Staying at the hotel right next door. This restaurant came recommended by the staff in the hotel. We walked in at the perfect time. Outdoor seating... everyone is socially distanced. Small and family style Mexican cooking. Our waitress was welcoming and friendly... we ordered horchatas for drinks. The appetizer we ordered was the queso fundido, we could have done without it. It wasn't melted enough. For dinner we ordered the sampler plate. It was so worth the money, it came with taquitos, Chile reino, enchiladas, taco, and a tamale. The portions are huge and are totally shareable. Everything was delicious, they give you the choice of protein for each item. We left there with more than half our plate and will more than likely enjoy as a snack later on tonight. I will say they got busy and they only had two servers, they were running around like crazy as they served their guests and also took phone orders. read more

Palapa - Sampler - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I'd been here twice before and I dig their happy hour (except that they admittedly water down their margaritas. grrr), but lunch today was frustrating. Here's what their lunch menu insert looks like: "Served with beans, rice, and guacamole -Chile relleno -2 taquitos -Camarones empanizados -Enchiladas Served with rice and tortillas -4 -other -things -here Served with something somethign and vegetables -4 -other -things -here" I saw this menu and saw the first column of stuff and went YES. RICE BEANS AND GUACAMOLE. I WANT THOSE SO BAD. I wanted the side dishes more than anything else, so when I picked the entree it was almost arbitrary. I picked the shrimp. I didn't even care, I was more interested in the "beans, rice and guacamole" the menu said came with it. AWESOME. My boyfriend ordered from the same column, the taquitos. When we ordered, I proudly declared I wanted the shrimp, and that I wanted the green rice (they have red too. Just clarifying for the waitress). She nodded and took my boyfriend's order and then came back to me to ask "mumblemumble rice?" "Green rice!" I said back, all excited for this carb-fest I was about to get. And then it came. With just rice. 4 breaded shrimp and no beans, no guacamole. My boyfriend's taquitos (from the same 'served with' heading) DID come with beans and guacamole and a bunch of sour cream and 2 kinds of cheese that the menu didn't mention, which sucks for him because he hates cheese and sour cream. I went 'wait wait doesn't this come with beans and guacamole?' Waitress: "I asked if you wanted beans or rice and you said 'green rice' ". Me: "The menu said it comes with both." Waitress: "No. Just rice." She left and I felt like I couldn't argue, because she had kinda looked at me like I was a snotty bitch, but my friend ran and grabbed a menu to prove to me that I was right and I should argue. Then she came back and we showed her the menu and she just responded with "Do you want guacamole?" YES SILLY I WANT GUACAMOLE AND BEANS LIKE ON THE MENU. She did bring me some guacamole, but no beans, so I ate my boyfriend's because they were covered with cheese. Then he was still hungry so I gave him my shrimp. Here's the run-down basically: Either the menu is inaccurate or the waitress was really dumb The portions were less than fair for being in the $9 range. If you don't like cheese/crema or you're allergic or something, you should ask about it. The menu will simultaneously lie about what it will give you (cheese and sour cream) and what it won't (beans and guacamole). And I don't think it was a language barrier either, because in Spanish "incluye frijoles, arroz y guacamole" would still mean it came with all 3. I'm mad at you, Palapa. read more

More super than a Super Rica, its super Palapa! Melt in your mouth fish tacos in tortillas as fresh as they get. Really basic decor consisting of basically an indoor and outdoor patio. Staff is sweet and accommodating. They were recently written up in the New York Times. http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/travel/16hours.html?em They really deserve all the attention they get and then some. read more

Very delicious food that taste very authentic!!! The traditional mariachi music just made it thaT much better. I ordered huevos rancheros. The eggs were cooked to peRfection and the Mexican rice was flavorful. I highly recommend this place. read more

Ok first of all the fish tacos tasted like shit. I took like two bites then couldn't finish the rest because it was so bad. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY I WENT TO THE BATHROOM AND STARTED TO PEE AND WHEN I LOOKED OVER I SAW AN IPHONE STICKING OUT OF THE TRASH CAN AND RECORDING ME. DISGUSTING. Police were involved but nothing came out of it cuz we didn't have enough evidence. Save yourself money and your privacy and just don't go here. Negative 50 out of 5 stars. DONT GO HERE read more

I would have given them 5 stars if they had A/C, sat inside and if they replaced their booth seats. We tested every booth that was available until we decided on one which wasn't great but was the best of all. Had the Mojarra Frita (fried fish) for lunch. It's their special every Friday for a great price $10. The fish is fried to perfection. Add plenty lime and Tapatio sauce. Usually comes with rice and beans and was able to get a salad instead. The green rice is tasty. The service has been good everytime. read more

Palapa - Mojarra Frita with green rice - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

One word. Tortas. My boyfriend and I have only tried these delicious sandwiches and haven't found the desire to explore more. French fries are on point, which is the usual side, and the rice and beans, which you can sub, were surprisingly really really good. We've tried the chicken, al pastor, and carne asada. All good, but I prefer the al pastor...which is usually my MOC. (Meat of choice) Again, take out only, but I really want to go on a Friday night soon for the Mariachis. I prolly will order another torta, but hopefully I will move on from sandwiches, and eat big girl food someday, but what can I say? I love me a Sammie. Also, they give you Tapatio packets with your take out order! Tapatio. Packets. It's the little things. read more

This place is great!! Some of the FRESHEST and best tasting Mexican food in town! My wife and I always recommend this place to visitors and it has never let me down. Breakfast burritos are awesome and they are really stuffed full! They can be a little understaffed on busier nights but the staff is very friendly and always responds to our requests. Anyone who says otherwise must have been one of "those" customers. Try it today!!! read more

We went here for dinner tonight and had a variety of items. I had a bean and rice burrito and was very pleased with it. Others also cleared their plates. We sat outside - which usually means poorer service - but we had great service and were taken care of promptly. Overall, a great dinner. read more

This my absolute favorite Mexican food in town. And I have made it my mission to eat at all of them. I only wish I had found it sooner. The food is excellent, the service is even better. Get the carnitas. SOOOO good! read more

Decided to come try out this restaurant because of their Axxess deal, big mistake. We waited for about an hour to get our food. And when it did come, our food was almost cold. They didn't come check on us once during our hour wait to see that our chips and salsa were gone. And apparently our food had just been sitting in the back, being neglected, like us. Won't be coming back. read more

I went to this place very excited knowing that I can eat a good & authentic Mexican food at the same time they have a mariachi band to play. I was served chips & salsa like any other Mexican restaurant do. Chips was staled. I ordered a tostada ceviche campechana and margarita on the rocks that they mixed. The shrimp & octopus in the ceviche was hard and taste so salty. Margarita taste like water. Food & drinks are awful. 2 sips of margarita & 3 spoon of ceviche was enough for me to left the place. It doesn't worth $22.00. The only plus in this place is the lady server. She was so so nice & helpful that's why I'm giving this place 2 star. read more

Palapa - Tostada ceviche campechana and margarita on the rocks. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This place is great. You might be fooled by the slouchy decor or beaten down furnishings, but the food is first rate! Mexican cuisine with that down home feel brings me back. I had the creamed octopus and it rocked! They have a huge patio and could fit a large party easily. They are known for their seafood dishes. read more

Palapa - Creamed Octopus - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This place is amazing. We've been here 3 times when we stay at the Hyatt next door. I've tried their all meat burrito and the palapa carne asada burrito. And I kid you not when I say it's the best Mexican food I've ever had. And that's trying all the good spots in southern Cali, to San Diego and of course in Mexico itself. We live in LA and I wish they had a restaurant near our area. I almost make excuses to go to Santa Barbara for a weekend getaway just to go to this restaurant. My wife had the garlic shrimp with rice and beans and that was great as well. This place is a true gem that you should definitely check out when in the area. read more

Fantastic food and service! All the fish dishes are fantastic! Highly recommend! We were sitting outside and they have comfy heat lamps!

The chicken mole enchiladas were a bit bland, a bit too too tart for my liking, I'm used to having some sweetness to them. My hubby ordered a margarita , however we did not find out that it was a wine margarita , u til we tasted it. Not authentic at all, no liquor, it would have been nice if the waitress would have told us before we ordered. She did not mention it all . The waitress was a bit rude in the beginning but as we sat and ate she did seem to warm up. The shrimp cocktail was delicious and the chips and salsa we took, we even asked for a hotter salsa. Overall it was ok. read more

I loved this place. Such sweet staff. So attentive. The food is incredible. The soup was so beautiful They had so many toppings to put on it. All the produce was so colorful and vibrant. My chili relleno was well done. The fish tacos were also beautiful. Loved the octopus. So tasty. Please go. You will not regret it! read more

Had a large birthday party on Friday night with Mariachi. The service was very slow. I won't say it was terrible because the servers where nice but it took 1.5hours to get my second beer and 2hours before food showed up. The shrimp burrito we ordered supreme(with guac and sour cream), arrived with out it and was bland. The melted cheese with chorizo was solid and not melted, the kindly returned it with out charge. The oysters Campechana we're delicious with the octopus ceviche being the high light. The michelada was not very good, despite the shrimp on the rim. There was a sewer smell in the outdoor patio. The patio had warmers and they lit them all for us. The chips and salsa were fresh, the salsa was mild and tasty. read more

Best mojarra Frita in town. If you're craving fish, this is the place to go. The salsa is homemade.

Stopped in for the taco family pack to go, holy cow there's so much food! 8 over stuffed tacos, rice, beans, chips, salsa, and four drinks!! Everything was delicious, and my kids pronounced it "big yum". Great value, and delicious food. read more

Atmosphere, food & margaritas were good. Food had a lot of flavor. Loved the decor! Enjoyed sitting outside on the patio. Everything was great but the service. It was a slow time of day and we hardly saw our waitress. I would come back but would hope the service would be better. read more

Convenient off and on to 101. Fish tacos and green rice delicious. Very fresh tortillas and fish. Chips & salsa good. Fish soup has lots of fresh and tender seafood. Broth a bit bland but add-ins brightened it. Good horchata. I wanted to hose the place down for its stickiness and grunge. Ladies room smelled clean. May be best to eat outside at patio. read more

Palapa - Fish tacos with green rice - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Had lunch here a few times when I arrived at the SB Airport and wanted something quick (and not so healthy!). The place looks a bit like a dump, but the staff was always friendly, quick, and the food was decent mexican fare. It's pretty cheap considering the location and though I wasn't in love with their dishes I tried, I also didn't dislike them. Their portions (at least on the burrito I ordered) were friggin' huge. Like I said, not so healthy portions. read more

I give Palapa 3 stars due to their overpriced Mexican food and slow service. I came here for a graduation dinner and we had to wait to get menus because they ran out. Their horchata was good. My "Salmon a La Veracruzana" was a bit dry. I've been here many times and I do enjoy their Mariachi Friday nights =). read more

I ordered a shrimp plate (with rice and beans) for about $14 and my boyfriend ordered the $24 shrimp and octopus ceviche. He wouldn't let me share so he made me order my own plate. :) He could barely finish his ceviche because the portion was HUGE! It was delicious. Next time we will just order that. I wasn't super pleased with my shrimp plate, the flavors weren't spectacular and the portion wasn't worth $14. I'd like to come back on a Friday night for the mariachi, heard they're a lot of fun! :) read more

Hole in the wall and great for groups. Best authentic Mexican food I've had in SB. Complimentary chips/salsa and cheese quesadilla-type thing(!!!). read more

The fiesta salad with shrimp was very good and the environment was pleasant. I'm looking forward to returning to see the mariachis. Dog friendly patio!!!! read more

The best happy hour in town! Can get drinks for two and food for $20. Wineritas and the asada nachos are a go to. The staff is very friendly - they now recognize us every time we come. read more

Sorry, hit and miss with Mexican places. Either way to spicy or not enough seasoning. I wouldn't come back here.

This is a great hidden gem. I have driven by this restaurant for years and finally my friend and I stopped by for an early dinner and let me tell you it was great! the food was really flavorful. When we came it the place was pretty empty but as it got closer to dinner time it filled up. I def. recommend this place. read more

Came here with my family on a Mariachi night... Speechless. I ordered the $24 Ceviche plate, and it became my favorite item on their menu. My mom had the breaded fish plate and it was as delicious as the one she makes at home (my standards for Mexican food are quite high due to my mom being an amazing cook). The Mariachi (I believe their name is Cielito Azul) was beyond amazing! They provided us with a good two hours of entertainment. My brother in law had the most amazing bacon-wrapped shrimp.. Best mexican seafood in town, hands down. read more

Came to Palapa around 8AM for breakfast. Food was excellent with fresh made corn tortillas to go with my wife's dish, "Huevos en Salsa Tomatillo y Frijoles de la Olla" and my Huevos Rancheros with Chile Verde kicker. Great food and value. read more

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In town on business, just happened to see the cute patio so stopped. Delicious! Very friendly staff, tortilla chips were super fresh. I had the Palapa burrito with carnitas, wet...also ordered a side of rice. That was dumb, burrito was huge! I am in town quite often & will definitely be back. The patio is super cute at night. read more

Palapa - Carnitas Palapa burrito - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The enchiladas are the best I've ever had... Ever! The cheese are especially good but the shrimp are also to die for.... This is the best Mexican food in Santa Barbara and there are a lot of options!!! read more

I've been to a few Mexican restaurants around this area and honestly, I've been disappointed. My family and I decided to try this place and we were very pleasantly surprised. Service was great, the atmosphere was fantastic, and the food was so good. We will definitely come back. read more

This is an amazing family run authentic Mexican restaurant. It's truly a hidden gem in SB. They have amazing enchiladas and tacos and the marinades on their pork and chicken is out of this world. Homemade guacamole and chips and their fresh salsas keep me coming back!!!! read more

Los Camarones al Mojo de Ajo were delicious and plump. The green rice was very very tasty. I ordered the small plate of the beef taquitos. It was the perfect portion. The chips were fresh. I wish the salsa was a bit spicier. Love the ambiance and located conveniently right off the 101. The wait staff was very professional and attentive. Will be back for Happy Hour. read more

This is my all time favorite place to go for some fish tacos. I never leave disappointed with this dish. The plate comes with two fish tacos and two sides and it's a lot of food. The shrimp ceviche tostadas are also very tasty and huge! I give it 5 stars for their fish tacos but if your in the mood for a siete mares plate I would not recommend it. The caldo tasted like just boiled water and had no flavor. The camarones a la diabla are also a no go. The flavor was just not there and they were definitely not spicy. We always keep coming back but stick with what we know we like. Go give them a try when in SB area read more

Palapa - Fish tacos, tostada de ceviche camarón, cóctel de camaron - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We are staying at the Hyatt and this restaurant shares the parking lot. We got in late and didn't feel like going far. The restaurant looks like a little hole in the wall but didn't disappoint. We had the chicken mole enchiladas, supreme burrito and cheese quesadilla. The food was amazing especially the mole sauce. I would defiantly go back for more! read more

Food very good. No Margaritas except made with wine. Authentic atmosphere. Wonderful mariachi band. read more

Palapa - Mexican Near Me - Santa Barbara, California