7 Best Chinese Restaurants in Santa Barbara

“Gansu's Mala Tang and Mapo Tofu are simply outstanding. The Mala Tang is perfectly spiced, with fresh ingredients and a warming heat. The Mapo Tofu is silky and packed with rich, authentic flavors. Both dishes are a true taste of traditional Chinese cuisine—delicious and satisfying. Highly recommended!“

“I have been coming here for years! They seem to be able to do anything on the menu as a vegan option. The food is delicious! The staff are super friendly and extremely fast, and there is a cheap lunch special. It is one of my favorite vegan-friendly restaurants in Santa Barbara. I love the Orange Soy Chicken, the Lemon Soy Chicken is great, and the chop suey and kung pap tofu are kind of boring. Updated from previous review on 2013-05-05“

“Food was very delicious, very good service amidst a modest and simple setting. The side parking lot is a little too narrow for double parking though. Nonetheless, it will always be worth coming back to for a good tasting meal with the family.“

“China Pavilion is hands down one of my favorite restaurants ever, and absolutely my favorite place to get dim sum. The food and tea are always delicious and the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. Everything is delicious, but some of my favorites are the shrimp and chive pies, Szechuan wontons, baked bbq pork buns, and egg custard buns“

“The Pickle Room is a "must visit" to enjoy an old-school Santa Barbara bar. I have no idea how I've lived in SB so many years without visiting the Pickle Room. It enjoys a prominent spot downtown in a well-known historical building. It is surprisingly small. There is a bar and a handful of booths. Upon entry, you are hit by the red color and intimate size of the place. We visited on a slow night and shared the space with locals and tourists. The drinks were all good and the service was friendly enough. I would not call the Pickle Room a dive. Leave those boring fern bars behind and try an SB original. We will return.“

“Great food, great service. Food comes out fast, hot and delish!“

“It’s just a regular Panda Express, though i would say some of my rice was a little bit dry but it didn’t bother me that much. Pretty cheap, good place to go if you’re a student like me. I paid $13 for a plate and a small drink, I could say that they could add more stuff to make the atmosphere less, plain?Staff was nice, another good thing is that this place is a lot less busy than the one in la cumbre since most people go all the way over there and forget there’s one in state but other than that, it’s just a normal Panda Express?“