Cajun Kitchen is a staple in the Santa Barbara County area, with locations all over the place. I've only been here for breakfast, but each time it hits the spot. The chicken fried steak is on point and they have this special that pops up regularly that I'm addicted to: Shrimp and Andouille Sausage étouffée omelet. When we want to splurge, we order the beignets, which are ridiculous and remind me of Cafe Du Monde. The only thing I haven't been impressed with is their biscuits. They are really dry and dense -- I'm assuming if you smother it in gravy, you probably won't notice. The service is great and everybody is always really nice. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, you are guaranteed to wait, so just be prepared. I can't blame the restaurant for this -- to me it's a sign of success. read more

My bf and I came here for fat person's trip over the crazy rainy weekend. We are fiending for good cajun food and have eaten at the Goleta location always until now. We tried this one, and though there were 6 parties ahead of us we were seated relatively quickly which was good since it was raining sideways. One star is taken off for service, our waitress took another table's order first though we were seated before them, and that big table got their food before us, was able to leave before, etc. My bf ordered the jambalaya which was very good. Not spicy and very tomato sauce based but amazing flavor and probably the best jambalaya we've ever had. I greedily and unnecessarily ordered the seafood gumbo and it was also really amazing. It was like a beef broth with a ton of shrimp, fish and scallop veggies and rice. It was pipingggg hot for a very long time and was subtly spicy. It was immensely enjoyable in the super cozy stormy weather. We also got sides of cornbread with their butter which is always good. I could eat pans and pans of that stuff. Very solid, wish we lived closer to a Cajun Kitchen Cafe. read more

Huge HUGE portions here What we ordered: Jambalaya Sausage eggs and hash browns Beignets There was a bit of a wait when we got there but not more than 15 minutes Food came very quickly after ordering You can request salsa to go with your food! Beignets were like little pillows of happiness! And their blueberries muffins were delicious! read more

Cajun Kitchen Cafe - Beignets! Syrup on the side - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

When you need a home cooked like breakfast. One that is fulfilling. Tasteful. Mouth watering and delightful staff. Cajun kitchen is my favorite. This place will not disappoint you. I am a fan every Saturday I am there. Love it. read more

This is a step up from your typical diner. All of the food that came out of the kitchen looked great. In fact, my food was good and filling. It gets a little crowded here during brunch so you may have to wait for a table, but you could also sit at the bar area and order. It's reasonably priced and the food comes out quickly. My main concern with this place is sanitation. They give biscuits, toast and cornbread with most of their meals. However, they keep the cornbread on a plate near the microwave and heat it up as they go. The problem with that is that the waitresses touch the cornbread and biscuits whenever. I saw waitresses ring stuff up on the register then immediately touch cornbread and heat it up. They touched money then immediately touched cornbread/biscuits. To me, that's disgusting. Needless to say, I did not eat any of the items that didn't come straight out of the kitchen. And I felt bad for the people who ate those things because they didn't know dirty hands touched it. I just feel like that's a huge oversight and they should try to be more sanitary. read more

Oh. Holy. Food. Coma. Dear god this place is great after a night of drinking. The coffee is good, biscuits are huge and delicious, eggs with honey apple sausage and a bowl of grits swimming in butter = a heart attack special. So good! Great service, tasty food and close to State Street. What more could one ask for in a breakfast place in Santa Barbara that has Chalula and Cajun seasoning on the table? read more

This is top notch diner/coffee shop. It's the real deal, not a recreation. The food is solid; staff friendly and full of locals.

Cajun Kitchen is popular among locals and tourists alike. It gets crowded, and the seating is very limited. They are only open for breakfast and lunch, so keep this in mind if you are planning a visit. You will most likely wait for a seat, and the waiting area is located outside just beyond the entrance. For some reason the wait is not as long as you would imagine it would be, which is a good thing. If you are not familiar with Santa Barbara, it is chilly in the mornings, even in the summer. Nevertheless it would be a good idea to have a jacket with you. I was here for breakfast and had the Denver omelette, and I will admit I was a little disappointed. Someone in my party had the Cajun Chicken, upon sampling it, perhaps I should have ordered that instead? My main complaint is that the service was sluggish. After placing my order, it took about 35 minutes to bring our food, and even then it was brought out at different times. If left some of us wanting to be polite waiting for the rest of the food to come out, while the food on the table was getting cold. In Cajun's defense, they did come around for refills, etc. Tips: The parking is limited, so I suggest parking at Paseo Nuevo, which is catty-corner from Nordstrom. There is a large underground parking structure that will save you from the stress of waiting for a parking on the lot, or driving around searching for a street parking. Also, I was a party of 9, and they add gratuity to your bill with large parties such as mine, as most restaurants usually do. I did not see this disclosure on the menu, and am not aware of at which number of your party places you on this mandatory gratuity. Being a former server from my college days, I am understanding of this. However, when the service is lackluster, this is something that should be able to be challenged. read more

Nothing, NOTHING, beats the Cajun Kitchen for breakfast. It's your hangover's best friend. Get the Steve's Special. Its scrambled eggs, chili, sour cream and cheese, all mixed together and although it sounds like it will make you vomit, it RULES! The biscuits are good, the corn bread is better. This time around I had a veggie omelet. It was perfectly cooked, just done the way the I like it. The hash browns were perfection. The coffee here is good and the bus boys are super fast in refilling your cup. Waitress service can be a little slow though, and the line is always long. Come early, before 10 if you can, to get a quick table. The natives know what's good and they aren't afraid to wait for it! read more

Decent breakfast diner for the staple breakfast. Eggs, omelets, toast, bacon, Benedict's ...etc. The most amazing beneigts I have ever tasted! Perfectly crisp and fluffy. read more

Wow. This place lives up to the hype. Had part of my friend's french dip/roast beef thing, had some of my other friend's California Benedict, and enjoyed every last drop of my Jambalaya. Damn is this place amazing. They've got comfortable booths, a short (practially no) wait, and the service is great. Who could ask for anything more? read more

Fun little Cajun Diner for breakfast and lunch. Location downtown in Santa Barbara it's easy to find. Busy with small parking lot behind the restaurant so be mindful of that. Service: was decent. Seated quickly and our drinks were refilled constantly. Overall the service was good, they got the job done and left our party to socialize with ourselves instead of being interrupted often. Food: about 4 stars. If your a huge huge Cajun cuisine lover like myself this place might not totally hit the mark. Like others said their Cajun dishes are good but not great. I had the breakfast jambalaya with eggs. Severed with shrimp and chicken but I prefer crawfish which wasn't an option. Spice was good but a little on the milder side. I regret not getting a sunny side up egg which would have probably given it more flavor opposed to the scrambled eggs. Overall they have a large extensive menu and the service is good. My search for a real Cajun home cooking restaurant continues but for casual breakfast and lunch this place will still hit the spot. read more

Cajun Kitchen just made my morning, and I didn't even need the classic restaurant experience to rave about it. I ordered online and the food was mouth-wateringly delicious. The breakfast burrito was filling, and the breakfast jambalaya was incredibly flavorful. I'm still swooning over the beignets that take me right back to the French Quarter in NOLA. Juan dropped off my food and he was super nice, too. It's a weird time to be alive, and I'm so thankful that there are great businesses out there still providing service and delicious food. It took one bite to make my day. read more

Amazing brunch in Santa Barbara. The wait is always worth it. The staff are kind and you can never go wrong with a breakfast burrito or benedict. read more

Everything was great from the service to the food . Would definitely come back next time I'm in Santa Barbara.

Got to travel to Santa Barbara regularly for almost 3 years! A stop here was almost required! Just order the Jambalaya! I'm tellin' ya, it will cure whatever is ailling you! read more

It was ok..., my husband has tried Beignets in New Orleans and he said these did not taste the same? I don't know but I wasn't sold on those things. I enjoyed my Eggs Benedict and the service was good and I would come back if I lived close by..., but I don't so I probably won't. I'd probably try some other local restaurant next time I visit..., read more

After showing up and finding Saturday's Boot Camp at Fueled Sports was cancelled, my friend Kim and I decided to walk around State Street and find someplace tasty for breakfast instead to reward ourselves for our good intentions of working out. Cajun Kitchen Café had been recommended to Kim by a friend and it didn't disappoint! I had two eggs with Louisana Spicy Sausage, a generous, tasty slice of homemade cornbread with honey and a hot steamy bowl of grits. Kim sampled the Crabcake Eggs Benedict, which I stole a bite from and it was delicious! Prices were affordable and the staff were all friendly with Southern hospitality and I'm sure my gal Paula Deen would approve! read more

Sautéed shrimp poboy. Do it! Wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was good enough to eat again. The bread was ehhh and it was somewhat difficult to eat, but the shrimp was delicious. Service was attentive at 1pm on a Thursday. read more

DELICIOUS AND HUGE PORTIONS. There was a wait but the line goes fast. Shrimp and grits was AMAZEBALLS. Fresh shrimps never disappoint me. Their coffee was also very good. Friendly staffs, Highly recommend for a hearty breakfast. Fo sho. read more

Cajun Kitchen Cafe - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Must try the jambalaya and the fruit parfait! Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Both locations are great.

Food was great .. they split our shrimp and grits no biggie .. Service was good .. the reason for the 3 stars is We walked in the front door .. I walked up to the bar and said party of 2. This young girl told me turn around walk out the door when I get to the corner turn left walk to the other entrance..I said I can't just walk over there inside 25 ft she said no.. So I walked around like an idiot walked around to the other side the gal said there's a wait like 15 min.. I'm like ok there's nobody around anywhere..3 min later they call our name..At this point I don't even care ..Foods great but the ridiculous game they put you through with the entrance and some ridiculous kid telling me to turn around and hit the road.. I probably wouldn't go back read more

came here with a few friends for the first time, not really knowing what to expect. i was BLOWN AWAY by the fried chicken benedict. eggs benedict is one of my favorite brunch foods, & this was an amazing play on that. the portion size was HUGE, even big enough for 2 (although i ate it myself & took home leftovers :p ). we also ordered the beignets, which were pretty good! highly recommend checking this place out!!! read more

Cajun Kitchen Cafe - Fried Chicken Benedict & Side of Hashbrown - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This place had pretty awesome breakfast/brunch food. I read another reviewers comment about the crispy hash browns and sausages. The sausages were freaking deliciously good! Almost made me forget about my love for chicken apple sausages. The crispy hash brown was nice and crispy and the scramble eggs was good. Now I'm from the South (and by South I mean SoCal), and I love me some good ol' co'nbread. Let me advise you, CKC has some pretty tasty co'nbread! Be sure to add that butter in the middle and on top (the only way to eat some mouth-watery co'nbread). The biscuit was fluffy like a cloud. I imagined that's how a cloud would feel like inside my mouth. It is a MUST to order both of these. Mmm, *picturing CKC co'nbread* oh so, two thumbs all around! read more

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We had the jambalaya with eggs, pork chili Verde and beignets and all were GREAT! Will definitely be returning soon. Awesome service too.

Friendly staff and cozy diner vibe. We were excited for the beignets, but they were very doughy and not authentic New Orleans style. The other brunch items we got were fine, but nothing special. None of the food had the flavors one would expect from a Cajun restaurant despite ordering only items stared (thereby indicating authentic flavors). read more

Couldn't wait to eat here after reading the reviews. We anticipated a long line on a Sunday morning, but were pleasantly surprised. We arrived around 10am and just beat the crowd. Hubby had the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict - to die for! The crab cakes alone were so flavorful. And coupled with the creamy hollandaise sauce, it was just over the top! So rich, and sinful. Of course I had to balance out the meal by ordering something healthy for myself. I ordered a stack of blueberry and wheat germ pancakes. It wasn't what I was expecting. I thought the wheat germ would be mixed into the batter. Instead, it was sprinkled on top of my stack. It was yummy! A little apprehensive at first, I loved the texture it gave my pancakes. House coffee was good as well and the service was on point. Thanks for the water refills and routine coffee warm-ups! read more

I'm not sure why this place was voted best breakfast. The service was great, but The menu is filled with exotic dishes with cajun flair, but If you do not want cajun food, the menu is a bit limited. My breakfast burrito was hearty, but a bit dry. My wife's egg white serving was small, and the bread was like Wonder bread. "Don't believe the hype"- Flavor Flav This is the fourth Yelp review I ended with a Flavor Flav quote. Weird. read more

Took a few friends here for brunch after a night of food debauchery. We got there around noon on Black Friday and were lucky enough to get lot parking and only wait for about 10 minutes. Not bad! The coffee drinkers declared the coffee "pretty good" and much better than typical diner coffee. I opted for a hot chocolate, which was piled high with whip cream, definitely making me nostalgic for my younger years. Yum! We ordered beniegts for the table. The order came with six. These piping hot pieces of deliciousness had powdered sugar dusted over them and had sides of butter and syrup. They are like denser donuts, but oh so good! On to the main courses: Two ordered the chicken fried steak. Comes with a choice of potato, and a choice of cornbread, biscuit, toast, etc. (you get a ton of options here for the side carbs. It really is incredible.) They both ordered home fries, but with different style eggs. The verdict: Eggs were cooked as ordered, and the steak was crisp but too salty. The bf said he preferred the chicken fried steak he gets from Denny's. (ouch!) Another friend ordered the Jambalaya with eggs. This is a bowl of jambalaya with eggs on top. He expected something else, and although he liked it well enough, it fell short of his expectations. I will have to say, though, the bowl stayed piping hot throughout the meal. Kudos to that! From what I saw, it had a decent amount of goodies including shrimp and sausage, and he said it had a good kick. I ordered the French Quarter omelette that is described with "avocado, hot sausage, mushroom, and jack cheese" on the menu. If this were an ingredient list like on canned food and the labels had to list items from most plentiful to least, then the order of ingredients would have been reversed on this bad boy. The eggs were great, but I felt like I had to work to find any sausage. The sausage is why I selected this dish. The last time I came here I took Erica P., who had the hot Louisiana sausage, and it was fantastic. That in an omelette with other goodies? I was sold! The omelette had a TON of mushroom and cheese folded inside on one side and later, the bf mentioned that when he ate some all he had was sausage. Next time I'll open it up and mix the insides better for a more even spread of goodies on the inside. The four slivers of avocado on top of the omelette couldn't have been more than a quarter of the avocado. Coming from an area where avocados literally grow on trees, and local farmers markets sell the suckers at $0.75 a piece for that size of fruit, I was pretty disappointed with the serving. (I know, I'm a gluttonous American... But at least avocados have the good fat!) In addition to that, the avocado looked glossy and rubbery, suggesting it was over ripened. Aside from that, the hash browns were amazing. Crisp on the outside, fully cooked and soft on the inside. Cornbread was awesome as well. The portions are generous and affordable. read more

If you're a late luncher on vacation like between 3-4, this is not the place for you, but if you want EXCELLENT brunch or lunch and are willing to get your butt up, this is THE place to eat. I'm definitely a victim of my eyes being bigger than my stomach and there is no joke here- if you order one entree it's already too much food, but there are some sacrifices you have to make sometimes.. like your diet and your pants buttons. The fried okra is a must have, the aioli they use is spectacular. All po'boy sandwiches are also really delicious. the beignets are also friggin amazing.. as one who does not buy into the cafe du monde hype, you can totally come here for beignets that rival those from NOLA! you really can't go wrong here. read more

The gumbo was a bit too salty. The shrimp po boy was so amazing! The seafood étouffée was very tasty. The beignets were to die for. The staff was very nice and efficient. Accommodating. read more

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I went on a trip with my best friend up to Santa Barbara for a night during spring break, and found this diner as a suggestion at the place we were staying, and it was absolutely worth it! The workers were such a delight to talk to. The woman taking our order was extremely patient and understanding--we were taking a while to decide on what to eat for lunch brunch. Once we decided, I had ordered a sandwich, and my friend had ordered an omelette. Hers came with the fresh blueberry muffins and apple butter side, as well as a side of salsa for the omelette. She really emphasized how delicious the salsa was, and with me being a huge apple butter fun, I had taken a bite and loved it. My sandwich was very filling and delicious as well--our server had even offered to refill the spread for my sandwich since I couldn't fit all the catfish into the po'boy! Overall, the experience here at this diner was very pleasant and satisfying! I left feeling like I was in a small neighborhood, and that I was part of the family. My friend and I had both agreed that if we were ever in the area again, this would definitely be a HAVE-TO stop. Highly suggest to anyone traveling into the area for a quick visit! read more

Stopped and had breakfast at this place. Literally chose it based on pictures of French toast. Nothing disappointed at this place. The portions, the flavored, the selections, the price. It was awesome. Had shrimp and cheese grits with andouille sausage. Family had pancakes. Even though k wanted the French toast I chose the grits. The server was awesome and brought me half a piece of French toast to sample. When I'm back in SB I will be back at this place. read more

Cajun Kitchen Cafe - Shrimp and cheese grits with andouille sausage. Mixed with scrambled eggs. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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They have some cajon items but this is mostly a typical dinner though they are very accommodating to dietary requests. The vegan breakfast burrito was very good. My kids loved the waffle and pancakes. read more

Wowza!! This restaurant was amazing! The food is outstanding! Also, the bloody Mary's are super spicy and reminded me of the ones served at the Jazz Kitchen located at downtown Disney. I highly recommend it!!!! read more

Visited Sta B April '21 and this place had a line for brunch for sat. We got the chllaquilles, wife got the jambalaya. They we're really good. Recommend this place. Will come back for sure. read more

On our way to SF, Santa Barbara was our first stop! BREAKFAST!!! Parking is a bit difficult as it's pretty small but we got lucky. Service was top notch! I was ushered to our seats immediately and water, coffee was served!! No free refills for coffee but they sure make sure it's always refilled! Lol! We ordered their Huevos Rancheros, delicious! Creole Jambalaya. Very very good and spicaaaaay! Beignet. Not too bad but I've had better. Theirs are Kindda crispy and dry. The besties got French toast (meh), and a vegetarian omelette. We sell souvenirs too!!! We got a shirt! read more

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From a Cajun girl, this place was just ok. The table hand shrimp etouffee, classic eggs Benedict, crab cake Benedict, and the Cajun scramble. Bleh. The English muffin from both benedicts were odd, there was something funky floating in my Bellini and they didn't comp my new one, the etouffee was so bland my husband only ate the shrimp out of it. We all had so much food left on our plates but still paid full price gracefully. Street parking, two toilets, and earth saving paper straws. We won't be going back. read more

Food is pretty good, definitely a local go to for breakfast and lunch. Nelson has been our server many times and he always makes the experience so enjoyable and is a great waiter! read more

Needed a quick bite to eat while running errands and saw this space. I wasn't expecting anything fancy or even that great tbh but was really impressed with the food. I got the chilaquiles with soy chorizo and it was phenomenal. The service was prompt and food came out so quickly. read more