The food transported me to Japan. Each course was beautifully presented, very fresh and delicious. It is a small restaurant so each table table gets exceptional service. The ambience is peaceful and quiet. I highly recommendYoichi's to celebrate something special. read more

We arrived a little early and they were ready for us. The courses were explained meticulously by our two servers including where certain dishes originated. You could smell the ocean with the soup. So fortunate to experience kaiseki here in Santa Barbara; certainly a good match to our kaiseki dinners in Kyoto. read more

Probably top 3 meals of my adult life. All the dishes were timed so there was no long delay in between. The simmered dish was my favorite by far. Every bite was a flavor bomb. The service was excellent to say the least. Ambiance was quiet and cozy. They were playing Studio Ghibli which luckily my fiancé loves. It is pricey but I came here same day after getting engaged. Worth every penny for any special occasion! read more

I can not even begin. It was the literal best meal I've ever had. Every bite was amazing. The service was incredible. The food was incredible. I think it ruined all food for me after. read more

Quick Summary Cozy Japanese restaurant that offers Kaiseki (prix fixe) with excellent service. Try to book reservations a few weeks in advance. The service and atmosphere were excellent. Appetizers were excellent. But the entrees and dessert were average. Was very excited to try this restaurant, but was disappointed, probably due to high expectations Food- 4 stars The Kaiseki was 7 courses. Started out well with the appetizers but flounded towards the finish line The appetizers prior to sashimi were all very good and thought out. I would give it 5 stars to start The sashimi and sushi that came before and after the grilled and steamed dish were good and fresh. Slight compliant that the fish was slightly colder than desired The grilled and steamed dishes (which you have 3 options each) was when things began to somewhat unravel -Grilled lobster with tama miso sauce- the lobster was cooked perfectly, but the miso sauce was overly sweet. The balance was pretty off, which was disappointing because the lobster tail was cooked perfectly -Wagyu- I can see why a few reviewers mentioned it tasted like sausage. It was pretty disappointing -Seafood steamed in citrus bowl with miso bechamel sauce- it was interesting seeing this plate served in an orange bowl. However, the sauce was so gelatinous and heavy that it was not an enjoyable experience -Fresh water eel and monkfish liver- was really disappointed that there was bones in the eel and that the monkfish liver lacked any flavor. The whole dish was overly sweet Dessert- it was a mochi crepe with fruit sort of dessert. It was good, but would've better if served hot or warm Service- 5 stars Phenomenal service. Very accommodating without being too overbearing. Ambiance/Value- 5 stars It's a small neighborhood restaurant that makes for a great date night Bottom Line Perhaps Yoichi's catered too much to Western tastes, as the food ventured towards Fusion Japanese and didn't satisfy. The appetizers were great, but it went downhill when it got to the grilled and steamed dishes. Will add an extra star for their service and ambiance read more

Awesome! This place will make any occasion very special. All 7 courses are carefully,thoughtfully crafted. Each course is introduced in detail by server. read more

This was an amazing dining experience, great ambience. Yoichi's also has a great Sake selection and very knowledgeable staff. The menu is seasonal, we will be back! read more

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Absolutely delicious. Service was great. Left feeling full. Will definitely be recommending this spot and returning.

My go to spot during covid. Their bento boxes were my absolute favorite. There is not one bad thing in each box. Fresh sashimi, miso salmon and black cod, and duck and Wagyu beef. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! read more

Came for the Kaiseki a few weeks ago, and overall had a really great meal for two. Service is very attentive as it should be, and the explanations the waitresses give for each dish helps to appreciate and understand what you're eating next. Every dish was well made, my personal favorites were the Black Cod Soup and Sashimi course. The portion of the full course is well planned out - we were both nicely full after dessert. Though some courses are smaller, the steamed and grilled dishes tend to be larger. Still, I would say they left space to improve purely in the sense that for charging 135/person, people expect to be mindblown. I thought the oysters inside an orange was the most creative dish of the night but nothing particularly surprised me. I will be back in the future when they change up the menu for seasonality again! read more

Yoichi's - Assorted Appetizer Course - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Delicious, creative and one of the best dining experiences in Santa Barbara. Not to be missed! Thank you to Yoichi and his wonderful staff. We loved our Kaiseki eight-course meal and drinks recently. It was our first time, but won't be our last. read more

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Why did this place not exist during my UCSB days? We had an amazing kaiseki experience here! So glad we tried this place on a spontaneous trip back to Santa Barbara earlier this year. They keep their website updated with the current courses so you know exactly what you're getting. I love that there are multiple grilled & steamed dishes for you to choose from. Our party of 3 selected different options in both categories. Everything was high quality and the owner/server made our experience very enjoyable. We were impressed with the amount of thought in every dish. My favorites were the sea urchin & sweet shrimp. Looking forward to go back once they reopen! read more

Yoichi's - Uni, sweet shrimp...so fresh! - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Hands down my favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara. You can't go wrong! The flavors are so delicate and truly amazing! Every time I eat here, by the time I'm paying the bill I already can't wait to go back again! read more

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You wouldn't know it from the front door but the food is absolutely amazing. My wife is Japanese over the top. Authentic Japanese style. It's eight courses so come hungry. You won't be disappointed. read more

Yoichi's was a delightful experience. From start to finish it was pure joy. The sashimi course was a standout, along with the black cod entree with roasted fig and mango. There was so much detail - even to the pottery which is made from a local artist and pottery instructor. Don't miss it! read more

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Perhaps my expectations was too high after reading and seeing the photos on Yelp. I was thinking this is a special occasion place since we couldn't get reservation on our last visit last year so we make a point to try this place on our last trip to Santa Barbara last weekend I was debating between here and the Sushi bar at Montecito Inn since I wanted an upscale and special experience and decided to go here to check off my list. Let just say I was disappointed when I entered since the restaurant wasn't even half full literally there were 9 people eating the entire evening all were in the 4 booths and the rest of the tables on the other 2/3 of the restaurant was empty. You know what they say about empty restaurant on a Friday night right, mean food won't be as fresh since not enough people to consume what they sell. They could dim the light perhaps to make it a bit warmer it just feel empty and cold. Even with the effort of a small tea light candle on the table Anyway so the ambiance was a bust but we were there to eat food so it was fine. Next came the menu price somewhere on the site I saw $85 for 7 courses but when we showed up it was $125, if I would have known I would have for sure chosen the 17 courses for $125 at the sushi bar at Montecito. So oh well right, it's $40 difference which is fine if the food was outstanding. There were 2 waitresses they were polite, prompt but for sure at time they look bored. Again may be my expectations is higher for the caliber and price of food. Came the food, beef tasted old and over cooked everything else was either bland or sweet not balanced Fish and sashimi were good, they were fresh but they tasted average fresh sushi, I don't have complaints but not wow. Everything else again was sweet or ok again nothing to rave home about. The only one thing I like out of the entire meal was the Uni but for $12.95 a box at Santa Barbara fish market I can get the exact same Uni though so for that reason I don't think the ambiance and price worth the experience I was expecting. Nice presentation of food but something is missing for sure so don't let those photos trick you, if you are looking for a special and wholesome experience this will not be the place. As we were there to celebrate our anniversary but it wasn't celebrated at all...lol we left disappointed! read more

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Service was great and food was good but chef used the same ingredients over and over again.

Their bento is delicious! The fish was so fresh. Highly recommend doing their takeout bento during COVID. The rice balls were just ok for me (personal preference). We're already planning our next order. Call in advance to order your bento for pickup. They sell out! read more

Yoichi's - Bento Box - Grilled Fish & Sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Very creative dishes!!!!! Authentic, and delicious :) The chef's of Yoichi's clearly put passion and skill into every thing prepared there.

Absolutely incredible! Went with my boyfriend for his birthday and we were treated like VIPs food was amazing. Every course was perfectly timed at our table. I can't wait to go back. read more

If ever, there was a restaurant that deserved 5+ stars it is this one. The husband is the chef and the wife runs the restaurant with some help. Everybody is extraordinarily kind and the seven course prefixed meal is curated with awe inspiring taste, purity, naturalism, and attention to detail. This is truly an incredible food experience and an experience of being treated with love and kindness. read more

Traditional Japanese multi courses dinner. Menu is mostly preset with 2 of the 7 courses offering choices. The food was excellent, and the service very attentive. A great restaurant for a special occasion. We will be back. read more

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A wonderful experience with great service and innovative dishes. My husband and I had been wanting to try a traditional Japanese kaiseki meal, so we were pretty excited to visit Yoichi's. It was our first and only kaiseki experience, so we don't have much to compare it to, but we did enjoy almost everything we ordered. I won't list every dish, just the ones that stood out to us. Our favorites were the matcha-marinated sweet fish, and Japanese top shell, both of which were items from the grilled course. We also enjoyed the sushi trio at the end (ikura, Santa Barbara uni, and toro). Our least favorite would be the sashimi as I'm sure they were extremely fresh, but were served too cold..to the point where it almost tasted like frozen fish that you may have at a less fancy sushi spot. Overall, our experience was memorable and we enjoyed our meal. The only minor drawback was perhaps that I expected a little more for what the meal cost. Especially from the dessert round, as well as sashimi. But, it's a minor issue, as almost everything was created and presented so thoughtfully. Yoichi's has definitely opened up our curiosity and desire to try more kaiseki-style cuisine. Next up, n/naka! read more

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Delicious food, carefully curated dishes, and thoughtful menu! The service was excellent and the experience was delightful.

12/11/18 UPDATE: We continue to be impressed by this extraordinary Japanese restaurant in Santa Barbara. Each time we visit we are amazed by the attention to detail, the outstanding service, and the exceptional quality of the food. It's a great place for anniversaries, significant dates, or other special dinners. ----- World class cuisine in Santa Barbara! Prepare yourself for a relaxed, absolutely delicious, perfectly proportioned, expertly prepared, and pleasantly served dining experience. With a $100 per person prix-fixe menu (the only option) you receive a great 7 course meal with excellent choices that make it well worth it! The sake is excellent and the staff observes classic Japanese hospitality traditions. This was a fantastic dining experience!! read more

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This was not only a meal but one of those dining experiences. Each course was presented beautifully and with such care. There were 5 of us and we tried to order various things to be able to fully experience a wide variety of delicacies. 2 of us ordered the 7 courses while 3 of us ordered the smaller $65 option (which I must tell you is plenty enough). If the intestine is on the menu, order it. It is so unique and tasty and I still can't believe it has the flavor it does and is as tender as it is. The various sashimis and sushis were perfect - of note - trout! Something I had never tried. The service was so attentive without being obtrusive. Restaurant is quite small, in an unassuming neighborhood and we passed it up without even realizing it. If you are ready for an evening that you will remember, this is for you. read more

I'm a fan of Japanese food and had the pleasure of trying a few Kaiseki meal. This meal is pretty authentic and for the price, it was definitely worth it. $100/person is pretty good for Kaiseki meal. Usually Kaiseki meal just gives you what the chef prepares but this meal actually lets you pick from 2-4 options for each category: soups, grilled dish, and steamed dishes. My favorite was the soup. I got the sea eel and egg cake soup and my husband got the momotaro tomato soup. Both provided a refreshing light flavor. While the food was good, I had a few dislike in terms of flavor. The grilled top shell was way too salty but grilled king crab was tasty. The oyster in orange bowl was beautiful but the orange peel bitterness leaked into the dashi broth giving a moderately bitter after taste. I was not a big fan of this. Another dislike was the poor choice of Sake. The moderately dry sake was recommended to us by the waiter but I find it very bitter and hard to drink. I ended up avoiding the sake all night. The desert was green tea custard with a plum. This was very good and provided a great finish taste to the meal. Service was attentive and detailed. We constantly had refill of tea and dishes were clear at the right timing. We were given very detailed explanation of each dish. I would recommend trying this if you haven't try a Kaiseki meal. This is probably the cheapest decent Kaiseki meal you can find. read more

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If you are into traditional japanese pleasures - this is a MUST experience. Attention to detail. Impeccable service and pacing. Food as both art and nourishment. Definitely one of my top experiences (not just one of my best dining experiences) of 2018. Most of the ingredients are traditional and the food preparation does not bend to americanized tastes. Thus if your idea of japanese food is a California Roll and some green tea ice cream this is probably not the place for you. Quality of ingredients and thoughtful preparation is evident in every dish. Everything from scratch. Our seven course kaiseki dinner included items such as black cod, duck breast, japanese oysters, grilled scallop, blue fin, and sazae (a japanese mollusk). We spent almost two hours at Yoichi's and enjoyed and savored every minute. The sazae was removed from it's shell, diced, and then placed back inside the shell with tiny mushrooms and a light sauce and then grilled and eventually plated on a bed of (I think) hijiki (japanese black pickled seaweed). The oysters were served poached inside a hollowed-out tangerine in a very delicate broth I can only describe as tangerine water - superb. Fish quality for sushi and sashimi courses was excellent. Though kaiseki is usually mostly pre-fixe - there were several options for many of the courses, and thus most folks can customize an evening to their personal tastes. Go here! Your next-best option is to fly to Japan... We certainly will be returning. read more

Yoichi's - First Course 9/23/18. - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We really enjoyed our meal tonight. Delicious, delicate dishes with well balanced flavors. The service was excellent as well.

Last time trying Kaiseki was in Kyoto Japan and I enjoyed it tremendously. I was glad to find out that Yoichi's offers Kaiseki and I don't have to fly across the Pacific. As a fan of authentic Japanese traditional cuisine, I could not pass up on this opportunity. It was a great find during my visit in the lovely city of Santa Barbara. There is definitely a difference when using all five senses of touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing. The presentation and simplicity says plenty. The main ingredient of each dish were never overpowered but accentuated. Each course is presented with an introduction. The staff is friendly just like the service you get in Japan. The experience was unforgettable. Thank you Yoichi's! read more

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I have had more than fair share of kaiseki in Japan and in the US. I found the kaiseki I had at Yoichi's to be solid. It's very authentic. Their presentation of the food was nice, and so was the taste. However, none of the dishes really impressed me in terms of the taste, unfortunately. There are a couple of specific issues that I would like to bring up to provide an informative review for my fellow Yelpers and constructive feedback to the restaurant. 1. You can order their sake (or wine) only by the bottle. This is a significant issue because it makes it impossible to pair different sake with different courses. Different sake brings out or complements different courses. With that said, I would like to see a sake pairing option. 2. Some reviewers talked about their interior design. While I am not a specialist, I agree that simplicity is an important concept in Japanese culture. However, I felt it's more accurate to describe their interior design to be "bare" rather than "simple." I think it's such a shame that the interior design takes away from the beautiful presentation of their food. I understand that whatever the decision they made, it has financial consequences. So, it's easier to say than done, but I wanted to share my two cents. ****************************** If you found something useful in my review, please hit "useful" so that I can improve my reviews. If you love food and traveling, follow me! Thank you and happy yelping! read more

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This place was amazing This really is a hidden treasure. Found in a quiet residential street in the heart of Santa Barbara this restaurant aims to please Service was outstanding I would say on par with a Michelin star restaurant VE course meal was very filling considering that these were about seven small plates containing various fresh offerings and items that have been cooked for three days to perfection And the unbelievable part is the price considering this meal should probably have been close to $600 we paid less than half of that here in Santa Barbara for an outstanding meal The first course was a variety of seafood offering with the next being sushi then a grilled lobster and then very tasty broth soups sashimi desert omg it was amazing read more

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Yoichi's is one of the best restaurants I have dined at in the United States. My initial meal here was so superb that I went back a second time and had virtually the same exact meal the very next week. If I actually lived in Santa Barbara and not San Diego, I'd be back at Yoichi's again RIGHT now, and just thinking of this restaurant makes me want to jump in my car and drive 3 1/2 hours to be there. When I saw reviews of Yelpers claiming to break down into tears of fulfillment and astonishment in the middle of their meal, my B.S. detector went off, but having now been to Yoichi's twice, I get it. Everything here is great, but there are a few very spectacular dishes that transcend greatness - and if there were ever two dishes that are so good I could cry, they would possibly be Yoichi's "Grilled Duck Breast" (Kamo no Yuanyaki) and "Rock Fish in Sweet Broth" (Kinki no Nitsuke). The former of which features an expertly-grilled duck breast, soft and luscious, with sweet soy sauce caramelized on the meat, and the latter a silky fish in a delectably sticky broth that easily breaks apart on your tongue, imparting its flavor throughout your mouth as it disintegrates into joy itself. Run by Yoichi Kawabata (Chef, formerly of Nobu Tokyo) and his wife Mogi (Maître d'), Yoichi's offers only one way to dine - for a prix fixe rate of $100, a 7-course Kaiseki dinner. Kaiseki originated in the 16th century as a Japanese tea ceremony. It is about more than food, it is a deliberate presentation of the food across a number of servings, each morsel of which is intricately placed in ceramic plates and bowls specifically chosen for it. Kaiseke is the most refined cuisine of Japan, strictly reflective of the seasons before "seasonal" became a thing. Kaiseke is typically "light" fare, meant to be paired with sake or tea - but, at Yoichi's, a full Kaiseki dinner will satisfy even the hungriest eaters. Yoichi's Kaiseki is a mixture of sushi, grilled plates, boiled plates, and (of course) dessert. You do get a few choices on menu options. Aside from the aforementioned dishes, I much enjoyed the Hamaguri Shinjo Sumashijatate (Clear soup with Hamaguri clam fish cake) and the Sakura Buta no Kakuni (Braised Pork Belly) with Moromi Miso, though I'd suggest the Rock Fish over the Pork Belly. Also I suggest pairing with the Denshin Natsu (Junmai Daiginjo Namazake), a seasonal licorice-y sake, and one of my favorites I've had either in or out of Japan. I had the opportunity to meet with two friendly gentlemen from Denshin who co-hosted my complimentary sake tasting during one of my visits here. For the rest of my meals here, I had over 20 different bites of food, enjoying a variety of specialties including water shields, Japanese sardines, abalone, jellyfish, miso-marinated scallops, simmered taro, local Santa Barbara sea urchin (uni), bluefin tuna, salmon belly, with Japanese ice creams and fruit gelatins for dessert. I am grateful to Yoichi-sama, Mogi-san, and their staff for putting together such an exceptional dining experience. Both times I ate here were humbling meals, food events that I will treasure and remember always. For those still wondering: put simply, this is THE dinner to drop some money on if you visit Santa Barbara. Don't think twice about it, put yourself in this restaurant's capable hands and prepare to have your mind blown. Food-Décor-Service: 4.8/3.9/4.6 read more

An amazing dining experience at Yoichi's. We had been wanting to dine here for a while and finally visited last Saturday. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and the food was coursed our perfectly. My favorites were the Chilean sea bass and the sushimi course - which had probably one of the best pieces of toro I've ever tasted. Fish offerings rotate seasonally. We will definitely be back! Worth every penny. read more

Yoichi's - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Our first trip to Santa Barbara so wanted to find a memorable meal to celebrating. After surfing the net and yelping I found Yoichi. I really wondered if the five star ratings were true and I can now say YES! Please make sure to reserve a table in advance (party of more than 2 will require a credit card hold) Dining experience took 2 hours but each dish is so beautifully and delicately presented. It might appear like just a few morsel of food but at the end of the meal it was satisfying (clean eating). Most if not all ingredients were shipped fresh from Hokkaido or parts of Japan. If I'm ever back in SB I'll be back. Now it's whether our other dining experience will be able to top this one. read more

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Ordered the take out bento box and it was phenomenal. Very impressed with the quality and quantity. read more

Yoichi's - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Very good sushi! We ordered 3 bento boxes plus another roll. Bento was 7 different fish/scallop/uni sashimi. We got a fish fritter, rice, cooked fish, salad. For $35 this is a good value for such quality. Service was friendly and efficient, with recommendations included in the ordering process. Currently the regular menu is not available due to Covid. read more

I don't usually leave reviews but when I do it's either really bad or really good and this? This is really good. Remember that it's 100$ okay? If you think the "interior decorating" takes away from the food get over yourself. The best Kaiseki I have ever had for the price and family owned to boot. The owner is the chef and his wife is helps in the front! So cool to have such a personable experience. I died and went to heaven 7 times (cuz 7 courses). Super light and amazing ingredients. I had a chance to eat junsai otherwise known as Japanese water shield because it was in season and wow was that an experience. So light and what an interesting texture. Overall an unpretentious and delicious meal. Do yourself a favor and go. read more

Yoichi's - duck breast - Japanese Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We called a week in advance to book a reservation to eat here. They took my partners's name, phone number, credit card information, and everything. We don't live in the Santa Barabara area and drove all the way down here just to have a meal at this place. When we called, the woman who answered the phone all of a sudden says that we don't have a reservation?! We have the call history of us making the reservation a week prior. We spent the entire day at Santa Barbara walking around just waiting to have this meal. I don't think you can imagine how disappointed we are right now. A waste of our time and gas. For a restaurant that's so highly rated and highly priced, you'd think they would be organized enough not to mess a reservation up. This is HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL. read more

We had a wonderful meal at Yoichi's that truly felt like an authentic experience in Japanese cuisine. The customer service was impeccable from the moment we walked and maintained consistent throughout our entire dining experience. We each ordered the 7 course kaiseki menu. Every dish was delicate and delectable! We're lucky to have a restaurant of this caliber in Santa Barbara. The seafood is as fresh as it gets in this town. Follow Yoichi's on Facebook to see pictures of the daily catch or imports coming in. For my party, 7 courses was not quite enough to leave feeling full, but we were satisfied. I do wish the portions were slightly larger or there were a few more courses to fully round out the meal and not leave you hungry at the end. It was my birthday when we went and our waiter, Zack, sang the most beautiful, soulful, a cappella rendition of the birthday song that I've ever heard! Thank you Zack! I felt so special! Pro tip: Ask if you can keep a menu with you at the table so you can know what you're eating and accurately caption your picture on Yelp! (Unlike, me;) read more