Sama Sama Kitchen

"Food is more like semi Asian street food but in a fine dining style (very small portion and pricy. The environment is nice tho. Also on reservation it asked what’s the occasion, we mentioned it’s a bday dinner but was not acknowledged at all during dining. So overall experience is just ok."

"I walked into this place expecting good food but honestly I was blown away with the food. Everything was just special. The duck salad was crispy, fresh, and had a very unique south-east Asian flavor. The signature chicken wings were amazing, highly recommend squeezing the lemon on the wings as the flavor elevates. The nasi goreng tasted authentic. The Javanese braised chicken tasted delightful and very different from anything I have ever had. It goes well with the yellow coconut rice. Highly recommend this place!"

"What I REALLY wish I had a picture of is the crispy rice salad.... But I always dive in immediately and forget a photo. It is honestly one of my most favorite dishes, anywhere. Super crunchy and flavorful and I crave it all the time. Order 2 for the table because you won't want to share. Fantastic cocktails and rotating seasonal specials. We keep coming back again and again. Highly recommend for both a quick lunch or romantic dinner date. This spot hits on so many levels."

"Southeast Asian style (Indonesian focused) eatery with some of the best food and drinks I’ve had in a long time. The ultra friendly service, the rich ambiance, and the amazing food really makes this place stand out, especially considering it receives acclaim in many public websites about the best food in Santa Barbara. The food here is inspired by southeast Asian themes with a focus on Indonesian culture. There are plates such as pork noodles (amazing), ribs (also amazing), and many other meat based rib and rice bowls. Everything was delicious and looked beautiful! They have a wide variety of cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks. It ranges from seltzer’s, to fresh tea, to highly sophisticated margaritas with unique ingredients I never thought of. I’d highly recommend their gin-based cocktails, as well as the Mezcal margarita, some of the best cocktail experiences I’ve ever had. Be prepared to wait to be seated or come right when they open. This place is highly popular and for a good reason. This restaurant is listed on multiple websites as one of the best places to eat in Santa Barbara, and I can confirm that it is. As such, you will need to prepare to come here, but it is going to be worth your weight. After you eat, you can walk all the way back down in State Street in Itzá really good experience to let your food settle and enjoy the beautiful city in Santa Barbara is. Absolutely recommended."

"My husband and I spent almost a week in Santa Barbara hitting up all the restaurants we’ve been wanting to go to. We got married so it was a special week. Sama Sama was one of our favorites on the trip and we went back twice! The food was excellent - I did not take photos of everything we got. We also got the pork noodles - highly recommend. Not that it needs it but whatever extra wing sauce I had, I poured it on top of the noodles. We also got a miso black cod wrapped in a banana leaf with some curry on it. So delicate and delicious. This was a special, not on the menu. The drinks were some of the best hand crafted cocktails I’ve had in a while, unique and easy to put down. The staff, ambiance and vibe was perfect! Can’t wait to come back. Thanks for everything!"