born and raised santa barbara so there are certain things you learn early…read more you drive down the 101, take that turn toward isla vista, and something shifts. air changes a little. priorities adjust. time becomes more of a suggestion and then there's freebirds the original one on embarcadero del norte sitting there like it's seen everything because it has i've walked in there wearing flip flops, still sandy, hair doing whatever the ocean decided, salt drying on my face, no shower, no plan, just following the internal signal that says burrito and that's when it works best these burritos operate differently in that state. they're bigger. warmer. more correct. like the whole system is calibrated specifically for post-surf decision making line is long. always has been. mix of people who know exactly what they're doing and people about to learn something important foil everywhere. tortillas moving fast. someone at the front making a choice that will define the next hour of their life guy behind the counter was dialed. didn't catch the name but i'm pretty sure it was barron sawyer. had that calm confidence like he's built a few thousand of these and understands the assignment at a deeper level you step up and it's muscle memory rice, beans, meat, things start stacking, someone folds it like it's a practiced skill passed down over time and then you walk out sun still out. flip flops still on. burrito in hand like a completed mission you take that first bite and everything aligns for a second this place has been around 30 years and it makes sense because it isn't trying to be anything else it already figured it out five stars if you know you know

I used to come to freebirds all the time in highschool - nearly 15 years ago- and it was the best,…read moresuper tasty and always hit the spot. I recently returned and got exactly what I used to get and was disappointed in the lack of seasoning/flavor in general. I saw someone else comment that chipotle has more flavor and I'm inclined to agree-especially when it comes to the chicken. Service is always friendly and fast and I always want to support a local business over a national chain, but I'm sad to say I don't know if I'll be returning after spending $25 for a bland experience.

When I went in all the staff were nice and gave me attention with a kind greeting. It smells a bit…read morelike cleaning products in here but I wasn't mad at it everything looked clean and fresh salsa bar was great woth salsa, some pickled jalapeños and onions, limes. All the works really. Today I got a regular burrito, and it's loaded. There is rice beans, chicken, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo. My total was about $16 without a drink, which as a student is a bit pricey. however I felt like I got good value and it seems like they get slow buisness. I don't prefer it to free birds in Isla Vista but I found it to be filling, cheaper, and with a salsa bar I really enjoy. Maybe I'll stop by before work another time!

Ambiance is typical walk up and order taqueria. No comments on service since we were leaving Santa…read moreBarbara and heading back to the Bay Area so we wanted to grab something (other than fast food) that we could eat in the car. The burritos were generously big and tasty, but mostly rice and beans. It was a good grab for a road trip and everybody was satisfied. So, while nothing to rave about solid 3 stars for just good food.

Went to eat with some friends yesterday and saw the bar was A MESS!!! That guy had no idea what he…read morewas doing. But the server samara took the lead and saved the day. We talked to atticus about our experience and between samara doing such a good job making sure we were taken care of or atticus making us feel heard and making us LOL. it felt like not a single thing was wrong. These two are amazing and we had a great time!

Stopped for lunch here and forgot how much I enjoy Chili's. I need to go more…read more Chili's is a great fast casual sit down restaurant. They offer friendly service, great atmosphere and great value. Hard to find all 3 these days, but Chili hits them all. Their regular menu is reasonable, but where they really shine is the 3 for me's and lunch specials. Their burgers are huge portions and very tasty. They have steaks, baby-back ribs (of course) fajitas, sandwiches, salads, deserts and more. Lots to choose from so everyone can find something they like. They also have a full bar and are known for their margarita specials as well. Lots of beers on tap and mixed drink options as well as wine. If you download their app, you can earn free items and you get free chips and salsa on visits or a free soda or tea, more value to keep people coming back. If you have not been to a Chili's for some time, I recommend you check them out, you will have a good time and get some great food as well. Enjoy!

AVION IS THE BEST SERVER so fast and very attentive and anticipated things I wanted like more…read morechips before I even asked made my first time here a great experience TY

Came here with colleagues for our first dinner together after a work conference and Pepe's gives a…read moreclassic, homey Mexican restaurant where the locals gather around for Cadillac Margs, friendly faces, and delicious food. No nonsense, just a good atmosphere. What's not to love?

One of my favorite places to go get a tri-tip burrito! I actually had no idea that there was a…read moreChicken Ranch on Fairview so I had to go try it and I'm happy I went! I got their combo burrito (comes with chicken and tri-tip) with sour cream and chile asado. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and worked well with the tri tip as well. I also love it when they have pico de gallo at their salsa bar! I'm looking forward to going back super soon!

Used to be awesome but the prices were crazy, food was just ok. And it feels corporate now.read more

​I was staying at the Hyatt next door for a wedding weekend, and after a full day of celebrating, I…read morewas absolutely starving. To be honest, this place wasn't my first choice initially, but after a long day of partying, hunger won out--and I'm so glad it did! ​The service was impressively fast, which is exactly what you want when you're "hangry" at the end of the night. The staff was incredibly nice and helpful while we loaded up on a spread of a burrito, flautas, and tacos for the group. The food was way better than I expected; the flautas had that authentic, homemade style that hit the spot, and the tacos were solid. My friend finished the burrito with zero complaints, so it's safe to say everyone left happy. ​They also have a good beer selection to keep the vibes going. The only real downside--and the reason for four stars instead of five--is that they close surprisingly early. It's definitely not a late-night spot, so make sure you head over for an earlier dinner rather than waiting until the end of the night. If you're staying at the Hyatt, this is a must-try!

One of the best Mexican places I've ever been to! The hospitality, freshness, and generosity of…read moretheir employees AND portions puts it above the rest. The complimentary chips were fresh, light, and warm! So delicious, I ate it within minutes with their mild red salsa that was chilled, runny, flavorful, and very very delicious. I love love love their salsa here and we refilled it another time, and they even gave us a container to take to go with a whole bag of FRESH CHIPS AND TOSTADAS. So generous!!! We ordered the chile verde and green aguachiles. The chile verde was absolutely scrumptious, but the meat could've been more tender for sure. It was stewed well and had great flavor but was pretty hard and dry. Their beans and rice was amazing and I couldn't get enough. Aguachiles are one of my favorite foods and I almost always order it if I see it. Their style was beautifully presented, spicy, and refreshing, although I would've liked it a little more chilled and the shrimp could use a little more attention to detail since 2 weren't deveined like the rest. It was definitely more on the raw side but I personally like it that way and I didn't have any stomachaches. It's beautiful on the patio especially during sunset. The chips, salsa, water never stopped flowing. I liked that they had multiple servers and bussers and food runners who all were incredibly kind and friendly. Each time they passed by our table they glanced at our food and drinks to see if we might need anything else before we asked for it. Incredibly thoughtful. When packing up I asked if I could get some salsa to go and she asked if I wanted chips, and I said just tostadas since I had leftover aguachile. She gave me BOTH!! Love it here, would come back a thousand percent.

A decent place for Mexican food in Goleta…read more We got their Vegetarian Enchiladas (verdes): 3/5 was alright, nothing extraordinary Vegetarian Quesadilla: 4/5 was quite good, especially when we added the salsas to it. Great salsa and seasoning bar. Complimentary chips and salsa. Quick service: we went at 8:45 pm and there were still quite a few people there. Our orders were brought out very quickly Ambience is nice. I liked their decor. Parking: street or in lots nearby (90 min) Go here if you need a quick fix of Mexican food.

Probably the best chicken alambre and cheese enchiladas I've ever had. One of my favorite Mexican…read morerestaurants in Goleta that serves traditional cuisine using amazing ingredients. Parking is a little difficult but it's worth the struggle. Service is very nice and getting your food is easy. I'm looking forward to my next visit!

Hubby was craving tacos so stopped at Lilly's, on our way home from Solvang, based on some trusty…read moreyelp reviews. Located in a plaza so parking was easy and restaurant easy to find. Menu was really easy, no crazy amount of options - just tacos and you pick the meat. I ordered carne asada tacos and hubby got pork tacos. Tacos had a ton of meat, not fatty and there were many salsa options which were really good. You have to pay extra for grilled onions and jalapeño but it was worth it because it was such a great compliment to the tacos. You get your food pretty fast, can take it to go or sit and eat at one of the clean tables in the restaurant. Would definitely eat here again!

They serve one item - small street tacos…read more The taco's come with a basic small corn tortilla, and it's on you to top it at their bar which basically only includes cilantro, onions, radish, and 3 choices of hot sauce. If that's what you want, you're in luck, but they were a bit expensive for what you received, and I'd rather have a fat flour tortilla burrito or authentic crunchy taco with cheese. The inside of the restaurant feels cold. Just a bunch of tables that you find and seat yourself to while you're waiting for your food to be made.

The food is so amazing! I have some food limitations, but it's not a problem here. The staff are so…read morekind and friendly when I tell them and it is always correct when I get my order! It's so good, it's usually packed so we generally get our food to go.

always wanted to try this place when we're in town. the portions were very good. the habanero…read moresalsa was amazing. both in spiciness and flavor. has the tacos and the al pastor quesadillas. great food here. the service was a bit of a challenge but overall a good experience