Glad to have stumbled upon this gem while in Santa Barbara! Tamar has a great happy hour with affordable food and drink options. The chicken shwarma sandwich was the perfect afternoon bite; very filling but in a healthy way. It's connected to a coffee shop/bakery and the whole place smells amazing. I loved the open air concept and sat at some tables with windows open to the street. read more

Tamar - Chicken Shawarma Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Casual coffee bar and Mediterranean food place with counter service. The delicious food and generous quantities explain the long lines at lunchtime. Having small appetites, we shared a mezze plate which was quite sufficient. Greatplace for cheap, satisfying eats. read more

Tamar - Service counter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I wanted to like this place. I read the reviews, saw some of the negatives but decided to give them a try anyway. I ordered a chicken shawarma plate and two shawarma sandwiches. The food was not bad, but it also wasn't the most flavorful. The reason for 3 stars is based on two things: 1) the chicken portion on my plate was small. I'd say it was about a kid's size portion. For the price, I was disappointed. 2) it took over 45 mins to get our food. I don't know if this is normal, but if it is, it would be helpful to know this upfront when ordering. The food did seem to be prepped and cooked fresh and pita bread was good. I might come back. We'll see. read more

The sandwiches and shawarma plate are the way to go! Plus, get an extra pita and you may even have enough for leftovers the next day. They do close a little earlier than other restaurants as in a not so busy area of Funk zone in the evening. Parking is super easy right next door. All the extra hummus, labneh, and pickled veggies with yum olive oil makes this a wonderful evening out for fresh food with friends. read more

It's definitely a bit pricey but the sandwiches are sized pretty well. The service is good too, nice people. It's usually pretty busy so seating is tricky at times. It's a nice place by the beach. read more

Tamar - Chicken Shawarma Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I could eat here every single day. It's SO delicious and fresh and flavorful. Generous portions! Friendly atmosphere! Pita and humus are the best! Falafel too! most places lately don't seem worth the cost of eating out, this place is totally worth it! read more

Excellent warm fresh pita and dips/spreads. Plenty of vegetarian options. Nice casual setting. Friendly service.

I am such a big fan in Middle Eastern food and have wanted to go to Tamar for a long while. It's located in the same space as Dart Coffee with plenty of outdoor seating. My husband had the lamb kofta plate with cabbage salad, pilaf, hummus, pita and pickled veg. Served with an array of sauces--the garlic sauce was terrific. All tasty. I wish there was little more on the plate for the price $26. I had the chicken shawarma sandwich, which was good but needed more chicken. It was mostly filled with cabbage. So much so that posting a picture of it just looks like bread and cabbage salad. I upgraded to get a drink (blueberry lemonade - the best) and a tiny little bite size piece of baklava. I will be back to try the falafel. read more

Tamar - Lamb plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This place was amazing. Service was quick and easy from online order pickup. The lemonade was great and the shawarma was incredible.

The good: I love mediterranean food! I got the chicken shawarma plate and a shawarma pita. The portion sizes are great. The rice plate came with a side of pita and a huge container of fresh hummus with a spicy cilantro sauce on top and olive oil. It was really appetizing looking. It also came with some cauliflower and vegetables that were yellow from turmeric (I am guessing). The plate came with grilled chicken with nice flavor as well as two sauces. The prices were fair. The pickled side salad was refreshing. The pita was soft. The food was made very quickly. The bad: We didn't get to experience this place in person because we ordered online for delivery. The interesting: Tamar means palm tree. read more

Wow, the flavors this restaurant puts out are phenomenal! We really loved the dip trip plate, which we chose to include the hummus, labneh, and the whipped cheese (our favorite). We also got a side of lamb kofta and a chicken schwarma sandwich. The lamb was super tender and flavorful. But the star of the show was the sandwich. Unbelievably flavorful, well seasoned, pickled cabbage added that brightness, and the pita was warm and delicious. I believe they make their pita in house! The location is decorated nicely with plenty of parking. It's a shared space with a coffee shop. I think this place will probably outgrow the location quickly. Service was good as well! I wish there was one in LA so I could have it more often! read more

Tamar - Dip Trip and Chicken Shawarma Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Very cute location that shares indoor seating with dart a great coffee shop. The service was amazing! The foo was really good!! I really enjoyed the menu options! read more

We came as a group of 6 for lunch on a whim on a warm November day. The space was packed and a little too warm for comfort but I later discovered there were a few outdoor tables on the side which would have been great. The food was delicious and so flavorful! I loved the pita texture - chewy and fresh, no dry pre-made stuff here. The baba ganush was just ok but the hummus was so creamy, smokey and decadent that I'd be totally happy just getting it w pita as a meal. The pickled veggies served with the combo plate, the slaw salad, and the rice were all delicious. I will definitely be back for the yummy food. read more

Tamar is the home of one of the best sandwiches in Santa Barbara. The Lamb Kofta Pita has no parallel anywhere in SB. Perfectly seasoned and cooked, the lamb patties are nestled in the pita surrounds by veggies and two delicious sauces. It's brilliant! Staff is always friendly and helpful. read more

A little pricey but food was delicious, it's halal, and the place is such a vibe. Highly recommend read more

Tamar - Chicken Shawarma Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Located in the Dart coffee shop, Tamar offers middle eastern eats best for lunch. You can order online for quick pick up or delivery or just stop by. The lamb kofta sandwich was delicious and a decent size. Has a ton of flavor with harissa sauce and green sauce on the side with pickled veggies. The pita bread is thin and soft and delicious. The only downside is that they could have portioned more meat and not so much veggies, better balance. The falafels are a must to get and the lemon based sauce that it comes with is extremely delicious. I will be back to try other items. My concerns are that the service is ok, they seemed flustered since it was a little busy and the price is a little high. read more

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One of the best spots I've had in a while!!! Excellent falafel and their drinks are not to be missed! We had the strawberry sumac lemonade and the passion fruit lemonade and damn were they good. The schug is unreal and the vibe of the place is so cute go if you're in the area to wont regret it!! read more

We got the chicken shawarma and the lamb kofta to share and omg they were both soooooo gooood and flavorful! 10/10 would come back. Parking can get tricky, mainly street parking but we got super lucky and parked easily. Order at the counter and self serve items such as water and etc. Shares a space with the coffee shop. Craving these sandwiches read more

Tamar - Half chicken shawarma and half lamb kofta - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Those that eat Zabiha: beware, the female worker told my aunts the meat is halal but they don't "advertise it". They took her word and got food from here. Unfortunately checked yelp and google (after the fact) to see that the owner has said they do not have halal meat multiple times. Staff should be aware of this instead of lying to customers. read more

So delicious!!! So nutritious!!! Excellent customer service! No wonder Mediterranean food is the one recommended for healthy living!!! Thanks Tamar! read more

We walked by this spot and saw how crowded it was so decided to try it and I'm glad we did! We got a falafel wrap and their special which was a curry cauliflower wrap. Both were delicious!! Little messy but SO yummy! read more

So good! The space is beautiful and the food was delicious. We were unsure because of mixed halal reviews, but the owner took the time to confirm that both the chicken and lamb are halal and even showed us the box. That meant a lot to us. read more

Tamar - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Amazing . Everything was elevated and just perfect . We had a dip trip which is 3 1/2 portions of their spreads. We had the smashed beets, shallot labneh and babaganoush . All three were delightful. We also had the falafel plate . Everything on the plate was delightful . The service was very good and the ambiance and decor were mesmerizing . There is a coffee shop dart adjacent that was also top notch .. can't wait to be back . read more

Tamar - I dunno - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Ordered a chicken shawarma! The best! So simple and flavorful! The business is conjoined with a coffee shop so it is a little confusing. Quick service, filling and worth it for quick bite! read more

Tamar - Inside - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The pita and hummus bread is amazing. I had the falafels and they were savory and moist. There is nothing worse than a dry falafel. Fast service and staff is friendly. read more

We come here every time we visit Santa Barbara. The dips and falafel are incredible, but you can't go wrong with any choice. The decor is fun and service is good. The tahini ice cream was delicious - nutty, not overly sweet. read more

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Update: We both got slight food poisoning so the fact that we paid $65 for two entrees hurts even more Looks better than it tastes... Been wanting to try this place for a minute, severely disappointed. While the meats were amazingly juicy and flavorful, everything else was just kinda tasteless. Neither here nor there. However, it needs to be said that the hummus was genuinely not good. Way too salty and creamy. Also all of this was $65 read more

Tamar - Lamb Kofta Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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They have the best baba ghanoush it's sooo flavorful and the chicken sandwich was insane. Very filling and the chicken wasn't dry at all and perfect with all these flavors! They have this yummy green spice that was a plus. And their pitas? Omg incredible. Friendly staff too. read more

The food at Tamar was good, but I was a little disappointed with the overall experience. The restaurant has an open kitchen, which is nice in theory, but the employee working without gloves did not look very professional. Cleanliness and presentation matter just as much as taste, so I hope they can improve on that. read more

Tamar - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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fabulous front of house. when i was having difficulty trying to amend an order, sophie absolutely stepped up. she is awesome. food arrived and was delicious. cant wait to eat there again. well it was door dash so no idea of the ambiance. great experience. read more

I was craving a falafel and discovered this place right there in the funk zone . It was everything I wanted and more, the food was fresh and they share a space with a coffee and tea spot read more

Simply put, the food is garden fresh and high-quality. I had the gem salad and the chicken Shawarma plate. The chicken was juicy (while still having been grilled). The pita was pillowy soft, bread like, and the vegetables were pickled and tasted very fresh with a nice bite. I can't wait to make another pitstop and have their food again. It's definitely worth the detour. read more

Spectacular food. We got the chicken shawarma plate (rice was just okay), crispy Japanese sweet potatoes and the whipped cheese. Excellent! Some of the best food I've eaten! Good not stop oohing about how good it was. Definitely coming back! read more

Had a great healthy dinner here last night. The food was so good! We had the lamb pita sandwich, chicken shawarma salad, and the falafel salad. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Cute place - we will definitely be back! read more

First, I agree with Anna M's review. The host with the dyed blonde hair is not customer focused at all. I ordered the Lamb Kofta and when I went to pick it up I asked for spicy sauce. He said "It is the green sauce on your plate." Ok....nothing spicier? "No." Well then may I have some jalapeños to place in the pita? "No. There are jalapeños in the sauce." Any other restaurant would have added a few. Please note the two photos. They show dead flowers left on the table. Quite inappropriate for a restaurant. They also show how tiny the meat portion is. In my view that makes it very overpriced for the product. On top of that they expect a tip when finished ordering even when the client orders at the register, picks up their own meal, and cleans their own table. In my opinion after the service received they did not earn a tip. read more

Tamar - This is the floral arrangement on our table. It should have been removed a week ago. Shows a lack of attention to detail. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I don't eat out much these days for so many reasons, but somehow find myself at Tamar at least once a week. Every single thing I've eaten is outrageously delicious. I generally avoid eating chicken as my best friend and I have dubbed it a "nervous bird" but I'd happily eat this anxious poultry every day til I die. It's somehow both tender and filled with crispy bits, the sauce is addictive, and the sides are fresh and delicious. My 6 and 8 year old gals love everything as well; last time my eldest rubbed the pita on her face and said it tasted "like a tasty fluffy blanket." 5+ stars for anywhere I can get a delicious meal, eat in a beautiful garden, and rub bread on my face without judgement. Tamar, I love you. read more

One of our favorite places in Santa Barbara. Pitas are freshly made and fantastic. Baba Ganoush, chicken schwarma, lamb kofta, falafel, fattoush salad, torshi pickles, amba tahini, zhoug are all awesome. Hummus is too tahini-heavy for my taste, but I assume that's a matter of style. Friendly folks at the counter. Ambience is very basic and fairly noisy; there are a few picnic-style tables outside which are quieter and more pleasant. read more

I came to the Funk zone to do a tasting and pick up a wine shipment and literally around the corner is this place. I read the reviews so I decided to go here instead of going up to the food hall and getting my normal Khao Soi from the Thai place inside. I got the lamb Kathe Peetah sandwich based off of several reviews I read. One review I did Reed mention that there was too much cabbage in the chicken Shawarma pita sandwich and that's exactly how I would describe this sandwich. As you can see from my picture, there is very little lamb sausage. The entire thing was stuffed full of cabbage, which was very good, but absolutely not worth $20 for a half of a pita sandwich, stuffed with cabbage and very little meat. In fact, there was so much cabbage that even though I knew I was eating protein with the meat, I could not taste it because the cabbage mix overpowers every other taste. While this sandwich has good flavor, it definitely does not leave you feeling like you ever want to go back to the place and try something different. Their menu is super small, which is OK, but since the sandwiches seem to be made the same, I don't think I will ever try this place again. I will say that there were two people in front of me on the sandwich came out pretty much a few minutes after I ordered so that was nice but still, not worth $20, not even by a longshot! I live in Oxnard and it literally left me feeling unsatisfied and like I still wanted to go eat somewhere that would make me happy in Santa Barbara, even though I shouldn't. The space is very aesthetically appealing and seems very cool, hip, and trendy. I wonder if the plates would be better, getting them with rice.? Anyway, I feel like the food deserves a two and everything else deserves maybe a 3.5 to 4. There's just nothing that stands out as something massively overwhelming to the point where anything deserves more than a 3.5 review. Sadly! read more

Tamar - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Place was cute, and food was mostly decent. It was really expensive for what you get, as the salad's lettuce wasn't great & side vegetables were scarce. Not pictured was some pita bread & hummus, which was good. The falafel tasted great but could have used real utensils for how hard they were. Service was good, casual order at register and sit. Connected to a coffee shop as well. read more

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$34 for the chicken shawarma plate with extra chicken The chicken is not fresh it's old and tastes bland it only tastes good when you eat it with the sauce Not a good Mediterranean food place read more

Tamar - Chicken shawarma plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California