 served, none were the drummets- the meatiest part of the wing. The flavor was excellent, but not your typical buffalo wing. The lack of any drummets in my order plus the fairly expensive $17 price is the reason for my 3star rating. I loved the layout of this place (upper State location) and wish I could do a higher rating, and I would go back to watch games and have some of Lama Dog's amazing brews, and maybe order the tenders and check out other items on Sama Sama's menu, but I will never order the wings again. read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Sama Sama Wings, 7 wings, all the skimpy flat section. :( - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Tasty food, but the creative cocktails are my favorite. The airy interior adorned with delicate bouquets is the perfect setting for a late afternoon beverage. European-like outdoor space in the back is great as well. read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The crispy rice was one of the best things I've ever eaten. The service was also great, our server was sweet and attentive and friendly

Sometimes variable and on great form at the moment - top class tastes and an increase in portion size make this buzzy spot worth seeking out for authentic dishes. Sprouts and Nasi Goring especially good, as are the wings. read more

This place is AMAZING!! For some serious Indo Foodies, we were HIGHLY IMPRESSED! From our warm welcome by the kind hostess, to Rebecca, our AMAZING and knowledgeable server of the foods that are on the menu, to our recommended cocktails, we were in AWE with it all!! We're definitely coming back with other friends and family to share the experience! read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

One of my pet peeves is paying for overpriced, mediocre food. I was under the impression that Sama Sama Kitchen was serving Indonesian food but it was just generic Asian food. Before we ordered, the waitress gave a spiel about how 1)they encourage eating "family style" (sharing dishes) but folks can do as they please; 2)dishes come out "staggered" meaning that food will come out whenever it's ready, not necessarily in order; 3) there's a 20% gratuity for all bills, which the menu justifies as a means to provide their staff living wages, healthcare, and retirement. All of which I would've been fine with, had it not been for the food and lackluster service. The bland papaya salad serving was ridiculously small for $16. It barely had any of the other ingredients listed on the menu (tomatoes, long beans, etc.). They served it in this unwieldy, awkward bowl with "serving" utensils that stuck out like a sore thumb. When it arrived to our table, I was stunned by its size and presentation. The Nasi Goreng Jawa was fine, probably the best thing we ordered, but not worth a second visit. The six-chicken-wings-for-$16 were ok, but not memorable and covered in a mini salad of cilantro. It could've been minced so it would at least stick to the chicken wings. How are folks "encouraged" to eat "family style" when everything is an individual serving? The waitress tried asking if we wanted to order anything else but, the above experience was so disappointing and discouraging that we were completely indifferent. What really bothered me was the lack of cultural awareness or respect carried by the staff. A party was leaving, where one of the guests said something in Indonesian and suggested the staff to respond with "sama sama" because it translates to "you're welcome." The staff admitted to not paying attention, made note of it, but ultimately disregarded this translation. That same staff had the audacity to debrief the encounter to another staff, with a flippant attitude: "Why should I be expected to know what it means? What does it matter?" That second staff not only agreed but furthered the sentiment by retorting the same question: "Yeah, why should we?" read more

Enjoyed our lunch at Sama Sama. There's a different lunch menu vs dinner menu. We got the Crispy Rice Salad and the Duck Salad. Both were tasty. Service was okay - we got our beer at the end of dinner which was a bummer, especially since the restaurant wasn't very busy. We were seated indoors, vibes were very cute. Parking is tough if you're not used to street parking. read more

First and last time. In town on business and interest piqued by the Indonesian element. Interior was unpleasantly loud. Got the Vietnamese wings. Came out very hot and nicely spicy, but sickeningly sweet and so swimming in grease that it literally dripped down my hands and onto the table drip drip drip. The black cod in banana leaves was absolutely delicious, although a tiny portion for a lot of money. But I showed up in a delightfully elated, heel-clicking mood. And the server, Shannon, managed to dash that. Just completely disconnected, reciting rote scripts with no connection with the human seated at the table, downright unfriendly, left me unattended for really long stretches, and seemed to really dislike being there. Really put a damper on the whole evening. I'm normally a really big tipper, but this was the sort of interaction that really would have merited little or no tip. But oh, they're already tacking on 20% whether you want it or not. Once was enough. I will not be back. read more

Awesome food. Service was spot on. Sat outside, just kind of the standard dew all but was a nice night.

Such a deliciously creative, next level restaurant. Every dish was distinctive and memorable, intensively flavorful, cooked just right, and perfect for sharing. It was our second time at Sama Sama, and now I can't imagine coming to Santa Barbara without dining there! Great service too. Top flight cocktails. Everything 5 stars. read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - I - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Excellent dining experience! Beautiful patio in spring bloom. Fantastic friendly knowledgeable waitress who checked about food allergies. Had the small plate highlights - all recommended: wings, cucumber salad, bao and pork noodles. So yummy, great creative taste combos! The crowning experience was the miso panacotta w/berries and puffed rice desert! Exquisite‼ read more

Amazing place. It's a southeast Asian fusion. I ordered a Javanese braised chicken and it was such an intense satisfying food experience. I ordered it with the yellow coconut rice and was a perfect combo. Highly recommended read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Javanese braised chicken - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I was very excited to try this restaurant, the food was good and the flavors were definitely there. However I don't think the portions match the prices. I would maybe come back if I was getting just a drink and an appetizer, but not for a full dinner. read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Signature wings & crispy rice salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Delicious! My girlfriend and I were lucky to get a table during rush hour, I'd recommend making a reservation. We got the Vietnamese Wings and Braised Pork Noodles and both were delicious. It was a cute little restaurant. read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Vietnamese Wings and Pork braised noodles - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

"A 20% gratuity is added to all checks to provide a higher living wage for all employees, including healthcare. Additional tips are optional. Thank you for supporting a healthier staff." When I read a paragraph like this, it signals to me that the owner is a cheapskate and instead of building in "living wages" and "healthcare" to the bottom line, he's decided to make it the patron's problem. Since tips should be optional, the only way you can compel the patron to foot the bill for you is by creating this stupid "mandatory" gratuity. This owner has chosen to abuse gratuity. Rather than it being a percentage the patron chooses based on rewarding the quality of service they were provided, the owner just does it for you. What if I didn't get service worthy of 20%? What's my recourse? I've typically found that servers mail it in when they know they'll be tipped 20% regardless of the service they provide. Two of us came in for lunch. We shared one order of the traditional wings; and both of us got the pork noodles and an iced tea. Total bill was over $100 -- that's insane! Portions were TINY and I left hungry. The server said that the portions were family style. Ya, maybe if you ordered 5 of everything. I couldn't see splitting the noodles, each of us would have barely gotten a bite. Overall, there was nothing impressive about the food or the service. Both were fairly average and underwhelming. The mandatory gratuity is enough for me to never come back and spend my money elsewhere. I don't support cheapskate business owners and neither should you. read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Mandatory gratuity because the owner is too cheap to build it into his bottom line -- so they made it your problem. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Yum yum yum! I love me some Asian Fusion! I came here for the first time with my husband for a late lunch and it was pretty busy; therefore ended up sitting at the bar as tables weren't yet cleared to eat at. We ended up getting the following: **CHICKEN SATAY / $15: marinated & grilled , peanut sauce, crispy shallot ... Loved the flavor of the satay, it was a little different than traditional satay. **PORK NOODLES / $19: stir - fried noodles , soy - ginger braised pork, market veggies, eggs...Loved the fried noodles, it was a light dish and the pork was cooked nicely! I wanted more. **PAN SEARED OCTOPUS / $28: crispy potatoes, rending rémoulade, scallion & chili oil... perfectly cooked octopus and I really enjoyed the small crispy potatoes. I only wish for the price, there was a tad bit more octopus. **MY BOO / $16: old grand - dad bourbon , cynar, maraschino liquor, chocolate bitters, pinch of salt... This is basically an Old Fashioned with a twist and I really enjoyed it! Overall, friendly staff, good service and wonderful food. We will be back! read more

See all

Sama Sama is one of my favorite places to eat in SB. The wings and the duck salad are a must. Service is great and food is amazing.

Really great meal! Everything was delicious and the vibe was super chill. Giant drink. Great service. read more

See all

To begin, the servers are great but there is no standards set. It takes them probably 15 mins to get to your table after sitting. The food comes out really quick but after that, the service declines. Your drinks start taking 20 mins to come. Also- ALLERGY CONSCIOUS PEOPLE: I had a very bad allergic reaction so fair warning. It's important that Sama Sama finds a way to provide this 'Michelin' quality service. Not fun reaction. read more

Fortunate enough to sit at the bar where we always feel we get the best recommendations. Drinks were great, but the highlight (for us) was the crispy rice salad! Perfection...it was completely balanced and remained crispy to the end. We also shared the wings (half&half) and the bao chicken sandwich. I preferred the wings, my husband the sandwich, but we both loved the salad!! You can't go wrong! Enjoy! read more

I was a bit disappointed by: the portion sizes as well as the menu options. Service was great, and the ambience was cool. Didn't love that there were only bench tables in the back patio. read more

We had half & half chicken wings for an appetizer. Both styles are good but we liked the dry-rub better. For our entrees, we had the pork noodles and spare ribs. The noodles were tasty; the ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender and to die for. read more

Also...be careful if paying with credit card. We were almost tricked into paying additional 20% tip IN ADDITION to the 20% we already paid!!! The restaurant charges 20% automatically. But when you're paying the bill, they sneak in a tipping option as if they don't have a mandatory 20% tip already added to your bill. BE CAREFUL read more

I love Sama Sama! Family style ordering in a laidback, cute atmosphere. I love both of the wings (get the half & half order) - signatures wings are sweet and the Vietnamese wings are spicy. I like starting with the krupuk (puffed garlic chips) and sambal. My favorites are the duck salad, green papaya salad, and crispy rice salad. The craft cocktails are delicious. I recommend the Jamu Margarita, but all the signature cocktails are great. read more

See all

Food was really good! The ambiance inside was really nice and set the mood. Our waiter was super nice and informative! It was our first time & he went over the menu w/ us w/ recommendations. He told us that they're known for their chicken wings so we knew we definitely had to get an order of those. There's two flavor options and you can spilt the order and get both so that's what we did so that we can try everything. We also got the pork ribs and the pork noodle dish. The ribs were definitely also a 5/5. The noodles were good but definitely it has a tiring taste to it but still 4/5. read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This was our last meal in Santa Barbara before heading home, and I was pretty happy with the food! We ordered the crispy duck salad and the signature wings family style off the lunch menu. Crispy duck salad: 8/10. This was crisp and delightful! Always love some sweetness and tartness in my salads, so I thought the addition of grapes in this was a great choice. The few pieces of crispy duck inside were good though a little too salty for me. Signature wings: 8/10. Beautifully fried and crunchy on the outside covered in a sweet & spicy tamarind BBQ sauce. Maybe it's because I'm not a big fan of cilantro, but I could've done without the cilantro on these (though it made the dish pretty!) A great Indonesian restaurant on State St with unique flavors and a cute but small interior dining area! I thought prices were reasonable given the fresh ingredients and the area. Just be aware this restaurant does automatically add a 20% service charge to your bill. read more

Sama Sama Kitchen - Signature wings - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

For a Michelin-rated restaurant, Sama Sama was disappointingly average. Thought it's apparently inspired by Indonesian flavors, the dishes are your standard New American fusions of Asian cuisine in truth. The portions are quite small for the price and I can't say the food was mind-blowing either. We started with the Brussels Sprouts which were fine. The Braised Pork Noodles were decent, but on the small side. Finally, the Pepes Ikan was pretty disappointing, rather small and nothing too flavorful. read more

See all