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    Sushi Bar 29

    4.4 (183 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Sushi Bar 29 Photos

    SUSHI BAR 29 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Sushi Bar 29

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    Emily D.

    Great sushi experience while visiting Santa Barbara. We had a small party of 3 and was able to call and reserve a table (they are able to hold for 10 minutes after your reservation time). Great selection of rolls, the veggie tempura was great and the spicy edamame was wonderful. The ambiance is casual, with a wonderful staff. Overall great experience at Sushi Bar 29.

    Kiki B.

    Omg! Best corner-neighborhood sushi joint around. Casual atmosphere, great prices, quality and beautiful sushi and Japanese cuisine. Can't wait to go back!! Members of our party have been since that live in SB.

    Inside register and entrance - full sushi bar and chefs seating area
    Mitchell N.

    Alright, you gotta hit up Sushi Bar 29 in Santa Barbara with the fam, and it did not disappoint. I ordered the Hurricane Roll and the Red Dragon Roll, and out of the two, the Hurricane was the clear winner. Had that perfect crunch from the tempura, spicy tuna on top was solid, and while it could have used a little more sauce, once I hit it with some eel sauce, game over. So good. If you go, I would highly recommend getting the spicy edamame too. Whatever sauce they coat it in just hits, and honestly, it brought the Red Dragon Roll to life. I would even suggest the chef toss that same sauce on some of the other rolls because it adds a whole new flavor to the mix. The fam also ordered the tuna nuggets, basically spicy tuna on crispy rice, and they were fire. Great texture and flavor. We paired them with some gyoza, tempura green beans, and more edamame, and everything came out quick and tasted great. Service was super sweet and on it with all the orders and refills. Friendly and fast. It is a small spot tucked on the corner, kind of a hidden gem type feel, but the fish quality was on point, and everything we had was fresh and flavorful. Surprised how good everything was to be honest, but the reviews didn't lie. The whole family left full and happy. Will for sure be back!

    Tempura green beans and cucumber salad
    Annette T.

    Cute little spot on the corner! This was my first time coming in to eat as I usually got takeout before. The staff were so attentive and kind! My regular is the salmon avocado roll and cucumber salad which are always great. Tried the green dragon roll and it was fine but wasn't impressed and would try something else next time. The tempura green beans were delicious though, highly recommend that one too. They have a happy hour so look out for that!

    New rice bowl !!!Monday-Friday lunch specials deal 13$-16$! ! ! Let's gooooooooooooooooooo!!!

    Snake roll (top) Box roll - Tuna Hurricane roll  Lion king roll (bottom)
    Sarah S.

    Sushi date night! My fiancé and I came here on a Friday night around 5 and got right in. They do a great job of transforming the street corner into a pleasing dining experience inside. The music is wonderful and the staff is so friendly, kind and knowledgeable about what to recommend. They menu has something for everyone, but not to the point where it's overwhelming. I would like to see a few more options for people that don't like spicy things though, but my rolls were great regardless. I got the Lion King roll and Snake roll to mix things up from my normal rainbow roll order. The lion king roll was Delish and the eel on the snake roll was sooo good. My fiancé got the Tuna Box roll and Hurricane roll. His favorite was the box roll, which we heard is a favorite among many here! But he loved the hurricane roll too. I don't think you can go wrong here with any order! And just ask the servers for their recommendations if your stumped!

    Additional Menu on the Wall
    Katherine S.

    Came here on whim as they had a lunch special and I am always willing to try out to see if I like how they make their sushi. And have to say my favorite which wasn't on their lunch menu was the mango roll that was written on the board when you first walk in! I would definitely come back again as the waitress was incredibly sweet to serve us quickly and was very careful in setting us up to enjoy all our food on the table. Price was right for lunch and food was fast. Edamame was warm and salty which I like as well as served with ginger and a second helping at my request since it's so yummy with our rolls. I would like to come back and explore dinner with different rolls and some sushi with some Japanese beer as this place had potential for a great evening vibe too.

    Tempura Ice Cream
    Alex M.

    Back in Santa Barbara is another sushi place, at Sushi Bar 29. They had tempura ice cream, and if you know me, this is one of my favorite desserts because of how it defies logic by frying ice cream in hot oil. Here, the tempura batter was fried nice and crisp which added great texture to the cold smooth green tea ice cream in the interior. This version is an adequate serving of the dish and nothing more. Beef Sukiyaki is an excellent dish that I rarely find in the Santa Barbara area. The broth here was excellent -- it had a strong soy and mirin flavor as expected and really nailed the taste. But don't be fooled by the large pot because it only contains a few pieces of low quality beef and a few pieces of vegetable and a small bunch of yam noodles. The amount of content in the bowl was very minimal, which is really a shame. Fresh, sweet, juicy uni at Sushi Bar 29! While smaller and more pricey ($16) than Sun Sushi, their uni still hits the quality mark as they are fresh, vibrant, and delicious. Highly recommend everyone to try some fresh sea urchin in their lifetime. My biggest problem with this restaurant is that place has both the unpleasant attributes of penny pinching and expensive food. I think it's pretty ridiculous for an upscale restaurant to charge for something as basic as tea, sauce, and condiments if you ask me.

    Hurricane rolls
    Jenn W.

    First visit here and they do things right. I've always said it's the mom and pop shops that will surprise you with how good they are when compared to a big chain. They often become my favorite and in SB, this has joined that list. Location: Corner of Chapala and Anapamu. Parking lot located about 100 feet away ( first 75 minutes free). Place is in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. Food: Hurricane roll was really good. I'd get it again. Really doesn't need soy sauce as it already has a drizzle on top. Unagi (eel) sushi was the perfect size and crispy on the edges telling me this eel was just cooked minutes before hitting my plate. Perfect. My dining companion had the Mike Dancing Pants (true name, it's on the menu) and was just the right amount and really liked it. I could have eaten another 1/2 plate of sushi, but I didn't wanted to carry home a bloated feeling on the 2 hour drive home to LA. We opted for black sesame mochi ice cream and I got the fried sweet bun with a dipping sauce. The fried sweet bun was a tiny portion, but perfect for not over stuffing myself. Hot enough to burn my fingers at first contact, I grabbed the chopsticks and the dipping sauce cooled the bun enough for eating. Delicious!! Perfect end to a hot day. Summary: The place is run by a family with Robert ( who trained with a sushi chef for years) at the helm. Hole in the wall spot that feels more like a neighborhood bar, the food is top notch. Places like this exist because the locals know what they like and don't tell tourists about good spots in town. Service was great and attentive. Not a good a spot for parties larger than 4, but I'm sure they can accomodate and put tables together. It's a small casual spot so if you want a drink and appetizer after work or just a casual dinner without all the fuss, I suggest come here before or after sightseeing before heading back home with good food and a cold mug of iced green tea. Happy eating!!

    Local Uni
    Joshua D.

    Great hidden gem in SB! Excellent fish and service. They also had the local Uni on special. Delicious!

    Flower Roll

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    28 days ago

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    2 days ago

    The best sushi I have ever had in a long time. Service was excellent. Fish was fresh and delicious. Staff was very friendly.

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    Excellent fresh and tasty.. I will be back for fast great service. Sushi variety impressive

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    Sushi Bar 29 Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sushi Bar 29

    Can you still order okonomiyaki even if it's not on the menu anymore? The quality is like of Japan

    Yes, of course. We put it back to our daily special now! so you can order it anytime. Thank you!!

    View All 3 Questions

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    Yoichi's

    4.7
    (245 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    This place was so good, I had to take out my phone to take notes. Each dish blew me away, and I…read morestarted texting my friends about it before all 9 courses were done. Had reservations for 7 pm dinner on Friday. The place wasn't busy during our entire dining experience. Aside from a larger table of ~10 people and 2 smaller tables, the place was empty, which was nice and quiet for date night and anniversary celebration. The 9-course Kaiseki was plate after plate of flavor. Highlights: - Course 4: Somen with sweet broth, grilled beef, and grilled green onion. THIS. The beef was so good, I refused to swallow, so I could savor the flavor. Fatty in flavor. Lean in cut. Somen cooked to perfection. - Course 7: Chilean sea bass simmered in bonito chicken broth with daikon and green beans ~ THE SEA BASS WAS GAS. Marinated in miso before grilling, the tenderness and juiciness of the sea bass is locked in prior to simmering in the broth. Chicken broth with the bonito added depth to the dish. - Course 9: Black sesame pudding with tangerine jelly ~ THIS. This dish embodied the level of black sesame I expect for any dish. Tangerine jelly cuts through as a nice refresher for the next bite. Perfectly not too sweet. All in all, I had the best experience. Each component of a dish adds its own flavor that completes the dish as a whole. Ultimately, one of my favorite culinary experiences that took my taste buds on a journey! Would return!

    This was one of my best omakase experiences in the US and I'm glad we found this place! The owner…read morewas extremely nice and makes you feel like you're eating at his house, which is an apt feeling since the restaurant is in a small house. All the dishes we had were flavorful, had perfect texture, and the seafood was all very fresh.

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    Yoichi's
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    Excellent sake selection for pairing.

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    Excellent sake selection for pairing.
    Sun Sushi

    Sun Sushi

    4.3
    (501 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    Three of had a wonderful experience here a few nights ago. We made a reservation and only waited a…read morefew minutes to be seated We ordered a wonderful bottle of sake. We also ordered soft she'll crabs(delicious) a wonderfully prepared plate of sushi, including eel and unagi with quail eggs Many other wonderful dishes. Our was knowledgeable and suggested some excellent items. We left not full but satisfied and very pleased with this establishment.

    Sun Sushi is located in a nondescript strip mall on State Street, but their food is mostly really…read morefresh and delicious. The miso soup was pretty "meh", but the salad with its miso dressing was tasty, as was the shrimp and veggie tempura; nothing outstanding, but on point. The pork-filled gyoza were also fresh and delicious. The "Bluefin tuna 6 ways" was outstanding: each presentation highlighted different cuts of the fish and each one was delicious and a bit different, really good. My girl had some green tea mochi she liked; I tasted it and it didn't do much for me, but... Wine pours by the glass are generous and reasonable, and the service was just fine, courteous and attentive. This is a small restaurant and it can get kind of noisy and crowded, but that's also a testament to the fact people know how good this place is. If you're a local you probably know this, but if you're a visitor (like we were) be sure to check this place out if you're in Santa Barbara and craving really good Japanese food. Recommended.

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    Uni, Yellow Tail, Halibut and Salmon Sushi
    Uni, Yellow Tail, Halibut and Salmon Sushi
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    Secret Bao

    Secret Bao

    4.5
    (730 reviews)
    0.2 mi
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    Solid spot with great asian fusion food. The baos are really quite tasty, but not as tasty as some…read moreof the even more unique dishes. The Scallops on a half shell are probably the best dish, the dumplings are fantastic, the fried rice is very good, and the crab hand rolls are absolutely amazing! Service was kind and efficient, drinks were good, but would love some more options, and the vibes were on point for this spot. Glad it's there, and hope to see it continue to thrive.

    Food: 4.5 We got…read more Kung pao cauliflower: 4 Flavor was really good and love the crunch of the peanuts but just a bit too salty. Chili crunch dumplings: 5 I love my dumplings and this is up there!! This was probably our favorite item. Would've gotten 2 orders looking back. Curry noodles w/ crab: 5 Amazing flavor. Loved the noodle texture. More soupy. Crab was a nice addition, a decent portion. Not shredded or small chunks but also not the most supple crab pieces either. But was happy that we added! Service: 10/5!!! Kathleen was amazing. So so nice. We originally had a different order but we kept going back and forth on items. Kathleen was not only helpful in helping us decide but came back to our table right before they started cooking and asked if we wanted to change our order only because the curry might give more contrast to our other items. I thought that was just so incredibly kind and really showed how she was invested in our experience. This is why I really wanted to write this review! Ambiance 5/5: Open kitchen is really nice and like that they had outdoor area. Garage parking next door too that wasn't too pricy. Overalls cute decor and clean space.

    Photos
    The bar
    The bar
    Pink Peruvian Scallops
    Pink Peruvian Scallops
    Sweet Potato Dumplings

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    Sweet Potato Dumplings
    Wild Tea Leaf

    Wild Tea Leaf

    4.8
    (44 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    An intimate tea experience - very zen, relaxing, and rejuvenating…read more My partner and I stopped here for a little afternoon pick me up - hot jasmine and mint tea with sides of miso soup and matcha cheesecake. Definitely good little caffeine and sweet treat for me and the overall atmosphere with the plants and tea sets and music is very relaxing. The shopkeepers are quite friendly and keep the space calm, well-kept, and make delicious drinks and eats!

    came here recently w/ my partner. The aesthetic? Beautiful. The initial service? Great! The price…read moreof 1 very small slice of cake? Awful. ($14 ONE slice). The presentation of the matchas was beautiful. The cake was delicious, but definitely felt over priced for the size. Anyways, we give the beautifully presented matchas a try. Below mid. Tasted like super milked down, CULINARY grade matcha. Like if you want soy milk with a hint of culinary grade matcha, it's that. So, definitely not the ceremonial grade that is advertised. Anywho, still was happy since everything seemed to be going well so far. Eventually my partner and I trade drinks, since it seemed there was something off about theirs but they were unsure if it was just in their head? It wasn't. I tried their drink, it tasted like pure soy milk. I'm not even joking I seriously wish I was! Lol. And during that, what seemed to be a Lady that was the owner was having a conversation with another person in the shop about how upset she was about a review since the person was upset because "the drink didn't taste like matcha," . She was also talking about how it's frustrating and discouraging to hear that when "you work so hard all day just to have someone say that, AND our matcha is CEREMONIAL like the stuff we have is good so I don't know why she would even say that." Although I empathize, it felt very unprofessional to have that conversation in front of customers (us). Like I'm all for conversation and whatnot, but it just seemed unprofessional and unwelcoming if we were to raise the concern we had with our drink. Anyways, I work up the nerve to say something. The owner walks up and I tell her "sorry it's just weird because it doesn't taste the same as mine it tastes like it's missing matcha", she proceeds to look very visibly bothered and says "That's weird. I don't know why that would happen, they're the same measurements but okay" . I then say "sorry about that" , she says "it's ok" in a condescending tone/demeanor. I shouldn't be apologizing lol in retrospect but after all, I am a people pleaser. She comes back and my partner is slightly more satisfied. But, still, it's just slightly green soy milk with a HINT of culinary grade matcha. We leave, we're quiet. And then we laugh. And we already know what both of us were thinking: "That's was the worst matcha ever". And not only that but she was so rude just because we had an issue with a drink. Felt like a child throwing a tantrum tbh! Look, we may be harsh judges because we are very, very articulate with our matchas. We make matcha at home as well and try to perfect it even more everytime. We both admit, it's NOT easy to perfect it. But, if you're gonna call yourself a "wild tea leaf" and claim to specialize in matcha, please at least have it taste like ceremonial grade matcha, like you seem to advertise. Also, customer feedback is not an attack on your character. Learn to take criticism and use it to grow. Without criticism, perfection wouldn't exist. Overall, we would've rated this place a solid 4/10 for the vibes and aesthetic. But because of the service and atmosphere the lady set, it is a solid 0/10. Will not be back, and I recommend you don't spend your money here unless they somehow learn to accept constructive criticism and genuinely improve.

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    Herbs and herbal teas beautifully displayed
    Herbs and herbal teas beautifully displayed
    Tea with my special teapet.
    Tea with my special teapet.
    Raspberry matcha latte + black sesame seed latte

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    Raspberry matcha latte + black sesame seed latte
    Sama Sama Kitchen

    Sama Sama Kitchen

    3.9
    (737 reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    We came here for a late lunch as we saw it holds Michelin Bib…read more Sweet: great menu options. So many tasty choices. We ordered the Vietnamese chicken wings and braised pork noodles. Both very delicious. The wings were all flats so that was a plus alone. Full of good flavor and very crispy. The noodles were delicious as well. I recommend both. The restaurant is decorated very nice and the server was attentive. Sour: the restaurant was very clean but it bothers me so much when some places have a designated area that flies like to circle around that tends to be near the bar. I wish there could be more control to prevent that. I did really enjoy the meal but the portions were small. If it wasn't so good I would almost say the prices weren't worth it. You can definitely share but I would get at least 3 options for 2 people. My husband and I weren't that hungry so it was a decent amount since it was such a late lunch and we were thinking about getting something else shortly after. Overall I hope we are in town again soon as there are other things I'd like to try.

    Service and ambiance are excellent, and the food is decent. I would have easily given this place 5…read morestars, but I was disappointed by their policy of automatically adding a 20% service charge/tip before even taking the order. While I understand restaurants sometimes do this, it removes the ability to tip based on the actual service received. I normally tip 10-15% when service falls short of expectations, and a mandatory 20% feels excessive in those situations. It would be better if they let customers decide the gratuity at the end based on their experience. Overall, the atmosphere and staff are nice, but the inflexible tipping policy left a sour note.

    Photos
    Ig : @dawntc
    Ig : @dawntc
    Braised Pork Mie Goreng ($23)
    Braised Pork Mie Goreng ($23)
    Morning After ($24) Nasi Goreng Jawa w/ Chicken Satay

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    Sushi Bar 29 - japanese - Updated July 2026

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