Palapa

Hani

This is a great mexican resturant, flavor and tasty food, I tried the se a food Enchiladas, and the breaded shrimp, they were very good.

Jing Song (Kathy)

We finally got to try the Mexican food our friend’s been raving about! We randomly found this awesome hidden spot—the food was so good, and the staff was super nice. Highly recommend!☀️

Noel Godinez (Thesecretcode86)

I was impressed with the food; it had amazing flavor. We got a shrimp and octopus cocktail and a plate of shrimp a la diabla. Delicious. The service was really good, and the restaurant is pretty cool with a huge variety of hot sauces.

Tom Spadoro

We heard about the HH so tried it. We weren’t disappointed. The tacos were very generous portions and 2 were a meal. Beers always compliment well. I will return and recommend you do also. Thanks Palapa! 😋 October 2024 update. Just had another delicious meal, chili verde. You can substitute grilled veggies and a side salad for the rice and beans. Don’t know another Mexican restaurant that offers that option. Enjoyed every bite!

rising star

Mucho delisioso and affordable! I recommend the le simple veggie burrito for breakfast.$11! And complimentary chips and salsa! Juan was a wonderful server, so personable, and misses his family in Reno...we are praying that he gets to go there once the flooding here in the central valley stops. They have wonderful dramatic Mexican music and it's an adorable place! Palapas means palm and the other outdoor seating and they're right next to the Hyatt in what's called upper State Street of very sleepy area that also has the Dutch gardens! A German restaurant that was open for many many years and is classic and authentic with their wiener schnitzel. I'll be reviewing them soon as I've eaten there twice and they have freshly harvested chaperel mushrooms from Gaviota in an incredible soup. 1 just gave me complimentary samples of the beans and rice which look delicioso as well! Five stars for Palapas!!!

Kevin Brewer

We had the surf and turf Parillada. Ton of food and wonderful presentation. Plenty of different flavors. Staff was very wonderful and friendly. The chef came out and explained everything on the dish before we ordered. Very highly recommended.

Alex Liu

This is the best Mexican restaurant I have ever tried in California and I live in California for 10 years, it’s definitely a must try in Santa Barbara and everything is delicious !

Gustavo C. Lopes

There are so many good Mexican restaurants in SB that it's hard to pick "The Best" one. But Palapa is certainly among my top 5. The food is always super tasty and fresh, the service is very friendly and they have those very pleasant outside tables.

Holo The Bad Wolf

Had to a wait a few minutes to take my order but they still gave it to me for happy hour price. Foods always great and huge portion sizes and has a great patio for seating. Quite a large menu with a great range of dishes including some great seafood, and a wide variety of sauces and salsas to choose from.

Delicious authentic Mexican food. Friendly hospitality and casual atmosphere. Best Mexican food in Santa Barbara!

Warm and fire sky staff with good vibes. Food was amazing .. I have never tasted such good Mexican food and would definitely recommend!!

Food and service were fantastic . Not super busy and that was a surprise. Great menu with many options. Only issue was it was a little cold with a draft in the restaurant.

I’m visiting from Alaska and the food here was fantastic. I wish I could bring you home with me. Atmosphere was great.

Chipper Clouser

Food and service were fantastic . Not super busy and that was a surprise. Great menu with many options. Only issue was it was a little cold with a draft in the restaurant.

Zoe Briers

Warm and fire sky staff with good vibes. Food was amazing .. I have never tasted such good Mexican food and would definitely recommend!!

We enjoyed the outdoor dining area, however, it was right next to the road, so noisy. The service was great and the food was plentiful, just a little different in flavor.

We've been several times and always enjoy ourselves. The food is good quality, prices aren't bad, and the staff has always been friendly. They'll meet you with chips and salsa before you even have a chance to sit down. I've had fish that tasted fresh, burritos that were legit, and a torta that was absolutely delicious. Friends and family have had enchiladas, soup, tacos, and more. I have yet to hear of a complaint. Good stuff.

Great find, surprisingly empty on a late Saturday morning. My huevos rancheros was kinda small portion but very delicious. (Wife) Menudo was very good and she was all smiles slurping it up. If I lived close by I'd be a regular. Well worth the visit

Tammy Dobrotin

We enjoyed the outdoor dining area, however, it was right next to the road, so noisy. The service was great and the food was plentiful, just a little different in flavor.

Mark Y

We've been several times and always enjoy ourselves. The food is good quality, prices aren't bad, and the staff has always been friendly. They'll meet you with chips and salsa before you even have a chance to sit down. I've had fish that tasted fresh, burritos that were legit, and a torta that was absolutely delicious. Friends and family have had enchiladas, soup, tacos, and more. I have yet to hear of a complaint. Good stuff.

dammz33

Great find, surprisingly empty on a late Saturday morning. My huevos rancheros was kinda small portion but very delicious. (Wife) Menudo was very good and she was all smiles slurping it up. If I lived close by I'd be a regular. Well worth the visit

A L

I thought it was one of the better Mexican dinners I've had in Santa Barbara. In my opinion it's kind of a standard menu so a little more classic compared to some of the popular Mexican restaurants in SB. I would go back for sure.

Service was initially great and we were seated right away on their outside patio. Chips and salsa were great and a cold Negra Modelo was delivered promptly. The problems started when the food arrived. The portions were on the small side but the tamale was pretty tasty. Unfortunately my chicken enchilada was stone cold so I tracked down a server to heat it. The salty black beans were already hot so when I eventually got my plate back the beans were like hot lava. I ordered a second beer, but despite confirming with 2 servers it never showed. Cool atmosphere on their patio though so we may give it another try.

Greg

Service was initially great and we were seated right away on their outside patio. Chips and salsa were great and a cold Negra Modelo was delivered promptly. The problems started when the food arrived. The portions were on the small side but the tamale was pretty tasty. Unfortunately my chicken enchilada was stone cold so I tracked down a server to heat it. The salty black beans were already hot so when I eventually got my plate back the beans were like hot lava. I ordered a second beer, but despite confirming with 2 servers it never showed. Cool atmosphere on their patio though so we may give it another try.

This is my second time in the restaurant due to lodging at the hotel next door. Great food! Really bad service. Took forever to get drinks and the waitress couldn’t remember all of our food, so our one child sat here without food while the rest of us finished our food. Maybe they are family members of the owner and don’t have the pressure of a good tip. Im literally begging for good service! Please take my money so I can leave!!!

Brian Jones

This is my second time in the restaurant due to lodging at the hotel next door. Great food! Really bad service. Took forever to get drinks and the waitress couldn’t remember all of our food, so our one child sat here without food while the rest of us finished our food. Maybe they are family members of the owner and don’t have the pressure of a good tip. Im literally begging for good service! Please take my money so I can leave!!!

DON'T GO! I made the mistake of stopping to eat at Palapa for lunch with my family while on a road trip. I made the mistake of trying to use the restroom before ordering at this establishment. I was confronted by a very rude server and told the restrooms were closed. He then had the nerve to ask me who was smoking around here, as if I was. All people deserve kindness and respect. This establishment has neither one to offer.

Jessica Alexander

DON'T GO! I made the mistake of stopping to eat at Palapa for lunch with my family while on a road trip. I made the mistake of trying to use the restroom before ordering at this establishment. I was confronted by a very rude server and told the restrooms were closed. He then had the nerve to ask me who was smoking around here, as if I was. All people deserve kindness and respect. This establishment has neither one to offer.

Would have loved to try it, but I waited over an hour the first time I ordered and just left, the second time I tried it they closed an hour early, so I was unable to get to go. Disappointing.

Mike G

Worst burrito I’ve ever had, and that’s saying a lot. Purely awful. The chicken was small hard inedible chunks. No flavor. First time I’ve actually felt awful after eating a burrito. It’s like they used their scraps to stuff into the burrito. Oh, and I actually found a small piece of plastic too. Unbelievable. Overpriced. And the service was slow. Avoid this place. There’s something very wrong with this place.