Best North County Restaurant
Fish Gaucho
1244 Park St., Paso Robles
(805) 239-3333
@fishgaucho
Best North Coast Restaurant
Rose’s Landing Bar & Grill
725 EMBARCADERO, MORRO BAY
(805) 772-4441
@rosesbarandgrill
Best San Luis Obispo Restaurant
Novo Restaurant & Lounge
726 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 543-3986
@novorestaurant
Best South County Restaurant
Ember Restaurant
1200 E. Grand Ave., suite 101, Arroyo Grande
(805) 474-7700
@emberrestaurant
Best South Coast Restaurant
Ventana Grill
2575 Price St., Pismo Beach
(805) 773-0000
@ventanagrill
facebook.com/VentanaGrillPismoBeach
Best Breakfast
Louisa’s Place
964 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 541-0227
Best Weekend Brunch
Marisol at The Cliffs
2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach
(805) 773-5000
@thecliffshotelandspa
facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa
Best Hangover Food
Frank’s Famous Hot Dogs
950 California Blvd., SLO
(805) 541-3488
Best Outdoor Dining
Novo Restaurant & Grill
726 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 543-3986
@novorestaurant
Best Takeout Menu
SLO Provisions
1255 Monterey St., SLO
(805) 439-4298
@sloprovisions
Best Family Meal
Farmhouse Corner Market
1025 Farmhouse Lane, SLO
(805) 485-7900
@farmhousecm
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Farmhouse Corner Market
1025 Farmhouse Lane, SLO
(805) 485-7900
@farmhousecm
Best Chinese Food
Mei’s Chinese Restaurant
1759 Shell Beach Road, Shell Beach
facebook.com/pages/Meis-Chinese-Restaurant/121668924510235
Nothing is more exciting than seeing the steam rise out of a freshly opened white Chinese takeout box to reveal tender Mongolian beef, soft lo mein noodles with chicken, or shrimp fried rice. These are just a few savory options from Mei’s extensive menu, and don’t forget to try the potstickers! Mei’s just started offering dine-in services, and its takeout is superb—the portions are perfect to take home and split, family-style. You could also order for yourself and eat cold leftovers for lunch the next day. Wait, is that just me? Call ahead and place your order for an easy pickup.
—Karen Garcia
Best Indian Food
Shalimar
3820 Broad St., SLO
(805) 781-0766
Best Italian Food
Guiseppe’s Cucina Rustica
891 Price St., Pismo Beach
849 Monterey St., SLO
(805) 773-2870
@slogiuseppes
Best Japanese Food
Goshi
570 Higuera St., suite 155, SLO
772 Pine St., Paso Robles
(805) 543-8942
@goshislo
Best Mediterranean Food
Petra Mediterranean Pizza and Grill
1210 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 439-1999
@petraslo805
Best Mexican Food
Efren’s
1720 Beach St., Oceano
1285 Laurel Lane, SLO
(805) 489-2385
@efrensrestaurant
facebook.com/pages/Efrens-2/573150352782299
Best Thai Food
Thai Boat
3212 Broad St., No. 140, SLO
(805) 594-1638
Best Seafood
Ada’s Fish House
558 Price St., Pismo Beach
(805) 556-3077
@adasfishhouse
facebook.com/Adas-Fish-House-2270038103317986
Best Sushi
Goshi
570 Higuera St., suite 155, SLO
772 Pine St., Paso Robles
(805) 543-8942
@goshislo
Best Poke
Poke Morro
922 Rancho Parkway, Arroyo Grande
(805) 270-4335
@pokemorro
Best Barbecue
Old SLO BBQ Co.
670 Higuera St., SLO
3870-3 Broad St., SLO
(805) 285-2473
@oldslobbq
Best Vegetarian Food
Ziggy’s
594 California Blvd., SLO
(805) 439-4399
@eatziggys
Best Deli
Lincoln Market & Deli
496 Broad St., SLO
(805) 543-3443
lincolnmarketanddeli@gmail.com
@lincolnmarketdeli
facebook.com/LincolnMarketandDeli
Best Food Truck
Haute Skillet
(805) 298-0734
@haute_skillet
facebook.com/Hauteskillettruck
Best Rooftop Experience
Hotel SLO
877 Palm St., SLO
(805) 235-0700
@thehotelslo
Best Chef
Will Torres with The Farmhouse Corner Market
1025 Farmhouse Lane, SLO
(805) 485-7900
@farmhousecm
Best Caterer
Field to Table Catering & Events
146 N. Thompson Road, Nipomo
(805) 474-5719
@fieldtotableevents
Best Butcher
AG Meat Company
120 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
(805) 489-2693
facebook.com/Arroyograndemeatco
Best Fish Market
Giovanni’s Fish Market
1001 Front St., Morro Bay
1-877-552-4467
orders@giovannisfishmarket.com
@giovannis_fish_market
facebook.com/GiovannisFishMarket/?ref=ts
Best Breakfast Burrito
Lincoln Market & Deli
496 Broad St., SLO
(805) 543-3443
lincolnmarketanddeli@gmail.com
@lincolnmarketdeli
facebook.com/LincolnMarketandDeli
Best Burrito
Tacos de Acapulco
596 California Blvd., SLO
(805) 543-9100
Best Taco
Taco Temple
2680 N. Main St., Morro Bay
1575 Calle Joaquin, SLO
(805) 772-4965
@tacotemple
Best Burger
Sylvester’s Burgers
Los Osos, Atascadero, Oceano
@sylvestersburgers
Best Veggie Burger
Ziggy’s
594 California Blvd., SLO
(805) 439-4399
@eatziggys
Ziggy’s may serve up exclusively vegan fare, but you don’t need to be vegan to enjoy some of the most comforting comfort food in San Luis Obispo County. If you’re a fan of In-N-Out’s animal-style fries, Ziggy’s Dirty Fries take it to the next level: It’s cheesier and saucier and miraculously plant-based. For the main course, Ziggy’s avocado tacos offer something you never knew you needed: fried avocado. Or, keep things classic with The Standard—American “cheese,” shredded lettuce, Ziggy sauce, with a choice of an Impossible Burger or a bean and veggie-based Ziggy patty. Ziggy’s will satisfy all of your plant-based dreams.
—Malea Martin
Best Sandwich
High Street Deli
350 High St., SLO
(805) 541-4738
@highstreetdeli
Best Steak
Jocko’s Steakhouse
125 N. Thompson Ave., Nipomo
(805) 929-3686
Best Fried Chicken
The Spoon Trade
295 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach
(805) 904-6773
@thespoontrade
Best Wings
Let’s Wing It
1301 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach
(805) 474-1000
@letswingit1
Best Pizza
Woodstock’s Pizza
1000 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 541-4420
@woodstocksslo
Best Wood-Fired Pizza
Flour House
690 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 544-5282
@flourhouseslo
facebook.com/Flour-House-SLO-1103189849695534
Best Salad
Firestone Grill
1001 Higuera St., SLO
@firestonegrill
Best Chowder
Splash Café
197 Pomeroy Ave., Pismo Beach
1491 Monterey St., SLO
(805) 773-4653
@splashcafe
facebook.com/SplashCafeChowder
Best Ramen
Kuma.
2011 10th St., Los Osos
(805) 528-6767
@kumabowls
Best Mac & Cheese
Black Sheep Bar & Grill
1117 Chorro St., SLO
(805) 544-7433
@blacksheepslo
Best Ice Cream
Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab
114 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
860 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 474-4688
@docburnsteins
Best Frozen Yogurt
It’s Really Yogurt
808 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
(805) 481-8195
Best Doughnut
SLODOCO
793 Foothill Blvd., SLO
6917 El Camino Real, Atascadero
(805) 782-9766
@slodoco
Best Dessert
Madonna Inn
100 Madonna Road, SLO
(805) 784-2433
@madonnainn1958
Best Bakery
Joliene Bakery
570 Higuera St., No. 180, SLO
(805) 439-3373
@jolienebakery
You know that feeling when you pop into a bakery on your way to work for a savory croissant and maybe a cappuccino? And everything on display looks so insanely good that you end up leaving with a whole box of assorted pastries? Then you tell yourself you’ll share with friends but end up eating the whole box yourself? Yeah, that happens to me every time I step foot inside Joliene Bakery, and I have never regretted it. I live for this bakery. The bread is the best I’ve ever had. The pastries are to die for. I would cross rivers and traverse valleys for a Joliene macaron.
—Kasey Bubnash
Best Bread Bakery
House of Bread
299 Marsh St., SLO
(805) 542-0255
@house_of_bread
This article appears in Best of SLO County 2021.
Ewwww. Taco Temple? It shows who your audience is…