About US

Welcome to Joplin’s—a restaurant born from the messy, beautiful collision of food and rock and roll, and the love story of Chef Saw and Brittany Naing, who met in a chaotic Santa Monica kitchen and dared to turn their dreams into something delicious and real.

From a mismatched apartment with green walls and portraits of rock legends to a sold-out rock-and-roll pop-up planned for March 23, 2020 (the day the world paused), our path has been one of grit, resilience, and joy: Saw kept the flame alive at Tallula’s feeding first responders while Brittany navigated unexpected unemployment, and in that strange, tender time we adopted Joplin—the dog who became our first child and the spirit behind this place.

We celebrated with a wedding that broke the mold (yellow cake, red dress, Joplin as bridesmaid and our other pooch, Buddy as groomsman), moved to Ojai to open The Dutchess, and three years later seized the chance to take over a local spot and reimagine it as a home where exceptional food meets rock & roll and an unabashedly welcoming vibe.

We painted one dining room green like our old apartment, another yellow like our wedding cake, added red chairs in homage to Britt’s dress, and named the restaurant Joplin’s to honor the joy and rebellion she represents.

Our meat is sourced locally from Motley Crew Ranch in Buellton, our produce comes from Darby’s Farm in Carpinteria and John Givens Farm in Goleta, and you can learn more about our practices, farmers, and chef here.

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