I was looking for a venue to have a milestone birthday party for myself. I've been to Buena Onda for a couple of parties and each time, the experience was really memorable. I met Matias Requena, the owner, and knew right away I wanted to have my party there. He spent all the necessary time with me answering questions and offering great suggestions. Due to some impending rains, however, I needed to move the party to a different location (at the last minute) but Buena Onda still took care of all the catering. Matias and his crew did such a wonderful job not only understanding the venue change, but catered it perfectly. The Buena Onda crew were all super courteous and the the food was amazing. The next time I want to throw a party, it will definitely be at Buena Onda Restaurant. The letter grade for Matias and Buena Onda is A+ read more

We visited Santa Barbara for the weekend and stopped by Buena Onda to try their freshly baked Argentinian empanadas. The restaurant has a rustic feel with a nice outdoor front patio for dining. We ordered the combo of 3 empanadas with a choice of side (salad or chimi papas). We tried the carne, pollo, buen día, and the daily special (brisket with peppers). For sides, we got one order of chimi papas and one garden salad. The empanadas were big and generously filled. Our favorite was the carne. I would also recommend choosing the salad over the potatoes as a side. It's a spot worth visiting if you're in the mood for empanadas! read more

Buena Onda - 3 Combo Empanadas: Carne, Pollo, Daily Special - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I stopped in to try one empanada. I got the Serrano ham with mozzarella to go. It was a good snack though I was a bit disappointed with the empanada. It didn't have much flavor and was doughy rather than flakey. Serrano ham had no flavor and was cubed ham style. Dipping sauce tasted like low quality oil with some spices at the bottom. Didn't taste like Chimichurri. No fresh parsley nor didn't there appear to be any fresh garlic. Hard to find parking as the few spots in their lot were taken. Outdoor dining area looked nice though I couldn't stay because I was in 15 minute parking spot. Service was okay. read more

Buena Onda - Empanada - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I love this place. It has quiet vibes on a Saturday night with lots of families and men watching basketball. We couldn't tell which empanadas was which flavor until we take a bite so if you are vegan be careful. The chimichurri was addictive--perfectly herbaceous and savory. We asked for more. read more

Buena Onda - 3 Empi Combo Side - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Can't turn down empanadas. The dough was buttery and crispy. We went with the trio of carne, serrano, and espinaca. The side of chimipapas are soft roasted potatoes. Outdoor seating, street parking (unless you're the lucky soul who snags one of the few spots in their lot) read more

Buena Onda - 3 Empi Combo Side - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

You guys. Absolutely INCREDIBLE. YUM. I had their empanadas at Dart coffee in the Funke zone and wow just wow. Some of the best food I've ever tasted. I'm a big fan of the vegan empanadas and the Chimichurri sauce is magical. 12/10 recommend. So good and I look forward to eating this any time I'm back in Santa Barbara. read more

Dog Friendly! Yeah! Really a great restaurant to eat a delicious empanadas, and the sandwich was delicious as well. Good food, good vibe, you can have your dog, and the service is great, super friendly. The price is very good! Nice choice for lunch or dinner in Santa Barbara. read more

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On my way back home from Solvang, dropped by this spot in Santa Barbara for a quick stop. Heard from a friend that the empanadas were phenomenal here. My wife and I enjoyed the food and the empanadas were indeed quite delicious! The service here was great and the ambiance was super pleasant, very intimate with outdoor seating and a nice water fountain for audible comfort. I ended up leaving my wallet here on accident and had to drive back to pick it up, but they were kind enough to be willing to ship it to me; going out of their way. Amazing service! If you're in the area and you're craving some Argentinian style empanadas, this place is a must visit! Lot of regulars here. read more

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We were there for the band dumpstaphunk a couple of days ago it was an absolutely amazing experience. And the food was great the staff navigated being absolutely slammed as best they could. We will drive up from Ventura when they have live music. read more

I absolutely love their empanadas specifically the mushroom one! Wow I have been here before for yelp event and made it a task to come back! I had their arugula salad which I had enjoyed as well as their chimi papas. I got their combo one and added a salad as well. The mushroom is a must try! I believe their salad are pricy for what you really get as it's small and it didn't have much flavor like it did when I had it previously but willing to go back again and getting more mushroom empanadas. read more

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Stopping to get empanadas at Buena Onda is mandatory for me when I'm in SB! I grabbed a dozen empanadas to take home for dinner. Reheating the empanadas in the oven per the directions on the box works great. I loved the beef, pollo, and breakfast ones the most! This was my first time having the breakfast empanada and it was delicious! I'll definitely get the breakfast empanada again. Love the chimichurri that comes with all of the empanadas. I love Buena Onda! read more

Buena Onda - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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After walking around the Mission, we decided to stop by Buena Onda for lunch since it was nearby. Thank God we did because it was the best lunch we had in Santa Barbara. I never thought I'd be so blown away by little savory pastries. We shared the 3 empi combo with a side salad and the milanesa plate. Out of all the restaurants we tried in Santa Barbara, this was my absolute favorite! I can't wait to visit again just so we could come back to Buena Onda. read more

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Horrible service!!!! Was ignored while waiting at the counter waiting to order food. Staff should acknowledge customers even when they are busy, common courtesy goes a long way. I decided to leave and go to another restaurant. read more

Friday night, went there to grab a bite , the patio was lively and they had a band playing. Our food was excellent, we both had milanesa with fries and salad, loved their arugula salad with walnuts , dressing is just perfect . Service is good and attentive , water kept coming . I also enjoyed a prosecco cocktail What a great spot for a casual evening date in town , we didn't bring our dogs this time but it's dog friendly. We don't have empanadas this time but I highly recommend those, just the best ! read more

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Buena Onda is a place I kept hearing about, so I decided to pay them a visit for lunch! The area is very inviting, however parking can be a bit tough. Aside from their empanadas, they also sell baked goods inside a glass case which welcomes you as soon as you enter. We ordered the breakfast empanada along with the mushroom and spinach. It came with a side if the chimi papas. Our food came out in a timely manner and seemed to be prepared fresh. I thought the empanadas were just ok. They were smaller in sized compared to what I am used to and tasted like hot pockets , and most of the chimi papas were burnt. I wasn't really blown away like I thought I'd be. Overall, I am glad I got to try them out, but im in no rush to come back. read more

I've been lucky enough to visit this restaurant several times, and each visit has been a great experience. It's delightful to see how it's evolved over time, every time I go something has changed just a bit. This time, I finally decided to leave a review because I realized I hadn't done so earlier, and honestly, it's well deserved. The empanadas are genuinely some of the best I've had , the potatoes are addicting with the aïoli and chimichurri sauce on them. Always complimented with a beer, which is nice and I just appreciate is the cozy atmosphere. I definitely look forward to my next visit. read more

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The variety of empanadas are great fit for vegetarians like myself and they taste fantastic. The staff here were so kind to take my bigger group of 10 friends (semi-last minute) and they scrambled a couple tables so we could sit altogether; so grateful I was able to enjoy the company of my friends and great food. I will say parking is a little challenging since it's mainly street parking but worth it for the food! read more

Buena Onda - Soyrizo, Fugazetta, Espinaca empanadas! (3 Empi Combo Side) - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great empanadas with vegetarian and vegan options. The service was fast and efficient even for a Friday around 5-5:30pm. The ambiance is a vibey place where you can relax and enjoy company from others. They had live music starting at 7pm last Friday. I like how they have outdoor seating with covers to block the sun. We ordered the half dozen special with these flavors: Caprese Hongos Espinaca Fugazetta Papa Vegan Soyrizo I honestly forgot how each one tasted but overall it was 4.5/5. The Beignet Trio was yummy too. My favorite was the hazelnut flavor. Beignet Trio: 4/5 read more

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Came here at a very off hour - 3pm - for a late lunch. Quaint and ample patio seating. Service was fast and excellent. I ordered the 3 empanada plate with side salad (other choice is their potato dish). I chose a beef, spicy beef, and a tomato & cheese empanada. The meat ones were tasty. The tomato & cheese wasn't one I would order again. You can also take home a box with 6 or 12 empanadas. They also offer frozen empanadas to go. read more

Buena Onda - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This was our last stop before leaving Santa Barbara. Buena Onda has the most delicious Argentinian Empanadas that are freshly made and come with a side of their delicious chimichurri sauce. The empanada menu includes, meat, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free. You'll also find pizza and milanesas on the menu. A full service outdoor seating area was available. But, we opted for takeout. We ordered a dozen and chose Chicken, Carne, the daily special and the surprise winner for us, the vegetarian Hongas empanada. The Hongas included criminal mushrooms, spinach, peppers, red onions and mozzarella. We headed back to Ventura and the empanadas were still piping hot when we ate them. The empanadas are baked to order and it took about 15 minutes. Service was friendly and welcoming. We'll be back during our next visit to Santa Barbara read more

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We stopped here on our way back from Santa Barbara, and the first thing that caught my eye was how beautifully decorated the exterior is. As we were leaving, there were quite a few people coming in, so it's clear this spot is popular for a reason. The food was absolutely delicious. We ordered a half dozen empanadas for $27, which is a great deal considering how large and filling they are. These are Argentine empanadas (not Brazilian), so they're fluffier, more flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. Everything came out piping hot, and I really appreciated that the box included reheating instructions. They also use wax-lined to-go boxes, which helped keep everything warm and perfect if you're just stopping by while driving through. I'll definitely be stopping here again on our next trip to Santa Barbara or even heading up toward NorCal. Highly recommend making a stop, even if you're just passing through! read more

Buena Onda - Outside eating - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Buena Onda is a true gem in the SB area serving up some authentic and freshly made Argentinian empanadas. This spot is located in a neighborhood area with a small parking lot with like 3-4 spots available. To get here, street parking will most likely be your best bet. Reservations are welcome, but they also accept walk ins as well. Wifey and I stopped by for lunch around 12pm and were seated right away. They have indoor seating or a very nice spacious patio area with lots of seating as well. For their menu, they have a great selection of different empanadas, milanesas, pizzas, and side dishes to choose from. We opted for a half dozen empanadas consisting of the Carne, Pollo, Serrano, Special, Hongos, and Buen Dia along with the Chimi Papas as a side dish. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience here and the ambiance of the spot. The food was packed full of flavor and every bite was as delicious as the last! The authentic Argentinian flavors and flare really shined through. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. If you are ever in the SB area, this spot is a must try! read more

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Buena Onda is a nice place, they have mostly outdoor seating and three parking spots. Food is okay, we order a bunch of empanadas but I didn't think they were out of this world. We order some potato's as well, they're tasty but very dry. read more

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Delicious food. Cute ambiance. Friendly staff. Worth a try for something different and out of the ordinary!! read more

Buena Onda - Cañoncito de custard - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Vegan empeñadas!! And not just one but two different fillings. Also, their French fries are simply nummy! You know sometimes I get carried away and I forget to take pics...again! I promise I'll get better! read more

We hosted a 30ish person party at Buena Onda and it was a vibe!! We're coming in from out of town so we planned the party with the owner Matias via email + phone. We chose a pre fixe menu that included THE best chips and salsa, grilled veggies, a few different empanadas, and a dessert platter! We got the carne, pollo, serrano, and hongos empanadas - they were all soooo good but my personal favorites were the pollo and hongos. The grilled veggies were so delicious, perfectly cooked and you can tell the ingredients were high quality. Everything was absolutely delicious! Matias allowed us to sit under their super cute pergola and we all had an amazing time. The weather was perfect, the service was amazing (shout out Sophia!), the kids loved the live music, and we all really enjoyed our last night in Santa Barbara. Can't wait to go back! read more

Pretty upset with this place. They seated my party, gave us time to settle then came up to us and said they had that table reserved that they were "sorry." What a humiliating thing to do to your customers. Do better Argentinians at Buena Onda ! read more

Delicious and Fresh food, great atmosphere, and live music often. They have a coveted patio great for rain or shine. Kid friendly. Everything in the menu is great. read more

First time dining in and I was very satisfied! I've had their empanadas at other establishments, but their sit in restaurant is a way better experience. Nice outdoor seating and kind attentive wait staff! We ordered the milanesa sandwich with salad, the three empanada combo plate with chimi papas, their dulce de leche cheesecake and the coppa al limone dessert. The three empanadas we ordered were the serrano, buen dia, and the daily special. My favorite was the serrano. I liked the amount of cheese in it and the prosciutto gave it a good savory flavor. The buen dia was a great choice for brunch. The chimi papas were really good! Had a slight amount of spice to it which I liked. They were in the salty side, but the empanadas weren't too salty so the meal was balanced. The milanesa was okay. Didn't have any stand out flavors like the other food items had. I liked the bread that it was on! The desserts were amazing! I'm so glad we decided to try a couple out. Their cheese cake was so good and the dulce de leche made it even better. I liked how much crust there was! The coppa al limone was a contrast to the cheesecake and that's what made it so good! Nice acidity to it and it wasn't too sweet. Our waiter was very nice and accommodating! Great experience overall. read more

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Buena Onda means "good vibes" and it's certainly discernible when one steps foot towards this family-owned restaurant that celebrates its Argentine food and culture in an unassuming setting oozing California coolness and laid-back ambiance. The empanadas here are pretty hefty with each hand-held pastry packed full of flavor. Empanadas eaten: Carne (beef), Hongos (Crimini mushrooms), Pollo (chicken), Gaucho (brisket beef), Serrano (Prosciutto ham), and Batata (sweet potato). Definitely recommend the Gaucho, Batata and Pollo. Notes: - Only three parking spots on the private lot, but otherwise must find street parking - Really beautiful courtyard seating area that's dog-friendly - They also host live musical performances - Empanadas are baked to order and differentiated by how they are folded - Many varieties of empanadas to choose from the authentic Argentinian versions to ones influenced by Californian and Italian cuisine - Tasty chimichurri dipping sauce comes with order of empanadas - Maintains maximum flavor when re-heated - Vegan/vegetarian options also offered - Catering available for any event - Open Tuesday through Sunday at 11 AM. Closed Monday. Already looking forward to the day we return to Santa Barbara just so that we could dine there instead of inside our car! Bless my partner for taking the reins in finding this awesome lunch spot when I wasn't feeling well and ordering half a dozen to try. Can't wait to taste the other empanadas. read more

Buena Onda - Half dozen empanadas - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

First and last visit... I had a bad takeout experience here last month. The frustrating thing was that I had asked questions from the woman that took our order, and she confirmed everything. However, she still messed up our order. When I called to let them know the order was wrong, the person I spoke with said they were busy with other customers and to call back after the weekend. What??!! I found it very unprofessional to tell a customer that had just paid and tipped... that they couldn't help me because they needed to tend to new customers. This was REALLY bad customer service. I had to call 5 different times the next week because the people that answered the phone kept telling me the person I needed to speak with wasn't in yet. I left my number and asked for the manager to call me, but each day went by and no call. It was frustrating that I had to call so many times to get the issue resolved and get refunded for the errors. The food also wasn't very good, empanadas were soggy and kind of bland. Won't be returning. read more

Great food, friendly quick service, cute outdoor seating area with shade & affordable prices. First time visiting, our favorite was the beef empanada, chicken empanada was good, caprese empanada & beignets were only ok. The house-made lemonade & garden salad were refreshing. Will definitely return the next time we're in the area. read more

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Empanadas that tastes like it came straight from mom's house. You can order for vegan to beef pieces. My favorite is the Caprese, Hongos and Serrano! They really do bring Buenos Aires, Argentina to Santa Barbara with their open fire asados, traditional yerba mate and live music on the weekends. They also have frozen empanadas to bring home, catering options and third party delivery. Be aware that they do close Monday's! read more

This place is absolutely gorgeous! While it's a little hard to find since it's not on the main drag of Santa Barbara, it's well worth the effort. The ambiance is incredibly charming and gives off a cozy yet vibrant vibe. We sat in the outdoor area, which is lush, green, and simply beautiful. It reminded me so much of Argentina--it truly transported me back to my travels there. The empanadas were out of this world! We tried the beef, carne, and vegetarian options, and all of them were absolutely delicious and authentic. Each bite was packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. I also tried the Argua salad, which was refreshing and elevated by an amazing lemon vinaigrette. It was light, zesty, and complemented the meal perfectly. The service was excellent--friendly and attentive without being overbearing. I can absolutely see myself coming back here often. Highly recommend this hidden gem! read more

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So so good! I had the caprese empanada and one with mushrooms. Delicious! Also enjoyed the arugula salad. Friendly staff too. Will definitely be back. read more

Believe the 5 stars on this one! I look forward to coming here when we're in the area. It's a great snack or quick bite! They have an awesome outdoor patio too if you decide to dine in, but we usually order them to go. They have a variety of empanadas, even a gluten free option. I suggest getting a half dozen to try a variety. They give you a paper showing you how to differentiate each flavor which I think is pretty thoughtful! Their empanadas are made fresh and their fillings are pretty generous. I enjoy the Serrano and spinach empanada the most. Don't forget the chimichurri sauce either! read more

Buena Onda - 1/2 dozen - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Such a cute spot with super delicious empanadas! I found the meat to be well-cooked & very flavorful, & the side salad was great with their dressing & super fresh. Outdoor seating area was extremely pretty & relaxing, & the staff was friendly & attentive! Definitely a great spot to visit if you're in the mood for empanadas! read more

Buena Onda - Great atmosphere - Argentine Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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It's a struggle to affordably feed a large group with great food and ambiance, but Buena Onda was a 5-star experience. I was looking for a place to feed 28 people - an unusually large group, very challenging, especially around the holidays. The atmosphere was like a nice dinner party. We were placed on a patio with twinkling lights, we were warm and comfortable with backyard heaters. The crowd was clients who are foodies, but this place surpassed the bar. The food was perfect - appetizers while we were assembling, then an assortment of wonderful empanadas, and sides of veggies and the potatoes were a big hit. For dessert, a sampling of brownies and cookies and the lemon bars were a hit. Best of all incredible value, the price was very reasonable for the large group, well within my budget. I can't recommend this place enough for your work holiday meal or large group. read more

Food was ok but service was awful. They gave our order to another table. Then it took another 15 minutes to get like 3 of our 4 empanadas. They were partially cooked. We got tired of waiting and left without getting our full order. Waitress wanted to charge us for the full order. Really? When I complained she took 3 bucks off the order. Not even a half hearted apology! read more

0/10 for the service. Ordered some veggie empanadas and arugula salad. They messed up our order and it resulted in a 20ish minute wait to get any food. The empanadas finally got to our table NOT fully done nor were they crispy on the outside. When I complained to the waitress she seemed to blame her team (the kitchen) for getting it wrong. No apologies were forthcoming. read more