Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
OKU, Santa Barbara, CA

OKU

4.8 (1867)
$31 to $50
Asian
29 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 65 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Great for scenic views
  • Good for special occasions
Tina Takaya, proprietor, welcomes you to our newest two story restaurant on the water. We feel the key to success is our passion for creating the highest quality food and warm friendly service.

We hope you will enjoy your experience as much as we enjoyed creating it for you.
"We want Locals to feel like Family and Visitors to feel like Locals"

Our menu draws from Asian favorites that inspire and excite such as Wagyu Steak, Japanese Sushi, Chinese Dumplings, Garlic Noodles and fresh local seafood.

We are located in the heart of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront and Funk Zone Districts. Come enjoy lunch or dinner, soak in the sun by day at our waterfront rooftop bar while sipping on a refreshing cocktail surrounded by our beautiful ocean vista and by night, enjoy lounging by the fireplace after a delicious meal and a great glass of wine.

Our chef uses the freshest ingredients from central coast farmers and local fisherman to create dishes with the best of what California has to offer.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Asian, Contemporary Asian, Sushi
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Fri 3:00 pm–4:00 pm Sat, Sun 12:30 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (805) 690-1650
  • Website
    http://www.okurestaurant.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Felipe Barajas, Jose and Felix Alonso
  • Catering
    Available when Coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
  • Private party facilities
    Please email aubreyb@okurestaurant.com for more information
  • Location
    29 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Barbara
  • Cross street
    Cabrillo Blvd and Helena Street
  • Parking details
    Complimentary Valet service available Friday thru Sunday in the back parking lot, enter from Anacapa Street
  • Public transit
    Complimentary Valet service available in the back parking lot, enter from Anacapa St.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Ask Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,867 people are saying

OKU 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
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • California Central Coast

    Most Booked

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Overall

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Food

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Value

  • Santa Barbara

    Innovative

  • Santa Barbara

    Good for groups

  • Santa Barbara

    Hot spot

  • Santa Barbara

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Santa Barbara

    Great for scenic views

  • Santa Barbara

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
OKU offers an exceptional dining experience with "stunning views," "delicious food," and "impeccable service." Known for its fresh sushi and inviting ambiance, it's a favorite for celebrations with dishes like "hamachi nigiri" and "crispy Korean cauliflower." The lively atmosphere and oceanfront location make it a standout in Santa Barbara.
1,867 Reviews

  1. Lolita VIP

    California Central Coast13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beat sushi in Santa Barbara. The food is exceptional, the wine list extensive, for every price point, service seamless and the view extraordinary! Try to sit outside upstairs and eat under the stars while looking at the harbor and boats sailing by.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Sam

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We arrived ten minutes late but they still seated us with grace and patience. Our table was upstairs on the patio overlooking the beach. Amazing view. Food was delicious. Service was great.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Annette VIP

    California Central Coast8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We absolutely love Oku. Came to Santa Barbara and spent the night just because I wanted a date night at Oku!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Juliette

    Las Vegas5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great flavors in the sushi rolls. Nothing crazy but definitely different and elevated from your typical sushi place. Shishito peppers had a beautiful sauce that also elevated the fish. Cocktails were delicious and well made. Would love to come back

    Is this helpful?

  5. Dena VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a lovely dinner on 4th of July! The food was delicious and reasonably priced. The brussel sprouts were probably my favorite bite of the night, perfectly prepared with just a hint of sweetness. The sushi, was very fresh and the hamachi nigiri, in particular, melts in your mouth. I could not have asked for a better view for fireworks and it was such a fun crowd. Service was impeccable. I look forward to my next visit!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Khary

    Atlanta6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Black cod was fantastic and the views on the outdoor deck can’t be beat!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Carlos VIP

    Austin6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great meal and service. We were outside and very pleasant.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Annette

    California Central Coast11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    dined on the roof... there is not a prettier spot in SB... .the service was wonderful and the food outstanding. We have dined there before and will continue to do so. Cudo's to Tina and Richard.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Cristina

    Los Angeles2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on June 23, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The prepared (cooked) dishes were really good but the rolls were disappointing.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Pico

    Oxford/Oxfordshire9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Oku still offers some of the best sushi in town--as well as a beautiful view, friendly service, exceptional other items and a cool ambience. My Japanese wife says it's the only Asian restaurant around that makes her feel she's in Japan again, and yesterday's gyoza, uni and cauliflower were superb. Thank you.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

OKU offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (805) 690-1650.

OKU is rated 4.8 stars by 1867 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 reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 65 times today
Google Map for OKU

29 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Cabrillo Blvd and Helena Street
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Barbara
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Fri 3:00 pm–4:00 pm Sat, Sun 12:30 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Asian, Contemporary Asian, Sushi
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Complimentary Valet service available Friday thru Sunday in the back parking lot, enter from Anacapa Street
  • Public transit
    Complimentary Valet service available in the back parking lot, enter from Anacapa St.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Felipe Barajas, Jose and Felix Alonso
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Discover
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Our sites
Businesses
  • Restaurant Management Solutions
  • Restaurant Reservation Software
  • Restaurant Marketing Software
  • Restaurant Event Software
  • OpenTable For Restaurants
  • OpenTable For Restaurant Groups
  • Restaurant Resources
  • OpenTable Pricing & Plans
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo