50 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Santa Barbara

“Food is fantastic and so delicious!“

“Good Food - especially the Paella“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Best noodles I’ve ever had“

“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!“

“Best tacos ever! Great variety“

“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.“

“Ensaladas y mariscos en realidad todo está riquísimo“

“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“

“Awesome meal with the finest ingredients! Romantic evening with the wife.“

“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!!“

“good Mexican food.. burrito's n tacos off the chain!!!“

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

“Everyone is Very pleasant“

“Tasty food at reasonable prices served by super friendly people - a winning combination!

We were shopping in the area and decided to eat here based on the ratings. It has a small indoor dining area but is heavily focused on outdoor seating. We ordered and paid at the counter and they brought our food out to us once seated. From the order to the food delivery, everyone we encountered was very pleasant and helpful.

The food was freshly prepared, had good portion sizes and tasted great. Everyone commented on how good it was. I had the ham torta and it was delicious. Nice combo of ingredients, excellent bread and just a hint of heat.“

“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.😘“

“This was an experience of a lifetime. Everything was amazing and I couldn’t recommend it more. Cheers“

“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.“

“I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve ordered from here, including the jalapeño poppers, chicken and waffles, and the pot pies! Seriously well done, and the prices are super affordable for Santa Barbara too.“

“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! ❤️“

“Best pretzels in town!!!!“

“Had an absolutely fantastic dinner at Siam Street Food while in Santa Barbara.

I’ve traveled to Thailand and have eaten at a lot of Thai restaurants throughout LA and Orange County, so I have a pretty good frame of reference. The food here was excellent across the board. We ordered the Pad See Ew, Spicy Basil, Tom Yum Soup, Mango Sticky Rice, and Thai Tea. Every dish was packed with flavor and tasted fresh and authentic. The Thai tea was especially good because it wasn’t overly sweet, which is how I prefer it.

What stood out just as much as the food was the hospitality. The owner and staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Our server, April, was so sweet and took great care of us throughout the meal.

They were kind enough to comp the Thai tea after hearing my compliments, but honestly, I had already planned on leaving a review before they even brought it up. Great food and great service deserve recognition.

Also, sorry that the only picture I have is of the mango sticky rice. I was too busy enjoying the rest of the meal to stop and take photos, which probably tells you everything you need to know.

Looking forward to coming back the next time I’m in Santa Barbara.“

“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!“

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

“A great place for celebrating! You always have a great experience at The Palace“

“My wife and I drove up from Temecula to celebrate Valentine’s weekend in Santa Barbara, and as a big-time pizza lover, Cali-Forno was at the top of my bucket list. It did NOT disappoint. From the first bite, I knew this was something special. The flavor, the crust, the freshness — hands down some of the best pizza I’ve ever had. I even had the chance to meet the owner and his son, which made the experience that much better. Super genuine people. We caught him filming a Valentine’s TikTok while we were there — great vibes all around. It was so good, I went back for lunch one day and dinner the next. And yes… I bought an extra pie to take back home and enjoy throughout the week. If you’re in Santa Barbara and love pizza, this spot is a must. 🍕🔥“

“Best bands,great people and the best partner“

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

“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.“

“Best Food in Santa Barbara.12/10 ⭐️’s.“

“What a treat! This restaurant was conveniently located near our hotel, and we’re so glad we stopped by. The pistachio-crusted salmon was absolutely amazing—cooked to perfection and now my favorite type of crusted fish!

My husband had the smashburger and really enjoyed it. Just a heads-up: the burger doesn’t come with a side, so be sure to order one.

Their happy hour drinks were fantastic—strong margaritas and great deals! Our waiter was awesome, and the service overall was excellent. Bonus points for being super dog-friendly—they even have a dog menu! Highly recommend this spot for a great meal and atmosphere!“

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

“Great food and service. Beautiful location.“

“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!“

“Amazing food and service 😊“

“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!“