Santa Barbara Guru has compiled a comprehensive list of the top-rated restaurants in Santa Barbara, using unsponsored data from Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor. This list features the 10 highest-rated restaurants in the city, guaranteed to satisfy your cravings. We will review each restaurant separately based on their ratings on each review platform and also provide an overall ranking, so you can easily decide where to go the next time you're feeling hungry.
The 10 Top-Rated Santa Barbara Restaurants in YELP
Buena Onda4.8 (617 reviews)Argentine Latin American Empanadas$$“Great outdoor patio! Excellent service. Loved trying the traditional empanadas and mate drink!”
Rodeo Room4.7 (78 reviews)Lounges Gastropubs co*cktail Bars$$“We decided to check this place out. Looked dead from the outside and we weren'tsure..but as we went in, the music told us we were in the right place. It was…”
Los Agaves4.5 (4.3k reviews)Tacos Bars$$“Los agaves on milpas rocks! Loved the Pescado Veracruz and the service was excellent! We'll be back to try more food items!!”
Secret Bao4.5 (447 reviews)Asian Fusion$$“This is across the street from the courthouse. You order at the counter and then get a number to display at your table for the servers to find you.
The Black Sheep “SB Brasserie”4.4 (1.2k reviews)co*cktail Bars French$$$“Our New Years on Eve dinner celebration! Four-course set menu was a perfect size and always delicious for us! Love the ambiance of this space with the high…”
Santo Mezcal4.3 (1.6k reviews)Mexican Latin American co*cktail Bars$$ “The food is really good. Service is on point and the decor is warm. Try it, you won't be disappointed.”
Loquita4.4 (1.3k reviews)Spanish Tapas Bars Seafood$$$“The whole experience was so amazing that I wish I could give it 6 stars. We were seated on the outdoor patio, which is romantically lit and strategically…”
Oku4.3 (775 reviews)Sushi Bars Asian Fusion co*cktail Bars$$$ Rooftop seating, Gluten-free friendly“WOWOWOWOW The miso soup was so thick and flavorful. I've been craving it since. The Newton had the best tuna on top that melted in your mouth.
Reunion Kitchen + Drink4.2 (526 reviewsNew American Comfort Food Breakfast & Brunch$$“My bartender Alice was top tier!! Amazing service and great personality! Sit at the bar if she's there!!!”
Brophy Bros 4.1 (3.5k reviews) Seafood$$ Locally owned & operated “Clam chowder was delicious, seating was a little tight but service and food was great”
The 10 Top-Rated Santa Barbara Restaurants in GOOGLE
Milk & Honey4.7(413) · $30–50 · Spanish Cozy spot for eclectic tapas & co*cktails
The Palace Grill4 7(825) · $$ · Cajun Spicy spot for Cajun-Creole eats
The Pickle Room4.7(148) · $20–30 · co*cktail bar
The Black Sheep "SB Brasserie"4.6(509) · $50–100 · French Hip spot for eclectic American food
Zaytoon4.6(1.3K) · $30–50 · LebaneseLebanese eatery with live entertainment
Bouchon Santa Barbara4.6(582) · $50–100 · Restaurant Local & organic Cal-French fare
Loquita Santa Barbara4.6(1.2K) · $50–100 · Spanish Modern Spanish cuisine in warm environs
Jane4.6(396) · $50–100 · Californian Charming spot serving Californian cuisine
Mesa Verde Restaurant4.6(1K) · $20–30 · Vegan Diverse veggie meals in rustic-chic digs
Toma Restaurant & Bar4.6(945) · $50–100 · Italian fare, many wines & harbor views
The 10 Top-Rated Santa Barbara Restaurants in TRIPADVISOR
1. The Black Sheep307 reviewsFrench, Wine Bar$$ - $$$For small plates, we had the potato gnocchi, the scallops, and the bone marrow...I had the salad, coc au vin and crème b...2. Bouchon1,112 reviewsFrench, European$$$$MenuThe food is recognizable to all Americans - crab cakes, onion soup, wagyu One of the top 3 in Santa Barbara. Always superb.3. Toma Restaurant and Bar2,051 reviewsItalian, Mediterranean$$$$MenuWe started with a Caesar salad and Squash Blossoms to share.... Salmon and Black Spaghetti entrees).4. Savoy Cafe & Deli380 reviews Healthy$$ - $$$MenuCool little Breakfast spot and wine bar.I just love this place--from its casual...5. Zaytoon416 reviewsLebanese, Mediterranean$$ - $$$Many tables have a fire pit. The food is excellent, we had the Shawarma, the...Authentic Lebanese cuisine6. Arigato Sushi580 reviewsJapanese, Sushi$$ - $$$Absolutely the best sushi we have had! First night we sat at the sushi bar...Sushi lovers paradise7. Barbareño276 reviewsAmerican, Contemporary$$ - $$$MenuWe had grilled avocado, black cod and the tri tip with beans with baked...... the ranch fried chicken were our en...8. The Palace Grill647 reviewsAmerican, Cajun & Creole$$ - $$$Menu... Chicken Tchoupitoulas and the Jumbalaya Pasta, I had sauce-envy.And you can’t experience the Palace Grill...9. Opal Restaurant and Bar927 reviewsItalian, American$$ - $$$Luxe outdoor dining, epic paella and outstanding service... the scallops with vegetables!10. Jane596 reviewsAmerican, International$$ - $$$We had the salmon on cedar plank and a Jane burger, both very delicious and f...Sat in the balcony overlooking a...In summary, after evaluating multiple review sites for the 10 Top-Rated Santa Barbara Restaurants, Buena Onda , Milk & Honey, and The Black Sheep were the number one top-rated restaurants in Santa Barbara across Yelp, Google and Tripadvisor. Zaytoon and Bouchon take second place as both make the top 10 list in two of the review sites. The winner and most well-reviewed restaurant in Santa Barbara is:WINNER: The Black Sheep, which is rated within the top 5 in all review sites that we evaluated.
For other foodie know-how, check out Santa Barbara's Budget Foodie Finds: Dig into Deliciousness
