Kyle’s Kitchen, a local establishment offering fresh grab-and-go American fare, has officially opened its primary new location in Goleta’s Storke Plaza, at 6831 Hollister Avenue. This move, which occurred last month, marks a new chapter for the restaurant after its lease at the previous Hollister Village site concluded. Owner Jay Ferro stated that the relocation offered an opportunity to establish a presence in a bustling Goleta plaza. For decades, Kyle’s Kitchen has been known not only for its cuisine but also for its dedicated mission to support the local special needs community, a core principle since its inception.
The inspiration for Kyle’s Kitchen arose from Ferro's personal experience after his son, Kyle, was born with a brain disability. This led Ferro to open the restaurant with the explicit goal of providing support to the special needs community. Through persistent effort and various partnerships with local nonprofits and community initiatives, Kyle’s Kitchen has successfully raised over $300,000. These funds and efforts have extended to serving more than 20,000 special needs children and families with their food, impacting many lives. Currently, Kyle’s Kitchen is actively partnered with the Grace Fisher Foundation, contributing through proceeds, generating awareness for the foundation’s cause, and preparing for an upcoming community art workshop. Adding a personal touch, Kyle Ferro himself is a visible presence at the restaurant, typically present four to five times a week, where he assists with daily operations and engages with customers. His regular involvement helps to further highlight Kyle’s Kitchen’s important cause and facilitates connections within the community.
The new Storke Plaza location is set to enhance its customer experience further with the construction of an outdoor patio. This additional seating area is anticipated to be completed within a few weeks. While this location is new, Kyle’s Kitchen maintains an existing presence in Goleta at 5723 Calle Real, ensuring continued service to the broader community. Jay Ferro, who entered the restaurant business by opening Silvergreens in Isla Vista after graduating from UCSB, reiterates the restaurant’s guiding principle: "Eat great food, help great people." This slogan encapsulates the dual focus on quality food and philanthropic endeavors that has characterized the restaurant's long run.
The menu at Kyle’s Kitchen features a wide array of American cuisine, including popular items such as burgers, salads, sandwiches, and wraps. A signature offering is their buttermilk chicken, prepared daily with organic ingredients. This chicken is brined for 24 hours in buttermilk and spices, and now, it is also hand breaded and fried to order, ensuring tenderness and crispiness. Customers can complement their meals with a variety of sauces, including new homemade honey mustard and chipotle crema, alongside established favorites like homemade ranch and Kyle’s sauce. Additionally, Kyle’s Kitchen has recently expanded its offerings to include all-natural scoops from Tillamook, a farm whose products Ferro knows well from his childhood in Oregon. The restaurant aims to provide diverse and freshly prepared options for its patrons.
Residents are invited to visit the new Kyle’s Kitchen location in Storke Plaza to enjoy its range of American cuisine while supporting its ongoing commitment to the special needs community in Goleta and beyond.
