Red Pepper - Goleta

I recently visited this restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. The ingredients were perfectly balanced, which is something I've often found lacking in many Asian restaurants in Santa Barbara, as they tend to overwhelm dishes with one dominant flavor. This place has quickly become my favorite Chinese restaurant in Santa Barbara.

I was truly impressed by this restaurant. We ordered the spicy basil beef and xiao long bao, and there was more than enough food for two people. The dishes were outstanding—full of flavor, with fresh ingredients cooked to perfection. The service was excellent as well. I highly recommend this place! Don’t let the paper plates and compact interior mislead you; it’s a fantastic gem in Goleta offering authentic, affordable food and an extensive menu.

While visiting from Vegas, I was looking for some local Chinese food instead of the typical popular chains. The flavors here took me back to the mom-and-pop Chinese takeout spots in NYC. I'm really glad I chose this place. Highly recommended! (The chef is from NY.)

This is the first time since the pandemic that we have been back. It is out of the Main Street area of Goleta; however, it is a hidden gem. It looks like they renovated the restaurant. Our favorite is the onion pancake appetizer, and it is light crispy with a dipping sauce. We enjoyed our dinner (shrimp chow fun and mooshoo pork). The servings were large and we had enough left overs for lunch. Our server was very attentive and nice.

Wonton soup was super good!! We also got the crispy salt and pepper fish, it was cooked amazing! Would go here again and again!