Chad’s Cafe

We stopped in here for brunch after reading all the good reviews and it definitely did not disappoint! Food was delicious and such a nice touch to have the basket of free mini muffins. The location is great with views out to the sea. Highly recommend a visit here but timing is key, we were lucky enough to get a table pretty much straight away but it was very busy after that. Even if you had to wait I would still say it's worth it!

Had an amazing breakfast at Chad’s in Santa Barbara, right on the beachfront. The view is unbeatable, and the vibe is perfect for a relaxed morning. The staff were warm and welcoming, making the experience even better. We ordered the Garden with hash browns, the corned beef hash with eggs, and a club sandwich with a side of pancakes — everything was delicious and the portions were generous. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for great food with a beautiful ocean view!

Really good food! Enjoyed the breakfast options, great fresh juice and coffee. No decaf, and the server was very short and rushed us to order drinks. Fruit cup was good but watermelon was mushy. Burrito was great and enjoyed the hashbrowns. Overall liked the food and fun location by the beach!

On vacation, this restaurant is right across the street with an ocean view. Inside and outside seating both. Service was exceptionally fast and staff was very attentive at all times. Server Sam, very young professional server did an exceptional job. Talk to the manager, who is also a very young professional manager also did an exceptional job. Very well run operation. Food was fantastic. Served within five minutes. Will return next time coming to Santa Barbara. Very impressed with the entire operation.

There was a line to be seated, but it moved at a good pace. It was a lil tight at our tables. We were seated at two tables. 6 of us outside with a small dog. The food was ok. Complementary mini muffins were warm and tasty. The huevos rancheros were in desperate need of chile sauce. We all loved the house potatoes. The club sandwich was the star of all our food. It was fresh veggies and stacked high.

Chad’s Café has a great beachside vibe, and the service was friendly. The two-egg breakfast was solid—eggs cooked well and tasty overall. But the pancakes were smaller than expected, and the breakfast burrito was just okay. It needed those crispy hashbrowns to really hit the spot. Not bad, but not quite the “best breakfast” people talk about.

Second time to have breakfast at this place this morning. Service was not as great compared to yesterday's. I had to asked for the little muffins and the server questioned me if it was a refill. We never got it in the first place. No one offered coffee refills, I had to asked for it again, and it was lukewarm when I got it. AND it wasn't even as busy as yesterday when there was a long line outside. Good food but service was not consistent.

We really enjoyed our visit to Chad’s Café! The people working there were friendly and attentive, and the food was great. We sat at a table outside, which had a lovely atmosphere—surprisingly peaceful despite being near the road. A great spot for breakfast

CHAD'S at 216 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, right on the ocean front, is the original SAMBO'S. It is still owned by the original family. I really wanted to visit this location as I miss Sambo's. Obviously, this is a much higher end restaurant than the original Sambos, however they have kept many of the original elements. The sign is kept original with the extra letter a palm tree. The orange booths with white striping looks great. I was served by a very nice lady named Lily and the buss person. I was brought out mini muffins upon being seated. My primary interest were the pancakes. Sambo's recipe or another? I ordered them with eggs and ham. Yes Yes Yes- they were the pancakes I remember but no Tiger Butter was available. By 8:00 AM the restaurant was getting busy. It was very well maintained and clean. If your in Santa Barbara, CA, Chad's is a definite place to visit

I've had Chad's bookmarked for a while now, and this Saturday after spending some time at the Santa Barbara Zoo, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to go and finally eat there. We arrived around 11am and there were two families ahead of us in line. It wasn't too bad of a wait, and the hostess gave my kids bubbles to play with while we waited for a table. We sat inside because that was available, although maybe it would have been better to wait for an outdoor table since it was such a nice day. Either way, the table inside was fine, and our waitress brought us menus right away. Our waitress also brought us a basket of freshly baked muffins. They were delicious! Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I was having a difficult time deciding on which Benedict plate to order. Our waitress recommended their Corned Beef Hash Benedict; she said it's a pretty popular dish there. It comes with poached eggs, corned beef hash, avocado, spinach, and homemade hollandaise. It was good, just needed a bit of salt for my liking. The plate was huge, so I had leftovers. I also had their popular mimosa flight. The mimosa flight was great! I could see why they're known for their mimosas!

Been here a few times and am always very happy with the quality of the food and attentive/friendly service. It's like an updated diner that's bright and open with some windows giving you a beautiful view of the ocean. The first time there I got a Mimosa Flight which was really good. You get a free basket of mini muffins but I have to say I'm not a fan. Every time they've been slightly overcooked and very chewy so from here on out I'll ask to skip that part. Outside of the muffins, everything else has been seasoned and cooked very well! My last benedict was a little light on the hollandaise but tasty none the less. We've never had to worry about parking as we either walked there from our hotel or taken a train up but it looks like it's street parking only so may be limited. Last time we were there the line was insanely long but we decided to wait anyway and after a while, a hostess came out with free treats for everyone waiting. I thought that was some above-and-beyond customer service.

The breakfast burrito (add bacon) was AMAZING! I got the mimosa flight as well, but it was a little underwhelming. Also, I love that they give you a basket of chocolate chip muffins, we devoured them in seconds.

To brunch or not to brunch... that's the question. In my case, not to brunch... hehehe. I'm not a big fan of brunch, but my wife loves it, so I take her when I can. We had gone to Santa Barbara zoo earlier that day and she wanted to go to Chad's, so we tried it out. You gotta love their location, right in front of the beach and very close to the Santa Barbara Pier. There was a line of people waiting for a table when we got there, but thankfully we didn't have to wait so long (maybe 15 minutes?). We sat inside and the ambiance was busy and a bit noisy, granted we were close to the kitchen. I ordered the steak and eggs and it was ok, but not as good as I expected. Honestly the highlight of my meal were these little mini chocolate muffins with butter they brought, oh man, I could eat a million of those. In fact, I would go back just to eat those in a heartbeat. The rest of the meal was kind of bland and underwhelming. I wish I would have paid half of what I did, but at least we tried a new spot. My wife tried their mimosa flight and she loved it, so maybe go try them out if you like mimosas? I could go back if the craving for the mini muffins gets really bad, otherwise I think I'm ok with the one time.

We were skeptical as there was a lone line the day before but we had some extra time so decided to give it a go. There was a line but because it was overcast it was for people waiting to sit inside (but you had to stand outside sooooo....) which worked out for us because I am happier outside. So we got to skip the line. Our server was phenomenal and gave great suggestions. Hubby was hesitant to get the Benny as the eggs are usually never cooked right (he's a chef and a food snob lol) but on the serves word he chanced it and it was PERFECT!! The Santa Barbara omelette was really good (it is crumbly bacon bits though) and the fresh avocado was a perfect addition with the sour cream. They give you a basket of chocolate chip muffins which was a nice touch. The food was served so fast I was so surprised. The orange juice while expensive is delicious also. The perfect breakfast!

One of my favorite places to visit while in Santa Barbara! Though sometimes there can be a wait to sit, it is well worth it. The servings are quite big so you could even split a plate. Service is always really friendly. It's a great location, you're practically on the beach! Love the house potatoes and the 911 omelette - substitute bacon instead of chorizo, definitely has a kick but is delicious! The complementary muffins were super dry this last visit but still nice to have something complementary.

The food was really good and very fresh! The service was really good and quick. Our waitress Sophia was very sweet. They sat us right away and perfect view of the ocean. I would recommend the turkey club and corn beef hash with eggs and those potatoes. The mimosas were okay they tasted like syrup. I can't wait to be back again.

Great find in SB by the beach and State st. Came for breakfast on a Monday w fam and had a short outside wait then sat outside for faster service vs another short wait. Small parking lot and street parking. Cute outside tables across street from the beach! The food was delicious. We had a caramel macchiato and hot chocolate, the Pops combo, and the Denver omelette scrambled. The fruit was fresh and tasty too. Great service. A little bit pricey, But typical for the area. They have a bar menu too.

Came here for Breakfast. We were greeted right away and seated right away. The staff was super quick and friendly but the food wasn't the best. It was pricey as well. They seemed to have used a lot of oil in my husband's meal which made him feel not well the rest of the day. A little disappointed for a place that has been around for so long.

Came out here to SB to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. while he and his friend went out on a fishing charter, his friends wife and I went out for booze and brunch! Our favorite thing to do on a staycation especially lol we walked from our hotel which was a few blocks away not too bad. The first thing they brought made me so happy. Mini chocolate chip muffins! It was so fresh and delicious with the butter! The service was great and it's so fun here. Food was hearty and delicious and our cocktails weren't so bad either. Definitely a great place to brunch on a Sunday

Great little diner located right across from the water. We were seated fairly quickly inside. Service is quick, food is tasty, and prices are what you would expect for a waterfront location. The warm mini chocolate chip muffins that come out with your drinks are tasty! We enjoyed the breakfast sandwich (the grilled onions are a nice addition), the Santa Barbara omelet, and some gluten-free pancakes with fruit. Everything was very good, and the portions were plentiful. The coffee could be better, honestly. But otherwise, no complaints!

Chads service was exceptional very polite and even gave our kids extra mini umbrellas which made them very happy! The food was an even better experience. A definite must to try when your in the Santa Barbara area. 10 out 10.

I recently got on the Amtrak Surfliner (my favorite train by the way), from CWT to SBA (a 2-hour one way ride), to have brunch at Chad's in Santa Barbara. The restaurant is open till 2:30 pm, serves both breakfast and lunch items. The eatery sits on Cabrillo Blvd with captivating across the street views of the ocean. The day to visit here was perfect. While the SFV was sweltering in heat, this shoreline was clouded, cool and so pleasant, with a foggy view towards the ocean and parts of the city. Nothing could be more picturesque. I was enjoying every moment when I got to Chad's, to sit outside, so I could still inhale the charm of this beautiful place, often also called, the American Riviera. I had time to kill till the departure of my return train to the SFV (by design and not by chance), so I took easy and slow. While attending to some emails and phone calls, this interlude brought the complimentary mini muffins (blueberry and chocolate chips) with butter. They need to modify this part of their service. For one there were too many muffins, I thought. Secondly, more than half of them were dry and the others getting their fast. So it defeats this unique purpose. For my brunch dish, I ordered the Ahi Tuna Benedict and requested half hash browns and half house potatoes, as the side. Here too, there is room for improvement. The menu says blackened Ahi, it was not blackened. While the Tuna was tender, it was doused with a watery hollandaise that had too much citrus. It singularly killed the dish. I hardly ate a fifth of it. Managed to skim the eggs. Both potatoes were half dry and did not exude freshness. Service, on the other hand, was excellent.

I had a great time at Chads in Santa Barbara. Great setting next to the Pacific Ocean. It was a tough choice between the Chicken Fried Steak (my go to the first time I eat breakfast somewhere) or the Ahi Benedict. Figured since I may not travel this way again I'd get the Ahi Benedict, so glad I had this. The Ahi Benedict was amazing and the hash browns had a little heat besides the Tabasco I put on them. Absolutely Delicious. Everyone working the was friendly and service was amazing.

Came here a year later after had amazing experience in the past. My husband had been recommending this place to all his friends and talking about coming back. So we came in on Thursday morning. We had to wait 5-10 min to be seated. Service was pretty friendly, attentive and nice. Ambience hasn't really change, it is a diner with indoor and outdoor seats. It is very laid back. Food started with small muffins (complimentary) and my husband ordered decaf coffee that was absolutely horrible, it was burned and tasted pretty bad. He had breakfast burrito and I had vegetable omelet. Food this time was very mediocre and the fact that they couldn't make a decent coffee was disappointing. It is definitely overpriced for what it is. Quality went down but prices went up.

Get rid of the flatscreens on the walls that are playing short attention span videos. Nobody wants that, needs that or asked for that. It's a stain on an otherwise nice diner. People go to places with booths together because they want to engage with each other and be present. Chad's made a dumb decision to take away from that by putting the same dumb stuff we stare at on our phones on their walls. Imagine running a restaurant and being so unaware as to think this is a good idea. WTF. Stop invading our brains with meaningless garbage. That said: good food, fast service, comfy seats.

I love Chad's. Either sitting outside enjoying the beach view or sitting inside it's all good. The food you can't go wrong with, everything is good here. The staff is very kind and on top of everything.

Went there for lunch with son and granddaughter. One man in line waiting for 6 others. No hostess. Went inside and asked someone counting the cash drawer and asked if there was a hostess or a table for three which I noticed several inside. Was told to go wait outside behind the man waiting for his party. The employee came out addressed the man about how long until his party would be didn't even look at me and walked away. We left. Guess they don't need the business. I live here. Hmm. 2/9/2025. 12:30 pm​

Fun atmosphere right by the water! Ambiance was great. Before your food arrives they serve these mini chocolate chip muffins with butter which are so fun. We ordered the eggs Benedict which was solid, the ham was so thick and juicy. We also ordered the California breakfast burrito which was good but extremely heavy and a little too heavy with the pinto beans.

This place was EXCELLENT. Service was great, fast and super friendly. We showed up 30 minutes before close and were welcomed in by the server. We took a seat at the bar and I had already looked at their menu online so we knew what we wanted and ordered right away. Food came out quick and piping hot and was EXACTLY what I had hoped for. Florentine omelette with hollandaise added was super tasty and hit the spot. My husband got the chicken fried steak and he loved it as well. We're not in Santa Barbara often, but this will be our "go to" breakfast place whenever we're up here.

had such a horrible experience here due to service :( when first outside & waiting for a table, there were 2-3 other parties both in front and behind us, for some reason, the host let the party directly behind me and my boyfriend in first, cutting 3 whole parties. eventually we get seated, and it's a small table that seats two, kind of crammed in the center of the section & it's pretty tight, but at this point i have no complaints, i'm glad to get a table, but eventually other tables get seated surrounding us, and we are ready to order, but we keep being told we'd be helped soon anytime we tried to flag anyone down & then we see a large party behind us who just got seated being helped, it took over 20 minutes to get our order in & another 30 to get our food. wish we could have had a better experience here

Great place with a view for breakfast or brunch in Santa Barbara. The food is quite outstanding. They give you a complimentary basket of fresh baked muffins to start off with. They have a flight of mimosas with four different types of juice. We were in Santa Barbara a week and came here at least four times since it was so delicious. Just note....there is almost always a bit of a wait.

We stayed at the Milo hotel and this is the restaurant that's right out in front of it so we had breakfast here twice in two days. We are early risers so we were able to get seats right away, but the line got long fast so if you want to avoid waiting in line, get there early. When you first sit down, they bring you these mini muffins that are served with butter. They're delicious and a little evil! I got the Florentine omelet and hubby got the mini quesadilla. Both were really good! Service was quick and pleasant. The next morning, we split the California breakfast burrito and it was good, but there are too many beans in it. Honestly, I would suggest getting this burrito without them. Still good service! I do want to point out that it feels dirty on the patio. My shoes were sticking to the pavement hours after leaving the first day, and the tables the next day didn't even seem like they were wiped down. The inside looked clean, but we didn't dine inside so I'm not vouching for the inside cleanliness. We'll be eating there again for sure, but I think the whole thing should be hosed off at the end of every day.

The service and food Arrived and waited in line. Got seated inside. Server took our order brought half and never saw her again. I had to ask another server for the remainder of our order. Sad to say our order was too greasy country potatoes had too much grease and too much seasoning. Corn beef hash just different Sad to say Just not a good experience today

This place is a great brunch spot. Ocean views, friendly staff, and my personal favorite: the mini muffins they bring you while you wait for your food. The only downside is it's always crowded so you have to wait in line for a while but they're usually pretty quick. Definitely recommend!

Best choice that I made for breakfast! Upon arrival, the line was long but my group and I were seating quickly. Our orders were taken quickly and shortly after, mini chocolate chip muffins were placed at our table. They were truly yummy. We all ordered mimosa flights to drink. For food, I ordered the 1957 breakfast sandwich on a bagel with French fries, a friend of mine ordered the breakfast burrito with avocado, with a side of Hashbrowns, another friend ordered the huevos rancheros and lastly another 1957 breakfast sandwich on an egg muffin with avocado and house potatoes. Everything was a 10/10! Highly recommend Chad's! You will not be disappointed

I love Chad's. The service is always wonderful. The food is good and the mini muffins brought to the table is such a nice touch. We enjoyed the ambiance and people watching. Even though it was a dreary, rainy day everyone seemed happy to be at Chad's.

Great food great service. We had a traditional breakfast everything and everyone were on point.

We came on a Sunday around 11:30am and were seated in about 10 min of waiting in line. They are very efficient and get tables in and out quickly which is nice. Even with a line you get seated fairly fast. Service is also good. Friendly and nice. They give you a basket of mini muffins to take the edge off your hunger while you order. Ours were rather dry...likely the product of being kept in a warming drawer. Oh well. Food was decent. The huevos rancheros was fantastic looking....and the breakfast burrito had a nice flavor. The Santa Barbara omelet came with pancakes as a choice which was nice. I would say that for breakfast food it is above average. I liked that fruit cup was a choice and although there was a pile of melons on the bottom, there were also a decent amount of berries on the top. I would definitely come back. Portions, as you might expect, are huge and the menu is extensive.

We came here for a weekend brunch. I ordered the French toast & home style potatoes. They also gave us complimentary muffins. Which has an almost mochi like consistency. It was interesting. It's a nice place to have brunch when the weather is nice. Try to go earlier in the day as there was a long wait after we finished around 11:30am.

Had an amazing breakfast at Chad's the other weekend and my girl friends and I really enjoyed ourselves! The food was pretty good but the service is what made it such a memorable experience. Our server, Molly, went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and taken care of. Her enthusiasm and positivity shined through everything and made Chad's seem like the best place to spend a Sunday morning. Will definitely be returning to try the SB omelet next time! Also, don't skip the house potatoes!!!

I ordered a California burrito with fruit togo and paid around $21, jaw is on the floor this is so much food. 4 containers of food: burrito, fruit stacked to the top, one container of classic muffins, extra container of muffins because I mentioned them in my order. Plus 3 2oz containers of sour cream pico, and guac. Service was okay

For years my family has enjoyed this iconic breakfast stop. Wish there were more in town that had: Great service and location, full bar and mini breakfast pastries. Great fans...

Food, service, ambiance, all A+. Busy on weekends. Line went down the sidewalk, so we checked the counter. No wait! Highly recommend the corned beef eggs Benedict and mimosa flight. Can't wait to go back!

Chad's is such a cool breakfast spot with a 1950s vibe! The views are fantastic and you have such a wonderful breeze since you're right by the water. The service and food were both equally good, but nothing amazing. Without being said since you're in California, it's a bit too expensive. Either way, I would stop by again if I was in the area!

Really good breakfast place on the beach. Good food, friendly people, nice views. Ya got no complaints :-)

I love Chad's. The food is delicious and the portions are huge. I had cooked perfectly scrambled eggs, blueberries, a pancake and sausage. I'm set for the day. It's my birthday and it's a beautiful day. We could see the ocean while we eat. I recommend this restaurant to everyone. You may have a bit of a wait but it's worth it!

We stumbled upon Chad's on a morning walk along the beach and decided to come here for breakfast Sunday morning. We walked up around 930am and there was already a small line forming outside to put your name down on the list but bar seating is first come, first serve which we took advantage of. The menu was robust with all your favorite breakfast items and adult drinks. We had the mimosa flight which was very tasty. All the food was made quickly and was delicious. Shout out to all the servers, especially ours, April! I would definitely come back here for a quick easy breakfast, they also have lunch items. Plenty of street parking around the restaurant.

Very nice place. Service great. Food was ok. Franchises and hashbrown salty. The mimosa flights where great The bread break

Food: Ordered the cobb salad. Holy smokes! Servings for four! It was your typical cobb, however ingredients were all fresh and cut nicely. A complimentary basket of warm mini muffins was served...we enjoyed them and it was a nice touch. I ordered an oat latte which came in a large cup...just the way I like it! Friend ordered a Bloody Mary. It arrived about 15 inches tall! Decked out in an umbrella and full slice of bacon! Service: Just right. She was prompt, on point, attentive and funny. Ambiance: I mean...it's across from the Pacific Ocean...so, the sea breeze and view are cleansing and therapeutic! Because we ate outdoors, we did suffer the occasional passers by who haven't realized that smoking is unhealthy. They passed quickly and I got lost in the view once again. Ahhh....

The location is perfect. Right across from the beach, with a great patio area that's shaded with cute umbrellas and very inviting. This was also within walking distance from our hotel, but we drove there, not realizing how easy the walk was from viewing it on our navigation. Parking was super easy and plentiful. Considering this is a beach town with so many tourists, that alone was quite impressive. We were seated right away with menus. Our server came by within minutes to take our drink orders. The one thing I noticed was that all the other customers, including those tables that our server was assigned to, were immediately served a small basket of mini muffins or something right after being seated. We were not served or offered these. I found out later that these baskets were always served upon being seated, so we missed out on that part of the "Chad's" experience. Maybe next time we'll get to try them. The food came out quickly and was pretty good. My iced coffee was delicious and perfect for a sunny day. We loved the hasbrowns with their hidden layer of garlic and seasoning underneath. Delicious! My pancakes also arrived with a cute palm tree dusting of powder over them. The serving size of my meal was perfect, and so were the size of the pancakes. I hate when pancakes are too big because I feel like I waste food when I can't finish them. Aside from the initial bread basket being forgotten, our server was attentive, friendly, and professional. Our drinks were always refilled and she checked in periodically to make sure everything was ok. The other staff were also just as friendly and expedient in their service of food and checking on drink refills. We will definitely visit again next time we're in the area!

Very great Breakfest spot but Pedro and other 2 guys are very rude and making fun on people in Mexican knowing I didn't understand Mexican which that leads me to leave the place and my plate behind with no tip.

Can't believe I haven't written a review for here. Chads was one of the first brunch spots we tried in SB and we loved it. Can't believe it took us months to go back. Since being back, we go almost once a month now. They have both patio/outdoor and indoor seating. Outdoor has beach views which is really nice. The servers are always so sweet and nice and very accommodating when we have the stroller with us. We always tend to go right when they open or close to when they are closing so we have never had to wait long to get seated. They offer complimentary mini chocolate chip muffins which are delicious. My son loves them and so do we. We love their mimosa flight. It comes with 4 different kinds. It's perfect for my husband and I since we typically like 2 different ones and that's how we split it. My husband has had their California burrito and I typically get their chads huevos rancheros. Flavor on those huevos rancheros is so well balanced. I enjoy that the chorizo doesn't overpower it. Overall, we love it here. Highly recommend. We will be there again most likely next month

The mimosa flight is so cute and tasty! Fun for a brunch day with the girls, you can try the different juices.

Breakfast at Chad's was great. Came on a Friday morning and there was no line to get in, though throughout the weekend it seemed to get very very busy. Loved their little blueberry muffin things that they give out for free before the meal. A unique little snack that tasted just like a Nilla wafer. Could have eaten like 20 of these alone. The breakfast burrito was yummy. The extra $7 to add bacon probably wasn't worth it because it was not a lot of meat and $7 for some bacon is crazy. Also ordered the small stack of pancakes which were SO good and left me wanting more all weekend.

In a city where everything seems horribly overpriced, Chad's is refreshingly reasonable. They're right across the street from the beach, so you can sit outside and enjoy an ocean view with your breakfast. But you won't have to pay typical ocean view prices. Plus, it's dog friendly so you can enjoy all this with your canine pal. Food is tasty, but unremarkable. I got the garden omelette, which was nice and big with plenty of veggies. Potatoes were good too. My favorite part was that instead of your typical toast, you could get two mini pancakes instead. As someone who would always love a bite of pancakes but doesn't want to make them her whole breakfast, I thought this was amazing. Wish more restaurants would do this! Oh! And when I sat down they brought out a basket of mini chocolate chip and blueberry muffins (two types). They weren't amazing, but they were free, and a very nice way to start off the meal. Definitely worth a visit.

Chicken Fried steak and Eggs review It taste like sausage patty not at all what do he flavor profile is meant to be. I had 2-3 bites out of my plate And left it. It really ruined my appetite. I will say eggs and potatoes were cooked to perfection and the lattes were awes Steak Benedict my wife had was amazing she finished it all. She never finishes her food.

We came on a foggy morning during my Spring Break from teaching. I would imagine it would be cool to eat outside on a warm, sunny day. The inside vibe has a classic diner vibe. The staff were good. Unlike most places, they seemed to maybe be overstaffed on this particular weekday morning around 8AM and there was a lot of socializing going on which is fine since our service was good. Parking- we were able to find free parking out front Menu- quite a bit too choose from and reasonable prices We got the traditional egg, bacon, and potatoes breakfast and a California Burrito which was large and tasty. We liked that they brought out complimentary mini-muffins.