Ambience: I would describe as a "hole-in-the-wall" authentic Mexican eatery. Easy access but limited parking. Limited outdoor only seating. What lacks in atmosphere is made up for by the flavorful dishes served in very generous portions and at reasonable prices. One friend had the chile verde, the other a massive burrito, and I had a shrimp quesadilla. The staff were welcoming, friendly, and accommodating. I look forward to trying more of their dishes. You get a lot if bang for your pesos (bucks ) read more

See all

I was craving a torta de asada and knew exactly where I needed to go! The staff was friendly and quickly took my order. Once I grabbed my pico de gallo and salsas at their salsa bar, my order was ready! Their asada is juicy and flavorful balancing well with the pico de gallo. Their beans and arroz remind me of the food I ate in my family's pueblo in Mexico. The meal was absolutely filling and made me want to take a burrito back home with me for tomorrow. I recommend adding cheese and pico in as extras! read more

Very good, very tasty. I've tried it all, about to do my second run through the menu.

Great salsa bar, and clean eating area. Ordered two burritos, and overall, they were alright. The carnitas was super dry - definitely needed the salsa to choke it down. Maybe it was an off day, but I don't think I've ever had such dry carnitas at a Mexican restaurant. The other burrito was very wet in green sauce and the flavoring better than the pork. Could be a great spot, just not the day I went. read more

This is the third El Sitio I've tried in the SB area. I like all of them. Here, I tried a veggie burrito, which was quite satisfying. It wasn't overly cheesy or rice-centric. The red salsa was hot and flavorful. I also loved the elaborate Christmas miniatures. read more

El Sitio - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Authentic Mexican food at a great price. Their burritos are some of the best in town.

I ordered 3 tacos, but when my number was called, the staff member announced it as 2 tacos. I corrected him, and he quickly changed his answer, saying it was actually 3. When I got home and opened the box, there were only 2 tacos inside. I ended up paying nearly $17 for 2 tacos. The food was average at best, but the lack of honesty was very disappointing. Would not recommend. Check your order carefully before leaving. read more

Lola at the Milpas location is such a sweetheart! Her and the rest of the staff there make us feel like family. We love the food and the service, and I think it is important to support locally owned businesses. read more

I used to like El Sitio but now I'm not so sure. Like so many businesses you're getting less but paying more. I ordered the Carne Asada burrito and the majority of it was rice with very little meat yet they still charge you $15. Sorry, not going there anymore. read more

Good amount of food for the price. I've ordered many different items from here in the past, from tacos to burritos, but this time I ordered the lunch special with adobado. Their adobado pork is so yummy! I love that the plate came with a half of an avocado. Made the plate super filling. Their salsa is also really good, I'm bummed that the salsa bar is closed! It is what it is, for now. The staff here is really nice, and the restaurant keeps it at a maximum of two customers at a time. I felt safe ordering from here. I'll be back! read more

El Sitio - Adobado plate - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I loved the #8. It's carne that is tossed with bell peppers, mushrooms, and melted cheese. They serve 3 tortillas with it. So good! It's so decently priced too! So shocked. Great price. I will definitely be coming back. It was so flavorful and so tasty. Yes it's greasy but what do you expect, I didn't order a salad... Plus, I can always hit the gym later lol. Parking is super easy to find. There is a Grocery Outlet right across. Easy to find little place. There isn't much seating though, not much outdoor seating either. I think I saw 2 tables inside and 2 outside. I wouldn't eat inside thought because the smell of food is super pungent. I think they'd benefit from having a better vent system. read more

Ordered the Papas Con Chorizo breakfast burrito - Sausage, Potatoes & Egg and Carne Asada burrito. I typically don't like chorizo but I enjoyed it! Both burritos are on the drier side but they have a self serve salsa bar with three types of salsa, chopped onions, cilantro and limes. The carne asada burrito was especially meaty, it was literally just rice, refried beans and beef. If you want all the extras like sour cream you have to get the super or ask for add ons. I still enjoyed the flavor of the asada without all the sauces (I added the red salsa so it wasn't as dry). This is good for the road so your burrito won't get all soggy. My personal preference is the breakfast burrito because it comes with eggs and potatoes. The cashier lady was really nice too! Would recommend stopping by if you're in the area or need a grab and go meal heading back up to norcal. read more

Why are there so many locations? Uh HuH... it is delicious. I love the pasilla pepper burrito (beef) or Pasilla pepper torta. The burrito has the exact amount of rice and beans so you are not overwhelmed with filling food and you can savor the fabulous flavors. They do Mexican food right and there is really no reason to go anywhere else. Ever. read more

El Sitio - Exterior - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

If your a fan of pure fat and tendon on your meat , then this your spot ! Also super pricey , 60$ for 2 tortas and one burrito ! ! There's better options out here... read more

I called ahead to order nachos and wow, they are HUGE! Very quick pick-up, reasonable price, and you get a lot of food. Actually big enough for two. When there's a bunch of people waiting outside, it must be good, right?? Don't let the a hole-in-the-wall vibes deter you! Thanks for making my absolute favorite food so well SN: Please update the health score for this year on the Yelp page. read more

El Sitio - Take-out nachos. Enough for two! - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The best Mexican food in town! Authentic and delicious. Their tortas are incredible, as are their burritos. And their beans and rice...top-notch tastiness! Highly recommended! read more

Favorite spot in SB to grab a burrito for over 24 years. Yes you might get a meh burrito every once and awhile. But the other 49 times out of 50 you will get exactly what you want. And that would be a delicious meal. read more

We were staying at the Lemon Tree Inn, which happens to be property adjacent to El Sitio. We were in the mood for some Carnitas, and I found El Sitio on Yelp, with good reviews AND a short walk from the hotel (approx 450 feet)! Amazing food! We ordered a breakfast burrito with ham and eggs and the Mixto Especial plate. My wife and I had a Ratatouille moment where we swept into our memories of home cooked meals. The beans are wonderful. The burrito was packed with scrambled eggs and diced ham slices. It was exactly what my wife's grandmother would prepare at home. The tortilla had great chew and held the burrito together without tears or crumbling. The Mixto Especial plate is a shrimp, rajas (julienned strips of Serrano and Bell peppers) and cheese dish, served with rice and beans. It was very flavorful and exactly what I was looking for. This is a true hole in the wall. There are only 4 tables, and most of them are 2 seaters. This is primarily a to-go business, but we got lucky and got a table, so we ate there. They offer fountain sodas for beverages. All of the food is prepared to order, so they have a little sign that asks for each customer's patience on the food prep. They do not consider themselves a fast food establishment. If you're ever in the area, give this place a try. The other burritos, tacos and torts looked pretty good. They've got steady business, so you know this place is legit. read more

El Sitio - Mixto Especial plate. Shrimp, cheese and rajas served with rice and beans. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I ordered and paid for the brochettes DI bistek and came home with a flour tortilla filled with a few mushrooms and a little cheese after a five hour drive and The women was not friendly taking the order I called them and she answered and then hung up the phone on me 3 times when I tried to tell her. Not happy read more

I've written a review for the location on Fairview but the food to me here tastes way better than their other locations. My go to choices on the menu are usually the carne asada burrito, and brocheta de pollo which is chicken sautéed with mushrooms, cheese, onion and bell peppers. It also comes with corn tortillas so you can make yummy tacos from it. On my latest visit I tried their nachos suggested by Javier J. who raved about them so naturally I had to try it. Well he was right they were pretty bomb and massive in size! It was a mountain of nachos and they didn't skimp on any ingredients. For $9.99 I'd say this was well worth the money! They also have a taco special for only $6 bucks and you get two tacos & your choice of meat served with rice and beans on the side. There's a small salsa bar with pico de gallo, salsa verde (my fave), red salsa, and grilled jalapeños. The inside of this restaurant is very small and can get stuffy inside but there are a few tables outside. It's not the cleanest place but I've never gotten sick here and the food is good. Give it a try! read more

See all

The best true original Mexican food in town . Family owners and reasonably priced. My family has been enjoying this restaurant for over 20 years read more

Tiny hole I the wall with a strong following. They mainly use a flat top grill so the flavors are mixed well. Parking is easy in the shopping center. I had the chicken mixto. Chicken,bell pepper, onions and mushrooms on a flat top grill. Topped with cheese and served with corn tortillas and some chips. It was very good but a huge amount of bell pepper. My wife had the chicken floutas, which were essentially taquitos made with flour tortillas. They were very basic. My son had a chicken burrito. He really liked it! They crisp it on the flat top after it's folded so it has a little crunch to it. Overall this place has a large following who love the food. I wouldn't run back but the Tortas looked very good. read more

See all

Excellent authentic Mexican food. No nonsense, just really good, prepared fast. Get there early to avoid lines

Delicious as always. It's better to call and order ahead so you're not waiting outside.

In an unassuming building, an incredible menu of Mexican food. So delicious and authentic. All made fresh to order.

We fondly recall some places (or "sitios," if you will) because of the context of that encounter. Others, we remember based solely on merit. My visit to De La Vina Street's El Sitio fell on the heels of an awesome weekend with my sister in LA and marked the beginning of an epic PCH journey, but were the circumstances banal the incredible food would have rendered the restaurant unforgettable anyway. We arrived around noon to a healthy lunchtime crowd around the cozy space, but the service was prompt. The patrons were a diverse crowd and were welcoming to tourists such as ourselves. My girlfriend and I both ordered the Brocheta de Pollo, boasting flavorful chicken, roasted peppers galore, and served with a side of small tortillas to boot. I also ordered a Burrito Verde to go as we were en route to Big Sur and knowing my appetite, I wished to both appease my burgeoning lunch hunger and stave off dinnerish temptations while continuing northern progress. This proved a good decision: although portions were very generous, once I had a bite of the Brocheta de Pollo I couldn't stop until it was gone. The flavors were well rounded yet wonderfully subtle, and the quality of the food manifested itself bite after righteous bite. While the fast casual California Tortilla-type chains stock some 50 varieties of hot sauce to add interest to their so-so ingredients; here you can help yourself to pico de gallo and a few other complimentary toppings but the big flavor our order packed was more than enough. Just a few hours later I was asking my girlfriend to hand me the Burrito Verde, which was satisfying, delicious, and hardy. Road crews and road warriors alike would do well to make El Sitio the place to stop for authentic Mexican fare, served with a smile. Nothing makes a good day better than real, good food. read more

El Sitio - It's hard for me to look at this picture of Brocheta de Pollo without craving it. Beware, it's bursting with flavor! - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We order here A LOT Recently seems like out to go orders always get messed up! No salsas for 7 plus meals ... Tortillas forgotten for the brochetta combos... Just disappointing after leaving tips and being a consistent customer to Always have items forgotten.... No one wants to drive back 5 plus miles for forgotten necessities that are normally included. Time for a quality control evaluation please. read more

Great food all the time, especially when you're in a hurry. Food is fresh and hot. I'm picky and sometimes they goof up what I ask for, but quickly without complaints, they make it right. read more

The beef tacos I had here were flavorful and generously served. Service was fast and the only (small) gripe I have, is that this small taqueria had no air conditioning and the door was wide open, on a day that was 96F. This was a perfect stop for a quick eat as I passed through beautiful Santa Bárbara on my way home in Northern California. I recommend El Sitio. read more

See all

I love their carnitas torta it's absolutely delicious, it's a definitely must. The service is also great and friendly.

El Sitio is my favorite Mexican food and I hesitate to give you the location as I like to keep secrets. But the one I like the most is pretty near my favorite tennis courts The salsas and the grilled Serrano peppers are good with any entree, but especially good with the Asado burrito which is perfectly toasted/grilled and my favorite. Besides the excellent food the service is great! Today I came in... they weren't busy... but by the time I had finished paying with my credit card, my Asado burrito was waiting for me. I reserve giving reviews except when my expectations have been exceeded. And tonight El Sitio more than delivered. read more

Went in 3pm today Sunday 10/27/19 Food was good but had a bad experience . Customer service is so Bad they decided to throw there Rancid smelly trash while I was still eating. It was Horrible,I was not able to finish my Food and don't really think I will ever go back. S.B has many places to eat where you don't have to pay to be treated this way. read more

I got a veggie burrito. It was yummy, til I found two small pieces of meat in it. Vegetarians beware, pretty sure everything is cooked on the same area. I just took the meat out and continued eating. It was really tasty despite that... I'd come back though read more

El Sitio translates as "the place" in english and in the case of this joint it makes all the sense in the world. I understand that El S has been here for a number of years pumping out good food at good prices: food that is more like you ate at home should you have grown up and been fed as a child in a down home household. El Sitio serves food that recalls food that your Grams served and perhaps prepared for you when you came to visit: beans cooked fresh with some sort of pork or bacon, rice sauteed with onions and garlic and finished with chicken bouillon. This is not fancy food but it is good nourishing food made with love. I came here with a couple of SB friends and my little niece who is more likely to want scrambled eggs to eat than any sort of burrito or enchillada. We ordered: Chicken Mixto Nachos Cheese and chicken Quesadilla The Mixto is a flat top grilled item with tasty chicken pieces, onions, peppers and mushrooms served with tortillas and topped with white cheese. The tortillas encourage you to taco-ize the mixture which we did. The Nachos were delicious with all components prepared with care: from the crispness of the chips to the avocado slices and the pico de gallo..the refried beans, the quality of the beef. I am a Nacho maniac and these were super primo and tasty. My persnickity niece even deigned to eat a portion of this dish. The Quesadilla was adult and child proof in that we all could enjoy glomming onto every bit of it. Obviously this is not a complicated item: flour tortilla, very interesting mix of cheeses ( jack, cotija i think and cheddar) expertly grilled. Service is expert and fast and of the old school variety which seems to be dying everywhere. Service that is based on old...really an antique pleasure of the restaurant to have you in their place. Everything they do here is about pleasing you and i mean: where in the hell can you find this level of service in 2019??? read more

El Sitio - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

See all

Best breakfast burrito I've tried in Santa Barbara Recommend it if you haven't tried it

The true definition of classic Mexican food...never had better rice in my life & the original salsa recipe is indescribable! Cannot wait to try again and sample more of El Sitios's scrumptious dishes. read more

Is a go to when I want Mexican Food. Everything has great flavor and is fresh. Salsa Bar has some great choices. Come in and give it a try. My favorite burrito is the Rajas Burrito. read more

El Sitio - Raja Burrito (Delicious) - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The menu reminds me of La Super Rica but El Sitio has a larger menu, with tortas ($5.95), breakfast burritos and burritos ($5.95) too. Both places are fond of their pasilla chiles. The salsa bar had three types of fresh salsa on ice (I liked the green salsa). The place feels authentic despite some Westernized menu items, with soccer playing on the TV, flimsy plastic tables and a busy, very smoky grill. Clientele is mixed but it's in a part of town with an abundance of Mexican businesses. * Adobado mixto ($6.75): roasted pasilla chile, marinated pork, bell peppers, onions and cheese, served with 4 tortillas (the menu said three tortillas but I received 4). This is the same as La Super Rica's #16 Super-Rica Especial but El Sitio's is a much greasier version. The mixture covers a Styrofoam plate. It's overly salty and heavy but very flavorful and quite tasty (in a way that makes you feel guilty). Everything is chopped up, the cheese is melted, the fresh pasilla chile peppers are roasted, and the tender pork is marinated in a chile sauce. The tortillas aren't the tiny ones. They were thin and stiff from being heated on the grill. LSR has the best handmade tortillas and El Sitio falls short in comparison. The meat choices are quite varied and include the usual (chorizo, carnitas, grilled beef, grilled chicken) to the more unusual (pork chop/chuleta, buche/pork stomach) and my favorite, lengua. They also have seafood items (fish tacos, shrimp tacos) and zucchini tacos. $10 credit card minimum read more

See all

(Rounding up for 4.5) A place that has stood the test of time during Santa Barbara's shift to mainstream Mexican food (most places are getting boujier and pricier). Consistent, affordable and authentic. While most places like to specialize in one or two things, El Sitio produces almost everything at a high level - burritos, tacos, tortas, and combo plates. Sometimes, it's the little things that make you return. For me, it's the way that the meats are prepared on the flat top. Every time, the adobado (one of the best in town - don't confuse this with pastor) is crisped to perfection. The plates here are pure comfort food - my go to's. This is also one of the rare spots I've been to in CA that serve lomo (think adobado meat but with a roasted garlic flavor) as an everyday meat option! Another small aspect that separates this place from others is how they crisp up the tortilla for all their burritos - now a requirement for me :) Nostalgic and a taste from childhood, this spot never does me wrong. read more

So I ordered an Asada burrito but as you can see it had very little asada and a whole lot of beans and rice very disappointed won't come here again I could have ate a rice and bean burrito at home.. read more

El Sitio - I ordered an Asada burrito and it had very little asada and a whole lot of beans and rice .. disappointed - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California