Secret Bao

You order first, then grab a seat! The baos were honestly really good! soft, fluffy buns with great flavor. I’d totally recommend the pork belly bao. The KFC bao had a nice little spicy kick but the chicken was super tender and juicy.The char siu mandu was just okay. We also tried the katsu bento and pork belly fried rice, but those were kind of disappointing. The fried rice tasted like a mild, fusion-style version of kimchi fried rice, not super flavorful. Tbh, in the rice dish, i felt like the spinach was little odd. And there was not much pork belly either. There’s definitely a difference in quality between the baos and the other dishes. I highly recommend baos but idk about the rice dishes.

Secret Bao is one of those rare finds that hits every note perfectly — bold flavors, unique dishes, and an atmosphere that feels both modern and welcoming. The garlic noodles were good — simple but absolutely packed with flavor. Chewy, buttery, garlicky perfection. And the kalbi steak with rice? Wow. The steak was beautifully marinated and grilled, tender with just the right amount of char. Paired with fluffy rice and flavorful kimchi, it was a full-on comfort meal with a gourmet twist. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely excited about the food, which made the whole experience even better. The outdoor seating is another major plus — it’s spacious, relaxed, and perfect for enjoying Santa Barbara’s amazing weather. Whether you’re catching up with friends or just grabbing a quiet meal, the patio space adds to the whole experience without feeling crowded or cramped. Secret Bao is the kind of place you want to keep secret — but it's just too good not to share. Go hungry, and bring friends so you can try a bit of everything.

Plan ahead. This place is very busy. We came for dinner on Saturday night, and it was a long wait. We walked through town to pass time. I'm super happy we didn't cancel the reservation to try another place. The food was a wonderful experience and we seriously enjoyed it. The flavors blew my mind. Every, single, item... Was amazing. If you don't like spicy, be careful, because it was all spicy. I'm sure you can order things with less spice. Must try this place!

Counter service during lunch is a chill way to get solid food efficiently, but definitely want to return for dinner for the full experience. Felt a bit casual and not overly friendly given the quality of food. A bit more intentional service orientation during the day shift would make this place a 5/5 across the board.

Holy moly! The flavors at Secret Bao are beyond words. Absolutely delectable. I’ve eaten here 3 times in the past couple of months and am more impressed each time, everything I’ve tried has been outstanding. The food comes out in a very timely manner as it’s ready, they have really dialed in the service, and it’s incredibly consistent. Those who have gone with me have been equally impressed. Garlic noodles are probably my favorite, (I could drink the gravy / sauce they are served in,) followed by the soy dumplings and fried rice. This place has quickly risen to my favorite restaurant in SB.

Wow. This place is absolutely amazing. It’s funny I’ve never seen this pop up when searching for restaurants so I’m so glad a friend recommended it. This compares to NYC restaurants for me. The flavors were amazing and the food felt so fresh. The dessert brioche dumplings were insanity. The service was also top notch. We will recommend Secret Bao to anyone visiting SB.

You know a place is great when the Brussel sprouts are a highlight! Excellent food, loved the serving sizes they were easy to share among two. Had the crème brûlée for dessert - was very standard but the bingsu looked incredible

The food here is absolutely incredible. We always get the Kung Pao Cauliflower and a bunch of other plates. I’m glad there are some vegetarian options. Flavors of everything are just always soooo on point! Atmosphere is also great, staff is friendly and helpful. Kitchen staff is great too, we never have to wait long for food to come out. Highly recommend if you’re in the area!

Great dining experience. Got there a bit early and they seated us right away. PINK PERUVIAN SCALLOPS 2/5* - the rave reviews convinced us to order this one, and while fresh, there was nearly 0 flavor. It felt like something must have been missing. The scallops were also very small. Overpriced, disappointing, and not distinctive. KFC + PORK BELLY BAO 4/5* - Yummmm. The pork belly was delish, and the fried chicken was a textural, tasty bite. They split them in half if you want which was nice. They were a little hard to eat and keep in the bun, and the pork belly could've used a little texture. SOY CHILI DUMPLINGS 5/5* - love the toppings, the sauce, the ratio of the ingredients. Real winner KUNG PAO CAULIFLOWER 5/5* - this sauce was the bomb dot com. Maybe a little salty but I didn't care. The mix of shishito peppers, nuts, sauce was everything. CURRY NOODLES 5/5* - we saw the mixed reviews about potentially watery sauce but took the chance cause we wanted some noodles, and we were so pleasantly surprised! The broth was masterful, the mushrooms weren't overwhelming, and the portion was really big for the price compared to our other dishes. Noodles were cooked well. Highly recommend if you're looking for a hearty addition to your smaller plates. My partner enjoyed his IPA (served in a cold glass!), and my tropical mocktail with lychee was refreshing and delicious. Service was attentive but not overbearing. Yes yes yes!

Dinner: cauliflower 5/5 Mango bingsu 5/5 Strawberry chocolate bingsu 2/5: chocolate ice cream and strawberry taste too strong and do not blends well together ) Din tai fang pork chop fried rice 2/5: you can literally make the same fried rice ur rice without any effort and the pork is not well marinated neither well fried Udon carbonara 3.75/5: good sauce could be better, it's good but not a must try.

We were recommended Secret Bao by a server from Loquita. Overall we had a great dinner here though were not blown away. KFC bao: 8/10. Very yummy! Chicken could've been more tender IMO. Pork belly bao: 8/10. The pork belly was tender and was complemented well by the cucumber. Honey walnut shrimp: 9/10. This was incredible. It came with 4 large shrimps as well as fried broccoli. The batter on the shrimp was crispy and light and didn't compromise the tenderness of the shrimp! Kung Pao Cauliflower: 5/10. This was a miss for us. While the cauliflower was well-cooked, I didn't really like the flavors in this dish. It was too salty and also just tasted odd to me. Udon carbonara: 7/10. The udon was perfectly chewy. I thought the flavor of the sauce was great, but it was a bit watery. Date cake: 12/10. You should've seen my boyfriend's face when he tried this lol. This was by far our favorite dish of the night!! The cake was warm, sugary, and gooey, with great texture contrast from the graham crumbs on top. Just a warning this is a pretty sweet dessert though! Mango sticky rice bingsu: 7/10. This was good, and I loved the addition of coconut sticky rice to this. I didn't have too much stomach space left at this point, so I prioritized the date cake since it was the superior dessert lol. Service was good. The dessert took an unusually long time to arrive after we ordered. I'd say prices here are reasonable, given the more elevated dining experience and relative lack of Asian restaurants in Santa Barbara. Strengths are the bao, honey walnut shrimp, and desserts. They absolutely nailed the date cake here, and I would happily come back for that alone.

Solid Asian fusion restaurant with lots of seating indoor and outdoors. Pet friendly too. Staff was very nice and cleared dishes often. Pork fried rice: very tasty and came out piping hot. Was also delicious the next day. Chili oil dumplings: strangely not spicy at all but very crispy and had juicy pork. Hamachi poke bowl: not a lot of fish but it was a tasty bowl of rice with pickled veggies. Garlic noodles: pretty simple but easy to eat. A little expensive for the portions but understandable that rent isn't cheap.

Overall: A // 5 stars One of my favorite Asian fusion restaurants since Day 1 of its opening. They regularly refresh the menu with new and interesting additions, while maintaining a high standard for quality and presentation for each dish. At the heart is their bao buns, which are all well made, although they seem to have been reducing the number of those they have on the menu moving forward. All in all, very high quality Asian food that I highly recommend. (KFC Bao: A) - Beautiful picture perfect bao bun that always impresses with incredibly juicy chicken breast; the coleslaw pairing with the spicy dragon sauce and creamy mayo works perfectly to get that spicy Korean kick while maintaining a good balance. The thing that could be improved is the arrangement of the bun as the first few bites are better balanced since all the garnish sit on top. (Duck Udon: A) - Soulfully comforting bowl of udon. We got a lightly developed five spice broth, with tender udon and duck that just melts in your mouth. The bok choy adds to the pleasant healthfulness of the dish. (The Tropics: A) - Incredibly pleasant blend of tropical fruits, while still impressively maintaining individuality of flavors of the lychee, passionfruit, mango, guava and orange. I also like that the drink also has volume, which cannot be said for most mocktails. Food: +1 Presentation: +1 Price: E Atmosphere: E Service: E Menu: +2 Overall: 5 stars Insta/Beli/Yelp/TikTok: @amei_eats

We came in just before closing and were so glad we'd made it. We ordered a hand roll, a couple of types of dumplings, and the garlic noodles. We ate a lot of Asian food while in Santa Barbara and I'd say that each item we had at secret bar was our favorite of the trip. It isn't fancy: you order at the counter and they'll bring you your food but I also got a very good glass of wine. If i lived in Santa Barbara, which I wish i did, this would be in solid rotation.

One of my favorite restaurants in SB! I wish the portions were bigger, but that just means I get to try more dishes on their menu. We ordered: Matcha Horchata: 7/10 The Tropics (mocktail): 8.5/10 Pink Peruvian scallops: 10/10 might be my favorite of our meal Mapo mushroom dumplings: 10/10 Duck spring rolls: 9/10 Din tai fung pork chop fried rice: 6/10 Honey walnut shrimp: 9/10 Pistachio crème brûlée: 8/10 yummy but prefer the matcha flavor.

Secret Bao is a modern Asian fusion eatery serving up some elevated classics in a fun and innovative way. Reservations are recommended as spots do tend to fill up fast. This spot is located on State Street across the street from the courthouse. To get here, street parking will be your best bet and there is a lot of it around the area. Wifey and I stopped by for dinner around 5pm with a reservation and were seated right away. Inside, they have a spacious interior with a good amount of seating. For their menu, they have a nice selection of different appetizers, dim sum, and entree dishes to choose from. We opted for a spread consisting of the Mapo Mushroom Dumplings, Shrimp Tempura Bao, KFC Bao, Din Tai Fung Pork Chop Fried Rice, and the Kalbi Steak with Banchan. For our drinks, we got the Strawberry Horchata and the Tropical Bliss. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal and had a great dining experience. The flavors were spot on and had a great balance between authenticity and creativity. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Secret Bao = SB's best kept secret? Come find out for yourself!

People love Secret Bao and I give them a double thumbs-up for being so kid- and dog-friendly. Food-wise, however, I find their dishes very rich and not a lot of healthy or even healthy-adjacent choices. On a final note, they could use a better drink selection, outside of iced tea in a plastic bottle.

We ordered the KFC bun, beef noodles and pork bowl. The noodles were very spicy (6/10) but I'm a "spicy is better" eater. The pork bowl was very neutral in flavor. I've been here before and remember it a tad better in portions and boldness. In my opinion, the prices don't equal the portion size.

Generally really good food and service! KFC: It's not a traditional Korean fried chicken, but the fry is really good! Ribs: They came right off the bone; hands down the star of the night Udon carbonara: This was our favorite noodle dish

I've had secret bao on my list for a while! We visited on a Sunday at 5pm and lucked out with no wait for a party of three. The interior was spacious and bright. We ordered a couple items off the happy hour menu (offered wed-sun evenings) - kfc bao and tempura shrimp bao, the kalbi steak, udon carbonara, and the garlic noodles (kids menu). The dishes were pricey (with small portions); however, they were executed well! I loved my kalbi (which was cooked to perfection and presented beautifully with the sides) and was not a fan of the udon carbonara. We paid to park in a public structure and walked on over. While nothing beats Asian food in Orange County or LA, secret bao was great and a much shorter drive than OC/LA.

We stopped by Secret Bao on a weekday for happy hour and had a great experience all around. It's conveniently located near the courthouse and within walking distance of downtown Santa Barbara, with plenty of street parking nearby -- easy to get to and a nice area to explore before or after your meal. The restaurant itself have indoor and outdoor seating and is a modern and clean vibe. The food was overall good minus one of the meals I ordered, but the service more than made up for it -- truly some of the most attentive and thoughtful service I've had in a while. I ordered the shrimp bao from the happy hour menu, and it was packed with flavor -- I honestly could've eaten three more. On the other hand, I tried the mushroom dumplings and didn't love them; they were a bit dense and lacked the flavor I was hoping for, even as a mushroom fan. What really stood out, though, was how seriously the staff took dietary restrictions. A family member has a garlic sensitivity, and our server went out of his way to confirm ingredients, offer alternative options, and check in again when we ordered entrées. That kind of attention to detail made the experience feel personal and stress-free. My family ordered the Chinese chop salad and the pork chop fried rice -- both were huge hits. I tried the fried rice and can vouch for how good it was. My family loved their meals so much they joked they'd drive all the way back to Santa Barbara and back in the same day just to eat here again- but I don't think she was joking. All in all, the food was solid, the shrimp bao was a standout, and the service was exceptional -- kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming. Would absolutely come back and recommend for anyone looking for a flavorful meal and outstanding hospitality in SB!

A year later... and still great!! Ambiance and service 5/5 again, super friendly, helpful, and attentive. Got the kalbi steak, DTF fried rice, seafood dumplings, and their bingsoo for dessert. The steak was so tender and we were told it's even a lean cut so there's less fat. The DTF rice was also tasty, we thought the flavor was pretty close! But this time, the dessert was the standout. Let me tell you about this mango sticky rice bingsoo... it has McConnells in it! Such a uniquely Santa Barbara spin on a thoughtfully fused pan-Asian dessert.

I've been here a couple times now and I am never really blown away. I think it is pretty good asian fusion food in the area considering it's sb, which doesn't have many asian cuisine options. I think everything I've had was decent but I don't think it's worth the price. it is a super trendy spot with a fancier vibe to it so maybe that's why the prices are high for what it is, but if you're willing to go to la you'll be able to find many other better options for a cheaper price (or bigger portion for the same price) on my most recent visit which was for my friends bday, we ordered 4 dishes to split family style & a dessert: - mapo mushroom dumplings: $13 for 4 very small pieces. the filling and szechuan mapo sauce were on the blander side and it felt like they were trying too hard to elevate this classic Chinese dish but it didn't work out - curry noodles: these were ok. it had a nice flavor but the sauce was very thin and watery. it had everything as described on the menu so I can't be too disappointed but $19 for this was not worth imo (esp w no protein!) - avocado & korean pear salad: this actually surprised me. it was very light and refreshing with a good umami taste from the sesame vinaigrette and furikake. my friends and I were all pleasantly surprised by this! - udon carbonara: this is my friend's fav dish so we were excited to eat it, but she said it wasn't as good as she remembered it. I also thought it was a bit basic and didn't eat much of it - mango sticky rice bingsu: this was def the star of the night! if they have it, do yourself a favor and order it! I thought this was actually a very unique twist to mango sticky rice and was executed so well. it was a perfect cold sweet treat to end the night. our server was very nice and attentive. I think the staff here are always professional & welcoming from what I've seen overall, a relatively good spot for asian fusion in sb but I think youre paying more for the ambiance. for the price point, I would hope for better tasting food or bigger portions

LOVED this spot. We went for dinner & ordered a bunch for the table to share - lobster pasta, lobster bao, hamachi taco, KFC bao & some deserts to split (purple potato cheesecake & date cake). Everything was very flavorful & the selection was incredible! We loved our server & he was well informed on the menu items. The indoor space was nicely laid out & I like that they have some outdoor seating as well. I would definitely recommend this place & I can't wait to go back again!

Maybe I'm spoiled living by Koreatown in LA, but this place was very okay to me. The Kalbi wasn't the most tender or flavorful. The Udon Carbonara & Kungpao Cauliflower were decent but way too salty. The food tasted good overall but was nothing special. I think you're paying more for ambiance.

Secret Bao does delicious, quality Asian food at a casual setting a block off of State St. Obviously get the bao ($8 each) - the pork belly is tender and well cooked and the chicken eats well with a kick of spice. Lychee-tini is a good choice - just enough lychee to take the edge off a martini where it's easily drinkable but not too sweet. The lobster spinach noodle worked really well - flavor of the lobster balanced well with the spinach with a bit of crunch from the other fixens; only get some bits of lobster. Make a reservation if you can or call to get on the waitlist. Service is excellent.

I don't think you can go wrong here. We went family style and loved everything we had! There were 6 of us, and this was our order: Cauliflower - 5/5 Tacos - 4.5/5 Pear and avocado salad - 5/5 KFC bao - 4.5/5 Curry noodles - 4/5 Kalbi steak - 5/5 Ribs - 4.2/5 Dumplings - 3/5 Our server was nice as well and helpful with the menu. I would totally come back here!

Food is delicious!! 2nd visit and we had the pork belly and the Korean fried chicken baos. Highly recommend

We were visiting from out of town & felt that even during busy hours staff was incredibly kind! We had a pup so wasn't sure how the dining situation was going to be but they had great outdoor seating that was dog friendly. Menu was fusion, Korean and bao elements highly recommend if you're here in Santa Barbara looking for some fun fusion eats. The baos were definitely worth it & the ambiance was still popping even at 7pm! The eggrolls were also delish, large portions of the primary entrees so we ended up sharing the Katsu Don!

There really isn't any other restaurant like this in Santa Barbara. This is an Asian fusion restaurant with a rotating menu that is inspired from Japan, China, and Korea. Is it authentic? No. The flavors are clean, elevated, and not too unapproachable for those who are dipping their toes into these cuisines. Their cocktails are delicious and they have some interesting dim sum options. Their pork belly bao is still the best thing on the menu but I do enjoy most of their fusion noodle dishes like the udon carbonara and the bolognese. I recommend trying something inventive and unique, and not something you can get at other restaurants like their beef chow fun. They cook meat and seafood very well. I do miss the big variety of bao that they used to have at lunch time. I really wish they would have more than two regular bao on the menu, considering their name. I also wish they would allow you to order lunch items during dinner, even if they want to upcharge. There are times when I really want to try something but because I can rarely make it over at lunch, it means I'm usually unable to try it before it's gone for the season. You definitely need a reservation for dinner or you will be waiting.

Secret bao has become one of our favorite local spots. The food never disappoints! They are knowledgeable about dietary restrictions and have a cautious kitchen when it comes to accommodating dietary needs. We recently brought our 2 year old with us and we were pleasantly surprised when we learned they have a kids menu. Our little one was THRILLED about his pb&j bao!

Went on a Thursday evening, found street parking close by. We got there around 8pm and were initially told the wait would be around 30 minutes but we actually seated within 5 minutes after our arrival. The interior dining areas flank the bar/kitchen area on two sides. The interior space almost gives the feeling of dining at someone's home. Our waiter was good at going over the menu and helping offer a deeper explanation at some of the menu items we had questions about. Very nice service from our waiter. We ordered the soy chili dumplings, Kalbi steak, and beef chow fun. The soy chili dumplings had a kick, but it was a good spicy. My favorite dish was the Kalbi steak. The steak was very tender and rich with flavor. We had 3 people in our party and the 3 dishes were plenty.

Secret Bao is great once you know what is good on the menu and stick to that. The pork bao is nice, the honey walnut shrimp is a must order, and the sticky date cake is to die for. The pear and avocado salad and ube cheesecake are great dishes as well. Their cocktails are fine, nothing to write home about but they're fun pairings for the food. Positive comments aside, they are wildly inconsistent. The xiao long bao (also called soup dumplings) they had as a special was not good at all. It was about $16 for 4 small dumplings and they had barely any soup or flavor in them. The fried rice with fried pork cutlet was one of the worst things I've eaten at a restaurant in Santa Barbara, especially for the high price tag. Flavorless, soggy, and the cutlet had no color on it. Hard to believe it came from the same place whipping up the best walnut shrimp in SB. This restaurant has high highs and very low lows, and after coming 3 times for dinner service, I'm just going to stick with the things I know taste good.

I went to Secret Bao for dinner for the first time recently. I was able to book a same-day reservation for Saturday night without any issues. I greatly enjoyed the different baos I tried, the cauliflower dish, and the pork fried rice. The staff were very friendly and helped accommodate some allergies in the group effortlessly. I plan on going again soon for the warm dinner atmosphere and to try more of the menu!

We made reservations for a party of 7 at 6:30 pm on a Saturday. Customer Service was great and food was GREATER!!!! Every dish that came out was delicious! We would say 10/10 recommend when in Santa Barbara! It was located across the street from the SB courthouse so we made our way over there as well!

I'm not a resident of Santa Barbara. I visit from Oregon several times a year to see friends, play golf etc. Secret Bao has become my favorite place to eat. It's conveniently a few blocks away. My latest visit... I ordered the pork belly bao and spare ribs. I added a few bottles of sake. My friend ordered the fried rice and chicken bao. Service was excellent. Always a great experience

The Secret Bao is no longer a secret in Santa Barbara! Local ms and visitors know about this place right off state street on a corner across from the government building. This place was packed on a Sunday night at 5:30pm. Best to have a reservation that can be made on open table! The big secret is that they have happy hour from 5-6pm with discounts on drinks and food! There are so many food items to try: it's hard to decide. We had a selection of happy hours: we enjoyed the Baos so much: we had the pork and shrimp bao. The shrimp bao was so good: 2 big pieces of shrimp fried. The shrimp was so fresh with the perfect crunch. The pork bao was so tender and flavorful. We enjoyed them so much we had to order more! We learned that the specials are very limited: we want to get the hamachi collard but they only had one available. Another time. As we did not make reservation: they got us in at a communal table which was perfect. They also have outdoor seating booths and general seating. The communal table felt a bit more spread out and had a view of the beverage kitchen.

Secret Bao is Santa Barbara's best Asian fusion restaurant. Located in downtown Santa Barbara, they have both indoor and outside seating. I highly recommend getting a couple bao buns that they make in house. My personal favorite is the pork belly bao bun! The Szechuan wontons and roasted beets are also some of my favorites to order. Many of their dishes are great for sharing and a perfect way to dine with friends. The restaurant has a simple look and friendly staff. If you're planning to go for dinner I'd make reservations because seating is limited and they are popul

TLDR: 5/5 - The Secret to Secret Bao is that its one of those places that look like it could be small portions followed up with high prices seated in a place that is more of a place to go to for the aesthetic. Well I'm here to tell you its the opposite...except for the aesthetic, it is super cute. Food: TLDRR: Huge portions! Bao: Both worth the price - Shrimp: 5/5 - A HUGE chunk of shrimp. Crispy, good flavor all around. - KFC: 4/5: A HUGE chunk of chicken as it should! This can get a little sloppy fast. This was good but I liked the shrimp better Kung Pao Cauliflower: 5/5 - Holy moly. This is one of those vegetables that if people didn't like vegetables this dish would change your mind. The sauce was delicious and honestly not spicy IMO. The cauliflower was cooked just right and was filled with the sauce. The saute was a nice al dente. Mapo Tofu: 4/5 - This dish was great but I personally just liked the cauliflower a hair better. If you're weird about texture I'd say this is probably not the one. Its almost a risotto type with the mapo. Great umami flavor. Nice comfort food. I think could be a great meal if it was colder. Service: 5/5 Really no complaints! They were friendly and attentive. Food came out super fast too despite it being packed. Notes: Wait: We were in the area visiting another site and saw a line out the door when they were first opened which I thought for a moment would be a foreshadow to how packed it could be. Once we got there around 12:30, it was packed but we were able to find a seat in the back patio. The inside was quite spacious as well so wouldn't be too worried. But I would keep when you go here in mind if you don't have a reservation. Ordering: You order everything and then seat yourself. I think you can ask them to bring out specifics? Parking: There's a complex right behind it! Number 6 I think! I'd definitely come back here. Some people say its overpriced or not fusion enough but for the amount of other options in the area that I think are overhyped, I don't this one is one of them.

It is a Korean restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. You order and pay first at the counter and you are then served . First nuisance: The seat is uncomfortable and the seating position is very low; I am on the taller side so I wonder how a shorter person would feel. The food comes out pretty quickly. We ordered a KFC chicken, a shrimp baoand the hamachi poke. The bao was soft but the breading on the shrimp fell apart. It was a little dry and the flavor was nothing to write home about. The same comment goes for the fried chicken with a tiny piece that needed something to elevate the flavor or give it a kick: Maybe a little kimshi. The hamachi bowl left me looking for the tiny cubes of fish. The whole bowl was too "mayonaisy". I was disappointed given the high Yelp rating. Would I come back? NO

We were in Santa Barbara for the weekend and, based on the stellar reviews, had to check this place out. Now, having been, we completely understand why it's so highly rated. This spot offers both lunch and dinner, and for our meal, my husband and I ended up ordering the same thing--the KFC Bao and the Kalbi Steak Bowl. The steak bowl is served bento box-style, with each ingredient separated so you can mix and match to your liking. A fun touch that made the meal feel a little more interactive. Service? Quick. Staff? Friendly. Atmosphere? Laid-back and perfect for a casual but satisfying lunch. If you're in Santa Barbara and looking for a solid casual lunch spot, this place is absolutely worth a stop.

I honestly feel bad about giving a 3 star review because this was previously my favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara. On past occasions I had the eggplant burrata appetizer, pork belly fried rice, bibimap, beef chow fun, curry noodles, kalbi short ribs, many many baos, the avocado and pear salad, and it was all beyond delicious. On top of that. the staff were and always have been wonderful. It was my favorite in santa barbara but they somewhat recently changed the recipes for some of the dishes. I had the fried rice dish and it was boring, bland and the pork chop was drier than the desert. The old version had sugarpeas, spinach, pork belly, eggs, scallions, and it was maybe the best fried rice I'd ever had -- somehow the new version manages to double as the worst fried rice ive ever had. The bibimap has also changed: it came out in a hot stone pot that was so hot i couldnt take a bite for the first 20 minutes and had to scoop part of it out onto a different plate to cool it down faster. On top of that, the intense heat for such an extended period led the rice to go from soft with a layer of crisp to being so burnt that some of the rice was inedible. Still love the place, but seems some changes were made for the worse instead of the better.

One of the best meals in SB. Great service, and our waiter Dom was attentive and helpful. Easy parking close by.

I would highly recommend making a reservation here if you're not going to walk through their doors as soon as they open up. We got there 10 mins before they opened and there was a line. Most had reservations and the ones who didn't were seated at a community table. This is what we ordered (keep in mind you get one bao per price point): KFC Bao ($6): The chicken was nicely fried with a crunchy batter, not salty, and tasted really good. We were able to cut the bao in half and share it amongst the two of us. Avocado and Korean Pear Salad ($17): This was really refreshing and I would never think to have avocados, pears, walnuts, and furikake mixed together...but it works wonderfully. The pear was crispy, sweet, and cold. The avocado brought in softer textures and rich, fatty flavors. It was a very nice blend of salty and sweet. I would get this again. Chili Noodles ($19, happy hour price): I didn't think this would be in a huge bowl with tons of mushrooms in it. I love mushrooms, but this was more of a mushroom soup than a noodle soup. I didn't care for the broth, there was this unusual aftertaste to it. It was mildly spicy. Would not get again. Pork Belly Bao ($6): The meat on this melted in my mouth and the bun was super soft. Pickles were included in this dish and it added a nice crunch, but I would put this as second place in the bao category. Kalbi Half Pound: I wanted meat! So I ordered this and we killed it! Not as good as my grandma's marinade (it's a little bland), but the meat was tender. Doughnut Bites ($7): Mildly sweet, but I wouldn't get this again. We tried their Moshi White Peach Yuzu Sparkling drink ($7): This was refreshing and honestly not very sweet. It also came in a can, which was a surprise. Probably would try something else if we go back. This place is well lit inside featuring a lot of open space and windows and there is an outdoor seating area with heaters. Service was really good - Our waiter kept coming back asking if we wanted to put in more food orders or needed anything else. Food came out pretty fast. This place is located on a corner next to the Santa Barbara Courthouse and is down the street from the Art Museum.

Secret Bao is a nice spot for a quick and casual meal, with a variety of options, including a kids' menu. The ordering process was simple--you order at the counter, pay, receive a number, and the food is delivered to your table. They provide reusable utensils, and there's a self-serve station for water and condiments. It had a casual ambience and everyone was nice. We tried the pork belly fried rice, hamachi poke, soy chili dumplings, and pork belly bao. The standout dish was the pork belly bao, which had a great balance of flavors. However, the other dishes felt like they were missing key elements that would have elevated them. While the concept is great, I found the portions small for the price--our meal came out to around $65, which felt expensive for the amount and quality of food. Overall, I enjoyed the experience, but I wouldn't go out of my way to return. Would recommend it if you're in the area and looking for a quick bite, but not necessarily a must-visit spot.

definitely a great eatery in Santa Barbara local that offers part authentic, part fusion flair... for passerby guests, it was intriguing to order the "din tai fung pork chop fried rice".. however, I'd say the dish is underwhelming and not deserving of the name because pork chop's size and crispiness wasn't on point (I'd just call it secret bao's pork chop fried rice to be more fitting) Quite a few dishes really really stood out though seafood dumpling, shrimp taco, pork bao and spring roll? (texture, taste and presentation just top notch), Udon tasted descent but perhaps too creamy to my party's taste, might be suitable for locals though.. scallop tasted and presented well but skimped on portion...looks like they used 1 or 2 scallop and sliced it into 4's portion and they definitely just rewash the rocks over and over... one accidently flew onto the scallop.. ...Kalbi Kalbi Kalbi, while it tasted excellent and we ordered the banchan to go along with it.. really wasn't expecting kiddy size leave and condiments, cute though. I could see how the business model is great for the local market but price shock (even compared with LA portion wise) is for real. Service is descent but not personable, probably too busy to take care of all. I'd still visit again when passing through to try other dishes and at a different timeslot to give it another fair assessment. Decor is great but noise level for sure is up there..unable to talk across the table

So delicious! A bit pricey for the casual setting. Maybe Santa Barbara has just gotten more expensive in general. In love with the udon carbonara. All the food was delicious. My favorite was the udon carbonara. The fried flowers with stuffing were great too! I could not find it on the menu and forgot what they were called.

If you decide you'd like to come, I'd suggest making a reservation online in advance. I booked our table on Open Table an hour or two before. I had to find my wallet to reserve it and our indoor table had been taken. Luckily they had patio tables still available... which have heaters! Our server was the absolute sweetest human ever, super polite and great customer service. We ordered the Soy Chili Dumplings, Beef Chow Fun, Rice, and the Donut Bao. My Beef Chow Fun was an explosion of flavor and the meat was amazing. The Donut Bao was a yummy small dessert that we shared, the patio vibes were great. We sat there almost 2 hours enjoying the food, drinks and conversation.

What an amazing experience! Our server RJ was great, very prompt and even asked about any allergies I may have. Got there right at 5 and there was a line, but it went super quick. The flavors were ON POINT!!! We definitely will be back.

The wait: We arrived about 5 minutes before they opened on a weekday evening and were the first ones in line. There were maybe altogether 3 or 4 parties in wait by 5pm. We didn't have a reservation but they gave us a table in the nice courtyard and told us that we could dine till 6:15 before a reserved party came in. The place filled up nicely within the next half hour. The food: The pork belly bao is the star of the dishes we ordered. We loved the crunchy pickled cucumber slices that came with it. I would come back to this place for it alone. The KFC bao was ok, I found the cole slaw in it deliciously crunchy, but the siracha was too sweet and took away from the chicken flavor. The brussel sprout appetizer was the greatest disappointment. It looks amazing but every mouthful was a torture. Brussel sprouts are already very flavorful by themselves, but soak them in vinegar and soy sauce and you drown out whatever good flavor that came from roasting them. Overall: The prices are reasonable, portions are good, location is perfect. My only gripe (besides the brussel sprouts) is that this place seems to be patronized by a certain kind of clientele who don't like sitting next to Asian people? My husband and I were seated in the courtyard and every time the host brought someone to a table next to us, they asked to be shown a different table. Our section was perfectly fine and we're a normal couple. It happened so many times that it's almost comical. Not the restaurant's fault, but I think it attracted a weird crowd. But maybe I'm oversensitive. Interested in other Asian's experience.

This was a fun fusion place to try. I'm a big fan of fusions but this place did not "wow" me. It is my mother-in-law's favorite place & I can totally see why. The service was nice & the place was sooo busy! It's definitely a popular spot. - parking: street! - drinks: we got the yuzu drink & it was delish. - food: okay, this is where it gets fun. I personally ordered the udon dish & it was interesting. Nothing too crazy. Nothing really blew my mind. I did try and pork bao & that was yummy. The beef dish was also really yummy but nothing spectacular. (That's just my opinion). - dessert - we loved our shaved ice-mango ice cream amazing-ness. It was refreshing. Overall, worth a try! Would not go out of my way to come back but glad I did!

I would definitely recommend this place if you are in SB! We are from the Bay Area with lots of Asian fusion options but we definitely enjoyed this place. Service was also very good.

Amazing Food Great Ambiance Our waitress was amazing! Hostess not so nice but maybe having a bad day.

This place is my wife's and my favorite restaurant when visiting Santa Barbara. We intentionally drive an hour from Santa Maria just to come here. The location is a small unassuming cafe style restaurant. The wait staff is very friendly and accommodating. Everything on the menu is delicious. Our all time favorite items are the pork belly bao and KFC bao. That pork belly is so good, so tender, that is the singular reason I drive an hour to dine here. I cannot recommend this place enough.

I ordered take out. And based on this one experience the food was Asian comfort food. It is labeled as Asian fusion and it lived up to its name. I ordered the gluten free pork- fried rice and Chili Crab noodles. I couldn't tell you which country influenced this dish but it had a lot of Asian infused ingredients. It was well and made and ready in 15 minutes! The service was fast and polite. Next time I'll plan on eating inside. Well lit and warm. I highly recommend!

Came here on my last day in Santa Monica for a quick lunch. Nice and quick perfect for an afternoon work lunch or just a weekend treat. Atmosphere: Quaint little area with an open view of the kitchen and bits of asian decor. Food: Fresh and filling, I remember really enjoying the chicken katsu and baos. Succulent and filling. Service: Great service, no complaints, came in and the hostess greeted me and even gave me recommendations. Since I was from out of town I didn't get a chance to try Secret Bao again, but if I lived in the area I can see myself easily recommending it for a quick and easy reliable lunch spot.

Pro Tips - Make reservations if you and can and menu changes! Parking garage is a close walk to the restaurant. My husband and I enjoyed dinner on a Saturday night at the beautiful restaurant. Inside was buzzing was people deep in their dishes. We were seated on the patio and the table was a little wobbly and small. Non the less the area was beautifully lit. We order the noodles that were on the special menu as well as the KFC Bao and Shu Mai bun. Everything was amazing! Packed with flavor and authenticity. I can't wait to go back because I am already craving the entire meal again.