Ni Hao! Welcome! Greetings!

We at Yen Ching restaurant would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to a genuine Chinese dining experience.  The type of traditional oriental cuisine that you do not have to fly halfway around the world to the exotic Orient of Asia to enjoy.  The kind of pleasure you can experience locally right here in your own community at the Yen Ching Chinese restaurant.  The Yen Ching has a wide selection of traditional dishes on the menu as well as a buffet.  We are open daily, 7 days a week, so you are welcome any time.

The whole culinary delight of China which distinguishes Asian from European cooking depends on the exquisite art of mixing and blending of colors, aroma, flavors and the texture of food.  Among the four regional culinary styles, the northern gourmet of Peking has been crowned as the King of Chinese cuisine, reflecting the fact that the emperor and his courtiers recruited the best chefs in China and encouraged them to develop new dishes.  Being committed to the culinary art of living, we, Northern Chinese, wish to share with our guests the wonderful appreciation for this delicious and culinary art of living. Our courtesy and cooking will certainly make your visit a most enjoyable experience to remember.

The Yen Ching Chinese restaurant has been in business since July 1986 and is one of the older establishments in town.  We have strived to dedicate ourselves to bringing our patrons some of the best Mandarin and Szechwan cuisine here in lovely Santa Barbara, California.  In August 2005 the Yen Ching transferred ownership and underwent some interior remodeling.  The current owners of the Yen Ching restaurant are Joe Tzeng - Master Chef with over 25 years of serving traditional Mandarin and Szechwan delicacies - his wife Mei-Li, and two side partners.  These proprietors have over a century of experience in Chinese cuisine and hospitality.  All our ingredients, dishes, and preparations are freshly served with your dining experience in mind.

Yen Ching Origins

Yen Ching, is the ancient historical name for Beijing today, and has served as the capital of China for approximately 3000 years.  Emperor Wu first declared Yen Ching as the capital city in 1057 B.C. during the western Zhou Dynasty.  Yen Ching remained as the name of China's capital through many centuries until 1421 A.D., when the emperor of the Ming Dynasty changed the name to "Beijing" meaning "North Capital" for the city.  For almost seven centuries, Beijing has been a powerful capital center for the Mongols, the Ming Dynasty era, the Manchus, and today's People's Republic of China.

Having been the home of the Ming and Qing Emperors, the city became known for its elaborate and splendorous aspects of life; such as the stately royal buildings, now known as the Forbidden City and Summer Palace - which are rich in the colors of red and gold-yellow (the imperial colors).  To appraise the emperors, it was inevitable that the city become a metropolis for all deliciously famous varieties of Chinese regional cuisine to converge: just to name a few, Shandong Cuisine, Szechwan Cuisine, Hunan Cuisine, etc.  We, at Yen Ching Restaurant, will bring you this wonderful dining experience thousands miles away from China. Hopefully our hospitality and the splendid menu selections will prove to be an unforgettable experience for you.

Xie Xie!

Please call the restaurant phone for any inquiries about reservations, arrangements for banquets, or catering for special events.

(805) 682-7191

Take-Out is available for all items on the Menu during restaurant hours.  Please allow approximately 15 minutes of wait time.

Delivery is free with a minimum order of $25.00 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for Santa Barbara residents within a 3 mile radius of the restaurant.  Please allow approximately 45 minutes of wait time.

You may also call the Restaurant Connection for charged Delivery.