Choi's Oriental Market

Galina

Hiddem gem. I love the hot stone bibimbap here. Bulgogi were satisfactory. Every trip to Santa Barbara, we keep coming back.

CHANEL CHOUBACHA

Honestly, the Central Coast is an Asian food desert so Goleta is a gold mine! I grew up in LA and cheap, authentic Asian food is everywhere. Since I moved to the Central Coast, places like Choi's Oriental Market is a gold mine. The prices aren't the best, the variety isn't either...but I can't really complain because it's a blessing that this place exists! + Great little market with all the essentials. They got Asian snacks, drinks, noodles, food items, and other Asian cooking essentials + Easy parking + Small, cozy dining area but we didn't have a hard time finding seating. We also didn't have a wait either. + For first timers: Order/pay at the cash register, bring your receipt to the kitchen, find seating, wait for food. Pretty easy but it can be confusing if it's your first time here. + Atmosphere isn't really great, but it has a really authentic Asian vibe lol. + Decent selection of Korean staples + Banchan selection is okay + Jajangmyeon is legit here! Super slurpy and chewy noodles, saucy, and good portion. + Small restroom in the back where the kitchen is. + Service is efficient and fast. Not the warmest, but not rude either. Just...busy?

Dei Garcia

I miss this place so much 💘😔 it was one of my favs when I lived in SB. The shop is small but the variety is amazing and the owners are sweethearts. The dine in menu is also delicious and you can tell it has that home cooked taste ✨ thank you Mr Choi

Jeanetta Nixon

The food they serve is fantastic, I've never had a less than stellar meal from here. Plus I can shop for my own ingredients while waiting.

Kristen LaBonte

The spicy squid was delicious. I’m looking forward to working my way through their menu!

Maria Rodriguez

Absolutely delicious food and amazing owners, and great costumer service. The owners even surprised us with a Melona ice cream pop before we left :) 10/10 would come here again - MARIA

Amy Prince

Awesome Korean market with a nice selection of snacks and ingredients and a delicious eatery located within the store. Grab a drink, place your order at the cash register, find a seat and prepare to have your tastebuds amazed by their yummy foods! My favorite is the #10 tteok mandu guk, a mild and tasty soup with rice cakes and dumplings, but everything I’ve tried here is wonderful.

Only option in Goleta/Santa Barbara with legit quality Korean food. Kimchi Korean BBQ works in a pinch (but if I took my mother there she would complain the whole time about it being overpriced for the quality). Choi's has a small mom and pop grocery store, with some solid items, but it cannot cover a huge amount of asian/Korean staples since it is such a small market. It has enough to cover the basics however. The small kitchen in the back punches above its weight. 20 items on the menu, everything made to order, and the quality is really solid. Highlights include galbi, jajangmyeon, naengmyeon, oxtail soup (yes oxtail!), teokbokki, spicy pork, bibbimbop all good. Limited banchan (side dishes), but if they beef'd up the banchan a bit it would be amazing for our area. I eat here 1-2x a week.

This is one of my favorite stores. It is a nice small clean and organized shop that offers a wide variety of Korean snacks and groceries, while also being a little restaurant. The food was absolutely incredible, I ordered the spicy squid stir fry and it became one of my favorite meals. In the store you can find drinks, noodles, sauces, chips, freezed treats, candy, and more. Also, the people who work there are very friendly.

Food is soooo good here. We like the hot stone bimbimbap, jajangmeon, the mungbean pancake, and spicy pork! Service is really good. They are extremely friendly and accommodating and hospitable. Indoor or outdoor seating available. We love visiting when we’re in the area! Thank you!

Only place to get genuine Korean food in Santa Barbara, won’t go anywhere else for Korean. Great snacks, delicious food! Such a hidden gem, wish they delivered!

So, I came here from Las Vegas NV, wanted to try some Korean food and came across Choi’s. I was impressed on the quality and taste of the food. Staff was attentive and nice. They came promptly to clean the tables. The new owner was kind. I feel that compared to last time I was here this was definitely an improvement! Finally owner is not eye gouging. Prices from snacks and food overall are reasonable and fair for new customers to come. Keep up the good work!

Not too familiar with Korean cuisine, but this is an outstanding little korean hole in the wall spot. Was pleasantly surprised to be served a starter soup with my order. Never had korean radish soup before. I had asked what it was and told the lady from the kitchen it was very good, she offered me another bowl. The spicy squid dish was bold and beautiful, I'll be back very soon.

My favorite Korean market in Santa Barbara. OK, the only Korean market I know of. BUT seriously, they have been very helpful to me as a "new to Korean food cook". I'm dying to try the restaurant side of the shop to compare if my cooking is even a 1 to they're 10s.

Owners are incredibly kind and the food is wonderful! They have a wide variety of Korean produce and snacks (that really weren't expensive like other reviews claim) and I will definitely be coming back!

I give them five stars cause 1. The family that runs this place is just so sweet and lovely, They remind me of my parents 2. They have a great selection of staple Korean pantry items 3. This is the only mom and pop / Korean grocery store in probably all of Santa Barbara county. 4. They also serve Korean food as well.

Devin Granados

Only place to get genuine Korean food in Santa Barbara, won’t go anywhere else for Korean. Great snacks, delicious food! Such a hidden gem, wish they delivered!

Jaon Джейсон Кент

This is one of my favorite stores. It is a nice small clean and organized shop that offers a wide variety of Korean snacks and groceries, while also being a little restaurant. The food was absolutely incredible, I ordered the spicy squid stir fry and it became one of my favorite meals. In the store you can find drinks, noodles, sauces, chips, freezed treats, candy, and more. Also, the people who work there are very friendly.

Megan L

Food is soooo good here. We like the hot stone bimbimbap, jajangmeon, the mungbean pancake, and spicy pork! Service is really good. They are extremely friendly and accommodating and hospitable. Indoor or outdoor seating available. We love visiting when we’re in the area! Thank you!

Tim Sauter

My favorite Korean market in Santa Barbara. OK, the only Korean market I know of. BUT seriously, they have been very helpful to me as a "new to Korean food cook". I'm dying to try the restaurant side of the shop to compare if my cooking is even a 1 to they're 10s.

Jessica Figueroa

So, I came here from Las Vegas NV, wanted to try some Korean food and came across Choi’s. I was impressed on the quality and taste of the food. Staff was attentive and nice. They came promptly to clean the tables. The new owner was kind. I feel that compared to last time I was here this was definitely an improvement! Finally owner is not eye gouging. Prices from snacks and food overall are reasonable and fair for new customers to come. Keep up the good work!

Yura

Owners are incredibly kind and the food is wonderful! They have a wide variety of Korean produce and snacks (that really weren't expensive like other reviews claim) and I will definitely be coming back!

Erik Olson

Not too familiar with Korean cuisine, but this is an outstanding little korean hole in the wall spot. Was pleasantly surprised to be served a starter soup with my order. Never had korean radish soup before. I had asked what it was and told the lady from the kitchen it was very good, she offered me another bowl. The spicy squid dish was bold and beautiful, I'll be back very soon.

Desiree Shin

I give them five stars cause 1. The family that runs this place is just so sweet and lovely, They remind me of my parents 2. They have a great selection of staple Korean pantry items 3. This is the only mom and pop / Korean grocery store in probably all of Santa Barbara county. 4. They also serve Korean food as well.

Decent!

Tianling Wan

Decent!

It's really an odd little place, half little store half restaurant, it's kind of cramped and full of all sorts of wonderful treats and unknown foods strewn about. The restaurant part is small as well however the food is perfectly seasoned and delicious.The family that's runs it are a hoot, just their attitude brings a smile to my face. The menu is small But with a lot of different things, some quite unusual and absolutely scrumptious. Overall, this is a great place for a quick spicy and delicious meal or a a quick to go meal.

Geoffrey B

It's really an odd little place, half little store half restaurant, it's kind of cramped and full of all sorts of wonderful treats and unknown foods strewn about. The restaurant part is small as well however the food is perfectly seasoned and delicious.The family that's runs it are a hoot, just their attitude brings a smile to my face. The menu is small But with a lot of different things, some quite unusual and absolutely scrumptious. Overall, this is a great place for a quick spicy and delicious meal or a a quick to go meal.

Jay Esi

3 STARS DOESNT MEAN ITS BAD This here is a hidden gem! I happened to spot this during a doctors visit one day. Months later I'm here in Goleta and had the chance to visit this little place. When I read "Oriental Market", I was really expecting an Asian market with all necessary household ingredients. So don't expect to see items such as: • Fish Sauce • Soy Sauce • 25lbs / 50lbs bag of Jasmine rice • Oyster Sauce • Produces (Veggies/Fruits) • Utensils and etc But they do sell Hoison, lots if instant noodle packs, schihuan peppers, curry pastes, msg, noodles, beverages. The cool thing about this place, they serve hot meals as well. Nice little spot, hidden and tucked away. Definitely looking to try the food here some day.

David B

Market for Asian products to find the essentials. Unfortunately very few prices are listed on items so you really don't know what things cost until you get surprised at the register. I would have rated five stars if prices were listed as in other stores. There is also a small counter to buy prepared food items which are very tasty