50 Best Vegan Restaurants in Santa Barbara

“Food is fantastic and so delicious!“

“Good Food - especially the Paella“

“This place is great! My non-vegan family members loved it, too! Delicious desserts, also! Definitely recommend!“

“Our server,Cole R, was awesome-very informed and articulate. Food was amazing-cannot overstate the incredible preparation and presentation of the prime rib!“

“My evening at Caruso’s was a world class dining experience. I have been raving to family and friends about my new favorite place to eat on the west coast. The food was plated to perfection and served with a love for customer service unlike anywhere else.
Christian and Tre took wonderful care of my wife and I as we celebrated our anniversary. We were completely surprised and delighted when Christian asked the chef to come out and visit with us toward the end of the meal. I cannot wait to visit Santa Barbara again JUST to come enjoy the Caruso experience again.

With gratitude and thanks,
Jon and Jenn P

PS…I am still dreaming about the carbonara and crudo! I can still picture each perfectly placed vegetable and amazingly prepared fruit that were woven into each dish with absolute perfection.“

“The food here is absolutely incredible! We ordered the Shahi Paneer, garlic naan, rice, and dal tadka, and every single dish was super good and packed with flavor. Huge shoutout to our server, Joban, who provided excellent, attentive service and made our dining experience even better. Highly recommend!“

“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.“

“The lightest, buttery moist scones. They also had hamburgers and salads that looked were very generous portions. All was freshly made. The silverware was REAL silverware.“

“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“

“The pan-seared peppercorn-crusted filet mignon with potatoes au gratin and sautéed asparagus were as good as I've had anywhere. Thick, small and perfectly cooked medium-rare. And the thinly-sliced tomato salad was the perfect starter. We brought our own wine, but their in-house selection is outstanding. The staff were all extremely courteous and helpful. Our waiter, Dominic, was professional and attentive, and we never felt rushed. We enjoyed a two and a half hour anniversary dinner in a lovely outdoor setting and will definitely revisit when we're back in Santa Barbara! Thanks to everyone at Bouchon for a very special evening.“

“Good food 👍 Great service!“

“Parking can be a struggle, but it's totally worth it. One of, if not, the best places to eat in town.“

“Great service, delicious food and nice atmosphere. The guys who was playing guitar on a street was fantastic 🤗!“

“This restaurant is A M A Z I N G 😀 The tastes and creations are absolute delicious - they have wine too and all kinds of good food and drink, I highly recommend!“

“Great food and helpings -- 5/5. The kitchen was a bit busy and four of us were served our lunch about 15 minutes before the fifth one. Oddly, only one person got utensils and a napkin; another got utensils and no napkin and the other three were not give any until we asked twice for forks, knives, and napkins. I am not sure why that happened. This was a Tuesday afternoon, at 2:15pm. The service was pleasant and attentive but the odd utensil situation and food delivery lowered the service ro a 3.5 or 4/5. Atmosphere was good, fine, 4/5.“

“We love the ice creams. It’s superb!“

“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.“

“The food was excellent“

“Ensaladas y mariscos en realidad todo está riquísimo“

“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!“

“Food was great! We tried the sweet breads- my favorite, lobster gnocchi-daughters fave, ramen-good, scallops-super lite and fresh, and the catch of the day-very tasty. The amazing menu doesn’t necessarily lend itself to picky kid eaters (my son) but he loved the catch of the day with the sauce on the side. The food took a while as they were pretty busy so the manager comp’d 2 desserts which were both spectacular! We will be back!!“

“My new favorite coffee shop!! Made from scratch flavors for lattes, made from scratch almond milk, amazing menu, staff and variety of exquisite drinks!. 💛“

“I can't even say I have a favorite. It's all good. When you bring home a warm loaf, all is well with the world.“

“Everyone is Very pleasant“

“We went because we saw you on Diner Drive in and Dives. We've always we wanted to try a restaurant previewed on this show but they were all back east or mid west to far for dinner. So when we saw this In our own back yard we were in. Amazing food great atmosphere staff impressive and cocktails yummy too. Some many great options too. DEFINITELY coming back. thanks Bettina.😘“

“I logged in and happened to notice that this place had a 4.3 rating, and I thought to myself how absurd that is. This restaurant is nothing short of wonderful - from the location, to the ingredients, to the drinks/vibe. Also sneaky has some of the best desserts in Santa Barbara (that Pavlova!). Compliments to the owners for keeping up the quality and experience for over a decade.“

“Actually impressed with their Deli style Sandwiches , had a Veit nom nom , impressed and tasty and very filling. More stuff with the Italian roll.“

“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! ❤️“

“Friendly staff. Great Happy Hour specials.“

“I had a fantastic time celebrating my birthday 🎂🎈at Buena Onda last night! I wanna give a shoutout 🙌to Matias and all the team at Buena Onda for providing us with delicious food, excellent service, music for dancing and great atmosphere. Thank you so much! Muito obrigada! 💐💗“

“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!“

“Wonderful food. Friendly staff. Beautiful atmosphere.“

“Never had tapas like these! Loved it! So sad we live in Europe…would go there everyday! It was soooo jummy!“

“Lots of flavors to try and they are tasty“

“Nice bar ( take any seat ) order at the counter. Good vibes from the live DJ on the board walk. Delicious Sprizz!“

“I've been going to the Blue Owl with my daughters since it opened. The food is fantastic. The vibe is the closest to being in a late night New York eater. I always feel home here. And of course I love the Tuesday night open mic comedy. A staple in the Santa Barbara Comedy Scene.“

“ambience and stuff are very friendly. food tastes amazing 😋👌 good non alcoholic beverages 🍹🧋“

“Beautiful place, amazing staff and delicious food and drinks! I definitly recommend.“

“I’ll be honest. I could have eaten anything in Santa Barbara. I hadn’t eaten anything since 9am and it was 5pm when I arrived in Santa Barbara. I walked one mile away because of the great things I heard about Jill’s Place. And you know what? I was not disappointed! I was stoked and impressed greatly 🥰😁 I had two wonderful, dazzling, and sweet waitresses (lucky me!). I was served a yummy chicken breast sandwich and it was the best one I had ever! No seriously! It wasn’t too salty and the bread was golden brown and ready to be munched on. The tator tots had the perfect texture. It’s almost as I had food from some amazing restaurant, which, hello, I did 😅 The place was packed, since it was Fiesta, but I imagine it always is. It sucks I live 45 minutes from this great establishment. The atmosphere was fun and a little country, but I love that. It’s casual, and not some elegant place like Lucky’s is. I’d still show up in a suit, if I could and would. Definitely check this place out and ask for the two blonde sisters who work there. They’ll dazzle you with their charm and diction 😉 Hope to be back again one day!“

“Love this place so much. Staff is chill and awesome. The crowd is so friendly and fun. Wonderful place for a quick coffee or a relaxing hour in the sun. Can’t recommend highly enough“

“Great GF options. So yummy!“

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“Amazing food and service 😊“

“That is the speak easy spot to be in Santa Barbara. Matt our fantastic bartender served us signatures cocktails and they have the best deep fried pickles in North America. From the Canucks who appreciate California’s hospitality, we seriously want to make you our 11th province! Cheers!

Steeve“

“Fantastic place for authentic SoCal Mexican food as well as fresh meats, tortillas, chips, and other cooking necessities. Cash, credit/debit card payments accepted. Outdoor seating both covered and more open air (under umbrellas).

Very popular - and for good reason! parking is a problem so avoid driving here if you can. Fresh and delicious Mexican dishes. The Super Nachos are packed full of deliciousness including a generous portion of guacamole. Burritos are massive and delicious - the shrimp burritos are definitely memorable. Soft drinks and agua frescas available for drinks.

Also a carniceria with a small selection of fresh meats, plus a variety of other meal needs - spices, seasonings, tortillas, chips, etc. Service is friendly. Definitely would come back here again!“

“Great ramen and ambiance 🍜 ♥️“

“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! �“

“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!“

“Great food and service. Beautiful location.“