Santa Barbara has more restaurants per capita than most cities in the world and I am so honored to be able to experience it everyday as a local. Picking 5 spots was tough, but this is my first 5 picks of my hometown. Enjoy!
-Bella
1. Ca’ Dario
Best Italian food in Santa Barbara.
“If you’re searching for Santa Barbara Italian restaurants, then search no more. Ca’Dario Italian restaurants conveniently offer 4 locations in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Montecito. Opened in 1997, the first Ca’Dario was one of the few downtown Santa Barbara restaurants offering authentic Northern Italian food. Over twenty years later, even though many other Italian restaurants have opened up, Ca’Dario restaurants have consistently been among the best Italian restaurants in Santa Barbara. Chef Dario Furlati combines authentic imported pasta, cheese, tomatoes, flour, and olive oil with fresh local ingredients in order to offer the consistency in food quality that brings customers back year after year, making Ca’Dario restaurants among the best Italian restaurants Santa Barbara has to offer. The wine list includes a good selection of Italian wines from Sicily to Tuscany. Italian beers are also served.” -Ca’ Dario
Start with you Antipasti of Caprese, Grigliata D’Aspargi, Vitello Tonnato, or even the Ravioli Al Burro E Salvia.
My favorite Primi (First Course) is the Linguinette All Vongole (Pasta with clams / Pictured above). There is plenty of shaved garlic in this thin flat pasta with fresh clams, chili flakes, parsley and a beautiful white wine sauce that combines all of the perfection.
If you eat the Italian way, then you must get the Secondi (Second Course). I usually just get the first course to myself and that is it… but, If you share the Pasta then the second course needs to be added! They have great options, my two top dishes are the Pesce Fresco Del Giorno (Fish of the Day) and the Lombata DI Vitello (20 oz grilled grass-fed veal short loin with rosemary sage butter).
To end on a sweet note, try the Coppa DI Gelato to end the night: Chocolate, hazelnut and pistachio are all great!
2. Holdren’s Steaks & Seafood
Home of the original Santa Barbara Famous Joe’s Cafe, Holdren’s Steak House opened in 2003 and I consider it the Best Steak in Downtown Santa Barbara. They have reasonably priced bottles of wine for the night.
Start with a Salad to share, I recommend the Caramelized Apple and Walnut Salad.
There are plenty of wonderful choices, but I come to Holdren’s for the steak. I get the Filet Mignon. They have a 6, 9 and 12 oz choice. My athletic teen boy gets the “Cowboy Cut” which is Holdren’s signature steak ringing in at half a pound bone-in rib eye served with spicy onion rings.
3. Mony’s Mexican Food
“In 2013, Mony’s became the Funk Zone’s go-to spot for hungry folks craving home-cooked authentic Mexican dishes created by Monica “Mony” Diaz. A native of Colima, Mexico, where she started cooking as a child, Diaz brought her handcrafted seasonings and family recipes to Santa Barbara first in a popular food truck and then to their hole-in-the-wall joint on Anacapa Street, around the corner from the neighborhood’s many tasting rooms.” – Rebecca Horrigan
Best Tacos by the beach.
If you find yourself to be in Santa Barbaras Famous “Funk Zone,” take a taco break at Monies.
If you go to a taco place, you get tacos. Some people swear by their burritos-but it seems like a sin to get anything other than tacos here.
Start with your Jarritos of choice. I love the Tamarind, Mandarin and Strawberry flavors.
Best choices: Carne asada (Grilled beef), Lengua (Beef Tongue), Cabeza (Head), Al Pastor (Marinated pork), Pescado (Fish), Rajas con queso (Pasilla pepper with Cheese).
Get a bunch of the Avocado Salsa. You are welcome.
“Their food world began with Sushi Teri, the economical yet delicious way Santa Barbarians crush their cravings for raw fish and sweet marinated chicken, salmon, and beef. Intimate and homey, each Sushi Teri offers a middlebrow approach to Japanese dishes more often offered on the higher end in this town, from Arigato to Yoichi’s.” – D.J. Palladino
Best Sushi in Santa Barbara.
There are several amazing Sushi places, but I find myself returning often to Sushi Teri.
Start with your Miso Soup and House Cabbage Salad.
My Favorite Downtown Special is the Black Cod (It is served with miso soup, white rice and salad). I dare you to try the Black Cod in any Michelin Star restaurant and compare it to how this little sushi place makes it and I guarantee that Sushi Teri does it better.
If you are here for Sushi, my top 5 are:
T.J. Roll- Tempura Shrimp, Imitation Crab ,Cream Cheese, Jalapeno, topped with Baked Salmon, and Avocado witth Jalapeno vinaigrette sauce
“The casual Milpas Street eatery has been serving lunch and dinner since opening the first Thai restaurant in town in 1983. The lived-in feel of its atmosphere has an Asian flare with its exotic touches and colorfully decorative fanned umbrellas over the light fixtures.” – Joanie Hudson
Best Thai on Milpas Street 🙂
We normally order to pick up, but they have wonderful seating to enjoy. Our family favorites:
Pad Thai
Eggplant Curry
Yellow Curry
Read nah noodles
Pork Dumplings
Pa nang Curry
Curry Noodles
Tom Ka (House Special)
You can add chicken, tofu, veggies or shrimp to most dishes with a couple sides of white rice. Enjoy!
Top 5 Santa Barbara eats 
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