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Shine Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Vegetarian Restaurants Vegan Vegetarian, Vegan [Edit]
415 Morro Bay BlvdMorro Bay, CA 93442
(805) 771-8344
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 5 pm
Sat 9 am - 5 pm
Sun 10 am - 4 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
50 reviews for Shine Cafe
Review Highlights
"Had the tempeh taco."
(in 6 reviews)
"Veggie spring rolls are awesome."
(in 9 reviews)
"...cafe located in the back in Sunshine Health food store."
(in 6 reviews)
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50 reviews in English
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Review from Pricila H.
San Luis Obispo, CA
12/5/2011
I went to Shine cafe for the first time today and oh my goodness..I can not believe that I have been missing out on this for the past year and a half! The tempeh/quinoa tasted just like chorizo to me, it was insanely delicious and the fact that it was vegan and good for you made it that much better. All of the positive reviews on this place were right on the money. I can totally see myself becoming a regular at this place.
I can not wait to go back on thursday. (: -
Review from Jim L.
Morro Bay, CA
1/21/2012
Been shopping at Sunshine for a bit over 12 years. Awhile back some really good aromas started wafting up from the back of the store. Shine Cafe had opened and damn did their stuff smell gooood!! But for whatever reason it never occurred to me to stick around and sample anything...till today.
The wife and I were doing our weekend shopping trip to Sunshine and I decided to grab a menu for a friend of mine that was planning to travel from SLO to eat here. We were checking out the menu when our eyes landed on the Organic Pancakes. Suddenly we had a hankering for some maple (organic) drenched buckwheat goodness.
We split an order of Blueberry pancakes and DAMN were they good. Tons of blueberries in this plate sized pancake. One apiece was good enough for us. And just $8.50. I'm going back for a black bean something or other in the very near future. Can't Wait! -
Review from Scott L.
Belmont, CA
8/30/2011
This is a review by a vegetarian
Had the tempeh taco. It's not really a taco proper in that it is %100 knife and fork food. You can't even see the taco shell under all the salad and such when the plate comes out. Tempeh at the bottom is mixed with quinoa and has a nice salty kick.
It's very satisfying vegan food and I ate the entire gargantuan thing.
The grocery store side of the operation has cacao nibs in the bulk section for $12.99/lb which is comparable to the larger shops in SF and online
One star off for the crowded nature of the seating the long wait for food.
All in all a great little shop to have in your town. -
Review from Candy W.
Morro Bay, CA
1/28/2012
OK so the 1 star is for one day and one soup. I've NEVER EVER have a bad meal at Shine Cafe but on this one off day the soup was only worth 1 star. The cafe is under new management and I understand the chef letting other cooks having their day to make the soup...BUT, the lead cook should ALWAYS taste and give his OK before the soup is sold to the public...so don't be shy about asking for a taste before you buy.
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Review from Bonnie O.
Baltimore, MD
1/7/2012
Thanks for pointing us in the right direction, Yelp, what an awesome spot! I got the power pita and my partner got the tempeh taco. Both were heaping with fresh veggies and salad, and the homemade hummus in my pita was delish. Not much seating as this place is tucked inside a health food store, but we snagged a sunny table outside and devoured our food.
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Review from SLO L.
San Luis Obispo, CA
12/12/2011
I'm not vegan, or even vegetarian, but their Tempeh Taco rates as one of my favorite dishes on the entire Central Coast. At the risk of being mistaken for a touchy-feely new age yogi, I have to say the food here is made with love & attention and you can taste it in every bite. The soups & smoothies are likewise excellent, but it's the taco that keeps me coming back.
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Review from Patrick C.
Redlands, CA
12/12/2011
Amazing! This was a great stop for us. my wife's a vegan(I'm not), and we seriously enjoyed this place. Food was tasty, fresh, and best of all healthy. The store was clean, and the staff friendly.
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Review from John L.
Irvine, CA
12/26/2011
This place is great if you desire or can appreciate a full on vegan meal. Totally fresh delicious ingredients, no meat. Had the tempeh tacos and they were delicious. I went there about a week ago and will go again! The tacos were loaded with greens, incredible flavor.
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Review from Amy A.
San Luis Obispo, CA
7/6/2011
The Tempeh Tacos are healthy, filling, and flavorful, the staff is friendly and accommodating, and they have Joy Cups! What more could a Californian vegan girl ask for? Weekend brunch is also a joy, with a unique and delicious tofu scramble and vegan pancakes! Not everything is vegan, but most things are easily veganized. The smoothies are also really bomb--especially the Pina Macalada! I wish the daily soup was a bit less expensive, but it is usually very delicious, and to be fair, it's a pretty big bowl of soup.
I wish there was a bit more seating, especially for busy weekend brunches. But this is a great spot to make you grateful you have the opportunity to put such wholesome, fresh, healthy food in your body, and that you live in a place where you can chat up the cute staff, right by the bay! What a perfect California Coastal food experience. -
Review from Jenn K.
Santa Barbara, CA
10/6/2011
Shine Cafe is worth a trip to Morro Bay - super YUM! I had the Tempeh Taco(s) and it was piled high with deliciously seasoned Tempeh, shredded carrots, sliced avocado, onions and spring greens and then drizzled with a flavorful vinaigrette. The 1 taco set up was the perfect size for me - and I was pleasantly full. The seating area is tiny but they have a few tables outside and they do take away as well. Such a great find for lunch!
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Review from K P.
Orange County, CA
4/18/2011
This was some of the best food I have eaten at a health food store cafe in my whole life (and I've had plenty of food from little cafe's in health food stores in my day). I had the veggie spring rolls ($3 each...very reasonable, and one would be enough for a light meal) and the soup of the day (coconut kale white lentil ...yummmmmm). I was very very happy with my meal. Very. The bowl of soup you get is a very good sized bowl -- so I had to take about 80% of mine with me after having two spring rolls. They also have homemade vegan peanut butter cups, which I literally said "wow" between each bite when I ate it. I guess I can't say it better than I did while I was eating...I kept telling my friend "This is special." And it was.
The "cafe" consists of about 3 tables in the back of the store as well as some tables out front. Don't be fooled into thinking you're going to a restaurant. This is decidedly a cafe where you order your food, and seat yourself to wait for it if you are staying. -
Review from Dustin M.
San Diego, CA
8/29/2011
Such a great little place! I was up in MB for a few days vacation, and looked around on yelp for some good food. From the reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect since the location sounded kind of odd, but the food sounded great so we went. The two of us got a Tempeh Taco, 2 Spring Rolls, and the flatbread pizza. Everything was awesome, and I was happy to be introduced to the amazing flavor of tempeh. I've yet to try to prepare it on my own, but the great food at Shine Cafe was definitely an inspiration to incorporate some good vegetarian/vegan food into my cooking. Out of all things, this place is the spot I look forward to going to most the next time I make it back up to Morro Bay.
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Review from C K.
Pismo Beach, CA
11/23/2011 3 photos
a secret mini restaurant with hearty vegetarian food. the bite I took from my friends black bean taco was yummy. the cilantro sauce was refreshing. I got soup which was good. I shouldnt have gotten so much especially since I loathe celery. interesting atmosphere...wannabe hippie but cute. the staff was nice and helpful
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Review from jeff g.
San Francisco, CA
7/14/2011
I've tried the tempeh reuben in every restaurant where I've seen it on the menu. Shine's is the best! Great flavor. The house-made salad dressings were really yummy too. I cleaned my plate. And the staff were nice. Wish there was one in SLO! (and SF :)
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Review from SubPrimeTime T.
Escondido, CA
Looking for a good body cleansing without getting a colonic tube shoved up your fanny?
Shine Cafe is a tiny vegetarian cafe located in the back of the sunshine health foods store. I don't eat Vegetarian that often, but I must say that this is a great place to try. You just feel good about eating this food.
Tempeh Reuben - Good solid meal. *Felt great right afterward.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Vegetable Spring Roll - Orbs of fresh veggies and seasons tempeh. The sauce really make this taste good.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
* just know that eating Tempeh can give you really bad tummy issues later on. I just might be sensitive to soy products though. -
Review from Piero B.
Cayucos, CA
1/25/2011
Amazing food! Amazing presentation! Especially the specials. Be nice if there were more "raw" food selections though. And the ambiance, seating could be much improved. My understanding is that they are in the process of locating and moving to a another location where this will no longer be a problem. Adding a coffee bar (hopefully, like Peet's, with a wide selection of loose teas).
Their competition is the new and improved New Frontiers in SLO. One can see why they are considering this.
The health food store itself is more than a bit over priced. Hopefully a larger locale and more customers will change that. -
Review from Lucy P.
11/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
We ate there for lunch during our visit to the central coast. I dragged my SO there and he said he did not want to eat anything "weird". I ordered a spinach and feta salad for him and a tempeh taco and spring roll for me.
The taco was $8.00 which I thought was a little steep for a taco.
When my plate arrived, it was spilling over with lettuce, grated carrots, chopped cabbage and warmed seasoned tempeh and quinoa. It was certainly worth more than the $8.00. YUMMY!! The presentation was just gorgeous!! The spring roll was also stuffed with the same mixture, wrapped in a ball around rice spring roll wrapper. These are not the south east Asian ones you get at the Thai or Vietnamese restaurants. Dressings on all our items were delish!!
We then drove down to the Morro Rock and watched all the people. I can't understand why people are so fascinated with the Rock. If figured since the Germans have their Rock (Lorelei), the Americans had to have one too.
NOTE: DEAR OWNER: PLEASE KINDLY EMAIL ME YOUR TEMPEH TACO RECIPE. I PROMISE NOT TO SELL NOT PUBLISH IT. THANK YOU! -
Review from Kiyoko W.
San Luis Obispo, CA
9/11/2010
As charming as Morro Bay can be, there aren't many other reasons, besides Shine Cafe, to trek up there. But when I'm craving some fresh vegan food prepared with love, I know this place fits the bill.
I recently had blackberry banana walnut pancakes with berries on the side, along with the tofu scramble. Both were satisfying and fulfilled my breakfast craving for the day.
Don't forget to try the Joy Cups--delicious vegan peanut butter cups with different fruit infusions. Yummy.
Oh and did I mention that the head chef at the cafe is just as lovely as the food she prepares? Simply delightful! -
Review from andrea f.
San Francisco, CA
6/3/2011
I would commute four hours here every day. Well, maybe, if that weren't a little bit ludicrous.
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Review from Kina C.
Oakland, CA
3/31/2011
If your ever in Morrow Bay Please stop at Shine Care. Mmm Mmm Mmmm. The Cafe is in the back of the Market and beautiful surprise. And a great way to re-amp if your on a road trip.
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Review from james b.
Visalia, CA
6/24/2011
Great little veggie cafe in Morro Bay! Great fresh and carefully prepared dishes. The different soups are always great.
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Review from Alison D.
Sherman Oaks, CA
5/10/2010
On a spontaneous bike ride through Morro Bay, we happened upon this healthy, natural foods gem. I had read about it on yelp, but didn't know if I would have time to venture out and find it. Happily, it found us!
What a fantastic place! The market is great, and the food offerings for the café in the back are great. My BF ordered the tempeh reuben. WOW WOW. I was jealous that I didn't order it. I had the black bean tostada. It was good, not fabulous. But, I was pleased that I was eating something light and healthy. We tried the cupcakes (an espresso one - gluten free etc etc). Insanely good! If you are in Morro Bay and need some lighter, more natural fare this place is a MUST. -
Review from Justin N.
12/24/2009 1 photo
En route back to the Madonna Inn I was famished. My breakfast earlier was meager, especially after the energy I expelled traipsing about Hearst Castle like a giddy lad.
Yelp research said a tiny health food store in the land of Morro Bay had a cafe that would suit my vegan needs. Word had the tempeh tacos were to die for and I was soothed by the news, tempeh is my favorite incarnation of soy.
I burst in demanding tacos with a quickness but instead was greeted with the tragic news that Sundays they do not provide the full menu... WHAT? I was aghast. I'm borderline Somalia level starving here and had been fantasizing about these tacos for an hour.
The two brothers behind the counter passed me their apologies, evidently that's just the way of the hours here. I cried, feeling my stomach cave to the enzymes tossing around naught but some leftover fragments of almond.
"Well, we have some pretty good salads going on, made up with items fresh from the farmers market."
*wipes away tears on sleeve, dabs at snot dripping nose*
"... what kind of salad..."
"An avocado olive nut pâté, persimmons, some pineapple guavas, pink radishes, dried olives..." the list went on, capped with a homemade vinaigrette.
*pretends he wasn't crying and merely had dust in his eyes*
"Yea, hah. No problem, I didn't want tacos anyway.. We'll take two of these salads to go."
Check my attached salad photo, it was like eating a salad prepared from the vegetable gardens of Zeus himself. Washed down with kombucha I hadn't felt this satisfied by a salad EVER.
I do wish I'd snagged the tacos, who knows when I'll be back in Morro Bay. Truth be told I don't even know where Morro Bay IS. But now I'll recall this salad fondly when contemplating a salad for a full meal. "Can't you just have a salad for dinner you vegan you?" Previously I'd tear into the speaker with words like cold steel, snapping "Just because I'm vegan doesn't mean I want to eat a pile of raw greens for dinner you ass." But knowing there are holy grail quality salads out there like the one I found at Shine Cafe, I'll have to start letting those comments slide. -
Review from Stephanie H.
Los Angeles, CA
12/14/2009
This is quite the gem tucked away in the middle of no where. I passed through Morro Bay on my way back to the hotel from San Simeon to San Luis Obispo. We were hungry, short on time and in need of something Vegan. So, we hopped on yelp and found Shine Cafe. Located in the back of a fantastic market packed to the ceiling is a small kitchen and counter. Once we had arrived we had discovered that they only have a raw vegan salad and soup option on Sundays.
Well, we had wanted to try those tempeh tacos, but hey we are already here and I have no clue where we will find anything else that will fit our needs. Well thank goodness, this salad was AMAZINGLY good. Fresh pink radishes, pineapple guava, cucumber, persimmons, pomegranate, and an olive/avocado pate over mixed greens. OMG, it was soooooo good. The pate was to die for.
Thank you to the two brothers that come in and work on Sundays, you do magical things with salad!!!Listed in: Other Cities- Things I like or…
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Review from Kristen B.
San Francisco, CA
1/10/2009
Tempeh Tacos ===== HUGE!!!! DELICOUS!!! AMAZING!!!
Reuben Sandwich is even better! Wonderful veg/vegan and they even make homemade Kombucha. Who does that!? it's incredible. show some love, this place is yummy. -
Review from Sandi G.
Palo Alto, CA
4/15/2007
Great little cafe located in the back in Sunshine Health food store. I had my order to go. The Spring Rolls were light and refreshing, one of the best that I've tried, and the sauce that came with it was very good.
I also got the "Famous Tempeh Tacos" also good. I thought it would be more like a traditional taco in a folded shell but it came in the box with the tortilla flat with everything piled on top. There was so much stuff, I couldn't even begin to fold it so I just ate it like a taco salad.
Everything was really fresh and 100% organic. And the people working there are super nice. If I'm ever in the area, I would definitely stop by again.Listed in: The SLO Life
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Review from Jeff D.
Los Angeles, CA
6/27/2011
Such a cool cafe, lots of unique food and tea. If only they had coffee.
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Review from Ms B.
Brooklyn, NY
8/18/2010
Healthy yummy meal that made me feel good after eating it.
The reuben was four stars. -
Review from marsha H.
Inverness, CA
9/24/2011
Visited Shine Cafe in back of health food store, they have food that looks like a work of art 3 spring rolls like you have never seen the colors were beautiful showing thru rice paper orange carrots.avacado slices, purple cqbbage and 3-$8.50 what a deal to beautiful to eat. Also shine sandwich my husband had nice presentation. Also went back the next day and tried Black bean tostoda and tempeh taco all the food is top notch you can sit outside 4 tables or 3 small table inside. Don't miss out on such good food. 5 stars to this place. Breakfast weekends only never tried.
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Review from Jamie F.
Cayucos, CA
8/28/2011
So yummy. Delicious, satisfying vegetarian food! But I rarely ever go, because it's always more than I want to spend on lunch.
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Review from mike T.
Morro Bay, CA
10/9/2010
I am not a vegetarian, meat is yummy. That said this place is still super. My wife dragged me there and I had my nose in the air until I ate my lunch. What these folks do with veggies will make you change your mind about vegetarian faire. YUMMY
Listed in: Morro bay
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Review from Audrey C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/3/2011
Super healthy food that still tastes good. Lots of it, too. Make sure to get the spring roll. Plenty of vegan options. Only 3 tables and somewhat slow service, but give them a break, it's all made in the open kitchen right next to you.
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Review from Ian S.
Morro Bay, CA
9/3/2011
Great Food, and Service. Happy to hear they are expanding!
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Review from Kate and Bill I.
Duluth, MN
3/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
FRESH! affordable!
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Review from Lisa K.
Fresno, CA
8/21/2011
My new favorite place for lunch! Great fresh food, especially like the springrolls.
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Review from Aileen C.
San Luis Obispo, CA
1/14/2011
Lovely service. A+ food. Kinda expensive but I have no problem palying for top quality ingredients. =)
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Review from Roseanna L.
San Jose, CA
2/23/2011
Fantastic find !
We stumbled upon this gem. Service was superb and friendly, food was fantastic. My husband devoured every tasty morsel of the black bean tostada. The spring roll was the best I've ever tasted. And the shop is full of interesting food items. Will definitely go back. -
Review from Alicia I.
San Luis Obispo, CA
12/30/2009
Great vegan food. Very flavorful. Bright, healthy, and absolutely wonderful.
The vegetable spring rolls are lovely, and the dipping sauce is to die for. The black bean tostada is also quite scrumptious.
After eating here, my body always feels wonderful!
I wish they were in SLO! -
Review from Kathryn G.
Los Angeles, CA
7/23/2010
You would never think so, tucked in behind a store like this, but wow, what great food! If you happen to be in Morro Bay, this is a great place!
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Review from Maggie R.
Morro Bay, CA
11/14/2010
Shine Cafe makes every meal healthy, organic, delicious, and creative. Enjoy inside or outside seating, friendly staff, and incredible meals.
