Blog

While I was in college at San Diego State University (SDSU), I worked at a seafood buffet and worked on Thanksgiving Day. [You can skip my college story and just scroll down or jump straight to the list of 24 restaurants in San Luis Obispo County that will be open on Thanksgiving Day and serving a turkey dinner for 2024.] It was by choice as I got better tips and only had to work for 5 hours and could still go home and spend time with my parents and sibling. I'm a native San Diegan but I live here in San Luis Obispo County now. I worked at that buffet named Todai San Diego (now closed) for 3 years and worked on many holidays. I think back at those years there fondly as this job had helped me pay my college tuition at SDSU and food.

There was one particular guest who I still remember and think about as Thanksgiving Day gets nearer every year. She came in alone and was the only one who did on that Thanksgiving Day at our restaurant. She was all smiles when she stepped up to the podium to tell the hostess, whom I stood nearby, the number of people in her party. The guest lifted one pointer finger and said, "Just one."

Though I may have felt a little sorry for her, I felt admiration more than anything for her courage and independence as she was not afraid to dine alone on a holiday that many expects one to be with others. She deserved a wonderful dinner and instead of ordering take out somewhere, she came in and enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast and seafood. She was kind and seemed really smart. Although I didn't pry, she looked like she was in town for business or was sticking around the area for personal reasons.

So, I dedicate this post to this memory and to all of you who needs to have a warm Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day cooked by an establishment because life can get too busy to be able to cook at home for yourself and/or for others. Enjoy a feast without the mess and why not, the many wonderful restaurants around here are here to serve you.

[ 2025 List of Thanksgiving Dinners in San Luis Obispo County is Growing! Come Back Regularly to See the Growing List. ]

List of Restaurants That Open on Thanksgiving Day (Thurs., Nov 27, 2025) and Serving a Turkey Dinner that I Found by Going on Each Website Individually and Sorting by Alphabetical Order:

• 1865 Craft House & Kitchen usually serves a Thanksgiving Buffet. They will be limiting tables to a 2 hour dining period and an automatic 20% gratuity will be added to all bills. I've been to this restaurant before when I was having a staycation at La Quinta Inn, which is located right next to 1865 Craft House & Kitchen. Read my full review of my 18 hour staycation and dining experience here at 1865 Craft House & Kitchen. Address: 1865 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 
• Apple Farm Restaurant & Inn usually serves a Thanksgiving Buffet with reservations required by the restaurant. Apple Farm Restaurant & Inn address: 2015 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Black Cat Bistro usually serves a Thanksgiving Menu. Address: 1602 Main St., Cambria, CA 93428 (2024's menu hasn't been confirmed from their website yet)
• Cafe Roma usually serves a Thanksgiving menu with the Organic Roasted Turkey entree and the Little Pilgrims menu for 12 years old and under priced less than regular price. Cafe Roma address: 1020 Railroad Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Cambria Pines Lodge usually serves an all-you-can-eat buffet with Thanksgiving favorites from 12:30PM - 7:30PM on Thanksgiving Day. Reservations are required. Children 5 and under are free. Read about my buffet experience here on Mother's Day on the Cambria page. They also own a large gift shop and nursery. See my instagram video reel of my visit through Cambria Pines Lodge's beautiful gift shop. Cambria Pines Lodge address: 2905 Burton Dr., Cambria, CA 93428
• Cello Ristorante & Bar at Allegretto Vineyard Resort by Ayres will usually offers a Thanksgiving menu. Cello Ristorante & Bar address: 2700 Buena Vista Dr., Paso Robles, CA 93446
• Cypress Beach House in Pismo Beach usually serves a Thanksgiving buffet. Address: 601 Cypress St., Pismo Beach, 93449
• Gardens at Avila Restaurant at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa usually usually serves a Thanksgiving Course Menu. Gardens of Avila Restaurant address: 1215 Avila Beach Drive, California, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 - Read my review about The Gardens at Avila Restaurant when we dined there for Valentine's Day or you can view this instagram post that's a 1 minute video reel to see our mineral springs hot tub experience and the views of the sycamore trees at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa. (2024's menu hasn't been confirmed from their website yet)
  

  Related Videos:
  See my video tour of the restaurant located on the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort property.
  See my video of my hot tub at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort.

• Granada Hotel & Bistro is usually has a Prix Fixe Dinner. We had a staycation here at Granada Hotel & Bistro in November and had a wonderful stay and dining experience at their bistro. Read my full review for my staycation at Granada Hotel & Bistro. Granada Hotel & Bistro Address: 1126 Morro St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Lido Restaurant & Lounge at Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa usually serves a specially prepared Prix Fixe menu. Lido Restaurant & Lounge at Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa Address: 2727 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 
• Luna Red usually serves a Thanksgiving Buffet. Luna Red address: 1023 Chorro Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Lunada Garden Bistro in Cayucos usually has a Thanksgiving Menu. They don't post their Thanksgiving Menu on their website and only on their instagram. It's a 3 course dinner. Lunada Garden Bistro Address: 78 North Ocean Ave.,Cayucos, CA 93430
• Madonna Inn usually offers a Thanksgiving entree. I always enjoy walking around their property and shops before and after our meal. Madonna Inn address: 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 - Read about my multiple visits at Madonna Inn.
  
• Marisol at Cliffs Hotel and Spa usually serves a Thanksgiving 3 course menu. Reservations are required. Marisol at Cliffs Hotels and Spa address: 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 - See my instagram picture post of the entree that I ordered at Marisol during Restaurant Month. (2024's menu hasn't been confirmed from their website yet)
• McPhee's Grill usually offers a Thanksgiving turkey menu option on Thanksgiving Day. McPhee's Grill address: 416 S Main St., Templeton, CA 93465
• Piadina at Hotel San Luis Obispo Obispo usually serves a Thanksgiving Day menu.
• Pequin Coastal Cocina Restaurant at Vespera Pismo Beach will have turkey on their menu on Thanksgiving Day. They are located beachfront and in walking distance to the pier. Address: 147 Stimson Avenue, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
• Robin's Restaurant will offer a Thanksgiving turkey option on Thanksgiving Day. Robin's Restaurant address: 4095 Burton Drive, Cambria, CA 93428 - Read a review about my visit at Robin's Restaurant during the pandemic.
• SeaVenture Restaurant inside of SeaVenture Hotel usually offers a Thanksgiving menu. I've been to this restaurant before and it has a classy vibe. Read my full review of SeaVenture Restaurant on this blog entry. Address: 100 Ocean View Ave., Pismo Beach, CA 93449
• The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar usually offers a fixed menu. The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar address: 835 13th Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446
• The Sow's Ear usually offers a turkey option on Thanksgiving Day. Their price is not listed on their menu on their website. The Sow's Ear address: 2248 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
• The Steakhouse at The Paso Robles Inn usually serves a Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Day and they will require a reservation. Address: 1103 Spring St., Paso Robles, CA 93446
• Ventana Grill will have a Thanksgiving Buffet on Thanksgiving Day. Like all of the restaurants on this list, make a reservation ahead of time. I've been to this restaurant many times for their amazing ocean cliff views. Read my full review of Ventana Grill from this blog entry. Address: 2575 Price St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
• Windows on the Water usually offers a prix fixe 3 course menu. Reservations with credit card is required. Windows on the Water address: 699 Embarcadero, Ste. 7, Morro Bay, CA 93442 

Thanksgiving Free Meals

• TBD for 2025

This is a growing list!

I highly encourage you to make a reservation as soon as you've decided on a particular restaurant as I've seen reservations get full a week in advance before the actual holiday!

If there is no kid's price listed above for a particular place, it is because the restaurant did not note a kid's price or version on their website when I was doing searches online for Thanksgiving Day offerings at the time; and maybe charging one price for any guest, regardless of age.

As more restaurants announce that they'll be open on Thanksgiving Day and serving Thanksgiving meals, I'll add it to this list.

Gobble, gobble!

See a list of Thanksgiving Day Camps for kids in San Luis Obispo County while school is out.

See my top 10 wine tasting room rank list for San Luis Obispo County as a local. 

Fall baking recipes:

• View my gluten-free vegan pumpkin pie recipe. 
• View my pumpkin muffin recipe (non-vegan).
• View my non-vegan mini pumpkin pie recipe.

Supplies for Celebrating Thanksgiving Day at Home:

• Thanksgiving Dining Table Placemats
• Thanksgiving Napkins
• Thanksgiving Table Center Piece
• Thanksgiving Wreath