Our server, Stephanie, was wonderful. She was topped by the piping hot and strong coffee. Then, however, our food came! Our breakfast topped them both!! The horrid rancheros were AMAZING!!! read more

It was a busy Sunday, but the wait line outside went by super fast. The hosts and servers were very polite and the food was great. Cherry on top was the view of the beach and cute dinner experience. read more

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had such a horrible experience here due to service :( when first outside & waiting for a table, there were 2-3 other parties both in front and behind us, for some reason, the host let the party directly behind me and my boyfriend in first, cutting 3 whole parties. eventually we get seated, and it's a small table that seats two, kind of crammed in the center of the section & it's pretty tight, but at this point i have no complaints, i'm glad to get a table, but eventually other tables get seated surrounding us, and we are ready to order, but we keep being told we'd be helped soon anytime we tried to flag anyone down & then we see a large party behind us who just got seated being helped, it took over 20 minutes to get our order in & another 30 to get our food. wish we could have had a better experience here read more

This place was EXCELLENT. Service was great, fast and super friendly. We showed up 30 minutes before close and were welcomed in by the server. We took a seat at the bar and I had already looked at their menu online so we knew what we wanted and ordered right away. Food came out quick and piping hot and was EXACTLY what I had hoped for. Florentine omelette with hollandaise added was super tasty and hit the spot. My husband got the chicken fried steak and he loved it as well. We're not in Santa Barbara often, but this will be our "go to" breakfast place whenever we're up here. read more

Came here with my family on a Saturday. Seated outside right away. We were greeted by the friendly host. It's our first time here at Chads and they give a complimentary chocolate, blueberry muffins and there's a lot of them! Wow!!!!! They're good! I would love to order the mimosa flight but we are heading home soon so I had just one mimosa... the view outside is amazing. The umbrellas keep it nice and cool. There are plenty of food choices on the menu! I tried the Santa Barbara omelette and im glad I did! It was a good portion, tasty, and the salsa was delicious too. I love that they have fruits choice as a side and toasts or pancakes is also included. I didn't get to see the inside of the restaurant so I won't be able to review it but I like the outside area. Will definitely come back and try the other food choices on the menu. Parking is available on site and parking is free. read more

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8 of us stopped by here for a late lunch after driving/taking the train up from The L.A. area at the beginning of a nice weekend together. We wanted to eat outside and the best they had available were two tables of 4 next to each so all the men sat at one and the women at the other. Good choices included burgers, chicken & turkey sandwiches, omelets, and pancakes and we all enjoyed our lunches. It appeared they were short on servers, not surprisingly at this time, so it took a bit longer than expected for Sarah, our server, to take our order. Having said that, she was very helpful, has a great sense of humor and made sure to answer all our questions and concerns and make certain all went well, ensuring each of us were happy. We had a good time and nice meals at fair prices and would recommend this restaurant which, when sitting outside, is right across the street from the beach and ocean. read more

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The food is average in my opinion for a breakfast/brunch place but to be perfectly honest, the star of the show at Chad's is the complimentary muffin basket they give you upon sitting down at your table. I've never been to a place that does this and it rocked my world. The muffins come out warm and have a nice mouth feel (I.e., soft interior and a nice crispy exterior) and there's chocolate chip in them too! Highly recommend eating here just for the muffins! I drove 4+ hours to come visit SB for the Labor Day weekend and this was the first place I stopped at. read more

Chad's - Pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The food was really good and very fresh! The service was really good and quick. Our waitress Sophia was very sweet. They sat us right away and perfect view of the ocean. I would recommend the turkey club and corn beef hash with eggs and those potatoes. The mimosas were okay they tasted like syrup. I can't wait to be back again. read more

Went to Chad's for Sunday breakfast before heading out of town. We were sat outside in the sun. When we tried to move the umbrella we were told we can't do that. I got a toasted bagel, a side of bacon and a side of hash browns. The bagel was cold and the hash browns had no flavor. My dad ordered an omelette and it was also cold and the cheese wasn't melted. He got a side of pancakes and those were good. The bacon was crispy. My mom got the Benedict and that was good. Overall it wasn't a great experience food wise but our server was the best part of our whole experience. Shoutout to Ben, he was very nice and offered to comp the omelette which we refused. read more

Chad's - Bagel, hash browns, bacon and pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I thought I would give this place a try and was very disappointed. Nothing quality about it, they are all about production and the food tastes like diner quality. read more

It's hard to ask for a better breakfast. Sitting in the spacious outdoor patio area, listening to the Eagles and Steely Dan, watching the boats on the harbor... this is the breakfast of vacations. Free muffins while we wait? Yes please! Food? Awesome! Probably the best chocolate chip pancakes on planet Earth, or at least Santa Barbara. Any criticisms? Sort of... The place is very popular and service can lag. We sat immediately at 800a on Sunday and the line kept building until after we left at 915a. It took a while to order and much longer than expected until our food arrived. Was I bothered in the slightest? Not really. Chad's owns prime real estate and offers a great meal at a great value. While service is slow, you may not be bothered given the picturesque surroundings of Santa Barbara. read more

Chad's - Pops breakfast, chocolate chip pancakes, and a breakfast sandwich. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I got the corned beef hash and eggs which were alright. I wouldn't order it again if I came back. The overall vibe and outdoor seating was super nice and relaxing. read more

Chad's - Corned Beef Hash & Eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We came to Chad's based on reading reviews and it did not disappoint! I loved that they provide every table with a muffin basket! I've never seen that done before and I honestly couldn't stop myself from eating all the muffins! My husband and I both got the mimosa flight. I liked having the option to try all their combinations. We both agreed that the peach one was the best! Our entrees were tasty as well. I got the huevos rancheros and my eggs were cooked perfectly. There was slightly too much cheese for my liking, but I was able to still enjoy my meal. Chad's is definitely worth visiting if you're in the area! read more

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The food is delicious. I love eating here when I'm in SB. The service? Meh I made a to-go order for the garden omelette, home fries, wheat toast. I also bought a side of fruit, because I wanted toast as well. I also ordered it without tomatoes or onions. The meal showed up and had chives all over it. They were out of lids for the meal container, so while my breakfast was getting cold, and the server went to find a lid, I picked off most of the onions since I'm allergic to them. Then, I asked for salt and pepper, and another server snipped that the littlle packets in the to-go utensil bag was "right here." Why she didn't think handing me regular shakers would be nice, I have no idea. I get back to my hotel and there's no toast included. Grrrrrr. I paid $29.36 for this meal, plus a $5 tip. read more

Chad's - Garden Omelette with home fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Great place with a view for breakfast or brunch in Santa Barbara. The food is quite outstanding. They give you a complimentary basket of fresh baked muffins to start off with. They have a flight of mimosas with four different types of juice. We were in Santa Barbara a week and came here at least four times since it was so delicious. Just note....there is almost always a bit of a wait. read more

Chad's - Right across from beach in Santa Barbara. Great flight mimosas. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We love Chads! The muffins they give you when you sit down are amazing! Especially if you are staving you have something to munch on. Huevos rancheros and the Santa Barbara omelette are my favorites. Make sure to ask for their salsa. It's delicious. I had a mocha last visit and I loved it. My husband loves the bloody Mary's and mimosa flights. Service is always good. Get there early on the weekends. It gets busy! read more

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Great view with good food for a breakfast meal! We drove from San Francisco down to Santa Barbara for the weekend and we decided to stop at this place for a Saturday morning , it gets really busy so bring some patience. read more

Chad's - Mimosa Tasting Flight - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I haven't been back here since the remodel & rename. It's been so long! I missed the complimentary muffins! I had breakfast here with a friend and ordered the short stack of chocolate chip pancakes. The powdered sugar design was a cute touch, the pancakes here thick and filled with chocolate chips. My friend had the Moms special and added chocolate chips to his pancakes. We were both full and so happy afterwards. It was the perfect rainy day breakfast. read more

Chad's - Short Stack with chocolate chips - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I found this place through the help of visitSantaBarbara.com and I'm glad I selected this beachfront joint. The majority of my party ordered a Benedict plate + a Santa Barbara Burger. We were all satisfied with the overall taste of the Benedicts along with the sides you can pick that come with each plate. The location and hospitality were superior. Shoutout to the gentleman within the team that brought my party a Salsa Verde, everyone enjoyed the sauce. -IG: @eatingwithricardo read more

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Great little breakfi place in Santa Barbara!! All of us enjoyed our entrees & had no complaints. I got the chicken fried steak which wasn't the best I've ever had but certainly didn't disappoint. She ordered the French toast & was very pleased. She also ordered a peach mimosa which was really big and I recommend getting ice with it because you'll end up filling your ice cup about 3x. This place is located right along the coastline & has indoor and outdoor seating. They also bring out muffins which are really delicious as well. Chad's is doing a great job, I would definitely go back. I suggest making reservations if you plan on going there Sunday morning. The decor is about average for a breakfast place, but they have lots of seating. It's a popular spot & I can see why this place is popular. Recommended!! Happy eating. read more

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Chads feels like a diner but the food is superb. I had the veggie omelette which was loaded with grilled vegetables and wasn't cooked in too much butter or oil, and wasn't overly salty. It came with cheddar but I was allowed to switch to feta at no charge. It came with a choice of items and I chose the fries which were crispy and delicious. My partner had the tuna burger which was one of the best he had ever had. It came with a side of fresh fruit. There's both indoor and outdoor dining. Highly recommend! read more

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Was recommended this by a UCSB friend and was told this is "the place" for mimosas and breakfast. Thought this was your run of the mill family owned breakfast spot where the prices are high since it's just iconic. But me and my girls were ALL surprised because the food here is actually really great despite being your typical menu items! I mean everything was yummy and beyond our expectations. Would 100% become my staple everytime I visit Santa Barbara. If you're planning on bringing a bigger group, come earlier to put your name on a list! There will definitely be a wait, especially if you're outside. We thought the mimosa flight looked small but it was actually more than you'd think, for those who are light drinkers. read more

Chad's - Breakfast spread - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Solid food, Outside dining, fast service.Pro-tip-split the salads-totally huge, enough for 2 people! read more

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Definitely okay. The food was okay, but absolutely not for that price point. My omelette was more like a crepe, it was so thin. Fruit was good and ripe. But an $8 orange juice is a bit absurd. Not worth the money. Ambiance was weird, just a very mid diner that happens to have a view. Ben was my server and really the only good part of my experience lol read more

Chad's - Receipt - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We came on a Sunday around 11:30am and were seated in about 10 min of waiting in line. They are very efficient and get tables in and out quickly which is nice. Even with a line you get seated fairly fast. Service is also good. Friendly and nice. They give you a basket of mini muffins to take the edge off your hunger while you order. Ours were rather dry...likely the product of being kept in a warming drawer. Oh well. Food was decent. The huevos rancheros was fantastic looking....and the breakfast burrito had a nice flavor. The Santa Barbara omelet came with pancakes as a choice which was nice. I would say that for breakfast food it is above average. I liked that fruit cup was a choice and although there was a pile of melons on the bottom, there were also a decent amount of berries on the top. I would definitely come back. Portions, as you might expect, are huge and the menu is extensive. read more

My new favorite Santa Barbara breakfast spot - right across from the ocean, cute sidewalk patio and cool retro booths and tables outdoors. The food is very good, big portions, and reasonably priced. My daughter loved her California Benedict, loaded w/ avocado, spinach and tomato, our friends got the BLT, breakfast burrito, huevos rancheros, which they all enjoyed, and my hubby and I split the chicken fried steak plate w/ eggs. Has towns and pancakes. Everything was really tasty - especially the steak and hashbrowns - crispy on outside and tender inside w/ good flavor. Line went pretty quickly for seating. Will definitely be back! read more

Chad's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Went there for lunch with son and granddaughter. One man in line waiting for 6 others. No hostess. Went inside and asked someone counting the cash drawer and asked if there was a hostess or a table for three which I noticed several inside. Was told to go wait outside behind the man waiting for his party. The employee came out addressed the man about how long until his party would be didn't even look at me and walked away. We left. Guess they don't need the business. I live here. Hmm. 2/9/2025. 12:30 pm​ read more

Great breakfast restaurant with beach view! Inside is cute mid century style cafe with old school booths. Stopped here as first meal in Santa Barbara a day trip. Waited a few minutes to be seated on a Friday morning. Staff were young & friendly but busy. We both had different specialty Benedicts. Delicious! Would prefer the hollandaise a little thinker. Seemed thin. Complimentary mini muffin basket was nice. Choc chip and blueberry muffins with butter. The muffins were very sweet. Of course, I had to try the fun mimosa flight. $12 for a full size mimosa or $14 for the flight. Peach is the best! Does anyone like grapefruit? Why? We walked over the Stearns wharf/pier from restaurant. This establishment is across the street from the beach! The hot tip is to sit inside by window so you get the A/C and a view. Too hot for outside patio in July. Great way to start a Santa Barbara day! Cheers! read more

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The muffins were a perfect way to start our meal. The food was average but the staff was very friendly and helpful. The location was perfect for us visiting as it was just a short walk from our hotel. It's a decent spot to stop for a filling breakfast. read more

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Really good breakfast place on the beach. Good food, friendly people, nice views. Ya got no complaints :-)

The food here was really good, everyone at the table liked it. Also the hash browns are seasoned. read more

Chad's - Huevos Rancheros, without cheese or sour cream - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

These guys have one goal...turn tables. Food was cold, everything rushed. Took my plate while I was eating. Won't be back. Couple positives: Good music and great ocean view. read more

Chad's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

EDIT: This was originally written for restaurant when it was named "Sambo's" Thanks for keeping this restaurant open. I really appreciate it. I have very fond memories of this restaurant as a kid, growing up in Modesto, CA.  I don't understand why there was so much Liberal drama over the name, status, or any false reports of the name or why it was named what it was. It was a wonderful experience. I really enjoyed the wonderful and delicious meals. I posted some photos up. I loved the fresh cut avocado served with my omelet. Thanks for that.   Thanks for a great restaurant and vacation down to Santa Barbara. read more

We drove here on Wednesday from IE based on the reviews. The service was excellent. The line was long but staff got us tables quickly and were accommodating to everyone's request. It is slightly awkward to be seated inside next to a window then to look out at the ocean view because the table that was on the outside patio had guest that must have thought I was looking at them and not past them. On to the food...they start you with a warm basket of mini-chocolate chip muffins. Eat them quick. As they cool they turn to hockey pucks and I couldn't cut them to add butter. Strangely enough they did taste good both warm and cooled. I had the breakfast burrito with meat. This was extremely expensive. It was overpowered by cheddar cheese. The pinto beans were too hard. It lacked flavor for sure. All of the flavor was in the side guacamole and sour cream. The other plate ordered was basic with eggs, bacon and sausage. The meat items were cold but did taste good. We spent $75 after tip on two plates with drinks. read more

Chad's - Outdoor line with shade provided. Kiosk is where they take name and seat you. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Chad's (previously..... s*****) is a brunch spot in town that I've had my eyes on for a while but I always see the long lines and get turned off. well, one day I thought let's just do it and came by with friends we were quoted 45 min to an hour for the wait for 5 and it was a bit longer (maybe an hour + ten). we were seated inside - I would've preferred an outdoor table but didn't want to wait even longer. first off, the mimosa flight was nice. they have cranberry, grapefruit, orange, and mango. Personally the grapefruit was too bitter for me and my favorite was the mango. My friend also ordered one and she got pineapple on one glass while I got cantaloupe. Not a huge deal but just a lack in consistency they bring out fresh hot muffins for you to enjoy with butter. Personally, too sweet for me. The butter helps but I would love if they had a savory muffin like cornbread! I ordered the blackened ahi benedict which I thought was amazing. I was a little skeptical about the ahi with the hollandaise but it worked really well! There was so much fish too. The hollandaise was perfectly seasoned and creamy and the egg was also cooked to perfection with that beautiful runny yolk. Potatoes were nothing special My friends ordered the burrito and a breakfast sandwich. While I didn't try, they said it was completely bland and lacked seasoning. I'm giving this place three stars because of the long wait time and my friends' review of their foods even though I enjoyed my dish. Probably stick to the benedicts here from what I've heard and go on a weekday to avoid long wait times (then it'd be four star worthy!) read more

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A fun throwback kinda coffee shop to have a great breakfast. We remember the original restaurant many years ago, fun to revisit in the new version by the same family. Clean, tasty, friendly service & views of the beach. Nice patio dining! read more

Chad's - Goooood coffee! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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chads more like BADS I went to dine in for the first time at chads and i am extremely disappointed in the quality of food and the service. My first complaint is that the food is very mid in flavor, could use more. My second complaint is the service, the waitresses and host were very friendly and welcoming but not very attentive to our table. i waited more than 10mins just to receive my check, i would raise my hand and look directly at my waitress and she seemed like she was ignoring our table in purpose. I also noticed some of the kitchen staff touching the waitresses inappropriately which made me really uncomfortable. read more

We decided to sit outside and the weather was perfect! The service was quick and friendly. There was always someone outside if you needed any help. They gave complimentary muffins which were chewy but still very good. The portions were also huge and shareable. A great brunch spot! read more

Chad's - Outside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My family went today to Chad's, at the restaurant everything was fine, but when we took a California burrito to go, and ate it later, we noticed that there was a cockroach in the burrito!!! Update: owner took the time to reply to me and provide my family a refund. We appreciate that and want to note we have been there in the past with no problems. This would be the 1st read more

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We visited on 9/5/22 around 1pm for brunch. We were headed back to the Bay Area but wanted to stop by SB to grab something to eat. Honestly, I'm not trusting these 4 to 5 star reviews as our experience was far from that. The wait in line wasn't too bad and the hostess was attentive. A few minutes after we were seated, a gentleman came and took our drink order, and shortly after, another gentleman brought over some yummy mini muffins. After about 10-15 minutes, our waitress, April, shows up but does not greet us and seemed she did not want to be there. Instead, she just asked what we'd like to order. That's fine, I can look past that. The food finally came after 25-30 minutes and not once during that time did we see our waitress, get an update on the wait for food, or get any refills on our coffee. My husband ordered the corned beef Benedict which he enjoyed. My kids liked their waffles and pancakes. I ordered the steak and eggs and asked it be cooked medium. Instead, the steak was well done and I was very disappointed. I didn't want to send it back because I didn't want to risk waiting another 30 minutes. Our waitress checked on us only once and again, we didn't see her at all until we were done eating. It was only then where she wasted no time clearing our plates, getting us a to-go container, and bringing the check. Our experience here was not great, mostly due to the service. I couldn't wait to get the bill and leave. In addition, the women's restroom was filthy. There were paper towels everywhere and no toilet seat covers. If ever visiting SB, we won't come back. read more

Chad's - CBH Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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