The food was okay. There was not a big selection for vegans. We had rice with fried tofu and rice with grilled vegetables. Most of the veggies were green onions. Their only sauce was the Three Monkey dressing, which is sweet and spicy. If you are allergic to peppers, there is no other alternative besides asking for soy sauce, which the girl who took our order did not provide. Other than that, it was good for the price.
Li Fei
Great food. Wonderful taste
Nikki Lee
For a banh mi in Santa Barbara, this place is pretty decent! The tofu is flavorful and stays crisp with all the sauce and pickled veggies. I'm not a big fan of shrimp chips, but it's the thought that counts.
Josefina Tso-Guillen
The food and atmosphere here are great. The veggie dishes were really yummy.
J Shah
Santa Barbara Public Market is a great place to visit for meals … there is a good variety and enough seating. Most importantly, everyone in the family can order their food, and meet up to eat together i.e…. It’s a food court :) we’ve visited the place and eaten at other restaurants before - this time, we tried 3 monkeys! The restaurant is easy to miss on a sweep, as it is tucked away between a sushi and bagel place… the food choices are decent - we ordered the banh mi and the rainbow salad. The chicken and tofu banh mi were delicious - served with some fried rice cakes, but the salad was a huge disappointment- honestly, just skip it! The greens are plenty, but raw sliced carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes with a tiny serving of fried shallots with an even tinier smattering of peanut dust did not make for an appealing salad! The portions are not very big for the price - but that’s true of every restaurant I’ve tried in there IMO! Definitely worth a visit if you are in the neighborhood.
Toj Manoj
Unfortunately, this restaurant microwaves their meat skewers. This is very disappointing to learn and restaurants should not be microwaving their food. It seems like they pre-cook the skewers and then let them sit for a while and then simply heat them up in a microwave for a few minutes before serving. Otherwise the food is decent here and a good value all things considered but yeah the microwaving is a pass.
Naz Mehr
Food is always delicious! Mongolian tofu and popcorn tofu is where it’s at. Have also had the tofu sandwich and it’s the bomb. Best vegan food in the public market!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ben Hyatt
Yum! Just had the Pork Bahn Mi sandwich for lunch. Took it home to eat. Lots of great flavors, a little heat and the bread! Crunchy on the outside, and soft on the inside! Highly recommend. Everyone is so nice there! A little hidden in the back of the market. Head straight back to the left.
Parking: The market has free guest parking downstairs behind the Arlington. Paid city lot across the street where the first 75 mins are free. Street parking around but less plentiful than the garage and city lot.
Kid-friendliness: Located in the Santa Barbara Public Market. Fun, colorful decor and you can sit at the counter and watch them cook. And if the kids want something different - all kinds of options at the market.
FAB food. Cute location. They’re tucked back in the corner of the public market, so don’t miss it! The pork banh mi is amazing!! I’m a snob about my banh mi and hadn’t found the ~right one~ here on SB…until Three Monkeys moved into town! They’ve got the meat marinated right, fresh and pickled veg, plus that toasty roll and sweet mayo…you don’t want to sleep on this place. I want everyone to go here so that they will never leave SB ?
Chicken satay is great. However, I warn against ordering the sticky rice. It comes wrapped in Saran Wrap and appears to be microwaved in the plastic. Like a floppy brick of rice, couldn’t even taste due to its rubbery texture.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Quinn Becker
Vegetarian options: not really easy to get something vegetarian in general in this marketplace. The Tofu is really good though.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
C Albarino
Went to Public Market on a short lunch break and found this great spot by accident. I wanted a small, reasonably priced bite and this place delivered! I ordered the Thai chicken skewers and a side of rice. With tip, still <$20 and had leftovers! The girl working there was prompt and friendly, even during holiday weekend lunch rush. Definitely will be returning!
The food was okay. There was not a big selection for vegans. We had rice with fried tofu and rice with grilled vegetables. Most of the veggies were green onions. Their only sauce was the Three Monkey dressing, which is sweet and spicy. If you are allergic to peppers, there is no other alternative besides asking for soy sauce, which the girl who took our order did not provide.
Other than that, it was good for the price.
Great food. Wonderful taste
For a banh mi in Santa Barbara, this place is pretty decent! The tofu is flavorful and stays crisp with all the sauce and pickled veggies. I'm not a big fan of shrimp chips, but it's the thought that counts.
The food and atmosphere here are great. The veggie dishes were really yummy.
Santa Barbara Public Market is a great place to visit for meals … there is a good variety and enough seating. Most importantly, everyone in the family can order their food, and meet up to eat together i.e…. It’s a food court :) we’ve visited the place and eaten at other restaurants before - this time, we tried 3 monkeys! The restaurant is easy to miss on a sweep, as it is tucked away between a sushi and bagel place… the food choices are decent - we ordered the banh mi and the rainbow salad. The chicken and tofu banh mi were delicious - served with some fried rice cakes, but the salad was a huge disappointment- honestly, just skip it! The greens are plenty, but raw sliced carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes with a tiny serving of fried shallots with an even tinier smattering of peanut dust did not make for an appealing salad! The portions are not very big for the price - but that’s true of every restaurant I’ve tried in there IMO! Definitely worth a visit if you are in the neighborhood.
Unfortunately, this restaurant microwaves their meat skewers. This is very disappointing to learn and restaurants should not be microwaving their food. It seems like they pre-cook the skewers and then let them sit for a while and then simply heat them up in a microwave for a few minutes before serving. Otherwise the food is decent here and a good value all things considered but yeah the microwaving is a pass.
Food is always delicious! Mongolian tofu and popcorn tofu is where it’s at. Have also had the tofu sandwich and it’s the bomb. Best vegan food in the public market!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yum! Just had the Pork Bahn Mi sandwich for lunch. Took it home to eat. Lots of great flavors, a little heat and the bread! Crunchy on the outside, and soft on the inside! Highly recommend. Everyone is so nice there! A little hidden in the back of the market. Head straight back to the left.
Parking: The market has free guest parking downstairs behind the Arlington. Paid city lot across the street where the first 75 mins are free. Street parking around but less plentiful than the garage and city lot.
Kid-friendliness: Located in the Santa Barbara Public Market. Fun, colorful decor and you can sit at the counter and watch them cook. And if the kids want something different - all kinds of options at the market.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Beef Pork Skewers, Chicken Satay, Pork Banh MI
FAB food. Cute location. They’re tucked back in the corner of the public market, so don’t miss it!
The pork banh mi is amazing!! I’m a snob about my banh mi and hadn’t found the ~right one~ here on SB…until Three Monkeys moved into town! They’ve got the meat marinated right, fresh and pickled veg, plus that toasty roll and sweet mayo…you don’t want to sleep on this place.
I want everyone to go here so that they will never leave SB ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Beef Pork Skewers, Popcorn Tofu, Pork Banh MI
The Rainbow Salad was colorful and delicious and so impressive!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Very unique food, well cooked!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Banh MI
Chicken satay is great. However, I warn against ordering the sticky rice. It comes wrapped in Saran Wrap and appears to be microwaved in the plastic. Like a floppy brick of rice, couldn’t even taste due to its rubbery texture.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Vegetarian options: not really easy to get something vegetarian in general in this marketplace. The Tofu is really good though.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Went to Public Market on a short lunch break and found this great spot by accident. I wanted a small, reasonably priced bite and this place delivered! I ordered the Thai chicken skewers and a side of rice. With tip, still <$20 and had leftovers! The girl working there was prompt and friendly, even during holiday weekend lunch rush. Definitely will be returning!
Horrible waste of money ????
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
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