About US

Welcome to Joplin’s, a restaurant born from a beautiful collision of food and rock and roll. This is the place where Chef Saw and Brittany Naing, who met in a Santa Monica restaurant, Tallula's, dared to turn their dreams into something delicious and real.

Before he was a chef, Saw was the lead singer for a rock band in Burma called Name. He channeled the raw energy and passion of rock and roll on stages across the country, while Brittany was running an online music publication called De La Vie TV, interviewing bands and capturing the stories behind the songs. Their paths, both deeply rooted in the music scene, were destined to cross. The same rebellious spirit that fueled their love of music now inspires their approach to food: bold, uncompromising, and deeply personal. Chef Saw's culinary style mixes his experience with American barbecue with the flavors of his Burmese heritage, creating a unique and personal take on smoked meats.

For years, their dream was tucked away in a mismatched apartment with green walls and portraits of rock legends. They planned a sold-out rock and roll pop-up for March 23, 2020, but the world had other plans. As the world paused, their journey took an unexpected turn: Saw kept the flame alive at Tallula's, feeding first responders, while Brittany navigated a season of unemployment. In that strange, tender time, they adopted Joplin—the dog who became their first child and the spirit behind this place.

They celebrated their love with a wedding that broke the mold (yellow cake, red dress, with Joplin as a bridesmaid and their other pooch, Buddy, as a groomsman). A few years later, they moved to Ojai, opened The Dutchess, and seized the chance to create something new.

They've poured their history into every corner of this restaurant. They painted one dining room green, like their old apartment, and another yellow, like their wedding cake. The red chairs are an homage to Brittany's dress, and the name Joplin’s honors the joy and rebellion of their beloved dog.

The food is a celebration of their community. They source their meat locally from Motley Crew Ranch in Buellton and their produce from Darby’s Farm in Carpinteria and John Givens Farm in Goleta. Every dish is crafted with the same passion and integrity that has guided them from the very beginning.

Come sit with them. Every plate is a story, every song is a memory, and every meal is a celebration of life, love, and the irreverent spirit that fuels Joplin’s.