Santa Barbara Chicken Ranch

Chicken is off the chain. A little pricing but well worth it. It might be my favorite chicken anyway. It has become part of my weekly regiment

Get the combo burrito!

GOD I missed this place when I was living out of state! My east coast friends have probably heard enough about the chicken ranch! I was having dreams about it, seriously! The chicken rocks but I personally go for the tri tip burrito. Omg I’m hungry now haha

Limited selection. Chips and salsa good. Chicken and tri tips just ok.

Ordered the half chicken plate. It was delicious. The right amount of smoke and heat but still tender and juicy. Reasonably priced and I had food left over for lunch the next day. Would definitely recommend.

Delicious food and great family dinner deals. The salsa bar is genius! The guacamole is all guac!

This place is soooooo goooood! Its hidden and its nothing fancy but Id pick this place over any 4 – 5 star place in SB. The tri tip and the chicken is amazing! The salsas are amazing, the rice is good, and the beans are okay. I’ve never had a burrito or taco so this review is only for the items listed above. They have some parking but it gets packed so it can be limited. The seating is okay, nothing special but for the place it works! Overall Its a 4.5 for me!

Food was great: tritip was on point and chicken was just right! The service was fast too but one of the cashiers could use more customer service training.

Santa Barbara Chicken Ranch is a small chain of quick service counter restaurants that specialize in Mexican-​style barbecue of chicken and beef. The overall feel is very similar to El Pollo Loco, although their location near Mission Santa Barbara has a much better feel and quality.
This location has about equal interior and exterior seating, taking advantage of the mild Santa Barbara weather. I ordered the combination with both chicken and tri tip. The chicken is the real star here with great flavor and texture. I was not impressed with the tri tip as the quality was inconsistent within the serving. The rice and beans were good as well.
I would return for the chicken, but probably pass on the beef. It is always a good rule to stick to the food mentioned in the name of the restaurant.

Due to last-​minute changes for a surprise birthday party, we decided to order 15 people worth of ¼th pounds of tri-​tip from SB Chicken Ranch. I called them to see how long it would take, since the party was starting in 30 minutes. She said they would have it ready in 15 minutes.
This was my first time visiting the establishment since I just moved to SB a few weeks ago. There is a parking lot but it was quite packed. I didn’t really get to stop and check out the place since I was in a rush. Luckily, the line wasn’t too long and the tri-​tip was hot and ready for me to pick-​up after I paid. The tri-​tip turned out to be flavorful and not too dry.
Overall, I was impressed at how quickly they were able to process my catering order. I will definitely be back to try other items on their menu, especially the chicken.

Wow… this place was fantastic! My dad and I were passing through Santa Barbara on our way home to San Diego from San Luis Obispo. We were driving down one of the main drags but weren’t seeing anywhere to eat, so I opened up my Unilocal app and found this hidden treasure! It was about a block off the beaten path, so you have to know it’s there… but it was clearly a local hot spot!
The restaurant was very clean, and there was plenty of seating. There was also a restroom, which I appreciated since this was our pit stop in our drive. Our food also came very quickly.
The menu was very simple and straightforward. I got a carne asada plate, and my dad got a carne asada burrito. We were both very impressed with the quality of the food… the meat was tender, the rice and beans were authentic, and there was a full salsa bar.
If I lived closer to Santa Barbara, I would be a frequent customer of this restaurant!

Santa Barbara, to my wife and I, has always been about the fish and chips at Brewhouse. It was just one of those givens. But I think we have a new go-​to.
Based partially on convenient location, and partly on some great Unilocal reviews, we decided to give this place a try. It seemed pretty relaxed, and with some good food. Can you ask for more? (considering this IS Santa Barbara, isn’t it appropriate?)
As mentioned elsewhere: the tri-​tip is superb. If there’s two of you, feel free to get a large order and share, as my wife and I each fell short of the smallest portions. Next time we’re in the city, we’ll have to try the other items off the menu.
The sides are good (if you have much to say about beans and rice, there’s probably something wrong) and the tortillas are hot and delicious. I opted for the corn, and they’re a tad flimsy. Best to double-​up, or tear off pieces and scoop, rather than try to make a taco out of them. The salsas are all great, but there is one in specific that stands a bit taller than the others. Rancheros, perhaps? (that’s what I get for waiting a few months to write this)
CONS: Can’t think of any. Seriously. This place is so good, it makes me want to try a local Mexican chicken bbq place within walking distance of my house.
The price is good. The food is great. The location/​parking isn’t wonderful, but vibe here is so legit that sitting on the small porch, sitting inside, or even taking this food to go is a good solution to your casual lunchtime needs. If this style of grub is something you’re interested in, don’t cheat yourself! Stop on by!

Solid «Pollo a la braza»
A more legit version of a Pollo Loco, i thought.
Definitely coming back to try the Brisket!

Chicken Ranch is my go-​to restaurant when I want something simple, fast, somewhat healthy and reasonably priced.
I always order the chicken. It’s moist and well-​seasoned. The skin is usually the first part of the bird down my hatch. I can’t get enough of it! I could seriously eat an entire entrée comprised solely of their seasoned chicken skin. The color of it is a bit distracting (deep orange/​red), but once it is in your mouth, you don’t even think of it anymore.
For me, the tri-​tip is okay. My husband is a master chef when it comes to throwing tri-​tip on his Santa Maria grill, so it is very hard to top.
I also like their spicy salsa. It’s perfect for dippin’ yo’ chicken!
The only constructive feedback that I have is that I wish that Chicken Ranch had some more nutritious sides on the menu. They have rice and beans but their chicken would make a great healthy meal if it was paired with some sort of grilled veggie.
I also like that Chicken Ranch partners with SBMENUS. When we’re too lazy to drive, the option for delivery is heaven sent!
Lastly, Chicken Ranch is great for feeding families and large groups. I call my order ahead and it is usually ready within 15 minutes. Perfect!
We don’t go as often now that we do not live near one. Chicken Ranch, you should consider opening another location Downtown or the Eastside!

After a meeting nearby, a group of us stopped by the Ranch for a quick meal. It’s a very casual dining space with a wood motif that has indoor and outdoor seating and a large parking lot in the back.
When we arrived during the lunch hour, the entire grill was full of chicken. The smell was so inviting! People in our group tried the quarter chicken meal ($ 7.75), the combo burrito with chicken and tri-​tip ($ 8.50), and the chicken quesadilla ($ 7.25).
Our food arrived quickly to the table. Their signature mesquite BBQ chicken was moist and just as tasty as the aroma suggested. It had a great smoky flavor to it. The meal was served with beans, rice, and wheat or flour tortillas (3). The chips and salsa ($ 2.50) were solid and they had a small salsa bar for a little extra spice and flavor.
With the individual meals all priced at less than $ 10, it was very affordable. After trying the chicken, it’s no surprise why the place was packed! They crank out a lot of chicken! Good chicken!

We stopped here based on other reviews and it did not disappoint. I had the tritip plate and it was way more than enough, the salsa bar and other condiments make it that much more fun to turn up the taste on your meal.
The genuine grill in the back with the mesquite shows the authentic of the place. Thought the overall experience was great, prices are reasonable and taste is good, the additional condiments make it even better.

Really enjoy the Tri Tip here!
Never eaten in always phone order and they are so prompt!
Enjoy the salsa bar as well.

Two Words: Tri Tip
I’m not a fan of their chicken at all. It’s a hit and a miss. Sometimes, it is well seasoned (jivin’ chicken), sometimes it is bland (basic chicken) You can take your chance and try their chicken.
My favorite is their tri tip. It is flavorful and tender. If you want to try tri tip and chicken, you can always get their combo plate. Their tri tip is the only thing on their menu that has been consistent.
I do enjoy their salsa bar. I think they should change their named to SB Beef Ranch.

Great food, fast service, and affordable! We had a great lunch experience here. The prices were very reasonable, location is close to Sansum Medical and Cottage Hospital, and the food was great. Large size burrito which means I have leftovers! The salsa has a great kick to it and the meat was tender!

My review is for the chicken burrito primarily.
For all the friends who know me well, I love chicken. And I love burritos too! Because of these two reasons I REALLY wanted to love this place too.
Unfortunately, the chicken burrito fell short of my expectations with the good reviews for this place. The burrito was filled with slices of their famous chicken, rice, cheese, and beans. It is simple and decent but I love my burritos with a little bit of vegetables to cut through the heaviness of the other contents.
They do have a sides counter with a mild and spicy salsa, pickled onions, peppers, and limes. Their salsas are nice and fresh giving the burritos some much needed contrast to the heaviness.
In terms of the rest of the establishment, I could not complain. The place was clean. There are wipes provided near the salsa counter to help wash your hands especially if you order the chicken plates. Service was great as the food came out pretty quickly after ordering.
If I were to come back, I would probably order the chicken plates which this place seems to be better known for.