Luckily was only a 15 min wait on a weeknight at 730pm. The inside is small and cozy with limited bar counter space as well as regular table seating. I can see why the wait could be up to hours long. I love sitting at the counters and watching the sushi being made and was able to be seated there! Service was friendly and very attentive Got the sushi boat which came with a variety of items. As a sushi lover, I appreciate that the fish was so fresh and silky. A little on the pricy side but worth the quality and splurge read more

See all

Simply delicious. Professionally prepared. So fresh and balanced. I can't see how it could be any better. Also tried the fried squid legs-so perfectly cooked. Tender and battered well. Service staff was efficient and friendly. We always enjoy the atmosphere here, whether table or sushi bar. Try the sake with your meals, if you can ;) read more

Izakaya Goshi - Omekase- made by the best! - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

See all

Ordered: - Lunch Special Chirashi with Tofu and Pickled Cucumbers (5/5): Most worth of all the lunch specials, probably the best chirashi I've had at this price. Loved the variety of the cuts including scallops and some other unique cuts that we didn't recognize. The way the rice was prepared was a standout too. I did find a fish scale in my bowl though which was unfortunate. - Lunch Special Salmon Roll + 5 Nigiri (4/5): Solid generously portioned fish on the rice, but nothing else wowed us. Still satisfied. Nigiri included Tuna salmon, amberjack, yellowtail, and golden eye snapper. Overall (5/5): Came here on Friday for lunch and was seated after a short 15 minute wait - it was a lot busier than we expected! The parking lot was pretty small and full so we had to find metered parking nearby as the nearby parking structure was also closed. Service was good, though it was a bit hard to hear over the noise and music. The sushi felt super fresh and we loved the portion sizes - we were pretty impressed and we hope to return if we're ever in the area! read more

See all

A very popular sushi place in SLO so be sure to arrive early or be prepared to wait for a table. Don't worry it is worth it. We had great service and fresh fish in our sushi. What more can you ask for. We ordered a couple of rolls including the rainbow roll. We enjoy this roll as it offers a variety of fish to eat. Along with the rolls came the traditional cucumber salad which always gets my appetite ready for sushi along with a tasty bowl of miso soup. For dessert I enjoyed a matcha mochi ice cream. So yummy! They offer daily lunch specials, Goshi combos, various broiled fish, noodles, rice bowls, sashimi, alcohol and desserts. Service was top notch and friendly. Restaurant is small and intimate with a cozy vibe. Location is a little hidden as is at the back of The Creamery Marketplace. This marketplace offers other of dining options too and I want to try them all. Parking can be a challenge since the parking lot is small and fills up very fast on a summer evening. We parked on the street and walked over to the restaurant. read more

See all

Rolls were great, salmon and avocado, seared tuna black pepper. The shrimp pot stickers were very good. I had the small cucumber salad, probably not order again, it was very small. Service was great. We got in but some 'reserved' tables were not used when we left. Need a better reservation method. read more

Goshi is one of the better restaurants around SLO. Food was delicious, fresh, and service was quick. We enjoyed all the rolls we ordered, and wasn't disappointed with the other fish dishes as well. Will def be our spot to come back to when we visit SLO. read more

We were sat in the back room, which felt like a converted portion of the back room kitchen -- all the serving items in front, saw the chef snacking during food prep, not a great setting. Menu lacked some creativity, pretty basic rolls. Seared Ahi roll was good quality but lacking any unique flavor. Hamanajo had an overpowering jelly that took away from the yellowtail. Salmon nigiri was the highlight, very good. Server was cheery, friendly but busy so not overly attentive. I was impressed with their focus on birthday celebrations nearby so may have a loyal local following. We are visiting so not sure if this is considered the best in SLO, but will try other spots vs returning to Goshi. read more

This place is very good! I had sashimi and a roll in their lunch combo. Comes with miso soup and two sides. I chose the salad with ginger dressing and cucumber salad. The fish was excellent and the roll was pretty good. The portion was huge too! Great value and great quality! The staff is super friendly too! Amazing place, I would highly recommend. read more

Izakaya Goshi - Lunch with sashimi and yellowfin roll - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Really delicious sushi in a casual environment. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the area for work. Miso soup - 5/5 lots of tofu cubes and seaweed. Great flavor. Good on a cold rainy night. I got one of the 5 nigiri plates - I asked to replace the salmon piece bc I'm not a salmon fan. They gave me a different cut of toro instead. Excellent quality fish, melts in your mouth. Ratio of fish to rice was perfect Then I got two of the hand rolls from the special menu. Spicy toro garlic roll and the seared wagyu. Both fantastic and would get again. read more

Really enjoyed Goshi Japanese Restaurant. Everything tasted fresh and delicious, the rolls were amazing, and the service was friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed, making it a great spot for dinner in SLO. Definitely coming back! read more

See all

We came to Goshi on our last night in SLO because it seemed to be a local's favorite. The interior was quaint and authentic - that classic sushi bar feel. As a vegetarian, I usually opt for Veggie Tempura, Miso soup, & an Avo roll. However, the server let me know the veggie tempura is cooked in non-vegetarian stock and the Miso soup is made with fish broth... I had never experienced this before and definitely limited my options. Even ordering the Avo roll with garlic chips; they let me know the garlic chips are usually cooked with chicken... I appreciated the heads up. My boyfriend enjoyed the sushi boat and noted the fish was super high quality. It's a great place for fish lovers and non-vegetarians, but would probably be a skip for vegetarians. read more

See all

We were served quickly. The sushi was good and beautifully presented. The service was friendly and courteous. They have specials available all day. I ordered one with mushrooms and grilled onions. The tempura was very good as well, and the California roll topped with tuna was , everything great. read more

Izakaya Goshi - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

See all

Came here for lunch and it was so good!! It opened at 11:30 and there was already a huge crowd waiting to go in! I would highly recommend making a reservation if you can because we came in as walk in at 11:30 and put our names down for a party of two and waited about 30-40 min to be seated at the bar. It was definitely worth the wait but just in case you didn't want to! The parking lot is small and limited parking so probably will need to find some street parking elsewhere and walk there. We ordered the agedashi tofu, seared salmon belly nigiri, seared halibut fin nigiri, ikura nigiri, miso black cod, and sukiyaki. We also split a hot sake to enjoy the Japanese food with! Everything was absolutely delicious and fresh! Give them a solid 5 star for food, service, and vibes inside :) so glad to find a good sushi place in town! read more

Izakaya Goshi - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

See all

[IN A NUTSHELL] fresh sushi, soft fish, great udon flavor [VERDICT] - APPROVED [RUN-DOWN] This place was a restaurant my friend was raving about in SLO and I finally go to try it. It was a really good place and the sashimi pieces were really good. Overall, I think that this place was really good and if you are ever in town, then you should come and try this place out. There are other dishes but I think the Chirashi bowl gives you a variety of the fish that they have. They also have real wasabi which was the first time having it, and then it was different than normal sushi restaurants. [SCORE & ORDER] OVERALL: 4/5 Wakame Noodle $14 (4/5) -wakame seaweed and fish cake udon -This was a good warm dish of udon and great soup flavor. The soup was super delicious and I think it even had some ponzu flavor to it. The noodles were also soft and chewy but not too soggy. I would recommend getting this if you come here. Chirashi Bowl $45 (4/5) -varieties of sashimi, shredded egg, kanpyo, and shiitake mushroom over sushi rice -I honestly really enjoyed this dish. The variety of the different sashimi pieces. I am someone who loves a variety and this was it. I got to share with my friend and we each got a piece each. The pieces were so soft and buttery and honestly it was really good. There were about 10 different pieces which was very enjoyable to eat. I would highly recommend this dish. It's a little pricey but at the same time I think that for once in a while, this is a good dish and you are craving quality sushi. I have yet to come back and try the other sushi pieces. [SERVICE & ATMOSPHERE] (not reflected upon review score): Service was really good and they give you free tea. They also have this very interesting soy sauce that's not the typical kikkoman. The waiter we had was super nice. The atmosphere was super nice and home like. It's a medium size place so seats are somewhat limited. My friends who go to SLO say that this place is normally packed and we came at 5 PM, and there were already people there. [TIME STAMP] APRIL 2025 read more

See all

My husband and I went here on Wednesday night. We ended up having to wait almost 2 hours for a table but I'm so glad we did! Amazing food, Amazing service, well worth the wait! Our server kept apologizing about the long wait but once we got our food we understood the wait. We will be back for sure! This is some of the best sushi we have ever had! read more

Amazing service from Koske! Big fan of the rice bowl and red bean mochi Solid vibe, would definitely recommend to friends read more

Izakaya Goshi - Kubota Hekiju Junmai Daiginjo glass SMV +2 Acidity 1.3 - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

See all

Dinner with family at the best Japanese restaurant on the Central Coast. If you like Uni, it is beautifully presented, and so incredibly fresh that they must shuck it in the kitchen. I love the ambiance as it truly has the sense of exploring a Japanese town. The entrance is modest and very Japanese. As the waiter takes you to your table, you walk through narrow to wide spaces. The next expansion is the sushi bar. The final expansion is the dining room each with its own distinct experience. The food is exquisite! There could be no better place for Japanese food in town. read more

See all

The food was not the best. I ordered the $32 lunch which was sashimi and tempura. Out of the 6 pieces, two were tough with hard skin. There was not a choice of a roll like at the Goshi in Paso Robles either. So, basically you get some funky tempera that is a hard root and a couple shrimp. Then a small salad and miso soup. I got the rice and small salad as the add ons. Save your hard earned $32. It's not a good bargain here in SLO. read more

Great Japanese restaurant during our visit here. The grilled mackerel was cooked perfectly and not too salty. Pork belly seasoned well, not too salty with no porky smell! I wasn't fan of tataki as I found sauce too acidic. In general I find the cucumber and seaweed salad too sweet for my taste. Overall excellent place! read more

We've been long time diners at Goshi's - 15 + years and always when we visit from the SF Bay Area. Tonight's dinner was a definite miss, sitting in the back kitchen prep area. The worst was for a 5 pm seating when they opened, delivered my katsudon entree an hour after my husband's "boat". He finished his dinner as I had my miso soup, me waiting for my dinner "any second" (an hour later). Just sorry, from server, kitchen is backed up. Maybe since expansion of another site, the business is compromising? We probably won't return, sad as it is no longer a special dining experience as food wasn't up to par either. read more

So, so good. Great atmosphere, wonderful and kind staff and amazing selection of fresh fish. The wait times can be long if you're a walk-in but they told us 1 -1.5hr wait at 5:32pm and we got seated 20 minutes later so i would just wait and not be deterred by that quote. You won't be disappointed trying this spot. read more

Food and service is always superb. Definitely the only Japanese style sushi restaurant in SLO. Only place I know that starts you off with a hand towel when you get seated. Most other area sushi places the food is Korean inspired fusion, but that is not Goshi. Also a great place for non-sushi Japanese dishes. I really enjoy their Udon and Tonkatsu dishes. read more

Food is always so consistent. Easily the best sushi in the area and on par with sushi in major's cities. Service is kinda whatever but the food is amazing and that's what matters the most. Always come as soon as they open bc it's nearly impossible to get a table here. read more

Izakaya Goshi - Salmon - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

See all

Gotta give props to a place that doesn't treat vegetarian food as an afterthought. This place has the best vegetable omokase nigiri. I've never found that at any other Japanese place in the US. Not only is it beautiful to look at, but it also varies with season and includes things you won't find everywhere like lotus root. Nice cozy atmosphere. Definitely tucked away like a secret passageway. Just beware that they close in the afternoon between lunch and dinner, so check before making the trip. read more

Izakaya Goshi - Omokase vegetable nigiri, with avocado, lotus root, asparagus, oyster mushroom, and zucchini. - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

December 11 was my birthday. That day, I was in a very low mood and felt like the whole world had abandoned me. Today, I finally felt strong again. I had an appetite, came alone to my favorite restaurant, and the chef gave me a beautiful surprise. He doesn't talk much, but this was the warmest meal I've had in days. The ingredients were, as always, outstanding. Thank you, Chef. Thank you all. read more

See all

I had been coming here for years when I was a student at Cal Poly. I really enjoy the kanpai boat, scallop roll, special nigiri plates, sukiyaki, and udon. I came for a visit this weekend and stopped by for lunch. Safe to say that the quality has not changed and the food is still excellent. The prices have gone up a lot, but I will always make it a point to stop by here for the delicious food. read more

Izakaya Goshi - bara chirashi bowl - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

See all

Came here after seeing the reviews and this place did not disappoint. The sushi here is fresh and amazing. The nigiri toro and seared toro nigiri were amazing and I would highly recommend. I will definitely come back when I am in town. The servers were very tentative and super helpful when I had questions about the menu. read more

Izakaya Goshi - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Such a great find and cute little area. Sushi is so fresh omakase and monk fish are a++++++++++. read more

Izakaya Goshi - Omakase was soooo good - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

An excellent sushi experience that I didn't expect in San Luis Obispo. Honestly, probably one of the better sushi spots I've been to. Every piece of fish was fresh and all the flavors meshed well together. I think they use real wasabi too? I may be wrong though. read more

See all

I just came back from Japan and I have to say that Goshi is Japan. Their service, food, ambiance, personnel, attention to detail and quality offers a rare but pristine glimpse into Japanese culture at its best. If you haven't had the chance, this place is a must go while in SLO. read more

TL;DR: A surprisingly memorable and delicious chirashi lunch experience at a good price nestled in downtown San Luis Obispo. The Details: I mean no disrespect for the city of San Luis Obispo, but if you told me that a truly memorable sushi experience could be found there I'd be a bit skeptical. I'm willing to eat this slice of humble pie though, because what me and my family experienced was quite memorable. Their chirashi bowl lunch was so remarkably generous for the price, and the fish quality was excellent and varied (e.g. my first time trying fresh saba, which I find to be a rare item at sushi places). They also serve nodoguro nigiri, which needs to be imported from the western Pacific--a testament to their devotion to sourcing excellent ingredients (not to mention unctuous and deliciously prepared, by the way). Service was good and ambiance is welcoming for a sit-down establishment. Overall, this ranks among my top chirashi bowl experiences. read more

SO BUMMED! What is happening to my favorite sushi restaurant. I drive over from Fresno just for this sushi restaurant. However, this time was different. Then menu changed slightly. It was interesting to say the least, but I stuck with albacore tataki and spicy albacore lunch special. What made me take a star away is the new staff (namely very young waitresses). I had a very young waitress who came to our table every 5 mins. Now this place gets crowded, but it wasn't surprisingly this Saturday afternoon. But I reserved on OpenTable stating it was a date ... it's frustrating when you cannot converse with your partner without someone coming to interrupt the conversation. That is the point of dining at a restaurant. She came 3 times and we were barely looking over the menu. Mind you, the changes to the menu were slight, so we really needed to look at what was added (i.e. cheesecake). Then when my lunch special was served ... usually you get the miso soup and they give you time with that. But then less than 10 mins later, EVERYTHING came at one. Salad, entree rolls. The table was so crowded and I hadn't even finished the miso. The salad was sprigs ... not like how it was before again. There was no lettuce and hardly any dressing. I've never had to ask for more dressing. I don't know what's happening, but it's not going in the right direction. The tataki was amazing still ... but my spicy albacore roll wasn't right like my first postings. It tasted a little fishy and how it was dressed was just different. I will still come back for my Tataki ... but hopefully ownership is reading this. I'm not sure about what was added to the menu, but the feel of a Japanese restaurant is leaving ... that's what it felt like to me at least. Tataki still amazing, miso soup amazing ... but please fix your salad. I usually would take one to go. Its really hard and messy to eat a bowl of stems. The chefs are still amazing. But I think the new waitresses and waiters need training on how to read the room. My favorite person is the gentleman with the facemask. Someone described him negatively, but whenever he has served me ... everything was perfect and on time. Please stay true ... if anyone knows what changed (management?) ... please let me know. :( read more

I had a really positive first experience here--the food was genuinely good and enjoyable. Unfortunately, my second visit today was so disappointing that I won't be returning. We were a party of three and were told there would be a short wait for a suitable table. We waited well beyond the estimated time, only to watch several later-arriving parties and groups get seated ahead of us. When we checked in again, the host said a table would be ready soon. Moments later, a new group of three walked in, asked about the wait for a table, and was immediately seated. It felt disrespectful and unfair, especially after standing patiently for so long. The way the staff handled the seating made the entire experience frustrating. After reading other reviews mentioning similar issues with rude or inattentive staff, this unfortunately makes sense. The food may be good, but poor management of waits and customer treatment is a deal-breaker for me. Best of luck to the restaurant, but I won't be back. read more

the omakase is a must. 30$ for 5 pieces but the fish is soooo good. chutoro, uni, scallop etc. so worth. Goshi is a must everytime I come visit slo. I love to sit at the sushi counter and see the chef make the food. all the waiters are super nice & they seem to be Japanese. authentic! read more

See all

recently got the chirashi bowl to-go from Goshi, and it was just as good as dining in. I've been there in person before, but I wanted to try takeout this time, and it didn't disappoint. The fish quality is always top-notch, fresh, and vibrant. There's sometimes a mackerel included, which I'm not a huge fan of, but everything else is great. Since the bowl comes with a random assortment of fish, you get a nice variety, which is always a fun surprise. The portion size is good, and I always feel like it's worth what I'm paying. Goshi remains my favorite spot for sushi in San Luis read more

Izakaya Goshi - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Oishi Goshi! Goshi takes the spot for best Asian food in SLO, and that's not just because there are a grand total of less than 10 Asian food places in SLO. They offer a fanfare of great tasting Japanese dishes, from sushi to donburi to udon. Service is impeccable and impressive considering how busy this place gets relative to the wait staff here. It's apparent that they take the extra step to try to source quality, fresh fish and ingredients where they can. I like to order from the colored "specials paper" which has seasonal fish and chef's specials that try to incorporate recent catches/shipments. I will say this, though: Goshi is not a super high-end establishment that crosses every T and dots every I. Just today I had a piece of lotus tempura that was notably old/sour, and that's okay! For the overall quality and cost, I don't think there's a better deal around, and I'm certain that there's nothing comparable as far as JP food goes within an hour's drive. The interior of the restaurant feels nice and vibrant, in no small part due to the crazy hecticness that I mentioned earlier. It's notoriously difficult to get a seat here, so if you're doing a walk-in, come early at the start of lunch/dinner service and expect a 90 minute wait. Otherwise, get a headstart with a reservation online. read more

Izakaya Goshi - red salmon hand roll + roe - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

See all

Went on the soft opening at the SLO public market. I was not crowded. just as I expected and the owner takes pride on only serving the fresh sushi and sashimi. Their new building is spacious and good. I highly recommend them as always. Me and my longtime friends always come here for our birthdays. Oh! and I come here as much lunch as I can afford. lol. read more

The best Japanese restaurant you will find. My husband had been here years before and was so excited to come back. The Kanpai Boat for 2 is definitely the way to go. A good variety of various fish, miso soup, salads, and appetizers. It's $90, but the amount of food you get and the high quality of fresh fish makes it more than worth it - especially because it's plenty to share between two people. If you can, definitely make a reservation. Otherwise, we showed up about 5 minutes before opening and put our name on the list when they opened and got seated within about 10-15 minutes. Parking can be a bit difficult in busier times, but we were able to find a spot in the attached parking lot. Highly recommend coming here for dinner. read more

Izakaya Goshi - Kanpai Boat for 2 - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

See all

Best sushi in California. Michelin star needed ASAP SLO is lucky to have you guys thank you for the amazing food and friendly welcome. read more

Izakaya Goshi - Heaven scallops as perfect as it can be looks and taste. - Beer Bar Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Awesome and authentic. Great service, family style cooking and excellent sushi. Line out the door and always packed. Please go. You'll be happy you did. read more