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    The Blue Owl

    4.4 (808 reviews)
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    THE BLUE OWL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Blue Owl

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    Vegan / GF Fried Rice
    Deanne M.

    The birthday lunch did not disappoint! The vegan fried rice bowl was tasty and fresh. The cashier was personable and the food was made to order.

    Inside
    Jessica S.

    I was in town visiting and my IG feed showed me videos of this establishment. The videos were fun, trendy, and funny. My son and I decided to check it out before heading back to our hotel. We ordered a variety of items. Bahn mi tacos, fried rice, the pulled pork sandwich, and the Turkey thyme. The bahn mi tacos were okay, and the pulled pork sandwich was a bit dry. We enjoyed the fried rice as well as the turkey thyme sandwich. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This evening they happened to have open mic night, so there weren't many seating options.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I do enjoy that this place is dog friendly[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], however I wish the customer service was a bit more inviting. The cashier didn't ask if we had questions or if we were new, or offer any suggestions.

    Counter service with menu options
    Wendy G.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]This a charming little spot in bustling downtown Santa Barbara.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We stopped in here for a quick snack while window shopping in Santa Barbara. Bri was a great help! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We quickly figured out what to order and grabbed a seat in a comfy booth while waiting for our food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Everything was very good and made very quickly. The only negative comment I would make it that the baguette my sandwich came on was a little hard, but otherwise everything was delicious and the staff here are amazing! Thumbs up!

    Fried rice
    Mari I.

    I was looking for a late night bite last night and decided to stop by The Blue Owl. It was my 1st time here but [[HIGHLIGHT]]walking in I loved the interior design of the restaurant. I love the pop of colors everywhere and the menu is quite unique as well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We stopped by around 11PM and they have a late night menu with only certain items from their menu. It was also quite busy last night but the young man who helped take our order provided stellar service. He was taking orders, handed us menus while waiting in line, picked up plates, and was going around to check in on customers how their food was. He explained how some of their desserts are made in the kitchen and are only limited for some time. So we opted for the pumpkin cinnamon roll and it did not disappoint. The pumpkin roll was filled with pumpkin flavor and aroma. The icing paired nicely with the roll. This roll is also big enough to share with 3 people, but I ended up eating it all myself. Moving on to their food I was curious about their peanut butter burger and decided to give it a try. First time you could taste how delicious the whole burger was: a creamy peanut butter sauce gave it a nice sweetness to the burger. It instantly became a new favorite. Every order also comes with a side of mini chips which is a nice touch. Their fried rice is quite unique as well as I had never had one with lots of cabbage but it all tasted delicious. Overall a must try if you are ever in Santa Barbara. They have some unique finds and also offer vegan options. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They also have indoor and outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Pork.Banh mi ($16|dry meat) and Strawberry Walnut salad ($15|overpriced, but very good)
    Joe P.

    I stopped by TBO for lunch and something healthy like a salad after a heavy night of drinking. The strawberry walnut salad w/ mango and feta cheese was perfect. It was light and full of hangover combatants. My only issues was the price, and I didn't see an option to add protein. On the other hand, the banh mi was pretty bad. The pork was similar in texture to carnitas, and it was dry and salty in some spots. Lastly, it was pricey for a small sandwich. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor is Bohemian, with a lot of mismatched decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] On the other hand, the service is friendly and warm. Overall, the food is okay here, but overpriced IMHO. I would not return.

    Inside
    Melanie C.

    LN Peanut Butter Burger 10/10 - secret menu item! - very delicious burger, it was full of flavor - the peanut sauce was great! It's a thicker peanut sauce - side salad was great to balance out the burger Small Fried Rice Chicken 10/10 - bursting with flavor - chicken is shredded and well grilled Oatmeal + Cranberries + White Chocolate chip cookie 7/10 - cookie was pretty good but it was just hard so I'm assuming freshly baked it would've been way better Very happy to have discovered this little burger joint! They have a lot of interesting flavor combinations for their burgers so you're bound to find one that catches your attention. If you're not in the mood for a burger their rice bowls are the way to go. Our food items had a lot of flavor that we were trying to guess what they used. Customer service is amazing here, the waiter was very kind and wouldn't seemed annoyed as I would go up and ask for different things such as more peanut sauce(which I didn't get charged for:), some hot sauce, and to buy cookie. They were very kind and recommended items to us. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They are also very dog friendly![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside is very aesthetic and great for cute photos.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is kept very clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They also have live music playing, just check their website to see what time they have live music at.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] (Side note: a musician I assume was a bit rude when talking to the waiter helping her set up but he was were very professional and kind in return! Very good character)

    Melanie B.

    Ordered take out salads, and they were delicious. Packed full and well balanced between greens and greens toppings. Place had a great vibe and was definitely inviting ( we were just eager to get back for pool time). Highly recommend. Fun staff with good energy and great service.

    Lemon bar
    Emmy C.

    Wow a place in SB that opens late! Broke my fast for burger week and this was my 1st burger. Thai basil cheeseburger did have Thai flavors and the yolk was cooked to perfection. Overall the burger was good but I really liked the side salad. It had a variety of veggies and not just the Costco mixed green set but a good variety. I do want to come back to try their other salads. Especially if their side salad was good. As I was waiting, some of the other stuff coming out also looked really delicious. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They had some video games and claw machine if you need something to do.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will say service was also great. The server saw me looking at the lemon bar and asked if I wanted it. I initially said no but when I messaged my wife, she wanted it. They only had a frozen one left and told me to thaw before eating, but I told them no worries, it was to go. I did not take a bite, but wish I did, wife actually finished it, instead of just eating half, like she normally does. Def have to also get that next time for myself

    Large Fried Rice
    Ruchi A.

    Come in with friends and got the Bhan Mi, fried rice and the beef. Overall, the bhan mis were good. It had a decent amount of meat and the bread wasn't too hard. The rice was a bigger portion than we thought and it was tasty. The beef was a bit too breaded but my friend did enjoy it.

    We had a good time here. Food was super good and we loved the matcha lemonades. Service was good as well! Nice happy hour

    Evan Curtice L.

    The nam toc burrito was incredible! Very flavor, not too heavy, and the side salad was nice and fresh. [[HIGHLIGHT]]When we went to pick up the vibe of the restaurant was lively and had a good atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Thai Basil Cheeseburger
    Isabel Y.

    This place has so much character and offers an incredible spread of fusion dishes, including a variety of vegetarian and vegan options that are full meals, not just substitutes. You quickly order at the front kiosk, then seat yourself at one of the many cute areas with tons of decorations to take in. We spent some time counting all the owls we could see from our seats. The Banh Mi Tacos were very tasty and a great fusion meal. The Fried Rice Salad was absolutely delicious, reminding me of California faire in the best way, but I wish they toasted the sunflower seeds because it would have added the perfect extra bit of flavor. The Thai Basil Cheeseburger had all the right flavors, but unfortunately the burger itself was really dry from being overcooked. If they tweak just a few things in the kitchen, this place would be an easy 5 stars.

    This is the first spot I go to when in Santa Barbara. We Recently had the 3 pupusas and the bahn mi sandwich. Their eggplant options are also great. They were both amazing and authentic. I also ordered a bahn mi to go. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They always have great service and live entertainment.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Plus: Live entertainment

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    Hi Eddie, Thank you for your feedback.

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    Thank you Evan :)

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    Page 1 of 21

    The Blue Owl Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Blue Owl

    In 2023 is their an outside patio that is dog friendly?

    Yes! I sat at their outdoor seating in February and it was great. Dogs are welcome.

    Is it dog friendly?

    Hello, Polina. The Blue Owl loves furry friends! You may bring your dog with you to dine on the patio.

    Is this place dog friendly?

    We dined outside with my dog. Didn't ask about the inside...but she came in when we ordered at the counter.

    Do they deliver?

    No

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    We ended up coming here multiple times during our vacation because it was just that good! Every…read moresingle meal was consistently delicious, and I especially appreciated that they had genuinely tasty plant-based options instead of just an afterthought or two. The staff was what really made this place stand out. On our last day, I accidentally miscommunicated my order and ended up with the wrong meal. It was completely my mistake, and I was so disappointed because I had my heart set on a specific waffle (you know when you've been looking forward to something all morning?). Even though it wasn't their fault, they were incredibly kind and gracious. They happily fixed it without making me feel bad, and their warmth completely turned my day around. It may seem like a small thing, but kindness like that sticks with you. They could have easily told me it was my mistake, but instead they chose generosity and excellent customer service. Between the amazing food, the fantastic plant-based options, and some of the kindest staff we've encountered, this became one of our favorite spots on our trip. We tried several different menu items over multiple visits, and every single one was excellent. We'll absolutely be back the next time we're in town!

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    The Blue Owl - asianfusion - Updated July 2026

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