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.

Food was excellent and our server was just lovely. There was a small hiccup in our experience that…read moreshe handled as best she could within her level of experience (saying this in a positive way), and then the manager came in and was insanely gracious in all respects. Most impressive to me was that as much as she wanted to take care of us as her customers, the manager seemed equally dedicated to taking care of her server and staff. Huge respect and appreciation to both our sweet server and the woman leading such a strong team this evening

Well it appears that I have a new favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara! Came last night at the…read moresuggestion of a few locals and a few websites and was fully blown away. The menu is expertly curated, there's not many places where I legitimately want one (or two) of everything but Secret Bao made choosing a dinner for two very difficult. Everything we ate was incredible - the xiao long bao hands down the best I've had. Thick buns wrapped around a hearty and flavorful soup filling. The crispy rice was fantastic too, hot rice covered in cold bluefin tuna made for an excellent first course. Of course the bao were delicious as well, as it's right in the name of the restaurant. I liked the pork belly over the KFC only slightly more. Of course the Kalbi short ribs were perfect with crispy charred edges. The half pound was the perfect amount to split among two with other dishes. The carbonara noodles were an inventive and decadent centerpiece to tie everything together. Service was great, our young lady waiter was personable and gave great suggestions when I was truly overwhelmed by nothing but great options

The best food I had while visiting Santa Barbara! All the dishes were fantastic, can't go wrong. We…read moregot the kung pao cauliflower, beef bulgogi chow fun, and curry noodles to share with my friend. The cocktails were also delicious, my lychee-tini was great. Our server was very friendly and gave great recommendations. We sat outside and the outdoor seating was nice.

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.

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

We visited Sama Sama while in Santa Barbara, and it was hands down the best restaurant we had the…read morepleasure of experiencing during our trip. We feel pretty fortunate to have so many great restaurants near home, so finding a place that genuinely surprised and impressed us was both refreshing and an absolute pleasure. Everything we tasted was amazing. The standouts were the ribs, crispy rice salad, wings, and short rib noodles, but there truly wasn't a single thing we didn't enjoy. The drinks were great, and the ambiance and service were equally impressive. Our only regret is that we have to wait until our next visit to Santa Barbara to eat here again.

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.

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.

Update there is no brunch , currently only a breakfast sandwich, bummer !…read more Still a great neighborhood spot to watch sports and hang out with your well behaved dog , it's a good example that you can bring Fido and hang out with friends Beer selections rotate and there are also cans available for purchase Service is good , I appreciate friendly staff

I LOVE Sama Sama downtown. I like Lama Dog well enough, and their beer list typically has a fruity…read morebeer or two to satiate my "sort of likes beer sometimes" palate. So I was absolutely thrilled when a combo spot opened (WITH PARKING!!) uptown, so I don't need to brave the funk zone or downtown for a leisurely dinner and drink. Sadly, something just didn't quite measure up on the food side. They're definitely going for more of a brewpup vibe, as I didn't see some of the fancier items on the menu, but the prices were so high for the amount of food. If they'd altered to concept a bit more to fit pub fare (with prices to match) this would have been a homerun. We ordered the loaded tots, which were delicious, the koren wings, which were the clear standout of the meal, and then the ramen and dumpling tacos which were disappointing. The ramen was SO salty and was mostly just broth and noodles. The dumpling tacos were small and pricey for what they were, and personally I just wasn't a fan of the flavor. My boyfriend happily finished them, but then again he's a bottomless pit so he's easy to please. There's LOTS on the menu that interests me though, so I'm happy to give it another shot and try something else. The weekday bento boxes look interesting! Lama Dog itself is fine, and I'll absolutely get a snack at Sama Sama again when I go for a post-work bev, but it's sadly not going to be my go-to for dinner.

Hands down, the best noodles in town!…read more Such a hidden gem in Goleta! The customer service was amazing--everyone was so friendly and quick to greet us. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but I honestly loved the overall theme and atmosphere. The little panda signs throughout the restaurant added such a cute touch to the ambiance! Definitely a spot I'd recommend if you're craving some delicious noodles! Definitely going back to try other items on the menu!

We love that there is outdoor seating. Not a lot of seating so it can get pretty full fast…read more We ordered a coke, veggie tofu spring rolls, orange tofu, and combination pho. It hits the spot. Super flavorful tofu and had the outer crisp. The pho I inhaled so fast. A lot of noodles and meat. The server nearly forgot to bring out the bean sprouts and basil with a friendly reminder. Otherwise I would absolutely come again!

The food and service were excellent fast and friendly. First time here but will be coming more and…read morerecommending to others

There is nothing that was wrong here. The meats were incredible. The Beef Bulgogi cook up so soft…read moreand tender, and the flavor is 2nd to none. The Marinated Spare ribs were also incredible!! The service in ensuring the cook top was replaced often this didn't cause the flavors to meld into each other. The flavors kept to themselves. The atmosphere in here is so devine. This is a truly hidden piece of perfection!! Basically, the question is, "Would I recommend this place to others that were visiting the area?" The answer is a resounding YES!!

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