Top Asian Fusion Restaurant in Goleta
Uniboil Phresh Teas Co.
5599 Hollister Ave unit b, Goleta, CA 93117, United States
Fun, interesting menu. If you enjoy spicy, Id recommend coming here! Its definitely great to enjoy with friends because the entire experience is fairly unique. Possibly a little pricey, but there is a whole experience that comes along with the meal so it evens out a bit.On to the food... The sizzling plate with rice is great, though the sauce is quite spicy (black pepper spiciness)... and HOT! You have to be very careful eating to not burn yourself on the metal plate. However the meat was delicious! Marinated/seasoned very well. It was a pity the sauce was so spicy vs flavorful because the meat was amazing. A bit hard to fully enjoy such incredibly hot food. The Korean Army stew is also good, but again, HOT! The stew contents are interesting with various textures and flavors. For the hot plates, after a certain point in your meal someone may come to put out the flame for you, but Im sure you can request it be put out sooner... I recommend! All the servers seem to have the fire-putting-out utensil on their aprons.Overall, this was a fun eating experience. Regarding the food, it felt as though spiciness was used as a crutch for flavor. The hot plate box was also too tall for me (below average height) and made it a little difficult to eat. It would be nice if they had the option for low tables or something. The difficulty with the height + the danger of the hot plate took away from the experience a little.The service was good and the servers were attentive and informative. It is not listed on the menu but there is an option for the sizzling plate with rice to have all the ingredients stir fried and brought out on a plate instead of on the hot plate. The server let us in on his preference which was that the hot plate was better and definitely more fun, but next time if I dont feel like dealing with the height, heat, or potential burns, Ill go for that option!**NOTE: If you are only going for drinks, go next door! No need to come into the restaurant area**
Choppa Poke
7000 Hollister Ave #102, Goleta, CA 93117, United States
This place used to be amazing. I would honestly go here multiple times a week! I would also schedule lunch meetings here and tell all of my friends to go there. The owners and employees did everything possible to take care of you.Recently this restaurant changed owners and names(from pokeme to choppapoke). It has now turned into a place that although I enjoy the food I would rather avoid this place altogether.1. The prices were raised significantly. When this place opened you could get a large 5 scoop bowl for $10 now a large is $15 with only 4 scoops.2. The employees rush you to make decisions and scold you for asking for more. Today I asked for extra cucumbers and the employee says that really is too much.3. The owners and employees are constantly screaming at each other in Chinese. Which is slightly uncomfortable (and I speak Chinese which I dont think the employees knew haha)4. This tables are not cleaned very often. I went in at 3pm and we found one table that was not coated in masago.So in summary the food is good, but it may not be worth the effort and cost to get it. This review honestly makes me sad to give because I have loved this place for soooo long.
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Lillys Taqueria
290 D, Storke Rd, Goleta, CA 93117, United States
Edit: I tried the new steamed beef and that was working for a couple of months, but even that has turned into some sort of weird mushy kind of strange meat texture that made me physically wretch and it is not quite like genuine shredded beef cuts. Unfortunately, Lilys is off the table for me in 2023. I know the economy is hard on people right now, but their high quality meat for a low price used to be the main draw. Hope they find their groove again.Edit: I think they must have changed meat providers, cuts, or chefs because the last several times weve been the meat has been gamey and chewy. A little too close to authentic for me.Original: I always get the Asado and rarely is the meat chewy or weird. They need to add a menu sign closer to the door or outside, though, and adjust their pickup table. This situation is not promoting social distancing. When I went last night I found myself literally surrounded by a couple of college kids who clearly couldnt read the warning on the back of my sweater to socially distance. Like right next to me and right behind me close, because they wanted to see the menu and couldnt wait their turn. It was so annerving that I got out of line to protect mysel from those irresponsible kids.
Natural Cafe
6990 Market Pl Dr, Goleta, CA 93117, United States
A great little spot with healthy vegan/vegetarian options for all! Indoor and outdoor seating, with a great ambience for lunch or casual dinner. Definitely worth trying if you're in the area.Specifically, I as all around impressed by the flavor of the tempeh burger (pictured) that I had. Great flavor and the chips are tasty. My significant other, however, ordered the tofu stir fry and it was not great. Not enough flavor in the tofu. Some might say “well, it IS tofu”, but we know it's possible as we make various tofu dishes at least once a week. Still, the rest of our party (5 others) enjoyed their meals, so I'd say 6/7 are great odds you'll find something you enjoy.
Cajun Kitchen Cafe
6831 Hollister Ave A, Goleta, CA 93117, United States
Terrible service! We came on a Sunday morning for breakfast. We arrive around 10:40 and was told there would be a 25 min wait for a table for 2. No problem! They took us in to be seated 15 min later - ahead of schedule... great! Someone came by as soon as we were seated to take our drink order. Seems like a great experience so far, right? We thought so too. But then it all went downhill.We waited around 20 minutes for our server to take our order and when he finally came by, we exchanged pleasantries and then he made some comment about having just eaten and how hes all full now. You dont say that to hungry customers that have been waiting for more than 20 min to order. I understand that servers need breaks, but maybe dont seat customers in that section until he returns or have someone cover for him. I ordered pancakes (combo with 1 egg and bacon) and my sister order French toast with Nutella and fruit.Our food didnt come until 11:40. That is 45 minutes after we were seated. And there were just two of us. When the server dropped off the food, he made a comment about almost forgetting it. I honestly wonder if he was high. He called the butter we didnt use ice cream and said it was the best part. WHe was just weird. The pancakes were good, but the rest of the food was slightly cold and nothing to write home about. I am giving 2 stars for the guy who took our drink order and also cleared some of our plates. He was also great about refilling my water glass.I wont be back.
Meun Fan Thai Caf
5664 Calle Real, Goleta, CA 93117, United States
Very popular by locals and take away though I found the food very much average. Nice but nothing spectacular and by far from authentic Thaifood.Waiters are Thai but dont even greet you with a wai at the entrance, everything is very much americanized, Thai spices missing (all taste like Chinese)They put forks in the table even in Thailand you eat with spoon to mouth, (fork is only as helping tool).In a nutshell I wouldnt recommend this place as Thai restaurant, maybe as Asian fusion Cafe. Prices are a bit too steep in my eyes.
TAP Thai Cuisine
7060 Hollister Ave #106, Goleta, CA 93117, United States
**Tap Thai Restaurant Review****Ordered Items:** Thai Iced Tea, Veg Corn Cake, Pineapple Rice, and Tap Signature Pad Thai.**Review:**Our recent visit to Tap Thai was a delightful experience with a few minor hiccups. Heres a breakdown of our meal:**Thai Iced Tea:** The tea was stronger than we anticipated, which may appeal to some, but it was slightly overpowering for our taste. Fortunately, our server was attentive and promptly provided us with sweetener, which helped balance the flavor.**Pineapple Rice:** This dish was a highlight of our meal. The rice was perfectly cooked, and the sweetness of the pineapple complemented the savory elements beautifully. It was well-seasoned and offered a satisfying mix of textures and flavors.**Tap Signature Pad Thai:** Another standout dish, the Tap Signature Pad Thai was flavorful and expertly prepared. The noodles were tender, and the sauce was a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and savory notes. This dish is definitely a must-try for anyone visiting Tap Thai.**Veg Corn Cake:** While the corn cake had a pleasant taste, it was a bit too oily for our liking. Additionally, the portion size was small, with only two pieces per serving, making it suitable for just one person. It would be great if the portion size was larger or if the dish was less greasy.**Service:** The service was commendable. Our server was attentive and accommodating, especially when it came to adjusting the sweetness of our Thai iced tea.**Overall:** Tap Thai offers a range of delicious dishes that are well worth trying, with the pineapple rice and Tap Signature Pad Thai being the stars of our meal. With a few tweaks to the veg corn cake, it could elevate the dining experience even further. The friendly and responsive service added to the positive experience, making us look forward to our next visit.
Sushiya Express
955 Embarcadero del Mar E, Goleta, CA 93117, United States
Ordered the shoyu ramen with a side of gyoza (total was $30). Spending $30 for a bowl of ramen and an appetizer, I was expecting a lot more than what I got… Ramen was pretty bland and gyoza, although not bad, did not justify the price. The lady helping me out also didn't know much. I asked if any meat came with the ramen, and she said no. I then pointed out one of their own pictures showing meat coming with it, and she then corrected herself.The astounding part was the fact that they served shin ramen for $10… I asked her about it, and this happens to be the same exact packaged ramen that you can buy and make yourself for 50 cents a packet. If you are going to charge this much for food, you can make it better quality! I recommend to skip this place entirely and head to Nikka ramen in goleta downtown—you will not regret it!