We've always loved Secret Bao, but this was our first time trying their special Sunday Dim Sum menu, and it was absolutely incredible! Every bite was full of flavor and beautifully prepared. Our top favorites were the seafood dumpling, the beef bun, and the lobster garlic noodles. And of course, the date cake was the perfect sweet finish. Such a creative and delicious menu. We can't wait to come back!
Ken
Great, interesting food, as always. Spring rolls and dumplings followed by lobster, garlic noodles and cauliflower. All excellent.
Bud
In a city with mostly middling bland restaurants secret bao is a go to for interesting, savory asian fusion food. No liquor license rhough.
Meagan
Wonderful menu and flavors. We enjoyed everything we tasted and will be back to try other selections. They serve wine, and "cocktails" made with sake-like drink (Soju?), but the cost is the same as regular cocktails. It was very noisy and bustling place, so it was tough for my mom with hearing aides.
Xyz McGhee
The place was heavily korean. I was under the impression Boa where Chinese. The selection of coarse options was very thin. To compind things i was never offered one of the many menues. Which incidentally has some items i would have wanted to try.. over all review. Not worth the time and money. The service is sub-sub-par service. Caltaco seems like a bettter option
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Joseph Yager (Joe)
Delicious spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eva Marie Downs
I don't normally write reviews unless I really enjoy the food but I didn't want anyone else to make a similar mistake.
The good: the bao buns were soft and the flavors were good. We ordered the kfc, the char siu, and the pork belly. The kfc needed much more of the sauce but the fry on the chicken was perfect. The char siu was fluffy and yummy and the pork belly was a favorite. Service was fast and very friendly, tables cleaned and cleared immediately. Very cute spot.
The bad: the beef sezchuan noodles were somehow really tasteless (needed salt!) and woefully lacking in beef! I think we found 5 small chunks in the entire dish! The baos were also so small with not a lot of filling. Overall we left hungry and a bit disappointed. The reviews are confusing or we must've been on a really off day for the kitchen? Either way, the experience made it such that we would not go back nor would we recommend it. There has to be a better Asian food experience in Santa Barbara because this isn't it unfortunately.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Sarah
This place is so good! The KFC bao was a staple in my diet when I lived back in SB! Try to grab a reservation as the dining room can be small
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Meg Leach
This place is too hyped up for the cost and the taste. Dumplings were cold, melon in the cucumber salad tasted rancid and everything was just “ok”. My whole table was so unimpressed by every dish we left even though we werent full and went down the street. I wouldn’t eat here again which i’m really sad about! This place has potential but the chef needs to be replaced!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Julie Hsu
We ordered 3 dishes. Bimbap, salmon and kalbi short ribs. All 3 were disappointing.
The food is amazing. Like so good I am going to have trouble not having it every day. Wish I lived is SB.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: K F C Bao
Olivia N
Overall rating: 3.5 Price: $21
No reso at 6pm & it was booked up. Staff was super friendly but I did not like the baos I ordered at all. I’m obsessed with this type of food, so could totally be my taste buds.
- Pork Belly Bao - KFC Bao
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Mark Wanich
I ordered Secret Bao's catering for a work presentation and it was a hit! I loved the Pork Belly Fried Rice and there wasn't a single bao left when it was all said and done. I look forward to the next trip to Santa Barbara to order them again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Donald
I tried them when they started at Handle bar the Covid hit, first time here, did a very nice job visually on the interior, not very comfortable sitting so it's more of a eat and leave kind of place. The food was good and good flavors, but a bit pricey for the small oportions. Good service as well.
Brandon
Of all our dining experiences on our Santa Barbara vacation, our meal at Secret Bao was the most innovative and satisfying. From the harmonious, eye opening flavors to the friendly and attentive service, we enjoyed every course.
We've always loved Secret Bao, but this was our first time trying their special Sunday Dim Sum menu, and it was absolutely incredible! Every bite was full of flavor and beautifully prepared. Our top favorites were the seafood dumpling, the beef bun, and the lobster garlic noodles. And of course, the date cake was the perfect sweet finish. Such a creative and delicious menu. We can't wait to come back!
Great, interesting food, as always. Spring rolls and dumplings followed by lobster, garlic noodles and cauliflower. All excellent.
In a city with mostly middling bland restaurants secret bao is a go to for interesting, savory asian fusion food. No liquor license rhough.
Wonderful menu and flavors. We enjoyed everything we tasted and will be back to try other selections. They serve wine, and "cocktails" made with sake-like drink (Soju?), but the cost is the same as regular cocktails. It was very noisy and bustling place, so it was tough for my mom with hearing aides.
The place was heavily korean. I was under the impression Boa where Chinese. The selection of coarse options was very thin. To compind things i was never offered one of the many menues. Which incidentally has some items i would have wanted to try.. over all review. Not worth the time and money. The service is sub-sub-par service. Caltaco seems like a bettter option
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Delicious spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I don't normally write reviews unless I really enjoy the food but I didn't want anyone else to make a similar mistake.
The good: the bao buns were soft and the flavors were good. We ordered the kfc, the char siu, and the pork belly. The kfc needed much more of the sauce but the fry on the chicken was perfect. The char siu was fluffy and yummy and the pork belly was a favorite. Service was fast and very friendly, tables cleaned and cleared immediately. Very cute spot.
The bad: the beef sezchuan noodles were somehow really tasteless (needed salt!) and woefully lacking in beef! I think we found 5 small chunks in the entire dish! The baos were also so small with not a lot of filling. Overall we left hungry and a bit disappointed. The reviews are confusing or we must've been on a really off day for the kitchen? Either way, the experience made it such that we would not go back nor would we recommend it. There has to be a better Asian food experience in Santa Barbara because this isn't it unfortunately.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
This place is so good! The KFC bao was a staple in my diet when I lived back in SB! Try to grab a reservation as the dining room can be small
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is too hyped up for the cost and the taste. Dumplings were cold, melon in the cucumber salad tasted rancid and everything was just “ok”. My whole table was so unimpressed by every dish we left even though we werent full and went down the street. I wouldn’t eat here again which i’m really sad about! This place has potential but the chef needs to be replaced!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
We ordered 3 dishes. Bimbap, salmon and kalbi short ribs. All 3 were disappointing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
The food is amazing. Like so good I am going to have trouble not having it every day. Wish I lived is SB.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: K F C Bao
Overall rating: 3.5
Price: $21
No reso at 6pm & it was booked up. Staff was super friendly but I did not like the baos I ordered at all. I’m obsessed with this type of food, so could totally be my taste buds.
- Pork Belly Bao
- KFC Bao
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
I ordered Secret Bao's catering for a work presentation and it was a hit! I loved the Pork Belly Fried Rice and there wasn't a single bao left when it was all said and done. I look forward to the next trip to Santa Barbara to order them again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I tried them when they started at Handle bar the Covid hit, first time here, did a very nice job visually on the interior, not very comfortable sitting so it's more of a eat and leave kind of place. The food was good and good flavors, but a bit pricey for the small oportions. Good service as well.
Of all our dining experiences on our Santa Barbara vacation, our meal at Secret Bao was the most innovative and satisfying. From the harmonious, eye opening flavors to the friendly and attentive service, we enjoyed every course.
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