Like the product but 30 minutes for a smoothie and 1 bowl is underwhelming. Should add some staff on busy days.

I have been to backyard bowl numerous times when I'm in SB and always had 5 star experiences. What I normally remembered is the acai being being super firm but yet creamy meaning it didn't melt quickly and the toppings added were both fresh and plentiful. Finally I remembered great service of passionate young people enthused with there jobs. Well this place has really missed the mark this last time and the final product left me a bit disappointed on the experience overall. First off when you walk in there is only one menu on a pedestal at the entrance and so only one group at a time can even see what's on the menu. This becomes problematic when there is a family who is on the fence whether they want pitaya or acai bowl or just a smoothie. While they were holding everyone else from ordering the entire staff were doing nothing so I went to where the lady was taking orders and asked for another menu since I knew what I wanted just forgot name of the bowl. Sorry she said there are no other menus. No sorry no asking how she could help nothing just a blank look.. wtf. So I said give me that bowl with more acai in it. You know?? She replies that all the bowls have the same amount of Acai. Had to push further saying that they used to have a bowl with double the packets of Acai..?? Like you don't offer that anymore?? Finally the light bulb went off and she said oh the backyard bowl yes that has more acai but you only can get a large? Yes yes that one and yes large is fine. Then I'm like having to drill her on what's in it as I wasn't looking at the menu. Basically she said it comes with strawberries blueberries and bananas with goji berries and bee polen on top. Asked to sub out bee polin and replace with nibs instead. Paid the $13 which seemed high but whatever. Finally the menu opened up and I glanced at what I ordered and noticed they put honey on top of the bowl. Forgot to to take that out so went back to change. it kind of would be nice for them to ask you what you want versus the customer have to drill down their orders... Bowl came out and first thing I noticed was tons of strawberries but hardly any blueberries and no goji berries at all. Went back again to ask what where the gojis are and got a basic ok give me your bowl and I'll put some on top. No sorry anything else just put a spoon of them on top. Took a bite and overall the taste was good but the consistency was much more watery than I remembered. It was melting pretty much immediately as and felt I had to rush to eat my bowl. Felt the bananas were over ripe and it needed more blueberries and nibs. By the time I finished the bowl the acai was all melted. Still not t a horrible bowl but really felt disappointed with the way the service and bowl was not up to the past 5 star standards. Let's hope this is an anomaly as BB was always my to go place for all things acai. read more

Backyard Bowls - This place has only one menu at podium so if someone is indecisive and hogging the menu your out of luck what to order argh:-/ - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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So good! The "small" bowls are enough for two and everything seemed to be super fresh! They also let me refill my reusable water which was super kind! I'd recommend the island bowl! It takes a minute to make the foods but it's worth the wait read more

Backyard Bowls - Island bowl & Acai smoothie - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Last time I went they were so understaffed and I was late to school for waiting. I didn't even leave with my bowl I had to get a refund. Don't put the sign "order online" if we can't order online. I would leave a 0 star if I could. read more

This place was closed at 7am (unlike what Yelp says) with a sign that says they're open at 8am. So frustrating! So I can't tell you if this place is any good. read more

Love these bowls, a small fills me up. And resolves craving for ice cream. Called in order ready when I picked up. Good service.

Love BYB! Whenever I have a great workout and don't want a burrito to counter balance it I come here to get the much needed protein but least guilty feeling! My go-to is the Diego bowl because I absolutely love peanut butter. I've definitely done the berry bowl and added peanut butter to the base! I also love the Popeye smoothie too whenever I'm feeling a green drink! Definitely drop by, the interior has a great amount of seats and outside is great on a sunny SB day. - J read more

I had the Hercules protein shake. Tastes like peanut butter and jelly due to the peanut butter & Acai. It was pretty yummy! Only thing is that this shake only has 21grams of protein so I paid $2 extra for them to double the protein. read more

Half full or half empty you decide. I stopped by Backyard Bowls on Saturday afternoon to pick up a 12oz Pitaya Smoothie. The smoothie includes: Pineapple Juice, Coconut Milk, Bananas, Mangos, Pitaya, Honey. The smoothie itself is actually really good. For the first attempt I was unable to drink it and asked them to blend it again, after all this is a smoothie not a bowl. When I got it back I ended up with a half empty smoothie. For $6.95 this is not acceptable and really false advertisement. I will not be returning to this location. read more

Backyard Bowls - When you order a $6.95 small pitaya smoothie at Backyard Bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

They might suck at answering the phone for pick up orders but they make a mean bowl. Gainz bowl with no banana in or out is a must try. read more

Backyard Bowls - Gainz Bowl no banana in or out, sub for blueberries - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

aesthetics: 2.9/5 food: 2.5/5 service: 3.1/5 after moving into an apartment from the ucsb dorms, i feel that the food at backyard bowls is extremely overpriced - why come here when you can make your own, just-as-delish smoothie bowls at home for 1/2-1/3 of the price? the last time i came here, i ordered the gainz bowl (as usual), but it had a runny texture and tasted WAY too sweet - i ended up throwing 1/2 of it away :( minus that, the outdoor patio seating area is a great spot to unwind with friends. not to mention, it's a decent spot if you're looking to take pics of those acai bowls for the instagram - go to the baby turquoise round tables on a cloudier day for some nice lighting!! ;) read more

Took 45 minutes for a small bowl. The staff is great but there's just not enough of them. Hire more people before you lose more customers. Not returning. read more

Overall my family and love coming here. My only complaint is when i ordered online. I ordered 3 large berry bowls to go. And when I got home I realized they were small sized. Kinda of a bummer. If they could get the online orders correct then I would give it 5 stars. read more

I absolutely love this place!! It's a small joint with tons of chairs! You can sit inside or outside. I usually come here for: Breakfast Lunch (if i'm trying to fast) A guilty pleasure dinner I always get the Berry Bowl because it's just a great mix of everything berries! It's not too sweet and not too sour, a perfect combination of an acai bowl. If you prefer a sweeter bowl you can request for more honey! I would recommend getting a small if you're sharing between 2 people (and if you don't eat as much as me - it's a huge bowl)! I would order a kids size if I was eating by myself. Parking is easy to find. The only issue I have with the bowl is finding out how to mix the bowl evenly! Starting off you're eating the fruits on the top, next time i'll have to request another cup to be able to mix the bowl in more. read more

Backyard Bowls is a must! All of the ingredients are very fresh and the bowls are huge. If you don't see something you like (doubt that will happen), you can substitute and create something you'll actually enjoy. I especially enjoyed the Island Bowl. Instead of acai berry, I ordered the bowl with dragonfruit/Pitaya. The honey & granola are delicious. In fact, I enjoyed the honey so much that I purchased some for home. Backyard Bowls offers healthier bowls/smoothies than most places. read more

Backyard Bowls - Berry Bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I absolutely love this place!! I'm totally addicted. I recommend the Island Bowl read more

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Backyard Bowls is an acai bowl shop with multiple locations, which is an impressive feat given the number of competitors out there. If you've never had an acai bowl, I'm afraid you are missing some deeply rooted cultural foodstuff, similar to Oryza sativa in Asia or sweet corn in Iowa. Maybe not, but you would think that were the case in Southern California given the number of people hanging around Backyard Bowls. I waited in line behind a family with three small children that dropped $50 on different bowls. Future child, if you're reading this, I will never buy you a $10 bowl of sweet goodness. You will have to work your way through college and earn your yuppie status. Or I will make you an equivalent bowl at home. I don't care if you think it's "not the same" as Backyard Bowls. My large Diego's Power Bowl was a bit disappointing. I feel like a banana was missing, or teaspoons were used instead of tablespoons. Most of my meal was blended acai berries, which isn't bad, but the ratio to everything was off. This is difficult to tell from the picture, but imagine a bowl of cereal with only a thin layer of cereal floating at the top. Backyard Bowls was quick, and the counter service was quite friendly. That may convince me to come back, but it's so hard to tell which acai bowl shops are better than others, especially at the margin. For me, this means "go to the shop that is closest and decent enough." Or, pocket the $10 and invest it in low expense ETFs that track major indices. read more

Backyard Bowls - Diego's Power Bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Same great bowls as the Lower State location, however, the service is subpar in comparison - the employees are slow and forgetful at times. It seems this way because this location is less crowded than Lower State. Less customers = less pressure to perform, right? I go in the morning and usually stand waiting a couple minutes without any greeting or prompt attention. Also, even when I place an order over the phone, I often have to wait for someone to remember where they put my bowl (on the counter or in the freezer). When I place an order over the phone, I'd like to receive it promptly. Reading Javier's review I do have to agree the fruit is good, but not as excellent as organic fruit from say a farmer's market. However, I'm not expecting that because they don't tout that. Better bowls can definitely be made at home, but Backyard Bowls is convenient. They always come out looking quite beautiful too. They really have their system down. If you want to sit and enjoy your bowl and better customer service, go to the downtown location on Motor Way. read more

Backyard Bowls - Large cocoa almond bowl, $11.91. - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Açaí pronounced AH-SIGH-EE! Located inside the La Cumbre plaza next door to Panda Express. There are more locations nearby in Goleta & downtown SB. BYB! Refreshing, authentic bowls made for your healthy needs! I am a huge fan of açaí & this place serves their bowls perfectly. From açaí to fresh veggies, fresh fruit, nuts, & all the healthy boosts you never knew would help you going throughout your day. Menu: Between breakfast bowls, açaí bowls, & smoothies, I opted for the açaí bowls menu. I asked what their most popular bowl is & they said the Berry bowl or Island bowl. I was going to order one of those until I saw a sign that had one of their specials called the "Gainz Bowl." Of course that caught my eye since nutrition & working out are one of my favorite combos. I was craving for something chocolatey or something with peanut butter in it. They have other off the menu options written or posted on their wall filled with advertisements. Check out that wall btw while you're waiting for them to make your bowl. Lots of other healthy needs & local info. You are welcome to build your own bowl, include more ingredients, or exclude some ingredients & they'll be more than happy to do that for you. Gainz bowl ingredients: Blend - hemp, banana, blueberries, açaí, peanut butter, sacha inchi Toppings - granola, almonds, bananas, blueberries, hemp seeds Verdict: SO good & fulfilling! Pretty much a good little carb replacement meal. The combination with the granola, almonds, & PB made it tasty. Something about having a little crunch in your soft bowl of fruity goodness. Parking: Not a problem. The plaza is filled with a huge lot for all stores to park nearby. *Order online & grab & go! (click on their website) Seating can vary from a couple small tables in & outside. It can get busy & loud with all that blending. read more

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Always, always a fan of Backyard Bowls. Nothing in San Diego compares to this place so when I can make the trip up, I definitely stop by. Multiple locations in the SB area which makes it even more convenient to just pop in. Usually I just go with the standard Berry Bowl & it's pretty large so I can share with someone if I'm feeling generous. Blended: Acaí, Banana, Strawberries, & Apple Juice Toppings: Banana, Strawberry, Blueberry, Goji Berry, Granola & Honey Kids: $4.95 Sm: $6.95 Lg: $8.25 Prices range around here depending on the bowl & size. Dine-in/return your to-go containers/or bring your own bowl to receive stamps for a free bowl. read more

Backyard Bowls - Small berry bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is a cute little place! A friend recommended this place as a meeting spot and it was pretty cool. I got their Backyard Acai Bowl and it was so good. They have different sizes and types of acai bowls that you can get. Even if you get the small, it's so much! My partner and I got a large because their backyard acai bowl only came in a large, but we still finished it! They also have other things like smoothies and other types of bowls. The most people you can probably have sitting down here is like 10-15 people. They also have some seating outside. Cost is average for acai bowls and it was worth it. My partner and I were so full. Parking is easy because it's in a plaza with other stores and we went right as they opened. I would like to try their other acai bowls! read more

Legendary BYB opened a location at La Cumbre plaza and that makes me happy! Best açaí bowls & smoothies ever; some have tried to recreate but couldn't get close. Think quality ingredients and no bullshit; it tastes straight out of heaven! read more

If we're not eating a big lunch on a road trip up or down the 101 we stop here for a bowl. With the congested (but free!) parking, healthy ingredients, chalkboards and girls in earth tones and unbrushed hair this is like the Trader Joe's of acai bowls. Good assortment of bowls. Always busy, so don't expect a seat, and always loud, so expect peace, and never a bathroom so don't expect pees. There is NO backyard, btw, only a dark garage. Bonus: heavy, real bowls if you eat it here, ice cold acai, big portions, a varied menu, and well-staffed, including the girl who looks like Jessa Duggar. (Her mission is to deliver you a bowl). Minus: no ginger shots, and the high noise level (thumping radio, whirring machine, self-important monologues about sustainable living). read more

Backyard Bowls - 23 skidoo - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Sometimes the wait can get a little long, but only because it's so delicious! Island bowl is my favorite by far. This review is huge for me because I'm one of those awful people who HATES fruit. Swear to god, this is the only way I'll eat it. Great with a Yerba mate for a little extra energy. read more

Backyard Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

They have gluten free options for celiacs, including gluten free granola. I notified them of my dietary restriction and they seemed to understand? All I know is that I have been here two times with no immune response issues. First time I got the yogurt breakfast bowl and the second time I got the PBJ bowl. I feel like you get more bang for your buck with the breakfast bowls. (have to get there before 11 am to order them) read more

Fresh delicious and generous portions. One of my favorite places to stop for a refreshing meal. Healthy available bowls in many different selections. read more

This is by far the best açaí I have ever inhaled. That bowl was so fire I couldn't bare it. Your employees were extraordinary and way above par! Taj, an employee was specifically catching my eye in not only workmanship but in his hustle, and drive to make this establishment the best on the la cumbre plaza block! read more

Amazing, refreshing, and a real bang-for-your-buck Açaí bowl cafe! We ordered the Island bowl for breakfast. It contains: Açaí berry, banana, mango, pineapple juice, coconut milk all blended together topped with banana, strawberry, blueberry, granola and honey. We held the coconut shavings because it's not our style. If this sounds like a lot of ingredients, that's because it is! It was a full breakfast for the 2 of us! We really enjoyed it and can see that Backyard Bowls will continue to do well! read more

Ordered the Dragon Bowl for pick up on a road trip to the central coast. It looked and tasted so good that I completely forgot to take a photo! The fruit and other toppings were so fresh and flavorful. I substituted the honey for shave without any problem. The store is clean and inviting and the staff friendly and helpful. Definitely bookmarking this place for future visits. read more

This place is probably my favorite thing about Santa Barbara so far. I stopped by on a Saturday morning after a workout and I loved it so much that I came back the following morning! Both times I got the Island Bowl in the small size. If you're new to açaí bowls, this is most likely the one for you. Do not be deceived by the size, these bowls will fill you up and keep you full! Also, the hemp granola is absolutely delicious! It's the perfect amount of sweetness and adds a nice crunch to the bowl. Definitely recommend! read more

Backyard Bowls - Island bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Bowls category: Backyard, Grains, and Porridge. Smoothie- 2 sizes avail and add on's to any order for an additional charge. I had Hercules 16 oz. I felt content for 4 hr during activities. This concept is great for those with dairy allergy, vegan, healthy lifestyle, and, want to enjoy a whole foods/ real food. Place is overall clean, staff is busy however, efficient for flow of customers. Please stop in to try. This is can be a meal or treat guilt free. *based on my experience read more

Backyard Bowls - Wall art - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I wish I could give this place 0 stars. I was a loyal customer for 4 years but I won't be anymore due to repeated bad experiences over the last year. The quality of their bowls has decreased significantly and they do not accommodate adjustments fairly at all. I have allergies and there has been numerous times were I have requested they omit an ingredient only for them to "forget" about my request. Their service is incredibly slow now so I always order in advance but I still wait a long time... today I placed an order for 3 bowls that were to be done by 1:15 and my order wasn't ready until 2:10. When I got home and looked at the bowls, they were completely wrong. They were all made with no honey except for the one that I asked for no honey on. This was extremely disappointing because I'm allergic to honey and the only bowl with honey was mine. The other two bowls were made wrong, too. One of them had no granola, the spinach was not fully blended (there were literal chunks of spinach inside of the base), and there was 4 blueberries and probably the equivalent to 2 bananas . I mean, it was basically just açaí base with chunks of spinach, topped with tons of bananas!! The other bowl was missing strawberries. As I was leaving, the employee at the cash register said, "do you come here often?" and then gave me a punch card as a consolation. I assumed he would punch the whole thing since I waited close to an hour, but he said-- "If you buy 7 more bowls, you can get a free one!" & then punched my card 3 times. I could have picked up that card myself and asked for 3 punches since I bought 3 bowls... I won't come back again let alone a 7th time after this. read more

I came here after a good run one day, and now it's my favorite place to go to in SB whenever I'm craving an acai bowl. My friends ordered the berry bowl and green bowl and I ordered the island bowl. All of them were excellent, but the island bowl was definitely my favorite. It's also one of their more popular bowls, according to the cashier. You can also substitute toppings, so I substituted the coconut shavings for goji berries, which were a nice touch. I just wish they closed a little later than 5 pm. read more

Cocoa Acai smoothie... Like cocoa cardboard... I'm so disappointed, this was the most I've ever spent on a smoothie. I thought the hype was worth the pretty penny. First of all there was five people behind the counter... Like was that really necessary... Maybe if they had less people they could lower the price and margin of error. Don't just don't... Not worth it. Just do yourself a favor and go get a blender smoothie or better yet make it your self. read more

Backyard Bowls - Cocoa Acai smoothie... Don't do it. - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Still slow, still lame only they have removed the menu on the wall therby forcing thise who cant see well to go skmewhere else.

I love backyard bowls but both times I visited this location I've been disappointed and left the store frustrated. To be honest and brief, the staff at this location are incompetent and unprofessional. I called several times to place an order over-the-phone but couldn't get through to anyone. Once I got to the store, I ordered my bowl and waited over 20 MINUTES to be served. There were only a handful of people in the store waiting and 5 employees working. Not one of the workers was actually making a bowl, they all stood in the back talking and sweeping the floor. I had to go to the counter and ask if my bowl was on its way before they even started making it. Nonetheless, I will never visit this location again. The Calle Real location is much better and the staff actually answers the phone and makes a bowl in a reasonable amount of time. read more

Such a sweet and refreshing way to start the day with a berry bowl. Me and hubs shared the bowl and were fighting for the refreshing goji berries :) The goji berries were definitely worth fighting for #simplepleasures in life :) The decor/ambiance/servers were quite active and lively. They were kind to keep my forgotten hat on their chair and give it back on my return in the evening. Will definitely come back! read more

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Love this place. Ever since moving from San Diego it was hard finding a new açaí bowl place that was equally as good. Their menu won't disappoint. Highly recommend. read more

Backyard Bowls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great acai bowls! I ordered the green bowl without kale and it was exactly what I was hoping for. It was smooth and the honey, strawberry blue berry mixture added a perfect sweetness. I ordered the small and it was the perfect amount of food for a filling breakfast. I also tried my friends berry bowl and tropical bowl, which were both a little tart for my liking. Definitely coming back! read more

Backyard Bowls - Green bowl - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This place is amazing. I ordered Diego's Acai Bowl which was the best thing ever. It was an acai base blended with peanut butter which was super yummy because it made it less sweet and it had honey as a topping to sweeten it a bit. Banana's on top. It was a quick breakfast that was exceptional quality, little hole in the door place. Best start to the day and healthy. I went with 3 other friends and we were all obsessed. We all got a size small and I had to take some of mine to-go because I was so full. Portion size on point. The breakfast bowls look really good too and it's a nice option they have if someone didn't necessarily want acai. If I lived in Santa Barbara I would be a regular- hopefully, some day! read more