Hands down one of the best sushi spots in town. Everything tastes super fresh and the presentation is beautiful without feeling fussy. The chef clearly cares about every detail, and the staff is kind and attentive without hovering.
The omakase is worth every penny — each course feels thoughtful and different. It’s a quiet little gem that makes you slow down and actually enjoy your meal. Highly recommend for anyone who loves real, high-quality sushi.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shawn Mengel
The flavors of our meal were very repetitive and heavy. A majority of the dishes focused on dashi and miso flavors with root vegetables that did not match the season. I was expecting more creativity for a coursed meal at this price point.
The first soup course was excellent, the rest, meh.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Jae Borgard
Kaiseki menu from soup, appetizers, sashimi, grilled, nigiri, dessert plus more. 8 courses in total. Each dish was carefully arranged and tasted delicious. Ingredients were very fresh. Servers were fantastic. Each dish was not only explained but also gave us instructions on how and what order to eat each bite. Small restaurant and minimally decorated but classy. It was a wonderful meal. Reservation is a must and required.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
AvB
Yoichi absolutely blew me away—this was hands down one of the best Japanese meals I’ve ever had. Every dish was deeply flavorful and clearly made with serious care and intention. The two servers were kind, attentive, and impressively knowledgeable about the food and sake pairings, which made the whole experience feel really special.
When we went, the restaurant was surprisingly quiet—which honestly felt like we had a hidden gem moment. I don’t know how more people aren’t talking about this place. If you love authentic Japanese food, it’s a must try. It completely outshines anything I’ve had in Seattle (and I’ve eaten a lot of Japanese food there). Yoichi deserves a full house every night!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sizhuang Liang
This is a very nice place for the quality of food and service. Simply superb.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
james hansen
Best kept secret in Santa Barbara
Ethan Samson
What an incredibly impressive meal and experience. The food and service were perfect. Highly recommend going here to experience a true and well executed kaiseki
Jeff G
If I could have rated this restaurant a ‘6, I would have. I’ve had Japanese food all around the world (most notably in some of the best restaurants in Japan), and this meal might just be the best I’ve ever had. The courses, all of them, were beautifully presented, delicious, and the menu was extremely well balanced and planned. We also had some Japanese wine, which was different and totally delicious. The staff was also wonderful….fully attentive, with plenty of explanation and tips. The restaurant is simple inside (very Japanese) and not elegant, but the food and service was, as they say, ‘off the charts.’ GO HERE if you love Japanese food!
Abby Galyon
Incredible food and service. Truly a once and a lifetime experience
William B. Watson
On par with some of the nicest omakase experiences I’ve ever had in NYC. A real gem. Thanks be to Reddit for putting me onto this lovely evening. I was heading to loquita and randomly checked Reddit and found Yoichi’s. The service was excellent and so very knowledgeable (and kind), and the food was exquisite.
High end Japanese dining that never fails to feel like a special event. Food is inventive, beautifully and artfully arranged, and so incredibly delicious. Service is attentive and the handmade dishes (plates, bowls, cups) are incredible.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aashna Malpani
I hate to say this, but under adequate especially given the price tag attached. We were looking for a place to celebrate, and landed here—not the best call. The service was nice and people were lovely, but the star of the show, the FOOD was so mediocre. Some stuff was over salty, some textures were off, and overall I couldn’t wait to leave. I really wanted to like it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Deidre Dubin
A gastronomical delight! We were transported to Japan. Quiet and intimate setting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Assorted Appetizers, Snow Crab and Egg Cake, Sashimi, Wagyu, King Crab, Soup, Mackerel
camillepT3713LH
We had such a wonderful meal at Yoichi's! Everything was delicious and thoughtfully prepared. I loved that each bowl, plate, etc. was a piece of ceramic art by itself. Truly a feast for the eyes and mouth. The staff were also lovely. The ambience is a bit lacking as its just a relatively simple room with wooden tables and a view of an apartment building...but it only makes it that much more special when you have some of the most amazing food of your life. We will definitely be back!
Sarah Falk
Please allow me to add to the chorus of voices praising Yoichi’s. We had just been to eat at Michelin-starred Caruso’s the night before… Yoichi’s was not only half as expensive but twice as good.
Food courses absolutely gorgeous, cohesive, delicate, delicious… enough in quantity to really enjoy it but not so much that you feel overstuffed by the end. The variety of dishes was incredible and the tastes exquisite.
There were two people serving the dining room when we were there - I’m sorry I don’t remember their names but they were both so kind, knowledgable, and attentive.
Bonus points for jazzy versions of Studio Ghibli tunes playing as atmospheric music ❤️
You won’t regret coming here. You will only regret that you can’t eat here every night. We will be sure to come back when we are in Santa Barbara.
Hands down one of the best sushi spots in town. Everything tastes super fresh and the presentation is beautiful without feeling fussy. The chef clearly cares about every detail, and the staff is kind and attentive without hovering.
The omakase is worth every penny — each course feels thoughtful and different. It’s a quiet little gem that makes you slow down and actually enjoy your meal. Highly recommend for anyone who loves real, high-quality sushi.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The flavors of our meal were very repetitive and heavy. A majority of the dishes focused on dashi and miso flavors with root vegetables that did not match the season. I was expecting more creativity for a coursed meal at this price point.
The first soup course was excellent, the rest, meh.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Kaiseki menu from soup, appetizers, sashimi, grilled, nigiri, dessert plus more. 8 courses in total. Each dish was carefully arranged and tasted delicious. Ingredients were very fresh.
Servers were fantastic. Each dish was not only explained but also gave us instructions on how and what order to eat each bite.
Small restaurant and minimally decorated but classy.
It was a wonderful meal. Reservation is a must and required.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yoichi absolutely blew me away—this was hands down one of the best Japanese meals I’ve ever had. Every dish was deeply flavorful and clearly made with serious care and intention. The two servers were kind, attentive, and impressively knowledgeable about the food and sake pairings, which made the whole experience feel really special.
When we went, the restaurant was surprisingly quiet—which honestly felt like we had a hidden gem moment. I don’t know how more people aren’t talking about this place. If you love authentic Japanese food, it’s a must try. It completely outshines anything I’ve had in Seattle (and I’ve eaten a lot of Japanese food there). Yoichi deserves a full house every night!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is a very nice place for the quality of food and service. Simply superb.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best kept secret in Santa Barbara
What an incredibly impressive meal and experience. The food and service were perfect. Highly recommend going here to experience a true and well executed kaiseki
If I could have rated this restaurant a ‘6, I would have. I’ve had Japanese food all around the world (most notably in some of the best restaurants in Japan), and this meal might just be the best I’ve ever had. The courses, all of them, were beautifully presented, delicious, and the menu was extremely well balanced and planned. We also had some Japanese wine, which was different and totally delicious. The staff was also wonderful….fully attentive, with plenty of explanation and tips. The restaurant is simple inside (very Japanese) and not elegant, but the food and service was, as they say, ‘off the charts.’ GO HERE if you love Japanese food!
Incredible food and service. Truly a once and a lifetime experience
On par with some of the nicest omakase experiences I’ve ever had in NYC. A real gem. Thanks be to Reddit for putting me onto this lovely evening. I was heading to loquita and randomly checked Reddit and found Yoichi’s. The service was excellent and so very knowledgeable (and kind), and the food was exquisite.
Restaurantji Recommends
High end Japanese dining that never fails to feel like a special event. Food is inventive, beautifully and artfully arranged, and so incredibly delicious. Service is attentive and the handmade dishes (plates, bowls, cups) are incredible.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I hate to say this, but under adequate especially given the price tag attached. We were looking for a place to celebrate, and landed here—not the best call. The service was nice and people were lovely, but the star of the show, the FOOD was so mediocre. Some stuff was over salty, some textures were off, and overall I couldn’t wait to leave.
I really wanted to like it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
A gastronomical delight!
We were transported to Japan.
Quiet and intimate setting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Assorted Appetizers, Snow Crab and Egg Cake, Sashimi, Wagyu, King Crab, Soup, Mackerel
We had such a wonderful meal at Yoichi's! Everything was delicious and thoughtfully prepared. I loved that each bowl, plate, etc. was a piece of ceramic art by itself. Truly a feast for the eyes and mouth. The staff were also lovely. The ambience is a bit lacking as its just a relatively simple room with wooden tables and a view of an apartment building...but it only makes it that much more special when you have some of the most amazing food of your life. We will definitely be back!
Please allow me to add to the chorus of voices praising Yoichi’s. We had just been to eat at Michelin-starred Caruso’s the night before… Yoichi’s was not only half as expensive but twice as good.
Food courses absolutely gorgeous, cohesive, delicate, delicious… enough in quantity to really enjoy it but not so much that you feel overstuffed by the end. The variety of dishes was incredible and the tastes exquisite.
There were two people serving the dining room when we were there - I’m sorry I don’t remember their names but they were both so kind, knowledgable, and attentive.
Bonus points for jazzy versions of Studio Ghibli tunes playing as atmospheric music ❤️
You won’t regret coming here. You will only regret that you can’t eat here every night. We will be sure to come back when we are in Santa Barbara.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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