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Secret Bao, Santa Barbara, CA

Secret Bao

4.8 (742)
$31 to $50
Asian
1201 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2009

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
animated flamesBooked 34 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Lively
  • Innovative
Contemporary Asian American Restaurant from Chefs Peter Lee & Felicia Medina.

"Consider the bao. Chinese in origin, it’s most easily described as a steamed bun filled with something savory. Yet, like the American concept of a sandwich, the bao exploded into a flexible format of untold bounds — served at any meal, filled with you-name-it, completely closed or wide open, with endless regional variants from across Asia and far beyond." - Matt Kettmann (SB Independent)








1 Block From State Street, Easy Parking, Public Lot Nearby, Free 75 Minute Parking, Walking Distance, El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District, Superior Court, Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse, Santa Barbara Museum Of Art, Courthouse Gardens, Bell Tower, Bao, Food, Restaurant, Asian, American, New, Modern, Fried, Chicken, Octopus, Vegan, Vegetarian, Paleo, Friendly, Dog Friendly, Outdoor Patio, Heaters, Warm, Inviting, Hospitable, Modern Design

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Asian, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Wed–Sun 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    Contactless Payment
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Peter Lee & Felicia Medina
  • Delivery & takeout

What 742 people are saying

Secret Bao reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Overall

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Food

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Service

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Value

  • Santa Barbara

    Innovative

  • Santa Barbara

    Good for groups

  • Santa Barbara

    Hot spot

  • Santa Barbara

    Great for scenic views

  • Santa Barbara

    Lively

  • Santa Barbara

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Secret Bao delights with its "innovative dishes" and "absolutely delicious" flavors. The "attentive service" and cozy atmosphere enhance the experience. Highlights include the "KFC Bao" and "phenomenal crab curry." Despite occasional wait times, the "friendly staff" and "creative, quality" menu make it a "must-go" in Santa Barbara.
742 Reviews
  1. Kiki

    New York City2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    The pork ribs are greasy…I love fried food…didn’t expect it could be that bad. I’m Asian and I understand that u r an Asian FUSION restaurant and want to be creative. But tbh some combinations are just terrible….

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  2. Laura B

    Washington DC4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 29 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The flavors and choices keep bring me back... and back.... and back

    Is this helpful?

  3. Ashley

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 26 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food - and even better atmosphere. Very glad we decided to reserve ahead of time because the few walk-in’s were told an hour wait when we showed up at 7:30. The bbq bao is a must. The galbi was another highlight — with banchan, of course. Everything was lovely!

    Is this helpful?

  4. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 26 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Return visit - and just absolutely delicious each time. Innovative dishes, delicious flavors, attentive service. Food is always fresh and fast. One of my favorite spots.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Tracy

    Central Coast3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 16 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic place to eat. 5 Star. The crab curry is phenomenal. Their service is on point. Employees are very kind and helpful. Very flavorful menu.

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  6. Matt

    Central Coast9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 15 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I believe our server was Maya. She was great. The food is always amazing. KFC bao, cauliflower, duck rolls, it’s all too good. Took down the fig sticky cake for dessert which you need to get with vanilla ice cream. Amazing!

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  7. Jody

    San Francisco27 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 12 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent food, good service, we would eat here on a regular basis if we lived in the area. We felt fortunate to have been able to experience the food here on a recent trip to the area.

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  8. Jade

    Central Coast1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 11 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service and the food were absolutely amazing. Highly recommend.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Gerald

    San Francisco7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 11 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    This meal was phenomenal!! Each dish was delicious!!

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  10. Lynn

    Baltimore1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 11 May 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    KRC Bao Bun, shrimp dim sum Mango and sticky rice a delightful surprise.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Secret Bao offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (805) 259-3226.

Secret Bao is rated 4.8 stars by 742 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. California Central Coast
  4. Santa Barbara
  5. Santa Barbara

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
animated flamesBooked 34 times today
Google Map for Secret Bao

1201 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2009

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Anapamu
  • Area
    Santa Barbara
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Wed–Sun 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Asian, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Free 90 Minute Lot Next Door
  • Payment Options
    Contactless Payment
  • Executive Chef
    Peter Lee & Felicia Medina
  • Additional
    Patio/Outdoor Dining
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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