Santa Barbara’s uni story goes from the Chumash gathering coastal foods to a 1970s boom, when demand from Japan turned sea urchins from “kelp pests” into one of the region’s top exports. After years of heavy fishing, new rules brought balance, and today local divers focus on sustainability to harvest red (the most common in the area) and purple urchins to create market-ready uni for Santa Barbara and beyond. The edible portion of uni is its golden-hued gonads, prized for their sweet, briny taste. For the best flavor, enjoy wild-caught Santa Barbara uni in the cooler months — September through March — when the roe is at its creamiest.
Discover more seafood in Santa Barbara with these seafood lovers and oyster guides, and don’t forget to stop by the annual Harbor & Seafood Festival on Oct. 18. And be sure to pay a visit to the Cultured Abalone Farm in Goleta for a behind-the-scenes look at purple sea urchin regeneration efforts, where removing overpopulated sea urchins from the wild helps restore balance in the local marine ecosystem.
Find your perfect bite at one of these restaurants boasting incredible and unique ways to indulge in Santa Barbara uni.
Open every day of the week, Santa Barbara Fish Market in the Santa Barbara Harbor (or its Goleta outpost) is most people’s go-to when they want to try uni for the first (or 15th) time in Santa Barbara. The folks behind the counter will crack open the “shell” (technically an endoskeleton) for you to spoon out the golden goodness at its simplest directly from the live urchin.
Michelin-starred and Michelin Green-starred, Caruso’s at Rosewood Miramar Beach is a quintessential Santa Barbara South Coast restaurant showcasing the region’s natural bounty. Settle in for a multi-course menu by chef Massimo Falsini and don’t miss the gnocchetti risottati ai frutti di mare — a risotto-style pasta featuring Santa Barbara uni, abalone and cardinal prawns.
Uni and other local seafood can be found weekly at the Saturday Fishermen’s Marketin the Santa Barbara Harbor. Put on by the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, head here bright and early to find the freshest catch for your lunch or dinner plans, sold straight from fishing vessels and pop-up tents. One of Santa Barbara’s local commercial fishing celebrities, Stephanie Mutz, can often be seen selling and shucking uni right from her boat. She’s one of the top suppliers for local uni at restaurants in Santa Barbara.
Many restaurants in Santa Barbara serve up their own versions of the popular uni shooter, but Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach might have all of them beat due to the epic ocean sounds and views that accompany it. This uni shooter is true to how many are assembled, complete with ponzu, tabasco, raw quail egg and chives. The restaurant also boasts an ultra-refreshing appetizer featuring sliced oranges, raw scallop and, of course, topped with fresh uni.
While the menu changes weekly, what seems to be a constant is Michelin-starredSilvers Omakase’s decadent uni rice. The multi-course experience doesn’t skimp on the variety of seafood you’ll try. The multi-course omakase highlights a range of seafood, but the ever-changing uni rice dishes — sometimes mixed with creamy uni, other times topped with caviar — are a standout reason to visit this hidden Funk Zone gem.
Located at the end of Stearn’s Wharf, Santa Barbara Shellfish Co. is a popular stop for all things seafood in Santa Barbara, from raw bites to prepared dishes. Try the citrus scallop uni bites: sliced limes topped with raw scallops and buttery uni. Pro tip: this appetizer is best enjoyed while watching the sunset over the glimmering ocean.
Situated along Cabrillo Boulevard across from East Beach, Oku is known for its premium cuts of fish, flavorful sushi rolls and inventive cocktails. But what many might not know is this modern sushi joint also serves up a twist on the popular uni shooter, offering a taste of fresh uni from a spoon! Opt to include add-ons like raw quail egg, ikura (salmon roe) or an oyster for the ultimate bite from the sea.
A visit to Clark’s Oyster Bar on Coast Village Road is due if you love oysters, uni and caviar, preferably all in the same bite. Affectionately called the “Montecito Oyster,” this luxurious little treat is a true seafood indulgence. Grab a seat at the bar and pair it (or a half-dozen of them) with a dirty martini.
Uni and biryani — can you ask for a better combo? This dish at Bibi Ji on State Street might be the most unique on the list. Biryani, a richly spiced rice dish with Indian roots, makes the perfect bed for a fresh piece of uni to lay on. The presentation is equally impressive: this dish is also served in the uni shell it came from. Because this menu item is impacted by the quantity of fresh uni the restaurant is able to obtain, the uni biryani is available periodically throughout the year when the supply is plentiful. Be sure to call ahead!
Because uni is so plentiful in Santa Barbara, you can get it nigiri-style at almost any sushi restaurant in town. Check out these top sushi restaurants for the ultimate uni fix.
Bountiful taquerias, farm-to-table fare and authentic Asian cuisine — oh my! Milpas Street is packed with a variety of eats for the ultimate off-the-beaten path Santa Barbara foodie experience.
