Quick summary: mediocre food, calming atmosphere, friendly service. The food is uninspired with poor technical execution. I've ordered Mr. Tofu from the Hitchcock location and the Hungry Planet burger from the Goleta Marketplace location. The tofu dish was dry, bland, and had no balance of flavors. It was some cubes of super firm tofu on brown rice and a few slices of veggies. The burger had a overwhelming note of saltiness with a touch of sweetness from the onion and cheese, and a touch of savoriness from the cheese. But the saltiness was not redeemed. It tasted like the cooks dumped salt hoping to imitate good flavor. The presentation of the burger was fine, nothing special, and the tofu dish looked unappetizing. The ambiance at both locations makes use of spiritual elements like a Buddha statue as well as lighthearted pop songs. Servers and cashiers are happy and kind. If you're looking for health food or vegan food, you can do better than this. If you just want a calm atmosphere with happy people, this is a decent option. read more

For being the first time visiting, it was a bit hard to find. When I called, they picked up promptly and answered respectfully and helpful. The cashier seemed interested for us to get the right food for my 2 year old. She customized my order and my daughter loved it!! Thank you! I will definitely will go back again. read more

Amazing food. Perfect place for vegetarians. Tried the primavera pasta and a plant based vegan burger. It was delicious.

Heaven for a vegetarian. I would recommend the Tempe Tacos which were always my favorite but I was told they no longer serve. The Spiritual Spinach Salad is another favorite. If you feel like treating yourself the Carrot Cake is out of this world yummy! read more

It's rare you find a restaurant that is so consistent, reasonably priced, and healthy. This is my go to for everything especially during Covid when restaurants were closed or things were off menu they always made a great environment for customers and kept everything on the menu and staff employed! I eat here about 3 times a week and have been for many years now read more

Food is picking up from there old natural but bland style. If you try s special, they are creative and tasty, except pasta because they think "al dente"something a body shop beats out of your car. Besides pasta, things are very tasty. Desserts are terrific read more

I recommend this spot for anyone into clean eating. The concept is amazing however the service was a bit off. Maybe it's because they were so busy but items were forgotten. For example, the Greek salad was missing the feta cheese. I had to walk it back to the counter to get it fixed. Also my smoothie order was sitting on the counter for over 10 minutes. It remained on the counter after I asked about the status of my order. I was told it was coming right up. After walking back to my table I notice that the server picked up the smoothie that had been sitting. Overall, I did enjoy the food and I'm willing to give them a return visit. I'm hopeful... read more

Thank you Natural Cafe, for being so awesome! You are a vegan's dream come true. Natural Cafe always has a vegan soup option, and you can veganize almost all their dishes. Good Karma Burger and East Beach Salad are staples. The only problem with this place is that they don't sell their tahini dressing by the vat. ;) read more

Prettttttyyy....pretty good. Had the pasta primavera. Husband said their chicken is really good so i added it- it was grilled and tasty although this time slightly overdone. Pasta was yummy and came with DELICIOUS garlic bread (seriously the star of the meal) and a side salad which i didnt even get to since the bread and pasta filled me too quick. Portions were not huge, but just right. Ill be back! read more

Natural Cafe - Pasta primavera add chicken. Awesome garlic bread! - Salad Near Me - Goleta, California

I ordered the Veggie Stir Fry and it was great. It was my first time going there. The staff was super friendly and the place was clean and orderly. I enjoyed my time there. I'll definitely come back again. read more

I've probably had everything on the menu 2x's and I'm never disappointed. Tahini dressing is a must. They get to-go orders correct. Everyone that works there is super friendly. It's clean, quick and easy parking. read more

SO GOOD Great fresh, healthy food with vegan/vegetarian options! Very inclusive of different eating preferences. The soups are always amazing and they were my go-to whenever I was feeling sick. The sandwiches are also good. I haven't ordered anything here that I didn't like. The service is also amazing. They're so nice, and one time I came in with a huge group and they were very accommodating. I wish I was still in the area because I'd go here all the time. read more

Best salads and soups ever! Good service, great prices. The place to get good food, always!

Great tasting food! The menu had a lot of options with everything from salads to sandwiches and more random stuff. I had the teriyaki sandwich and it was delicious! I didn't need to add anything on it once I get it.Seating can be a bit challenging and inside it gets crowded but theres plenty of outdoor seating. Will definitely be coming back! read more

This is our "go to" local place to get healthy, tasty food. This is a little off topic, so please forgive me for this. I was at your restaurant yesterday (Wednesday) with 3 of my kids and my granddaughter. I had just finished placing our order when my son, who has epilepsy, had a grand Mal seizure near your drinks section. His actual seizure lasted about 20 or so seconds, but he was postictal afterwards and was very difficult to move. I wanted to publicly thank who I believe was the manager that was there. My son weighs 150 lbs and was semi conscious when we were trying to get him out of your restaurant, but it was very difficult getting him out, but we did. Getting him into my high profile SUV was impossible. You came out and helped us without us asking. You were very understanding and so helpful in such a stressful situation, and I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I just wish I knew what your name is. My son Jacob is back to his normal self. Thanks again read more

I've only eaten here once. It's located in the kind of mega-strip-mall that inspires me to write post-apocalyptic novels. However, there is mega parking, so that's a silver nuclear-cloud lining. It seats a lot of people, big space, high ceilings. The prices were fair, food was "clean" and healthy and 7.5-8.5 out of 10 delicious (I can only judge based on two dishes, pasta and a veggie potato, which was huge), and a large menu. Plenty of veggie options,not sure about vegan, but imagine so.The decor is a tad cafeteria-like and it's one of those places where you wait in line and order at a cashier and take a number. The workers were friendly. The guy who rang us up was super "alt" which is very nice to see. This area of Cal lacks diversity, so it was, at least, nice to see a little social diversity. Anyway, especially, given the choices in the area, it's 5 stars. read more

This is probably my favorite healthy cafe in Santa Barbara. They have a verity of amazing food anything from Vegan lovers to meat lovers they got your fix. Not to mention their sweet employees who do their best in greeting you with a smile every time! 100% recommend read more

I absolutely love this place! The grilled veggie sandwich was so delicious and makes eating healthy on the go easy and yummy. I also love the cruelty option they give for us vegans and vegetarians, can't go wrong with this place! read more

I like the vibe this place is going for and they have a great looking menu! We ordered our lunches to go, but I liked the setting and there is tons of seating both inside and outside. Albacore Sandwich - pretty good, a little salty. I think they could've used better bread like pretzel wheat so it wouldn't get soggy to fast. It started falling apart halfway through Arugula Salad - nice and refreshing. It's a pretty simple salad so the dressing made the salad what it was. I wish the portions were bigger since it was pretty expensive for something I could easily make at home. The service wasn't my favorite part of the restaurant. There wasn't a long line, but the cashiers seemed to rush us. They didn't welcome us or say 'thank you' at all. I don't know about you, but that leaves a pretty big impression on me especially when the food wasn't amazing. I would go back to try their baked desserts though!! read more

Good, quick, and healthy food. It tastes great and is well priced. The service is always friendly.

This is very solid vegetarian place to add to the small list in the Santa Barbara area. I don't come here very often, but when my parents or other family members are in town and want some friendly, non-scary options, Natural Cafe is a great place to come to. I've had some of their sandwiches (at the Orcutt/Santa Maria location) and most recently had their veggie quesadillas, and they were perfect. I think that some of the food could definitely be a bit more flavorful, which is why I wouldn't give it 5 stars, but on the whole, like I said, it's a solid, safe place to come to if you are vegetarian. read more

Best spot for FRESH & good food. My weekly go to is the ranch salad and it never disappoints! They use the freshest ingredients and staff are always friendly. read more

I Love the large variety of healthy items on the menu as well as daily specials. I ate here twice and both times the food was tasty and the staff friendly. I like the outdoor seating area under the trees. read more

My go to order here is the ranch salad with avocado (of course). Everyone that works there is very friendly and the food comes out pretty quickly. Lots of different options for vegans and vegetarians as well. Might just be my favorite place to grab a salad. read more

I get that Santa Barbara is expensive, but with a plethora of restaurants to choose from foodies can afford to be selective. We should have selected another place. Lunch for one, and coffee for my friend was an astounding $19. What did I order for this you might ask? A very average garden burger with a small side of tortilla chips. And a bottle of Braggs vinegar water plus the aforementioned coffee. $19, what a ripoff. Never again will we eat here. read more

Natural Cafe is great. My company orders from here frequently, and they are always on top of our large orders. I've tried a bunch of stuff, and liked basically all of it. They have really good sauteed tofu, and I love the lemon herb vinaigrette. I'd recommend the Spiritual Spinach Salad and the Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich. They also have a stellar variety of vegetarian options. read more

A fresh reminder of how delicious food can be without the burden on the belly! I had the tempeh tacos! So good and i didn't need seconds! I enjoyed my time here. read more

I am always up for a blueberry shake from the Natural Cafe. Also, their carrot cake. Also their pesto pasta. Also all the salads. yeah

Alway's very friendly staff and clean environment with a nice patio. I always order the turkey (gobbler) burger which is very good. I would rate this place a 5* but there's nothing else I like. If your into salads, organic food or a vegetarian you'll probably love it here. read more

Out of all 3 natural cafes in Santa Barbara county, this is by far the best. The store manager is the friendliest of them all and very welcoming. The food is prepared deliciously (if anything is mistaken -for those with complicated orders and food allergies like mine- they will happily fix it). Atmosphere is modern, simple, calming and clean. I recommend the old town salad (swapping out the guacamole for slices of avocado is what I usually do), the Buddha burrito, the zen and the good karma burger, Buddha burrito, Mediterranean soup when available, black bean enchiladas (I add Buddha veggies), and the local favorite sandwich. For appetizers I recommend the guacamole and nachos grande. It is very nice that they allow modifications (many without charge). Love this place. Can't wait to come back! read more

When did they turn the Tahini/Ginger sauce into Tahini/Ginger flavored water? It can't possibly be saving the restaurant much money, yet it tastes vile. read more

The food is good, a little pricey but worth it for quality ingredients. The last few times I've ordered something to go over the phone they have left things off my order. Frustrating because I am paying more and not getting all that I paid for. read more

This restaurant offers you a lot of options, from Salad to pizza/burguers, of course all natural/organic. The prices are fair and food is delicious! This place really worth the value, actually if they charge me kind 25% I would still think it worth! The place is cool and always playing a good song, the service is awesome and ppl here are always with a smile on face and also being helpful and atentious I would Eat here everyday! read more

Ah, Natural Cafe. Dependable, reliable. I always get the same ol' grilled cheese and it's always delicious. Portions are right, price is fine, and the service is good too. Consistency and cleanliness go a long way with me, clearly. read more

LAZINESS AND DISRESPECT , this was my first thought when I walked into this place. The manager and the rest of the employees don't care if you bring business there! To the owners-owner: The manager has no knowledge about cross contamination and how the food is prepared!!! You needs to take a bold decision about management and training! Money is not an end in itself but just a tool. read more

First went to the Natural Cafe on Hollister and loved it. The fresh ingredients make their food delicious and simple. I prefer this new location over the one on Hollister. The ambience is prime and it's in a more lively and friendly environment. read more

Friendly staff and a clean, cute restaurant in a strip mall. The food was uniformly excellent. We had the veggie lasagna, the eggplant sandwich, the roasted red pepper soup (will make you purr), chicken burrito, and a slice of carrot cake. All of it was perfectly prepared. Highly recommend this spot. read more

The food is yummy for sure, but it's not necessarily affordable. Twenty dollars for a salmon Caesar salad in not a full-service restaurant? It's not like I could eat half and then save half for later (and I'm not a huge eater). So it's a bit too much for me for lunch (and no drink). Also they don't really cut the salad leaves enough so it's tough to shove huge lettuce pieces in your mouth. Makes me sad cause I like the food. read more

This place is delicious! Highly recommend. I had a salad and it was wonderful. I can't wait to try something new next time I'm in town.

I don't understand why people like this place it's not good or flavorful.... The tahini sauce is a joke! None of the menu items are authentic or try to be.... I couldn't find this restaurant any less appealing if it gave the food away for free. I would waste any money in this god awful place. Just plan gross. read more