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Red Pepper Restaurant
282 Orange Ave, Goleta
Phone: (805) 964-0995
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Reviews by the General Public
Good times, good food, 8/27/2010
Reviewer: Justine
from Santa Barbara, CA
Ate here last night with 2 friends--both first-timers--and we all loved it. Tucked away in a corner of Old Town Goleta, it looks like a funky old apartment building (well, it probably is, with apts above the restaurant). The interior is unassuming, open and comfortable. Onion pancakes, pot stickers, General Tso chicken, spicy basil beef and my favorite, the Kung Pao soy chicken--all were excellent and quite affordable as well. Our 3 entrees did come out with wide gaps between them, but because we were eating family style, that wasn't too much of an inconvenience.
A sweet touch is when Su, the owner, gives you a hug and says "I love you" as you leave. Oh, and the lemon as a doorstop is priceless! I am already plotting my next sojourn to G-town for Red Pepper...
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great food. I love the egg foo yung, 7/2/2010
Reviewer: Danae Liechti
from Santa Barbara, CA
nice people. great food. the sauces are amazing
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Such a great find!, 5/27/2010
Reviewer: Cheng
from Santa Barbara, CA
The food here is fresh, affordable, absolutely delicious, and most importantly... authentic. I'm chinese, and this restaurant really reminds me of the old country. Reminds me of home. Eat here often!
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Onion Pancakes!, 4/7/2010
Reviewer: Cindy G
from Santa Barbara, CA
Su is great! Her restaurant is by far my favorite Chinese restaurant in all of the 805. Everything taste so good, especially the Kung Pao Chicken, Beef in the sizzling plate, and of course, the Onion Pancakes. There's just nothing like them any where else. Trust me, I've looked for Onion Pancakes in other Chinese restaurants---they never have them. If they do, it's never as good as Red Pepper's. This place is also very affordable. For a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, this hidden gem in Goleta has the largest following/more great reviews out of all the Chinese restaurants featured here. I told Su this and she couldn't believe it.
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We love the vegitarian Choices!, 3/9/2010
Reviewer: David and Ann
from Santa Barbara, CA
My wife is a vegan and we can get meatless entrees that are outstanding! We have eaten there for years now and have become friends with the owner. Red Pepper is still often our date night (or day) destination.
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Best Chinese Food Around, 2/20/2010
Reviewer: Nancy
from Santa Barbara, CA
This is a diamond in the rough. Red Pepper might have a limited menu but the quality of their food is fantastic. I am usually not a fan on Kung Pao anything but theirs is heavenly as is their Imperial Shrimp. Even their appetizers and soup are excellent. I shouldn't write such a good review because I don't want Red Pepper to be inundated by tourists but they definitely deserve the business. I LOVE Red Pepper and their owner!
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awesome food, 1/27/2010
Reviewer: Nancy
from Santa Barbara, CA
great food and great service. I'll be back for sure.
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Are you guys for real???, 1/23/2010
Reviewer: heartcookie
from Santa Barbara, CA
I'm stunned by how many people rated the food at this place five stars. This place isn't the worst Chinese food I've ever had, but it certainly is mediocre. I ordered the Schzewan eggplant with ground pork, and was very disappointed. It was as if they didn't know how to make it and were improvising. I've definitely had better for less money.
Also, the service was not the best. My food took a while, and after I got it, the waitress paid little attention to me.
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Best Chinese food around, 11/15/2009
Reviewer: Aaron
from Santa Barbara, CA
The title of best Chinese restaurant (in my mind, anyway) has changed hands several times, and Red Pepper is the current title holder. Food and service are both excellent, prices are reasonable. I recommend the soy-based "meat" dishes. Most Chinese restaurants have switched to cheap, chewy, flavorless imitation meat products, but Red Pepper's has near perfect flavor and texture - similar to what China Castle and Yu Shan served back when they were in business.
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Great Chinese Food, 11/8/2009
Reviewer: Erik
from Santa Barbara, CA
The portions were large and fairly priced. Everything tasted really good. Best Chinese food in Goleta!
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WOW, 9/28/2009
Reviewer: Mike
from Santa Barbara, CA
Fresh and delicious food. Very warm, sincere and excellent service. We thank you for the great meal and the hug!!
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Onion Pancakes
Reviewer: V
from Santa Barbara, CA
This place is so awesome, the best chineese food in all of Santa Barbara/Goleta. The service is outstanding as well as the food and the onion pancakes with the dipping sauce are to die for. Their addicting!! If you are ever in the area and feel like having some delcious chineese stop by and be prepared to get treated like family :)
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Amazing Lunch Deals!
Reviewer: Nicole
from Santa Barbara, CA
This place is definitley a local hole in the wall type of joint. The outside looks run down and a little scary but once you're inside you're greeted with smiles and menus. I went for lunch today and they brought the salad almost as soon as we sat down. Then came soup and the onion pancakes we ordered. They onion pancakes are definitely delicious! There is a huge amount of food, I basically got two meals for $10 (that includes the pancake). Delicious, great service and fast! I will be back!
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Clean, Fresh Yummy Chinese food ever
Reviewer: Jamie
from Santa Barbara, CA
Thanks to the previous reviewers, we tried this restaurant. Definitely get the ONION PANCAKE! So good. Would have never ordered it off of menu unless it's been recommended and now I'll have to get it every time. Service was so great. I took my little one and she made a mess under the table and they were sooo nice about it. Food is excellent, super clean and fresh. Definitely will go back next time I'm craving Chinese food!
Oh! I got the "I love you" too. Made me smile all the way home:)
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Best place in Goleta
Reviewer: Carmen
from Santa Barbara, CA
My husband and I eat here all the time, and love the place. It's great for vegetarians. Their onion pancakes are addictive, and the service is excellent. We usually leave stuffed for $25 or less, and get an "I love you" on the way out. What more can you ask for? We've introduced a number of our friends to this restaurant, and they all love it.
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This place is awesome
Reviewer: Chris
from Santa Barbara, CA
I read all the glowing reviews of this place here on the Restaurant Guide, and decided to try it out myself. The restaurant is on the bottom floor of an old motel building and it doesn't look very enticing from the outside. Don't be fooled though, it's very nice inside and the service there is above and beyond what you'd expect from a Chinese food restaurant.
The food is very, very good. I have tried the Cashew Nut Chicken, Kung Pao Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Beef, and Generals Chicken. My favorites have been the Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Beef, and Generals Chicken. You can't go wrong with any of these dishes. The Cashew Nut Chicken was good, but I feel it could use a little more spice to make it great. MAKE SURE YOU ORDER THE ONION PANCAKE. I was super skeptical when I read about it here on this page, but it is absolutely delicious. They serve it with this asian salsa that is very tasty. It has soy sauce as the base, and it has onion, cilantro, and a few other ingredients.
The service is incredible. When you leave, expect a hug from one of the waitresses who will tell you "I love you." It's a bit awkward the first time, but you will get used to it and you will love the feeling you get when you leave the place. They are very warm, welcoming people. They will remember you when you come back too, so you will feel more comfortable each time you go.
The only bad thing I can say is that the prices are a little on the steep side. This is typical no matter where you go in the Santa Barbara area though, so it's not a really big complaint. This place is awesome though, and there is no doubt that I will be going back many, many times.
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Check your Bill
Reviewer: WW
from Santa Barbara, CA
First off I really have to say I love this restaurant and the workers that work there. The food is always really good and we've come here many times (more than I have fingers). Becuase the food and service has been so great, I never found the need to question the bill until the last 2 or 3 visits. We ordered one dish that was $11.99 (I believe) and 2 orders of onion pancake ($2.50). The total came out to $19.88. That would be a 17% tax rate. Anyone else notice this?
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Still The Best!!
Reviewer: Debbie
from Westbury, UK
I just had to leave a review. My husband and I are from the UK and lived in Goleta for a few years 1989-1991. We were taken to the Red Pepper my wonderful friends that we met whilst living there. It was just fantastic, great food always good standard and brill atmosphere. Judy was the name of the owner and she was great. We loved the food so much she must have got fed up with us going there all the time. I have read a few of the reviews and am so pleased that after all this time the Red Pepper is still a thriving business. Well done!
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Delicious food, attentive services, feels like home
Reviewer: Lam
from Goleta, CA
I tried this after reading the reviews and I was more than surprise. The onion pancake was definitely yummy like others said. Me and my boyfriend shared the homestyle tofu and spicy basil beef, which was rather spicy, but good! The complimentary salad and fresh orange as dessert were nice too. I will come back again some day this week for sure!!! love it.
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Great food, great service
Reviewer: N
from Santa Barbara, CA
We went here with friends after reading some promising reviews, and it was great! The orange peel duck was superb, and their onion pancakes are a must try. The service was also some of the best we've seen in SB (especially the good bye hug as you leave the restaurant!).
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Down-to-earth restaurant with delicious food & great service
Reviewer: Mary
from Santa Barbara, CA
My husband, two friends and I visited for the first time tonight. I have been disappointed in the choices for Chinese food in SB, so this was a great surprise. First, the food here cannot be compared to Panda Express or any other American-style fast food establishments, so it would be great if people would stop doing that. The Red Pepper serves the best Chinese food I have yet had in Santa Barbara. Everyone is right about the onion pancakes--they are delicious. The scallion/cilantro relish they serve with the pancakes is original and obviously homemade. I had the basil shrimp and scallops--another great dish with a hearty sauce and a nice spice to it.
The atmosphere is much better than other reviewers make out, and I indeed got a hug and an "I love you" from the woman who served us as I walked out the door. She was an attentive waitress and she is obviously a very nice person.
I will definitely be returning and I recommend this restaurant highly!
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