Santa Barbara’s food scene ranges from upscale establishments overlooking the ocean to hole-in-the-wall eateries serving tacos that won’t hurt your wallet.
The city is overflowing with fresh produce and picturesque spots to create the perfect dining experience.
With that said, here are 12 of the best Santa Barbara restaurants for an eclectic culinary experience!
1. Yoichi’s
Yoichi’s is the place to be in Santa Barbara for an absolutely authentic Japanese Kaiseki. Familial service, impeccable attention to the littlest details, and methodically planned dishes— everything is made to ensure you leave satisfied and wanting to come back for more.
With a high-quality eight-course meal, Yoichi’s brought the A game in blowing your mind away. Here, most courses will be the chef’s choice, but you have the opportunity to pick a meat or fish option on specific dishes. (PRO TIP: Always choose the fish!)
Yoichi’s Mukouzuke or Sashimi Course is a standout within the whole course. There is so much detail, even in the pottery made by a local artist. The uni from Santa Barbara and Hokkaido is fresh, refreshing, and creamy.
An authentic Japanese experience won’t be complete without sushi. The freshest mackerel, sea urchin, and shrimp, it’s like visiting Japan without a passport! Beautiful textures, taste, and presentation— this is the work of an absolute master.
What to order: Mukouzuke (Sashimi), Shokuji (Sushi)
Address: 230 E Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website | Instagram | Facebook
2. The Lark
Located in the Funk Zone Area in Santa Barbara, The Lark is a standout restaurant with only the most flawless ingredients. The moment you take a look at their menu, you’ll be instantly lured by the delicious ingredients listed on each dish. With a relaxed and trendy indoor and outdoor seating area, get ready to make your feed fabulous when you dine here.
The Lark’s Brown Butter Cornbread is so rich, buttery, and sweet that we won’t be shocked if a cult exists to worship it. How could Cornbread taste this good?! This Cornbread should be called something else to save other cornbreads’ reputations.
A complete showstopper, the Hope Ranch Mussels is a delightful feast. The creme fraiche or white wine sauce aims to impress as well as the peppers and roasted tomatoes. Take a bite, and you might see the heavens when you close your eyes.
What to order: Brown Butter Cornbread, Santa Barbara Hope Ranch Mussels
Address: 131 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website | Instagram | Facebook
3. Bouchon Santa Barbara
Serving Californian-French fare made with organic seasonal ingredients and local wines, Bouchon Santa Barbara is a standard for a gastronomic experience unlike any other. With rustic country interiors and the smell of piles and piles of freshly baked baguettes, this place feels like you’re not in Santa Barbara. The slightly open kitchen is enough to let you see all the magic happen.
The perfect start to every meal, Bouchon’s French Onion Soup is so good it might turn you into a fan if you aren’t yet. Beautifully caramelized onions with no cut corners are a clear labor of love. There is a pronounced liqueur flavor that you will thoroughly enjoy.
If we could recommend only one dish to order at Bouchon, the Maple-Glazed Duck Breast & Confit of Thigh is a must! Moist, succulent, and incredibly rich in flavor — it’s no wonder why this is their staple.
What to order: French Onion Soup, Maple-Glazed Duck Breast & Confit of Thigh
Address: 9 W Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website | Instagram | Facebook
4. Loquita Santa Barbara
Worthy of being recognized by the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand, Loquita Santa Barbara offers the finest Spanish dining experience in the city. Gorgeous Spanish tiles and rustic wooden tables will greet you as you enter the restaurant. However, the large patio highlighted by the flowering bougainvilleas will steal your attention. If you’re looking for a place to impress a date, this is the spot to take them.
Loquita’s Pulpo comes with Spanish octopus, black garlic aioli, potato purée, and pickled red onion. The Spanish octopus is perfectly cooked and tender; you won’t have to worry about chewing it at all! However, what elevates this dish is definitely the smooth and luscious potato purée.
The Tortilla Española has chunks of very firm and juicy Spanish chorizo— a genius combo you must try! The smokiness of the chorizo completes the perfectly fluffy eggs and frizzled onions.
For dessert, Loquito’s Churros comes in three different kinds of dipping sauce: dulce de leche, raspberry vanilla, and Mexican chocolate. You might be tempted to try all three but space yourself and go with the dulce de leche and thank us later.
What to order: Pulpo, Tortilla Española, Churros with Dulce de Leche, Paella
Address: 202 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website | Instagram | Facebook
5. Toma Restaurant & Bar
A cute little restaurant tucked in by the Harbor, Toma Restaurant & Bar serves one of the best Italian cuisines in Santa Barbara. With elegant interiors, professional staff, and breathtaking water views, you won’t regret a single thing coming here.
Raved by locals and tourists alike, the Tuna Cones in Toma are the show’s true stars. With a lightly sweet sesame shell paired with deliciously savory tuna tartare on the inside, these Tuna Cones are something new your taste buds will love.
If you’re a fan of shrimp, you might want to try Toma’s Gnocchi. Super soft with some of the best sauces you’ll ever taste, this Gnocchi has tremendous flavor and deserves a spot in your favorites list.
Spaghetti cooked perfectly with white wine butter sauce and clams; the Black Spaghetti has got to be one of the best pasta dishes ever made. The clams are incredibly fresh and complement the lightness of the spaghetti.
What to order: Tuna Cones, Gnocchi, Black Spaghetti
Address: 324 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website | Instagram | Facebook
6. Bibi Ji
Bibi Ji is a famous Indian restaurant in Santa Barbara with lively music and great vibes. If the colorful storefront and bright pink bubble font signage on State Street aren’t enough to get you curious, maybe the music blasting into the street will. No, this is not a bar— it’s one of the best restaurants offering Indian cuisine in Santa Barbara!
Savory and sweet but definitely more on the savory side, Bibi Ji’s Butter Chicken tastes like no other chicken dish. Pair with a piping hot homemade Garlic Naan to create a mouthwatering ensemble.
Creamy and refreshing, the Coconut Curry is the personification of the word “flavorful.” Tasting like coconut candy but not too sweet, this is a one-of-a-kind curry you can only taste here in Bibi Ji.
What to order: Butter Chicken, Garlic Naan, Coconut Curry, Natural Wine
Address: 734 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website | Instagram | Facebook
7. Santa Barbara FisHouse
One of those hidden gems you can only stumble upon if you’re looking enough, Santa Barbara FisHouse is like a great American dream mom & pop shop you visit over the years because it’s so good! With a nice view of the beach and the boardwalk, this place checks off many boxes.
Thick and absolutely delicious, the Clam Chowder here is a must-order. The milky aroma paired with the bacon hits all the right spots. Firm chunks of carrot, celery, and potato, along with luscious, perfectly cooked clams, and you’re in heaven.
If you’re a fan of fish tacos, you will devour FisHouse’s Fish Tacos in an instant. Made with halibut, this one is moist and fresh, as if it came straight from the sea. The homemade taco sauce seems to have magic as an ingredient with how enchanting it tastes.
What to order: Clam Chowder, Fish Tacos
Address: 101 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website | Instagram | Facebook
8. Jane
A locally owned restaurant on State Street, Jane is the spot to hold special occasions like wedding receptions, birthdays, or anything you want. The place boasts a gorgeous upstairs mezzanine and balcony area and substantial outdoor seating. This quaint little restaurant is always on everyone’s list when it comes to the best restaurants in Santa Barbara.
Perhaps the best chicken dish you’ll ever taste in your life, the Chicken Piccata comes in two thinly sliced, breaded, and herbed chickens that are beautifully stacked on top of one another. Flavorful and very tender, eating this with the sauce allows a delightful and filling culinary experience.
You can’t go to Jane without having their famous Coconut Chiffon Cake. Light and fluffy, you might have difficulty stopping yourself from eating more because of how crazily good it melts in your mouth.
What to order: Chicken Piccata, Coconut Chiffon Cake, Goleta
Address: 1311 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website | Instagram | Facebook
9. Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
Situated at the end of the pier at Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara Shellfish Company takes pride in the fresh seafood you can see from their live tanks. At times, you even have the chance to witness fishermen bring in live crabs straight from their boats! For a delectable seafood meal with picturesque views, Santa Barbara Shellfish Company doesn’t disappoint.
Meaty and fresh with a strong taste of bell pepper and hot chipotle sauce combo, the Crab Cakes is a house recipe that’s loved by many. Savory but slightly sweet, these Crab Cakes are perfect for eating by the sea.
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company’s Lobster Roll is served with onion rings and some of the best coleslaw you’ll ever have. The large portions of lobster have a lot of meat inside and are worth all your money.
What to order: Crab Cakes, Lobster Roll
Address: 230 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Website | Instagram | Facebook
10. Arigato Sushi
If you’re looking for some well made sushi in town, look no further than Arigato Sushi. Here, you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. With decadent outdoor seating right on State Street and the satisfying sound of chopping knives— you’re all set for a great time. For the best ambiance, ask for a table on the patio at the back of the restaurant and thank us later.
It’s pretty rare for a sushi restaurant to have good Hamachi, but Arigato Sushi made sure to make theirs exceptional in every bite. The fish is evidently fresh, delicious, and pleasant! It melts in your mouth like butter.
The Tuna Carpaccio in Arigato Sushi is divine in every way. The moment the tenderly cut tuna touches the tip of your tongue, a burst of flavor hits you, and you will wonder why you weren’t tasting this sooner.
What to order: Hamachi (Yellowtail), Tuna Carpaccio
Address: 1225 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
11. Bettina
A popular pizzeria in Santa Barbara, Bettina serves artisanal pizzas, pasta, salads, and various appetizers. The place has a great local and al fresco vibe that matches with the rest of the shops and restaurants at the Montecito Country Mart. If you’re looking for great food, what else could be better than a family-friendly restaurant with extremely good pizza?
Bettina’s Pepperoni Pizza with red chili oil, basil, and honey is phenomenal. Thin crust with a nice chew and a crunchy edge, you’ll be able to savor and taste every layer in just one bite. This is how Pepperoni Pizza should be made.
Medium-sized Neapolitan-style pizza with mozzarella, crushed tomato, pepperoni, and sausage, the Meat Lovers Pizza is designed to be loved by all pizza enthusiasts of all ages! Try adding honey for a subtle sweet taste.
What to order: Pepperoni Pizza, Meat Lovers Pizza
Address: 1014 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Website | Instagram | Facebook
12. Milk & Honey
An excellent option for a date or a girls’ night out, milk & honey is something to behold! Famous for its tapas and cocktail drinks, everyone who wants a good time in a loungey atmosphere will have the best time here. This is the place to be if you’re looking for great eats off of State Street.
Fluffy but crispy, the Sweet Potato Fries in milk & honey are a must-have! The light melted cheese goes so well with the savory garlic sauce, making a great snack as you wait for your orders.
Speaking of snacks, the Street Corn is also one for the books. Creamy, buttery, and a well-seasoned sauce— this one will impress your taste buds without trying so hard.
It’s a crime to go to milk & honey without ordering the Shrimp Tacos. Why? Well, simply because it’s too good to miss out on! The shrimp is cooked perfectly with so much umami flavor. With creamy sauce and the right amount of acidity from the pico, this is just the BEST Shrimp Taco ever made.
What to order: Sweet Potato Fries, Street Corn, Shrimp Tacos
Address: 30 W Anapamu St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website | Instagram | Facebook
As you can tell from this list, Santa Barbara has a lot to offer when it comes to food. If you’re an adventurous foodie, check out our list of the best restaurants in Pasadena for more mind-blowing recommendations.
How We Create Our “Best” Lists
All Noms Magazine’s “best” lists are created using multiple factors and signals to help readers find the best restaurants, things to do, and places to stay at. Some of these factors and signs include personal experiences, correspondence with locals, and compiling experiences from review sites.
Each list is also created to be balanced (in terms of price, cuisine type, ambiance, and more) as possible. This means that the lists are not specifically created in ranking order. You should be comfortable picking from any of the spots on the list and generally have a good time. But of course, YMMV (your mileage may vary) and everyone may have different experiences/palates.