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Zen Yai
425 State St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 957-1193

  • Category: Thai
  • Hours: Lunch: Tue-Fri 11:30am-2:15pm, Dinner: Sun-Thu 5:30pm-9:20pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-10:20pm,
  • Price: $10 - $20
  • Serving: Lunch, & Dinner
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Reviews by the General Public

Delight!, 5/21/2009
Reviewer: Laura & fam from Paso, CA
My family and I and a young friend were visiting SB and found Zen Yai to be a complete delight! Young and older alike were won over by the tasty dishes, and speedy service. WONDERFUL! ขอบคุณ
fun and delicious, 5/20/2009
Reviewer: David from Goleta, CA
The food was excellent! It had all the flavors of excellent Thai, but the dishes we tried were just a bit more interesting than typical American-Thai (except for the pad thai, which was standard, though tasty). The atmosphere wasn't formal, and the service got food to the table fast and my water glass full (the only two things I really care about).
Really great Thai food, 4/16/2009
Reviewer: Sharon from Santa Barbara, CA
I eat here often with my daughter. The duck curry is outstanding, and hugely portioned. The chicken yellow curry is a bit on the sweet side. I love the duck rolls and the egg rolls - very good. Service is sometimes a bit spotty, especially when they're busy. Love the eclectic decor, though. My favorite Thai in Santa Barbara, having beaten out Mesa Thai and Galanga's.
Yum!, 3/24/2009
Reviewer: Lindsay from Santa Barbara, CA
The pumpkin curry is delicious! Got it from a friend and will definitely go back and try again!
Da Bomb Shiiiii....., 1/11/2009
Reviewer: Tebow from Santa Barbara, CA
I could grub dat pad thai all dizzay. Dat banana dizzert was da bomb diggs.

Sea Food Tam Kah, mmmmm
Reviewer: Aaron from Santa Barbara, CA
I've been here 3 times, and i will be back again, place is a bit small though. I get the sea food Tam Kah soup every time, unbelievable. really good. I've tried the Panang curry (below average in taste), Pad Thai noodles (good but average), and some type of duck wrap appetizer (forgot what it was called, but above average), also the Thai Iced Tea (average, but good), everything had a fresh taste, service was average, price is a bit on the high side, prolly cause the seafood Tam Kah=$18 by its self
Great, fresh Thai food with fast service
Reviewer: Kate from Santa Barbara
We've eaten at other Thai places in town but I found this to be much superior. The servers were kind and fast and the food was fresh, tasty and not greasy! The only downside is the dark ambience during dinner. I look forward to coming back soon! The Panang curry, Garlic Pepper, Tam Kah soup and Thai Iced Tea were all wonderful.
Great, had better, have had much much worse
Reviewer: john doe from Goleta, ca
I have eaten here a few times and have enjoyed it each time. Each I and the others I was dining with enjoyed their meal and the service was always alright, not outstanding but nothing to complain about. The location is very small but still a great place to get a meal that isn't all authentic but they seem to add a twist to some things and it makes it good.
Zen Yai, Please get an answering machine or voicemail
Reviewer: J.M. Chambers from Santa Barbara, CA
Would appreciate the ability to leave a message during non-business hours. (The phone rang for 2 minutes on a Saturday afternoon then hung up.)
Best Thai in Santa Barbra, no debate
Reviewer: Jonathan from Santa Barbara, CA
This is the best Thai in town. In fact, it is one of the better Thai places I have eaten at, and I have lived in a lot of cities with large Thai populations and a world class restaurant scene. I recommend the Shrimp Ginger Pot, Pad See Ewe (noodles in black bean sauce) and the Larb Gai (one of my favorite dishes anywhere). I used to be reticent about eating there since the mains cost $1 or $2 more. But, well worth the extra dosh.
They ignored my reservation and closed the kitchen!
Reviewer: Kate from Santa Barbara, CA
This place used to be one of my favorite restaurants in town. In fact, it had only been 4 days since I last ate there. I was really looking forward to their pineapple curry, especially after 12 hours at the office. I called at 5:00 PM and reserved a table for 4 at 8:45. I asked the hostess if I was pushing it by planning to show up at 8:45 and she said that even if it was a slow night, the kitchen wouldn't close until 9:00. I called again at 8:30 to let them know we were on our way and the hostess said they'd had a slow night but they would still serve us. We arrived at the restaurant at 8:45 and the front door was locked. The hostess opened the door and informed us that they had closed the kitchen. Apparently the cook needed to get home. We were left hungry at 9:00 on a Monday night with no where else to go. I think this is really bad form on their part. When something like this happens, the restaurant should always look for a way to turn it around. They should have offered to send us home with take-out, or given us a coupon for our next visit. A good restaurant should never leave their regular customers out in the cold. I'm really going to miss that pineapple curry, the duck curry, the pumpkin curry, the spicy noodles, the jasmine rose tea, the peppercorn and scallop special, and the smoked tofu & cashews.

Best vegetarian Thai food in SB.
Reviewer: Daryl from Goleta
Santa Barbara has many fine Thai restaurants, and many of them serve very good vegetarian dishes. But Zen Yai is the best vegetarian Thai food I have had anywhere; and I travel a lot. Be sure to order their tofu sate. I am a regular and have found their service is very friendly and efficient.
Disappointment at Zen Yai
Reviewer: MF from Goleta, Ca.
After multiple dinners at Zen Yai, and voting for them as "Best Thai" on the 2008 "Best of List", a really disappointing meal this week. Tom Kai soup luke warm, small portion. Special, "Spicy Calamari with Basil", not spicy and the squid was tough and strong flavored, not fresh. Massamam Curry, poor quality of vegetables, no flavor, skimpy portion, Spicey Noodles, not spicey and so poorly plated, few noodles were hanging off plate. Service was not at all the friendly, warm Thai hospitality that has been so endemic in our previous dinners at Zen Yai and travels in Thailand. Maybe holiday melt down, just an off night? We'll try again, but so would like to see the quality and service shine again. it has been a previous stand out in Santa Barbara dining.
worst Thai food I've ever had
Reviewer: DC from Los Angeles, CA
Zen Yai seems to assume that with up-market deocr and by placing their food on nice dishes, most Americans won't notice that the food itself is not any better than the typical Thai chop shop. To start with, having 5 different types of chinese tea on the menu is a very nice touch. So we happily ordered the jasmine tea, my favorite. What was delivered, despite the waitress' claim, was standard black tea. Whether this was a mistake, or whether they assumed that americans wouldn't notice the difference, either way it was a bad start. The rice that then came with the curry was boiled to a consistency of mashed potatoes and completely inedible. I expect better from my local $5 a plate Thai place, and is beyond inexcusible for $20 a plate. I'll stick with the cheap places that despite the cheap decor, know how to make good Thai food.

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