Goshi | Japanese Restaurant

Located in the Creamery Marketplace in downtown San Luis Obispo, the restaurant evokes the intimate, small, and bustling atmosphere of a Japanese eatery, all while delivering delicious food. I went for lunch, and all the lunch specials came with two sides and miso soup. The Chirashi bowl was probably the best I've ever had, packed with various kinds of fish—including roe, scallops, salmon, unagi, hamachi, white fish, and tuna—all over a bed of seasoned rice. The frosty cold mugs for beer were a nice touch too! It appears they've extended into the back to fit more tables right by the kitchen, which, to me, enhanced the local Japanese vibe even more. The restaurant gets very busy, so I recommend making a reservation. They do accept walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis. Great service from Jazleen and all the staff. Parking is limited, with a very small lot available, as well as paid street and lot parking nearby

The best genuine sushi outside of Tokyo. I traveled for years to Japan for business and this little place in the heart of San Luis Obispo in what used to be the creamery is the best of the best. Chef is son of original family straight from Japan. Expect a long wait to get seated but well worth the wait. Main fresh wild fish from Japan. Enjoy!

Unreal how good my Kaisen Chirashi Bowl was. Highly recommend the spot. Twas truly outstanding.

I had a terrible experience at this Japanese restaurant. Our party of 8 was told to wait for a table that could accommodate all of us, which we were fine with. However, after waiting for 90 minutes, we were finally seated – but not together as expected. The host decided to separate our group into two tables of four, which completely ruined the dining experience. We specifically waited for a large table, only to be disappointed and frustrated when we were split up. The long wait time and poor seating arrangement left a bad taste. Definitely not coming back.

Best sushi I’ve ever had in the USA. I recommend reserving a table because this place gets pretty busy. And of course it does! Fresh fish, courteous staff, chill vibe.

I came here twice. March 2022 and May 2024. The quality remains the same. I love their fish variety and mostly came from Japan. It tastes like fishes in Japan. It makes my heart happy and warm. The chef held high standards of his food. It’s my honor to taste his food. This is a destination spot for me. I make a point to come to central CA so I can eat here. Treasure your opportunities to dine here. Peace 🤟 If they have live shrimp, it’s a must have. They dried the head afterwards. A5 beef sushi is solid!! Order omakase sushi too.

The food is excellent with great service. Its alway the quality of the ingredients which really is highlighted in every bite! The atmosphere is very nice with table views of the creek. I always prefer the traditional Japanese dishes like sushi or sashimi and rolls with one excellent ingredient and the ingredients in all cases were excellent. Uni was expensive but my favorite and was very tasty and fresh. Don't miss the dessert and my favorite was tempura persimmon with vanilla ice cream. Service was attentive and pleasant. I was happy I could use my limited Japanese. Will make this a regular stop when in SLO.

Everyone knows the sushi as Goshi is amazing, but the udon is also incredible! 🔥

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.

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!

[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

Chirashi bowl lunch. Pretty presentation. Quality ingredients, cut beautifully, professionally. Service was a bit lacking as it was close to ending shift, would have been nice to have a refill of drinks during the meal. Still the best bang for your sushi buck!

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.

I believe this was the best sushi I have ever had. We went to the San Luis Obispo location, while traveling through. We had the baked miso cod, carpatio, and assorted sushi.

Extremely impressed! This is the best sushi I've had outside of Japan. We ordered the shrimp tempura, calamari tempura roll, spicy tuna with garlic chip roll, jalepeno yellowtail roll, and shrimp tempura roll. Divine. Menu says chopped tuna inside the spicy tuna roll and at a typical sushi restaurant chopped tuna tends to be tiny pieces made of scraps that weren't good enough for nigiri. Not the case at all here! Huge chunks of perfect tuna it melts in your mouth. Never have had that type of quality fish on the inside of a roll. The tempura was so crisp, light, and yummy. Miso soup is really rich and served at just the right temperature. Prices were not anything crazy, especially with the quality. Service was very kind and prompt! Could tell they were hustling. Will definitely be coming back!

Food, service, ambiance excellent! Hard to find the location tho! But once you do, you'll be happy!!!!

During my trip, I happen to found this place and it was huge surprise and success. We arrived at the restaurant before it opened and there was already a long line, which was a sign that it was a great restaurant to me. As soon as the door opened, we put our name on the list and waited patiently to be our turn. At the waiting area, I glanced inside and I couldn't take my eyes off the interior with all the elegant traditional Japanese arts, wood roofs, floor, table, etc. and the spacious sushi bar. I could tell that this was going to be more than a great experience so I got anxious to be seated. We ordered not only the basic Japanese appetizers but also main dishes such as don, chirashi, etc. Every single dish was authentic Japanese gourmet, which melt in our mouths. The service, quality, environment, and presentation was exactly what you get from Japan. That's how phenomenal it was. The way how the chefs/cooks put each dish together just blew not only my mind but also my mother's and sister's. My family and I visited Japan before so I confidently and strongly recommend this place to everybody.

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.

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.

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!

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

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. :(

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

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.

Dropped in during their lunch hours. We ordered the chirashi bowl lunch special and it especially filling, delicious, and thick pieces of sashimi. The interior was decorated with traditional Japanese decor and had calm music playing. The quality of the fish was excellent I'd recommend this to a friend wanting sushi in slo.

Hands down the best Japanese food in Slo. Expect a wait without reservations, but it's well worth it. The 2 person boat on the menu is always my go to. You are able to try all they have to offer for a great price. Always fresh, friendly staff, supporting ambiance.

What an amazing experience! My new favorite sushi place. Everything was fresh & so much thought and craftsmanship goes into all the dishes. We will be back.

The fish was good quality and the takoyaki was delicious . Server was also nice and informative. The interior is very traditional Japanese. Great place for date night!

The food was good and the severs nice, but the ambience was fairly dumpy and the food was expensive (at least 50 -70 per person) The menu was quite authentic Japanese and less Americanized. Sushi choices flown in from Japan are on the menu which is pretty special. However, the owners should make the place more comfortable and pleasant with a remodel. The photos show the idea.

I ordered omakase from the sushi chef, and was greeted with some of the best sushi I've ever had. The staff was exceedingly helpful and friendly, and the fish was fresh and expertly prepared. Highly recommend.

This place is so much more than "5 stars". This is a place where you have to check out. Been here multiple times and NEVER had an issue with customer service or the food. Did I mention the food? There is modern twists to some of his food, but the sushi and sashimi remain authentic

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.

First off, people working there are super rude. I mean beyond rude. For a table of 5, we were served one at time at least 5 mins between each guests meal making it super awkward to start eating without everyone's food in front of them. The food itself was very lackluster. Not impressed at all. Lunch prices for "lunch specials " incredibly high for what you actually get. I won't be back.

Make sure to get a reservation booked at least a week or two before!! The service was nice and the ambiance and decoration of the place seemed authentic. Their food was of high quality and really good for an Asian place in SLO. Their seafood was fresh and I enjoyed their Tamago Nigiri along with their Udon noodles. The prices are on the more expensive side but overall great quality and solid portion.

I've been here at least a half dozen times over the years. Food is decent, but not great. On my last visit, the fish they used in the rolls was not fresh. Service is decent, but the servers are always rushed and appear a bit disorganized and confused at times. The restaurant itself is nothing to write home about, and the sushi bar is sub-par. Ambience? Please. After my last visit, I've decided I'm not going back. A charmless, expensive place.

So good!!! Food was great and service was great. Melt in your mouth. Everything we got was really good and I can't wait to go back. We got: garlic edamame Side salmon with salt Sunomono Eel roll Eel and shrimp roll Chirashi Not one complaint except that we live in Northern California and can't go there once a week!

Super fresh. Everything was amazing. Friendly staff. We got this combo plate with tempura, miso soup and rice. Perfect amount for the 2 of us.

Wasn't sure if SLO would have good sushi as there aren't really great asian options, but I was very pleased to have tried Goshi. Everything we had was great! Sushi was fresh and well put together. They don't have many of the more usual roll options, but I got a scallop and crab special role and it was really good. The nigiri was also great. We also got the tonkatsu-don bowl and it was so cozy and was fantastic as well. The restaurant seems always packed with a wait. Luckily we had reservations. Check-in was a little harried and it took a bit to get seated with a reservation, but our waiter was great. He was attentive and polite and he checked in on us regularly.

Wife: What do you want for dinner? Me: Let's go to Goshi. Wife:That's two hours away! Me: Yeah, 125 miles. Ready? It's that good. Best Japanese restaurant within at least 130 miles from Salinas. There's also a real good one in Carmel but this one is special good. Check my last two reviews of this restaurant to get a better idea. Last words: Omae!

We walked in on Saturday evening without a reservation but were still thankfully accommodated after a wait. It was definitely worth the wait as everything was so delicious and fresh. My favorite was the sake and spicy albacore roll with garlic chips. Service was friendly and I enjoyed the minimalistic ambience. We greatly enjoyed our visit!

Beautiful and delicious. So many menu options and the lunch specials are generous. There is a wait and they had a sign that they stopped accepting walk ins by 2pm on a saturday so plan accordingly.

To be frank Goshi does not to be as good as it is, but it is clear that the kitchen and wait staff want to make this place the best it can be. Every time I go in, I'm blown away by the quality and craft that goes into their dishes. My favorite has got to be the kaisen don which features a variety of sashimi cuts from the basics like tuna and salmon to more upscale options like crab and sweet shrimp. The quality of their fresh fish is unmatched in SLO and I always spring for the kaisen don even if it is expensive for a meal. Another part of it which I really appreciate is the kanpyo, egg, and shiitake included with the bed of rice. They add such an amazing kick of earthy umami that pairs so well with the fish. I've also tried their nigiri plates which are smaller and priced lower than the kaisen don, but I think the value proposition of the kaisen don is just unbeatable. Their rolls are decent but I'm not a huge fan of rolls in the first place. Their nabeyaki is also very good if you want something for cold weather. Ask for the hot green tea which is amazing and goes with everything.

This place never misses. Staff, food, experience are all excellent! Highly recommend the omakase sushi set. Also had a bunch of hand rolls. Negi-toro. Taking-toro. Spicy scallop too. Usually a wait to sit but I say it's worth it.

The best sushi I have ever had in my life and I doubt I will have better. Everything is so fresh and the service has always been amazing. Salmon avocado roll is exceptional, as is the fried chicken. Thank you Goshi

Both me and my husband agree it was the best fish we've ever had, SO authentic. The lunch special was a great way to try multiple things at once, and the fish sashimi were so thick. Workers were very kind and attentive, and it's a comfortable quiet atmosphere. Will definitely be going back next time we visit SLO, and every time after that.

Thank you for the best authentic Japanese food in town. We came last year in June for our grad meal celebration. Time flies so fast, we came again for a grad meal this year, and we've already decided to come back here next year for our last grad celebration. We normally order sashimi because their raw fish is super fresh. But actually cannot go wrong with any item on the menu. No reservation accepted so plan for long wait but it is well worth it.

My brother and sister in law held their rehearsal dinner here July 2024. It was a lovely set up they had for our group, and they did platters of different sushi's, appetizers and desserts. The quality of the food was extremely fresh. The servers were super attentive with explaining drinks people were unfamiliar with. Next time we come to the area I'd love to see their regular menu!

I'll admit, I didn't think I'd come up to SLO to find Japanese food, but I didn't feel like something else, so we did a Yelp search & found this highly rated spot. Coming from the SGV, it's hard to expect good Asian food in the SLO area, let alone a Japanese restaurant. We were of course proven quite wrong! Went there early, even before the place was opened at 5 PM, & there was already a crowd, and a waiting list sign up sheet by the door! By the time we were seated it was almost an hour, LOL! Note to self - make a reservation before coming here next time! They had an extensive menu, staff here were friendly & there seemed to be a lot of regulars as well as people who were new. The lighting is a bit dark inside, and we were seated in a darker side of the restaurant, but we managed. The sushi bar was large, & packed! There were 3 behind the counter, 2 of the chefs being Japanese. We sat at a table, since it was so crowded & everyone seemed to want the sushi bar. Ordered a Bara Chirashi for myself, my husband ordered the Teppan Gozen, & I added a Soft Shell Crab Hand roll. The hand roll was probably my least favorite, though it was still good. I should have ordered it with spicy mayo! I guess I've had a different combination of ingredients before & I wasn't a big fan of this. However, the Chirashi bowl was significant - a big portion of cubed fish (Salmon, Tuna, Albacore, etc.) and the rice was seasoned with sweet pickled daikon. The Teppan Gozen was also a substantial combination, with tempura & teriyaki chicken, & side dishes, very filling! I am glad to find an authentic Japanese restaurant that was out of the So Cal area - I can see why it was very popular with the locals! A good one to keep in mind when I come back up here for another visit!

Best sushi restaurant in SLO! Garlic chip spicy tuna roll is phenomenal, in fact everything I've tried there is phenomenal. The Katsundon is so warm and comforting. Green tea ice cream is delicious. I even love the little veggies in sauce they serve before the meal. Service is always good and at times I've sat at the bar, I've received some freebies. Ambiance is great, it's right next to the creek and the lighting is very relaxing. Theres a reason why it's impossible to get a table at this place.

*obligatory* as someone who has travelled to japan multiple times and tried sushi fresh off the market ... this place is IT. incredibly fresh and gentle tasting. i know it's a very specific flavor but i personally feel like sushi and sashimi shines best when the fish itself is the star without any excess frills. i don't need it doused in spicy mayo, deep fried, or stuffed with cream cheese. the fish itself should be the star. and goshi really lets it shine. although a caveat is that one of my favorite rolls is to get the garlic albacore roll hehe the only downside to goshi is that they are always so busy. impossible to walk in, and i recommend making reservations at least a month in advance. however with the small yet growing amount of asian restaurants in slo, goshi still is the very best.

5 stars yet again! I've been going here for almost 10 years (before they remodeled and added more space) and I'm always so happy with the food. The salmon belly nigiri is my single favorite bite of food in the world. It is literally one of the best things you can eat and you NEED to try it. The service is always very quick and the decor is very spacious and minimal! The miso soup is on point and the sesame dressing has me licking the bowl. The yellowtail collar is very good and the mixed tempura is always a hit. I also love the garlic albacore roll! Really fresh fish and big portion with a punch of flavor.

I never write reviews but this one deserves it. Food is 10/10 authentic Japanese sushi. Reminds me of Japan. Thank you chef

Well deserved 5 stars. Service was on-point. The waiter was polite and checked in on us multiple times. We ordered the boat for 2 and weren't disappointed. This place was small and intimate. The sushi was fresh. The garlic chips on one of rolls were sooooo good. The tuna and albacore tataki was ridiculously delish.

Amazing! Such a great meal every time I'm in town! The combos are great! I usually get the Goshi combo and I'm so full after, but in such a happy way! Nice stroll by the creek after! Spark a blunt from Megan's and I'm completely satisfied! The albacore tataki is one of the best dishes I've ever had, anywhere!

Stopped on our way to Santa Barbara. It was a wonderful experience. They said a 20 minute wait but we were seated in the back room in 5 minutes. Our waitress was friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. Their lunch menu specials are awesome. We had seaweed salads, miso soup fresh tofu, sushi, scallop roll, eel/ shrimp tempura roll and tea. Every dish was beautiful, very fresh and delicious . There is a parking lot around the corner. This is in a food mall with many restaurants. Highly recommend.

THIS IS THE BEST SUSHI I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE!! It was extremely fresh and you can taste the quality in the fish. The server was extremely kind as well. I recommend getting the Uni Nigiri, Wagyu Nigiri, Spicy Tuna Roll with Garlic Chips, Red Snapper Nigiri! Just beware: Trying this sushi will ruin your taste for any other sushi spots! We will be making the 3 hour drive to SLO just to have this again! I refuse to have sushi again until I come back here!

Great selection, high quality service and food. Cozy environment that allows the experience to be peaceful while you enjoy your delicious meal.