The food, service and ambiance are superb. Ironically we were going to another taco place but it…read morewas closed today. My husband and I were delighted to experience such a clean, fresh restaurant. The prices are right as well. Highly recommend!

Los Agaves On De Lavina St. -- A Rare Review from Someone Who Hates Writing Reviews…read moreI spent 25 years owning a business. I know what good service looks like, and I know what entitled looks like. I never write reviews -- I watched Yelp destroy good people over bad nights, and I swore I'd stay out of it. Tonight changed that. I sat at the bar. It took the bartender over five minutes to acknowledge I existed. Another five to ten to deliver a Coke. I ordered dinner and waited forty minutes -- which I might have forgiven, except getting his attention was nearly impossible the entire night. No eye contact. Body language that made clear I was an inconvenience, not a guest. Every interaction felt like I was interrupting something more important. When I finally got him to check on my order, he went to the computer and discovered he'd never placed it. I walked out. I noticed the people around me weren't faring much better. The slowness wasn't just my experience -- it was the room. Los Agaves appears to be a popular place, and maybe on another night with another bartender it earns that reputation. But entitlement has a way of spreading when nobody checks it. I hope management is paying attention -- because a beautiful restaurant dies one invisible guest at a time.

Back to table service! Yay!!!…read more Attractive and very clean restaurant with great service. Truly delicious Mexican food. I love pozole - Cc's rendition is top notch and comes with all the extras to put in the soup including avocado, chopped onion, a whole fried tortilla to break up into the broth and Mexican oregano (the small is more than enough for one hungry person or to share with two).Homemade chips come with a four salsa selection ranging substantially hot to a delicate tomatillo green. I tried my tablemate's tacos, all three varieties were very very good. I've had takeout from here, but it's really worth going in person because the food is nuanced and best when piping hot as it's made.

Corazón Cocina is located inside the Santa Barbara Public Market (food court like setting). Just a…read moreheads up, the parking lot is extremely tight, and finding a spot can be frustrating, especially during busy hours. This is a Michelin-recognized spot in 2021 and I came in with pretty high expectations. Unfortunately, the seasonal fish ceviche was a major letdown. The albacore tasted overly fishy and had a stringy texture. The combination of watermelon, cucumber, and avocado was creative and refreshing, but the fish itself was disappointing. We ended up picking around it and eventually threw away all of the albacore because we didn't feel comfortable eating it. Thankfully, the tacos were a completely different story. We ordered the skirt steak taco and the octopus taco, and both were fantastic. Great flavor, well-balanced, and easily the highlight of the meal. The other downside was the service. The guy taking the order was dismissive and turned away when we told him about the quality of their fish in their ceviche. Between the disappointing ceviche and lackluster service, it was the tacos that were the saving grace.

This place has one of the best happy hour deals, the food was amazing along with the complimentary…read morechips and salsa. We had Ruby as our server and she was so attentive and nice. The ambience of the place makes you feel like you're in someone's home. Definitely a must stop during your time in Santa Barbara.

Corazon Comedor is a vibrant cantina style Mexican eatery serving up food made with love and…read moreculture. This spot is located on State Street where there is street parking all around the area. Inside, they have a beautifully decorated interior with lots of seating. Wifey and I ended up getting the Carpintero Burrito, Enfrijoladas, and the Black Beans & Plantains. Everything hit the spot and it was a great meal to start us off for the day. All of the staff here are super friendly and welcoming. Definitely stop by if you are ever in the area!

Get the special (adobada, peppers, cheese), it is spectacular. That's all I tried though. Prices…read moreare reasonable. Be sure to order what you need because the line gets long and you don't want to get back in it if you didn't order enough beers. Bring cash. I didn't realize how hard it was to find a cash machine in SB. I found more bitcoin atms than cash atms which is wild. I stayed at a hotel near state st and walked back from here and it only took about 30 min, but I would recommend driving or taking a $6 uber.

I always leave with mixed feelings. Food is good but sometimes there's just too much cheese to…read moremeat/veggies. I finally brought all my kids here today and they enjoyed the food. Portions are hit and miss depending on what you order. For the 5 of us, we paid $98. There's usually a line but once you get to the window, they never rush you and are so kind. As always, remember cash only!!!

A Must-Visit in Santa Barbara If you're visiting Flor de…read moreMaiz, you absolutely cannot skip this place. We ordered the pulpo and the chicken mole, and both dishes were incredible. The pulpo was perfectly cooked--tender with a great char and packed with flavor. The chicken mole was rich, balanced, and deeply satisfying, with that classic complex mole flavor that keeps you going back for another bite. What really stood out, though, was the service. It was phenomenal from start to finish--attentive, friendly, and genuinely welcoming without ever feeling rushed. The staff clearly care about the experience they're giving guests. The food, the atmosphere, and the service all came together for a great meal. If you're in Santa Barbara, make sure this spot is on your list. Highly recommend.

Been here a few times and it has always been a good experience but yesterday, me and a few…read morefriends dined here. We sat outdoors and it was a great ambiance. I ordered the branzino and specifically asked the waiter if it was grilled and butterflied, he stated yes. My dish arrived and it wasn't grilled nor butterflied but I went on and ate it anyways. The potatoes were undercooked. I mentioned, constructive criticism for the chef and stated he would let him know. Waiter didn't really seem to care or make any accommodations. Also, was overcharging us for a drink that we did not order. He also didn't seem to not check up on us frequently about how things we're going.

This is a clean and nice Mexican restaurant off of state ave in Santa Barbara…read more The manager Anthony was so kind and friendly The food was sooooooo good and spicy sauces bar was great Next time I am in Santa Barbara I am definitely going to go back and enjoy this very nice and clean restaurant

First time at this awesome restaurant! Everything was so delicious and fresh here ! Right when we…read morewalked in , we felt the friendly , warm cheerful atmosphere ! We loved having the Ceviche Tostada and Arroyos Enchiladas, didn't even have leftovers because we finished it all , it was so good (and the portions were a good size!) thank you everyone at Los Arroyos!

We sat at the bar and Brian N. made our drinks and served us. 10/10 margarita & made special shots…read morefor our anniversary! Brian is super friendly, charismatic, and clearly very skilled as he whipped out tons of drink orders for all the tables too. The food was delicious and came out fast, very hot and fresh. We had attentive service, in a great restaurant atmosphere. This is one of our favorite restaurants in all Santa Barbara county.

Good, clean, and nice looking space with wonderful staff. (A tad overpriced)…read more Appetizer: ceviche tostada Main: mole plate And a fountain drink $68.

If you've never been to Spain and want to experience the closest thing to it without leaving Santa…read moreBarbara, then you NEED to add Loquita to your list! I've been to Loquita for a few events now and the ambiance, food and hospitality is always a 10/10. They know how to throw a great party, so while you'd be lucky to dine at their restaurant, it's even better if you can make one of their annual celebrations like we did for their Old Spanish Days Fiesta. The sangria never stopped flowing, endless tapas paraded themselves around the patio, paella was being served up, and the whole afternoon was filled with authentic flamenco inspired dance performances that made you feel like you had been transported straight to Spain. Between the music, dancing, food, drinks and the absolute energy of everyone there, this was easily one of those events where you look around and think, "Okayyy, THIS is how you do a summer fiesta!" Some of my favorite bites of the day here were their paella, octopus and mushrooms croquets. Absolutely amazing and every bite had so much flavor. Their house made sangrias were also so refreshing and tasty. Put this one on your list for next year...but just don't wait too long to grab your tickets because clearly, everyone else already knows the secret!

Mediterranean European cuisines are my favorites and my diet. I don't get to eat Spanish food often…read moreso we had to come in for an early dinner. We were seated at the beautiful back patio but it was a bit too hot & sunny for me. The patio was very cozy and relaxing though. We started off with sparkling water and pitcher of sangria to cool down on a hot day. For food we had beef carpaccio, broccolini, octopus, tortilla espanola (Spanish omelet) and whole branzino. The food was fantastic and so flavorful. I can see why this restaurant is so popular. Our waitress was so friendly and helpful. The staffs were all very polite and welcoming. What an amazing Spanish restaurant and bar, we will definitely visit again whenever we are in town!