Hungry? Here are 20 of SLO County’s newest restaurants, coffeehouses and sweet shops

Sarah Linn
·8 min read

From coffee and cookies to burgers and pizza, 2023 was a delicious year for local diners.

San Luis Obispo County welcomed several new restaurants ranging from fast-casual cafes to upscale fine dining establishments.

Here are some of the restaurants, bars, coffeehouses and sweet shops that opened in SLO County in 2023.

Bamboo Bamboo Chinese Restaurant

Bamboo Bamboo Chinese Restaurant opened in August in San Luis Obispo’s Creamery Marketplace.

The new eatery at 1049 Nipomo St. took over part of a space that was previously occupied by Ciopinot Seafood Grille and La Esquina Distillery.

Bamboo Bamboo is the second San Luis Obispo County eatery started by Xiohan Ding and Yanzhi Liu, whose Morro Bay restaurant opened in 2022.

Orange chicken is a popular menu item at Bamboo Bamboo Chinese Restaurant in the Creamery Marketplace in San Luis Obispo.
Orange chicken is a popular menu item at Bamboo Bamboo Chinese Restaurant in the Creamery Marketplace in San Luis Obispo.

Barley and Boar

Atascadero added an upscale fine dining restaurant to its growing downtown corridor in May.

Barley and Boar Restaurant and Distillery opened its doors at 5925 Entrada Ave., formerly home to Dead Oak Brewery and Restaurant.

It is the latest restaurant to join the North County Restaurant Group portfolio, which includes Cielo in Atascadero, Jack’s Bar and Grill in Templeton and Streetside Ale House and Eatery in Paso Robles and Atascadero.

Blue Seafood & Grill opened in Arroyo Grande in March 2023 at the former home of Me & Z’s.
Blue Seafood & Grill opened in Arroyo Grande in March 2023 at the former home of Me & Z’s.

Blue Seafood & Grill

Seafood is the focus at Blue Seafood & Grill, which celebrated its grand opening at 1351 E Grand Ave. in Arroyo Grande in October after a soft opening in March.

The eatery moved into the former home of Mexican restaurant Me & Z’s, which closed in December 2022.

Las Vegas chef Raymundo Perez’s ocean-inspired creations include halibut tacos, lobster rolls, shrimp scampi and oysters served in half a dozen different ways.

Maricruz Sanchez opened Bubbles & Tea Coffeehouse in Nipomo, serving breakfast and lunch with a garden deck outside and a home-like atmosphere inside.
Maricruz Sanchez opened Bubbles & Tea Coffeehouse in Nipomo, serving breakfast and lunch with a garden deck outside and a home-like atmosphere inside.

Bubbles & Tea Coffeehouse

Nipomo native Maricruz Sanchez launched a new cafe serving up coffee, tea and breakfast items in her hometown in June.

Located at 338 W Tefft St., Bubbles & Tea Coffeehouse transforms from a coffee shop during the day to a speakeasy-style hangout at night offering standup comedy, salsa dancing and wine-and-paint events.

Brydge restaurant in Cambria specializes in small plates for diners to share.
Brydge restaurant in Cambria specializes in small plates for diners to share.

Brydge

Brydge began serving organic farm-to-table fare in a cozy 1870s-era cottage in Cambria in March.

Located at 4286 Bridge St. in the former home of The Cafe on Bridge Street, the restaurant is the result of a partnership between chef Elaine Rivera-Glenn; her wife Christina, the senior director of brand marketing at Daou Family Estates in Paso Robles; and Joe Vergara and his wife Joleen Tafoya, who own Soto’s True Earth Market and Vyana Wellness Collective massage spa in Cambria.

Chipotle opened a restaurant in Atascadero in October 2023, in the former home of A&W at 6435 Morro Road.
Chipotle opened a restaurant in Atascadero in October 2023, in the former home of A&W at 6435 Morro Road.

Chipotle

Popular Mexican food chain Chipotle opened its fourth location in San Luis Obispo County in October.

The fast-casual eatery took over the former home of A&W Restaurant, 6435 Morro Road in Atascadero.

Chipotle also has locations in Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo.

Crumbl Cookies employee Heather Silva shows off a freshly baked batch of pink sugar cookies at the chain’s new Paso Robles store, which opened March 31, 2023.
Crumbl Cookies employee Heather Silva shows off a freshly baked batch of pink sugar cookies at the chain’s new Paso Robles store, which opened March 31, 2023.

Crumbl Cookies

Cookie store chain Crumbl Cookies launched three San Luis Obispo County locations in 2023, starting with the opening of a store at 2307 Theater Drive in Paso Robles in March.

A second Crumbl Cookies location opened at 503 Five Cities Drive in Pismo Beach in June, and a third celebrating its grand opening at 481 Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo in August.

However, the SLO spot shut its doors just four months later.

Chilaques with red sauce, scrambled egg, quest fresco, cilantro, pickled onion and green salsa are among the recent breakfast menu options at Corazon Cafe in San Luis Obispo.
Chilaques with red sauce, scrambled egg, quest fresco, cilantro, pickled onion and green salsa are among the recent breakfast menu options at Corazon Cafe in San Luis Obispo.

Corazon Cafe

The owners of popular Mexican food popup Corazon 805 Tacos opened a brick-and-mortar location in downtown San Luis Obispo in May.

Corazon Café, located at 847 Higuera St. in the century-old Wineman Hotel, offers cross-cultural dishes for breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks.

Retail associate Joana Najera waits on a customer at Farmhouse House of Bread in San Luis Obispo.
Retail associate Joana Najera waits on a customer at Farmhouse House of Bread in San Luis Obispo.

Farmhouse House of Bread

San Luis Obispo’s beloved House of Bread bakery expanded with a new location near the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport.

Farmhouse House of Bread, which started serving up sandwiches and fresh-baked goods in May at 1025 Farmhouse Lane, took over the restaurant portion of the now-closed Farmhouse Corner Market. The former store area is occupied by a second showroom for Basalt, a local high-end furniture store.

House of Bread’s flagship bakery is still open at 299 Marsh St. in San Luis Obispo.

French Fries USA, a french fry and American fast food shop owned by Joe Lassiter, opened Feb. 1, 2023, in Arroyo Grande.
French Fries USA, a french fry and American fast food shop owned by Joe Lassiter, opened Feb. 1, 2023, in Arroyo Grande.

French Fries USA

Laid-back burger joint French Fries USA celebrated its grand opening at 1540 E. Grand Ave. in Arroyo Grande in February.

The menu features build-your-own hamburgers and 10 variations on fried potatoes, from shoestring fries to tater tots.

Signature fries come with toppings inspired by carne asada, Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwiches and poutine — the classic Canadian dish featuring cheese curds and gravy.

The Hub features new locations for Krobar Distillery and Central Coast Brewing at the former home of Daylight Home and Patio on Monterey Street. This is the main room for Central Coast Brewing.
The Hub features new locations for Krobar Distillery and Central Coast Brewing at the former home of Daylight Home and Patio on Monterey Street. This is the main room for Central Coast Brewing.

The Hub

Central Coast Brewing and Krobar Craft Distillery opened new locations at The Hub, which celebrated its grand opening in San Luis Obispo in November.

The new entertainment hub is located at 1701 Monterey St. in a 12,000-square-foot building left vacant by the closure of Daylight Home and Patio in 2021. The massive property features both indoor and outdoor seating areas as well as space for live music and food and ice cream trucks.

The Hub is home to the distillery and tasting room for Krobar, which originally opened in Paso Robles,

It’s the second location for Central Coast Brewing, whose flagship craft brewery is located at 6 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo.

This New Orleans take on eggs benedict is a Cajun version with andouille sausage, a featured breakfast at Huckleberry’s in Atascadero.
This New Orleans take on eggs benedict is a Cajun version with andouille sausage, a featured breakfast at Huckleberry’s in Atascadero.

Huckleberry’s

Popular restaurant chain Huckleberry’s celebrated the grand opening of its second San Luis Obispo County location in August.

The down-home diner, which replaced Denny’s restaurant at 6910 El Camino Real in Atascadero, specializes in “Southern cookin’ with a California twist.” Diners enjoy breakfast and lunch beneath faux willow trees laced with sparkling lights.

There’s also a Huckleberry’s restaurant at 300 5 Cities Drive in Pismo Beach.

Kicker’s seafood restaurant opened at 850 Embarcadero in Morro Bay on Friday, February 10, 2023.
Kicker’s seafood restaurant opened at 850 Embarcadero in Morro Bay on Friday, February 10, 2023.

Kicker’s

Roger Sharp added a waterfront seafood restaurant to his San Luis Obispo County culinary empire in February.

Kicker’s is located at 885 Embarcadero in Morro Bay at the former location of Port House restaurant.

Another restaurant owned by Sharp, Tito’s Red Tacos, celebrated its grand opening at 690 Dolliver St. in Pismo Beach in August.

Tito’s Red Tacos serves tacos with your choice of meat (beef, pork, chicken, shrimp or octopus) melted cheese, cotija cheese, onions, cilantro and dipping sauce. The meal option adds beans and garlic rice. Tito’s Red Tacos is now open in Pismo Beach.
Tito’s Red Tacos serves tacos with your choice of meat (beef, pork, chicken, shrimp or octopus) melted cheese, cotija cheese, onions, cilantro and dipping sauce. The meal option adds beans and garlic rice. Tito’s Red Tacos is now open in Pismo Beach.

Both eateries belong to a local chain that includes Bubba’s Bad BBQ, Nate’s Nashville Hot Chicken and Tortilla Town in in Paso Robles. Sharp also owns Slappy’s Chowder House in Oceano and Blue Sky Bistro and Big Rock Sweet Shop in Morro Bay.

A Tortilla Town location in downtown San Luis Obispo closed in December.

The new Mountain Mike’s Pizza location in Pismo Beach seats 104 people and has a private party room and arcade for kids.
The new Mountain Mike’s Pizza location in Pismo Beach seats 104 people and has a private party room and arcade for kids.

Mountain Mike’s Pizza

Mountain Mike’s Pizza opened its second location in San Luis Obispo County in August.

The restaurant is located at 441 Five Cities Drive in Pismo Beach at the former site of Coco’s Bakery Restaurant, which closed in February.

The Bay Area-based pizza chain opened its first local restaurant at 9006 West Front Road in Atascadero in 2022.

The Bunker houses the fourth Nautical Bean coffee shop in SLO County. Here it is under construction on Orcutt Road in January 2023.
The Bunker houses the fourth Nautical Bean coffee shop in SLO County. Here it is under construction on Orcutt Road in January 2023.

Nautical Bean

Local coffee shop chain Nautical Bean opened its fourth San Luis Obispo County location in early 2023.

The cafe is located inside The Bunker, a collaborative art studio located on 810 Orcutt Road in San Luis Obispo. The menu features coffee drinks, pastries and breakfast items.

Nautical Bean also has coffee shops at 1399 Second St. in Los Osos and 11560 Los Osos Valley Road and 2010 Parker St. in SLO.

A new restaurant, Nick the Greek, opened Jan. 17, 2023, with specials that led to lines down Higuera Street. The San Luis Obispo business is next to Bubblegum Alley.
A new restaurant, Nick the Greek, opened Jan. 17, 2023, with specials that led to lines down Higuera Street. The San Luis Obispo business is next to Bubblegum Alley.

Nick the Greek

Nick the Greek opened its doors in January 2023 at 733 Higuera St. in downtown San Luis Obispo. The spot next to popular tourist attraction, Bubblegum Alley, was formerly home to pizza-and-beer restaurant Blast 825 Taproom.

Part of a rapidly growing restaurant chain with locations across the West, Nick the Greek specializes in “authentic Greek street food” such as gyro and souvlaki sandwiches.

A new Round Table Pizza location is open on Broad Street in San Luis Obispo. Jennifer Lindo is area manager July 3, 2023.
A new Round Table Pizza location is open on Broad Street in San Luis Obispo. Jennifer Lindo is area manager July 3, 2023.

Round Table Pizza

Popular chain Round Table Pizza added a fourth location in San Luis Obispo County — this one featuring a new company logo and decor inspired by the legendary Knights of the Round Table.

The new restaurant opened at 2256 Broad St., Suite 110, in April.

Other Round Table Pizza locations are in Atascadero, Grover Beach and Morro Bay.

Rori’s Artisanal Creamery, which specializes in small-batch ice cream, opened in the Village of Arroyo Grande in summer 2023.
Rori’s Artisanal Creamery, which specializes in small-batch ice cream, opened in the Village of Arroyo Grande in summer 2023.

Rori’s Artisanal Creamery

A new ice cream shop replaced Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab in the Village of Arroyo Grande in 2023.

Rori’s Artisanal Creamery, which opened its doors at 114 West Branch St. in the summer, specializes in small-batch ice cream in flavors including lemon curd, honey and milk chocolate chunk.

It’s the eighth location for Rori’s Artisanal Creamery, which also has scoop shops in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Max Bundy scoops ice cream into a waffle cone at SLO à la Mode, which took the place of the former Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab location in downtown San Luis Obispo in July 2023.
Max Bundy scoops ice cream into a waffle cone at SLO à la Mode, which took the place of the former Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab location in downtown San Luis Obispo in July 2023.

SLO à la Mode

After Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab closed its doors in downtown San Luis Obispo, Peter Latif Shaker and his wife decided to open a new scoop shop in its place.

SLO à la Mode opened in July at 860 Higuera St. — about a block away from the Shakers’ other dessert shop, SLO Froyo n’ Italian Ice.

In addition to ice cream sourced from Wisconsin-based Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Co., SLO à la Mode sells cookies and Belgian waffles.

Todo Bueno and All Good Grill opened in the SLO Public Market in 2023. The eateries are the business ventures of John and Kernn MacKinnon, co-owners of Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill in Cambria.
Todo Bueno and All Good Grill opened in the SLO Public Market in 2023. The eateries are the business ventures of John and Kernn MacKinnon, co-owners of Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill in Cambria.

Todo Bueno and The All Good Grill

In May, a new fast-casual restaurant held its soft opening at San Luis Obispo Public Market at Bonnetti Ranch, 3845 South Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo.

Located in upstairs in the Public Market’s main hall, Todo Bueno and The All Good Grill serves up California-influenced Mexican food and all-American fare from a walk-up order counter.

Chef and co-owner John MacKinnon is a managing partner of Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill in Cambria.

Other SLO County bars, restaurants that opened in 2023

Other local bars, restaurants and food businesses that opened in 2023 include: