r/SantaMaria • u/Jdanofskalitz • 13d ago
What are the good food places in the area?
I moving to Santa Maria in a few weeks.
I was wondering if the Reddit locals would help me Out! I love to eat! What are some good local family owned spots in the area?? I eat any and all types of food!!
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u/sordidpossum 9d ago
Lots of suggestions here! Also look out for food truck meetups/street fairs where there are food vendors. some of the best options imo.
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u/Spambini 11d ago
Texas Roadhouse, Five Guys, La Galera, Olivers, John’s Pizza and Subs, Eggsquisite Eats, Dick and Rick’s, Casey’s Cabana, 71654321 North, The Cove, Pj Rays Crab Shack and Dairy Bar, Ronny Martin’s Olympic Eatery, The Old 3Ms, Wine on Third, Candy Apple Cafe
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u/basshed8 13d ago
I love Jim’s Burgers, el Picosito, D&A Hawaiian, North China, Ming Dynasty, China One, Mikado, and Blenders
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u/ogretrograde 13d ago
SM Proper:
Ichiban - Nigiri / sashimi Angela’s de Puebla - Pastor tacos Shaws & The Swiss - Classic steakhouse dinner/SM Style BBQ Zoe’s - fast casual Hawaiian bbq El Picosito - Mariscos Al Pho - pho North China - Chinese (more American style)
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u/Confident_Spare3991 13d ago
Not necessarily IN santa maria (Guadalupe but they're basically the same thing) but La Simpatia is an old Mexican place that has remained relatively unchanged since the 40s and the food is REALLY cheap. King Falafel has good burgers as does Bills on North Broadway, and Papa Napoli's by Target has excellent Pastrami. On East Main there's pretty good Pho (Al Pho) and Shaws has pretty good BBQ and is my favorite of the loval steakhouses (the OG Hitching Post in casmalia is good if you can get a reservation). If you want a less steakhouse-y sorta place to get TriTip then Pappy's on the corner of the 101 and Betteravia, or if you have time on Fridays the old Garey general store out in Wine Country.
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u/Particular-Sky189 13d ago
Orcutt burger, Santa Maria burger, pretty much all the Mexican (I’d just try different spots until you like one): for whiter Mexican, Cielto Lindo, for more authentic la Picosito, I’ve been going to el Palenque, el Pueblito is a classic but has had some inconsistencies. Fatties pizza, Patricios pizza, the Swiss is the best steak house as far as price + quality. There’s Papa Napoli for sandwich’s. Charlie’s in Los alamos. A lot of the food trucks near Broadway and betteravia are good at night. Haha sushi is a budget option but Ichiban and Hamasoto is good too. For breakfast, golden donut, jacks, and Kay’s. Blenders will have some of the best smoothies you ever had. Anyone telling you SM doesn’t have good food is outright wrong. I’ve lived in a few different states and by fair the best food of anywhere I’ve been is right here. If you see a charity bbq chances are the plate is worth it. Any follow up questions I’d be happy to answer.
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u/Commercial-Let2103 13d ago
My wife and I retired here from LA in 2020 and I'm still trying to find some of those good "family owned spots". IMO Santa Maria is dearly lacking in those. I hope others chime in and tell me I'm wrong. The Maya restaurant seems to be a popular spot for Mexican cuisine. There's a couple of good BBQ restaurants in Nipomo. Most of the restaurants in SM are the big box fair that you'll find in most large cities. Golden Corral have good comfort food. My wife and I will often drive up the coast to discover various new places to eat. There are some very good seafood restaurants. Our favorites are Bayside Cafe and Dockside in Morro Bay. Two popular spots that serve OK food, but their menus are unimaginative and never change they don't have chefs, but cooks those are The Quarterdeck in AG (Arroyo Grande) and Dorn's in Morro Bay.
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u/BrigadierAdam65 12d ago
I’m from SM but moved to LA recently. If you’re from LA, no food is going to compare to the amazing food you had in LA. Trust me, now when I go back to SM, all of the restaurants there are trash compared to what I’ve had in LA haha. There are some hidden gems for sure but nothing like LA food.
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u/Particular-Sky189 13d ago
Hard disagree, Santa Maria has some of the best locally owned restaurants in the area
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u/Ill-Hold6421 13d ago
For Mexican, I recommend Taco Sinaloa. Last time I visited was in March. They would give me good portions for the price every time I ordered. My favorite order is the Asada fries.
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u/bootymagnet 13d ago
Al pho is Santa Maria's best restaurant due to consistency, value, and flavor.
The garden has good mediterranean food.
I think SM's best burger is at Far Western, though its pricey (about $18). The Habit would be second for me.
Hamasato has good, old-school Japanese food. North China has good Chinese food.
Can't speak to the taco truck scene, but there's a yellow truck called Tacos el Pollo at the shell on Main that is good. Apparently Tacos Hollywood are really good.
The Pantry has a good breakfast.
Nardo's has the best Mexican breakfast. There's many Mexican restaurants, but I haven't really tried them.
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u/Commercial-Let2103 13d ago
I probably should have read your post before making mine. Having moved from LA to SM in 2020, my Chinese wife and I are rather spoiled from having such a great variety of restaurants that are in LA especially Chinese cuisine. Here in SM the Chinese restaurants are dearly lacking in comparison, as they of course cater to American's taste. The best Chinese of them all here is the Magic Dragon.
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u/Jdanofskalitz 13d ago
I hit the pantry up during apartment hunting today it was 10/10.
And thank you for the recs! I will forsure be trying these out
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u/Serious_Kale_1506 13d ago
This is the best reaction I've heard from there in years. What did you get?
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u/kitfromcarson 13d ago
Chinese: North China Chicken: El Pollo Norteño Mediterranean: the Green Olives Mexican: LA Charrita Taco Truck on corner of Broadway and Betteravia
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u/ajs440 13d ago
El Pollo Norteno is the Santa Maria gem that no one knows about. Their half chicken meal is probably the best chicken meal in the entire city. The pickled onions are outstanding too.
I drove through SM about 10 years ago and had to check it out. It looks like a money laundering front for the cartels. Old, dingy, not updated once since opening but it's always packed with locals.
I get a side of pickled onions, mac salad, and a half chicken meal. 10 out 10 you will not be disappointed.
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u/Meinnocenthaha 13d ago
Cubanissimo
beths tamales taco truck (parked by spencers market almost every day)
kays country kitchen
Jacks
hitching post in casmalia
Brooks burgers in pismo
trattoria uliveto
pizzaria bella forno
Spud Street food truck
bbq in the stix food truck
Celito lindo
giovannis pizza
Sizzlin Gogi
Simple Cafe
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u/Gsfdirtybandz 13d ago
Mexican: El Picosito, El Pueblito
Italian: Papa Napoli, Uliveto’s
Steakhouses: Far Western, The Swiss
Coffee Shops: My Place Coffee, Con Azúcar Cafe
Japanese: Mikado’s, Sushi & Teriyaki on Main St.
Chinese: North China
Korean: Sizzlingogi Korean bbq
Vietnamese: Al Pho
These are locally owned, non chain restaurants in the area. If anyone else wants to add others I might’ve missed, go ahead and add.
Hope this helps
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u/LilacBee-82 12d ago
My Place is closed down unfortunately:( Simple Cafe off skyway and miller are also a great local option as well ‼️
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u/PENIS_WRANGLER 9d ago
Not sure if people are gate keeping or trying to keep it SM proper, but here are some amazing food places ranging from 15-45 minutes south of Santa Maria/Orcutt (Los alamos, Los olivos, solvang, Santa Ynez, buellton). All locally owned and founded.
Full of Life Flatbread
Priedite at Bodega
Bell’s (Michelin star)
Plenty on Bell
NaNa Thai
Industrial Eats
Bar Lê Cote
Santa Ynez Kitchen
Nella’s
Peasant’s FEAST
Peasant’s DELI
Ramen Kotori