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    Tamar

    4.5 (157 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Tamar Takeout or Delivery

    Tamar Photos

    TAMAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Tamar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Chicken Shawarma Plate and Lamb Kofta Plate
    Jana M.

    This is the place to go in Santa Barbara for middle eastern food! We had the lamb plate and the chicken shawarma plate and it was so much food. Delicious with such flavorful sauces on the side, a huge side of hummus, pickled veggies and salad. It was all so good. The place is very popular but the line moves fast and the prices are reasonable. The ambiance is friendly and happy with tourists and locals packed in to eat this great food in a great space in the funk zone. There is a place across the street with picnic tables and umbrellas if all the indoor tables are full. I've also had the salad with chicken shawarma on top and it was delicious too. This is the best Mediterranean place in town.

    Sosa J.

    Had a great visit to Tame in the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara. The shawarma beef was packed with flavor and cooked just right. Great spot for some tasty food and a laid-back Funk Zone vibe. Definitely worth checking out!

    Service counter
    Atul P.

    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.

    Lamb Kofta Plate, Baba Ganoush
    Julian M.

    Logan is an absolute amazing artist at his craft some of the best Mediterranean food I've had and his zhoug is to die for.

    Chicken Shawarma Sandwich
    Meya B.

    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.

    Lamb plate
    Donna B.

    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.

    Dip Trip and Chicken Shawarma Sandwich
    Julio V.

    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!

    Chicken Falafel Sandwich, beef Chicken Shawarma Sandwich, Dip Trip, lamb kofta & torshi

    This was a bombbbb lunch spot. Stumbled upon it while looking for parking. I believe one of the owners name was Logan? He was super sweet & informative. Very delicious food, great portions & so flavorful. The chicken shawarma pita, beef shawarma pita, the lamb kafta & dip trip were all soooo good. Chill, seat yourself type atmosphere. Will definitely be coming back

    Lamb Kofta Sandwich
    Diana L.

    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.

    Chicken Shawarma Plate

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    2 years ago

    Chicken shawarma was delicious!! They really hooked it up with the chicken. Pretty cool atmosphere.

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    2 years ago

    Horrible service and overpriced. For a $20 sandwich, couldn't even give our extra hot sauce. Customer service is nonexistent here

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The falafel hits every time. Highly recommend! Service is fast and restaurant area is super cute

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    2 years ago

    Great chicken and falafel pita sandwiches. Loved them both. Each was more than I could eat, too. Yum!!

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    2 years ago

    Way over priced for what you get. We ordered the lamb plate and one of the dips. not much lamb for $26.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The lamb kofta and the ice cream was some of the best flavors I had in a long time. Loved the food!

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Fab food. Great choices, nice space, great service. Reasonably priced. Food does well takeout.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    My daughter and I tried the shawarma-delicious! Fresh and flavorful. Generous portions. Will return.

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    2 years ago

    Great food. Chicken swarma plate and falafel were great. Finally found a Fattoush salad in Santa Barbara.

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    3 years ago

    This place is literally the best service and people who work here. I can't imagine another place in Santa Barbara I'd rather go to.

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    Page 4 of 4

    Tamar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tamar

    Are the falafel and hummus gluten free?

    Falafels and Hummus are both made from chickpeas, making them naturally gluten free

    Is it halal?

    No, it is not halal.

    What are their hours?

    Mon - Sun 11:30am to 8pm

    View All 4 Questions

    Satellite - Focaccia

    Satellite

    4.6(256 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    I'm really bummed to see the State Street location close, but I'm excited for more events at the…read moreFactory space. Satellite has always been such a gem -- the live music outside, the patio, and sipping some of the best natural wine in town is something my friends and I genuinely look forward to. Their cheese board is my go‑to: easy to graze on while you relax, chat, and enjoy a glass. One of my favorite memories was when my dad called from a Michelin‑star restaurant in Chicago, telling me he'd tried a Santa Barbara small‑batch natural dessert wine. He was visiting the next weekend, and I was determined to find it. Of course, Satellite had a few bottles left. Being able to surprise him with it was such a fun moment -- and honestly, a testament to how thoughtfully curated their wines are.

    The ambiance is the best thing about this place. Cool vibe with outside seating…read more However, the servers were not very friendly. Also, one of us had to wait at least 15 minutes for our dish (Charred Broccolini) after the rest of the table had already been served, and another 3 minutes to get utensils to eat it. With respect to the food, the Yoga Pants salad was the best item. Most of the food we got (Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese, Ceci Bean Ragu) was very oily, including the Charred Broccolini dish which also lacked flavor. Overall, our experience wasn't terrible, but was disappointing. We would not recommend or revisit Satellite.

    Photos
    Satellite - Cute interior

    Cute interior

    Satellite
    Satellite - Sparkling Wine of Sangiovese. Perfect.

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    Sparkling Wine of Sangiovese. Perfect.

    The Daisy Restaurant - perfectly toasted fresh sourdough, house smoked trout, divine pickled beets, spicy carrots (amazing), red onion, curried cauliflower, dill

    The Daisy Restaurant

    4.7(281 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Loved The Daisy! Great spot for a wonderful lunch. The ambiance is relaxed and bright. Perfect for…read morea summer brunch with the girls. The patio is perfection. I ordered the tarragon chicken sandwich (it was delicious! It was flavorful and fresh- the perfect amount of mayo, on soft sourdough bread) and shared the hummus plate. The hummus is a MUST BUY! It was tangy, smooth, and the bread was garlicky and warm. Loved this appetizer! There was a summer spritz on the menu that was refreshing, ice cold, and not too boozy. Wonderfully balanced and completed the meal.

    I have been to The Daisy many times and I am never disappointed! The food is so fresh and flavorful…read moreand the portions are generous! My favorites are: The little gems salad with chicken added. You have to get the green goddess dressing! They make it in house and it's the bomb!! The bahn mi sandwich. It has house made tender brisket, fresh pickled veg on a baguette. So delicious! You can also get it as a salad! You'll never even miss the bread! The Daisy burger. Big meaty patty, with melty cheese, piled high with lettuce, tomato and red onion with a special sauce on a buttery brioche bun! You can really sink your teeth into this one! It also comes with a generous portion of perfectly crispy on the outside tender on the inside fries! Mmm mmm!!! They get really busy so come early!! Definitely a must try!

    Photos
    The Daisy Restaurant - Counter/bar area

    Counter/bar area

    The Daisy Restaurant - Brisket banh mi

    Brisket banh mi

    The Daisy Restaurant - Bar area and tables

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    Bar area and tables

    Three Monkeys

    Three Monkeys

    4.5(70 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Three Monkeys is one of those places you come to if you don't feel like eating a heavy meal, but…read moreyou need sustenance to satisfy your hunger. Located at the very end of the SB Public Market and right next to Cooneys bar. Their menu offers chicken, pork, beef and tofu Bánh Mi, as well as meat skewers, stir fry and salads. Just to name a few. I've tried the chicken and beef skewers which comes in the Hungry Box. I subbed two of the skewers for beef, but in all honesty the beef was too too tough to break down. My one pet peeve is meat that is chewy, dry and too tough to eat. Although it was flavorful, but I wouldn't order it again. I did enjoy the chicken skewer though! The Hungry Box also comes with rice and a salad. Both of which were simple but a nice compliment to the skewers. On my recent visit I ordered the Buffalo wings. They were delicious! I appreciate that the sauce wasn't too spicy. I haven't had buffalo wings in a long time and these really hit the spot! The French fries were also good and not too salty. Overall, three monkeys is worth checking out if you're visiting the public market. Customer service is fast and efficient.

    We went to the Santa Barbara Public Market to try Corazon Cocina, and my husband wasn't feeling it…read moreso we decided to give Three Monkeys a try. Service isn't really a thing SBPM since it's a walk up to order and then pick it up when your buzzer goes off, but we liked the comfortable and casual setup. We ordered the Hungry Box #1 with chicken and a chicken bahn mi, and both were very good. The chicken was the same in both meals, and it was well seasoned and nicely grilled, but still juicy. The salad with the box and the pickled veggies in the bahn mi were fresh and crisp too. Just a comment on the bahn mi is there the ratio of bread to filling in the bahn mi was just a little too much bread. Overall though, it we enjoyed it and it made for a very nice meal.

    Photos
    Three Monkeys
    Three Monkeys - Thai coffee!

    Thai coffee!

    Three Monkeys - Hungry Box - chicken skewers

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    Hungry Box - chicken skewers

    The Blue Owl - Pork.Banh mi ($16|dry meat) and Strawberry Walnut salad ($15|overpriced, but very good)

    The Blue Owl

    4.4(815 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    We could hear live Blues playing down the street which meant there was life. We had just left the…read moreSanta Barbara Bowl and wanted something to eat after the show ended at 9pm. Not much was open which is how we ended up here. The place was super hot so we decided to order our food to go and there was a super annoying drunk guy ahead of us in line. I felt bad for the 17 yo employee stuck interacting with them. We ordered a sandwich with shrimp in it. L said it was good but the title shouldn't mention shrimp as they were super teeny tiny and basically non existent. I got the gluten free fried rice bowl with chicken spicy. It was not spicy at all, and the chicken was a bit dry, however I could taste the flavor of the chicken and the meal was bland enough that I knew I would be okay. Earlier in the day before the bowl we went to a winery and I had a headache, so this food for me last night worked especially since we picked it up to go and had it at our Air BnB.

    Horrible customer service . Walked in no hello no let me help you . Stood there like a donkey…read morewaiting for some one to even acknowledge a customer. The front of house person knew I was there and still no word. The cooks back there looked super lazy and not even a hello. Me and Another customer were just looking at each other. We both walked out- the front of house or customer rep didn't look bothered. Owner : hire someone who has basic customer service skills. It's not that hard or do self check out. We might prefer AI. Horrible wasted time on my break going to a lousy place

    Photos
    The Blue Owl - Menu

    Menu

    The Blue Owl - Large Fried Rice

    Large Fried Rice

    The Blue Owl

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    Maíz Picante - Insanely delicious tacos!

    Maíz Picante

    4.7(326 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    I just wanted to take the time and leave a review for this amazing company! They catered for my…read morewedding reception in Santa Barbara by the beach. Their service was absolutely amazing, as well as their communication and timeliness. The food was delicious so much so that all of my friends and family praised how tasteful it was. The drinks are yummy too! I couldn't be more happy with how everything went. I was already a customer previously before my wedding, and I really enjoy their tacos and burritos! If you're wondering if you should use them as a vendor for your upcoming event, definitely do it!

    We stopped by about 20 minutes before closing because of all the great reviews, but unfortunately…read morethe customer service was really disappointing. As soon as we walked in, the woman working the register seemed visibly annoyed that we had come in before closing and rolled her eyes at us. She immediately said, "Umm, we're closing, so you want to take it to go?" We were already planning on taking our food to go, so the attitude felt completely unnecessary. While we were waiting for our order, another customer walked up to ask her a question, and she continued staring down at her phone and completely ignored her. The woman actually had to say, "Excuse me?" just to get her attention. I completely understand wanting to wrap things up at the end of a shift, but if a business is still open, customers shouldn't be made to feel unwelcome for coming in during posted business hours. We specifically chose this place because of the great reviews, so this was a really disappointing first impression.

    Photos
    Maíz Picante - Inside seating and ordering counter

    Inside seating and ordering counter

    Maíz Picante - Great service and delicious tacos. I highly recommend the steak with potatoes taco.

    Great service and delicious tacos. I highly recommend the steak with potatoes taco.

    Maíz Picante - Volcanes de bistec

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    Volcanes de bistec

    Live Oak Cafe - Santa Barbra Breakfast Wrap

    Live Oak Cafe

    4.3(412 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    My husband and I ate at the Live Oak Café while were staying at the Best Western on the same…read moreproperty. The restaurant interior is bright and chic and, as a bonus, overlooks the hotel pool. Plenty of parking. We had dinner the first night of our stay and loved it so much we went back for breakfast. Everything is fresh, high quality and delicious. If you are in Santa Barbara, be sure to stop by and give them a try. Be sure also to stop and say hello to the cute little finches who live right outside. I have to give a very special shout out to Javier and Luis! They were awesome - made us feel warm and welcome and part of the family. Luis kept the smiles and the coffee coming (VERY important part of my morning) and Javier could not have been more helpful and also has a really great smile! Stop by and say hi to the guys!

    My husband and I came to Live Oak Cafe because of the good reviews, so maybe we just caught them on…read morea bad day--but unfortunately, our experience was terrible. I ordered the Britta Bagel, which comes with avocado, tomato, red onion, and a sprinkle of lemon pepper seasoning. The bagel itself was stale, and the entire meal was incredibly bland. I even added salt and still could only eat half of it. My husband ordered the breakfast wrap, essentially a breakfast burrito, and it had a really odd sweet taste that made it almost impossible to eat. He took two bites and couldn't bring himself to eat any more. The food alone was disappointing, but the service didn't help. We paid around $40 including tip, yet there weren't even napkins or proper table settings. We had to ask for napkins ourselves, and no one came by to check on us during our meal. For $40, I expect significantly better food and service. Unfortunately, this was one of those meals where you leave thinking, "Well, at least we know we won't be coming back." Definitely not worth it for us, and I won't be returning.

    Photos
    Live Oak Cafe - Indoor seating

    Indoor seating

    Live Oak Cafe - Yummy - Santa Barbara Breakfast Wrap without meat, but with great salsa

    Yummy - Santa Barbara Breakfast Wrap without meat, but with great salsa

    Live Oak Cafe - Interior

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    Interior

    Tamar - mideastern - Updated September 2026

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