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I've been wanting to try this place when I'm in Santa Barbara, and finally got the chance. The baos were the ones that stood out for me. It was flavorful and pillowy soft. The food we ordered were tasty and came out quick. Check it out when you're in the area. Lots of street parking!
Definitely make a reservation if you can! We arrived at 515pm on a Friday thinking it would be empty (since they open at 5) and they were already full! Luckily we got a table quickly. Here is what we ordered: Avocado and pear salad 5/5 delicious and refreshing, I could've had two of those! Pork belly bao 3.5/5 thought it was good but nothing out of the ordinary. They had sliced it in 2 for us which was really nice Blue fin tuna roll 4/5 Uni carbonara 5/5 super yummy!! Service was great, no complaints there ^_^
The perfect place to eat some bao. I came here for our first night in SB to kick off the night of dinner fun for my sister's birthday. This place is very accommodating for large groups as our group was of 10. Delicious baos up and down galore. It felt like food was home away from home. Love, love, love.
Honestly, this place was just okay. The baos were decent, the pork belly could be better. The KFC flavor was not bad. The udon carbonara was creamy, but the taste was not great, missing flavor. The spicy wonton filling was good, but the sauce could be improved. It was too vinegary, but with a little sweet soy sauce, it was pretty close to Din Tai Fung. Dessert is a must get, 5/5.
Omg where do I begin??! Hands down one of my favorites restaurants in Santa Barbara. I got the Sangria cocktail which was so fruity and delicious! Then I also ordered the KFC and the pork belly bao, both had a delicious flavor and balance of savory and sweet. We also ordered the cucumber peach salad, which was delicious with pieces of Basil in it. So fresh! We got the crab rangoon, and I believe the scallop and prawn dumplings. All had such a lovely flavor and we're just so good. You can't go wrong here with anything you order! Great service and great food.
It's been a while since we visited for Happy Hour so we decided to come to try the Peruvian scallops. Service is quick and efficient. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. Food is flavorful and good quality. I really wanted the bingsu but was way too full for dessert so I plan to come back as soon as possible. Secret Bao is always a solid choice. Highly recommend.
Solid spot with great asian fusion food. The baos are really quite tasty, but not as tasty as some of the even more unique dishes. The Scallops on a half shell are probably the best dish, the dumplings are fantastic, the fried rice is very good, and the crab hand rolls are absolutely amazing! Service was kind and efficient, drinks were good, but would love some more options, and the vibes were on point for this spot. Glad it's there, and hope to see it continue to thrive.
Stopped in on a Wednesday afternoon, wanted a snack but didn't realize they were closing in 5 mins. Oops, they take the afternoons off. I was going to order more but just got a pork belly bao to go and took it to the court house sunken lawn across the street. So fatty, juicy, soft, unique! Need to get there earlier next time to order and enjoy more!
Secret Bao was an okay experience overall. The food was decent, but nothing really stood out enough to make me want to come back specifically for it. We tried the garlic noodles, spicy beef noodles, popcorn chicken, and corn dumplings. The garlic noodles were creamy and the spicy noodles had good flavor, but the dishes overall felt a bit underwhelming. The popcorn chicken was soggy (but probably cause I had it to go), though it wasn't particularly memorable, and the corn dumpling were fine but didn't leave a lasting impression. The service was friendly and our food came out in a reasonable amount of time, which we appreciated. The restaurant had a relaxed, casual atmosphere that made it a comfortable place to grab a meal, but was super packed for a weekday. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, but it also wasn't anything special. I might give it another try in the future and order some of their more popular items before making a final judgment.
Been eager to try this place out for maybe a year or more after hearing such great things!! Finally came on a date tonight, we came hungry and I couldn't help but leave feeling disappointed (and still hungry). Portions for the price are very small and I can respect that at a certain kind of restaurant, but I just wasn't necessarily blown away by any of the food. Also, the inside felt very cramped and chaotic and like I couldn't have a conversation at my table because the people next to us were so close. The prawn and scallop dumplings were my favorite but again, nothing outstanding or worth the $20. The scallops were the size of the slice of the small cucumber you can hardly even see them in the photo lol. The server was very kind. We just had to get their attention multiple times to order and for the check. We were going to order more dishes but saw the sizes and decided to save our money and get slices of pizza down the street instead. Bummer!
We've had our hearts set on baos because it was late and we wanted to eat something light and filling that carried flavor punch! We braved the long wait, no less on a Friday night and happily sat outdoors under the twinkly lights. The place was crowded but service was friendly and fast with a dollop of great menu recommendations. I asked what's so secret about the bao, and Yumm, the secret was revealed. I've tried many baos, and this one was a bit sweet and the dough did not stick on the roof of your mouth. That alone carries a star for me. I wanted to eat 10 of those KFC & pork belly baos but I do not want to over indulge since we ordered other entrees. I'm not a desert person but a sticky date is hard to dismiss especially with vanilla ice cream and coffee. Now that the secret is out, we will be trying other specialties when we return for another adventure in Santa Barbara.
Great customer service, friendly staff. Drinks came out quick & food as well. Love happy hour menu & menu size. Ordered the tempura bao & crab rice & dragon popcorn chicken, wish the chicken was more crispy though. Not so bad of a place.
Food: we had shrimp bao and fried rice for light lunch. The bao was delicious. Crispy shrimp and creamy sauce, nicely done. Fried rice was a disaster. Very salty and oily, but the aroma is still good. I'd not come back for it though. Service: they only let you order it at the counter. Somewhat lacking service, and they don't take order from the table.
Well it appears that I have a new favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara! Came last night at the suggestion 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 read more
The best food I had while visiting Santa Barbara! All the dishes were fantastic, can't go wrong. We got 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. read more
This is my favorite Asian restaurant in Santa Barbara! The baos were absolutely amazing--I could eat them every day! Yummy! The only downside is that the restaurant is so popular that you really need to make a reservation at least a week in advance. Walk-ins are not a good idea unless you're prepared for a VERY long wait. Ha! There's also no bar area, so there isn't a place to grab a quick drink and snack while you wait. Outdoor seating is the way to go, but keep in mind that you won't get Happy Hour prices when sitting outside. Even so, I somehow managed to snag a last-minute reservation for my group of eight at 7 PM on a Wednesday night. That said, don't count on getting lucky like we did! If you're planning a special event or dinner with a group, I'd definitely recommend making your reservation as early as possible. The service is excellent. We were lucky to have a fantastic waiter who was very knowledgeable about the menu and took great care of us. I really appreciate the high level of customer service. I've been to this restaurant many times, and I'll definitely be reserving another dinner here soon! read more
I've been wanting to try this place when I'm in Santa Barbara, and finally got the chance. The baos were the ones that stood out for me. It was flavorful and pillowy soft. The food we ordered were tasty and came out quick. Check it out when you're in the area. Lots of street parking! read more
Definitely make a reservation if you can! We arrived at 515pm on a Friday thinking it would be empty (since they open at 5) and they were already full! Luckily we got a table quickly. Here is what we ordered: Avocado and pear salad 5/5 delicious and refreshing, I could've had two of those! Pork belly bao 3.5/5 thought it was good but nothing out of the ordinary. They had sliced it in 2 for us which was really nice Blue fin tuna roll 4/5 Uni carbonara 5/5 super yummy!! Service was great, no complaints there ^_^ read more
27 days ago
The perfect place to eat some bao. I came here for our first night in SB to kick off the night of dinner fun for my sister's birthday. This place is very accommodating for large groups as our group was of 10. Delicious baos up and down galore. It felt like food was home away from home. Love, love, love. read more
13 days ago
Honestly, this place was just okay. The baos were decent, the pork belly could be better. The KFC flavor was not bad. The udon carbonara was creamy, but the taste was not great, missing flavor. The spicy wonton filling was good, but the sauce could be improved. It was too vinegary, but with a little sweet soy sauce, it was pretty close to Din Tai Fung. Dessert is a must get, 5/5. read more
2 months ago
Omg where do I begin??! Hands down one of my favorites restaurants in Santa Barbara. I got the Sangria cocktail which was so fruity and delicious! Then I also ordered the KFC and the pork belly bao, both had a delicious flavor and balance of savory and sweet. We also ordered the cucumber peach salad, which was delicious with pieces of Basil in it. So fresh! We got the crab rangoon, and I believe the scallop and prawn dumplings. All had such a lovely flavor and we're just so good. You can't go wrong here with anything you order! Great service and great food. read more
It's been a while since we visited for Happy Hour so we decided to come to try the Peruvian scallops. Service is quick and efficient. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. Food is flavorful and good quality. I really wanted the bingsu but was way too full for dessert so I plan to come back as soon as possible. Secret Bao is always a solid choice. Highly recommend. read more
Solid spot with great asian fusion food. The baos are really quite tasty, but not as tasty as some of the even more unique dishes. The Scallops on a half shell are probably the best dish, the dumplings are fantastic, the fried rice is very good, and the crab hand rolls are absolutely amazing! Service was kind and efficient, drinks were good, but would love some more options, and the vibes were on point for this spot. Glad it's there, and hope to see it continue to thrive. read more
2 months ago
Stopped in on a Wednesday afternoon, wanted a snack but didn't realize they were closing in 5 mins. Oops, they take the afternoons off. I was going to order more but just got a pork belly bao to go and took it to the court house sunken lawn across the street. So fatty, juicy, soft, unique! Need to get there earlier next time to order and enjoy more! read more
2 months ago
Secret Bao was an okay experience overall. The food was decent, but nothing really stood out enough to make me want to come back specifically for it. We tried the garlic noodles, spicy beef noodles, popcorn chicken, and corn dumplings. The garlic noodles were creamy and the spicy noodles had good flavor, but the dishes overall felt a bit underwhelming. The popcorn chicken was soggy (but probably cause I had it to go), though it wasn't particularly memorable, and the corn dumpling were fine but didn't leave a lasting impression. The service was friendly and our food came out in a reasonable amount of time, which we appreciated. The restaurant had a relaxed, casual atmosphere that made it a comfortable place to grab a meal, but was super packed for a weekday. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, but it also wasn't anything special. I might give it another try in the future and order some of their more popular items before making a final judgment. read more
Been eager to try this place out for maybe a year or more after hearing such great things!! Finally came on a date tonight, we came hungry and I couldn't help but leave feeling disappointed (and still hungry). Portions for the price are very small and I can respect that at a certain kind of restaurant, but I just wasn't necessarily blown away by any of the food. Also, the inside felt very cramped and chaotic and like I couldn't have a conversation at my table because the people next to us were so close. The prawn and scallop dumplings were my favorite but again, nothing outstanding or worth the $20. The scallops were the size of the slice of the small cucumber you can hardly even see them in the photo lol. The server was very kind. We just had to get their attention multiple times to order and for the check. We were going to order more dishes but saw the sizes and decided to save our money and get slices of pizza down the street instead. Bummer! read more
We've had our hearts set on baos because it was late and we wanted to eat something light and filling that carried flavor punch! We braved the long wait, no less on a Friday night and happily sat outdoors under the twinkly lights. The place was crowded but service was friendly and fast with a dollop of great menu recommendations. I asked what's so secret about the bao, and Yumm, the secret was revealed. I've tried many baos, and this one was a bit sweet and the dough did not stick on the roof of your mouth. That alone carries a star for me. I wanted to eat 10 of those KFC & pork belly baos but I do not want to over indulge since we ordered other entrees. I'm not a desert person but a sticky date is hard to dismiss especially with vanilla ice cream and coffee. Now that the secret is out, we will be trying other specialties when we return for another adventure in Santa Barbara. read more
Great customer service, friendly staff. Drinks came out quick & food as well. Love happy hour menu & menu size. Ordered the tempura bao & crab rice & dragon popcorn chicken, wish the chicken was more crispy though. Not so bad of a place. read more
3 months ago
Food: we had shrimp bao and fried rice for light lunch. The bao was delicious. Crispy shrimp and creamy sauce, nicely done. Fried rice was a disaster. Very salty and oily, but the aroma is still good. I'd not come back for it though. Service: they only let you order it at the counter. Somewhat lacking service, and they don't take order from the table. read more
I saw a lot of talk about Secret Bao on tiktok because we were going to Santa Barbara for a day trip, and I wanted to make the most of it. I heard so many good things about this place and I wanted to give it a try! To cut it short, it was okay. Definitely didn't think that it was worth the extreme hype it was getting especially because I only really loved 2 items. Now onto the details, the chili dumplings were delish, but weren't hot when they came out to us and not even warm, so I'm not sure if that's how they're supposed to be served? The baos. Pork belly bao was good, however, it was nothing to go crazy over though. The shrimp bao was my favorite thing we ordered out of everything! I could've ordered more of these and I wish I did! The KFC was definitely a HUGE MISS. The red sauce was wayyy too overpowering that you couldn't even taste anything else. We could've gone without it 100%. My Mom just ended up eating the bun. The garlic noodles were very salty, but we did mix some of the chili sauce from the dumplings on top and it definitely made the dish better. But we shouldn't even have to mix anything, especially from a different dish, to make it better. The pork belly fried rice was good and portions were a lot too, however, it would've been nice to know it was spicy and kimchi heavy. My mom isn't a big fan of spicy so we would've skipped on it if we knew that. Also, the $19 price point was kinda wild. Like I said, Secret Bao was okay. I would go back and just get the Shrimp Bao and chili dumplings and maybe try other stuff on the menu if we spent more than a day in SB. 3 stars since we did like a couple of the menu items but it's a maybe on recommending it to other people. read more
1 month ago
Super unique restraunt with a menu unlike any other place in town. The service was excellent, we had multiple people checking on our table the whole meal. They have a great happy hour and even offeres to split the Bao's for us because they could see we were sharing everything! read more
9 months ago
The food is absolutely amazing! Every BITE IS HEAVENLY! I could come here everyday! Make sure you try to get a reservation if you really want to eat here, we didn't have one but got lucky enough to get a table! The service is amazing from the lovely host to our waiter (the one with pink and black hair) you're absolutely lovely! Ambiance is so cozy and cute! Love love love! read more
4 months ago
Absolutely amazing from start to finish!! Hostess (Wednesday night ) was very welcoming and even though we were a late Reservation. Our server RJ made fantastic suggestions and his service was stunning. I will suggest this spot a hundred times over and we'll be back soon!! read more
2 months ago
Excellent!! Food , service and ambiance. Can't wait to come back! .........................................saki too! read more
Secret Bao is a a good modern asian fusion restaurant. You have to order and pay for food prior to seating. The food is delicious; the pork belly bao was very tasty; the pork belly was tender. It was priced on the higher end- $8 for one bao. The pork belly fried rice ($19) was seasoned well and had some crunch. The kimchi elevated the flavor as well. It was a decent size. However, the pork pieces were very small and disappointingly, there were not much in the fried rice. Overall tasty but priced on the higher end compared to what you are getting 3.5/5 read more
4 months ago
My second time here my boyfriend's first. We LOVED it. Will definitely come back and try new things. My favorite was the pear salad and my boyfriend's favorite was the bao. Everything was delicious though and shout out to RJ for the best service. Thank you read more
Found this place via TikTok. Honestly, a little underwhelming. The food was okay. Pretty good, but not good enough to justify the prices. The baos are sold individually, meaning each bao is like $8. Place should definitely be rated $$$ instead if you want to feel anywhere close to full. Tried the pork belly bao, fried chicken bao, cauliflower, and dumplings. Fried chicken and cauliflower were standout. Pork belly was not cooked long enough, so the fat stayed solid on the bao, which was a little unappealing. There is garage parking very close by. First 75 minutes free, which is nice. read more
Absolutely loved Secret Bao! We were seated outside in the patio because we brought our fur baby and it was perfect with the lights and weather. The waiter was awesome and asked if he can bring our dog some treats and water (great customer service). The food was delicious and you can't go wrong with anything on this menu. The Taiwanese Popcorn chicken was fried to perfection and the Avocado Pear salad gave your taste buds a ride. All the food was delicious, but the Sticky Date Cake with vanilla ice cream was perfect and a must order. Definitely recommend this restaurant! read more
This place is truly a gem in Santa Barbara. Not only is the Asian-fusion food amazingly delicious, but service is top notch friendly. It's hard to get fusion style foods to taste good, but Secret Bao has done it. They do have 2 separate menus (lunch menu & dinner menu) with menu items changing with the seasons. The drink menu consists of wines, sake/soju, beer, cocktails & mocktails. The place gets packed quick, so best to make reservations. 1. Avocado & Korean Pear Salad (5/5) Everything about this salad was super fresh and bursting with flavor. The sesame vinaigrette dressing was nutty & umami, which gave the dish an extremely pleasant aromatic flavor. This is essentially a lettuce-free salad dish that is mainly consistent of their super refreshing, crunchy, Korean pear mixed with creamy Haas avocado then topped with toasted pepitas seeds, kizami nori - furikake seaweed flakes and chives. Everything came together very well. 2. Hamachi Wonton Tacos (5/5) Never had tacos like this before - it's definitely an Asian spin on it where the taco shell has the consistency of fried wonton instead of corn/flour. It is stuffed with fresh Japanese yellowtail and topped with diced granny smith apples, cucumber, red cabbage slaw, which added a refreshing crunch with each bite. The secret chili sauce was mild in heat & the avocado puree added a bit of creaminess. It reminded me of eating a sushi roll. These were sure a satisfying, bite-sized, appetizers 3. Peruvian Scallops (5/5) I am not a seafood type of person and usually stay away from shellfish dishes as they tend to taste like the sea. However, this dish has proved me wrong. The scallops were super fresh (no seafood taste at all) and they just melt in your mouth like butter. Pair it with their citrusy yuzu vinaigrette sauce, massage and chives, it was like a flavor bomb with each bite. I especially liked that they topped it off with some fresh crunchy cucumber and bursting roe. 4. KFC Bao (4/5) $8/bao is kind of a steep price, but I think it is worth a one-time try. The bao was super fluffy and steamed to perfection. Then it is packed with a large piece of Korean fried chicken that is glazed in this dark umami-sweet (hoisin?) sauce and topped off with slaw, scallions and pickled red onions. It's definitely a flavor punch. A bit messy to eat. Best to split half with another person so you don't get too full off of this 5. Pork Belly Bao (5/5) Now this is the bao I would get again. That pork belly was just "melt in you mouth." The hoisin glaze with Kewpie mayo was the perfect dressing to balance out the fattiness of the pork. 6. Kung Pao Cauliflower (5/5) Cauliflower sautéed with charred red onion, shishito peppers, Japanese fried chilis, roasted cashew topped with kung pao sauce that gives it a sweet, yet tangy and very mildly spice. Healthy, yet satisfying. This is veggies done right ;) 7. Soy Chili Dumpling (4/5) The name was a bit misleading to me as I thought it would be the traditional steamed wonton/dumplings topped with chili oil sauce, but their version is actually 4 large "fried" dumplings that's filled with pork mixed with Korean glass noodles topped with cabbage, garlic chives, cilantro, shaved radish, fried shallots and dressed with the chili oil. The wonton shell was super crunchy and it reminded me of eating those Chinese fried cheese wonton. It was not spicy at all. I think the garlic-soy flavor overpowered the chili oil. 8. Duck Spring Roll (5/5) Wow, this has got to be some of the best duck dishes I've had. The duck was crispy, fatty, juicy and paired very well with the caramelized onions, garlic, sweet chili - hoisin sauce. Despite it being fatty, it actually didn't make us feel sickly heavy afterwards. Very well done; highly recommend trying this 9. Eggplant Fried Wonton (4/5) A very crispy wonton that's filled with eggplant, which naturally has that mushy consistency. It is topped with a spicy sauce and dressed with seaweed and white sesame that does give it a nice flavor combo We will definitely be back to try out more items and the lunch menu!!! read more
4 months ago
3.8 Goated food is amazing Didn't know Santa Barbara had that dawg in them Mango bingsu was lowkey a let down but cauliflower was buss read more
I'm a vegetarian so I had to pick from the limited options they had. Got the Kungpao cauliflower: 4/5 very delicious! I'd have liked it more if it was crispier. The fried cashews added a great flavor to it. Veggie Yellow Curry Noodles: 3/5 good combination of bok choy, bean sprouts, shitake mushrooms and coconut milk gravy. But it lacked spice and kick. My friend got the pork belly bao and said it was delicious. The spicy fried rice was awesome too. I wish they had more vegetarian options. The ones they do have aren't extraordinary. Lovely service and very cute ambience. Slightly on the pricier side. Parking in public lots nearby. read more
6 days ago
6 months ago
First time in Santa Barbara! My cousin wanted her dinner celebration here, and I am glad she picked this spot. I highly recommend the pork belly bao and beef bulgogi chow fun. Some people in my party ordered the udon carbonara, which was also a hit! read more
6 months ago
A must try! Close to the SB Art Museum and The historic court house & clock tower. Ever since i saw this on DDD a few years ago i've need to try! We loved this place! The dough in the folded "taco" style Bao was so sweet and fluffy! Fantastic, don't ever change this! The Spicy Soy Pork Dumplings were out favorite! Unbelievable! A must stop in every time I'm in SB! read more
5 months ago
What can I say other than culinary perfection? It's where street food meets casual dining but with masterfully crafted menu items that will make your taste buds pop! The KFC Bao was exceptional. Crunchy, tangy, sweet, fresh and savory. A delightful dish that had me wanting a second one. The Dolsot Bokkeumbap was also delicious, savory and a bit in the heavy side, it could use something fresh, acidic or sweet to brighten up the dish. The staff was very friendly and recommended the Bao, so they know what is good on the menu. I was sat outside where they have a beautiful little patio with heaters and comfortable seating. Overall this place is a must try! read more
Came with the family to celebrate my dad's birthday after seeing a handful of people online mention Secret Bao. We arrived as they were opening for dinner service and the line moved very quickly (we had a reservation just in case). The service was exceptional - we asked to be seated in the corner since our dog can get excited and they moved a couple tables to make it work. All the servers were super friendly and we felt very attended to the whole meal :) Patio seating was nice and cozy (they have heaters to ward off the cold). We ordered soy chili dumplings, lobster garlic noodles, kungpao cauliflower, curry noodles, brussel sprouts, chicken xiao long bao (plus a beef tomato pasta dish and two chocolate lava cakes with strawberry and matcha ice cream which were on a separate limited time menu). The food was overall good but I felt like most of the dishes lacked depth in their flavor that I'm used to in Asian cuisine and a few of them were a bit salty for my taste. The amount of food we ordered was perfect for 5 adults. They gave my dad a mochi ice cream on the house with a candle for his birthday. read more
5 months ago
Overall the food was very delicious. I would recommend the Bao (both the KFC and pork belly were very good). The sweet potato dumplings are fried and had a very unique twist for Asian fusion and would recommend. The kalbi was very mediocre, but it was fun for sharing. Day cake was delicious. I would highly recommend since it came out and was very warm. The bingsu was mostly frozen and was not finally shaved in terms of milk ice and the Nutella pairing with it did not go very well. We had a fantastic server (Cathy) who took our orders and was very friendly. The front staff was quite rude when we followed up what the wait time was (might have been because it was busy, but hope that it's a 1x thing and not a pattern). Otherwise, vibes we're very good and I can see why this is a popular spot. read more
6 months ago
Food was incredible Service was great Ambiance is amazing I would definitely go out of my way to come back here. Everything HIT read more
27 days ago
Overall a great experience great service and great unique options. I had the kfc bao and the pork belly boa and I'll definitely be making the hour drive just to get them again . read more
Amanda Loves Secret Bao Santa Barbara's Asian inspired Fusion restaurant. As we approached the restaurant at 450pm there was a line of people waiting we walked around to Paradise Found for a spot of warm tea . We proceeded to the restaurant and were seated. As we checked out the menu we ordered cocktails. The servers were Amazing helpful, kind, and patient as I had questions. Amanda knew the menu well having been there recently. Amy arrived and we were in full swing for our evening to celebrate my impending Birthday. Amy C and I met the day before with Mickey A for a Yelp Elites event. Check out my reviews. So I believe that counts as a Impending Birthday celebration event. All the food was amazing my favorites were the Dumplings and the KFC Chicken tacos. There are a couple things I'll try next time. As we sat near the front door it was was exciting to see the energy of people coming and going. The place looked and felt Amazing. Thanks for a wonderful experience at Secret Bao Ronnie S read more
Great dining experience. Got there a bit early and they seated us right away. PINK PERUVIAN SCALLOPS 2/5* - the rave reviews convinced us to order this one, and while fresh, there was nearly 0 flavor. It felt like something must have been missing. The scallops were also very small. Overpriced, disappointing, and not distinctive. KFC + PORK BELLY BAO 4/5* - Yummmm. The pork belly was delish, and the fried chicken was a textural, tasty bite. They split them in half if you want which was nice. They were a little hard to eat and keep in the bun, and the pork belly could've used a little texture. SOY CHILI DUMPLINGS 5/5* - love the toppings, the sauce, the ratio of the ingredients. Real winner KUNG PAO CAULIFLOWER 5/5* - this sauce was the bomb dot com. Maybe a little salty but I didn't care. The mix of shishito peppers, nuts, sauce was everything. CURRY NOODLES 5/5* - we saw the mixed reviews about potentially watery sauce but took the chance cause we wanted some noodles, and we were so pleasantly surprised! The broth was masterful, the mushrooms weren't overwhelming, and the portion was really big for the price compared to our other dishes. Noodles were cooked well. Highly recommend if you're looking for a hearty addition to your smaller plates. My partner enjoyed his IPA (served in a cold glass!), and my tropical mocktail with lychee was refreshing and delicious. Service was attentive but not overbearing. Yes yes yes! read more
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More info about Secret Bao
1201 Anacapa St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
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(805) 259-3226
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http://secretbaosb.com
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Ask the Community - Secret Bao
Do we get to order our food at our table or do we have to order our meal at the counter?
Lunch is counter-service (order at front counter with cashier, receive order number, and our staff will bring everything out to whichever table you decide to sit). Dinner is full service, hostess will seat you and one of our servers will take your…
What time is your happy hour dim sum? And is it only applied if you sit at the bar?
5-6pm!!
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