Cool Cat Café | San Luis Obispo — Restaurant in San Luis Obispo

In today’s dining landscape, stumbling upon an independently owned burger spot feels almost like finding buried treasure. Chain burger joints dot nearly every block, but their flavors often blur together—predictable, uniform, and lacking the distinctive charm of a true one-of-a-kind eatery. I rarely seek out burgers these days. Still, every so often, nostalgia for the hearty, character-driven burgers I once loved comes calling.

On a recent trip to San Luis Obispo, that call was answered—loudly—by Cool Cat Café, a retro-themed diner that not only serves exceptional food but also rekindles the golden days of the 1990s. The moment I stepped inside, with its vintage décor and warm, familiar buzz, I had that instinctive feeling: this place is special.

The hospitality matched the setting. Our waitress, whose genuine kindness and attentiveness stood out, treated us as if we were longtime friends rather than first-time guests. Her thoughtful service set the tone for the meal that followed.

I ordered the Don Ho Burger, a Hawaiian-style creation crowned with pineapple and my choice of an over-easy egg. The richness of the yolk mingled with the sweetness of the fruit and the smoky savor of the patty—made from fresh, never-frozen beef—to create what I can only describe as a “life-changing” burger. Frankly, it surpassed the Hawaiian burgers I used to swear by at Island Burger.

My son opted for Bogy Burger, customized with extra grilled onions and an over-easy egg. He declared it a masterclass in balance—each ingredient playing its role in perfect harmony. My wife, who almost never touches burgers, ordered the Luna Burger with avocado. She initially planned to “just have a taste,” but ended up finishing the entire thing. If that’s not a testament to its flavor, I don’t know what is.

Our daughter went for the Hula Chicken Sandwich, adding lettuce, tomato, and an over-hard egg. She loved its freshness and depth—flavors you’d never find at a fast-food chain.

The sides were equally impressive: onion rings that were crisp without being greasy, sweet potato fries with a subtle natural sweetness, and golden fries cooked to perfection. And then there was the milkshake—creamy, indulgent, not overly sweet, and the perfect nostalgic finish to our meal.

Cool Cat Café is more than just a burger joint. It’s a time capsule of retro charm, a masterclass in quality ingredients, and a place where friendly service turns a great meal into a cherished memory. For anyone longing for the taste and feel of a real, independent burger experience—this is the place.

Highly...

I had a very nice meal here today where all the standards of an excellent diner were intact. Attentive service, a great kitchen staff, perfect fries, a good, honest perfectly cooked "Don Ho" burger and the all-important iced tea. It can be snobbery for sure but in an age where Heinz ketchup in a glass bottle is going the way of the payphone, it's nice to still see them here (it's sort of my litmus test). Visually, Cool Cat Cafe one of those 50's nostalgia places tucked into a typical vanilla strip mall -- call me crazy but I'm beginning to think that places found in these strip malls are some of the best in the country. Overlooking the kitsch, at the core Cool Cat Cafe is a better "diner" than a few other institutions I could name in SLO. It's nice to see amazing service and people who you can tell are enjoying the work day, not dreading it. San Luis Obispo increasingly seems to be the place where it's hard to find a burger for under 15$ in the downtown area so I'm thankful there is a place not far off where I can spend less than I would at the Five Guys (including tip) and provides the experience I want -- to just sit at the counter, read something and enjoy the...

Very tasty burgers, and the onion rings are very good too. Portions are huge, so we decided to share the Sh-Boom, which is open-faced on grilled sourdough with home made chili on top. The burger patty is cooked to order, so we ordered it medium. The chili is very flavorful, and has a little spicy kick to it. The onion rings are tender inside, but still have a little bit of a bite to them instead of being overcooked and pasty. The outer crust of the onion rings is very crispy but not overcooked.

Prices are a bit on the steep side, but so are the portions. Unless you are a really big eater, plan on sharing to save money and avoid having to leave food behind or taking home leftovers. Also, you can get a coupon from other shops for a free root beer float with your meal. We found our coupon at the Red Dirt Shirt shop at the Maui...