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Empress Palace
2251 Las Positas Rd, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 898-2238
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Reviews by the General Public
Good quality food, great delivery service!, 8/29/2010
Reviewer: Justine
from Santa Barbara, CA
I ordered delivery from Empress Palace again last night and it was as I remembered--very good quality food, a bit pricier than others, and quick delivery. I called my order in around 9:15 and it got to me in 25 min. I love that they deliver after 9:00. My only complaint is that the moo goo gai pan was a little bland, but I used the sauce that came with the pot stickers to jazz it up a little. And I they have brown rice! I <3 you, Empress Palace.
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True - only 2 guys smile as they serve you, others frown., 6/8/2010
Reviewer: Ruth
from Santa Barbara, CA
I love their food, you name it, compared to most chinese places these people have the best chinese food. Tony is the name of one of the friendliest fellows that could ever serve you. Their lunch buffets are the best most generous served! Dinners are on pricey side.
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Always pleased when eating here!, 11/20/2009
Reviewer: Eliana
from Santa Barbara, CA
I always love comming to Empress Palace! They have great and friendly service and everything is always hot and fresh! It has a nice decor and staff is always helpful. This is the best Chinese place in town. You will find no other like it!
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Great food, too expensive, 11/9/2009
Reviewer: kate
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have been going to this chinese food restaurant for a few years now and the food and service never dissappoint. The food is always great. I have noticed, however that the prices have gone up significantly and the amount of food has gotten smaller.
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Good Chinese
Reviewer: Angie
from Santa Barbara, CA
The thing about this place is it really does fill you up. It's got good, quality meat and veggies. I love the lemon chicken and really enjoyed the egg rolls. Over all a tasty, non greasy chinese place. It is a bit expensive, but there's a reason.
And this site REALLY needs a DELIVERY section...
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Amazing Experience
Reviewer: Sara
from Santa Barbara, CA
I went here for my birthday and was pleasantly surprised at how expensive looking it was. The people we were with were set back at the fact that there was only a a couple of people in the back of the restaurant eating.
Thankfully we sat down and someone immediately came and poured us water.
After discussing what we were going to order someone was there to take our order.
The food came quickly, so fast in fact that one of the people in my group said "The food came too quickly"
The food was Delicious! Nothing was second rate, and they really were good at refilling your drinks, they were so fast that the same girl said "I took a sip, sit it down and it magically refilled!"
the servers were a little hard to understand at times, but were very nice.
I recommend this to anyone! It is a bit pricey though
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Good food Ok service
Reviewer: Glenn
from Buellton
I liked both the food and service better at Wings down the street. What this place has going for it over Wings though is an elegant decor that is suited for a more formal dinner and the very wide selection of menu items including seafood. They also give you coupons as you go to get you to come back and pay less(which is steep but you get a lot of food for your money!). I would have to agree with a previous reviewer on the sourness of the waiters, I think its more due to language/cultural differences than anything, China Pavilion Chapala was the same way for me(and these two are voted the best in SB) they need to interact more with the patrons. They also recommended something and did not tell me it was a "spicy" dish. So all in all a good place to go esp for a more "formal" dinner. They just need to work on their communication skills of what to expect when you order something that is not familiar(of which there are many for me here).
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The Food is Superior
Reviewer: Gunther Chesnut
from Santa Barbara, CA
I would like to write a helpful & fair review for anyone reading. The freshness of vegetables (broccoli, carrots, onions and squash) is apparent, and the quality of the chicken and beef is of a level few other Chinese restaurants in town (I could list them, but I hesitate). I recommend the Sichuan Beef or Sichuan Chicken. I appreciate the fact that the meat is not covered in corn starch or other additives (a technique to mask low quality ingredients - see the food in any all-day buffet and you will understand what I am talking about). I took my friend here for his birthday and requested the "birthday song" which is the funniest birthday song I have ever heard. They brought us green tea ice cream at no charge. The owner is conscientious and service is always good. In addition, the portions are large enough that you should take a doggie bag if you know what is good for you. Overall, it is a very good deal for quality food.
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Best AUTHENTIC chinese restaurant in santa barbara.
Reviewer: chris
from Santa Barbara, CA
Read the title. I grew up eating at chinese restaurants in chinatown weekly all throughout my life. i now go to school in SB, and i've tried a lot of the "chinese" restaurants here. None of them come to close to what chinese food is suppose to be like. Now Empress Palace may not be the best chinese restaurant, but it isn't bad at all and its positively the most AUTHENTIC chinese restaurant in Santa Barbara. If you're taste buds are more in line with Chinese-American cuisine than maybe another place will suit you better; otherwise, this is the only place that captures any sort of authentic chinese cuisine.
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Good chinese paired with anger
Reviewer: David
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have never seen a restaurant (outside of fast food) where the employees were so angry to be there. I go to Empress Palace about once a week and each time the food is on point but the service is terrible. They are literally frowning and look like you are bothering them by dining there. I am not sure what the problem is. Everything is very robotic and makes me uncomfortable. Maybe next time I'll get the food to go.
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I don't get the rave reviews
Reviewer: Joe
from Santa Barbara, CA
I ate here for the first time and the food was below average Chinese and pricey. The ribs were dry and hard as a bowling ball. The Kung Pao chicken was bland and tasteless as was the brocoli dish. The chow mein was the only good item.
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Great place, for couples and for groups!
Reviewer: Kelly
from Santa Barbara, CA
We visited Empress Palace with a group of eight. They sat us in the private room, which was perfect and was neatly set. The service was prompt and attentive, and our appetizers arrived quickly and as ordered. Our food was delivered hot, and all together, which is always a pleasant surprise when in such a large group. The waitstaff consistently checked back to assure everything was to satisfaction, and drinks were refilled. Will return again and again. We've never had a bad meal or bad service here, always a pleasant experience.
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Great Discovery!
Reviewer: SGM
from Santa Barbara, CA
I stumbled on this place one evening, and now it's the ONLY Chinese we eat!
The food is the best anywhere in Sanata Barbara, great employees, and plenty of parking.
It's a bit more pricey than some, but more than worth the difference!
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Wanted to like it but could not
Reviewer: Jinelle
from Santa Barbara, CA
I liked the decor, adding nice Chinese touches to this former Mexican restaurant by the side of the freeway which has no walk-in or even neighborhood appeal. It is truly a stand alone restuarant in this foodie town. Blame me, but we did pick the top end combo dinner because we wanted the walnut shrimp and that looked like the best way to get a sample of their menu all at once. Chose the hot sour soup, which was neither - just kind of gloppy with some okay pieces of mushroom. Then the appetizer which on this selection was pretty abysmal - all meat on sticks (dry) or wrapped in foil (okay). Stupid hot mustard red stuff swirl dipping sauce -thought that went out in the 1950's Not sure what the point of an all meat appetizer was.
Then we chose the shrimps and the duck for the entree choice not realizing we would end up with a meal totally devoid of vegetables or variety. Our mistake, or should not a set combo menu offered more complete choices? Shrimps with walnut was only okay (compared to China Pavillion) and were pretty puffed up with more batter than shrimp, and the duck while tender and flavorful was so full of bones it was treacherous eating.
So in a lot of ways this was our fault for making such bad dinner choices -- but I kind of like the idea of at least trying the set combos at Chinese restaurants for an initial survey. This combo totally bombed out, even though entree items were flavorful.
Please Empress Palace, ditch that all meat appetizer. it is in your most expensive combo option but it was not good, didn't show off any kitchen skills whatsoever, and caution diners next time they are on the all meat express when this combo is what they order.
And no, the few pieces of shredded cabbage the entrees set on do not qualify as accompanying vegetables. Not worth a second visit - prefer China Pavillion or Red Pepper. Sorry. But there were many happy diners and I am pleased you built up a clientele in this odd spot.
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