Jamaican Restaurant Opens on State Street After Years as Delivery Service in Santa Barbara

A new Jamaican restaurant has opened in downtown Santa Barbara, adding Caribbean flavors to the State Street dining scene.

Kool Runninz SB, a Jamaican food delivery service that has operated in Santa Barbara for nearly a decade, recently opened its first physical location at 409 State Street.

After years of operating primarily as a delivery service, the business has expanded into a dine-in restaurant. The company describes itself on social media as Santa Barbara’s first and only authentic Jamaican food delivery service.

The new location, which was previously occupied by Backstage and M8RX, celebrated its grand opening on February 8, which coincided with Super Bowl Sunday, according to a social media post by the business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Kool Runninz SB (@koolrunninzsb)

According to The Restaurant Guy, the restaurant is open seven days a week from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. and offers dine-in, take-out, and delivery options. No reservations are required for dine-in service.

The menu features traditional Jamaican dishes such as jerk chicken served with rice, beef patties filled with savory meat, and fried plantains.

A description on the business’s Yelp page states that the restaurant offers an eclectic mix of island flavors.

Before opening the downtown location, Kool Runninz SB operated primarily as a delivery service in Santa Barbara.

he restaurant is owned and operated by chef Christopher John-Ross Sloley, also known as “Jamaican Chris,” The Restaurant Guy noted.

Sloley launched the business in 2015 to introduce Jamaican cuisine to the Santa Barbara community. On the business’s Yelp page, Sloley describes himself as a hardworking father who hopes to make a positive impact through his food and work.

Other Restaurant Openings in Santa Barbara

Meanwhile, another longtime Santa Barbara restaurant has reopened after a lengthy closure.

Chase Restaurant announced its reopening after a 16-month closure following an October 2024 fire that caused major damage to the property.

Additionally, a new restaurant, Jalapeño SB, has opened at 900 North Milpas Street in Santa Barbara, serving a mix of Latin American and American cuisine. Following a recent soft opening, the restaurant serves breakfast dishes including burritos, chilaquiles, omelets, and sweet options such as brioche French toast and piloncillo pancakes, along with coffee, juices, mimosas, and seasonal beverages.