I find the ambience and food at China Pavilion to be great. And they have a bar as well. The service is very professional. I'd recommend it if you are craving Chinese food and in the Santa Barbara area. read more

China Pavilion - Korean Style Noodle Soup - Dim Sum Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Hands down the BEST Chinese food in Santa Barbara. There is no comparison! If you're looking for incredible Chinese food, this is the place. My husband and I come here all the time, and every single visit is outstanding. We have our absolute favorites: the chicken fried rice, spicy pea pods with oyster sauce, and the sizzling rice chicken soup, which is a must. When we bring our son, he always orders duck, and this restaurant truly shines in how many amazing ways they prepare it. He loves every version. When we have friends or family visiting, we explore even more of the menu, including Szechuan dishes, noodle plates, and so much more. Everything is consistently delicious. But it's not just the food. The people who work here are fantastic. They are warm, welcoming, attentive, and genuinely happy to have you there. They make you feel like a regular even on your first visit, which is rare and so appreciated. We've tried the Montecito location, and while it was fine, it simply does not compare to the Santa Barbara restaurant. This spot is something special. If you haven't been yet, do yourself a favor and go. You won't regret it, and you will definitely be back. read more

We're not mad. Simply disheartened by the drone like behavior in the kitchen. Ordered a vegetable mix to share with partner, two bites in we notice a large fractured chicken bone and joint, undercooked, raw. Discouraging to say the very least. Now I know to never truly trust a restaurants, particularly this one. read more

Went with a group of about 25 people. Full menu was offered and most dishes arrived at the same time which can be hard to do. Orange chicken looked good but seemed it was mainly fried chicken skins. Mu Shoo pork was very good. read more

Love the food and staff everyone so welcoming especially Helen! Will definitely come again read more

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What a great meal perfect service wonderful decor and ambiance. My wife and I had our favorite hot and sour soup and it was exceptional maybe the best we have had We weren't particularly hungry so we only had the soup and egg rolls ( excellent) and pot stickers we still couldn't finish them all so we had a lot of food to take home.we had Tsingtao beer with dinner which was ice cold and came with a chilled glass.i highly recommended this wonderful place BTW they have really high end booze including a $300 shot of brandy. Come to this place if you're craving Chinese. read more

The food is delish, wait staff great, and it's pretty inside! The hot and sour soup is the best ever and the Szechuan chicken is delish!

Stumbled upon China Pavilion for lunch and ended up having a really delicious meal. The lunch special I had was a good value and very tasty. The service and ambiance needed a little work but for a casual lunch I did like this place. This restaurant is convenient to get to and they have a parking lot next to them that's free for the first 75 minutes. I love a restaurant in downtown SB that has ample parking. This can be a deal breaker for me when in SB and in a rush but parking is super convenient here. I walked inside and they do have a note at the register saying they were short staffed. The sign looked old but at least I felt prepared. I did have to wait a few minutes at the hostess stand before being seated but the owner was super nice and did apologize for the wait. I was seated at a comfortable booth and I appreciated the attention to detail to set the table so nicely. Nice tablecloths and real solid chopsticks at the table. The menu was big but unfortunately no dim sum for lunch on the weekdays. The lunch specials are where it's at! $14 about got soup, main entree and white rice. Service definitely was hit and miss so more like a 3.5. After being seated by the hostess/owner. After my menu was dropped off no one checked on me for a good long while to take my order. The owner having seen this after about 10 minutes came over to do it herself and then I observed her to scold the two waiters on the floor. More confusing that even after placing my order with her, one waiter did come back to ask if I needed to place my order, told him I had already done it with the lady and he said okay. I feel like the actual waiters here really aren't on top of it. Yet the bus boys were on it, filling my water, clearing plates - it just felt like the waiter was slow to take my order and to bring my check. I will say everyone was friendly but the service was mid - wouldn't come here if I had a time constraint. The food more than made up for the service though. Their Mongolian beef is some of the best I've ever had. Delicious sauce, fresh green onions, and a generous portion of food. While I would have loved fried rice as a side, the white rice was fluffy and allowed me to taste the main dish better. Hot and sour soup isn't my favorite so I only had a couple bites and then pushed it aside. It's a preference thing for me, wish they gave the option to have egg flour soup like some other places. Regardless, the food was very good and a very reasonable price. I would definitely come back for lunch as the Mongolian beef stole my heart and the staff were nice. I just hope they continue to work on general service here and that they can expand some dim sum dishes to their daytime weekday menu. read more

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Had a quick lunch at China Pavilion in Santa Barbara, easily the best Chinese spot in town. The Kung Pao chicken was packed with flavor, and the lunch specials were generous and well priced. Fast service and a relaxed vibe make it perfect for a midday bite. Check out my visit @sosalicious805 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJujz15BqCS/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== read more

I had dinner at China Pavilion and it was a great, authentic experience. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the food truly stands out. Highly recommend for anyone craving classic, flavorful Chinese cuisine! read more

China Pavilion - Dim Sum Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

It fulfills a craving, but it's not the best Chinese food I've had in SB. I haven't been when they're serving dim sum, so I can't say this is the most well-rounded review; but I'd say out of the pieces I've tried on the menu, food is a satisfactory 7/10. (4/5) salt and pepper spareribs - wish portion size was greater for price (3.5/5) Hong Kong style noodles - squid is chewy, mushroom is too soggy, good gravy and balance of flavors otherwise (3/5) dim sum sampler - not bad, but not the most flavorful dumplings that I've had (2.5) baby bok choy with shiitake mushroom - ask for sauce on the side, shiitake too soggy and hard to chew, would rather have sliced than whole caps Service is friendly and responsive. They even saved my to-go container after I accidentally left it behind (picked up approx 20 min after I left the restaurant). Lots of seating options - booths and tables. read more

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We really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately, it was a major letdown from start to finish. The Bar: First off, be aware that there is NOT a full bar here, despite what you is posted and advertised. The Food: Our meal started with potstickers that were overcooked on the outside but served stone cold. Moving on to the mains, the Mu Shu vegetables and beef with broccoli were completely forgettable and lacked any real flavor--definitely below average for this price point. The Dealbreaker: The absolute low point was the Szechuan Fish with peppercorn. It arrived as a greasy, gelatinous mess that was honestly impossible to eat. For the quality and price, there are much better options in the area. We won't be returning. read more

We were craving some Asian food and found this spot on yelp so we decided to try out and tried their dim sum. It's not the best dimsum place since most of the stuff we ordered was a bit bland. Service was ok. read more

We ordered takeout, but we were disappointed because we had to wait an hour. Our food was cold, and we only drove for a maximum of five minutes. read more

China Pavilion - Dim Sum Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I really enjoyed the dinner I had. When you walk in there is a sign noting they are short staffed but despite that they make you feel welcome and service was very attentive. Our server had a great sense of humor as well. The beef and broccoli was delicious. The honey walnut shrimp was tasty as well but a bit too much sauce for my preference. Portions are plentiful and filling. You can order a side of rice which we did to pair with our meals. Overall we had a great time here! read more

China Pavilion - Dim Sum Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This is my favorite Chinese spot-- at least once a month we order the Ma Po Tofu & Yangzhou fried rice. When we're feeling like a splurge, we get the duck rolls-- which are all excellent!!! Highly highly recommend read more

We just discovered this and I can't believe it's taken us this long to find best Chinese food in Santa Barbara. We will be driving to get this off. Service was excellent. read more

Found this great Chinese place per my son's recommendation. Very authentic Chinese flavors, better than 95% + of the best in LA and Bay Area. Will definitely come here again when I visit Santa Barbara. Food: perfect recreation of traditional looks and flavors. If I had to nitpick, I would say that the beef wasn't cut against the grain. But that's not enough to subtract even half a star. Ambiance: classy traditional styles all around Service: Helen, our waitress, was attentive, friendly, and always there when needed, not not visible when not needed (a mark of a great waiter/waitress). read more

Not Chinese for sure. American Chinese food. Walk away if you want authentic Chinese. read more

China Pavilion - 干炒牛河 - Dim Sum Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We are big fans of this restaurant. Their food and service is consistently well done. We tried other Chinese restaurants and there are some good ones but this one is the best. The atmosphere is always pleasant, comfortable open seating and clean. Dim Sum is delicious. I'm so happy they're here! read more

Some of these reviews do no justice to how good the food tasted! Our first time dining here and we absolutely loved it the service was fast and the food was very tasteful! Will most definitely be coming back with the family on our next trip to Santa Barbara read more

China Pavilion - Beef With Broccoli, Shrimp Chow Mein, and Steamed Rice. - Dim Sum Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I practically live here. My only complaint is they only have two lazy susan tables. It just doesn't feel the same without the Susan. But still, 5 stars! read more

China Pavilion - Friends having a great time at China Pavilion - Dim Sum Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Been coming here since 2013 with my family and I can definitely say that the restaurant has gone downhill throughout the years. I'm not sure what happened but food and service were nowhere near as good. I didn't expect them to keep the OG staff but the quality. Prices have gone up while portion sizes were smaller and taste was just not there. Heck, the walnut shrimp was better at panda express and the beef chow fan was more like onion chow fan. The front of the house is short staffed so just be mindful when coming in but the food still comes out pretty quick. They also have two linens covering the table but i noticed that they only change the top part so the bottom one has food stains like the table i sat in. Hopefully they fix whatever's going on soon read more

A tale of two visits. The first time, we had basically the same food and it was fresh and hot and tasty. This time, early in the day, and it all tasted a bit pre made. The best of the dim sum on this visit was the crispy shrimp ball. They were freshly fried and tasty, perfect with the mustard and chili dipping sauces. The shrimp har gow was well made too. But the potstickers were nearly soggy and then worst of all, the pan fried pork bun was frozen inside--not cold, frozen. The waitress' response was , "should we make it again?" No. They took it off the bill, but it's a shame because if these dumplings were fresh, this place could be our go to yummy dumpling spot! read more

China Pavilion - Pan fried pork bun...frozen inside! - Dim Sum Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Food isn't good and service is horrible! Parking is convenient and is handicap accessible, if that is what's important to you and your group, but it's not a good value of price, quality and service. read more

Solid classic Chinese food. This place is very chill, delicious lychee iced tea, orange chicken was on point, but the star was the Pavilion Beef (mild)... caramelized beef strips with scallions is not to be missed. Wildly delicious. Also had the Westlake beef soup which was rich and gelatinous, super body warming and made it feel like Christmas for some reason, lol. Also had the wide rice noodle with beef (forgot the actual name) which was also excellent. Staff was very friendly and there were a number of Chinese families coming into eat that cemented this place as being a gem, if it were rubbish they would not be regulars. Everything was fresh, witnessed about a dozen take out orders which is also a good sign. I'll definitely be coming back because it had a very nostalgically delicious appeal to it. I'll come back for Christmas actually. This place probably slaps even harder around then. Great atmosphere and artwork. Place is legendary. Get that lychee iced tea! 10 out of 10. read more

I have loved this place for years. Their food is reliably good, a nice selection. Service at tables has always been a decent experience and their take out is an important staple in my dining. I'm not sure if it's entirely fair to withhold a star for the small wine selection because I've seldom found Chinese restaurants to have the best wine selections. That said, if you are a beer person, they have a small but nice selection. All in all a reliably good bet for dining and with a long history of sustaining quality. The staff are always polite and industrious. read more

Quite authentic flavor. We ordered green onion cake, west lake beef soup and beef chow fun. It's by a public parking lot and first 75 minutes is free. read more

The food is in my opinion the best Chinese food around. They have a large varied menu with options for just about anyone. The service is always good although we do take out most of the time. The restaurant itself is beautiful well-maintained and clean. Bathrooms are well maintained and clean and they have a great wine selection and they also have Luis the 13th Cognac. read more

The service was slow. The Kung Pao shrimp was virtually inedible. This used to be one of the sure fire if not great Chinese restaurants in Santa Barbara. Now there are none. read more

Came here try out their dim sum. They don't have the dim sum carts but they have a picture menu so you can see what you are ordering. We ordered a variety of things. Crispy shrimp balls were nice and crispy but I wish the shrimp ball had a little more flavor. Har Gow was good but the wife noted the wraps. I prefer my wraps thinner so I can eat more. I guess the thick wraps on the dim sum fill you up so you feel like you get your moneys worth. I was disappointed with the Cham Pong Korean because the broth tasted like water down Neoguri (Korean ramen packet) and there wasn't much seafood in it. Jang Jang myun was ok, but not much black bean flavor. We ordered a couple things, but eventually wife and I got flavor fatigued. Service was good, the waiters checked up on us. Luckily there wasn't a lot of people, so it wasn't too crowded. read more

China Pavilion - Watered down Cham pong, ja Jang myun, duck, etc - Dim Sum Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This trip to Santa Barbara did not disappoint and China pavilion was one of those reason! Mei, our server, was amazing and attentive. She also had a wonderful sense of humor and made us laugh with her witty conversation. The food was nothing short of an amazing experience with phenomenal flavors. It was a Monday evening at 1700 so it wasn't busy but people slowly started to trickle in which really brought a fun vibe to the restaurant. We will be looking forward to coming back for another visit for the food and especially the service from Mei! read more

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Had an awful experience today. I was there for lunch. The waitress spoke Spanish and as I was trying to eat my meal. I could hear the waitress rudely speaking to another employee. She was ordering him around, telling what to do, while he was trying to attend to patrons and do his job. The gentleman was attentive and respectful, clearly doing his job. She just kept nagging him and speaking loud enough that I could hear her across the restaurant. I couldn't enjoy my meal. I had to get up and leave. I felt bad for the guy. read more

China Pavilion has been a local Chinese restaurant stable for over a decade. They are located on Anapamu in Chapala, right around the corner from Milk and Honey, The same parking lot as CorePower yoga. This is definitely more of an upscale feeling atmosphere than your average Chinese restaurant. The wine list is fire. They're not very big, you have options such as Don Perignon, Krug, and vintage Riesling on the menu with really great pricing. The staff isn't extremely versed on the wine list but it's evident that the restaurant's owner placed special attention and care on compiling the list. The food is very flavorful and feels authentic. I enjoyed the Kung, Pao, chicken, and vegetable fried rice. I would've love to explore some less common menu items, but in all honesty, I am not familiar enough with Chinese cuisine to have taken the risk on something new. It would've been really nice to have A little more guidance, or recommendations from the server on other things to try. It seems as though they have a lunch special, offering a good value on a combo lunch. I really love the ambience, and atmosphere of this place, it's definitely a celebratory feeling, and was great to be there during the Chinese new year ! read more

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We had the dim sum sampler and my mom bit into the dumpling and was unable to pull it apart. So we decided to open up the dumpling to find out it was RAW CHICKEN. My mom got so sick after we went home. Seriously this is a terrible health risk and could kill someone. We told the waitress and she asked if we wanted another one. We said no. She took it off the bill but when she came over she started saying oh we should've cooked it for a minute longer. It should've been 10 minutes.... But regardless don't go there if you're not looking to get sick. read more

China Pavilion - Raw chicken - Dim Sum Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great dinner with family. We all loved the ambiance. The interior is spacious with nice contemporary decoration. Food was delicious. Delight noodle soup was out of this world. Kung Pao scallops was also very good. Overall, we had a great experience. read more

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The food here is decent, but I was rather disappointed by the portion sizes. The dishes we ordered were all around 15-20 dollars each, but the amount of food was pretty small. They have some interesting takes on some dishes that I hadn't seen before. For example, we ordered the ants on a log, which is usually vermicelli noodles stir fried with ground meat and some spice and sauce. When they brought it out, they had actually fried the vermicelli so it was crispy, and the waiter poured the meat/sauce over it to soften the noodles. I thought it was kind of cool and the taste was pretty solid too! Overall the flavor of the food here is decent, but I wasn't blown away and the portions are really small. read more

I love the ambiance here. This is the place to go for a little more upscale Chinese and special occasions. It's also conveniently located if you are downtown - not really any other options for Chinese. Recently we went on a weeknight for my son's birthday. It was about 6pm and we were the first table to be seated at a nice booth. The interior is spacious and overall contemporary, with windows all around and views of Anapamu and Chapala street, which is fun. Within about 5min, another table of people were seated RIGHT BEHIND US with no one else in the restaurant. They gabbed away so loud the entire time we could barely hear ourselves. Why?? Let's put that aside. Egg rolls were crispy, but a bit mushy and bland inside for my taste. The orange chicken, Mongolian beef and pork fried rice were all perfect. Fresh and crispy, with just the right amount of heat to the chicken. The pork fired rice was light and fluffy, not greasy at all. Decent size portions, but a little pricey - this is downtown mind you. Service was generally attentive throughout, especially given only a few tables being occupied by the time we left. I'll keep coming back for good all around Chinese food in a classy setting. read more

Every time I crave dim sum in Santa Barbara, I instantly regret my decision and become quickly disappointed. Radish Cake (D) - This radish cake was the best of the bunch I had, and even then, it was a bit sour, hinting it might not be fresh. For those who may be unfamiliar, this is a daikon radish and flour mixture, with assorted meat like chinese sausage or dried shrimp, crisply fried to perfection. While this one at China Pavilion is good aside from the sourness, I honestly think it makes more sense for me to buy the frozen ones, which is kind of sad. Shrimp Cheung Fun (F) - This is another just overall unpleasant dish. The rice noodle is very thick and tough and cold; the soy sauce is bland; and overall, just a very poor dish, with the takeout version being just as bad. The soy sauce needs to be less diluted, with a concentrated sweet soy flavor. Instead, the noodle batter needs to be diluted or less of it used to make the wrapping less like eating a clothrag. Shrimp and Spinach Dumpling (D) - This dumpling resembles a Ha Gow with a raw piece of spinach inside of it. Why did they use raw baby spinach? That's an excellent question that remains unanswered. The shrimp part of the filling is pretty good, but unfortunately completely undermined by the fact that the skin of the dumpling is unbearably thick, which is a rare criticism from me since I usually don't mind. As for the service, it took me 20 minutes to flag down a waiter every time I needed to complete my transaction, which was irritating to say the least. Overall, my reviews of China Pavilion are pretty bad, and I wouldn't recommend it to others. read more

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The kung pao chicken from this place is by far the best I've ever had. Came here while on vacation, and had to order a second round of it, not bothering to touch anything else I ordered. It's so good in fact, that me and my fiancé will make the trip from Pasadena to Santa Barbara just for this dish. The texture is just right, not chewy. The flavor is rich and bold, and the sauce consistency is perfect. Would be my last meal if I was lucky enough. read more