One of the first eateries Wade and I tried in Central Coast was High Street Market & Deli in San Luis Obispo. Close by to the DMV, I drove through this residential neighbourhood for my driving test. The Deli, named after the street it’s on, High Street, has an original address as 420, since then renumbered to 350 by the city. The signs were not lost on the current owner and a then Cal Poly student Randy “Doobie” Coates who missed a surf trip and bought a deli.

The building High Street Market & Deli calls home was a corner store built in 1866, one of the few pre-WWII ones that survived, according to historian James Papp. He also shared that Tiny Mart (its name then) was owned by Frank and Alberta Bell from 1966 to 1979, “the first Black-owned business with Black-owned premises and last surviving Black-owned business from the era of the Great Migration.” (James Papp attributes this as his most proud achievement in the last decade : “Probably researching, writing, and talking about our racial history—and getting the first Black-associated building landmarked (Frank and Alberta Bell’s Tiny Mart, now High Street Deli), after literally more than nine hundred White-associated landmarks in San Luis.”)

Nestled in a charming neighbourhood, High Street Market and Deli stands as a vintage relic, dating back to 1927. For nearly a century, we have been proudly serving the community of San Luis Obispo. Originally a one-stop-shop carrying essentials like milk, butter, chewing tobacco, and fishing gear, our location in the railroad district catered to the hardworking individuals and families of the time. Even when High Street was nothing more than a dirt road, people would stop by to grab a pint of milk, cigarettes, and a delicious deli sandwich on their way to or from the railroad station. (from High Street Market & Deli website)

San Luis Obispo – High Street Market & Deli

The SLO County is home to California Polytechnic State University (a mouthful! so Cal Poly) and Cuesta College. Both are close to downtown SLO, which offers lots of food options. The year-round Thursday Farmers’ Market on Higuera Street spreads over about five blocks, with booths selling all kinds of food and drink, along with other vendors. Seeing forum feedback about Cal Poly’s dining hall, having on-campus food trucks and different eateries and restaurants close by is a bonus for this college town.

It was actually a student, Wade’s son, who recommended High Street Deli to us.

We’ve been to the High Street Market and Deli in San Luis several times now. Every time, it’s full of students. There is a College Special, so that price discount helps. Here are the High Street Deals including the 420 (not April 20, 4:20PM). Come to think of it, we have gone close to closing a few times.

This eatery has Daily Specials though we always go for the “Build Your Own” option. You grab a small red clipboard with the order form – they’re everywhere – and start there. You just tick off what you want. Use one of these if you’re ordering a sando. High Street Market and Deli is known for its Dutch Punch sando, made with its trademark Dutch crunch bread, smoked turkey, extra bacon, jalapeño havarti, red onion, tomato, romaine, avocado, and chipotle mayo. So what’s Dutch crunch? I had to look it up.

I’ve tried the sourdough, sliced sourdough, and brioche with turkey, tuna salad, and no meat. I haven’t tried the lettuce wrap though. Wade gets “the works” and I may get lettuce, tomato, and mustard. Maybe. And avocado.

Los Osos – High Street Baywood Park

The first time we headed out this way was a family trip to Montaña de Oro, a state park about two miles south of Los Osos. It’s also a surf spot so we’ve been back since for surf checks.

Los Osos is a small town, with a population of 14,465 per the 2020 census. So, small. (It’s mostly white and 13 Asians, which probably explains why cuisines like Chinese around here are limited and pretty subpar.) This was the land of the Northern Chumash people. Evidence of settlement dates back to 1200 CE.

Montana de Oro State Park | Point Buchon Trail | Bluff Trail | El Moro Elfin Forest | Sweet Springs Nature Preserve

High Street Market & Deli’s second location – High Street Baywood Park – opened in 2021, after a couple of years of remodelling. It’s in a historic building on Second Street in Los Osos, about a 30-minute drive from SLO. We went to meet Wade’s long-time friend and his two kids. Arriving early and hungry, we went in to order first. I was curious about their Japanese Milk Bun. They also have other options that the SLO location doesn’t have, including different breads, ice cream/soft serve, and miso onions.

This High Street Market, with its more low-key location, a different set-up, and a different demographic in customer base, is definitely a different vibe. The space is larger, with a bigger shop that has a wine selection. It also has both indoor and outdoor seating. The feels is more family-oriented. Lots of kids and dogs. There is a play area for kids, who also love hanging out in the VW van (or half of it), installed into a fence. When we left, it was already closing, and lots of people were still hanging out.

High Street Market & Deli