It’s never a bad time to head north to the Santa Ynez Valley for a weekend of wine tasting, superb eating, and all-around relaxation. The Central Coast wine enclave is abuzz with a slew of new restaurants, tasting rooms, luxury lodging, and even a sky-high zip line opening in the region. For flame-licked steaks grilled Santa Maria style, traditional Danish breakfast, and everything in between, here are the best places to eat around the Santa Ynez Valley.
For more on this dreamy stretch of California: Where to eat along the entire Central Coast , and the best restaurants and bars in Santa Barbara . Ramen Kotori This understated ramen shop in Solvang slings soul-warming bowls of soup in addition to izakaya snacks like karaage, pickles, and a surprising duo of dishes featuring local uni. On the ramen side, shoyu ramen, vegetarian miso ramen, and shoyu beef ramen are on offer, but diners can kick things up a notch with the spicy tan tan bowl, which comes with a sesame oil-infused broth, woodear mushrooms, baby bok choy, and a “chile bomb” topper.
Whole uni and uni hand rolls are available, using sea urchin sourced in Santa Barbara from local fishing legend Stephanie Mutz. Peasants Feast Comfort food reigns supreme at Peasants Feast, where burgers, tacos, and what may be the best fried chicken sandwich in a 100-mile radius headline the menu. Owners Michael and Sarah Cherney approach each dish with care, a connection to local farms and producers, and an eye toward feeding reg.
