50 Best Vegetarian Restaurants near Isla Vista

“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.“

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

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

“Su’s Bowl had some solid chili noodles with great flavor. However, the takeout experience wasn’t the best — the noodles were clumped together, and placing the order took longer than expected due to some communication issues. Despite that, the taste was pretty great overall.“

“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 noodles I’ve ever had“

“As someone who grew up in China, I'm usually pretty picky about Chinese food in the U.S. After trying so many Chinese restaurants over the years, I honestly didn't expect to find one this authentic in Santa Barbara. Meet Up Chinese Cuisine was such a pleasant surprise.

We ordered the Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce, Mapo Tofu, Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup, and Yangzhou Fried Rice, and every dish exceeded my expectations.

The Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce was probably my favorite. The pork was tender, the vegetables were crisp, and the sauce had the perfect balance of savory, slightly sweet, tangy, and just the right amount of spice. It tasted exactly like the authentic version I grew up eating.

The Mapo Tofu was another standout. The tofu was silky smooth, the sauce was rich and flavorful, and it paired perfectly with steamed rice. It had that authentic homemade taste that's surprisingly difficult to find outside of China.

The Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup was incredibly comforting. The broth was rich without being greasy, the beef was tender, and the noodles had the perfect chewy texture. It reminded me of the noodle shops I used to visit back home.

The Yangzhou Fried Rice was also excellent. Every bite was packed with ingredients, the rice was perfectly separated with a nice wok aroma, and it wasn't oily at all like many places.

Besides the food, I was also impressed by how clean and welcoming the restaurant is. The dining room is bright, comfortable, and well maintained. The staff was friendly, attentive, and the food came out quickly.

Another thing worth mentioning is the portion size. The servings are very generous, making it a great value whether you're dining with family or friends.

As a Chinese customer, I can honestly say this is one of the most authentic Chinese restaurants I've found in Southern California. Being able to enjoy food that genuinely tastes like home in Santa Barbara feels almost unbelievable. If you're craving authentic Chinese cuisine or simply want to experience real Chinese flavors, I highly recommend giving this place a try. I'll definitely be back whenever I'm in Santa Barbara.“

“Maiz Picante catered our wedding recently and did a phenomenal job! Not only were they professional, but the food was outstanding. We got nonstop praises about the food and service. I will definitely be using them again when we have another event. Otherwise, I try and support them whenever we are in town. They are friendly, professional, and know their food!“

“Great people..nice beer 🍺“

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

“Stopped to charge the car nearby and had lunch. Food was fantastic! Highly recommend the meatloaf and double toad in the hole! Hash browns were crispy and buttery. Will be back when we’re in town next! ❤️“

“Dropped in for happy hour and sat at the bar—highly recommend! The tuna ponzu and the oysters were both absolutely fantastic and incredibly fresh. But the real star was the Fresh Squeezed Lure Martini. I’m not a martini drinker, and I’ve been totally into grapefruit lately, and this hit the spot perfectly. It wasn't too strong and tasted amazing.
​To top it off, our waitress was over-the-top attentive. Even though the bar area was quite busy, she never missed a beat, which really showed her professionalism. Great food, great drinks, and wonderful service!“

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

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“Great food, great service, and a great atmosphere with an absolutely WONDERFUL playlist of music they had going today! Will be back. As often as possible!“

“good portions in the tacos. very tasty and fast service. the line seems overwhelming at first but moves fast. Will definitely be back, when in the area.“

“Great food and service. Beautiful location.“

“Great place to stop, relax and have a bite to eat. Enjoy 😎“

“Great food didn’t expect to get such good food out here, I’m from Los Angeles doing a show out here and was hesitant to eat here but it was the best decision ever.“

“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!“

“Amazing food and service 😊“

“I lived in SB my whole life up until 4 years ago and have been going to edomasa for near 30 years now. The food is incredible!! Santa Barbara offers many other sushi restaurants but none come close to comparing to edomasa. They are mostly too expensive, not fresh, extremely packed with tourists, etc. Edomasa is the real deal when it comes to a locals spot with even the famous that live there frequenting (they skip the fancy frills for quality too �)... Edomasa will always be my FAVORITE restaurant in SB! �“

“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!“

“Just love the food and the employees always greet me with a smile. I am definitely a regular customer. Keep it up Chubbies!!!“

“Family owned taste of New Orleans Restaurant. From Catfish Po-boys to King cakes. What a great find for when you want some great Cajun food. Run by a mother father and daughter trio. Was told they do live music and we're even having a Mardi Gras celebration. We ordered takeout and I will say after eating our meal this will definitely become one of our go-to restaurants.“

“Probably one of the best if not THE best sushi I’ve ever eaten! My first time, and now I’m a lifelong customer!“

“Friendly, knowledgeable service. Clean, warm, peaceful environment Amazing menu Quality lunch Thank you- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

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

“Attention to detail and fresh look“

“Hi thank you so much so much“

“I had an amazing experience dining here. First of all, the service was great. We were greated by a kind hostess then served by a helpful woman who was very patient. She advised us on our orders and the entire experience was very smooth. The Chai Tea was delicious and it included free refills. The food was great. I have been vegetarian for 10 years, but I broke it for their Tikka Masala and it was certainly worth it. Overall, I had a great time and would recommend this restaraunt to anyone!“

“Очень вкусно!!!! Дружелюбный персонал. I love it❤️“

“Just to inform you that the name Dutch is the English name for the language and the inhabitants of the Netherlands. They are called the Dutch, and the language spoken is Dutch. There is nothing Dutch about the food. It’s more traditional German food, so maybe rename the restaurant Deutsch.
And the language and culture are not the same.“

“Super kind and welcoming staff! It was my first time here and the employee helped me out a bunch! He let me know what everything was and even offered me water when I came in hiccuping.
10/10 I will definitely visit this spot again on my next trip to cali“

“As a member of The Art The Art Farmers band, I wanted to thank you for having us play music on your outdoor stage. The beer, food and live music make for a great Sunday afternoon. The audience was really good too… I think we will be getting new fans in the SB area.“

“Not a super big fan of beer so didn’t have many choices. However, I have many friends who enjoy the drinks here. I tried the Michelada and it was NOT good. They do have a great Mexican food truck that we love! They have vegan options which is a plus! Monday trivia is really fun!“

“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!!!!“

“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.“

“I had the green tea ice cream and it was awesome! :)“

“I love this place one of the best restaurant my wife and I. The servises is nice and the food so good“

“Honestly honestly the pizza here is just good in so many ways, the bread tastes great the toppings taste fresh the sauce is just right not to much definitely need one of these places in the high dessert coming from victorville this place is must have in my area 🫡“

“We had a great meal outside in a casual atmosphere. We ordered at the counter and they brought to us.“

“So good! Nothing else to say!“

“First time going to this restaurant with my daughter to celebrate her graduation. Food and hospitality was amazing and I would recommend this to anyone who likes Korean bbq and all you can eat! :)“

“Excelente servicio el manager Rodrigo te hace sentir en casa 🏠 Jesse y Brenda me recomendaron la margarita de mango deliciosa 😋 💯 recomendado 🏆🎗️“

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

“I had the imperial shrimp entree. It was delicious,healthfully cooked and had a beautiful presentation. I have had this dish many times at other restaurants ,and this was by far the best.“

“I absolutely loved this place during college and still daydream about their Arroz con Pollo bowl. Definitely the best option on campus for fresh, delicious and filling food. I recommend stopping by around 2:30, as its a little less busy than usual and you skip over the lunch rush.“

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

“If you’re anywhere near Del Pueblo Cafe, do yourself a favor and stop in, this place always delivers.

I tried the California burrito, and it was easily one of the best I’ve had in a long time. Everything was spot-on: perfectly seasoned, generously filled, and just the right balance of flavors without feeling overly heavy. The quesabirria was just as impressive: rich, savory, and packed with that slow-cooked depth you hope for but don’t always get.

What really surprised me, though, was the drinks. Their coffee is excellent (not just an afterthought like at a lot of spots), and the matcha is genuinely good—smooth, not overly sweet, and clearly made with care and in house.

Overall, it’s one of those rare places where everything you get is good—from the food to the drinks— I wish it was just a little further from my work so I wouldn’t be so tempted all the time.“