Sama Sama Kitchen
A Southeast Asian fusion eatery on State Street, serving sharing plates made with local farmers' market ingredients, recognized with a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Located at the intersection of State Street and Anapamu Street in downtown, this restaurant is co-run by a chef with a Nashville BBQ background and an Indonesian chef. They turn Southeast Asian street food flavors into sharing plates, utilizing fresh ingredients from the farmers' market weekly. The signature dish is the sweet and spicy tamarind soy glazed grilled chicken wings, while Mie Goreng, crispy rice salad, Gado Gado, and chicken satay are also frequently ordered. Cocktails often feature pandan, kaffir lime, and tamarind. OpenTable lists it as a 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand, with an average cost of $31–50 per person. Open for both lunch and dinner, closed on Mondays. Reservations can be made via OpenTable, and it is easily accessible on foot from downtown.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun Lunch 12:00–15:00; Dinner from approx. 17:00, Tue–Thu & Sun until 21:30, Fri–Sat until 22:30; Closed Mon (hours may vary slightly across sources)
Nearby sights
- Santa Barbara Museum of Art
- Santa Barbara County Courthouse
- El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park
- El Paseo
- Casa de la Guerra
- State Street
- Arlington Theatre
- Moreton Bay Fig Tree