1208 State St., Santa Barbara, USA

$$ ・ Asian

MICHELIN Guide's Point Of View

Bib Gourmand: good quality, good value cooking

This eatery in the heart of downtown is not only good fun but also good for the wallet. Here, the Chefs/partners bring their disparate expertise—one is a barbecue aficionado from Nashville, the other is Indonesian, and together they turn out a menu of thoroughly pleasing Southeast Asian food. Attractions include a well-spiced rendition of green papaya salad, mixing aromatic herbs, chilies and peanuts. Bao can be ordered fried or steamed, which yields a pillowy soft bun to be filled with crunchy fried chicken in a tangy sauce. The interior is appealingly simple, but the back patio is a hidden gem, filled with string lights and communal tables that can be booked for parties. Weekday happy hour simply means steep discounts on a variety of food and drinks.

Facilities & Services

• Air conditioning
• Terrace
• Wheelchair access

Reservation number

tel:+1 805-965-4566

Website

https://samasamakitchen.com/

Opening hours