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Itsuki Restaurant
4020 Calle Real, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 687-3838
- Category: Japanese
- Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-9pm
- Price: $10 - $20
- Serving: Lunch, & Dinner
- Map
- Write a review of this location!
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Reviews by the General Public
Very disappointed., 10/19/2009
Reviewer: Holly
from Santa Barbara, CA
What is wrong with the waiters at this place!? This restaurant was one of my favorites in town and both their food and service were nice before, but this time I was very very very disappointed!
There were three waiters that night, and one of them took our drink order and never came back. We had been ignored for about 15 minutes. We called another waiter to take our order, and another 10 minutes we still had no drinks yet!! Eventually the third waiter brought our drinks. Food was good though, nobody came to check on us. We wanted refill, more napkins, and we were missing soy sause plates for sushi, and so on! We tried to ask, but they all at the cashier doing something and we had to give up on them.
It was a horrible, unpleasant service. They are too slow or lazy or stupid to be waiters. How could all the three be like that!? I wonder that the owner of this place know about this situation. He should train all the staff from the beginning!!
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Disappointed after all these years, 5/2/2009
Reviewer: Eric Edwins
from Santa Barbara, CA
I used to think Itsuki was the best Japanese food in town but it has gone down hill. The portions are smaller, the food more bland and I was very suprised on my last visit how much the prices have gone up. I used to love the sukiyaki but at $17.50(from $12.50 a few years ago) it was very bland and skimpy portion. I won't be going back to Itsuki anymore. It has really moved away from the basics which it was good at...too many "foofy" items on the menu and meager portions these days.
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My favorite Japanese Restaurant in SB, 4/24/2009
Reviewer: natasha
from Santa Barbara, CA
My favorite dish is Salmon Kama. You should definitely give it a try!! Yellowtail kama is awesome too. they also have great ramen. I love the char shui ramen. it is hard to find an authentic place like this in Sb. I have been to other japanese restaurants in sb, but Itsuki is always my favorite.
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Wonderful food!!, 4/9/2009
Reviewer: Eiko Kitao
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have been eating here 2-3 times a week since I have discovered this little gem. I am a huge fan of the ramen noodles and my kids love the udon and bento combos they offer. The best suprise was when they offered seaweed rice balls with salmon that accompanies the noodles dishes! My children have wanted to try them since the movie My Neighbor Totoro came out years ago!! We love the food and the service!!!
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Very nice people, Food Ok, 3/12/2009
Reviewer: Glenn
from Buellton
Food did not blow me away for the price. It is a nice setting and atmosphere and the waitresses could not be nicer with spacious seating. For better quality try Kobachi Izakaya in El Mercado on Hollister close by.
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Expanded physically, not quite mentally
Reviewer: lemonjelly
from santa barbara, ca
I dined at Itsuki recently and was very surprised to see they've expanded their space! They've taken over the business next door, knocked down the wall and remodelled. It's nice, but the "hole in the wall" atmosphere is now gone, which can be a good or a bad thing. I find the hidden gem nooks to be charming, personally.
The menu is now sushi and roll heavy, and I have traditionally appreciated this place for its noodles. Noodle options are still there, but it's just a small part of the packed 3 page menu.
A big plus: they have a *great* selection of Japanese beers, included rice beers, and these seem really hard to find in Santa Barbara.
A big minus, and I really hope Itsuki reads this: the new expanded space is nice, but there is still a mental wall blocking it! I sat near the expanded space and had exemplary service. Another couple, sitting not 2 feet away, and in the new space were virtually ignored for their whole meal. They waited 20 minutes before anyone took their order. In fact, I felt so bad for them, I went to the staff and suggested they help the couple. Then they were brought the wrong order. Then nobody cleared their plates and they must have sat another 20 minutes before getting up to ask for the check. Meanwhile, we were visited at least three times by our waitress for orders and checkups, offered water refills at least five times, plates cleared and check brought without us lifting a finger. For that, we tipped highly, but honestly the couple next to us was nice to leave any tip at all. We were no different to them. I would happily receive average service if it meant more consistent service to everyone. So please, Itsuki, if you want to expand your space, be sure to manage the whole floor, not just the tables visible from your prep area. Thank you!
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Hidden Gem!
Reviewer: Aimee
from Goleta, CA
After receiving many recommendations from friends, we finally tried Itsuki last night. To our pleasant surprise, it exceeded our already high expectations. While the restaurant's exterior seems a little dingy, the inside is clean and cozy. We ordered two of the special rolls, the Tiger Eye-Eye and the Kamikaze (extra spicy tuna). Both featured a creative blend of ingredients and a lovely presentation. We also ordered yakinuki and katsu donburi. It was WAY more than we could eat, but both dishes were delicious. The yakinuki was grilled to perfection and the donburi was far superior to the other mediocre incarnations I've encountered in SB. It was affordable, too - a small sake, two special rolls, and two entrees with miso soup came out to about $40 (and I'll definitely order less next time, now that I know how big the portions are.) Can't wait to go back to try more of the menu!
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Just for who wants to loves REAL Japanese foods..
Reviewer: Aoi Tyna
from Santa Barbara
Do you really like Japanese food? Then you should know better that SUSHI is not every day meals. This is the place you can get daily "Mama" makes foods. Love that they have really close to real Japanese foods which the owner's concept. Highly recommended to try...noodles, donburi, bento, dinner plate (yakiniku, amiyaki-beef..), Chef's special sushi. By the way, they have beautiful Sushi&Rolles menu which would satisfy your appetite! I can not wait to eat there soon!
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GREAT
Reviewer: Jonnhy Melaslavo
from Santa Barbara, CA
My friend and I shared the ginger pork and the 'sizzling' calamari and we were amazed by both of them. The calamari 'steak' tempura is by far the best fried calamari in town. Potato croquettes are awesome. Salmon skin salad superb. Crushed green tea jelly with green tea ice cream dessert outstanding!
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We have a lunch here every Friday and we are all from Japan.
Reviewer: Yoshi
from Goleta
Our gang from Japan has lunch at Itsuki every Friday and a few of us work for top Santa Barbara Sushi restaurants. We play golf in the morning and then have a nice lunch at Gaku's (owner /chef) place.
One of our favorites is the Katsu Donburi and Soba combo. It is delicious with ample portion for hungry golfers. Another reason we frequent this place is the different dishes Gaku offers. His box lunch is reasonable and tastes good. Noodle with an option of the Onigiri is also a wonderful touch. He also offers brown rice as an option for any dish, which is a great option. The place is a little crowded with tables, however, Itsuki offers good comfortable Japanese food. At under $10 per person, this place is hard to beat. The only complaint I have is tea should be free.
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Amazing food, amazing price
Reviewer: Mike
from Goleta, CA
The food is amazing and authentic. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are amazingly sized for the price. The service is usually extremely good and the kitchen is willing to make special orders. However, the seating area is rather small, so you could be in trouble if it's too busy (thankfully, not usually an issue due to the hole-in-the-wall location).
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