Love Soul Food! @soulbitesrestaurants is sooooo sooo good! My baby sister and I stopped by. The owner, Stirling is the nicest man. The food he serves is a 5/5. I tried the cracklings ( not pictured), Johnny Sticks , mac n cheese, perfectly cooked fried chicken and potato salad.... all outstanding!!! I will be back for their RnB brunch! That's my jam as a 90s girl! Who doesn't love RnB and amazing food !? Um? Thank you, Imo for influencing me! Great spot. Def check them out! Located in SB. Cool locally owned spot. Chill vibes ! read more

See all

I didn't get the name of the proprietor who was so absolutely cool and lovely, and prepared me three fried chicken legs for midday meal to go to satisfy my craving for proper fried chicken legs. Thank you! This is the place for Soul food. I look forward to trying the sides. And dining in. But during a workday needed to scoot. So glad they're there. Good food! Eat here! read more

Soul Bites - Three fried chicken leggies to go such deelishousness - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

It was a slow evening and we were one of two parties there. It wasn't very inviting but the server behind the bar was pleasant and helpful. Unfortunately the menus provided needed to be wiped down because they had stuff on them but they hadn't been cleaned . We ordered the fried chicken, chicken sandwich, cracklings and Mac and cheese. The chicken was wonderfully crispy but it was a bit salty and the hot sauce didn't cut it. The spouse wished his sandwich bread had been toasted and something acidic like pickled onion added.. The Mac and cheese was good but not amazing. read more

Soul Bites - Fried chicken and Mac n cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

FUXS GIVEN = x.x ******************* Food = 3 Chicken was good but the sides weren't my jam. UX = 1 I'm not sure if this place is new but felt not quite ready yet. It was like if someone bought a bar to live in and then sold food out of it. Service = 2 One woman show and service isn't her forte. read more

See all

4 solid stars. Food was 4. Taste was good but they are serving food in to go containers instead of plates. We got the Shrimp & Grits with crab gravy, chicken cracklings (fried skin) black eye peas, and chicken Sandwhich. All were delicious. Service was good as we sat at the bar. read more

We ate here yesterday for dinner. No one was present except us, staff are friendly. Ordered: 1) half fried chicken with potato salad, collard greens and mac n cheese. 2) fried chicken skin with hot sauce for appetizer - just ok 3) shrimp and grits - delicious! 4) 2 glasses of tap water - costs $1 per cup!! Their fried chicken and shrimp grits were awesome. Husband enjoyed the collard greens. Mac n cheese was just ok. They messed up our order by bringing us black eyed peas instead of potato salad. They also charged us $1.00 per glass of water without telling us that it costs $1.00 per cup. I've never had a restaurant charge me money for tap water before so that was very odd and disappointing. It's like they threw a curve ball at us without notice. Food is good but having to pay for water and messing up our order brings the overall rating to 3 stars. Wish it could have been higher. read more

The person behind the counter was very attentive and kept checking on us to see if we were okay. We were the only people in there, but the music was good. We ordered the cracklings and the BBQ chicken Mac and cheese. It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible. read more

Savory, soulful Southern specialties! You'll find them on the 400 block of State Street, next to Zen Yai Thai Cuisine. There's street parking, public lots, and garages nearby. Most are free for the first seventy five minutes. They operate inside a small kitchen connected to a former nightclub/venue that has hosted musical performers like Kendrick Lamar and the Foo Fighters. Even though Velvet Jones is no longer in business, I like that Soul Bites still utilizes the space for live entertainment and community events. Seating is available on the outdoor patio, with additional tables inside. What's on the menu? Fish po'boy, shrimp 'n grits, fish 'n chips, maple brined fried chicken, several light bites, the usual fixins (mac 'n cheese, collared greens, black eyed peas, etc.) and more. They also serve several alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Whether you dine-in or take out, all food is packaged in disposable containers. Vegan Crab Cakes - pleasant plant-based rendition of a classic coastal delicacy. Exterior was satisfyingly crispy and well seasoned. Filling was flavorful and herby. Moisture content was a bit minimal, which gave the interior a firm, tough texture. Thankfully the remoulade sauce came in handy. Mac & Cheese - delightful; well prepared, slightly creamy but not runny Their kitchen is on the smaller side, I think it was only meant to handle concessions for the prior business, not for a full working restaurant. So it can take a while to get orders out. Patience is key! read more

Soul Bites - Vegan Crab Cakes w/ Remoulade, Mac & Cheese ⋅ Santa Barbara, California - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I have heard mixed reviews about Soul Bites. Went there on a Saturday night and it's was not busy at all. There was a band playing inside and a juice bar outside selling non-alcoholic drinks. To me, the food was mediocre at best. I had the fish sandwich which was enjoyable but was a little salty. Then my friend and I had the Johnny sticks which were tasty. I have never had them before, I usually enjoy my food with lots of flavor so to me the sticks could have used some sauce or a little something extra. If I go to State for dinner again, I would like to try the bbq Mac and cheese and vegan crab cakes. read more

Soul Bites - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

When they said Food for the Soul...they are not kidding!! This is the best soul food I have had in such a long time! Visiting Santa Barbara or long time local looking for the best fried chicken around? You need to not walk - but R U N over to Soul Bites! First the hospitality of the owners is amazing! They truly get to know their customers and want to ensure that you have the best experience from the moment you sit down to the moment you leave. Thank you so much Stirling and Rose! Now..let's get into the food! First, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu! I personally recommend the Johnny Sticks, the Hibiscus Lemonade, the Hot Cracklin Mac, the chicken sandwich and of course the fried chicken. The chicken is so juicy, tender, and the maple brine makes it so much better! The chicken is just everything! If you get anything at all, you have to get the chicken! I love everything about Soul Bites as it has become one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara! Days later, I am still thinking about the chicken and the Johnny Sticks. I am already planning my next visit! Come by, support, and get ready to leave full and happy! read more

See all

On a spare weekday.. A friend and I decided to try soul bites Based on Richies recommendation.. I got the fried chicken sandwich.. And Mac and cheese.. My friend ordered the fried chicken meal with Mac and cheese And greens While waiting for my order I got the opportunity to talk with the owner I listened to him speak about the impact and difference He intends to bring to state street.. Full of energy and a man of family values I felt good about my choice to eat at Soul Bites The mac and cheese has great appeal. The smokiness it's packed with leaves the mind to wander down into deep southern territory Oh wait, I'm still on state street, lol Their was slight peppery notes in the Mac and cheese The fried chicken sandwich bread was great.. Not your burger bun type thing. And the quality of their fried chicken is definitely there. Wasn't to salty, A nice crust, hot and paired perfect with the barbecue sauce they have The food was made fresh.. So it came with a small wait. I recommended Soul bites for others to try out Definitely think they have a good thing going And look forward to my southern food cravings to be alleviated by this great addition to state street read more

See all

Ordered through DoorDash - got a soul plate with Mac & cheese & collard greens & a banana pudding for desert. I'm not going to lie everything was bad. The chicken seasoning had a weird flavor - almost like they used Indian spices? The Mac & cheese was probably the best thing but it was dry and lacking flavor. The collard greens were inedible & the banana pudding was $6 for a super small portion & tasted like overly sweet, processed vanilla pudding. Needless to say, I won't be back. read more

Highly recommend this place especially on Thursday nights! Live Blues music from 7-10pm. The fried chicken here is so good. The potato salad was super dry and the potatoes were hard but the chicken made up for it. For the live band there is a $10 cover charge to sit inside, but you can hear it from the patio area and that's free. Super friendly staff, we will defiantly be back read more

See all

SERVICE: We arrived right as they were opening so everything wasn't completely set up. All good, no judgement. Our server was super cool, forget his name. He offered suggestions and engaged in small talk as long as he could. Place is giving bar meets comfy lounge feel. Small stage in the back and sofas along the side. FOOD: It's bar food. Nothing to scream about. Wasn't impressed with my shrimp and grits. Partner in Crime had the bbq chic and mac which was fine. Keep in mind, this may be the best "soulfood-like or cajun" items in Santa Barbara so allow us to give that some respect. WELL: We'll be back to support and I want to come back when there's live entertainment. FYI, I posted the menu with prices for ya, you're welcome lol. read more

See all

Our server, Adriana, was great! She was very attentive, kind, and patient. We got the whole bucket and the vegan po'boy and they were both good albeit a little pricey. The banana pudding was good as well. The restaurant was very dark inside so it was a little off-putting but overall good experience! Thank you, Adriana! read more

Soul Bites - John fan and albert Li - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Service is always quick, great and friendly. Food is made fresh and worth the wait. Have never had a bad experience. read more

Soul Bites - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This place was such a let down. I feel like the other reviews were paid for. 1. The staff didn't know if they should have opened. 2. It smelled dusty and moldy and there were cob webs. 3. Really should have spent money revamping the place instead of trying to run a business and the staff didn't know what to do. 4.if this is a soul place black art should be on the wall. 5. The main cook just happened to come by on his day off and had to tell ppl what to do. 6. The food was a 2/10 at best. I've never seen transparent gravy. The grits were lumpy and the cook didn't understand cheesy shrimp& grits. 2 people didn't get their food in a timely manner and I ended up serving the food to the guest bc our wait was over an hour. 7. The owner was in LA I heard and Mr. Man should have been there no excuses. 8. Nothing against the staff, we were trying to be patient Ol' dude should make sure all ends are tied before trying to hit the ground running. Oh yeah, if yall decide to fix up the place I can paint some pictures... I told the Hispanic guy working the whole thing. read more

See all

We came on a slow Sunday and got our food within 30 minutes. Food was great! We got the fried chicken sandwich and the tenders n' wedges. Both were delicious and I would return again. I highly recommend getting the hot sauce, it is a sweeter version of Tabasco sauce that's made in- house. I hope this place gets a bigger crowd because their food is worth it' read more

Soul Bites - Chicken Sandwich - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

This is my new favorite place. First, the staff behind the bar are adorable and super sweet. I love talking to them because they actually smile and laugh! They have hot bands rolling through there on a regular basis! The bluesy, down home feel makes me so comfortable, I'm all about it! I feel like I can dance and sing anytime anyway I want. And the food. Omg the food...the fried chicken....the cracklins (fried chicken skins), the Mac n cheese bowls. The greens are juicy and not too spicy - just the right amount. If they added a cider or seltzer to their drink menu, they'd have to start charging me rent because I would never leave and I would spend every last dime there!! Love you guys! Thanks for hosting a place in Santa Bárbara for the soulful! read more

See all

We food delivered and it was hot and fresh. I forgot to take pictures before we ate. Fried chicken was juicy but lacked flavor in meat and breading. Was disappointed because I really wanted to like it. The brine makes it really juicy and was crunchy outside. It is a very dark fried chicken, not sure why? Mac and cheese was flavorless and was not creamy mac, it separated a lot on noodles. Again lacked flavor needed more salt and pepper. The greens were ok, had to add vinegar and hot sauce to make it taste good. Greens should be able to stand on their own without hot sauce. Black eyed peas were decent but again not a lot of flavor. There are not a lot of soul food places in Santa Barbara so I was really hoping for a better turn out. But unfortunately I wouldn't go back. 2 stars only because it was delivered hot and chicken was crunchy and juicy, remoulade saved the chicken. read more

See all

I have a bowl of craft mac n cheese with a pile of salt. This is not what I saw online. read more

Soul Bites - Mac N Cheese small - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

If you come out to SB to visit friends but all you can do is think about eating here before you head home... is that wrong? If so, I don't wanna be right. I absolutely love this place: coolest concept, nicest hardworking owner, a platform for live music, theme game nights, etc etc etc. but HOLD ON... the FOOD! It's absolutely ON POINT. I've tried their fried chicken (best in the 805), shrimp and grits (killer), Johnny sticks, chicken cracklins with hot sauce & Mac, chicken sandwich, po boy, vegan crab cakes, potato wedges, banana wafer dessert. Let me tell you, their food packs so much flavor, seasoning, comfort. The remolaude sauce is like nothing I've had elsewhere (I'm a huge sauce queen). If you're not a nightlife person, I suggest going before the shows start if one is featured. My friend and I usually enjoy a quieter time but love the option to have entertainment as well. I dream about the food here often. I hope you give it a try! Support small business! We need places like Soul Bites! Yummmm! read more

Chicken was crispy and well seasoned on the outside, juicy and tender inside. What more do you want for your fried chicken? The Mac and cheese was also good. I felt like the value for what I got was what I would've expected. The service was also good, The owner was very friendly and welcoming. No complaints all around. I'll be back again for sure, I love to support a local business. read more

Soul Food in Santa Barbara . . . such a nice discovery, and apparently done right. Thanks to owners Stirling and Rose for introducing me to all the deliciousness that they have to offer. Was a little overwhelming to see all the assorted dishes, but Stirling was great at explaining each and every one, with details on how the cooking process is done. Their "Bites" included Johnny Sticks (Stirling calls them the Caviar of Grits), Chicken Cracklins (can't even say enough about how tasty these are), and two different Mac 'N Cheese choices. For our "Mains" we decided on the Maple Brined Fried Chicken (fried fresh to order), Fish Po'Boy, and sides of Collard Greens, Blackeyed Peas, Grits, and the tasty BBQ Chicken Mac 'N Cheese. Quite a selection of delicious dishes, and good portions for sharing with friends. They do have seating inside and outside, but we ordered to go, and it made our "movie night" even better. Soul Food is located on lower State Street, between Gutierrez and Haley Streets. An easy walk from the Funk Zone, with the Gutierrez public parking lot nearby, and located amongst all that fun night life of Santa Barbara. p.s. don't forget the sauces for dipping and slathering. Yum! read more

Look people. If you're in Santa barbara, and this restaurant is open, just get on in here. I know the location is one you're thinking about as the old velvet jones, but trust me, this is not the old velvet jones. My wife and I ordered the Maple chicken combo with sides of mac and cheese and collard greens. Plus, we got some Johnny sticks. I would have paid twice as much for food this good. Not only that, but our server's name was Sterling, which seems like such a great metaphor for shiny Beauty slightly tarnished which is simply the human condition. Round up your crew and head over this way for a great experience. read more

Service was sub-standard--server had to keep checking what our order was. I questioned whether he might have OCD or attention-deficit issues. Very personable, very pleasant and polite but decidedly inefficient. Chicken was wonderfully crunchy but too spicy for my palate. read more

My husband and I were visiting Santa Barbara, California, valentine's weekend (2025) and this was one of many highly recommended restaurants. When we stopped at the restaurant the staff (cook) said they were closed until 2:00 pm however, the website said opens at 11:00 am and people were literally waiting to dine there for lunch. So we decided to leave and eat somewhere else and return for dinner. I would highly recommend pick up or delivery as they were short staffed and short on patience and I only say this because their food is delicious. I ordered the vegan oyster mushrooms, vegan collard greens and vegan black eyed peas and every bite screams southern cuisine; yummy for sure as it was a treat from my regular vegan diet. read more

I went here a couple of days ago. The waiter was super friendly. The service was fast and the food was delicious! Will totally be coming back! read more

My fiance & I came to Santa Barbara to eat & this was one of the spots we stopped at. The food was amazing! Every single thing we got was a 10/10. The chicken was super flavorful, the mac n cheese was amazing, the shrimp n grits were to die for. We would definitely stop by this place again if we are in the area, it was a chill vibe & the service matched the vibe, if that makes sense. read more

Soul Bites - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

It can look sleepy from the outside but there is real soul here. The food, the spirit and the community. As a local, I have many frequent places but this is the place that comes to mind when I want comfort food. I love the fried chicken of course and a side of mac and cheese and collard greens (which are for real delicious!) and even though the combination only comes with two sides, I still had to add on black eyed peas without remorse. It was all plenty to take some home and enjoy again later. It's cooked fresh and served hot so worth some wait. 18-20 minutes isn't bad for home style cooked after order. And this place is owner operated with family in all parts of the house. It is an all inclusive space with feel good food and people. Love love it! read more

Soul Bites - Menu 1.1.24 - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Are you willing to wait for chicken that is fried fresh to order? YES! I love piping hot delicious and fresh food and soul bites communicates this wait to you to set the expectations from the time of order and then continues to exceed with their excellent customer service. Don't be fooled by the casual look of this walk up window with just a few patio tables, they are dishing up slow cooked southern magic in that kitchen. And thank you for bringing us Johnny sticks soul bites! A must have when you visit. Next time I just have to remember to ask for some hot sauce for dipping. Mmmm read more

Soul Bites - Johnny sticks - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

I was really impressed! The fried chicken (thigh and leg) was well seasoned, juicy, with a crunchy thin batter. The black eyed peas were well cooked and seasoned perfectly. The Johnny cakes were addictive even though the portion was small. The honey mustard was a great dipping sauce. And there were mocktails from. A separate vender. I really enjoyed my meal and will be back. I hear they are trying to get a liquor license too. I hope they'll continue to expand their menu and thrive downtown! read more

Went to grab lunch for two..chicken was burnt to dark dark brown! Only had a couple bites into it and was over it. Potato salad was good though. Not worth the price for burnt chicken and two small sides ..$43 read more

Came here with a group of four on a Saturday around 5PM. Xangie and her band were playing and they are awesome! They played mostly classic rock and got everyone up and dancing, it was a lot of fun! It seems like they are there most Saturdays so I recommend this place if you're looking for some great live music. The food was delicious! We got some beers and their chicken fingers with fries - so tasty! I lived in Louisiana for several years and the spiciness of the chicken reminded me of Cajun cuisine. Our waitress was also really nice and attentive. Will come back to try more food and for their live music! read more

This was the worst soul food I have EVER had. I good to different cities to eat soul food. I came from Inland Empire which is over 2 hours away. I choose to drive all over by my choice. The young lady was unprofessional and playing with a lil boy as opposed to tending to a customer. I for sure will NOT go back there. read more

Soul Bites - Poor presentation - Soul Food Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Good food and good vibes. They have an upstairs , and live music/open mic night on the last Sunday of the month read more

See all

I was craving home style cooking, like my grandma cooked it, and soul food is exactly what I needed. The people here are kind, and it's a nice oasis in Santa Barbara. Get the fried chicken, mac n cheese, and collard greens (balanced diet is important). Take it to-go, enjoy it at the beer garden down the street. Life is good. read more

The BEST fried chicken in Santa Barbara! They brine it for a day, coat it with a tasty coating, then air fry it so it's crispy on the outside but not greasy like oil-fried chicken. The chicken breasts are juicy. Amazing. The cheesy grits are so good! Everything delicious except the collard greens I make are better because I cook them with bacon. I haven't been at night when there is live music, just lunch sitting outside. Highly recommend the food here! read more

Get in here already.... Hate seeing this place dead when the fried chicken goes so hard. The grits are great as well!

First, the good: cool venue for music. The food did not taste bad, and it did not make me sick. However: this place felt like a poor execution on what could have been a cool, delicious concept. Let's start with the food: I was really hoping for an awesome fried chicken sandwich and sides, but what I got really felt like someone heated up some frozen chicken tenders and served it on a roll. I'm not claiming to know how they prepared the chicken, but it was really not up to the quality I would expect at a "soul food" restaurant. The sides were fine: the mac & cheese was pretty good, the "chips" were unseasoned wedges, and the "johnny sticks" (grits sticks) were a cool concept but mostly flavorless. I hate to be harsh, but it's the truth. The bar staff was inattentive, constantly forgetting our orders, charging us then not actually pouring the drinks, seeming very new at the job. She was also very nice, and I don't want to knock the service component too bad. When we first got there, the DJ playing top 40 hits from the last decade or so was so loud that, maybe, she had gone deaf. We saw a band play, which was really cool, but there was also music playing in the bar (?!) until some other patron asked them to please turn it off. There was a dance floor, but there were tables set up on the dance floor too. There were maybe 10 people in the place on a Friday night, which was surprising. Overall, based on the Yelp scale, I have to give this place a 1: Not Good. Maybe I'll try it again in a few years to see if they get their act together, but it was almost comically bad in June 2023. read more