This place is a hidden gem! For a fast, casual restaurant, the food was incredible. We ordered the chicken schwarma and the falafel salad. I was so impressed by the quality and freshness of ingredients in both dishes. I also loved being able to try the chicken with different sauces and the unique hummus flavor. Highly recommend if you're looking for healthy, quick food on a budget. read more

Tamar - Falafel salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This is delicious, fresh, well-prepared Mediterranean food. It is up there with the best I've had in California. The chicken shawarma was unexpectedly juicy (and it's almost always dry), superb hummus made from scratch, pickled vegetables not overpowered by vinegar, light and toasty, fluffy pita...and more. Casual environment co-existing with a very good coffee bar. read more

Located in the Funk Zone. Super colorful and open space. My bf had the chicken sandwich (gyro) and I had the lamb kofta sandwich, and we shared their special-- which was japanese sweet potatoes. OMG, so delicious. A definite must try. The pita was divine, the sauce, the side of pickles it came with, the flavors-- chef's kiss. read more

Tamar - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great food! Ordered family meal and it was a hit, the chicken and rice were delicious and fresh! Will be returning.

Obsessed. Every bite was perfection. The spices, the flavors, the presentation...just, wow. Make sure to take your tray across the street and enjoy it in the garden. Bonus: it's dog friendly, too! read more

Great food! Beautifully presented, plenty of flavor and big portions. We had the chicken shawarma plate and added a side order of lamb and it made a great lunch for two. read more

Relaxed vibe, good service, inventive decor. Excellent food. So many dishes prepared & presented with delightful seasonings & marinades. Reasonable prices, generous servings. Middle eastern cuisine interpreted by a gifted chef. read more

We chose Tamar this week for family dinner and all gave it a thumbs up! Even our finicky eater. The chicken shawarma combos included rice, slaw, chicken and pickled veggies. Also fresh pita and large sides of hummus that lasted into the next day. I ordered the lamb pita sandwich. It was messy but filling and great flavor. We also ordered the falafel plate...they were freshly made and not dry like some places. We carried out but it was ready soon after we called it in. read more

An Absolutely Fantastic Experience at TOMAR in the Funk Zone! TOMAR in Santa Barbara's Funk Zone is an absolute gem. Not only is it in a super cool, vibrant location, but the food itself is on another level. The portions are hugewhich is rare these days and the value is incredible. I had lunch there, and my meal was so generous that I took half of it home, finished the rest for dinner, and still had enough left for lunch the next day! I ordered the falafel plate, and honestly, this might be the best Middle Eastern food I've ever had in my life. Everything was unbelievably fresh and flavorful: the pickled cabbage, creamy hummus, perfectly crispy falafel, and the softest, freshest pita I've ever tasted. I'm gluten-free, and their pita didn't bother my stomach at all which felt like a small miracle. The turmeric rice with tahini and turmeric sauce was rich, fragrant, and absolutely delicious. And dessert? Their tahini ice cream with caramelized pecans and strawberry compote was out of this world. A perfect sweet finish. TOMAR is officially one of my new favorite spots in Santa Barbara. If you're in the Funk Zone, this place is an absolute must. read more

Delicious fresh and great service! Probably one of the best Mediterranean dishes I've had in the US. Get the chicken shawarma plate. Im not a fan of hummus but theirs is so creamy and good. The chicken, salad, pita bread and Torshi were so delicious and even the sauces on this side were perfect. I would eat here over and over if I lived here. Cool place HIGHLY recommend read more

Came in for lunch on a Monday and they were out of a lot items that we really were looking forward to trying since we are from out of town. However, the biggest issue I had was the host's attitude problem/lack of hospitality and care for us as the customer just to simply order I felt like he didn't not only want to be there but hated it or just had an issue with my race or nationality idk I really felt that way. That in itself makes me never want to go back even tho the food was good it's extremely overpriced for no reason. I really wish they had some rice or some in my opinion. But It's mainly the service and attitude problem that really turned me off. Just plain rude for no reason. Don't work at a personable place if you have no personality. Major turn off. The food again was decent not bad I liked the flavors in everything we got. Unique. The chicken platter, side of Japanese sweet potatoes and side of lamb, but I personally don't think it's worth over 45 bucks for all that & with no drink too. read more

Tamar - $45+ chicken platter side of lamb Missing : sweet potato - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The food was spectacular, and the ambiance was absolutely amazing. The restaurant was clean and beautifully decorated, creating a very aesthetic environment. The customer service was outstanding; the cashier helped us choose some great dishes. We tried the yogurt dip along with two fresh sandwiches, which tasted incredible. Conveniently located nearby was Darts Coffee, so it was nice to grab a coffee or some matcha to enjoy with our meal. I wanted to keep this place a secret for myself, but I believe everyone deserves to experience it. 10/10 read more

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This has quickly become my absolute favorite spot in Santa Barbara. I find myself here at least once a week. My partner and I always share the Chicken or Lamb Plate (both are incredible) and love trying a new hummus or spread each visit. The kitchen at Tamar runs like a five-star restaurant, everything is beautifully organized, and every dish arrives perfectly plated and full of flavor. I actually cheated the other night and picked up all the salads and sides for a dinner party, then made my own main course... people were blown away. It's truly become a staple in our home. The staff are warm, knowledgeable, and clearly proud of what they do. P.S. Don't skip the cookies. They're divine. read more

Wow. Best Middle Eastern food ever and I have been to all them in Glendale. Buya. Seriously.

Fresh ingredients with a lot of tang. Food: I appreciated the option for a fresh, healthy meal at Tamar. I had the salad with falafel. It was fresh and high quality, although there was a bit too much tang for me. Would have used a bit more balance with maybe less intense dressing. I felt the same when trying my friend's shawarma plate. Vibe: Very (very) cute almost cafeteria style place shared with Dash coffee. Great decor, good sound (good acoustics not clangy or loud) which made a nice place to chat with friends. read more

Came here randomly on a Wednesday after having it on my list for a while. I ordered the Dip trio for $20 and was pleasantly surprised by the large portions of the flavorful spreads (Babaganoush, hummus, whipped farm cheese). The fresh pita bread was a big plus. Service was great. In addition we got in & out quickly. I plan to go back soon for more spreads and will likely check out more menu items. My favorite thing about this business is how flavorful the food was. Looking forward to the next visit. read more

The most delicious chicken shawarma I have ever eaten! Tamar is officially on my list to eat again when in Santa Barbara read more

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

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The absolute best every time. We love getting takeout once a week and I always get an extra side of chicken.

Yummy food! Chicken is tender and the trio dip is the way to go if you want to try everything. You MUST get their strawberry lemonade- one of the best I've had!! Yum! :) read more

Highest recommendations!! They serve the absolute best food. I've only had the falafel plate because it's so good, I never order anything else. They serve generous portions so you can easily split the plate and buy an extra pita for $2. The pita is hot, puffy, and moist... pure heaven when loaded up with their delicious hummus. GO!! read more

Great food. Great atmosphere. Good portions but the meat was not enough. Would go again for sure

On our way back from dropping our daughter at UCSB, we stopped by. The ambiance was fun and the menu looked great. We ordered quite a few items. The service was great. The food was delicious. I would definitely go back. read more

Very tasty food! I like the mix music vibes in there! The pickled cabbage was yummy, chicken was tender, but I have to say I don't love their hummus recipe. It's very silky and smooth but it's missing something flavor wise. Everything else was great! read more

This place is AMAZING! Flavor profile is perfect and vibrant. Staff is friendly and the service is fast. When I am in the area I do everything I can to stop by! Love it!! read more

After a rainy day of travel we needed something that wasn't fast food. I found Tamar on Yelp and believed the stars, I'm glad I did. We found an accessible parking spot and made our way inside. I was a little confused since the sign for the coffee shop was hung, and the Tamar sign was only on the door (it was a rainy evening, so I may have missed other signage). The place was pretty full but my wife found an open table while I ordered at the counter. My wife wanted a Whipped Farm Dip with whipped rustic ricotta, toasted sesame, sumac honey, puffed black rice served with 1 piece of fluffy pita that must have been made there. I had a Falafel Sandwich with Crispy chickpea falafel, cabbage salad, tomatoes, cucumber, sumac onions, hummus, and amba tahini stuffed inside a warm pita. Both choices were excellent! My wife loved the dip with the sweet, smooth Ricotta, and crispy sesame seeds and black rice, and all of the flavors from the spices, but she raved over, "the best pita she's ever had in her life." While my Falafel was not the best I've ever had, it was great. The veggies were all fresh, the Falafel crispy and flavorful, and the sauce they provided added a nice layer. If we're ever back in town, we will be back. read more

I had the felafel sandwich and strawberry lemonade. The sandwich was filling and delicious, with many subtle flavors and a spicy chimchurri sauce. The lemonade was excellent too, with lots of strawberry juice. read more

The lamb sandwich was amazing so much flavor packed in to a pita Would definitely recommend service and ambiance was also really good!! read more

GOATED food. I crave it at least once every two weeks. The chicken shawarma plate is insane-- the yellow sauce that comes with it is crack. Love their food and highly recommend. I think even those that aren't into Mediterranean food normally will enjoy-- it's just THAT top tier. read more

A gem in a city that needs more gems! The food is mouthwatering and on point. The dips are fantastic, especially the Hummus and Shallot Labneh. Go ahead and treat yoself before or after your voracious funk zone activities! read more

I enjoy the chicken and hummus but the salad was nothing special. I have had better Greek salad from Trader Joe's. The service was very good. The ambiance was very clean and nicely decorated. If I go back I will only buy the hummus. Maybe the sandwich is better than the chicken plate. I liked the picked veggies that are yellow on the chicken plate. read more

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Very good experience at Tamar. Menu is simple, food was good. Lamb Kofta made me happy. Thank you.

1 star is for the hummus (super creamy and delicious), falafel (crispy and nutty, love it), and pita (homemade and fluffy). Another for the service (very nice workers with smiling faces), and the third is for the vibe. It's a quaint little counter style place with an open kitchen and is shared with a coffee shop. Unfortunately, I can only give 3 stars because it's overpriced and their shawarma is SO BLAND. Chicken shawarma is hands down my favorite food, and this spot charged me twice as much as my favorite place (Falafel Stop in Sunnyvale) and gave me a quarter of the spice in the chicken. The only reason I checked the place out and sucked it up when they told me my total ($45 for two entrees) was because I had heard great things about their shawarma. And to spend so much and get chicken that tasted so bland and slightly dry was such a HUGE disappointment. I think I'll hold my shawarma craving until I'm back in the Bay Area or LA. read more

I got the salad with chicken and everything was delicious! The cucumber salad dressing was light and so tasty! The zhoug sauce and yogurt sauce were great additions too! read more

It was ok. The hummus didn't have a chickpea taste. Tasted like it was blended with something else which made it very mild in the flavor. The lamb I had hoped would be a sliced leg of lamb (especially for the price tag )but was ground lamb in patties. The sauces were average but tasted commercial brand. The meal did have flavor, a bit over salted. I was hoping for something more complex to the palate. read more

Tamar - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Tamar's menu is fairly small but very well-executed. You can't go wrong here - the chicken shawarma is juicy, the sides are always fantastic, and it's pretty reasonable price-wise. I'm here once or twice a week and it doesn't get old. read more

Got the chicken shawarma plate. Everything was delicious. Chicken was yummy, good portion. Rice well seasoned, picked vegetables were also super tasty. Pita was super soft. Sauces were the stars of the show. Excellent. Kind of pricey but so worth it for the portions and quality. read more

When I think Santa Barbara, I rarely think Middle Eastern food. Well, if you do, then stop in here. Nestled into a fun and (funk zone) location hosted by Dart Coffee, this start up is delicious, inventive, and exciting. Don't leave without the cookie! I had the chicken shawarma sandwich and my wife had the falafel sandwich. The bread is very fresh pita, and the pickled vegetables that come with are crunchy and delectable. The guys behind the counter (cook and cashier) are very friendly and helpful. Go check this place out! read more

Fresh and delicious! Ordered and split the chicken shawarma pita. I completely forgot to take a photo as we dug right in.

We had a great dining experience at Tamar! The food was so flavorful and authentic...We also received exemplary customer service from Carlos! read more

Tamar - sweet potatoes and chicken shawarma plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

the food is literally orgasmic, i've never experienced more pleasure than when i'm eating the hummus & pita with chicken shawarma. every bite is just so delectable! one of the employees put me on this combo a while back and my life hasn't been the same since! this plus the dart matcha sunrise completes me. i was on a sick one last night, and this made me whole again. i love tamar! tamar, if you're reading this, i love you. thank you for making the best chicken shawarma, hummus, and pita. no one does it like you, never forget that, you are the stars and moon. my whole world now revolves around you. read more