Santa Barbara is the land of fresh seafood and California cuisine. They’re usually the first things anyone visiting the coast wants to try, and it’s hard not to fill a list with those coastal staples. But locals and regular visitors know that beyond the fish tacos and avocado toast, this seaside city quietly boasts exceptional sushi bars, intimate omakase counters, and ramen shops worth the drive. These are the 15 Japanese spots that elevate Santa Barbara’s dining scene.
Sushi Go Go
$ | (805) 962-6568 | WEBSITE
You don’t go to Sushi Go Go for the chicken. You’re there for fresh, quick sushi rolls on the wharf with a view that’s perfect for people watching. But if you go to Sushi Go Go and don’t order the baked lobster roll—topped with seared yellowtail and freshly fried onion, then served with that signature spicy tuna kick—you’re doing yourself a disservice. This is casual Japanese dining done right. You want to be right, don’t you?
Sun Sushi
$$ | (805) 845-7720 | WEBSITE
The Volcano Roll at Sun Sushi is a masterpiece. It’s impressive to behold—and with its generous size, just as impressive to savor. It’s also exquisite. Order one to share with your companions, along with a platter of Crispy Spicy Tuna and fresh sashimi. Then decide who gets to do the ever-so-satisfying act of dipping each perfect piece into the accompanying spicy mayo.
Hibachi Steak House & Sushi Bar
$$ | (805) 966-6607 | WEBSITE
There’s a reason people wait for a table during peak dinner hours, seven days a week, for the chance to experience Hibachi Steak House & Sushi Bar’s teppanyaki show. This is the entertainment that defines the place and puts Santa Barbara’s Japanese dining scene in the conversation about memorable nights out. We may have had better sushi rolls on occasion, but there’s no denying the restaurant’s reliably pleasant staff and reasonable prices.
Yoichi’s
$$$$ | (805) 962-6627 | WEBSITE
Everything at this Santa Barbara Japanese restaurant is good, but why settle for good when you could have something a little extraordinary? The kaiseki menu fills an entire evening by itself, and the fact that the ingredients are flown in from Japan makes for a nice story. Most importantly, it’s delicious. This is what all the other Japanese restaurants in the greater Santa Barbara area want to be when they grow up.
Sakana Sushi Bar & Japanese
$$$ | (805) 565-2014 | WEBSITE
Sakana Sushi Bar & Japanese makes the most exemplary combination of fresh fish, crispy tempura, and savory flavors in Montecito. Colloquially known as the “Celebration Spot” or the “Family Favorite,” or even the “Sushi Celebration,” this is Japanese dining in a welcoming atmosphere. It should be on the bucket list of anyone stepping foot in Santa Barbara. There are other great sushi bars, but this is the one that inspires return visits across the seasons.
Sushi Bar 29
$$ | (805) 965-8873 | WEBSITE
Sushi Bar 29 has called this ‘the roll that started it all.’ As the restaurant continues to charm locals in Santa Barbara, the Mexicali roll—a generous portion of fresh fish wrapped with spicy mayo and crisp tempura bits—is still the highlight. The Sushi Bar 29 experience isn’t complete without their self-proclaimed signature, a flavorful start to the city’s best Japanese meal.
Sushi Tyme
$ | (805) 963-9955 | WEBSITE
Sushi Tyme is most famous for the Rainbow rolls, which are basically a colorful stack of fresh fish, avocado, and cucumber, with a side of miso soup. It doesn’t top the ranks of Santa Barbara’s best sushi spots, but there’s no competing with it on value or service. Sushi Tyme is, and always will be, a Santa Barbara favorite for satisfying dinners.
Kaz To Go
$ | (805) 845-0065 | WEBSITE
You might know Kaz To Go as that authentic Japanese spot tucked away in Santa Barbara, or you might just know it as the cozy takeout place where the owner-chef has been crafting original dishes for over four decades. And while you can get a very satisfying Tatsuta Age, the Katsu Don is what you’re here for. Make it a double.
Sushi Teri – Santa Barbara Japanese Restaurant
$$ | (805) 963-1250 | WEBSITE
When Sushi Teri opened in Santa Barbara, they quickly gained local recognition for their fresh ramen and flavorful Japanese dishes. To this day, the signature item at this relaxed spot is the Teriyaki Chicken. It comes as a generous portion, and each plate features tender grilled chicken with a perfectly balanced teriyaki glaze and an excellent combination of vegetables and spices.
The Mastercard Roll remains a popular choice, served with solid ingredients that highlight the kitchen’s consistency. With quick service and a kid-friendly atmosphere, it’s an ideal choice for a casual family meal or a post-workout lunch. The outdoor seating adds to the intimate setting, making it a recommended spot for Japanese cuisine in the area.
Kyoto Japanese Restaurant
$$ | (805) 687-1252 | WEBSITE
Kyoto’s California morning roll is the stuff of local legend. It’s packed full of fresh salmon, avocado, cucumber, and enough spicy mayo to offset that mound of fish. It’s almost too beautiful to disturb with your chopsticks. Kyoto should hang up one of those boards with photos of people who can finish their teriyaki and still have room for the complimentary soup and salad.
Edomasa Sushi Bar & Restaurant
$$ | (805) 687-0210 | WEBSITE
In Santa Barbara, there’s Before Edomasa Sushi Bar & Restaurant (BES) and After Edomasa Sushi Bar & Restaurant (AES). This is the spot that defined the city’s late-night sushi scene. And although there are now plenty of Japanese restaurants across town serving fresh fish and crispy fried dishes (some of them good), the consistent crowds at Edomasa’s convenient location are a testament to its appeal.
The local uni is the standard by which others are measured, and the ika kara age sets the bar for perfectly fried calamari—never greasy, always crisp. While some dishes like the miso scallops can vary, the Godzilla and Hip Hop rolls remain favorites, and the staff’s wonderful service with a smile keeps people coming back for that excellent late-night bite or reliable takeout option.
Ichiban Sushi
$$ | (805) 564-7653 | WEBSITE
No dish better represents Japanese cuisine than nigiri (fight us, ramen). And nowhere in Santa Barbara does it better than Ichiban Sushi. This cozy, family-run restaurant has been around for decades, amassing a following of longtime locals and new visitors alike. The aroma of fresh fish and miso soup is a warm welcome to anybody with a taste for quality.
Teru Japanese Cuisine
$$ | (805) 679-5835 | WEBSITE
The toro hand roll trio at Teru sets the bar for all other hand rolls. What makes them so much better than all the other ones out there? A combination of ingredients and execution. They source their own fresh toro and prepare everything to order—they take their time, and it shows. Get in the inevitable line now, these rolls are worth it.
Shintori Sushi
$$ | (805) 898-0177 | WEBSITE
Equal parts family-owned sushi haven, vegan-friendly spot, and hidden gem, this is where Santa Barbara locals and visitors whose hotel happens to be nearby unite under one quaint roof for expertly crafted rolls and warm service. It all comes together in the Japanese donuts—a marriage of Shintori Sushi’s two halves—in which a plate of these heavenly treats gets paired with a bowl of flavorful miso soup with fresh seaweed.
Arigato Sushi
$$$ | (805) 965-6074 | WEBSITE
Leave it to a Japanese restaurant in the heart of Santa Barbara to serve world-class sushi. Arigato’s fish has a clean, fresh flavor and a perfect texture, and it comes with soy sauce so smooth it tastes like the kitchen just finished brewing it. You’ll be tempted to eat every piece immediately, but save at least one bite for pairing with their extensive sake selection.