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Tamar

4.5 (136 reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 8:00 pm

Order Tamar Takeout or Delivery

Tamar Photos

TAMAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Casual
Trendy
Outdoor seating

Recommended Reviews - Tamar

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Reviews With Photos

Chicken Shawarma Sandwich
Meya B.

It's definitely a bit pricey but the sandwiches are sized pretty well. The service is good too, nice people. It's usually pretty busy so seating is tricky at times. It's a nice place by the beach.

Lamb plate
Donna B.

I am such a big fan in Middle Eastern food and have wanted to go to Tamar for a long while. It's located in the same space as Dart Coffee with plenty of outdoor seating. My husband had the lamb kofta plate with cabbage salad, pilaf, hummus, pita and pickled veg. Served with an array of sauces--the garlic sauce was terrific. All tasty. I wish there was little more on the plate for the price $26. I had the chicken shawarma sandwich, which was good but needed more chicken. It was mostly filled with cabbage. So much so that posting a picture of it just looks like bread and cabbage salad. I upgraded to get a drink (blueberry lemonade - the best) and a tiny little bite size piece of baklava. I will be back to try the falafel.

Chicken Shawarma Plate
Kay C.

A little pricey but food was delicious, it's halal, and the place is such a vibe. Highly recommend

Dip Trip and Chicken Shawarma Sandwich
Julio V.

Wow, the flavors this restaurant puts out are phenomenal! We really loved the dip trip plate, which we chose to include the hummus, labneh, and the whipped cheese (our favorite). We also got a side of lamb kofta and a chicken schwarma sandwich. The lamb was super tender and flavorful. But the star of the show was the sandwich. Unbelievably flavorful, well seasoned, pickled cabbage added that brightness, and the pita was warm and delicious. I believe they make their pita in house! The location is decorated nicely with plenty of parking. It's a shared space with a coffee shop. I think this place will probably outgrow the location quickly. Service was good as well! I wish there was one in LA so I could have it more often!

I came to the Funk zone to do a tasting and pick up a wine shipment and literally around the corner is this place. I read the reviews so I decided to go here instead of going up to the food hall and getting my normal Khao Soi from the Thai place inside. I got the lamb Kathe Peetah sandwich based off of several reviews I read. One review I did Reed mention that there was too much cabbage in the chicken Shawarma pita sandwich and that's exactly how I would describe this sandwich. As you can see from my picture, there is very little lamb sausage. The entire thing was stuffed full of cabbage, which was very good, but absolutely not worth $20 for a half of a pita sandwich, stuffed with cabbage and very little meat. In fact, there was so much cabbage that even though I knew I was eating protein with the meat, I could not taste it because the cabbage mix overpowers every other taste. While this sandwich has good flavor, it definitely does not leave you feeling like you ever want to go back to the place and try something different. Their menu is super small, which is OK, but since the sandwiches seem to be made the same, I don't think I will ever try this place again. I will say that there were two people in front of me on the sandwich came out pretty much a few minutes after I ordered so that was nice but still, not worth $20, not even by a longshot! I live in Oxnard and it literally left me feeling unsatisfied and like I still wanted to go eat somewhere that would make me happy in Santa Barbara, even though I shouldn't. The space is very aesthetically appealing and seems very cool, hip, and trendy. I wonder if the plates would be better, getting them with rice.? Anyway, I feel like the food deserves a two and everything else deserves maybe a 3.5 to 4. There's just nothing that stands out as something massively overwhelming to the point where anything deserves more than a 3.5 review. Sadly!

Lamb Kofta Sandwich
Diana L.

Located in the Dart coffee shop, Tamar offers middle eastern eats best for lunch. You can order online for quick pick up or delivery or just stop by. The lamb kofta sandwich was delicious and a decent size. Has a ton of flavor with harissa sauce and green sauce on the side with pickled veggies. The pita bread is thin and soft and delicious. The only downside is that they could have portioned more meat and not so much veggies, better balance. The falafels are a must to get and the lemon based sauce that it comes with is extremely delicious. I will be back to try other items. My concerns are that the service is ok, they seemed flustered since it was a little busy and the price is a little high.

Half chicken shawarma and half lamb kofta
Heather H.

We got the chicken shawarma and the lamb kofta to share and omg they were both soooooo gooood and flavorful! 10/10 would come back. Parking can get tricky, mainly street parking but we got super lucky and parked easily. Order at the counter and self serve items such as water and etc. Shares a space with the coffee shop. Craving these sandwiches

Fatima A.

So good! The space is beautiful and the food was delicious. We were unsure because of mixed halal reviews, but the owner took the time to confirm that both the chicken and lamb are halal and even showed us the box. That meant a lot to us.

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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8 months ago

Great food! Ordered family meal and it was a hit, the chicken and rice were delicious and fresh! Will be returning.

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1 year ago

Wow. Best Middle Eastern food ever and I have been to all them in Glendale. Buya. Seriously.

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5 months ago

The absolute best every time. We love getting takeout once a week and I always get an extra side of chicken.

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9 months ago

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11 months ago

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1 year ago

Great food. Great atmosphere. Good portions but the meat was not enough. Would go again for sure

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11 months ago

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8 months ago

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2 years ago

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7 months ago

Very good experience at Tamar. Menu is simple, food was good. Lamb Kofta made me happy. Thank you.

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2 years ago

Fresh and delicious! Ordered and split the chicken shawarma pita. I completely forgot to take a photo as we dug right in.

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Tamar Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Tamar

Are the falafel and hummus gluten free?

Falafels and Hummus are both made from chickpeas, making them naturally gluten free

Is it halal?

No, it is not halal.

What are their hours?

Mon - Sun 11:30am to 8pm

View All 4 Questions

Rascal's Vegan  - Breakfast Tacos

Rascal's Vegan

4.6(222 reviews)
0.4 mi
•$$

Wow! We went to Rascals Vegan for brunch while visiting the Santa Barbara area. My husband found it…read moreonline, and it definitely did not disappoint. It happened to be their 3-year anniversary weekend, so in addition to their regular menu, they were offering some special dishes. I ordered the special chanterelle bagel. It was topped with buttered chanterelles, bachelor buttons, wood sorrel, chives, and cream cheese. The bagel was beautiful and absolutely delicious. The cream cheese was made from cashews and had a smooth, buttery, creamy flavor. The mushrooms were perfectly cooked and not overly buttery, adding great texture to the dish. We also ordered the chips and guacamole, which came with a trio of salsas: chipotle, habanero, and tomatillo. Each salsa had its own distinct flavor and spice level. The guacamole was topped with pepitas, and the homemade chips were perfectly crisp. My husband ordered the Homerun, which included two large pancakes, bacon, and a "fried egg." The pancakes were dense yet fluffy with great flavor. The bacon tasted very similar to turkey bacon, but the real showstopper was the fried egg. The yolk was incredibly convincing and delicious. He was genuinely surprised by how closely it mimicked the taste of a real egg yolk. The restaurant had a nice Mexican home feel. After our meal, I briefly spoke with the owner, who was friendly and appreciative of our visit. Since it was his 3-year anniversary, we wished him continued success. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in Santa Barbara.

Food Make sure you get their gauc with the three salsa…read moreoptions. They are a variety of smoky and spicy. The homemade tortilla chips are perfection, hot and perfectly salty. Big fan of fresh chips and this place delivered. Their vegan meats were so good. How they managed to get the texture and their meat crunchy was crazy. Their tacos are the must get because they make their tortillas fresh and they are better than the burrito. Service Came here with a party of seven and the servers were so great with handling a big party. They were attentive without being too overbearing. Ambiance An open space in the front and they have a whole back patio as well. We came for dinner so inside was the best option for us. Nice flowers on the table, you can see the kitchen and the bar as well.

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Rascal's Vegan  - Inside views

Inside views

Rascal's Vegan  - Breakfast Tacos

Breakfast Tacos

Rascal's Vegan  - Spicy Elote

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Spicy Elote

Santo Mezcal - Quesadillas vegetarian  QUESADILLA FLOR

Santo Mezcal

4.3(2k reviews)
0.2 mi
•$$

My friend and I haven't been back to Santa Barbara since 2021. So here we are back in May 2026. My…read morefriend and I took a Santa Barbara Sunset Sailing tour. I knew we would arrive back late and there're not a lot of restaurants open past 9:00. We arrived back at the dock at 8:30PM. My friend was hungry and as we were walking back to our hotel, we saw Santo Mezcal still open YEAH! As we have seen in the past, the place is packed and super lively with diner finishing up. There were spots open at the bar we took. Edgar the bar tender (cocktail aficionado) was great! We ordered Cocktails, Espresso Martini and a Mezcal Paloma (so good) I ordered the Shrimp Empanadas. My friend ordered the King Fish Crudo and the Enchiladas Verdes. Even though they were ready to close our food came out hot, fresh, presentation great and tasting delicious. It was a great ending to our sunset cruise night. Atmosphere: fun lively. Service: excellent. Food: excellent.

Super easy and convenient location if you're arriving by Amtrak Train…read more This was the perfect place for lunch on the patio after arriving to Santa Barbara. Service was great and very attentive. -The pulpo or octopus tacos were insanely delicious. The meat was so soft and tender. And oddly their rice and beans were also really really good. -The ceviche was not worth ordering tasted like red chili oil on ceviche.

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Santo Mezcal - Seating area

Seating area

Santo Mezcal - Picana Oaxaquena

Picana Oaxaquena

Santo Mezcal - Sopecitos

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Sopecitos

Satellite

Satellite

4.6(252 reviews)
0.9 mi
•$$

Unfortunately, I didn't have the best experience here as I imagined it to be. I stopped by on a…read morewarm day and wanted to enjoy a Spritz. I walked in and spoke with the guy working the bar area. I wasn't sure if I had to order my drink there or if there was table service. He said he could take my order and then I could go find a table to sit at. I placed my order for a Spritz and found a table outside. It seemed like 15 minutes had passed by and still no drink. He tended to another table in front of me with a group of women he knew. I thought he would stop by my table after, but he didn't even acknowledge me. Finally, another staff member tended to me and I told her I had placed my order at the bar and was still waiting for it. She was very kind and quickly got it for me. My observation of this guy, was that he acknowledged everyone around me but for some reason never acknowledged me until my bill was ready. Such a bizarre experience! In any case, I still managed to enjoy myself and was glad the Eva waited on me. She was very kind and I appreciate her getting my drink and food in a timely manner. I ordered the Spanish cheese plate, which was the perfect snacking board. It comes with manchego, membrillo, corn nuts, cornichon, quince, strawberries, focaccia, and charcoal sourdough bread. This plate is great for two people. Overall, a not so great experience, but grateful that Eva came to the rescue! It left me unsure of whether I would come back, only time will tell.

The natural wine bar of my dreams! We came to SB on a trip and were searching for wine bars that…read moreserve natural wine, and this one kept popping up as a top choice -- and it absolutely lived up to the hype. It's located right on State Street, so there's plenty to explore nearby. We came right at opening and were greeted by the friendliest host. The style of the space is amazing -- walls lined with bottles, funky furniture, and such a fun, modern vibe. They were also super dog‑friendly and immediately brought my pup a water bowl, which I always appreciate. The host was incredibly knowledgeable and answered all my questions (and I had many). I'm still new to the wine world, so her openness and guidance meant a lot. I sampled two wines and chose the one that was perfect for me. I also loved that they bring the bottle to your table to show you and tell you more about it. My partner had one of their vermouth cocktails and loved it. We even learned about a natural wine event happening next month that we might come back for. The host also recommended wineries in the area based on our preferences -- such a thoughtful touch. Would definitely come back anytime we're in SB.

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Satellite - Cute interior

Cute interior

Satellite - Soupe du Jour - Vegan broccoli soup

Soupe du Jour - Vegan broccoli soup

Satellite - Sparkling Wine of Sangiovese. Perfect.

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Sparkling Wine of Sangiovese. Perfect.

Secret Bao - Kungpao Cauliflower

Secret Bao

4.5(711 reviews)
1.0 mi
•$$

What can I say other than culinary perfection? It's where street food meets casual dining but with…read moremasterfully 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!

Overall the food was very delicious. I would recommend the Bao (both the KFC and pork belly were…read morevery 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.

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Secret Bao - The bar

The bar

Secret Bao - Sweet Potato Dumplings

Sweet Potato Dumplings

Secret Bao - Yum ... just this is enough

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Yum ... just this is enough

Mezza Thyme - Inside of the beef sambosik

Mezza Thyme

4.8(104 reviews)
0.4 mi

We hosted a 20-person outdoor wedding reception at our home, and Mezza Thyme catered the event. The…read morefood was outstanding. Throughout the meal, I kept hearing the same comment from different tables: "This is really, really good food." And it was. The Mediterranean dishes were vibrant and fresh -- not generic or middle-of-the-road, but thoughtfully prepared with balanced flavors and ultra-fresh ingredients. Even our most restrained eaters went back for seconds. Delivery was on time as scheduled. The general manager personally supervised the transfer of the food from transport containers into our serving dishes and offered helpful suggestions on serving layout to improve flow. Presentation and execution were handled professionally, which matters when hosting an event at home. Prior to placing the final order, I studied the menu and placed a preliminary order online to establish a starting point. I reviewed it with my daughter and wife and received their approvals before finalizing. I did have a few questions about overlap among side dishes, spoke with the general manager about it, and finalized the order 30 days before the event with no subsequent changes. That clarity made the rest of the planning straightforward. Their menu reflects flavors and traditions rooted in the Levant region. Mediterranean cuisine lends itself well to buffet service within a defined service window. We would be happy to use Mezza Thyme again for any larger-scale gathering -- or for a great meal at home or in their restaurant on Cota Street downtown. I highly recommend them.

The food is delicious! I came on Friday for lunch and immediately changed my Saturday plans so I…read morecould return. 10/10 all around. The beef samosas or sambusa were perfectly seasoned, crispy, and flakey.

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Mezza Thyme
Mezza Thyme - Eggplant Falafel Plate 9/10

Eggplant Falafel Plate 9/10

Mezza Thyme - The entrance

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The entrance

The Lark - Banana Bread and peppered Bacon which

The Lark

4.2(2.1k reviews)
0.1 mi
•$$$

Absolutely stunning dinner at The Lark last night on our only night in Santa Barbara and I feel…read moreglad to say we picked the right restaurant! The place was full, including indoor and outdoor seating, great ambience and light level, and lovely string lights above the seating outdoors. To start they bring over a delectable dill popcorn which was a rich, salty, dill and butter creation. Totally set a fun tone for the meal. Then we had the crispy Brussels sprouts (ORDER THESE!!!) they were divine, the sesame and lime combination was reminiscent of a great pad Thai, with the perfect amount of sauce and tiny bites of figs which all worked together in a way I wouldn't have expected. For the mains we had the shrimp toast and the pork ribs, both fantastic both well portioned and both 10/10s. Pork ribs fell off the bone easily and were spicy and tangy without overdoing flavor and the shrimp toast tasted like a great gumbo sauce and the shrimps were big! This is a meal I'll be thinking about and recommending to others for a long time, thank you Lark!

We are at the Lark tonight and had a good experience. It's a fairly casual and comfortable…read morerestaurant. We were greeted and seated immediately. I was glad we made reservations. The restaurant was busy. Our server was great. She introduced herself (Giana I believe she said) and helped us understand that the intent of the menu and dining approach is a sharing format. The plates and portion sizes vary depending upon the item. Cocktails: The Lark has a very interesting (in a good way) cocktail menu. Our party tried 5 different cocktails. Everyone loved their drink and commented on how well made they were. Food: The restaurant provides complimentary dill pickle popcorn (10/5) as a snack to get your appetite moving. This unique popcorn flavor was one of the best things I had all night. Everyone in our party agreed. We ordered 40% of the menu. The standouts were the fried chicken (5/5), the duck confit (5/5), and the pork ribs (4/5). Dessert: The chocolate pot-a-crème with banana cream (5/5) and donut holes (5/5) were both very tasty. We had a real good experience at the Lark. My only comment as a first timer was gauging how much food to order. We found the menu items in the Farm and Ranch sections were entree sized plates, while the Ocean section plates varied in size considerably. We consequently over ordered and wasted some food. Although our server Giana was helpful, we could have asked more specific questions to assess the quantity of food better. We enjoyed the restaurant vibe, cocktail program and many of the plates. If I lived in SB, I would have dinner here every other month and enjoy the dill pickle popcorn and the fried chicken with their signature Paloma to wash it all down.

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The Lark - Dining room

Dining room

The Lark - Rosemary butter cornbread

Rosemary butter cornbread

The Lark - LINE CAUGHT HALIBUT CRUDO PLATE

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LINE CAUGHT HALIBUT CRUDO PLATE

Loquita - Gambas Al Ajillo

Loquita

4.4(1.7k reviews)
0.1 mi
•$$$

Visited Loquita on 04/11/26 for a birthday celebration and let me tell you I was blown away by the…read moreentire Loquita experience! From the food to the service to the ambience, all of it was truly an amazing experience. Food - We got the patatas bravas and the paella verde. Both were phenomenal. I have tried ~4 other vegan paellas and was originally skeptical going into this, but Loquita's paella was by far the best vegan paella I've ever had! The attention to detail is what made the dish shine. It had perfectly tender mushrooms and artichokes as well as the delicious vegan cream on top. They were able to make the dish smoky and delicious. Dessert - We got the crème brûlée and the pistachio ice cream. Both were truly wonderful, when I go back I will order both of these again! Vibe and Staff - Super cute and romantic vibe, perfect for a nice date. The staff was super attentive and even gave me a little postcard for my birthday! Definitely worth the visit :)

This place is hyped as a date place…read more It's in a fancy location near the beach, nice patio. It is good food but overhyped IMO. $16 for patatas bravas is a bit on the silly end. lts also one of thoses places that defaults to 20% tip on the low end. I have no problem with paying a 20% tip but the service was poor on my visit. We gave one instructions/request that were just completely disregarded. Very little in terms of service other than attempts to upsell with more Tapas when we were done. Sorry, just being honest.

Photos
Loquita - Cake table set up by staffers.

Cake table set up by staffers.

Loquita - Piquillos Ahumados

Piquillos Ahumados

Loquita - CROQUETA DE JAMÓN 3 FOR $16  paprika aioli, crispy potato nest with  Add truffle manchego $5

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CROQUETA DE JAMÓN 3 FOR $16 paprika aioli, crispy potato nest with Add truffle manchego $5

Tamar - mideastern - Updated May 2026

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