Eat Like a Tyger

There’s nothing quite like it elsewhere in Santa Barbara, that’s for sure.

That’s what I soon find out when I meet my friend for lunch at Tyger Tyger, a brand new “fast-fine” dining concept in the Funk Zone focused on Thai- Vietnamese influenced cuisine. It’s one of three offerings in a new marketplace that occupies a former fishing net warehouse on Yanonali Street.

Dozens of bright pink lanterns wrap around the overhang of the exterior, calling attention to the building well before we step inside. Although the place isn’t busy yet, it feels lively thanks to vibrant pops of color throughout. Hundreds of hot pink lanterns, the same ones seen outside, immediately draw our eyes up, and we notice whimsical wallpaper that decorates the ceiling with saffron yellow canaries and intricate blue clouds. To our left is a line-up of items for sale, including tea, spices, decorative parasols, and woven baskets.

After taking it all in, we finally hone in on the large menu, featuring an array of mouthwatering dishes like crispy chicken wings, pork belly banh mi, and weeping brisket. As a line starts forming behind us, we hurry up to the counter to place our order, then head to take a seat at a communal table with Thai iced teas in hand.

I take a sip of my iced tea, getting a hit of sweetness from the condensed milk, which slowly cascades like rivers of white to the bottom of the glass. My friend shows me the bag of tea she purchased, excitedly mentioning that she’s been on the hunt for hibiscus tea for a while. As I think that I may need to go back and check out the offerings, our first dish arrives. Fresh cilantro, thinly sliced red onion, and crushed peanuts overflow from the bowl, hiding the main star below: curried noodles and pork. If it tastes as good as it smells, we’re in for a treat.

Not wanting to wait for the rest of our order, we take hot pink chopsticks and dig in, savoring the mix of aromas and flavors that overwhelm our senses. Within a minute, the next dish is brought to our table: a crispy rice salad with grilled albacore tuna and avocado. Each bite offers a pleasing crunchy texture, thanks to the crispy rice, cabbage, and red onion, enhanced by creamy avocado, delicately grilled tuna, and a welcome hit of acid from the lime.

Vietnamese Crepe “Banh Xeó” | Weeping Brisket

Northern Thai Curried Pork Noodle

Crab Chips | Shrimp Summer Roll

Crispy Rice Salad | Northern Thai Curried Pork Noodle

Vietnamese Crepe “Banh Xeó”

The place is now bustling…which adds a lively energy that matches the colorful vibe of the space”

Our next dish, the pork larb, is brought out, offering another set of delectable aromas that fill the air. Having overheard someone raving about this dish before we ordered, we don’t hesitate to try it ourselves. Showcasing a spicy mixture of minced pork, vermicelli, and lettuce, it’s topped with peanuts, fresh mint, and a heap of fried shallots. Each bite satisfies with salty, savory flavors, boosted by a kick from the spicy chili oil.

My friend and I catch up on life between bites, noticing the place is now bustling with hungry patrons, which adds a lively energy that matches the colorful vibe of the space. I see a few people around us eyeing our food (not-so-nonchalantly) before asking what we ordered, smiles not withholding once they realize they ordered the same thing.

Just as we think we’ve had enough, the final piece of our order arrives at our table. Yes, we’re starting to get full, but yes, we will make room for the Vietnamese crepe “banh xeo,” essentially a crispy, savory crepe. Filled with shrimp and duck confit, we break off pieces and layer them inside tender leaves of butter lettuce, making tasty little Vietnamese tacos.

Before we leave, we grab a coffee from adjoining Dart Coffee Co., a local roaster offering fair trade organic coffee. She orders the Eloisa, a Mexican chocolate mocha, while I land on a Turmeric Ginger Chai, vowing that next time we’re going to make a stop at the market’s ice cream counter, Monkeyshine, for an exotic cone of toasted rice or black sesame softserve and load it up with all the fixin’s. As we walk outside into the bright sunshine, we joke that we may return with our husbands this weekend, both of us laughing because we’re serious.

Tyger Tyger 121 E Yanonali Street Santa Barbara 805-880-4227 tygertygersb.com

Photographed by Silas Fallstich | Written by Hana-Lee Sedgwick