Santa Barbara, California: Sambo's Restaurant Birthplace

Chain pancake restaurant with the unfortunate name started here on June 17, 1957. After growing to over 1,100 restaurants, all closed by 1982 except this one. Historical plaque on the outside wall.

Sambo's on the Beach

Address:: 216 W. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, CA

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Sambo's Restaurant Birthplace

Now its Chad's.

[Joe, 04/13/2022]

Is the historical plaque gone?!

Sambo's Restaurant Birthplace

The historical plaque remains, but the name has been changed to Chad's. While the website for Chad's still lists some Sambo's tribute items, as of my visit on 3/23/2021 those items had been sanitized to reflect today's sensibilities.

[Jim Jordan, 03/29/2021]

Sambo's Restaurant

In light of recent anti-racism protests, Sambo's has changed the six letters of its name to "(Peace sign) & Love."

[beth, 07/15/2020]

This was the first, and last, Sambo's, part of a chain that began with this restaurant in 1957. At one time Sambo's had nearly 100 locations. The new name was designed as a temporary six-letter replacement, although it may become permanent.

Sambo's.

Sambo's Restaurant Birthplace

Sambo's serves typical diner fare at reasonable prices. Breakfast is served all day and the menu still includes the Papa Jumbo and Mama Mumbo specials. Breakfast is served all day.

[Clare Pimental, 11/12/2016]

From 1957, the pancake chain successfully grew over 25 years, then collapsed as it became harder to explain the Little Black Sambo "turn into butter" mural on the restaurant wall. This was the first, and remains as the last Sambo's.