Wow! What a find in Santa Barbara for delicious Chinese food. The service is friendly and personal by owner chef Dani. The hot chili oil and Bao are made by her and are worth a trip by themselves. Lots of healthy choices for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans. Sorry no photos, too delicious to take time for them!
Cheng K.
New menu items have landed! We've been dining at Shang Hai on Milpas for years and it's been consistent and tasty. They've now added a new hand made dumplings/bao and noodle soup menu which is fantastic. The flavors are authentic and tastes as if the favorite auntie who is the best chef in the family made them. Noodle soup also great, I'm working my way through the different types as the menu is new as of April 1. Very happy to discover the new menu additions!
Mario Sancha
Not the same different cooksFood tastes
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 3
Beth
This is the best place in the world for vegetarian Chinese food! They have the best tasting veggie versions of classic American Chinese food. I wish they delivered, I would get the food much more often.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Morales (InSearchOfFreedom)
Uncooked and oversized pieces of vegetables. And the curry was more like a sauce giving me teriyaki vibes. If you’re an out of towner then don’t go.
Food: 1
Mary Peterman
We love -the food, the service, and lonely people why run the restaurant. Lots our loyal locals whom the hosts know by name and more.Parking: A very nice additional convenience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken with Mixed Vegetables
Oh Boon Khim
Great place with vegetarian food. Must have the hot and sour soup.Vegetarian options: Can substitute vegetarian chicken/beef for the meat (chicken/beef).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
chasing everist with an Ist
Great place, Dany is very personable and they make great food. Highly recommend the hot and sour soup, orange chicken, and broccoli and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex Hwang
Vegan chicken is amazing! Try the salt and pepper vegan chicken
Anu Addanki
Vegetarian options: Large vegetarian menu, quick and friendly service, really flavorful food.
Best Chinese food in all of Santa Barbara. Fresh and authentic food and very nice service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Com Egg Drop Soup, Pork Chow Mein, Sweet and Sour Pork, Chicken Fried Rice, Orange Chicken, Fried Rice, Salt and Pepper Shrimp
Lenin Vega-Webber
The food was so delicious and fresh! A must
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Rice
Allen C
The food is ok, the waitress girl is mean, seems like she does not know how to do her job, should be nicer, and help customers. The owner lady is nice.
SheQ Linnae
Updated 7/2023Very disappointed with the amount of food we were given. The portion sizes were super small like 1/3 of what is normally given in Chinese restaurants. Here's a visual, I ordered 3 Vegetable Chow Mien (we are a big family) there was so little in each of the containers that all three could've fit into one and would've looked like one order of Chow Mien. This new trend of charging more for food and giving people less of it is really getting on my nerve! I don't care how "good" the food is, I won't be returning next time I'm on vacation in SB.OLD REVIEWThis is the best Chinese food I've tasted in a long time.Vegan/Vegetarian options were super delicious as well. I will definitely be returning on my next trip out to SB.
Cari Matthews
Food was good, spring rolls are mushy inside. We ordered chicken with mixed vegetables but it only had bok choy no other
Wow! What a find in Santa Barbara for delicious Chinese food. The service is friendly and personal by owner chef Dani. The hot chili oil and Bao are made by her and are worth a trip by themselves. Lots of healthy choices for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans. Sorry no photos, too delicious to take time for them!
New menu items have landed! We've been dining at Shang Hai on Milpas for years and it's been consistent and tasty. They've now added a new hand made dumplings/bao and noodle soup menu which is fantastic. The flavors are authentic and tastes as if the favorite auntie who is the best chef in the family made them. Noodle soup also great, I'm working my way through the different types as the menu is new as of April 1. Very happy to discover the new menu additions!
Not the same different cooksFood tastes
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 3
This is the best place in the world for vegetarian Chinese food! They have the best tasting veggie versions of classic American Chinese food. I wish they delivered, I would get the food much more often.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Uncooked and oversized pieces of vegetables. And the curry was more like a sauce giving me teriyaki vibes. If you’re an out of towner then don’t go.
Food: 1
We love -the food, the service, and lonely people why run the restaurant. Lots our loyal locals whom the hosts know by name and more.Parking: A very nice additional convenience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken with Mixed Vegetables
Great place with vegetarian food. Must have the hot and sour soup.Vegetarian options: Can substitute vegetarian chicken/beef for the meat (chicken/beef).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place, Dany is very personable and they make great food. Highly recommend the hot and sour soup, orange chicken, and broccoli and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vegan chicken is amazing! Try the salt and pepper vegan chicken
Vegetarian options: Large vegetarian menu, quick and friendly service, really flavorful food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Best Chinese food in all of Santa Barbara. Fresh and authentic food and very nice service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Com Egg Drop Soup, Pork Chow Mein, Sweet and Sour Pork, Chicken Fried Rice, Orange Chicken, Fried Rice, Salt and Pepper Shrimp
The food was so delicious and fresh! A must
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Rice
The food is ok, the waitress girl is mean, seems like she does not know how to do her job, should be nicer, and help customers. The owner lady is nice.
Updated 7/2023Very disappointed with the amount of food we were given. The portion sizes were super small like 1/3 of what is normally given in Chinese restaurants. Here's a visual, I ordered 3 Vegetable Chow Mien (we are a big family) there was so little in each of the containers that all three could've fit into one and would've looked like one order of Chow Mien. This new trend of charging more for food and giving people less of it is really getting on my nerve! I don't care how "good" the food is, I won't be returning next time I'm on vacation in SB.OLD REVIEWThis is the best Chinese food I've tasted in a long time.Vegan/Vegetarian options were super delicious as well. I will definitely be returning on my next trip out to SB.
Food was good, spring rolls are mushy inside. We ordered chicken with mixed vegetables but it only had bok choy no other
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4