Restaurants in Upper Monterey

Hungry Mother ★ 4.0

$$ VietnameseUpper Monterey

Hungry Mother folds Southeast Asian and Southern flavours into banh mi, po'boys and rice bowls on Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo's weekday lunch secret.

OrderA banh mi, or the weekly special, which is usually a curry.

TipIt closes at 15:00 on Mondays and Tuesdays and does not open weekends; plan a weekday visit.

Directions

Casual Dining in Upper Monterey

Taqueria Santa Cruz Express ★ 4.0

$ MexicanUpper Monterey

Taqueria Santa Cruz Express turns out fast al pastor tacos and burritos on Monterey Street, the taqueria San Luis Obispo locals default to on a work night.

OrderAl pastor tacos with everything, plus a horchata.

TipThe Foothill Boulevard branch at 862 Foothill runs later into the evening for the campus crowd.

Directions

1865 Craft House & Kitchen ★ 3.9

$$ AmericanUpper Monterey

1865 Craft House & Kitchen pairs modern American plates with a deep Central Coast tap list on Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo's motel-row gastropub.

OrderA smash burger with a flight of Central Coast taps.

TipWeekend brunch starts at 10:30; book ahead if you are bringing a group.

Directions Book

Cafés in Upper Monterey

Field Day Coffee ★ 4.1

$$ CaféUpper MontereyWork-friendlyWifi

Field Day Coffee pours precise pour-overs and espresso on Monterey Street, the light-flooded modern counterpoint to San Luis Obispo's older coffeehouses.

DrinkSeasonal single-origin pour-over

TipIt holds the same 07:00-18:00 hours every day of the week, rare among the city's independents.

Directions

Budget Eats in Upper Monterey

Taqueria Santa Cruz Express ★ 4.0

$ MexicanUpper Monterey

Taqueria Santa Cruz Express keeps tacos in the single digits on Monterey Street, the cheapest dependable hot meal in central San Luis Obispo.

TryAl pastor tacos and burritos

TipThe Foothill Boulevard branch at 862 Foothill runs later into the evening for the campus crowd.

Directions

Hidden Gems in Upper Monterey

Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates ★ 4.0

$$ CaféUpper Monterey

Mama Ganache hand-rolls truffles from fairly traded chocolate in a small Monterey Street shopfront, San Luis Obispo's quiet chocolate workshop.

Why locals goA family chocolate workshop on upper Monterey Street that most drivers pass at 40 mph on the way to their motel.

TipTruffles are made in-house from ethically sourced chocolate; boxes survive a day of wine tasting in the boot.

Directions

Hungry Mother ★ 4.0

$$ VietnameseUpper Monterey

Hungry Mother builds banh mi, po'boys and rice bowls from a scratch kitchen on upper Monterey Street, still San Luis Obispo's best-kept weekday lunch secret.

Why locals goA weekday-only banh mi counter in a Monterey Street suite, lunch only at the start of the week and closed every weekend.

TipIt closes at 15:00 on Mondays and Tuesdays and does not open weekends; plan a weekday visit.

Directions

Brunch in Upper Monterey

Apple Farm Restaurant ★ 3.9

$$ $14-24BrunchCountry-inn breakfast houseUpper Monterey

Apple Farm Restaurant has poured coffee and scratch pancakes at its Monterey Street inn since 1977, San Luis Obispo's country-breakfast standby.

OrderApple Farm pancakes with a side of the house apple butter.

TipEverything stops at 14:00; the French toast and eggs Benedict are the two orders locals defend.

Directions Book

Book food experiences in San Luis Obispo

Paso Robles Winery Trolley( Shared tour)★ 5.0 (1)

Guided tour · 5h 30m

Paso Robles Winery Trolley( Shared tour)

Hop aboard our vintage trolley for a 5.5-hour Paso Robles winery tour! • Visit 3 handpicked scenic wineries • Onboard snacks, water & fun music • Stress-free ride with...

from€79 Check dates

See all 16 bookable experiences in San Luis Obispo

← Back to the San Luis Obispo food guide

Cuisines in Upper Monterey