Wing's - Santa Barbara

Wings is no longer in operation. The new owners mentioned that the previous owners were simply ready to retire, although I can't confirm that. I'll certainly miss this cozy spot; it was friendly, straightforward, and delicious! When I first walked into Wings, I assumed, based on the name, that it was just a typical corner pizza, wings, and sub shop—what a mistake! It turns out to be a delightful little Chinese restaurant that may lack in ambiance but delivers in flavor. Their menu primarily features Cantonese dishes, but there is also a back section with offerings from other regional cuisines, alongside some prix fixe family-style options. I chose the single-person option, which included egg drop soup, an egg roll, sweet and sour pork, a chicken dish whose name escapes me, fried rice, chow mein, tea, and cookies. All of this for just $8.50 (although the bill ended up being $9.50). It was a generous amount of food. None of the items I ordered are typically my first picks at a Chinese restaurant, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to sample some common dishes before trying out the more unfamiliar ones. The egg drop soup was quite bland, but the egg roll was surprisingly good. I’m generally not a fan of egg rolls, but this one contained sprouts and celery and tasted fresher than many I've had before. The tea was hot and aromatic! Now, onto the main course, which was fantastic. Their sweet and sour pork is nothing like the overly sweet, tough strips of pork drenched in corn syrup that you usually find at most Chinese eateries. At Wings, it resembles fried dumplings filled with a small piece of tender pork. The meal consisted of four dumplings drizzled with a fruity sweet and sour sauce. The dumplings were warm and had a crisp exterior and a chewy, bready interior, while the pork was deliciously tender. The chicken dish looked a bit like a well-cooked omelet, containing pieces of chicken and whole peas, among other ingredients. It was flavorful and unique. The fried rice was excellent, and the chow mein was very impressive. Based on the sounds coming from the kitchen—and my own taste buds—I have strong reason to believe that everything served to me was made to order. There were no large batches of fried rice or chow mein sitting under heat lamps. Each dish had its own distinct flavor profile; the fried rice had one taste, while the chow mein offered a completely different experience. The meal featured nuanced flavors within and between the dishes, avoiding the common pitfall of being overwhelmingly sweet or salty. One indication that the food was cooked to order was the time it took for everything to arrive. First came the soup, then the egg roll, followed by the entree, and finally the cookies. If you like them, be sure to ask for chopsticks! This place is small and nothing extravagant, but the food is far superior to both Mandarin Palace and Empress Palace, which I’ve also reviewed and found rather bland, even if they do offer better ambiance and faster service. I’ll definitely be returning, and I encourage you to give it a try as well!

I had only heard about this place before, and this was my first time ordering food from them. Everything was absolutely delicious! All the items were freshly made and packed with flavor. The dragon noodles had a nice little kick to them, and the chili cheese fries were just perfect! The buffalo chicken fries and the Santa Barbara burger were equally tasty. I would definitely recommend this spot for dinner or late-night snacks. I will certainly return to try something different next time!

After a long trip, we were extremely hungry late at night. The food we had was incredibly delicious and made with high-quality ingredients. I placed an order for three of us, and each of us was impressed by our meals. I opted for takeout, but I was surprised to find that they were still accepting delivery orders at 1 AM on a weekday.

This place was very very good, for all the options they offer have a really good flavor. The bacon burger was great, bread was toasty but soft, patties were thick and flavorful. I will definitely come back. To try other food, everything looks so good.

Every time I come to Santa Barbara to see my daughter I have wanted to come here. We finally came tonight and it was great! Great Food Great Service. The girl taking orders and working the register was so nice and helpful to everyone. Dont hesitate to come here