Barbecue restaurant has a new home in downtown SLO. Take a look inside
A barbecue restaurant has moved to a large space in The Creamery Marketplace in downtown San Luis Obispo, serving slow-smoked meats and breakfast dishes.
Gold Land BBQ recently moved from a smaller suite in The Creamery at 570 Higuera St., bringing new chefs and a liquor license to its new spot.
“It’s such an awesome space, and I could sort of see the vision that I didn’t want to see someone else jump on it before we did,” owner Loren Dion told The Tribune. “It was a big move and somewhat of a risk, but it’s looking like it’s going to pay off, because the vision has come to fruition.”
What’s on the menu at Gold Land BBQ in downtown SLO?
On June 13, Dion called it the “lucky Friday the 13th” when Gold Land BBQ debuted its new space and a breakfast menu that combined smoked meats with classic breakfast burritos, eggs Benedict and chicken and waffles.
“Quite a few people have said we already have the new best breakfast burrito in SLO, which has been really awesome to hear,” Dion said. “They’ve been really loving the barbecue twist. The barbecue meats with pulled pork and particularly the brisket have been a big hit.”
Gold Land BBQ has partnered with its next door neighbor Buen Dia Coffee by having QR codes to the coffee shop’s menu on its outdoor patio tables, allowing guests to order barbecue breakfast grub and receive their espresso brews delivered to the tables.
A leftover beer and wine license from the spot’s previous business, Quesadilla Gorilla, gave Gold Land BBQ the opportunity add 12 taps with beers and ciders, as well as mimosas and micheladas for early mornings.
“Obviously, with brunch, mimosas are great and with barbecue meats, beer and wine is wonderful,” Dion said. “That’s another addition to our repertoire.”
Beyond Gold Land BBQ’s expanding menu, the classics remain: brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken and pork ribs. Nine sides range from $4 to $7, and build-your-own plates and mains like barbecue sandwiches, tacos, burgers and salads are priced from $11 to $15, an intentional choice by Dion.
“One of my personal theories is that a lot of places, you get such huge portions, but the prices match that huge portion,” he said. “One of our goals is to not overload you with food, but also not overload the price so that when you can come in … you can still get to work and have some money in your wallet.”
What’s the history behind Gold Land BBQ?
Gold Land BBQ had its start in Los Angeles in 2019, when then-owner and chef Josh Luce founded the barbecue restaurant. Known for its Texas-style slow-smoked meats and similar Santa Maria-style seasonings, Luce moved to SLO and opened in The Creamery Marketplace in April 2023.
A change in ownership in December 2024 allowed Dion to “carry the torch and keep the dream alive.”
“He trained me, showed me all his recipes and all his formulas,” he said. “We’re still good friends and he might even come back for a guest appearance in the future if I’m lucky enough.”
For more information
Gold Land BBQ at 570 Higuera St. in Suite 101 is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information about the barbecue restaurant, visit goldlandbbq.com or call 805-439-0970.