El Sitio

Had a great time at boathouse Food was excellent, well paced…read moreservice Ambiance is very relaxed. Braeden server is very honest and attentive ! good smile too Will come back

Me and a coworker were in town for work and a colleague of our brought us here for dinner. Place…read morewas packed. Which is a good sign. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and drinks. Food was off the chart. We each ordered something different so we could share. I ordered the chicken. That was cooked to perfection. The bass and the crab cakes were very delicious. I will definitely be back to try more of this delicious food. The location is amazing. Right on the beach.

Inside of the restaurant

Boathouse Signature Breakfast with pancake

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Key lime pie

Jeannine's Bakery & Restaurant

4.4(746 reviews)

2.7 mi

Spent our anniversary weekend in Santa Barbara and found Jeannine's for breakfast. A very beautiful…read morespot with ocean views and cute outdoor seating. We were greeted by an employee who asked us if we were dining in or take out. We said we were eating there so he gave us menus and sent us to the line to order at the counter to dine in. We went earlier in the morning at 8am so thankfully only one couple in front of us in line. By the time we left at around 9am, the line was already very long. I ordered the avocado toast and loved it. My husband got the American Breakfast with ham and also loved it. They have a good selection of pastries, we went with a ricotta cake and wow wow wow! It was delicious!!! Need the recipe for the cake. Definitely recommend to go earlier in the morning and try snagging a table outside for beautiful ocean views.

Popped by here ready for some brunch. Got me a cinnamon roll and ordered some red chilaquiles…read more Let's start with the roll. Soft, unique breading for a cinnamon roll but it added a good sweet taste along with the rich frosting they use. An overall solid and unique cinnamon roll to me. Let's go to the chilaquiles, honestly the red salsa they use was rich, good, the avocado was unnecessary in my opinion but the chilaquiles paired well with the eggs. I was satisfied with this brunch spot. Cinnamon Roll: 8.2 Chilaquiles: 7.8

Jeannine's inside. Really cute. This is the second line once you are inside.

Piña Colada

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Norwegian Benedict with rainbow potatoes

The Shop Brunch

4.3(1.5k reviews)

2.2 mi

hi y'all, we stopped in for breakfast after coming out to…read moresanta barbi for a weekend concert. food here was yummy, chilaquiles nicely coated in a mild salsa verde with a nice crisp! the buttermilk biscuit was exactly that, nice & warm w/the honey butter. husbands waffles & orange butter syrup combo was tasty touch. thoroughly enjoyed :)

We stopped at The Shop on N. Milpas for brunch around 10am. There was a small line, but we didn't…read morewait long. The setup is interesting! You order and pay at the counter first, then they seat you and bring everything out. I actually kind of liked being able to sit down and relax without immediately being handed another menu It's a really cute spot with nice outdoor seating, friendly staff, and dogs are welcome. My sister's dog enjoyed brunch from the comfort of his stroller My husband got his usual cold brew and I got a spring water. We shared the avocado toast with egg and bacon added, plus a side of potatoes. The avocado smash was good and the egg was cooked perfectly, but the bread was a little dense for me. Nuzz really enjoyed the bacon. The POTATOES though!! So good. Thinly sliced, thicker than a potato chip, perfectly salted and super crispy. The side portion was generous too. Our total was about $53 for the avocado toast with add-ons, potatoes, cold brew, water and tip. I'm glad we shared because that felt pretty steep for one breakfast! And for my IBS friends Two separate, private all-gender bathrooms with actual doors. No stalls. We love to see it. Overall, cute place, good food and a different brunch experience. Nothing was bad at all, but for the price, I probably wouldn't rush back.

Inside seating

The Frenchie with Chicken, Chilaquiles, Hibiscus Mimosa and Horchata Latte.

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The Rolex

Gracie

4.4(111 reviews)

2.9 mi

Locally owned & operated

Outdoor seating

My beautiful Daughter is named Grace so when I heard I was going to a restaurant called Gracie I…read morewas excited . I'm in town for few days and looked forward to catching up with my old friends who adore this great Restaurant! We were served by a wonderful waiter and staff .. Followed by wonderful fast service food and drinks . The vibe is very laid back but efficient. The views and the patrons are very cool and reminded me of other fabulous coastal restaurants in towns like Sicily and Mallorca ! The food has such a great fresh taste coupled with wonderful drinks ! I'll definitely tell everyone about this wonderful place and look forward to visiting Gracie's again ! Definitely one of my top food experience this year !

Very nice outdoor seating, it was just a bit hot out and some sort of fan would have been nice. The…read morefood took a bit of time, so it made it feel even hotter to have to sit there while we waited. Visited on a Sunday afternoon and ordered the binchon burger and fish tacos. The burger was very good and juicy, and the fries were very good. It did say it had a yuzu aioli, but I didn't really taste any of that flavor. The fish tacos were good too, but the pictures seemed to have included three tacos and we only got two. The rent here must be insane and I get it if they can only serve two, but as a customer it was a let down to be paying $24 to end up getting less food. Nice service, but waiting time took a while and it was not very busy.

Mortadella beni

Blueberry matcha

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Cockiepoos

Helena Avenue Bakery

4.3(831 reviews)

2.5 mi

Get the cinnamon bun! That's all I have to say…read more This place is so cute and has staples like breakfast sandwiches on top of the bakery items. We got the avocado toast as well as the passion fruit muffin - both were great! The line tends to be long, like any good spot would be, but it moves and is worth the wait.

Searched for a simple terpy breakfast sando on the way back to SD - Helena Avenue Bakery is minutes…read morefrom the train station. Busy through brunch, worth the wait! Everything was super fresh, the lil packets of chalula really elevated this sandwich The blueberry compote was slightly tangy, with the yogurt & the not too crunchy semi sweet granola gwwooowwww Super simple coffee options though ‍ if anyone knows of a matcha/coffee spots near here - holllerrrrrr.

Indoor bar

Breakfast Sandwich on Brioche

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Fried Chicken Sandwich

Santo Mezcal

4.3(2.1k reviews)

2.6 mi

Very impressed. Best taco's I've ever had. Service was exceptional. Would highly recommend.read more

Location was great, service was solid, decor felt legit. It was a cool place to come and eat but…read morecould see myself just enjoying a few drinks too. I have challenges paying for Latino food at these prices, however if they actually have food worth those prices I will do it. This Resturant satisfied these challenges, food was amazing like really good. I ate the veg meal and wow!

Seating area

Picana Oaxaquena

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Sopecitos

Chad's

3.9(1.9k reviews)

2.7 mi

Everything was perfect (the food, the service and the view)! Will definitely go back if in the…read moreneighborhood!

Chad's is such a cute, casual little breakfast spot! I sat outside and had the perfect relaxed…read moreCalifornia morning. The food came out SO fast, everything was fresh, and every person working seemed genuinely happy, polite, and on top of everything. Everyone had a smile, service was quick, and the whole place had such a good energy. And I have to mention this because it was honestly getting ridiculous -- ALL of the servers were extremely handsome. Like... shockingly handsome. Model-level California surfer handsome. I'm talking "did they hire a restaurant staff or a casting agency?" They were also incredibly polite and friendly, which made it even better. Great food, fast service, friendly staff, and a really nice outdoor atmosphere. Definitely a fun little breakfast spot I'd come back to!

Mimosa Tasting Flight

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The Bloody Mary is soo good

Reunion Kitchen + Drink

Food was delicious!! We had the roasted quinoa salad and cheeseburger. Omg! Our server was so sweet…read moreand attentive. We also still got a nice view of the ocean from inside.

Great Food Great view…read more Great service Reasonable prices Parking available on the south end of the building

Dad's Mai Tai

BLT with Avocado and Fried Egg

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Happy Cat Eats

4.5(179 reviews)

2.7 mi

Open air, dining in sunlight, everything there was tasty. It's such a high energy spot on the…read moreweekends. Now Burger- it's big even for the biggest mouth in the South. Sushi Sando- don't be stingy, it's so good put more tuna on it! Chicken bai taco- if you are able to get it all in your mouth it's so good, totally messy Carnitas fries- classic and delightful! No real service but they bring things to your table

This place is absolutely terrific! It is so fantastic to find somewhere near the water that is fun…read moreand has reasonable prices! Not to mention that each of the dishes we ordered was amazing! We went right at the end of the day for their opening hours and yet, they were super happy to serve us and there was no shortage of items available. We tried several different things just to check out their menu and they were all yummy. Highly highly recommend the truffle fries! This is somewhere I will definitely go back. Very often!

Patio área

Crispy Chicken Bao Tacos. Delicious!

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Earl Grey Matcha w/ Earl Grey Cream

Finch & Fork

4.2(1.7k reviews)

1.8 mi

This is the on site restaurant at the Kimpton canary downtown Santa Barbara. It's adjacent to lobby…read morebar and lounge. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. We stayed here for a weekend so we had breakfast / brunch here in the mornings. This restaurant is very cozy and comfy. Except a bit of toddler crying here and now since this is a family restaurant especially in the mornings. For breakfast we have tried local fruit plate, breakfast plate and California style shakshuka. Also sides of fruits and smoked salmon. The food was delicious in healthy portions. The service was fantastic and very welcoming! We were very impressed with this hotel restaurant and will come back whenever we are in town!

Me and my friends grabbed some food and drinks by the bar area on Saturday morning. Our bartender…read moreand server was kind and attentive, and the atmosphere was relaxing. I ordered the brioche French toast with berries and almonds and it was absolutely delicious! I've been here a few times and always leave happy! I also it's one of the few places in SB that serves bottomless mimosas, which is a huge plus if you're looking to celebrate!

Things to do in Santa Barbara

Inside 10/15/25

Bailey's Brioche French ToastFrench

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Craft Cocktails from Happy Hour

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16 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Ashley R.

14 years ago

Note: This review is for the El Sitio on De La Vina only--haven't been to the others yet. My boyfriend and I were in the area and decided to do a quick scan for some local food...and I think it was destiny that led me to El Sitio. The restaurant is located in the same shopping center as Ralphs on De La Vina, right down the street from Trader Joes. It's pretty quiet and the shop is easy to miss if you're just driving past. It has a pretty simple (and sometimes dirty...) layout and some plastic tables/chairs, but it's easily forgiven when you take a bite of their food. The burrito is amazing! So far I've tried the beef and marinated pork burritos and have not been disappointed. The portions are huge and I can always bring some home for the next meal. It's also very convenient that they cut their burritos in half before serving them. I also like that their flavors are more spice-y (not hot spicy) and orgasm-in-your-mouth savory. They do have other menu items, such as tortas, enchiladas, taquitos, tacos, and more. It's comparable to some other local Mexican places (La Super Rica, Super Cucas) but after eating here I prefer El Sitio for a good hearty authentic meal. read more

Steven B.

13 years ago

I'm always looking for fun authentic Mexican restaurants in Santa Barbara and I had been recommended to try El Sitio by some friends of mine. I went to the one on Salinas street which is just a little hole in the wall but that is all part of the experience. It had a very authentic feel. I got the carne asada burrito and it was very good. The service was fine. Walk up counter to order, and my food was ready about 7 or 8 minutes after I ordered. It was a fun experience and good food. I'll for sure go back. Check it out if you want to experience the authentic east side of Santa Barbara. read more

Sean M.

17 years ago

Solid mexican taco truck food in a cozy strip-mall location right next to my guitar shop. I'm a real sucker for the adovada tacos and horchata but everything i have had is good. Yes, a little on the greasy side, but sometimes that is a good thing. Very friendly staff, they allow me to butcher my espanol and always throw down the cilantro and cebolla on request. salud! read more

Rachel C.

3 years ago

Honestly we need more authentic restaurants like this in SB. Unfortunately, many of our restaurants are all flashy facades but the quality of the food is mediocre. El Sitio doesn't pretend to be something it's not. The food is very tasty, very authentic, and very filling. What more do you need?? My favorite is the steak burrito with red salsa. read more

Erika H.

11 years ago

Visiting my sister in law on vacation and wanted to try a local hotspot so we decided to grab some breakfast burritos from El Sitio fresh ingredients grilled right in front of you and a burrito that could feed the family it was awesome lacked just a touch on seasoning but you could spice it up with the salsa the had excellent food read more

Robert C.

7 years ago

They have a nice breakfast they have nice burritos they have everything excellence just like Mexico a restaurant and I give it a five stars

Celia C.

1 year ago

I had never heard of until my brother came from . Taiwan, who happen to go there. He had been staying at a nearby hotel. It is delicious

Carlos S.

12 years ago

They had a wonderful Burrito with my name on it. I love good food and great people and a nice place in which to enjoy them both.

Margo G.

16 years ago

absolutely love it, taste is very authentic. My husband gets take-out there a lot, and the family always gets excited :-)

Robert M.

2 years ago

Food is overpriced and not that good. Service is ok. No parking. Wont be back anytime soon.

Samuel H.

14 years ago

Good stuff. Try the rice, bean, and cheese burrito. A pit pricey but I keep going back.

Maribel G.

16 years ago

They have great food! Their tortas are very tasty and huge!

Ken L.

11 years ago

Found this place based on Yelp reviews, and we enjoyed it.

Jay E.

13 years ago

authentic. delicious. nuf' sed!

Geoffrey R.

15 years ago

Love everything in their menu!

Dazz W.

14 years ago

Very Tasty Tortas!

El Sitio - mexican - Updated September 2026

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