This is the set of restaurants for which I am the most personally excited about during Santa Barbara burger week. This list factors in variety, convenience, and excitement. I may update this list as I eat. I may even get crazy and visit a place not on my top picks. I will keep you posted.
Kian’s Picks
| Poké House |
Spicy tuna slider: sushi rice “bun” w/ nori, spicy tuna, sriracha aioli, crispy onions |
11am-8pm |
SB |
8 |
9.5 |
| Dom’s Taverna |
Basque burger: NZ halal lamb, Picon blue cheese, saffron aioli, balsamic onion jam |
Wed-Sun noon-3pm |
SB |
8 |
9 |
| Mesa Burger |
Surf & Turf (beef+shrimp), Birria Smash, or Veggie (portobello+hummus) |
? |
SB |
7 |
9 |
| Third Window |
FP Ranch Wagyu smoked over white oak 90 min, horseradish crema, grilled onion |
? |
SB |
8 |
9 |
| Sama San Roque |
Parmesan Papi: parmesan crisp, Tillamook Jack, roasted tomato, Calabrian chili aioli |
? |
SB |
8.5 |
8.5 |
| ’Que by Whiskey ’N Rye |
Signature Smokehouse: brisket/short rib patty + smoked brisket, onion rings, KC BBQ sauce |
? |
SB |
7.5 |
8.5 |
| Arnoldi’s Café |
Pesto chicken or veggie caprese on house-baked ciabatta |
5pm daily, 12:30pm Sun |
SB |
9 |
8 |
| S.B. Biergarten |
Pesto mozzarella smashburger w/ fries included |
? |
SB |
9 |
8 |
| The Blue Owl |
Thai basil cheeseburger w/ green curry in the meat, fried egg |
? |
SB |
8 |
8 |
| Downtown Eats |
Guac smash: double smash patties, bacon lattice, avocado, grilled onions, jalapeño |
noon-7pm |
SB |
7 |
8 |
| Finch & Fork |
Broken Yolk smashburger: fried egg purée sauce, bacon-onion jam, house pickles |
? |
SB |
8 |
8 |
| Gala Restaurant |
Tomato chili jam burger w/ Angus beef, provolone, raita sauce |
? |
SB |
8 |
8 |
| Rinkside Café |
Danger Zone: smash patty w/ guajillo aioli, mozzarella, bell pepper, Korean fire sauce |
? |
Goleta |
8 |
8 |
| Caya Restaurant |
Wagyu Sal-apeño: chipotle aioli, jalapeño, onion strings, fried egg |
11am-10pm daily |
Goleta |
7 |
7.5 |
| Goat Tree |
HC Smashburger: triple cheese (cheddar, American, Havarti), caramelized Vidalia onion |
7am-3pm |
SB |
8 |
7.5 |
| S.B. Fish Market Goleta |
West Coast Salmon (fennel slaw, Dijon aioli) OR Bacon & Blue (bacon jam, caramelized onions) |
? |
Goleta |
8 |
7.5 |
| Shalhoob’s |
Funk Zone Burger: ⅓lb chuck, thick-cut hickory bacon, house aioli, double cheese |
? |
SB |
7 |
7.5 |
| Home Plate Grill |
Chimichurri burger w/ fried mozzarella OR carnitas burger (half-torta hybrid) |
? |
Goleta |
5 |
7 |
| Little Bird Kitchen |
LBK Burger: classic smash on Martin’s potato bun, LBK sauce, Guss’s pickles |
? |
SB |
6 |
7 |
Funky Eats
| Poké House |
Spicy tuna slider: sushi rice “bun” w/ nori, spicy tuna, sriracha aioli, crispy onions |
11am-8pm |
SB |
8 |
9.5 |
| Dom’s Taverna |
Basque burger: NZ halal lamb, Picon blue cheese, saffron aioli, balsamic onion jam |
Wed-Sun noon-3pm |
SB |
8 |
9 |
| Mesa Burger |
Surf & Turf (beef+shrimp), Birria Smash, or Veggie (portobello+hummus) |
? |
SB |
7 |
9 |
| Sama San Roque |
Parmesan Papi: parmesan crisp, Tillamook Jack, roasted tomato, Calabrian chili aioli |
? |
SB |
8.5 |
8.5 |
| Arnoldi’s Café |
Pesto chicken or veggie caprese on house-baked ciabatta |
5pm daily, 12:30pm Sun |
SB |
9 |
8 |
| The Blue Owl |
Thai basil cheeseburger w/ green curry in the meat, fried egg |
? |
SB |
8 |
8 |
| Finch & Fork |
Broken Yolk smashburger: fried egg purée sauce, bacon-onion jam, house pickles |
? |
SB |
8 |
8 |
| Gala Restaurant |
Tomato chili jam burger w/ Angus beef, provolone, raita sauce |
? |
SB |
8 |
8 |
| S.B. Fish Market Goleta |
West Coast Salmon (fennel slaw, Dijon aioli) OR Bacon & Blue (bacon jam, caramelized onions) |
? |
Goleta |
8 |
7.5 |
| Home Plate Grill |
Chimichurri burger w/ fried mozzarella OR carnitas burger (half-torta hybrid) |
? |
Goleta |
5 |
7 |
| Seoulmate Kitchen |
K Bulgogi Burger: bulgogi beef, fried egg, gochujang mayo, mozzarella, kimchi slaw |
? |
SB |
7 |
6.5 |
| The Nugget |
Bob’s Burger: peanut butter, bacon, crispy onions, grape jam on brioche |
? |
Goleta |
4 |
6 |
Downtown
| Poké House |
Spicy tuna slider: sushi rice “bun” w/ nori, spicy tuna, sriracha aioli, crispy onions |
11am-8pm |
SB |
8 |
9.5 |
| Dom’s Taverna |
Basque burger: NZ halal lamb, Picon blue cheese, saffron aioli, balsamic onion jam |
Wed-Sun noon-3pm |
SB |
8 |
9 |
| Third Window |
FP Ranch Wagyu smoked over white oak 90 min, horseradish crema, grilled onion |
? |
SB |
8 |
9 |
| ’Que by Whiskey ’N Rye |
Signature Smokehouse: brisket/short rib patty + smoked brisket, onion rings, KC BBQ sauce |
? |
SB |
7.5 |
8.5 |
| Sama San Roque |
Parmesan Papi: parmesan crisp, Tillamook Jack, roasted tomato, Calabrian chili aioli |
? |
SB |
8.5 |
8.5 |
| Arnoldi’s Café |
Pesto chicken or veggie caprese on house-baked ciabatta |
5pm daily, 12:30pm Sun |
SB |
9 |
8 |
| S.B. Biergarten |
Pesto mozzarella smashburger w/ fries included |
? |
SB |
9 |
8 |
| The Blue Owl |
Thai basil cheeseburger w/ green curry in the meat, fried egg |
? |
SB |
8 |
8 |
| Downtown Eats |
Guac smash: double smash patties, bacon lattice, avocado, grilled onions, jalapeño |
noon-7pm |
SB |
7 |
8 |
| Finch & Fork |
Broken Yolk smashburger: fried egg purée sauce, bacon-onion jam, house pickles |
? |
SB |
8 |
8 |
| Gala Restaurant |
Tomato chili jam burger w/ Angus beef, provolone, raita sauce |
? |
SB |
8 |
8 |
| Goat Tree |
HC Smashburger: triple cheese (cheddar, American, Havarti), caramelized Vidalia onion |
7am-3pm |
SB |
8 |
7.5 |
| Shalhoob’s |
Funk Zone Burger: ⅓lb chuck, thick-cut hickory bacon, house aioli, double cheese |
? |
SB |
7 |
7.5 |
| Little Bird Kitchen |
LBK Burger: classic smash on Martin’s potato bun, LBK sauce, Guss’s pickles |
? |
SB |
6 |
7 |
| The Win~Dow |
Double cheeseburger w/ fountain drink included |
? |
SB |
6 |
7 |
| Seoulmate Kitchen |
K Bulgogi Burger: bulgogi beef, fried egg, gochujang mayo, mozzarella, kimchi slaw |
? |
SB |
7 |
6.5 |
| Validation Ale |
Annex Burger: seasoned beef, cheddar, caramelized onions, Validation sauce |
? |
SB |
6 |
6.5 |
| The Brewhouse |
Pub burger w/ habanero beer cheese sauce |
HH 4-6pm daily |
SB |
6 |
6 |
| Corner Tap |
Pretzel burger w/ beer cheese, bacon, arugula, house mustard |
? |
SB |
6 |
6 |
| Eureka! |
American burger w/ grilled red onion, special sauce, signature fries |
? |
SB |
6 |
6 |
| Fresco at the Market |
Turkey burger w/ avocado, house sauce |
? |
SB |
6 |
6 |
| Pascucci |
Half-pound burger w/ choice of cheddar or gorgonzola, teriyaki or BBQ (closing soon!) |
? |
SB |
6 |
6 |
| Crushcakes & Café |
El Diablo turkey burger w/ jalapeños, avocado, spicy aioli |
? |
SB |
7 |
5 |
Other SB
| Mesa Burger |
Surf & Turf (beef+shrimp), Birria Smash, or Veggie (portobello+hummus) |
? |
SB |
7 |
9 |
| Dave’s Dogs |
Backyard smashburger w/ dill pickle slaw, “dirty” sauce |
? |
SB |
6 |
7 |
| Yellow Belly |
Fold In the Cheeseburger: ¼lb patty, bacon, homemade pickles, Thousand Island+mustard blend |
? |
SB |
8 |
7 |
| Validation Ale |
Annex Burger: seasoned beef, cheddar, caramelized onions, Validation sauce |
? |
SB |
6 |
6.5 |
| The Patio Café |
BBQ turkey burger OR Chilaquiles cheeseburger w/ serrano salsa-soaked chips |
Until 2pm daily |
SB |
5 |
5 |
| Islands |
Big Wave w/ Tillamook cheddar & fresh-cut fries |
? |
SB |
5 |
4.5 |