SLO County burger joint to appear on ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.’ What did Guy Fieri eat?
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Guy Fieri in SLO County
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When Guy Fieri rolled up to Brooks Burgers in his Cadillac in March, it was a total “pinch me” moment for restaurant co-owner Daliss Castro.
The famous Food Network chef, known for his bleach-blonde hair and big personality, visited the Pismo Beach burger joint for his popular television show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”
“It’s still a surreal experience,” Castro said. “I don’t even think that’s going to hit me until we actually see it on TV.”
The episode featuring Brooks Burgers is set to air on Friday, Jan. 17.
That day, Brooks Burgers will offer discounted $5 tri tip sandwiches at its two locations to celebrate, co-owner Luke Brooks said.
That’s one of the menu items Fieri sampled during his visit.
“I have a feeling it’s going to be a star of the show,” Brooks said.
How SLO County burger spot got its start
Brooks Burgers was started by a family with deep roots in the Fresno restaurant scene.
Brooks’ grandfather, H.T. “Chic” Brooks, was a food industry veteran who owned and operated more than 20 different restaurant concepts, as previously reported by The Fresno Bee.
Over the past six decades, the Brooks family has bounced between the restaurant industry and the cattle business.
“Brooks Burgers brings four generations of expertise to the table,” the restaurant’s website said.
In 2016, Brooks teamed up with his parents, Randy and Deborah Brooks to launch the first Brooks Burgers location at 220 Five Cities Drive near the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets shopping center.
Brooks Burgers added a second location in San Luis Obispo County in 2022, opening a restaurant at San Luis Obispo Public Market at 134 Tank Farm Road.
Both Brooks Burgers restaurants offer specialty hamburgers, sandwiches, tri-tip, loaded tater tots, chicken wings and salads, as well as beer, cocktails and milkshakes.
Brooks said he wanted to create an eatery that featured “beach vibes” and high-quality ingredients without emptying customers’ pockets.
“On the Central Coast, there’s a lot of overpriced restaurants that are really expensive to eat at,” Brooks said. “We wanted to be the place that people go to and bring their friends and their family and they don’t have to stress out about being able to afford it.”
Why did Guy Fieri pick restaurant for Food Network show? ‘He likes a story’
In early 2024, Brooks received an email from a Food Network producer expressing interest in featuring the burger spot on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”
At first, Brooks thought it was a scam.
It wasn’t until he began researching the production company that he realized the request was authentic.
As a longtime fan of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” Brooks said he dreamed that one day his restaurant could be showcased on the show.
“When we first opened, that was the goal: ‘Man, if one day we get to be on that show that would be epic,’ ” Brooks said. “And then it happened.”
According to Brooks, Brooks Burgers had to go through an intensive tryout process that included handing over its menu and answering a wide range of questions about its food and business model.
Ultimately, it was Fieri who had the final say on whether to feature the burger joint, Brooks said.
“He likes a story,” Brooks said. “I think that’s why he picked us because my family started in the restaurant industry like 50 or 60 years ago.”
When did celebrity chef film at Pismo Beach burger joint?
Fieri and his Food Network crew visited Brook’s Burgers Pismo Beach location in March.
The first day of filming was spent capturing spent capturing behind-the-scenes footage of how meals are made at the restaurant
Fieri showed up in person for the second day of filming.
“He rolled up in a Cadillac and it was like the big boss was here,” Brooks said. “Everyone got quiet.”
Although Brooks was nervous and battling illness during the shoot, he said Fieri made him feel at ease on camera by cracking jokes and offering food tips.
“It was cool to see him kind of take a bite, let it culminate, and then think of what he was gonna say,” Brooks said. “I like that. I think that it made it more genuine.”
What did Guy Fieri eat at Brooks Burgers in Pismo Beach?
To Brooks’ surprise, Fieri was not interested in trying any of the burgers on the eatery’s menu.
Instead, he munched on the restaurant’s two most popular sandwiches — the Ultimate Tri Tip Dip and the Big Sheesh, Brooks said.
The burger spot uses the sous vide method to cook its tri tip over the course of eight hours.
The Ultimate Tri Tip Dip sandwich features layers of thinly sliced tri tip, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms and creamy Havarti cheese on a ciabatta roll.
When Fieri tasted the tri tip, he praised the meat, calling it “as tender as a filet,” according to Brooks.
The celebrity chef also tasted the Big Sheesh sandwich, which features half a pound of tender braised beef, pepper jack cheese, peppers and cilantro aioli on fresh sourdough bread.
Not only was Fieri a fan of the food, Brooks said, but he also suggested how the sandwiches could be tweaked for even tastier results.
Following Fieri’s recommendations, Brooks Burgers permanently swapped out brioche rolls for ciabatta in the Ultimate Tri Tip Dip and now uses poblano peppers instead of bell peppers in the Big Sheesh.
“When a guy like that comes into your restaurant, you want to listen to what he has to say,” Brooks said.
Where else did Fieri go in SLO County?
Brooks Burgers isn’t the only San Luis Obispo County restaurant to be showcased on “Diner’s Drive-ins and Dives.”
Fieri filmed episodes at Flour House in San Luis Obispo and Petra Mediterranean Pizza and Grill in San Luis Obispo.
He and his film crew also stopped by The Spoon Trade in Grover Beach, as well as Mama’s Meatball and Taste! Craft Eatery in San Luis Obispo.
What’s next for popular SLO County burger restaurant?
Once the episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” featuring Brooks Burgers airs, Brooks and Castro hope the extra publicity will bring in more business at their SLO and Pismo Beach locations.
Noting that Brooks Burgers is already a franchise, the co-owners said they have no plans to expand immediately.
“Our goal is to get these (restaurants) dialed in once the show airs to just make sure we can handle the volume,” Brooks said. “We want people to experience the quality that they see on the show.”
However, Castro said Brooks Burgers is interested in launching a food truck that could cater at events across SLO County.
How to visit Brooks Burgers
Brooks Burgers is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
It has locations at 220 Five Cities Drive in Pismo Beach and 134 Tank Farm Road in San Luis Obispo.
For more information, call 805-295-6817 or visit brooksburgersca.com.
How to watch burger joint on ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’
The “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” episode featuring Brooks Burgers will air Friday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. on the Food Network.
If you miss the episode, you can catch “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” re-runs regularly on The Food Network.
You can also watch episodes on several major subscription streaming platforms, including Max, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon and Food Network Go.
This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that the episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” will air at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17. on the Food Network. The episode will air at 6 p.m. The error has been corrected.
