OKU

Name: OKU
Address: 29 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA, United States, 93101
Telephone: (805) 690-1650
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.8

4.8 (1873)

$31 to $50

Asian

29 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 17, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 60 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

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

Popular dishes

What 1,873 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
4.4Value

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 in Santa Barbara offers a "stunning view" and "exceptional service," making it a top choice for sushi enthusiasts. Diners rave about the "fresh and delicious" food, including standout dishes like black cod, hamachi nigiri, and shishito peppers. The "beautiful ambiance" and "extensive wine list" enhance its appeal for a memorable dining experience.

1,873 Reviews

J
Jordan
Miami - Dade3 reviews
4.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Hot dishes were excellent, maybe stay away from the rolls
Is this helpful?
J
Jen
Los Angeles2 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
great food----------------------------------------------!
Is this helpful?
G
Gary
Portland / Oregon13 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Great food. Wonderful location and very well trained staff. A bit pricey for the food and drinks. Good overall.
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L
Lolita VIP
California Central Coast13 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 8, 2025
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.
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R
Rebecca
Los Angeles6 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Right from the start of getting seated, they were super pleasant. My almost 8-year-old daughter love sushi so we went for a birthday. Treat the waiter was incredibly engaging and brought her super fun Lemonade my gin cocktail was yummy and went well with the sushi. Everything was super fresh and delicious. We sat on the patio with a beautiful view and the nice heat lamps. I'll definitely be back when we visit Santa Barbara again
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B
Bob VIP
San Francisco Bay Area28 reviews
4.0
Dined on July 8, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Service was outstanding and the ambience excellent. Tables are very close together so the noise level is high and sometimes painful as you can hear every word of the conversation next to you. I found the food to be average. the sushi rolls were good but nothing special, the Korean ribs were dry and had a sauce I did not like. They did take the Ribs off the bill after they asked me how it was so kudos to them for doing that. Our waitress was excellent.
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S
Sam
San Francisco Bay Area1 review
5.0
Dined on July 7, 2025
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.
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A
Annette VIP
California Central Coast8 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 7, 2025
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!
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J
Juliette
Las Vegas5 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 6, 2025
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
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D
Dena VIP
San Francisco Bay Area5 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 5, 2025
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!
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FAQs

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

OKU is rated 4.8 stars by 1873 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 17, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 60 times today

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

Website
http://www.okurestaurant.com/
Phone number
(805) 690-1650
Catering
Available when Coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
Private party facilities
Please email aubreyb@okurestaurant.com for more information

OKU

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Ask Concierge
AI Beta

Popular dishes

Crispy Korean Cauliflower

Spicy Rolls

Sunrise Roll

Menu

What 1,873 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does OKU offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is OKU restaurant rated?

Is OKU currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information