Highest-rated restaurants in San Luis Obispo by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans say they rarely or never try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, according to a from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—67% of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on social media or online restaurant reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google. The TouchBistro survey found that 52% of Gen Zers have opted to try a new restaurant due to positive feedback on social media, and 67% of millennials have gone to a new dining spot solely because of favorable reviews online.
New restaurants in particular tend to garner a lot of online attention. About 50,000 new restaurants open each year in the U.S., and that number continues to rise. An analysis by Yelp published in June 2024 found that from May 2023 to April 2024. But some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established eateries that customers have been visiting for decades.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in San Luis Obispo, according to reviews from diners as of January 2025. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews and a 3.0 rating were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
#30. SLO Food Co-op
- Rating: 4.4/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2494 Victoria Ave. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Health Markets, Grocery, Sandwiches
-
#29. Beda's Biergarten
- Rating: 4.4/5 (362 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3230 Broad St. Ste 130 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: German, Beer Gardens
-
#28. The Nautical Bean Coffee House & Bistro
- Rating: 4.4/5 (531 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 11560 Los Osos Valley Road San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
-
#27. Piadina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (203 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 877 Palm St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Piadina, New American, Cocktail Bars
-
#26. Taqueria El Guero
- Rating: 4.5/5 (228 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1122 Chorro St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Tacos, Beer Bar
-
#25. Goshi Japanese Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1293 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 570 Higuera St. Ste 155 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Beer Bar
-
#24. Eddie's Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3212 Broad St. Ste 120 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Burgers, Sandwiches, Juice Bars & Smoothies
-
#23. Daves Hot Chicken
- Rating: 4.5/5 (263 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 299 Madonna Road San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Chicken Shop, Halal
-
#22. Thai Boat
- Rating: 4.5/5 (837 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3212 Broad St. Ste 140 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Thai, Soup, Noodles
-
#21. Thai Delight Cuisine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (272 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1011 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Thai, Bubble Tea, Soup
-
#20. Bravo Pizza Plus SLO
- Rating: 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 3971 South Higuera St. Ste 120 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Pizza
-
#19. Baht
- Rating: 4.6/5 (77 reviews)
- Address: 3845 South Higuera St. Ste 106 San Luis Obispo Public Market San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Thai
-
#18. Pardon My French Bakery
- Rating: 4.6/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 871 Froom Ranch Way Ste 130 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Bakeries, French, Desserts
-
#17. Todo Bueno
- Rating: 4.6/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3845 South Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Burgers, Tacos
-
#16. Lucy's Coffee
- Rating: 4.6/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 871 Froom Ranch Way Ste 100 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Juice Bars & Smoothies
-
#15. At Bites
- Rating: 4.6/5 (368 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 195 North Santa Rosa St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Vietnamese, Asian Fusion, Seafood
-
#14. Ox+Anchor
- Rating: 4.6/5 (351 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 877 Palm St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood
-
#13. The Bridge Cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (59 reviews)
- Address: 1074 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
-
#12. Bear & The Wren
- Rating: 4.6/5 (251 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 570 Higuera St. Ste 2 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Pizza, Gastropubs
-
#11. High Street Market & Deli
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1696 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 350 High St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches
-
#10. Antonia's Pizza
- Rating: 4.7/5 (75 reviews)
- Address: 891 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mediterranean, Pizza, Soup
-
#9. Hellahot
- Rating: 4.7/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 570 Higuera St. Unit 104 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Chicken Shop, Burgers, fast food
-
#8. Corazon Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (181 reviews)
- Address: 847 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican, Themed Cafes
-
#7. Ziggy's
- Rating: 4.7/5 (368 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 594 California Blvd. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Vegan
-
#6. My Friend Mike's
- Rating: 4.7/5 (84 reviews)
- Address: 2324 Broad St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Pizza, Beer, Wine & Spirits
-
#5. J&L Hawaiian BBQ
- Rating: 4.8/5 (72 reviews)
- Address: 2256 Broad St. Ste 120 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Hawaiian
-
#4. Coya Peruvian Food
- Rating: 4.8/5 (259 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 851 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Peruvian, Salad, Sandwiches
-
#3. Monika's Macarons & Bakery Boutique
- Rating: 4.8/5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 17 Chorro Ste A San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Macarons, Gluten-Free
-
#2. Ebony
- Rating: 4.8/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 778 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Ethiopian
-
#1. Kiko Restaurant & Pisco Bar
- Rating: 4.9/5 (98 reviews)
- Address: 746 Higuera St. Ste 6 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Bars, Peruvian, Tapas Bars
-
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 318 metros.
