The Blue Owl — Restaurant in Santa Barbara

Passing through Santa Barbara on the way to Piru, I leaned on good ol' Google maps to help me decide on where to stop for a casual bite. Stumbled across The Blue Owl, and after trying it, I immediately had to give it a review because the overall experience was awesome!

Initial impression is that it had a chill and positive vibe, from the music to the decor. It had a Latin feel, with the fan, color scheme, and decor. The menu has asian-inspired items such as fried rice and banh mi sandwiches. I came here with the plan to have the fried rice 🍚, based on reading a couple of reviews. I had the option to add "toppings" to my fried rice, so ai added chicken for $5.00 more, which brought it to $15.00. Wife had the Thai curry banh mi sandwich, with a side salad 🥗.

It came in a classic chinese take-out container, and I'd say it can feed two people. I was pleasantly surprised with the flavor and texture of the fried rice after my first bite! The ingredients tasted fresh, and the added chicken was tender & has some curry flavors to it. I would definitely recommend it! Also, I asked for the sweet chili sauce to be put on the side so that I could experience the purity of the fried rice before adding the sauce.

The bread 🍞 on the banh mi was light and toasty! Flavors were good.

I highly recommend this place whenever you visit this part of...

Peach, Strawberry, Thai Basil, Candied Nuts, and Chévre Salad is refreshing like summer in a bowl. The Thai basil pairs well with peach and strawberry. The dressing is light yet lets the fresh summer produce shine through. The chévre adds a creamy flavor and texture. Rating: 4.8/5

Wake N’ Bacon is a house-made waffle sandwich filled with poached egg, bacon, and topped with bruléed maple pastry cream. The waffle is fluffy, and makes the perfect blank canvas for the rich poached egg; crispy, salty bacon; and sweet, creamy maple crème brulée. It is bruléed perfectly and shatters like glass. Rating: 5/5

Banh Mi is stuffed with pork, cilantro, pickled veggies, and topped with oyster-chili mayo. Chef Cindy’s banh mi is a reimagined Asian-style pulled pork sandwich. The pork is melt-in-your-mouth tender. The acidity in the pickled veggies balances out with the rich, fatty flavor of the pork. The cilantro lends a refreshing green flavor to the palate. The French bread is splendidly crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. The oyster-chili mayo adds just the right amount of spicy kick....

Found this place to be excellent if you are looking for high quality, healthy comfort food that tastes great at prices that are not crazy. Found the vibe and staff to be welcoming, genuine, and unique.

Have been coming to Santa Barbara for over 10 years and am now a resident and just happened upon The Blue Owl. My husband and I will definitely be returning regularly. Appreciate that it's a little off of super busy State street and like the option of outside seating. Also enjoyed the live music the Friday evening we were there. Might not matter to a lot of people but loved the tiny planters of live plants and flowers on each table.

My only concern is that recommendations like this will make The Blue Owl busier for me when I want to go there but so appreciate that the folks at Blue Owl are creating this enjoyable dining experience for our community during these challenging times for restaurants....