We could hear live Blues playing down the street which meant there was life. We had just left the Santa 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. read more

Horrible customer service . Walked in no hello no let me help you . Stood there like a donkey waiting 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 read more

They have separate vegan menu. Food was okay. The place can't handle large numbers of customers. When we arrived, only 3 tables were available, and all of them were dirty with dishes from previous patrons. We ended up wiping out our table by ourselves after they took dirty dishes away. It took quite a while to get our food. We were seated outside, and if you want to order something else, you have to go back inside to order and pay. There was some live music inside it and it is was quite loud, unable to hear what person who took order was saying. read more

The Blue Owl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A vibey southeast Asian fusion spot off of state street in Downtown SB. Close to many parking structures and within walking distance to all the shops and plazas. Love the extensive menu and variety of vegan options! The tofu Banh Mi was incredibly fresh and flavorful and the beet salad was refreshing. We got a corner table near the window and played many rounds of jenga while we waited for our food. It seems like this place is a real community gathering spot! read more

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I was disappointed with another coffee place around the corner, so we decided to try a coffee from here. They did not have iced coffee but they did have an iced Americano. I do like how the iced Americano had a nice traditional iced Americano flavor. Only thing I would do is get an extra shot of Americano. It was a little stuffy inside. Outside was also a little hot, but if it's not a hot date it would also be nice to have a meal or coffee and relax. read more

Dined in today for lunch (I usually get to-go). Loved the tunes. Today was very 80's so I felt like I was back in college, although The Blue Owl wasn't there when I went to school. The vegan menu keeps growing! I ordered my favorite, the Mango Mint salad, but noticed that the dressing is Miso based. We also ordered the Vegan Sweetheart Burrito, Vegan Bahn-Mi, & Vegan Nam Toc Burrito. Thumbs up, or should I say 5 stars, to all of the good. A Side salad or chips came with everyone's order except for the salad. Friendly staff, plenty of indoor and outdoor (parklet) seating. Fun decor as well. read more

First time at The Blue Owl, we were looking for something unique & different. The place is nice, cozy & kind of artistic vibes. The food was descent, good & service was great. The place was a little stuffy and we only ordered service water for it was hot but their were only giving us a very small amount of ice. Overall it was a good looking lunch read more

The Blue Owl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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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. This evening they happened to have open mic night, so there weren't many seating options. I do enjoy that this place is dog friendly, 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. read more

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This a charming little spot in bustling downtown Santa Barbara. We stopped in here for a quick snack while window shopping in Santa Barbara. Bri was a great help! We quickly figured out what to order and grabbed a seat in a comfy booth while waiting for our food. 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! read more

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Such a gem in Santa Barbara! The food was so good and the staff were incredible. Everyone was genuinely warm and welcoming, and you can tell they love where they work and are excited about the food. Their recommendations were enthusiastic and they really knew the menu and ingredients. Such a great vibe. Definitely coming back ! read more

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. read more

The Blue Owl - Vegan / GF Fried Rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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 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. 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. They also have indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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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. The decor is Bohemian, with a lot of mismatched decor. On the other hand, the service is friendly and warm. Overall, the food is okay here, but overpriced IMHO. I would not return. read more

The Blue Owl - Pork.Banh mi ($16|dry meat) and Strawberry Walnut salad ($15|overpriced, but very good) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

While visiting Santa Barbara, my husband and I stopped by The Blue Owl and had a great experience. The person who took our order was friendly and very helpful, which made us feel welcome right away. The restaurant has a really fun, eclectic vibe. There are a variety of seating options including tables, booths, and even a sofa with a table. It was very busy when we went, but we were still able to find seating without too much trouble. There wasn't music playing at the time, but there was a small stage area with a piano set up for performers, which gave the space a cool, creative feel. I ordered the 3 bánh mì tacos (two beef and one pork) and Wow, they were amazing! The tortillas tasted freshly made and everything was incredibly flavorful and juicy. The tacos were topped with oyster chili mayo, greens, pickled radish, cilantro, green onion, and chili paste, and were served with sliced cucumbers and radishes on the side. I also ordered a side of kimchi, which was delicious. It had the tangy, crunchy flavor you expect from good kimchi. My husband ordered the tofu Bahn Mi. The sandwich was made on a baguette and served with a side of chips. The baguette was crunchy but not overly hard. The tofu had a nice texture. It was soft but not mushy. The flavor had a nice balance. The menu was extensive including several vegan options. Overall, a really enjoyable stop with great flavors and a unique atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out! read more

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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. They are also very dog friendly! The inside is very aesthetic and great for cute photos. The place is kept very clean. They also have live music playing, just check their website to see what time they have live music at. (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) read more

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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. read more

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The food was so unbelievably flavorful. I'm so impressed with this place. I ordered the Banh Sandwich w/pork. Awesome! There was a person playing a piano, open after 9pm and good customer service. I will be coming back the next time i'm local. read more

So unfortunate that this place has gone so far downhill in recent times. Last three times i have been here i got a bad stomach ache. I think its the lettuce. A prices have done nothing but go up. Spent $42 on a meal for two, no drinks or sides just two mains. Crazy. The wait staff is more and more aloof, but they do an acceptable job. I enjoy the live music and i'll be honest the food does taste good, but a $42 tummy ache for two ain't worth it! They do serve espresso in case you want to feel the tummy ache immediately instead of waiting until the next day, at least that's an option! read more

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. read more

The Blue Owl - Large Fried Rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Had a fab lunch here. Chill vibe. Live music!! Love the front counter miniature on the wall too!

add a rice bowl and it was an excellent. The Service was fantastic and I appreciated the way they handled my order. The style and ambience here is just super cool read more

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

The Blue Owl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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

The Blue Owl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The Blue Owl is so special and delicious! We picked up a family size fried rice with chicken and a family size mango and mint salad to add to our company picnic and it was perfect. It was ready on time, fresh and oh so tasty! read more

Asian fusion. Small, stylishly funky restaurant. None of the furniture match. I like it. Owl decor all throughout. They also have a handful of tables outdoors for patio dining. Order and pay at the register. Choose where you want to sit and bus your own table. I enjoyed my iced latte to start with, and then my Bahn Mi sandwich that comes with a small side salad. Very tasty. The crispy, crunchy French baguette is what really makes it good. It was flavorful and a little different. Spicy in a good way. Going to the restroom is an experience in itself. There's only one restroom in the back, next to the wall of supplies. And I noticed a ceiling, hatch doorway. That's a strange one. I was just hoping no one was going to come out of there. No one did. read more

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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. read more

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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. They always have great service and live entertainment. Plus: Live entertainment read more

The Blue Owl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The Blue Owl is an Asian fusion café. Located right off of State Street, it's very easy to find and very easy to get to. In terms of their interior design, they have a few booths along one wall, several tables central to the business, a couch near the front window, and some outdoor seating, as well. The atmosphere here is fun and colorful. How ordering works here Is that you go up to the front counter and place your order. If you're eating in, they give you a number to take to your table and your food and drinks will be delivered. Of course, a lot of people come here looking for to-go items. With this, it's basically a grab and go sort of setup. Just a sidenote, this restaurant also offers some live entertainment periodically. They have their live event scheduled posted on one of their interior walls. So, you can see if you want to come here and listen to music. In terms of their food, as stated, it is Asian fusion. And, it's good! They offer a lot of very good combinations. Plus, they have some great vegan dishes. Good place to eat eat! One of the curious things about this restaurant is its bathroom facilities. They only have one restroom. But, to get to it, you walk to the back of the business and then it's situated in association with all of their various supplies. It's quite an experience to go to their restroom. This café Offers some good food and drink. If you feel like going for something a little bit different in the downtown Santa Barbara area, this is your place. read more

Thai basil burger with salad. Get two! Sloppy and juicy in all the right ways. Hersheys kisses instead of dinner mints were a big hit too. read more

First of all, the service was AWESOME. One waitress in particular made our night. She saw that we weren't satisfied with our drink (iced matcha latte) and so she tried to fix it twice. She was super receptive, observant, and sweet! We were able to drink the matcha but it wasn't the best in the area. The food, on the other hand, was phenomenal. We got the nam toc burrito, the pork fried rice, and the Thai basil burger. The best hands down was the burger. So flavorful!! Everything tastes even better with their chili sauce too. The ambiance is nice and apparently they sometimes have live music, which I was sad to have missed. I'd go back 100%. read more

The Blue Owl - Live music area - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is an asian fusion restaurant. It really is a great place to go and try if you are in the area. We got the Nam Toc salad, the burrito and some thai tea! The Nam Toc salad was really good, the meat was cooked really well and the salad had great flavor. I would highly recommend getting it if you go to this place! The thai tea was pretty good as well and the burrito was good, but in my opinion it was not as good as the salad. The interior of this place was also really nice! It had a nice feel and really added to the overall experience. The service is also good and was really quick. Parking is also pretty simple to find near for this place. Overall, I would highly recommend going here if you are in the area! The Nam Toc salad was great read more

The Blue Owl - Nam Toc Salad and Thai Iced Tea (Black, Unsweetened) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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good customer service. great food! for those with strollers though there are a couple small steps before ordering inside but there's plenty of outside seating. thank you! read more

The Blue Owl - hot cocoa - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Stopped in for a late dinner and was pleasantly surprised by this convenient spot in downtown Santa Barbara. It offers street parking, with tables both inside and outside. The ordering process is simple: you place your order, get a number, and sit anywhere, and they bring the food to you. We tried the Nam Doc Burrito and Fried Rice Salad, both of which were flavorful, filling, and delicious. I'd definitely return next time I'm in the area to try more items from the menu. On top of that, there was live music on a Saturday night, which added a nice touch. Highly recommend this spot for a casual, tasty meal. read more

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The Blue Owl has a delicious menu at reasonable prices with a fun atmosphere. I enjoy their sandwiches made with fresh ingredients and creativity. The service is always really nice, and it's one of the few places downtown to get a healthy lunch or dinner without breaking the bank. I suggest you check it out. read more

My girlfriend and I were in Santa Barbara on a day trip and found this really cute place that had great vegan options! We shared the vegan nam toc burrito and vegan fried rice salad. Both were delicious and filling while still feeling really fresh and healthy. And the service was great; really nice and helpful. We'll definitely stop by the next time we're in the area! read more

Very tasty food. The service is 2nd to none. You may have to park a block away but the food and service is worth the walk. read more

The Blue Owl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My friend recommended this spot in Santa Barbara and I was eager to try it out as the menu looked creative and Guy Fieri also dined here and gave them the stamp of approval. It's an interesting artsy and eclectic restaurant. Love that the food is Asian fusion and also has a large vegetarian/vegan menu. Being a meat eater I usually struggle going to restaurants that dabble in both vegan and non vegan entrees as I sometimes think the execution is off but not here! They have totally balanced their menu in a harmonious way and the food was tasty. Upon walking in you are hit with a waft of delicious smells and spices. It was honestly enchanting and I was super excited to eat here as the food smelled so good. The menu is disruptive, easy to read, and diverse. My friend and I both opted for their fried rice bowls which they are so famous for. The prices were average and you can get a filling lunch for about $20 a person. You order at the counter and then they bring your food to your table. Staff were friendly and efficient. The person who took our order was nice and friendly. The food came out pretty quickly which was a nice touch. They did a good job of clearing tables and being attentive to keep the restaurant clean. The decor inside the restaurant is very cool and definitely geared towards the more artistic crowd. I did really like their wall art and photography of celebrities like Amy winehouse and such. I thought the food was super tasty. 4.5 stars for food overall. The fried rice bowls are really delicious. I had the pork as my protein and the shredded pork packed an amazing flavor. The dish was well seasoned and every bite was just super tasty. I added a poached egg which wasn't necessary exactly but it was good. The dish itself is so flavorful you don't need to add much extra. My only critic is the rice definitely had a couple small clumps, so made me think the rice was a few hours old. Also they overdo the cilantro in my opinion on top so now knowing this I would just make sure to ask for light cilantro. Again though, the dish was very tasty and we were super happy with our meals. My leftover even tasted good the next day and that's a good sign. I'd love to come back to try some of their wraps or their Thai burger sounded fire. This place is really good for a healthier meal that packs flavor into their dishes. Would love to come back. My breakdown would be - Service: 4.5 Food:4.5 Decor: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Price: 4.5 read more

The Blue Owl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Loved the atmosphere, great Portions & variety of selections. Loved the Blue Owl team thanks! read more

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Absolutely love! My boyfriend and I stopped by here during our trip to Santa Barbara. This is definitely going to be added to my go-to spots in SB! I love the vibe, it's so cute and welcoming. The staff is great and friendly. When we entered, there was someone playing the piano which just made the experience even more sweet! I ordered the Nam Toc Burrito with a side of salad and my boyfriend ordered the Thai Basil Cheeseburger with Egg. I LOVED the burrito and it was huge! I was able to save half of it and eat the rest for dinner. My boyfriend gave his burger a 4/5. Will definitely be back! I'm very interested in trying the other items on their menu :) read more

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I loved the atmosphere and friendly staff here, but the meat was super salty, which is the only reason I am not giving five stars. Seems like they also host live music events, which looked fun. We ordered the bahn mi tacos and the salmon salad. The salmon salad was good but I could only eat one of the three tacos. It was too salty, even when I tried to drink more water or eat more cucumbers/radishes to soak it up. Maybe the vegan or vegetarian options are better. read more

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