La Simpatia Cafe

Always good food, always friendly service. Definitely get a drink at the bar and order the menudo.

Stopped in for lunch on our drive down to Santa Barbara. Small neighborhood restaurant w/​cocktail bar in the back. Specializing in Mexican food for the hungry folk. I ordered chile relleno, enchilada, and tamale a la carte. Food was overall above average; tasty and filling. Ordered a side of rice and beans and the rice was very flavorful. The salsa was less impressive and did not have much heat, nor did the homemade hot sauce they brought out upon request. Friendly and speedy service.

Oh my goodness! Delicioso! Had 2 chile rellenos with the best sauce I’ve ever had in my life. I can’t wait to come back and try other things. But then why would I since the chili rellenos were wonderful!!!

Just had lunch on Mother’s Day — disappointed!
Right from the chips (cold) & salsa to getting served! My husband’s food came out well before mine! My chili Relleno came out cold in the center (stick of mozzarella in center???) with so so refried beans, extra order of guacamole which was bitter & no taste.
Whole experience was disappointing, poor service plus too $$$! Waited for this place to reopen:-)

The beans are out of this world! Just like Abuelita used to make. Amazing food and atmosphere, you won’t be disappointed.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the original La Simpatia, but don’t bother with the new, overall mediocre at best. When we ordered, my daughter asked our waitress if they had crema, and the waitress proceeded with a dissertation on how many other Mexican restaurants in the area serve sour cream, put extra cheese, put lettuce on their dishes (yada, yada, yada), and she mentioned La Simpatia adheres to the menu they have had for 70 years– she said this to our daughter! My sister-​in-​law asked our waitress a question and she did not respond, so she asked again only to be answered with «I heard you” — great manners for a 60+ year old «lady». We were never asked if we needed any re-​fills on coffee, sodas, or water, as is customary at other restaurants. Our waitress made us feel as if we should have been privileged to be eating in their fine, historic restaurant — what a joke! As far as the food, again– mediocre at best, and small portions for the price. I ordered the chile relleno and cheese enchilada a la carte for $ 9.75, and the rice and beans were extra! Our bill was $ 62.00 for 4 people, and the portions were small (we had coffee, water, and soda for our drinks, no appetizers) — I don’t mind spending the money, as our family will meet at a restaurant after church on Sundays (Far Western, Rooneys, Santa Maria Inn, Kay’s, Jack’s, etc– just to name a few), but what we received for what we paid was ridiculous.
I would recommend Lo Mejor de Jalisco, El Pueblito, or Casa Mañana for Mexican food — you will see a huge difference in service, portions, and price. Don’t waste your time with La Simpatia– that’s 1 and a half hours of my life I will never get back.
Good luck.

Glad this place re-​opened the food here is so good! Do yourself a favor and eat here, doesn’t matter what you order it’s all good

I agree the food is good however it’s not as reasonable as the $ rating. Fairly expensive for a small portion of food. $ 5 for a Dos Equis bottle of beer, outrageous. Especially for the central coast region where alcohol is much more reasonable. The beer was almost 50% of the meal.

My family and I were a little disappointed with this restaurant we waited a few months and several tries to eat here and it was a complete let down. Don’t get me wrong I ate here back in the 90’s loved it but to come back to it now was a little bit of a let down. The menu was the same the prices were high for what you got and the service was eh.

Do Not. I repeat DO NOT go here on a Friday or Sat Night they are focused on large groups and will always tell you (1 to 2 hours) wait for food. This place is managed terribly.

After reading all the fantastic reviews, we just had to try La Simpatia. I was a little skeptical because last week we tried another Mexican restaurant with great reviews and found the food to be very bland. Well, not here! Everything was delicious. The menu is a little different from your typical Mexican place. It appears somewhat Americanized, but the food is anything but. The beans have flavor, the salsa is fresh ans has flavor. We ordered Chile Verde and Chile Colorado. Both were delicious, but we both preferred the former. We saw that on Saturdays they sometimes have Birria. To my disappointment they use pork rather than goat. Too bad. Service was very friendly and bilingual. We will definitely return and try some other things.

Are you kidding me? This is authentic Spanish mexican. All the way! This is what your grandma spent hours slaving in the kitchen over.
I had the combo taco (outstanding), chili Reno (superb with lots of cheese) chicken enchilada (outstanding) and homemade tamale (yummy) this is my new favorite mex restaurant. Prices were very reasonable and atmosphere was casual. Service Was great. I will be back. !

Old school goodness prepared correctly freshly made every time nostalgia bound at every turn a lovely presentation of what made me start going there 25 years ago the food brought a tear to my eye was so authentic and good and perfect it may not be everyone’s idea of the best but it certainly is in my experience please try it again and again

I finally had the chance to try this place. I and my sister were very disappointed with the food and service. We both had the enchilada and taco combo. My enchilada was cold and the cheese wasn’t fully melted. I ordered no beans all rice and didn’t even get my rice until I had to ask the waitress for it. Not once did the waitress say «Anything else I can get for you» or even bother to check up on us wasn’t even busy.

The best huevos rancheros that I have sampled, and I try to find the best because I am now way far away from La Simpatia. Even when I lived in SoCal it was hit and miss … would La Simpatia be open when I passed through Guadalupe? Always worth the chance. I can’t comment on «other food» because it was always coffee and huevos rancheros. Best ever!

La Simpatia not only serves Mexican food but «California style» Mexican food. You won’t find this style anywhere else. Their fried beans «chinito beans» are like our grandparent used to make before Canola oil came in existence. Their Enchilada is served with onions and delicious, their chili relleno is great — I like mine wet, their taco is delicious– have it with their salsa and add some beans to every bite. I walk in and it smells like my moms kitchen. The service is great and everyone is friendly. It’s vintage looking inside. On Sunday’s is Chicken Soup and that is delicious, served with beans on the side and I’ve yet to try their Mexican Style chicken, one day. Oh and they have their bar and sound box in the back– plays great music. This place is famous to the locals.

Read about this place reopening after quake retrofit. I went there just as they close for a few hours in the afternoon, but waitress let me stay as I said I was there to eat. Sat in back area as front was full, not enough belly room at counter. Service was a little slow but freindly. I ordered one of the combo plate (enchilada (add chicken), chile relleno, taco, tamale, tostadas rice/​beans). Tostadas came first, pretty good, but the main dish, WOW! Incredible flavor of everything, even the rice was excelente’! It was a LOT of food even with the enchilada and tamale being normal size. I am definitely coming back! Wish I took picture of platter.

I ordered chili verde, it was excellent! The beef soup, beef and pork burritos equally received a thumb’s up. The place just re-​opened after retro fitting. All aprons still look crisp white will come back here if passing by Guadalupe again. Service is friendly. Plate is in not huge like typical Mexican food in the Bay Area, but it suits me well.

Had a great dinner there, they did a awesome job on the rebuild of the building. You think that the place had never changed.

Great Food! If you don’t get the enchilada in your combo… oh man you missed out.
The bar, super friendly say hello to Vera and Rosa!
Prices are real low so go eat and get a margarita!