34 Best American Restaurants near Isla Vista

“My days of partying are long behind me. Perhaps once a year I do anything fun at all. But I understand the beauty and psychology of late night garbage meals. These folks have it down to a science, and few do it better.

There’s very few places outside of NYC bodegas and Instagram Reels where one can find food this decadent and depraved. Hey Chef! Go ahead and put chicken strips, bacon, a fried egg, french fries, and buffalo sauce into a tortilla and fry the thing. Might as well pour a beer into it too. Who cares. It's not normal. But when they serve it here, I’ll slop it up with a smile on my face.

The atmosphere is distinctly that of a college town whose primary food crowd arrives at midnight. Pictures of a more reckless past on the walls, a digital jukebox (which seems to default to Travis Scott Radio), and employees that are sick of people forgetting their order numbers. Who could want more? The service is quick, and there are multiple burgers with jalapeno poppers just shoved right in the middle. Slop slop slop it up.

The surprising thing is that the value here really isn’t bad. The Gaucho Burger (a real classic) remains around ten dollars, even in these trying times. There’s bacon and avocado on there, which I thought by now would be additions reserved only for those of the 1%. The important thing is that you don’t ask questions, and that you request extra chipotle sauce on the side and dip everything you get in it.“

“This is a great spot in the scenic mountain area of Santa Barbara California. Awesome food and the staff is amazing. Perfect stop for lunch while on a motorcycle ride.“

“Best Food in Santa Barbara.12/10 ⭐️’s.“

“Had a fantastic night at islands! Clay Shuck is the most amazing worker I've ever seen, based on what I saw definitely employee of the month! Checks all the boxes - facey, smart, and kind. Ladies check this place out, Clay Shuck is a snag!“

“Always a delight! Went last minute after driving all day, seated at the bar with Thiago and had a amazing meal and beautiful drinks. I have nightshade allergies and I was still able to get the Salmon on ceder with tons of flavor! Thank you for always taking care of us!“

“So good! Nothing else to say!“

“Who can go wrong with Kyle?“

“sumptuous food. great beers and wine. a favorite place to meet old neighborhood friends every time I visit!“

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“Been in Goleta for a long time. Great place for breakfast. Servers are fun and friendly.“

“Fantastic small restaurant related to Brophy Bros. with amazing food. We recommend their fish and chips along with their fish tacos. Be sure to say hi to Isaac when ordering, he's their phenomenal manager and truly cares about the quality of your visit. Pay up front and wait for the food to be delivered. Depending on the dish it'll come in a plastic basket or on a plate. They can split side dishes, for example half tots and half slaw which is great compared to other restaurants. Located right next door to the camino real theaters. Bathrooms are outside and part of the shopping center.“

“Great food and service. Beautiful location.“

“I gotta say it was my first time trying the food I order yaters meal it was a grilled chicken sammich with the toppings and the Caesar salad with shaved parmesan cheese with croutons and fries with ranch. It was soo delishhhhhh!!! I highly recommend you give it a whirl. Follow Your Taste Buds!!!!“

“We enjoyed the Thanksgiving Buffet, it was DELICIOUS!! 🦃🥰❤️“

“It's a bit non-sensical to say a restaurant that's been there since 1956 could be a hidden gem. But, that is the case. Tucked away in a strip mall next to a nail salon with the tallest snake plants I've ever seen is Tee Off. It's kinda' Musso and Franks little brother. Harry Bosch would be right at home with red leather booths, dim lights and food from a different era. If you're over 60 you gotta go here. If your under 60 you won't understand how I gave the ambulance a 5 but you'll dig the food and service.

This was a splurge dinner for Jacki and I but it is possible to have a very satisfying meal and keep it under $30. We went the other direction...

Jacki went for the New York and I the Rack of Lamb. Both cuts were perfect. My medium rare lamb was perfectly done. Jacki's medium steak was a little, stress little, underdone. All entrees come with choice of soup or salad, potatoes or rice and veggies. Nicely done. I had a beautiful salad and Jacki had a spectacular prime rib soup. Very satisfying meal. Very large portions on the entree. Rack and a half on the lamb and steak had to be 12oz or more. Accompanied by a bottle of Jordan Cab ... a perfect pairing.

We loved the meal and just being there. treat yourself. Ask for Suzie. Service was 10².“

“Super fast service, great food, great price. Highly reccomend the milkshakes, I had the oreo milkshake and its one of the best I've ever had. I don't really reccomend the mac n cheese or the chicken sandwiches, they're just okay, but the burgers are good.“

“We stopped at Sam’s To Go Sandwiches on Meig on a whim. We are certainly glad we did! This unassuming sandwich shop was clean, the owner was so pleasant, and the sandwiches were fresh and tasty! I recommend a stop at this small, non-chain shop. You won’t be disappointed.“

“My husband and I ate at the Live Oak Café while were staying at the Best Western on the same property. The restaurant interior is bright and chic and, as a bonus, overlooks the hotel pool. Plenty of parking. We had dinner the first night of our stay and loved it so much we went back for breakfast. Everything is fresh, high quality and delicious. If you are in Santa Barbara, be sure to stop by and give them a try. Be sure also to stop and say hello to the cute little finches who live right outside. I have to give a very special shout out to Javier and Luis! They were awesome – made us feel warm and welcome and part of the family. Luis kept the smiles and the coffee coming (VERY important part of my morning) and Javier could not have been more helpful and also has a really great smile! Stop by and say hi to the guys!“

“Love this place, the staff is nice, so well as all of the regulars, as this is a locals spot. The food and drinks are great as well.“

“Fantastic food and outdoor party possibilities! Service was slow, 2 bartenders with a line out 2 doors and waitstaff no where to be found. I’d definitely return maybe not on a weekend night, but the food and drinks were great.“

“Excellent food and a great beer and alcohol selection. Detroit style pizzas, excellent salads, happy hour specials and nice outdoor seating. It can get loud inside with big parties, and it can be loud outside with mesa traffic so plan accordingly.“

“It’s hard to describe perfect. Everything from the extraordinary staff, to the comfortable atmosphere, to the perfectly prepared food was spot on. We are greatly appreciative for the work that goes into an operation like this.“

“Lunch at Natural Café was exactly what we needed!

We arrived very hungry and left completely satisfied. The menu offers an impressive variety of fresh, healthy dishes, and everything sounded so delicious that choosing what to order was the hardest part. There are so many mouthwatering options that you’ll find yourself wanting to try them all.

After placing our order, we barely had time to choose a table before our food arrived. Everything was served fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. I ordered the salmon with pesto accompanied by an arugula salad, and it was absolutely delicious. Everyone in our group enjoyed their meals as well, including the fish tacos, vegetarian burrito, and roasted chicken breast with marinara pasta.

The restaurant itself is bright, spacious, and comfortably air-conditioned, with plenty of natural light and greenery both inside and outside. The outdoor seating area is thoughtfully equipped with numerous umbrellas, providing welcome shade and comfort on sunny days.

Natural Café is a wonderful place to enjoy fresh, wholesome food in a relaxing atmosphere. We will definitely be back!“

“Great service and reasonable prices. The food was fantastic!!“

“Delicious hamburgers. My wife and granddaughter have Celiac disease and it was fantastic that they could get great tasting sandwiches, Mesa burger and grilled cheese sandwich, along with very good fries. Staff was very helpful and responsive (although I think they may have had a long day). The gluten free hamburger buns were neither too thick nor crumbly like most. My pineapple burger was delicious. There were plenty of open tables on a Friday at 5pm. Modern pop music and laid back vibe with several customers with their friendly dogs. It is counter service. Bathroom needed cleaning but usable for washing hands after eating. We will be returning.“

“Went for a club meeting on a beautiful sunny day. The outside patio is a comfortable place to watch golfers and enjoy the scenery. The food was well cooked including the vegetables that were not overdone, and the service was efficient and unobtrusive.“

“We love this place! Food is great“

“Great food here for a reasonable price. Portions are great sized.“

“Esperanza made our visit to IHOP absolutely exceptional! From the moment we sat down, she greeted us with such a warm, genuine smile and made us feel truly welcome. Her positive attitude, kindness, and professionalism stood out from start to finish.
She went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. Our drinks were always full, our food came out exactly as ordered, and she checked on us often without ever making us feel rushed. She anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, which made the entire experience so enjoyable.
It's rare to come across someone who clearly takes so much pride in providing outstanding customer service. Esperanza's friendly personality and attention to detail turned a simple meal into a memorable experience. She is an incredible asset to IHOP, and we will definitely be coming back because of the excellent service she provided.
Thank you, Esperanza, for your kindness, hard work, and for making our day a little brighter. You truly deserve all five stars!“

“Dennys upper state street! Santa Barbara The perfect birthday party location! Neptune Radio 📻 reporting...“

“I really enjoyed the while experience. Staff was friendly and on it. She saw an empty cup would you like av refill, empty plate would you like me to take that. Attentive, very courteous. Food was very good and quick. We ordered the special burger I think it came out to $13 a plate. What a great deal. Definitely will be going back“

“this is my favorite dining Commons on campus. Each dining Commons has at least three distinct food areas such as Italian, Asian, American. Burgers, pizza, Asian cuisine, large pastry area, lots of drink options, awesome Chef. Always kept clean, always busy. Get there early. Great indication on Food as to potential allergy concerns“

“I didn't think Zodo's could get much better! After the Bowlero remodel I change my mind though.. you can totally lose track of time here, especially in the newer arcade?

Parking: Shared parking lot, with plenty of parking.

Kid-friendliness: The arcade has been upgraded to the best it's ever been!

Wheelchair accessibility: Handicap parking available.“

“Always a great experience to grab grub at Sam’s. Friendly, fast service. Sandwiches were made as ordered and they make fresh, hot onion rings to order. Lovely patio with benches and tables with shade on the ‘main’ drag so you can do some good people watching. Thanks Sams! You rock.“