Best North County Restaurant
Fish Gaucho
1244 Park St., Paso Robles
(805) 239-3333
@fishgaucho
Best North Coast Restaurant
Robin’s Restaurant
4095 Burton Drive, Cambria
(805) 927-5007
@robins_restaurant
Best San Luis Obispo Restaurant
Novo Restaurant & Lounge
726 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 543-3986
@novorestaurant
Best South County Restaurant
Ember
1200 E. Grand Ave., suite 101, Arroyo Grande
(805) 474-7700
@emberrestaurant
Best South Coast Restaurant
The Spoon Trade
294 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach
(805) 904-6773
@thespoontrade
Best Breakfast
Zorro’s Cafe & Cantina
927 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach
(805) 773-9676
@zorroscafe
facebook.com/zorroscafeandcantina
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
@franksfamoushotdogs
Best Outdoor Dining
Novo Restaurant & Lounge
726 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 543-3986
@novorestaurant
Best Takeout Menu
Ziggy’s
594 California Blvd., SLO
1227 Pine St., Paso ROBLES
(805) 439-4399
@eatziggys
Best Takeout Menu, Best Vegetarian, Best Vegan
Ziggy’s
Ziggy’s serves burgers, tacos, cheesy fries, breakfast burritos, and taquitos, but with an important twist: Every item is vegan. People can enjoy the luxury of chomping into a taco that is filling and full of flavor, without straying from their dietary needs. The takeout-only style restaurant began with the mission of making food for everyone—not just vegans. “We just wanted to make good food that happens to be less impactful for the environment,” according to its mission statement. Ziggy’s takeout system allows everyone to enjoy its food in the peace and quiet of their own home, and its diverse menu will suit anyone’s needs—whether ordering from the Paso Robles or San Luis Obispo locations.
—Taylor O’Connor
Best Family Meal
Firestone Grill
1001 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 783-1001
@firestonegrill
Best Family Meal, Best Salad
Firestone Grill
What makes Firestone Grill a great spot for families and large groups to gather over some grub comes down to a combination of the venue’s casual atmosphere and shareable dishes. There are plenty of ways to bond with loved ones at a dinner table, but sharing a basket of Firestone’s perfectly seasoned fries with a couple sides of ranch is tough to beat. Firestone’s onion rings are perfect for sharing as well, and taste divine—it’s no wonder why they’re the same shape as angel halos. If sharing food with family members isn’t exactly your cup of tea, there are plenty of solo options—for adults and kids alike—to indulge in. Hot dogs and burgers and salad—oh my!
—Caleb Wiseblood
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant
SLO Brew Rock
855 Aerovista Place, SLO
(844) 756-2739
@slobrew
Best Chinese Food
Mei’s Chinese Restaurant
1759 Shell Beach Road, Shell Beach
facebook.com/pages/Meis-Chinese-Restaurant/121668924510235
Best Indian Food
Shalimar
3820 Broad St., SLO
(805) 781-0766
@shalimarindianrestaurant
Best Indian Food
Shalimar
Believe me, your local Indian, that Shalimar offers the best Indian and Pakistani fare in San Luis Obispo. Don’t turn up wearing anything with buttons because they will pop thanks to Shalimar’s generous lunch and dinner buffets at no more than $15 a person. You can’t take your leftovers home, so simmer in your seat, and tuck in to the crispiest catfish fritters, the light but warming lamb curry, and saag (creamy spinach), among a cornucopia of options. Don’t forget the kheer (rice pudding) for a sweet treat, and stick around for seconds … and thirds.
—Bulbul Rajagopal
Best Italian Food
Giuseppe’s Cucina Rustica
891 Price St., Pismo Beach849 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 Japanese Food, Best Sushi
Goshi
Whether you’re in Paso Robles enjoying wine country for the day, or walking through downtown San Luis Obispo, Goshi Sushi and Japanese restaurant provides rich and authentic cuisine. The menu offers an extensive array of options with fresh ingredients to satisfy every palate. Its menu includes specialty rolls, nigiri, rice and noodle bowls, and tempura among many other specialties. Come sip some sake or a Japanese beer and enjoy this “secret spot” of Japanese cuisine (maybe it’s not so secret anymore).
—Taylor O’Connor
Best Mediterranean Food
Petra Mediterranean Pizza & Grill
1210 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 439-1999
@petraslo805
Best Mexican Food
Zorro’s Cafe & Cantina
927 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach
(805) 773-9676
@zorroscafe
facebook.com/zorroscafeandcantina
Best Thai Food
Thai Boat
3212 Broad St., No. 140, SLO
(805) 594-1638
Best Seafood
Oyster Loft
101 Pomeroy Ave., Pismo Beach
(805) 994-1147
@oysterloft
Best Sushi
Goshi
570 Higuera St., suite 155, SLO
772 Pine St., Paso Robles
(805) 543-8942
@goshislo
Best Poke
Poke Morro
121 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
922 Rancho Parkway, Arroyo Grande
(805) 270-4335
@pokemorro
Best Barbecue
Old SLO BBQ
670 Higuera St., SLO
3870-3 Broad St., SLO
(805) 285-2473
@oldslobbq
Best Vegetarian Food
Ziggy’s
594 California Blvd., SLO
1227 Pine St., Paso Robles
(805) 439-4399
@eatziggys
Best Vegan
Ziggy’s
594 California Blvd., SLO
1227 Pine St., Paso Robles
(805) 439-4399
@eatziggys
Best Deli
High Street Deli
350 High St., SLO
1326 2nd St., Los Osos
(805) 541-4738
@highstreetdeli
Best Food Truck
The Grinning Bear
(415) 573-4768
@grinningbearslo
facebook.com/TheGrinningBearSLO
Best Rooftop Experience
High Bar
877 Palm St., SLO
(805) 235-0700
@highbar.slo
Best Chef
Brian Collins – Ember
1200 E. Grand Ave., suite 101, Arroyo Grande
(805) 474-7700
@emberrestaurant
Best Caterer
Field to Table Catering & Events
146 N. Thompson Road, Nipomo
(805) 474-5719
@fieldtotableevents
Best Butcher
Arroyo Grande Meat Company
120 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
(805) 489-2693
@arroyograndemeatco
Best Fish Market
Giovanni’s Fish Market & Gallery
1001 Front St., Morro Bay
1-877-552-4467
orders@giovannisfishmarket.com
@giovannis_fish_market
facebook.com/GiovannisFishMarket
Best Breakfast Burrito
Frank’s Famous Hot Dogs
950 California Blvd., SLO
(805) 541-3488
@franksfamoushotdogs
Best Burrito
Tacos de Acapulco
596 California Blvd., SLO
(805) 543-9100
facebook.com/tacosdeacapulco Tacos de Acapulco website
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 Sandwich
High Street Deli
350 High St., SLO1326 2nd St., Los Osos
(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
Wingstop
1029 Chorro St., SLO
(805) 541-9464
wingstop.com/location/wingstop-845-san-luis-obispo-ca-93401/menu
@wingstop
facebook.com/Wingstop-790823821024327
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
(805) 783-1001
@firestonegrill
Best Chowder
Splash Café
197 Pomeroy Ave., Pismo Beach1491 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 Grande860 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 474-4688
@docburnsteins
Best Frozen Yogurt
SLO Froyo n’ Italian Ice
956 Higuera St., SLO
@slofroyonice
facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073203202519
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
Sweet Pea Bakery
1200 E. Grand Ave., unit 102, Arroyo Grande
(805) 440-3456
@sweetpeabakery
Best Bread Bakery
Bread Bike
2060A Parker St., SLO
(805) 242-1588
@bread.bike
This article appears in Best of SLO County 2022.
I did not see “Best Farm Stand” on the Best Of this year…did I miss it?
Last year or so, Rutiz Family Farm won; now Jerry Rutiz has retired and sold the farm to Ariela Gottschalk and Jeff Pienack and it’s now named Halcyon Farms. The same delicious, nutritious pesticide-free veggies and berries are grown, with “guest” vendors of citrus fruits, bread (2), vegan desserts, baked goods, organic grass-fed meats, and sometimes organic sprouts and micro greens. But I maintain that Halcyon Farm is the very best farm stand, year after year!!! Please look for them on The Pike near Elm St. in Arroyo Grande, open on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays!! You’ll be back again and again!!
Gina Whitaker