Shalimar Indian Restaurant runs a traditional clay tandoor on Broad Street, the long-standing Indian and Pakistani kitchen of San Luis Obispo since 2008.
Signature: Tandoori chicken, Curries
Order: Anything from the tandoor; the clay oven is the kitchen's anchor.
Tip: The lunch window ends at 14:30 sharp; the halal kitchen is listed on Zabihah.
Bread Bike Bakery mills California-grown grain in-house and ferments its loaves slowly, then delivers subscriptions by bicycle across San Luis Obispo.
Tip: Loaves sell down by early afternoon; the community-supported bakery subscription guarantees your bread.
Worth the queue: Naturally leavened country loaf
Back Porch Bakery sells mornings-only croissants and laminated pastry from South Higuera in San Luis Obispo, and supplies delis across the county.
Tip: It closes at noon sharp; the Atascadero shop runs to 14:00 if you miss the window.
Worth the queue: Morning croissants
Coastal Peaks Coffee micro-roasts in batches of 45 pounds or less at its South Higuera cafe, run like a boutique winery for San Luis Obispo coffee.
Tip: Roasting happens on site; weekday mornings you can watch the drum run while you drink.
Sources from: Fair trade organic lots
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
There Does Not Exist brews design-obsessed IPAs and lagers in an industrial corner of San Luis Obispo, with cans that sell out on release weekends.
Tip: Edible San Luis Obispo has profiled the brewery's design-first ethos; check release announcements before driving out.
Humdinger Brewing stages live shows beside its tanks on Capitolio Way, running San Luis Obispo's scrappiest taproom with food Wednesday to Saturday.
Tip: Thursday runs latest, to 23:00 with gigs; check the events calendar before you go.
SLO Food Co-op is San Luis Obispo's member-owned grocer on Victoria Avenue, stocking organic produce, bulk bins and pasture-raised meat for everyone.
Tip: Membership is optional; anyone can shop, and the bulk herb wall beats every supermarket in the county.
Humdinger Brewing stages live shows beside its tanks on Capitolio Way, running San Luis Obispo's scrappiest taproom with food Wednesday to Saturday.
Tip: Thursday runs latest, to 23:00 with gigs; check the events calendar before you go.