Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar

The Empty Bowl has been one of my favorite spots for a long time. Whether it was grabbing lunch during work, dinner during my college days at Westmont, or just a casual lunch with friends, it has always been one of those go-to places that never disappoint. The food is consistently good, and the prices are fair for the quality and amount you get. The Drunken Noodle, Hangover Noodle, and Tom Yum Noodle are packed with flavor and the perfect amount of heat. You get a solid portion that usually leaves you feeling full, and if not, their dumplings, egg rolls, or even their seasonal wings are great add-ons to round out a satisfying meal. Their Thai tea is definitely on the sweeter side, maybe a bit too sweet at times, but it pairs perfectly with the spice from the noodles and helps balance everything out. It is one of those combos that just works. The place is always busy, with the staff moving fast in such a tight space, but they still manage to keep things flowing smoothly. And being in the Santa Barbara Public Market adds to the whole vibe. It is a fun, social area that is always clean and full of energy. If you have not been to The Empty Bowl yet, do yourself a favor and go. It is the kind of spot that becomes a regular in your rotation once you try it.

Thai fusion food court fare with a bar type counter that caters to the local taste of Sta Barbara tourists. The food sizes are a bit small in servings while some of the main Thai ingredients may be lacking. All in all it still has a varied rotating menu with daily specials that satisfies your craving for Asian cuisine. Counter service is casual and quick. Food court seating all throughout the complex which is very well maintained and consistently cleaned. Mostly tourists, youngsters, groups, and family diners around the complex.

Spring rolls too cold, but the sauce was good. I did not like the beef soup since the Broth too dark, and beef smell too strong. Staffs are friendly. Seating at the bar and being inside the open market felt great.

A great little place in the open market area. The noodles bowls looked amazing, but way too big for my appetite at the time! I got the special, Thai friend rice with chicken. Excellent choice, cooked perfect and a lot of chicken! I highly recommend.

The best Thai noodle place in Santa Barbara. The hangover noodle is a must and the Thai curry noodle which comes in a large bowl is also very good along with the Papaya Salad. All very flavorful dishes. Highly recommend Empty Bowl. You’ll love it!

Amazing pad see ew within the public market. Extremely flavoursome and made fresh. My pick of all the eateries within the broader market

Really stellar takes on Thai food with great service! Located in the Santa Barbara Public Marketplace, this is incredibly convenient in that it’s surrounded by so many other choices. This spot truly stands out and seems to be one of the more popular choices at the market, and rightfully so! Even for a take-out oriented spot, service was great. Efficient in speed and clearly considerate in their supply of side toppings and sauces. The Pad See Ew was really great - addicting texture to the flat rice noodles and, though the chicken was somewhat dry, the flavors were bold and mouthwatering. Thai Tea was surprisingly really great - I’m used to it being too sweet but this was really nicely balanced! Worth stopping by if you’re at the Marketplace and looking for some great Thai food!

💯 every time 🙏🏼💜 last time I went the forgot the toppings on my khao soi. This most recent time the chicken was over cooked and the noodles were under cooked, sticking together. 86 spring rolls and coconut water when ordered. Gone downhill since the pandemic. Food is rushed and service is not great. Also noticed that I felt dried out and salty afterward. Not sure about sodium use or msg. Probably won't go back. Want to keep the good memories of the food I've had here many times before. Think it's reached it's peak.

Public Market is a great food hall in SB and has some wonderful options, a fun bar and is a nice place to hang out and get a variety of foods. It was cool inside and is a comfortable spot to come solo, in pairs or with a group where everyone can get what they want. We chose Empty Bowl and sat at the bar and the staff was fun and delightful. The food was quite delicious and reasonably priced. We started with the Green Papaya Salad "Som Tum" and it was a really good sized portion. It has shredded green papaya, heirloom carrots, red, cabbage, Thai chilies, cherry tomatoes, long beans, fresh garlic, crushed peanuts, and is mixed with fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar. So tasty and yummy. Then we had the Pan Fried Pancit Noodle with tofu, and that was round firm wheat noodles, Bunashimeji mushrooms, Chinese shiitake, white button mushrooms, fresh garlic, mushroom soy sauce, oyster sauce, Chinese broccoli, carrots, and bean sprouts. Another hit with this one. Would come back here in a second!

This is a really tasty noodle bar located in the Public Market. It has been able to outlast a lot of its neighbors and the reason is that it offers a unique option with quality ingredients and great flavor. They offer takeout and bar seating, and I recommend bar seating if you can though it can be tricky to get a spot during rush hour. The bar is very nice and you can see the cooking happen in front of you. Service is efficient. They have weekly specials that you can see on their website. I think their best dishes are the noodle soups -- they have the best khao soi in town (though it isn't as good as Thai Fire in Ventura) and their boat noodles are probably my favorite dish. They also have nice appetizer options though I think they are pricey for the portion. They have wine, beer, and also a pretty good thai tea as well.

I randomly wandered into Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar the other day when I decided to check out the Santa Barbara Public market. I wasn't really sure what to get here. So I did a quick yelp search of all the different eateries that was in the building. I ultimately decided on empty bowl gourmet noodle bar which is located somewhere in the center of the building. The food looks pretty good from the menu. I did get my order to go so I wasn't able to necessarily enjoy the food fair. So I figured a soup noodle dish probably wasn't my best option. I ended up ordering the chicken LARB lettuce tacos. I also got the steak salad. In hindsight I realize they were both fairly similar but yet also different. The lettuce tacos are a great appetizer and it is light and refreshing. The steak salad was pretty great. The dressing that came with that had a good kick to it and it was fairly good. The next time I'm here I deafly want to try another noodle dish all together instead of ordering what I ordered this time around. There is underground parking. I had no idea what the situation is like down there so I decided to park on the upper level where I had to pay the meter which was fine with me.

While in Santa Barbara I decided to pop in for a quick lunch within he Public Market. This stand is located in the center of the market where you can take food to go and sit down at the counter for service. We chose to sit at the counter top and the waiter was quick to say hello and provide us menu. The menu affords an extensive array of dishes to choose from. We choose to order the chicken pad thai and the roasted duck buns that were suggested by a fellow customer at the bar. In fact, he agree that both dishes were some of his favorites on the menu. The roasted duck buns consist of roasted duck, cucumber, pickled carrots, daikon, cilantro and hoisin sauce. The dish comes with two decent size buns. I thought the dish was fresh. Ample piece of duck within the buns. Note the menu, does say this dish will take some time, so be patient (less than 10 minutes for me). The pad tai consisted of noodles, mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, beans sprouts and your choice of protein. I did not get an opportunity to try this dish, but looked nice and fresh. My friend said the dish was not spicy but I am sure you can spice it up if you desire. Lastly if you are in rush, you can always order at the counter to go or take the food to another location- like the bar on the end of the market! Enjoy!

The food was pretty good. We got the tom yum noodles (no oyster sauce) and hangover noodles (no fish sauce). Both could have been spicier but the flavors were really good. Liked the flavors in the tom yum noodles - a little too subtle though. Quick service. It's in the public market so the ambience is pretty good too. Parking in public parking lots nearby (Victoria parking lot is probably the closest).

This time, my trip to Santa Barbara was planned so that I can have and early lunch at the Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar. It is located insides the Santa Barbara Public Market and is the second top draw for foodies who come here. There is limited seating at the bar and I came in the moment they opened, at 11 am. While the noodle bar chairs were not comfortable, the placements on the counter were attractive. Three jars of condiments and chopsticks of different colors every few chairs. I came here to order their Northern Thailand Curry Noodle "Khao Soi". This typical Northern Thailand dish is served here with flat egg noodles, stewed Shelton Farm chicken in a curry base broth, coconut milk, fish sauce. It is garnished with pickled mustard greens, cilantro green onions, housemade chili oil and topped on the side with rings of crispy egg noodles. I also asked for Thai chilies in fish sauce, to complement the dish, if needed. The soup arrived piping hot (the way I like it) in a black deep inverted cone shaped bowl, accompanied with an intense aroma of spices. The presentation was superb, had the right optics and beautiful colors of yellow, orange and green spread on the surface. The coconut broth was the right viscosity, bursting with a complex mix of flavors, textures and satisfying mouth feel. All the ingredients were perfectly balanced. The Shelton farm chicken was tender and extremely tasty, the meat coming off just with chopsticks. Personally, I preferred the thin crispy egg noodles once they softened up. In my opinion, If more of this was substituted for the flat noodles, the dish would have consistency, a better bite, slurp and reach the next level. Still, this was a spectacular dish and will go down in my books as one of the best Khao Soi noodle soups that I have had. Service at the noodle bar was also fantastic.

The Empty Bowl has been one of my favorite spots for a long time. Whether it was grabbing lunch during work, dinner during my college days at Westmont, or just a casual lunch with friends, it has always been one of those go-to places that never disappoint. The food is consistently good, and the prices are fair for the quality and amount you get. The Drunken Noodle, Hangover Noodle, and Tom Yum Noodle are packed with flavor and the perfect amount of heat. You get a solid portion that usually leaves you feeling full, and if not, their dumplings, egg rolls, or even their seasonal wings are great add-ons to round out a satisfying meal. Their Thai tea is definitely on the sweeter side, maybe a bit too sweet at times, but it pairs perfectly with the spice from the noodles and helps balance everything out. It is one of those combos that just works. The place is always busy, with the staff moving fast in such a tight space, but they still manage to keep things flowing smoothly. And being in the Santa Barbara Public Market adds to the whole vibe. It is a fun, social area that is always clean and full of energy. If you have not been to The Empty Bowl yet, do yourself a favor and go. It is the kind of spot that becomes a regular in your rotation once you try it.

Came on a Monday night for dinner and got their daily special: thai basil chicken fried rice ($17) ... and it was DElicious! Generous portion size that lasted me two meals. I didn't have to wait too long, probably around 15-20 minutes. Man, I might dream about this fries rice for some time. The flavor was strong but in the best way. Can't wait to come back

This is located inside the Santa Barbara Public Market. There were options to either get a Togo or opt for the bar seating. As vegetarians we tried the following : Papaya Salad : 4/5. This was quite tasty. It was a little tart. Could have been spicier. Hangover Noodles : 3/5. This was good, nothing exceptional. The service was friendly and fast.

Got there around 8:30 pm barely made it they do close at 9pm we ordered pad Thai with tofu and curry noodle both were good and tasty with lots of flavor I just wish that the soup was place in a different container got soggy on the way home. We did not wait long for the food service is fast. The whole market has decent amount of people just don't make sense that people are still eating and they are removing all the chairs around you. They keep the place clean but will definitely come back to try other stuff in the menu .

I want to publicly express that the management personally reached out to me post my review to refund our meal. Emre apologised for my experience and went out of their way to make things right. This kind of commitment to customer experience goes far beyond just serving food; I appreciate the gesture a lot :) Thank you and now I'm really looking forward to visiting them the next time I'm in SB to try their other offerings.

Really great place right in the middle of the SB Public Market. I loved the pad thai, it was a really good serving.

Service was good and the owner is responsive to feedback, which is appreciated. Not sure if it was an off day but the highly rated curry noodles was a disappointment. The noodles were undercooked and did not get any softer as time passed. The soup itself was flavorful and good. But for a place that's named "gourmet noodle" it was underwhelming. The two chunks of chicken in the soup were just okay, would've worked better if they were shredded. Service was quick. If you're dining in you can sit at the bar and they'll give you a check afterwards. Maybe it was an anomaly, the soup did taste good. I'll give it another chance next time.

Ok ok, a lot of varying stars here so here we go! Wait time to receiving order: 45 minutes even though we were quoted 15-20 minutes. (We ordered potstickers, too, FYI) 3/5 stars Service: Greeted, asked how our day was going. 5/5 stars Hangover Noodles: Lots of veggies to add flavor. Good portion for one. 5/5 stars Handmade Potstickers: Made to order. Allow 15 minutes for these. Pan fried with a bit of crisp. Flavor was good with the chili oil. Not the best we've had. They give you 5. 4/5 stars Northern Thailand Curry: DAAAAAYUM! This was delicious! It is a bit thicker because of the starch from the flat egg noodles. It's really the crispy egg noodles that bring this to life because of the texture. The only issue we had is that the they put a WHOLE BOILED CHICKEN BREAST in there that's UNCUT. Since we took it to-go, it was a pain to work around that. I ended up taking it out because they didn't give us a knife either. It didn't even need the chicken. Are the whole thing without it. The flavor won't disappoint! I did get it mild with the chili oil on the side. 5/5 stars This restaurant is inside a food hall with parking in the back. The have a counter bar top that you can eat at. FUN FACT: It's the only way to get an actual bowl to eat your soup. Even if you are staying at a communal table inside the hall, they won't give you one even if you offer to bring it back. This happened to the guy in front of us. The lady said she couldn't give him a bowl and handed him a small to-go container. I recommend this be changed. The likelihood of someone stealing a bowl in Santa Barbara is LOW - Although never zero. LOL

I really love this Public Market. But the truth is, I love all multiple, side by side, marketplaces. While this is good, better ones are Chelsea Market (NY), Ferry Building Marketplace (SF), and Oxbow Public Market (Napa). But when I went the other night, my eyes (and belly) and its sights on noodles from Empty Bowl. Hangover ones. Chicken. Yes. Hangover Noodles (w/Chicken) -- flat wide noodles, chicken, green beans, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, onions, jalapeño, garlic, and basil. Boo--yah. Great. Down a .5 point because it was a packaged in a to-go box and plastic knife. Ugh. But it was so so good anyway. Good price, big portion. Loved the sides of 3 types of chili sauces or powders. [$17.95, 4.0 stars]. I'll be back.

You can find plenty options in the public market of Santa Barbara. This one stuck out to me in particular because of the options and clear popularity. I ordered to go but ate it inside the market. It took about 10mins to prepare which I was impressed with given the amount of customers. Presentation was A1. Service was decent, nothing special though. Let's get into the food.. Vegetable spring roll - 4.5/5 the most perfect crunch I've ever experienced. The sauce was complimentary to the roll and amplified the experience. Very very hot temp wise, but worth the mouth burn for the flavor. Generous portion. Hungover noodle +filet mignon - 2/5 :( no flavor besides being spicy. They give you a heavy portion, which I'm appreciative of, but the lack of flavor defeats that for me. You can see there's meat, veggies, and sauces on the side.. but it was hard to enjoy the meal. I took most of it home and added sweet and sour sauce. I enjoyed it much better that way. I wouldn't mind returning to try another option, but the first impression it left me wasn't the greatest.

Good but expensive. Felt like fat flat noodles and seafood, so ordered a hangover noodles with shrimp. The total (including tax and tip) came out to be $28+, which I think is kind of pricey. The noodle was tasty though, very strong basil and Thai flavor, with about 5 or 6 medium sized shrimps, lots of mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and green beans, the last two of which I don't associate with Thai noodles but sort of worked. Service was nice.

this spot is located inside the santa barbara public market which is a cute spot with a few food vendors to choose from. the menu has numerous dishes that feature mostly thai-centered dishes but include some attributes of other asian cuisines. the portion sizes are either perfect or on the larger side so they're also great for sharing if desired. parking - mostly street parking and paid lots tom yum noodle ($17.95) - the noodle portion was huge and even after sharing, i had leftovers to take home. there was a perfect balance of every ingredient with a great amount of flavor as well long tail boat noodle soup ($17.95) - very flavorful but specifically heavier on the lime-iness which some might dislike while others prefer. i personally enjoyed the soup more because of this but it may not be for everyone

Such a yummy option in a super cool food hall so everyone in your group can try something new! The staff have always been nice every time I've visited and I appreciate the flexibility for a vegan option.

Visited the Santa Barbara public market, and we decided to try Empty Bowl after walking around the market. We were able to get seats at the bar immediately, and we decided to get the duck buns and the long tail boat noodle. The duck buns were very good and quite massive. The duck meat was well done and skin had a nice crispy texture to it. The Thai boat noodles were a bit underwhelming though. While the ingredients were fresh and of good quality, the broth was just a bit too sour and not savory enough for me in the flavor profile. Prices were sort of average to other competitors out there, just was a bit disappointed by the Thai boat noodles. Service was nice. 3.5/5

Felt like this was the best thing in the public market especially since it was the only place with a line. We initially waited for sit in but there was no seats available so opted to just get in the take out line. These are my thoughts. Northern Thailand Curry Noodles - It was a flavorful soupy noodles with a chunk of chicken breast. It was pretty decent. I didn't like that it comes in a cup for take out because it made it very awkward to eat. They def need to make take out for this in a bowl or something since everyone just sits at the market. Not bad. (4/5) Drunken Noodles - This looks basic but when I took I bite, I was sent into another dimension. It was delicious and came out piping hot. Chicken was moist and tender and noodles were perfectly cooked. I recommend this. (5/5) It's a pricey decent noodle joint here. Usually feel a bit off about spending near $20 for Asian noodles but the overall taste here is good. $40 for two bowl of noodles here.

We tried this noodle place inside the Santa Barbara public market and were decently full after. 4/5 We tried the Khao Soi, which had great noodle texture and rich broth. But the chicken was simply boiled and there wasn't too much chicken. 3/5 The drunken noodles were also decent, the noodles with a good texture but not anything to rave about. We also asked to eat there but they ended up doing it to go.

The food is amazing. Everything is fresh and the flavors are rich and full. For that, the five stars. I had the northern Thailand curry noodle Khao Soi. It has a bit of spice so beware if that is not your preferred. My only drawback is that unless you're sitting at the bar, they pack everything to go even if you are sitting in the Public Market to eat it. Eating out of a paper to go container is way less satisfying than out of a bowl. I ended up not eating with my friends and took my noodles home so I could put them in a bowl and have a better dining experience instead of just a messy noodle slurping with a huge piece of chicken to tackle experience.

I had the pan fried pancit with chicken and it was good but it was NOT pancit as I know it. I am married to a Pinay whoales amazing food, and I have eaten at many, many different Filipino restaurants in heavily Filipino population areas. This was more like chow mein than anything else. Don't get me wrong it was GOOD, just not as advertised. I would for sure go again but try out another dish. This place was busy so that tells me they have many good options.

Let me just start off this review by saying, Santa Barbara is so chill. Nice place to just walk around and relax. On my last day in Santa Barbara, I'm trying to figure out what I want for lunch before I head back to LA. Decided to hit up the Santa Barbara Public Market so I can have some choices of what to eat. Walked around the market place a few times and Empty Bowl was the restaurant that was calling my name. Looked at the menu, and just had to give it a go. Food: I got the Northern Thailand Curry Noodle "Khao Soi." This dish was delicious. It was making me sweat a bit, but everything was just so flavorful. Definitely can go for this dish again. And was washing everything down with a Singha beer. So good! Service: Friendly. I was able to sit at the bar. Didn't have to wait too long to get my food. Price: $18.95 for the soup and $6 for the beer. Yes I would get it again! Parking: Huge parking lot. Didn't have any issues trying to find parking. Will I be back? Yes I will! This will be one of my go to spots now when I visit Santa Barbara. I definitely want to try other stuff on the menu.

Delicious Filipino breakfast served in a pleasant setting. I enjoyed the Bagsilog. The Bangus was perfectly prepared. The fried egg and rice were likewise delicious. Service was fast, friendly and efficient,

I came here with my mom and uncle while searching for a Thai place to eat at. While. I think their food is very expensive it is very average for what you get as well as the quantity. Each plate is at least $20 or with any little additions it's extra for five dollars for a basic broccoli or some thing which I think it's crazy. However, if you were to switch for something else, they say they can't replace it, they would just charge extra. I wouldn't return here

All I can say is I literally have dreams about the spicy northern Thai soup! The noodles are perfect. Just go get it! I promise you won't regret it!

Empty Bowl is a fun spin on authentic Thai food! I'd recommend getting takeout, just because the seating in the Public Market is not my favorite - I prefer to comfortably curl up on the couch with my bowl of noodles. My friend recommended the Northern Thailand Curry Noodle (Khao Soi), and I was so glad she did. It was the perfect dish to enjoy on a cold evening, warm and flavorful and creamy and hearty. I even came back a second time later that week and got it again! The Summer Rolls were likewise delicious, packed with crisp and fresh ingredients. Yum.

This is a great place to eat in the Santa Barbara Public Market! We got a place at their bar and they kept checking in on us in case we needed anything. We got the papaya salad and the hangover noodles (asked for both to be made vegan)! Both were delicious! The papaya salad was so fresh and tangy! I also got the Thai iced tea with coconut milk which was perfect for a hot day!

Annual trip to the Public Market and went straight to Empty Bowl. Two lines: order at the bar for eating in or a line for to-go. Ordered Khao Soi (chicken curry noodle soup), and it was tasty like always. Over $20 with tax though, which is pricey, but it is solid. A perfect amount of heat in the creamy broth, and the noodles are tasty too. Not a big menu but the dishes are done well. I will be back!

Noods were fire!!! It was my BF's order. I didn't take a pick. My oh my they were so flavorful, spicy, and shroomy. Just how I like it. The spring rolls were good. Lots of sauce in the side.

Let me tell you, this was one of the creamiest chicken pad thai I've ever had. I feel people who do chicken pad Thai correctly capture the flavors of the peanuts, carrots, and additionally deliver it with a rich, creamy sauce. I love local food labs that provide a variety of restaurants so the whole ambience of an upscale food court is really cool . I interacted with two people that worked at this restaurant and they were so nice and helpful and I loved that they were willing to give us extra pad Thai sauce and peanut sauce . Of course, soy sauce and spicy chili sauce is also a must. My regret is not trying The roasted duck bao sandwiches.

When I used to live in SB, we'd go here as a treat. Always delicious. It can be a bit of a wait to eat at the bar when it's busy but worth it. Take out is good too but fresh is always better! Had the papaya salad and long tail boat noodles with my partner when we were visiting. I definitely miss this place! All their noodle soups are amazing.

Yelp reviews led me to seek out this place. I am disappointed. My food looked uninspired and was not good. I asked for what was good and got a noodle dish with chicken. The chicken was completely overcooked...so super tough. The beans sprouts were not the freshest. Some with dark tops. The green onion was the end pieces so I didn't eat it. The dish needed cilantro. Peanuts were bitter and cheap quality. The tofu tasted sour. The dish was mainly a heap of noodles and tasted overly sweet. Complete rip off for 17.95 for the quality of food served and amount of items other than noodles! Also this place is not a restaurant but just a counter with bar seating in a market place (upscale food court) with other businesses. Thai tea was good and was $5. Atmosphere was extremely noisy with a nearby stand with an employee pounding something for a long time. I watched them cooking while I waited and saw that they were scorching the oil. No one checked on me to see if I liked my food (I would have told them no) and getting the bill was a wait as no one was keeping tabs on me.

Definitely a goto spot for me! My favorites are the summer rolls, green papaya salad, any of the soups, and hangover noodle. It's nice sitting at their bar-like seating. They do sometimes run out of popular dishes towards the end of the day so keep that in mind!

The Monday special of tofu fried Rice was good with a generous portion! The Thai basil flavor was great but the tofu could have been salted better.

Heck yes I recommend. One of my favorites in SB. I either get the hangover, Bangkok, or the curry. All three of those are delicious. The service is great. The staff is always really helpful.

We got their popular items - Pad Thai and Curry Noodle Khao Soi. Overall, the food was comforting; noodles have perfect chewy texture. However, the Pad Thai didn't quite hit the mark for us. It was on the sweeter side, less traditional... The Khao Soi was tasty; came with a generous chunk of chicken. But the broth might be a bit too thick for some, especially if you're not a fan of heavier soups. The pricing might be a bit steep, the total price was a little over 40 for these standard noodle dishes.

Best Thai food in Santa Barbara! Highly recommend the hangover noodles, pad thai, and the khao soi. Service is pretty quick, but it can get busy on the weekends. Really good for a quick bite and one of the best vendors in public market

Amazing place, the service was alright. They gave us water glasses that had a soap taste to them. Overall, the food is really good--I ordered the drunken noodles (hangover noodle) which was bomb! Their thai tea is also pretty good.

One of my favorite spots in the market, as well as one of my favorite Asian spots in SB. They have daily lunch specials as well as excellent noodle dishes. Somewhat limited menu but everything is delicious and they use high quality beef and chicken in every order. Has an open kitchen so you can see them cooking and working hard to create your food. Definitely worth a try if you are in the neighborhood or the market. I personally love the Beef Pancit as they use filet mignon..

Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar is one of counters in Santa Barbara Public Market. The noodle bar specializes in Thai noodles. [Parking]: I was able to find an outdoor public parking lot (City Lot #5 - 1230 Chapala St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101) and free parking for the first 75 minutes. Apparently there's also free underground parking available behind Santa Barbara Public Market off Chapala St. [Ordering]: Bar seating line starts on left side and togo/eat around the market line starts on right side. I ordered a togo order and received a buzzer. [Menu]: 5 items to share, 2 salads (Thai Beef Salad and Green Papaya Salad 'Tom Sum'), 3 noodle soups (Northern Thailand Curry Noodle "Khao Soi", Long Tail Boat Noodle, and Bangkok Street Noodle), and 4 noodles (Pad Thai Khao San Road, Pan Fried Pancit Noodle, Tom Yum Noodle, and Hangover Noodle). They also have a separate special menu (Monday = Thai Fried Rice, Tuesday = Beef Shank Panang, Wednesday = Pad See Ew, Thursday = Tom Kha Noodle Soup, and Friday = Bangkok Wings). Extra fees for beef ($3+) or shrimp (+$4) options for noodles. *** Hangover Noodle (fat flat rice noodles, green beans, white button mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, sliced white onions, red jalapeño, fresh garlic, mushroom soy sauce, oyster sauce, Thai basil, Thai chilis - chicken for $16.95): Not bad at all and it had right amount of spicy level; It is not a dish I go crazy for, but this dish really hit the spot. Roasted Duck Buns (Steamed Chinese bao buns, roasted duck, cucumber, pickled carrots & daikon, cilantro, hoisin sauce - 2 buns for $14.50): Meaty buns, but one of my bao buns was slightly charred and overall flavors tasted just alright. *** I can see myself re-visiting this spot given lack of Asian food options in Santa Barbara vs Los Angeles. I personally wouldn't recommend overpriced duck buns and just stick with popular noodle dishes as highlighted by Yelp (no need to pay extra for beef or shrimp unless you just really want it).

Pad thai is a pretty complex dish to make because of all the notes of flavor they offer . Sweet, salty and sour not to meation you have to cook the noodle in high heat to bring more flavor in the noodles the pad thai I had here has none of that. This "pad thai" taste like it was drenched in sugar.

This place is inside the Santa Barbara Public Market! They have a limited menu but they specialize in soups and noodles! We ordered the Hangover Noodles and they were super delicious! I had mine with shrimp (tail-on)! We ate our meals at the bar/stool counter area they have there that faces towards the kitchen which was kinda cool to see while you're waiting/having your meal! The noodles were so yummy and I'll probably come here before I leave this weekend! Tip: there's a separate line for folks wanting to sit and eat at the bar counter and there's another line for folks just wanting to order to-go.

Located inside the Santa Barbara Public Market and it's one of the most popular stalls! We ordered the Tom yum noodles and the Bangkok wings and they were so good. Both dishes were really flavorful.

Probably the best Thai food we've ever eaten out. We sat beside someone who was a regular and he has already tried every single item on the menu and he's been coming back every year! Staff was super friendly and i love the casual bar ambiance. TOP recommended: Curry Noodles! Just a little but bummed that the Panang is only a special and available at certain days, not everyday. Man! I need to go back again

We ordered this for dinner tonight. It was fresh and delicious. The Summer Rolls were not customizable, they are premade. The wrapper was sticky but the veggies were crisp. I substituted fish sauce for the peanut sauce and the fish sauce was really salty water. It was unlike any fish sauce I have ever had.

Uh, I want to give a higher star rating but I honestly cannot. This Noodle bar is located inside Santa Barbara Public Market which is a cute little venue that has different food vendors to purchase from. It's similar to many other spots in LA or the Bay Area. Empty Bowl is located in the center of the venue which made it easy to find. The place is busy. So busy that they stop taking orders to catch up on completing dishes. The close the orders for about 15 minutes or so, at least that's what I heard the cashiers say when I was waiting for my food. My sister's order came out and I was still waiting on my order when she has ordered more food. Make it make sense. Not sure. It happens right? So when I get my food and I open the box and the Hang over noodles smelled wonderful. The noodles were over cooked. They broke off once I tried to pick some up with my chop sticks. The flavor could have been so much more but I feel they didn't add enough umami. The pot stickers were the worst. Please don't get them. You're better off finding an Asian store and steaming it at home. My brother in law didn't enjoy his experience. He said the dish itself was good but the execution wasn't that great. He scooped up his noodles and they were clumped up in a ball & the broth wasn't hot enough to soften them. I feel like I was duped into trying this place. Maybe it was a bad night, maybe I came on an off day for one of the cooks.