Onigiri & Sushi

Splendid in every way. One of the best meals I've had in ages. The service is warm and attentive. The food (for us) had the perfect balance between familiar/comforting and "huh, I don't think I've had that before". The flavors are both delicate and intensely delicious. Lots of umami here. Even the dessert course which can sometimes be a throw away actually blew us away (fruit and bean filled mochi dumplings/raviolis). I cannot wait to return!

Due to my wife being a foodie and I having been converted to one, tasting menus are always a lot of fun even if they are few and far between. We wanted to spend our last night in California for our recent trip on a high note and had a chance to try out Yoichi. Wow. This seven course meal was not only very filling (which some tasting menus might not be even with multiple courses...) but each dish was both visually fun and flavorful! Paired with a Sake that was delicious we had a great time. The seating was comfortable and you truly felt the Japanese atmosphere when entering the small and unassuming restaurant. The waitstaff was on point in making sure we were having a good time and delivering refills of water whenever needed, sometimes even without our noticing as we enjoyed our meals. A wonderful experience on the whole and one we would happily repeat again if in the area.

One of Santa Barbaras finest restaurants. Not the typical meal most people expect from a Japanese restaurant. Each course blends amazing flavors together with fresh seasonal ingredients. The staff service was exceptional, flexible with our needs, and an absolute blast to talk with.

My favorite restaurant ever. The food is so thoughtfully prepared, fresh, and fun! If I lived in Santa Barbara, it would be hard not to eat there all the time. I live in NYC, and I insist on eating there whenever I visit. Truly authentic, amazing Japanese cuisine. If you are in SB, treat yourself! You won't regret it.

Kaiseki menu from soup, appetizers, sashimi, grilled, nigiri, dessert plus more. 8 courses in total. Each dish was carefully arranged and tasted delicious. Ingredients were very fresh. Servers were fantastic. Each dish was not only explained but also gave us instructions on how and what order to eat each bite. Small restaurant and minimally decorated but classy. It was a wonderful meal. Reservation is a must and required.

Everything is a work of art, cozy vibe and friendly and attentive service! Really fresh fish too. Loved everything about Yoichi’s. We’ll be back ☺️

I cannot recommend this dinner experience. It was one of the best meal Ive ever had.

Absolutely love Yoichi’s. Great Japanese cuisine with set menus.

Me and my Husband made a reservation for Jan 1st to celebrate his birthday. We love this restaurant! Best experience ever. We really want to visit Japan now that we had this dinner experience. The food was exceptional and went beyond our expectations. Definitely high quality ingredients. I highly recommend this place if you are really looking for an authentic Japanese cuisine experience.

I love their Kaiseki. We went there 2 times and both times were “there is nothing to compare” experiences. I have worked as a chef in Japan, assisted a pro and learned about traditional Japanese seafood preparation. The course meal dishes the waiter brought to our table were authentic yet well adjusted to the culture. The waiter Daisuke who is also very professional would take his time to explain the dish, from origin of the ingredients, how they were prepped, and the best order to eat each piece. The restaurant is open only Thursday-Sunday, that I can sense the chef’s effort of taking his time to search for the best ingredients from the different places and serve them at the best. I think I will make a reservation soon for the 3rd time. :)

My friend and I had dinner at Yoichi's last night. Another friend who is a chef and major foodie had strongly recommended it to us. It was fabulous!! Every taste was perfect and the selection of tastes was ingenious. The presentation of the food was beautiful on handcrafted ceramic dishes. The pacing of the courses was perfect as well. Not too quick or too slow, just right. And the servers were knowledgeable, helpful, and very kind. To get 7 courses of this quality anywhere else would cost twice as much! I would strongly encourage people to support this wonderful restaurant it is a true gem.

I grew up in Santa Barbara and have spent 19 years here total. This is without a doubt the freshest fish I’ve had in town, and the best Japanese meal of my life. Everything was astoundingly delicious. Absolutely worth it

Great experience at Yoichi's. A very charming, small restaurant that takes great care in presentation and flavor of their dishes. The food was great. Fresh and photographs well. The staff was friendly, helpful and fast. The whole experience made for a lovely Friday evening. The one issue I had was trying to eat steamed crab with chopsticks.

Absolutely amazing multi-course dinner. Went for my husband’s birthday. Every course was explained by the chef, absolutely exquisite. I have a shellfish allergy and the chef accommodated me and altered 2 courses for me specifically. Amazing food. Amazing service. Amazing experience. We will return to this place.

Highly recommended!! This is an incredible Kaiseki restaurant with very high quality 8 course gourmet, authentic Japanese food. Amazing dining experience. Every dish is so beautiful and artistic yet very tasty. Compared to other Japanese food, Kaiseki requires lots of different cooking skill for each course. I can tell how much effort Chef Yoichi puts in each dish. All the seafood is so fresh and high quality. The sashimi is the best I ever had and variety that I don't see in the US that easily. How lucky we are to have Yoichi's in Santa Barbara!

This place was outstandingly good. The courses were all balanced and delicate. The selection of shrimp and fish is flown in from Japan and is more tender and creamy than some of the local options. This is a great spot to celebrate an occasion but just eating here is a celebration unto itself.

The 8-course meal we had was absolutely incredible. Food was presented and explained by the most friendly waitstaff, making the experience unlike the overly precious prix fixe meals we have had in other restaurants. Standout items for me included ika nigiri which was so uniquely creamy, a swoon-worthy corn bechamel atop sea bass, baby octopus with seaweed and vinegar, but everything was delicious and beautifully presented. Unfortunately I forgot to photograph several of the courses. We will definitely come back.

Yoichi absolutely blew me away—this was hands down one of the best Japanese meals I’ve ever had. Every dish was deeply flavorful and clearly made with serious care and intention. The two servers were kind, attentive, and impressively knowledgeable about the food and sake pairings, which made the whole experience feel really special. When we went, the restaurant was surprisingly quiet—which honestly felt like we had a hidden gem moment. I don’t know how more people aren’t talking about this place. If you love authentic Japanese food, it’s a must try. It completely outshines anything I’ve had in Seattle (and I’ve eaten a lot of Japanese food there). Yoichi deserves a full house every night!

The most amazing set course meal we have ever had. The meal left us feeling satiated, inspired, and well taken care of. Chef served us a special glass of sake for our anniversary. We will be back.

So happy somehow I came across Yoichi's! I practically came here on a whim but made reservations in the morning on Friday. Always recommended to set up reservations anywhere pretty much especially Yoichi's is on the smaller side and has table side intimate service. The menu is pretty set with seasonal and hand selected ingredients. I was amazed at the detail of little garnishes and ingredients I've never had in my life. The service between the couple was awesome very thorough and informative. I felt like I was at home and it was a nice private course dinner basically so well worth the price for the amount of food and information I felt full!

Had a great dinning experience. Some dishes are too salty for my preference but overall very happy with the quality of food. I also noticed that a few ingredients/items are the same as last year. Would recommend if you want to splurge on fine dining.

Please allow me to add to the chorus of voices praising Yoichi’s. We had just been to eat at Michelin-starred Caruso’s the night before… Yoichi’s was not only half as expensive but twice as good. Food courses absolutely gorgeous, cohesive, delicate, delicious… enough in quantity to really enjoy it but not so much that you feel overstuffed by the end. The variety of dishes was incredible and the tastes exquisite. There were two people serving the dining room when we were there - I’m sorry I don’t remember their names but they were both so kind, knowledgable, and attentive. Bonus points for jazzy versions of Studio Ghibli tunes playing as atmospheric music ❤️ You won’t regret coming here. You will only regret that you can’t eat here every night. We will be sure to come back when we are in Santa Barbara.

What a wonderful experience. This was truly a unique dining experience and while it is expensive it's a rare experience making it worth the cost. We had the opportunity to try several different entres and learn about the culture. The food was exquisite and definitely left us full. The staff is very kind and polite. It was a great way to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary!

What an amazing experience. And amazing food! We got out of our comfort zone a bit for this one and we were so glad we did! I already love sashimi and sushi, but I’d never tried uni before. Delicious!

High end Japanese dining that never fails to feel like a special event. Food is inventive, beautifully and artfully arranged, and so incredibly delicious. Service is attentive and the handmade dishes (plates, bowls, cups) are incredible.

Hands down, the best restaurant in Santa Barbara. It’s by reservation only because each meal is created for you with the freshest ingredients. You will have choices for most of the courses, although this is kaiseki, and the chef changes the menu with the season. It is family owned and operated and all of the staff are professional and knowledgeable. This is not just a meal. Be prepared to have an authentic Japanese cuisine experience! Here are a few of the dishes we enjoyed last Friday.

On par with some of the nicest omakase experiences I’ve ever had in NYC. A real gem. Thanks be to Reddit for putting me onto this lovely evening. I was heading to loquita and randomly checked Reddit and found Yoichi’s. The service was excellent and so very knowledgeable (and kind), and the food was exquisite.

Awesome Japanese tasting menu. A lot of local and authentic bites. Everything was very unique and delicious! Reservations are required, but it's well worth planning in advance to come to this hidden gem!

Yoichi's is one of the best restaurants I've had the privilege of dining at in the United States and I say this as someone who dines at AAA 5-Diamond and Michelin-starred restaurants regularly. My initial meal here was so good that I went back a second time the very next week. Flat rate of $100 for a 7-course Kaiseki dinner. Kaiseki originated in the 16th century as a Japanese tea ceremony. Here, it features seasonal cuisine, a mixture of sushi, grilled plates, boiled plates, and (of course) dessert. You do get a few choices on menu options. I highly recommend the Kamo no Yuanyaki (Sweet Soy Sauce Marinated Grilled Duck Breast), the Kinki no Nitsuke (Japanese Rock Fish Simmered in Sweet Broth), and the Hamaguri Shinjo Sumashijatate (Clear soup with Hamaguri clam fish cake). Also I suggest the Denshin Natsu (Junmai Daiginjo Namazake), a seasonal sake, and one of my favorites I've had either in or out of Japan. This is THE place to eat if you visit Santa Barbara. Don't think twice about it, put yourself in this restaurant's capable hands and prepare to have your mind blown.

The best dining experience and food of my life! Exquisite food prepared as art and unimaginably delicious! Wonderful, attentive service. We are stunned with gratitude and appreciation for this meal. Thank you!

Sharon Flynn

The 8-course meal we had was absolutely incredible. Food was presented and explained by the most friendly waitstaff, making the experience unlike the overly precious prix fixe meals we have had in other restaurants. Standout items for me included ika nigiri which was so uniquely creamy, a swoon-worthy corn bechamel atop sea bass, baby octopus with seaweed and vinegar, but everything was delicious and beautifully presented. Unfortunately I forgot to photograph several of the courses. We will definitely come back.

AvB

Yoichi absolutely blew me away—this was hands down one of the best Japanese meals I’ve ever had. Every dish was deeply flavorful and clearly made with serious care and intention. The two servers were kind, attentive, and impressively knowledgeable about the food and sake pairings, which made the whole experience feel really special. When we went, the restaurant was surprisingly quiet—which honestly felt like we had a hidden gem moment. I don’t know how more people aren’t talking about this place. If you love authentic Japanese food, it’s a must try. It completely outshines anything I’ve had in Seattle (and I’ve eaten a lot of Japanese food there). Yoichi deserves a full house every night!

Yara Askar

What a wonderful experience. This was truly a unique dining experience and while it is expensive it's a rare experience making it worth the cost. We had the opportunity to try several different entres and learn about the culture. The food was exquisite and definitely left us full. The staff is very kind and polite. It was a great way to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary!

Colin Kapps

The most amazing set course meal we have ever had. The meal left us feeling satiated, inspired, and well taken care of. Chef served us a special glass of sake for our anniversary. We will be back.

Grace Marquez

So happy somehow I came across Yoichi's! I practically came here on a whim but made reservations in the morning on Friday. Always recommended to set up reservations anywhere pretty much especially Yoichi's is on the smaller side and has table side intimate service. The menu is pretty set with seasonal and hand selected ingredients. I was amazed at the detail of little garnishes and ingredients I've never had in my life. The service between the couple was awesome very thorough and informative. I felt like I was at home and it was a nice private course dinner basically so well worth the price for the amount of food and information I felt full!

Jennifer Gray

High end Japanese dining that never fails to feel like a special event. Food is inventive, beautifully and artfully arranged, and so incredibly delicious. Service is attentive and the handmade dishes (plates, bowls, cups) are incredible.

Blackberry BB

Had a great dinning experience. Some dishes are too salty for my preference but overall very happy with the quality of food. I also noticed that a few ingredients/items are the same as last year. Would recommend if you want to splurge on fine dining.

Sarah Falk

Please allow me to add to the chorus of voices praising Yoichi’s. We had just been to eat at Michelin-starred Caruso’s the night before… Yoichi’s was not only half as expensive but twice as good. Food courses absolutely gorgeous, cohesive, delicate, delicious… enough in quantity to really enjoy it but not so much that you feel overstuffed by the end. The variety of dishes was incredible and the tastes exquisite. There were two people serving the dining room when we were there - I’m sorry I don’t remember their names but they were both so kind, knowledgable, and attentive. Bonus points for jazzy versions of Studio Ghibli tunes playing as atmospheric music ❤️ You won’t regret coming here. You will only regret that you can’t eat here every night. We will be sure to come back when we are in Santa Barbara.

Sophia Jensen

What an amazing experience. And amazing food! We got out of our comfort zone a bit for this one and we were so glad we did! I already love sashimi and sushi, but I’d never tried uni before. Delicious!

Kristen LaBonte

Hands down, the best restaurant in Santa Barbara. It’s by reservation only because each meal is created for you with the freshest ingredients. You will have choices for most of the courses, although this is kaiseki, and the chef changes the menu with the season. It is family owned and operated and all of the staff are professional and knowledgeable. This is not just a meal. Be prepared to have an authentic Japanese cuisine experience! Here are a few of the dishes we enjoyed last Friday.

William B. Watson

On par with some of the nicest omakase experiences I’ve ever had in NYC. A real gem. Thanks be to Reddit for putting me onto this lovely evening. I was heading to loquita and randomly checked Reddit and found Yoichi’s. The service was excellent and so very knowledgeable (and kind), and the food was exquisite.

Raymond Collins

Awesome Japanese tasting menu. A lot of local and authentic bites. Everything was very unique and delicious! Reservations are required, but it's well worth planning in advance to come to this hidden gem!

Hands down one of the best sushi spots in town. Everything tastes super fresh and the presentation is beautiful without feeling fussy. The chef clearly cares about every detail, and the staff is kind and attentive without hovering. The omakase is worth every penny — each course feels thoughtful and different. It’s a quiet little gem that makes you slow down and actually enjoy your meal. Highly recommend for anyone who loves real, high-quality sushi.

Authentic, cozy, and really well done. You can tell a lot of care goes into each dish. A go to fine dining experience when in town. Highly recommend

Enki Badamkhand

Everything is a work of art, cozy vibe and friendly and attentive service! Really fresh fish too. Loved everything about Yoichi’s. We’ll be back ☺️

Stacy Ulzii

Authentic, cozy, and really well done. You can tell a lot of care goes into each dish. A go to fine dining experience when in town. Highly recommend

Buster

Hands down one of the best sushi spots in town. Everything tastes super fresh and the presentation is beautiful without feeling fussy. The chef clearly cares about every detail, and the staff is kind and attentive without hovering. The omakase is worth every penny — each course feels thoughtful and different. It’s a quiet little gem that makes you slow down and actually enjoy your meal. Highly recommend for anyone who loves real, high-quality sushi.

Jae Borgard

Kaiseki menu from soup, appetizers, sashimi, grilled, nigiri, dessert plus more. 8 courses in total. Each dish was carefully arranged and tasted delicious. Ingredients were very fresh. Servers were fantastic. Each dish was not only explained but also gave us instructions on how and what order to eat each bite. Small restaurant and minimally decorated but classy. It was a wonderful meal. Reservation is a must and required.

Quick Summary Cozy Japanese restaurant that offers Kaiseki (prix fixe) with excellent service. Try to book reservations a few weeks in advance. The service and atmosphere were excellent. Appetizers were excellent. But the entrees and dessert were average. Was very excited to try this restaurant, but was disappointed, probably due to high expectations Food- 4 stars The Kaiseki was 7 courses. Started out well with the appetizers but flounded towards the finish line The appetizers prior to sashimi were all very good and thought out. I would give it 5 stars to start The sashimi and sushi that came before and after the grilled and steamed dish were good and fresh. Slight compliant that the fish was slightly colder than desired The grilled and steamed dishes (which you have 3 options each) was when things began to somewhat unravel -Grilled lobster with tama miso sauce- the lobster was cooked perfectly, but the miso sauce was overly sweet. The balance was pretty off, which was disappointing because the lobster tail was cooked perfectly -Wagyu- I can see why a few reviewers mentioned it tasted like sausage. It was pretty disappointing -Seafood steamed in citrus bowl with miso bechamel sauce- it was interesting seeing this plate served in an orange bowl. However, the sauce was so gelatinous and heavy that it was not an enjoyable experience -Fresh water eel and monkfish liver- was really disappointed that there was bones in the eel and that the monkfish liver lacked any flavor. The whole dish was overly sweet Dessert- it was a mochi crepe with fruit sort of dessert. It was good, but would've better if served hot or warm Service- 5 stars Phenomenal service. Very accommodating without being too overbearing. Ambiance/Value- 5 stars It's a small neighborhood restaurant that makes for a great date night Bottom Line Perhaps Yoichi's catered too much to Western tastes, as the food ventured towards Fusion Japanese and didn't satisfy. The appetizers were great, but it went downhill when it got to the grilled and steamed dishes. Will add an extra star for their service and ambiance

Not your usual style of a sushi restaurant. It's a course meal prepare daily by the chef himself. Every dish is presented so nice. Almost too good to eat. Very good. Fresh fish. The waitress were very helpful and nice. Explain the menu and every dish that came out. It's a bit pricey but well worth it. The place is nice and clean. Good for a romantic time with your love one. My girlfriend definitely loved it. We will definitely be back soon. Great for special occasion.

We chose this establishment to commemorate our wedding anniversary. We have a fondness for Japanese cuisine and decided to experience what this restaurant had to offer. While we initially anticipated an à la carte menu, we were pleasantly surprised by the course dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed each course, with the exception of the main course, which we found to be slightly oversalted. Nevertheless, we truly appreciated the meticulous preparation, beautiful presentation, and delightful flavors of the dishes. We typically do not favor ginger, but we found the ginger served here to have a distinct and enjoyable taste compared to what we are accustomed to. For dessert, we sampled both the black sesame pudding and the green tea pudding, with the black sesame being our preferred choice.

First time we had this 7 course meal and it was impressive. I agree with another reviewer about the variance of the quality of materials used inthe meals, but for a Kaiseki course this is about the right price for the quality. The best qualities are the sashimi, the uni (from Santa Barbara and Hokkaido) were wonderful, the mackerel was fatty and the best mackerel I've had. The cod soup is great as the black cod itself was very flavorful. For the grilled dish I had Salmon and it was the best choice out of the 3, the salmon was grilled to perfection with some marinate that gave it an extra kick. For the steam dish the oyster bowl was awesome, the sauce absorbed both the taste of the mandarin bowl and oyster, and as you get deeper the mandarin flavor strengthened, I loved it! The eel and monkfish liver was ok, the eel is exactly what you'd expect, and the liver was not too fatty and had decent flavor and not too strong. Now the less impressive are the wagyu, both the appetizer and the grilled version did not impress, it was dry and hard, and the grilled one was well done which did not help. The dessert was strawberry and blueberry mochis, which I thought could be fancier. Kaiseki is definitely an experience though, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Lyndseey Franco

We chose this establishment to commemorate our wedding anniversary. We have a fondness for Japanese cuisine and decided to experience what this restaurant had to offer. While we initially anticipated an à la carte menu, we were pleasantly surprised by the course dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed each course, with the exception of the main course, which we found to be slightly oversalted. Nevertheless, we truly appreciated the meticulous preparation, beautiful presentation, and delightful flavors of the dishes. We typically do not favor ginger, but we found the ginger served here to have a distinct and enjoyable taste compared to what we are accustomed to. For dessert, we sampled both the black sesame pudding and the green tea pudding, with the black sesame being our preferred choice.

Cody Kwok

First time we had this 7 course meal and it was impressive. I agree with another reviewer about the variance of the quality of materials used inthe meals, but for a Kaiseki course this is about the right price for the quality. The best qualities are the sashimi, the uni (from Santa Barbara and Hokkaido) were wonderful, the mackerel was fatty and the best mackerel I've had. The cod soup is great as the black cod itself was very flavorful. For the grilled dish I had Salmon and it was the best choice out of the 3, the salmon was grilled to perfection with some marinate that gave it an extra kick. For the steam dish the oyster bowl was awesome, the sauce absorbed both the taste of the mandarin bowl and oyster, and as you get deeper the mandarin flavor strengthened, I loved it! The eel and monkfish liver was ok, the eel is exactly what you'd expect, and the liver was not too fatty and had decent flavor and not too strong. Now the less impressive are the wagyu, both the appetizer and the grilled version did not impress, it was dry and hard, and the grilled one was well done which did not help. The dessert was strawberry and blueberry mochis, which I thought could be fancier. Kaiseki is definitely an experience though, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

I hate to say this, but under adequate especially given the price tag attached. We were looking for a place to celebrate, and landed here—not the best call. The service was nice and people were lovely, but the star of the show, the FOOD was so mediocre. Some stuff was over salty, some textures were off, and overall I couldn’t wait to leave. I really wanted to like it.

Very good, but there are better choices for ~ $160/person (all included). The sashimi was some of the best I've ever had. The wagyu, duck and crab could be better. The eel with monkfish liver pate was good but for the price I expected more complexity. The servers were kind and knew the dishes and sake very well, but at times were too busy to be adequately attentive. Excellent choices of sake - maybe the highlight of my visit along with the sashimi. The ambience was very serene, calm and understated. Attire smart casual or smart. Good for a date, but there are better choices (e.g. El Encanto)

Stelios Serghiou

Very good, but there are better choices for ~ $160/person (all included). The sashimi was some of the best I've ever had. The wagyu, duck and crab could be better. The eel with monkfish liver pate was good but for the price I expected more complexity. The servers were kind and knew the dishes and sake very well, but at times were too busy to be adequately attentive. Excellent choices of sake - maybe the highlight of my visit along with the sashimi. The ambience was very serene, calm and understated. Attire smart casual or smart. Good for a date, but there are better choices (e.g. El Encanto)

The flavors of our meal were very repetitive and heavy. A majority of the dishes focused on dashi and miso flavors with root vegetables that did not match the season. I was expecting more creativity for a coursed meal at this price point. The first soup course was excellent, the rest, meh.

Shawn Mengel

The flavors of our meal were very repetitive and heavy. A majority of the dishes focused on dashi and miso flavors with root vegetables that did not match the season. I was expecting more creativity for a coursed meal at this price point. The first soup course was excellent, the rest, meh.

It’s a pre-fix high price place. A small amount of food I am used to with Japanese, but it just didn’t seem that high quality unfortunately. The dishes weren’t very tasty, and I went in really wanting to like it. The ambiance and service are really solid, unfortunately the food just wasn’t there, ESPECIALLY for the price.