Restaurants in Isla Vista

“Excellent authentic Mexican food served quickly by a very friendly staff.”

“This spot is a hidden gem in Isla Vista. Plenty of delicious options for food ranging from tacos to burritos to pupusas and much more. Agua fresca is tasty and the spice palette is amazing. Everything on the menu is gluten free. The staff is friendly, the food is hot, and there is a pleasant patio to sit on to eat. Amazing value for the money. Highly recommended!”

“Very fair portion sizing for the money, and amazing food. Highly recommended”

“Literally got the tacos last minute before they closed and the meat is amazing this is the best taco I’ve ever had if you haven’t been you need to try it seriously 🔥💯”

“it's a little hole in the wall shop that makes amazing bagel sandwiches. Love stopping here for a bite when in IV.”

“We used to eat at the Freebirds next to the Southbay Galleria in Redondo Beach, until they closed down.

This location was close but I feel that the flavor was a 4.0 compared to our old spot.

Regardless, 5* for the nostalgia trip. We'll be back when we are in the area again.”

“Bought some tostilocos and mangoneada. It's been a while since I have some tostilocos and they where delicious!
Highly recommend stopping by and say hi to Monica!”

“The people that work there are great, coffee and delicious desserts !”

“This is my favorite place to get bubble tea in/ near sb. They use real tea instead of the powders and my drink (I always get the same thing) is always consistent in flavor. Staff doesn’t interact but it’s so small inside, there really isn’t a reason/space to.
My order is the only thing I’ve tried on the menu.”

“The whole concept is a little dishonest with everything being called a “smoothie” and the 20 “healthy additives”. No — they sell milkshakes. It’s all ice cream (probably why it tastes amazing)”

“Graduated from UCSB and came back to Dublin's - and everything about this place still rocks. It feels even nicer than before with some noticeable upgrades. The bartender Dennis is the best too. Love Dublins!!”

“I was a Gaucho for a couple of years and the UCSB dining commons are nothing but special to me. Pizza, burgers, pasta, sandwich bar, salad bar, waffle machine, unlimited soda, all-you-can-eat everything all with a simple card swipe! (or <$20 for non-students) Seriously, some of you guys' complaints make no sense. You really expect French Laundry quality here? Yeah right! This place's job is to provide us with glucose for our brains to complete our studies, and for that I'd say it's beyond satisfactory. Ranking of the DCs: 1. Ortega (sushi baby!) 2. DLG (late night cravings) 3. Carrillo (best breakfast) 4. Portola (too far, had it once)”

“Best boba/milk tea/tea in Isla Vista (and even all of Santa Barbara)!! Although new, Mojo Teahouse has quickly become a popular staple in the UCSB community. Stop by and try it out, if you’re in the area :)”

“Oakberry has the best açaí in the world. Healthy, refreshing, and full of amazing topping options. Everywhere my husband and I travel, we always look for an Oakberry. We highly recommend it! 😍”

“it's a little hole in the wall shop that makes amazing bagel sandwiches. Love stopping here for a bite when in IV.”

“The vibe is the best in IV. The staff actually care, the drinks are perfection, there's parking... And the avo toast is delicious. What else can I ask for??👍 Love the teas and fresh lemonade too!!”

“So ummm yeah. Okay I don’t quite know how to start but alright I’ll give it a try. Oooo boi, this is gonna be tough to begin. Let’s just say, wow. Miss C was the best barista definitely come by.”

“This has been my go to spot for years. I come here at least once a week. Always surprisingly fast for the amount of people here. Double char is always reliable, and sometimes I get the triple char when I am extra hungry after a long day. Seating isn't always available, but people cycle out pretty quickly.”

“You have to try the ranchero breakfast burrito!! It was sooo good I had to go back the next day and get it again before leaving home to Sacramento! I would literally drive all the way back to Santa Barbara just to get another one!!”

“Stopped in before a long day of mural painting in the sun,
I ordered the lavender matcha, it was made with hate, it was the worst I ever had. I couldn’t even drink it. That was fine I didn’t need the calories I guess. Just a waste of money since I have to pay extra for oatmilk.”

“This is our go-to spot for our twice quarterly get together after Aikido class.”

“Shwarma....Mmmm”