Ordered an adonada burrito and found out it only comes with rice, beans, and meat. So I paid for the extra lettuce, pico, sour cream, and cheese. I was starving and this hit the spot. Came out to almost $13 for things most other places include otherwise I would give them 5 stars. Place was clean, food was made to order fresh, and the salsa bar was fresh as well. Also not much leeway for first timers during lunch rush so read the menu ahead of time before you get in line. read more

We ordered a breakfast burrito with eggs bacon and cheese and potatoes. We asked for no beans! We also ordered a bean and cheese burrito. There were beans in the breakfast burrito and a 1/4 cup of beans in the bean burrito. This will the last time we go there. Always throughly check your order. The staff is unfriendly!! read more

For around $3 you get a large taco filled with LOTS of meat. And I mean LOTS. Enough meat to make two meat filled palm sized tacos. As for the flavor, it was nothing special. The meat was a bit dry and salty - I got adobado and bistec. The taste wasn't superb, but it wasn't horrible either. There is a small salsa bar with pico de gallo, salsa Roja, and salsa verde. This place seemed like a local go-to joint for most of the customers inside, they had some sort of relationships with the workers. read more

El Sitio - Lotsa meat - Mexican Near Me - Goleta, California

I've been going to El Sitio for 25 years! Even before I lived in Santa Barbara I would make it my first stop when I visited. Now, I've moved to Colorado and finding a good burrito, or any good Mexican food has proved to be impossible for me. Fortunately, I recently went back to SB and yes, my first stop was El Sitio! Rajas Burrito! It had never tasted better. Grilled Rajas, onions, their amazing housemade beans and rice. It's the real deal. I've tried other items on the menu but always go back to the Rajas, it's just my fave. There are 4 locations to choose from in the area, I've tried them all and they're pretty consistent. I will continue longing for the beach and the perfect climate of Santa Barbara but mostly, I long for El Sitio. read more

Good family restaurant, different type of Mexican food pretty solid, good food. The service is pretty good but at the end of the day it is still a mom-and-pop hole-in-the-wall Mexican spot read more

El Sitio - #1 chicken plate - Mexican Near Me - Goleta, California

I didn't get this place my first few visits because most of what I had didn't quite satisfy, but then I discovered the adobado, which is really flavorful and tender. I never waver from the adobado and either go for the adobado mixto (adobado, peppers, onions, cheese and served with hot tortillas), the burrito or the torta. I normally opt for no mayo on all my sandwiches but the torta here is much better with mayo. The food is really filling and I don't finish my meal if I want to get anything done that day. This location, unlike the one in IV, has self-serve roasted peppers that are oily, salty, and a little charred next to the salsa bar... sometimes jalapeño and sometimes serrano...so watch out! If they run out, request some from the cashier and you'll get some piping hot ones wrapped in foil. I'm into this place. read more

I used to work in Public Health when I was in the military so I know if I will give negatives. Here we go: 1. The sneeze guard was not properly installed, their sauces and condiments(onions, and etc.) were exposed, not even a cover, a NO NO! I saw people come and go from this sauce and I can say that no matter how good the sauce is if it's dirty or contaminated, a turn-off. 2. Their soda machine,there were signs of stains where it has not been cleaned for days. Let's stop here. It makes me throw-up. Food is a OK, but I experienced better ones. I did not see cilantro, maybe you have to ask for it, for a $. Me not coming back here. I can find better Mexican joints than this place. read more

It's a hole-in-the-wall taco joint. Don't expect fancy atmosphere or an extensive menu. Expect delicious tacos. All of their vegetarian tacos (I think they have three kinds?) are fantastic. The vegetables taste GRILLED, which isn't a flavor vegetarians get to taste too often. Really satisfying. read more

The food here is very bland...no flavor, for a Mexican place....are you kidding me???? Then their dishes don't come as advertised.

What to say about this place? I used to work down the street to this place and I love their tortas. Carne asada, Pork , Chicken it's all good. The restaurant is simple, usually pretty clean. It's good, cheap, authentic mexican food, not much else to say. nom nom nom. read more

Unfortunately for this place, I don't eat meat. Their meat dishes (from a distance at least) all looked pretty good. I got the veggie burrito and it fuckin sucked. Beans, rice, and squash wrapped up in a slightly grilled tortilla. I hoped the salsa bar would be their redeeming factor, but I was let down by that as well. Not that it was awful or anything, there was just nothing impressive about it. The salsa didn't have much of a chance at improving the burrito anyways. I would've gladly given them 3 stars because their soda fountain started out pouring the most delicious taqueria coke I've tasted in as long as I can remember. I've mentioned in other reviews that taqueria coke has a certain flavor to it you can't get anywhere else. I don't know if they overdo the syrup or what the reasoning behind it is - but the coke here was seriously the bomb... that is, until they ran out!! I had about half a cup while waiting for my food, went back to top off and they were all out of syrup! Only carbonated water. Bummer! Meal officially ruined!! read more

Small joint perfect for a quick lunch, the torta Cubana was decent though at 11 bucks a little pricey. read more

El Sitio - Torts Cubana - Mexican Near Me - Goleta, California

Honestly this used to be my go to burrito joint. I paid almost $10 for a basic breakfast burrito, it was mostly tortilla, and the meat they put in was way overcooked. I was the only guy waiting for food and it still took 20 minutes to get done, and the salsa bar was mediocre. My friends went 2 days later and had some seriously underwhelming meals as well. Such a bummer. I won't go back read more

Food extremely good, I'm pretty sure these are the best tacos in Goleta. That had made an error in an order and corrected it. Also the staff is always very patient and does a good job. read more

This is one great restaurant. Very tasty authentic food. The people that work there are very friendly. Does get crowded so pick your time wisely or you will waste your whole lunch time getting you food instead of eating it.. love this place. read more

I will never go here again. EVER. Over priced, small portions and horrible service. When I pay $8 for a burrito I would expect something a little bit larger than a taquito. Next time I will take my cravings for Mexican food somewhere else. Good food, but definitely not worth the large price or lack of service. read more

In a town that has no shortage of burrito places, El Sitio has got to be my favorite. Prices are reasonable considering what you'd pay at neighboring Mexican joints, and you get a side of chips and salsa with each meal. As a vegetarian, my options are pretty limited, but their rajas burrito is a solid go-to. Grilled onions and pasilla peppers, beans, rice, and cheese in a grilled tortilla make a greasy beast of a burrito that will never fail an empty stomach. Their tortas are also great. I'm a sucker for a chile relleno, and sticking one inside a torta is a win. The ambiance is forgettable, and sometimes a little too grungy, but you can't exactly ask for the Ritz in IV. The place fills up when there's a big game on, and their two HD big screens, reasonably priced beer, and ample seating makes for a great place to kick back and watch. If you're just looking for a no-frills traditional style burrito, I'd recommend El Sitio over any other place in IV. read more

I have been going here for years, and only a time or two have I been mildly disappointed in the Asada Torta (steak torta). Consistency may be the hobgoblin of little minds, but in a restaurant, it is the harbinger of success, and El Sitio on Fairview puts out a fantastic, near-perfectly consistent delicious torta sandwich. I have gotten their tacos, burritos, nachos, and other items occasionally, but these items are just okay (hence four stars, not five). However, the torta is the best one I've tried anywhere, and every time I try a torta at a different restaurant, the comparison to tortas from El Sitio always makes me appreciate this little hole in the wall. And this location, near the McDonalds on Fairview, is my destination El Sitio for Goleta. I have been disappointed in the one on Calle Real (in El Encanto heights, near DP high school and behind 7-eleven). The time I went there to get my usual asada torta, they omitted the cheese, and when I asked what happened, the churlish and unfriendly staff unapologetically told me that they were out of cheese. Well, had I known that when I ordered, I might have been less ticked off about it, but just the way they said it with disdain and dismissal showed that they really didn't care. And IV? It's in IV. Back to Fairview El Sitio: this place does not offer much in terms of ambience, although they recently introduced colorful wooden chairs to replace the plastic patio-furniture look. It's an improvement. The tables are still the plastic patio tables, but they've now gone to the effort of covering them with tablecloths and vinyl, so these are also improved. The service, which consists of the women behind the cash register taking orders, and the various cooks, are rather indifferent and not given to overly friendly interactions, but they are not grumpy. And the one time I ordered nachos, they had the courtesy to warn me of the price since it wasn't posted (I think it was $12 or so?). Speaking of price, the tortas and burritos are very reasonably priced and filling. Old town Goleta has lots of mexican places with more popping up all the time. But El Sitio is the place for tortas. read more

Super disappointed in this place! Their service was nice but their breakfast burrito is almost $9 even though its advertised as $6.99 (i didnt get any additions). I would have been ok with it except the burrito was so puny when it arrived! Almost the same size as the little burritos youd get at a cafeteria on a school campus. By comparison, super cucas and daily grind are both substantialy larger burritos with better flavor. From a flavor standpoint it was also subpar, and i ordered a chorizo burrito and they put in some other kind of random pork cut. Get it together el sitio. Mexican food isn't difficult and it shouldn't be expensive. read more

Upon recommendation and good reviews in Yelp, I got an asada burrito that I was craving for. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. There wasn't much meat and what was there was mostly grizzle that I couldn't chew so maybe a quarter of the meat in it was inedible. Even so, it was a bit bland and I had to pour a ton of salsa for eat bite. I'd suggest to go elsewhere. read more

This is a great local spot. I enjoyed two tacos de carnitas and only thing that made it better was adding cheese and onions.

I'd give this place no star if I could. First the food - stale rice, meat was dry and seemed old, and that's it. No veggies, no cheese, no sour cream, no guac, nothing. I don't expect much but for a $10 burrito this is ridiculous. Now the service, when ordering I told the lady twice I wanted it for here, not to go. Then I asked her if chips came with the burrito. She told me chips were $3 extra. Then my friend, and the two people after him ordered. Everyone but me got a plate with chips along with their burrito and I got my burrito in a to go bag with no chips (even tho I specifically said for here twice). My friend said he was not charged extra for the chips. So the lady behind the register was blatantly trying to rip me off. Never coming here again and will tell friends and colleagues to steer away. read more

Pretty disappointed on today's visit. First things first. This location has never really given me any problems until today. It started off with me giving multiple calls to try and place my order over the phone, with no answer each time. I decided to finally walk over just to order it in person since El Sitio isn't too far from where I stay. I got there and to my surprise there was just one other customer in the building, I was pretty upset that they did not answer but it was okay because I just wanted food after a long day. I ordered a burrito to go. I went to the salsa and condiments bar, there was like zero green chiles in the bin. They had a few lemons cut up, but overall I was very very very disappointed with the salsa. I've never had this problem before but it's obvious to me that they're now "Watering" down the salsa! By that I mean that the salsa is literally like water. It has zero consistency or texture and it has NEVER been like that in the past times I've gone. I got my order and took it home. I'm giving he 3 stars for the burrito that was very delicious which was just beans, rice and beef. The Pico de gallo with lime really brings out a delicious taste in the burrito and I highly recommend it! As far as this location goes. I'm really disappointed in the salsa bar and some of the service. The other locations around town are good ! Definitely check them out. read more

The category: Cheap eatss The seven-word skinny: Made to order Mexican on the cheap The review: I've been a patron of El Sitio for over 10 years. Though I can't there as often as I'd like, I make it a point to stop in an get my favorite dish - the Brocheta de Bistec - everytime I'm back in Santa Barbara. Unlike most Mexican restaurants, just about everything item on the menu is made-to-order. That means freshness and taste that's unrivaled by your typical burrito joint. This place isn't dirt-cheap, but it's only a few quarters off. They're most famous for their tortas (Mexican sandwiches) but I've never ordered an item I didn't enjoy. They also have horchata which is crucial when eating spicy comida mexicana. A great place to grab lunch, especially if you're heading across the street to play some par 3 at Twin Lakes. The good: Have it your way, but without the microwaves, excellent pico de gallo. The bad: Very basic and functional layout - we're talking plastic chairs, people. The notable: Easy access off the 101 and across the street from Twin Lakes golf course, long lines for tortas during lunch peak. The Junius pick: Brocheta de Bistec (pork w/ mushrooms, green peppers and cheese melted over three corn tortillas). The person you're dating: Can be brought here if they're a native Santa Barbaran or UCSB student. The significant other/spouse: Should be brought here as an indoctrination to Santa Barbara food culture - unrivaled quality and flavor in the laid-back SoCal setting. The last time I was there: Feburary 25, 2006. The number of times I've been there: more than 50. read more

Good basic Mexican option with some quirks. They are very fast at filling orders in general and have good burritos and tacos. The salsa is good too and varies a lot in heat. If you order something off menu or slightly different the price changes depending on the day and the person. read more

i've been to this location twice before today and i thought it was ok. i've been to the el sitio location on calle real twice (and ordered what ordered today) and i didn't like it much (too greasy). today, this location hit the spot! i can't recall the name of what i got, but i know it was the #8 cheese melted over beef, mushrooms, & green peppers with three corn tortillas on the side. i was craving mexican food and this place had me chowing down as soon as i got my plate. the portions are pretty big. i got hooked up with an extra corn tortilla, but there was so much meat that i ended up having to buy another one! 5 corn tortillas, a whole plate of #8, a fanta orange soda, and two cups of their green salsa later i had a huge smile on my face and was feeling content. my friend who has been here in the past and thought it was only ok was blown away today too! he got the brocheta de bistec, but had it wrapped in a burrito. he said it was amazingly delicious and gave the meal 5 stars!! prices are pretty good for what you get. only 4 stars instead of 5 because this is the first time this place has blown me (and my friend) away. i'll have to try my dish again next time and see if this el sitio deserves it's 5th star for consistency. read more

pluses: rajas tacos greasy carnitas they now take CREDIT CARDS minuses: every time I go to this specific location, they are out of carnitas. blergh. read more

Quick small bite...got 1 carne Asada taco and it was great!!! Plenty of meat to make 2 tacos since it comes with 2 tortillas with green salsa. Beware of their grilled jalapenos because they're HOT. Overall good choice for not getting a bigger meal. I would have rated 5 stars but the customer service wasn't great, not cheerful or inviting. read more

I love El Sitio...in Isla Vista. I ordered a burrito with avocado, was charged extra for the avocado, and drove to work to eat a burrito with no avocado in it. The horchata was watery and not worth it. Try the El Sitio in Isla Vista: they are much more on top of it and the quality is better. read more

Just what I was looking for! Yum authentic Mexican food with salsa bar. Next to absurd shop and liquor store. Done

First off, get your sour cream guys to relax because my burritos are always oozing from the bottom from the excess. Too much sour cream overpowers the other flavors and is not a good experience to have. Second, yall messed up my burrito twice, just don't MESS THEM UP. Third, I've had more than my fair share of dry chicken and thats not ok. Fourth, your prices are a little steep, and you guys literally charge us extra for things that should be in a burrito. Just be better el sitio, Im not eating here again. read more

Hands down, the best breakfast burrito in all of Santa Barbara...yes, really! Besides the fact that this breakfast burrito is so big that it can stand up on its own, it has just the right proportions of fillings. I always get the chorizo and egg burrito with avocado. For those of you who don't know, El Sitio has the best chorizo. No, it's not that mushy oily stuff you find in your grocery store. It's real Mexican chorizo that is essentially a spiced sausage. That's the way real chorizo should be. Their salsa bar has some of the best pico de gallo in Southern California. read more

Not too bad of a place for quick Mexican food. Staff has always been friendly. Generally pretty good bilingually, but alot smoother and easier if you happen to know Spanish. Only reason 3 stars is there food is so-so. Get a good amount of food for the prices but quality isn't on par with some other similar places. Tacos/burritos can be very bland, meat wayyy overcooked, etc. Quesadillas just tons of cheese and sauce. But I don't want to say that it isn't good, it's just not 5 star worthy. Reccomend if looking for Mexican close and fast read more

In my burrito-based explorations of the Santa Barbara area, I finally made it into El Sitio last weekend. It was quiet on a Monday afternoon, and I roamed around reading the wall articles about its origins until my rajas-con-queso burrito was ready. It was delicious-- a bit of spice, a bit of crunch, and the accessible trio of salsas rounded it out well. I will definitely return. read more

10.00 burrito for beans rice and meat, 1.50 extra for cheese... meat not trimmed for fat so you get big chunks of that. Not horrible but better choices for a 11-12 dollar burrito there's better ones out there in town. read more

Mexican food pretty, good food. The service is pretty good I liked I will be back to another breakfast

Delicious food. Tortas and burritos are huge. Adobada is tasty and filled with flavor.

We stopped in for breakfast burritos one morning after a long day of winery hopping. This was the best hangover cure for all of us! I'm not usually one to choose a corn tortilla/breakfast burrito as my first choice, but holy moley, I'm so happy we did. Pico was unbelievably fresh, the salsa verde was perfect, service was quick....can't wait to visit SB again and wolf down another one of these. read more

Brocheta and tacos are the bomb and I have not tried the Torta yet but I am sure it is very good too. Very simple little place, not a very complicated menu so you don't have to stand there for an hour and think about what you want to order, great little place when you're on the run!! read more

Really enjoy their tacos with a cold beer, particularly the rajas con queso. When they have UFC on their flatscreen, my boyfriend and I are pretty darn happy. El Sitio is neither gourmet nor classy, but I like its combination of super casual atmosphere, routinely tasty tacos, and pretty cheap offerings compared to the other restaurants in the area, which are also typically inexpensive. The only downside is that sometimes they close earlier than their sign says. Then I'm sad because I have to go around the corner to a slightly pricier place that doesn't show UFC. read more