Cabo San Luis

Open daily from 11am - 9pm

Cabo San Luis is a casual restaurant with a delightful "Baja" flavor: the walls have grass hut roofs, tables are covered with a tropical vinyl, and cervesa ads abound. The biggest decor highlight for our family is the large tropical fish tank. Set in the middle of one of the dining areas, the square tank is framed with a countertop and barstools making it a perfect place to eat and watch the fish. (Somehow vastly different from eating a burger while watching the cattle graze.)

Orders are placed at the counter by the front entrance. There is plenty of seating inside as well as a number of tables outside on the deck. My husband and I often end up with a table indoors by the window while our kids sit close-by at "the tank bar" and name the fish. (I might add that the fish tank is always clean - a blessing for which I am truly grateful.)

My family tends to plan trips to San Luis Obispo around restaurants. Cabo San Luis received the honor of "most votes" (unanimous) on a recent outing to the city. It was a test of wills to order something other than our favorite Crunchy Cabo Chicken Salad, but for the sake of our readers, my husband and I managed to choose two new items; a Sauteed Shrimp Taco and the Caborito. The Sauteed Shrimp Taco didn't look like what I expected, but it tasted wonderful. The soft corn tortilla was filled with shrimp, shredded cabbage, spicy sauce, cheese, and Salsa Fresca. The shrimp were actually bay shrimp, usually a disappointment to me, but not in this case. The bay shrimp were plentiful making every bite consistently delicious throughout.

The Caborito was a wonderful surprise. I do believe the inside of the Caborito was the least appetizing thing I've seen in a while, HOWEVER, the taste was fantastic! So, if you must, close your eyes and dig in. The large flour tortilla is filled with lots of fish (soft, with a pleasantly crunchy breading), black beans, cabbage, and Salsa Fresca. You can personalize any dish you order with Cabo's full salsa bar featuring green and red salsas (hot and mild), Cabo's own "Salsa Fresca," fresh cilantro, and lime wedges.

The menu at Cabo consists of: fish tacos, "non-swimming" tacos, burritos, Cabo bowls (bean and rice or soup), Cabo meals (with chips and beans), "lite" items, wraps, salads, and sides. The prices are quite reasonable ranging from $2.45 to $8.95. The kids meals at Cabo San Luis are a great deal. For $3.95 kids get a main dish, side, drink, toy, and a churro for dessert! Main dish options are: bean burrito, chicken taquitos (not much chicken), fish taco, or quesadilla. For the side choose either beans, rice, or chips and salsa.

Kids' Opinion: "Thumbs Up! The bean burritos are perfect, and the churros have just the right combination of crunchy outside and chewy inside with lots of cinnamon-sugar. Plus you get free refills on your drink!"

Cabo San Luis is located at 981 Foothill Blvd in San Luis Obispo, near the SW corner of Foothill and Santa Rosa. (Parking is behind the restaurant - enter at the drive to JD Boone's Smokehouse.)