The service here is phenomenal, I highly recommend making a reservation because the wait was out the door with people wanting to try this place. All the food we ordered was phenomenal. The Ham croquetas were my favorite starter, and the Mariscos paella. Well worth the price and experience

My wife and I head up to Santa Barbara Wine Country from LA about 3-4 times per year, and 1-2 other times we stop short and taste wine in the Funk Zone. About 5 years ago we stopped for dinner at Loquita, and we were blown away by the meal and sangria. Since then we have made a point to stop at Loquita at least once a year. After our second visit, and sampling more of the menu, I left a 5-star review here on Yelp. I'm circling back to review again, and overall dropping one star. The service and ambiance remain fantastic, no trouble there. Over time our order has included Broccolini, Champinones, Patatas Brava, Gambas al Ajillo, Several Paellas, Branzino and the Basque Cheesecake. All in all, about 25% of the menu. Everything has been perfect every time on our prior visits. Prior to visiting this week, the executive chef has been Sergei Seminov, but is now Elier Rodriguez. Chef Rodriguez has changed some of the recipes. The Gambas al Ajillo under prior kitchen direction, was served with light butter, garlic, and a heavy dose of tomato with brandy "Brava sauce," that was among the best things we've ever eaten. Never seen it anywhere else in SoCal. I'm sure authentic to Spain. We always order it. Now it is good, but is just the prawns in butter with garlic, the same preparation as many other fine and lesser restaurants. The Seafood or Chicken Paella has always been perfect. This time the Paella rice was not quite right. Firstly, the chef has changed the Seafood recipe to include squid ink and black garlic. If you had it last year or before, you'll be intrigued. But, I couldn't get past that there was too much broth, which failed to cook off. The shrimp, scallops and mussels were all nice, but for those that are Paella snobs, that enjoy perfectly cooked Paella, that know it is a difficult dish to make, and requires the exact volume of perfect broth, that will cook off, leaving behind perfect flavor, and perfect rice, with a crispy but not burnt layer on the bottom, and will drive 150 miles to get it, this time Loquita missed the mark.

LOVE THIS PLACE :) Walked in without reservation when we visited Santa Barbara. This place was way too pretty and also the foods were great.

A group of 17 went on 6/29/2024 as we were attending the wedding of a coworker! As healthcare workers (thus the name of the party as printed on the special menu - see photo) we picked from a prix fixe menu. The have 3 menus ranging from $65 to $85 depend on the number and type of dishes one desires. We opted for the $85 option which gets you a combination of 7 small plate entrees, 2 paella's and a churro dessert. Everything was very tasty with a couple being very memorable. (My favs were the carpaccio, octopus and shrimp but I know these aren't everyone's cup of tea) I look forward to returning.

Our recent meal at Loquita was a 10/10 experience! Located on State St, in the heart of Downtown Santa Barbara, Loquita is a gem. Parking can be a little tricky but we found easy parking across the road at that retrain station. They have their own lot but it fills quite quickly. We came here for a Saturday girls night and from start to finish the meal was amazing. Standout items were the truffle croquettes, patata bravas, and Palomita cocktail were the best. The Mariscos paella was delicious and filled with a generous amount of seafood. The only feedback is that it wasn't on the fire enough to form a crust and the amount of rice for 4 people was as not as generous as other paellas I've had in the past. But the flavors were still great and I'd be up for trying their other flavors in the future. The winning dessert was definitely the churros! Also our great server, Gilles, was super helpful and recommended a special espresso martini that was infused with mint...and was absolutely delicious. We'll be back for sure and can't wait to try more items off their menu.

Amazing everything all around! I've heard so many good things about Loquita and I'm glad to have finally gotten to try it! We had a large party so we had to choose our tapas/entrees ahead of time which made sense since we got the dishes right away and one after another. The servers were very nice and attentive and we were seated outdoors! I honestly feel like everything we ate was delicious and you can't go wrong checking it out!

Spanish tapas, this place is just great! Took a few pics The sweet white Spanish drink I had was yummy, forgot the name Atmosphere is cozy and peaceful Wait service was friendly and efficient. The carpaccio, micro greens and sauce was superb and had some volume even. I absolutely would return here There's a bunch of fish laced tapas appetizers I want to try. You might as well.... Great food experience all around.

Mariscos Paella 8.87/10- The paella with mussels, prawns, scallops, black garlic sofrito, shiso, and saffron aioli was a culinary masterpiece. The seafood was impeccably fresh, with each component adding its unique flavor and texture. The mussels were tender, the prawns succulent, and the scallops had a delightful char. The black garlic sofrito provided a rich, savory base, while the shiso was refreshing. The saffron aioli was the perfect finishing touch. This dish was so filling and huge Txangurro 9.68/10- Made with jumbo lump crab and stuffed in a piquillo pepper, this was a delightful twist on a classic dish. Stuffed inside the tender piquillo pepper, each bite offered a burst of savory sweetness. The combination of flavors was perfectly balanced, with the crab's natural sweetness complementing the pepper's smoky notes Pera 8.32/10- The whipped Spanish goat cheese provided a creamy base, perfectly complemented by the sweet and tender sangria-poached pear. The pistachio salsa verde added a nutty flavor, while the orange brought a refreshing citrusy note Patatas de Brava 8.78/10- The potatoes were perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, tossed in a flavorful bravas sauce that offered a hint of spice. The addition of luxurious Jamón Ibérico elevated the dish with its rich, savory flavor Croqueta de Seta 9.48/10- Filled with flavorful porcini mushrooms and truffle, each bite was decadent. The crisp potato nest added a crunchy element to the creamy interior of the croqueta. The saffron aioli drizzle added a touch of aromatic depth, enhancing the overall flavor profile Sangria 9.56/10- Refreshing blend of Spanish rosé, grapefruit, lemon, vodka, and pomegranate juice. It offered a perfect balance of fruity sweetness with a hint of floral notes, making it delicious Churros 9.62/10- Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, they were dusted with cinnamon sugar. The trio of dipping sauces added a delightful variety of flavors. The chocolate was rich and velvety, the dulce de leche offered a caramelized sweetness, and the strawberry vanilla sauce provided a fruity and aromatic twist. Each dip enhanced the churros' taste Instagram: @hungrytamale

I went in on a Monday for a work dinner and have described the meal as phenomenal! As a party of 7, we were able to order a variety of items to share since it's more family style so it calls for that. The tapas of broccolini, pera (I could eat a bowl of that!), patatas bravas, champiñones, and tortilla española is what we got. For us 7 to share, we doubled up on each item and that was definitely enough. Every single item was stellar. So fresh and flavorful. Like I mentioned, the pera was a highlight for me. I love goat cheese and mix that with sangria poached pear...divine! We also got a mariscos paella and verde paella. The verde was my favorite. The snap peas in that paella were delicious. All things blended so well together and had so much flavor. The mariscos paella was also very good. Very fresh seafood. The restaurant is beautiful! Small interior but has a decent sized patio space which allows you to enjoy a beautiful Santa Barbara afternoon. It looks like they converted a parking garage space or sort into seating which worked out great for them. It's located right on state street by the funk zone so it's a great location as well. The service was good. We were taken care of all night and staff was friendly. I cannot wait to go back! I recommend making reservations as even on a Monday it was a packed house.