Vegan
American
Organic
Take-out

Organic all-vegan cafe offering savories like burritos, tacos, and sandwiches plus kombucha on tap, smoothie bowls and juices. Est. in the mid-2000s inside Sunshine Health Foods store and moved to its own spot in 2013 switching to all-vegan. Has a small indoor seating area, but mostly take away or outdoor seating. Open Mon-Sun 10:00am-4:00pm.


Venue map for Shine Cafe
© OpenStreetMap contributors

86 Reviews

First Review by fjzjr

Schatzfi1

Points +44

Vegan
22 Feb 2024

Very delish food

Ate the first time there on the weekend (actually twice because we loved it so much) and everything we ate was fantastic.

Babyfreud

Points +203

Vegan
20 Feb 2024

Delish breakfast options

Super cozy cafe in cute downtown Morro Bay with og vegan sunshine vibes. We split the rancheros and buckwheat pancake and both were scrumptious.

meefamily

Points +303

Vegan
02 Jan 2024

Delicious fresh food!

Hubby and I are vegan and brought non vegan adults and kids (ages 2, 4, 7, and 9) and everyone really liked their meal. The 9 year old raved about his shine sandwich! I had a salad with homemade tempeh and it was terrific. Will definitely return. Small seating area inside and outside!

yetimtn67

Points +56

Vegan
03 Nov 2023

Gem in Morro Bay

Had the TLT and butternut squash soup and loved it. One sour point- our order was just over $80 and we were told after ordering that they auto add a 20% “gratuity” on orders over $80. This is a counter order small cafe and that was unearned and unwelcome.

Pros: Large portion sizes, Butternut squash soup

Cons: Auto gratuity added

Wølfi

Points +25

Vegan
23 Oct 2023

Lots of lettuce

We had the tempeh reuben and the black been taco.
The reuben was an okay sandwich, but not especially tasty. For my taste too much lettuce, very little tempeh “bacon” that only had a slight smoky flavour and definitely not enough sauerkraut.

The taco was buried under lots of lettuce, shredded carrots and cabbage with too little dressing for that amount of greens. When you finally dig down to the taco it’s actually pretty good.

For the amount of lettuce you get with/as your meal the prices are a bit steep even though it’s all local and organic.

Pros: Friendly staff, Nice vibe

Cons: Way too much lettuce

CarolineVegstar

Points +175

Vegan
09 Oct 2023

Tempeh Reubens

Delicious sandwich, 🥪, berry blast blueberry smoothie and soup of the day hit the spot!

Pros: Fresh local ingredients , Healthy , Next to health food store

MelissaHorsefeathers

Points +1494

Vegan
29 Aug 2023

A new favorite!

Love, love, love this cafe! All vegan, fresh, colorful, beautiful, flavorful, healthful food. The vibe is bright and happy, the location is good. The staff were all very nice, and they provide complimentary dog cookies and water to dogs outside 🐾 🥰 The tempeh IS as good as people say! The only issue we encountered was not enough seating outside when they are busy. 10/10 overall - highly recommend!

Pros: Everything!

Cons: Not enough outdoor seating or space

jeffsheldon

Points +892

Vegan
23 Aug 2023

Mediocre Vegan Delights at Shine Cafe in Morro Bay

Lunch Time: August 22, 2023

Today, my culinary journey led me to the charming town of Morro Bay, where Happy Cow showed me where to go for vegan cuisine led me to the doors of Shine Cafe. Situated in the heart of downtown, this quaint little eatery beckoned with promises of delectable plant-based delights. Eager to indulge, I stepped in with high hopes and an empty stomach.

The location itself was a gem, surrounded by a myriad of charming stores that were perfect for pre- or post-lunch exploration. The ambiance inside the cafe was warm and inviting, creating an inviting space to unwind and enjoy a meal. The service was notable, with the staff being attentive and friendly right from the moment I walked in.

My dining partner and I decided to try two of Shine Cafe's signature offerings: the T.L.T. and the Tempeh Reuben. The T.L.T., their rendition of the classic B.L.T., consisted of toasted sprouted grain bread loaded with thinly sliced "bacon"-flavored tempeh, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and vegenaise. The Tempeh Reuben featured seared strips of seasoned tempeh served on sprouted grain bread, embellished with cilantro dressing, mustard, sauerkraut, tomato, and lettuce.

Upon presentation, both sandwiches bore a striking resemblance in appearance and flavor profile, making it difficult to differentiate between them. While the tempeh was skillfully prepared and boasted an appetizing flavor, my enthusiasm waned as I discovered that the main components of both sandwiches were predominantly lettuce and bread. The promise of a satisfying bite was overshadowed by the lack of substantial fillings. Although the tempeh provided a satisfying texture, it ultimately struggled to carry the weight of the sandwiches.

As I pondered over my experience at Shine Cafe, I found myself grappling with a sense of disappointment. The ambiance was charming, the service was commendable, yet the food fell short of my expectations. I was left wanting for more substance, something that would justify the price and leave a lasting impression on my taste buds.

In conclusion, Shine Cafe in Morro Bay offers a welcoming atmosphere and attentive service that is bound to make patrons feel at ease. However, the culinary offerings, while not without merit, failed to deliver the fulfilling experience that discerning diners seek. A bit more attention to the composition of the sandwiches could elevate the dining experience from mediocre to truly remarkable. For now,

Pros: Location, Location, Location, Good Service

Cons: Expensive for what you get , Sandwiches where more bread and lettuce. Tempuh

LanceW

Points +72

Vegan
20 Aug 2023

Inaccurate descriptions

I ordered a tofu scramble. Nowhere on the menu does it say that it is 80 to 90% potatoes. It is. A tofu scramble should be tofu, emulating eggs.

Updated from previous review on 2023-08-20

MelissaHorsefeathers

21 Aug 2023

LB_IEVegan

Points +85

Vegan
07 Aug 2023

Delicious tempeh!

On the last day of our visit to Morro Bay, we decided to finally check out Shine Café. We both wanted to try the tempeh reuben. It was amazing. Delicious tempeh with sauerkraut loads of veggies and a side salad. Our non-vegan friends had avocado toast, and the soup of the day that they really enjoyed as well. We will definitely be back next time we visit. We also swung into the little grocery next door for local produce, cashew yogurt, and vegan chocolate.

Updated from previous review on 2023-08-07

Pros: All vegan! , Tempeh!!

SakshiKulkarni

Points +44

Vegan
26 May 2023

Best tempeh I’ve ever had!

So I’m someone who usually doesn’t like tempeh and prefers soy meat or tofu but I tried the tempeh BLT sandwich and it was really good! My partner tried it and he liked it as well. Would recommend! Was a reasonable $13 and came with a side salad.

AmandaSakiye

Points +2738

Vegan
26 Apr 2023

Amazing

Love this place. Everything is so good. You must come to enjoy this restaurant 🥰

ReginaReynoso

Points +204

Vegan
23 Jan 2023

Amazing and so fresh

Love the food here! Everything tasted so fresh and the staff was very welcoming. If I lived in the area I’d be a regular here. #Veganuary

Pros: 100% vegan, Location, Great pricing

CassidyThomas

Points +76

Vegan
13 Jan 2023

Ordered a Taco, got a Salad with a Salad with one tortilla

Mixed feelings about this place. The smoothie and tempeh were delicious. They clearly know how to make great food. I was super excited when they brought the plates out with seemingly massive portions. I was quickly disappointed though when I discovered the tacos dish I ordered consisted of one tortilla with tempeh underneath a mountain of leafy greens. The menu indicated tacos… plural… as in, more than one. It felt like false advertising and terrible value.

Updated from previous review on 2023-01-13

Pros: Tasty Tempeh, Good Smoothie

Cons: Not good value, False advertising

ValleyVegan

Points +152

Vegan
20 Dec 2022

Great!

I’ve never had anything at Shine that wasn’t delicious. My current favorite is the tempeh tacos but the veggie spring rolls are great too! Love the store next door as well!

Pros: Amazing All vegan menu!

grace_face

Points +292

Vegan
23 Nov 2022

Delicious Smoothies

Really delicious place and great spot. The food was delightful and the smoothies/juices were delicious. Would definitely go back.

Pros: Great location, Yummy

Cons: Only open 10-4pm, Breakfast only Sat and Sun

whawthorne

Points +73

Vegan
19 Sep 2022

Simply vegan

Friendly, nice environment, simple vegan food for lunch.

Pros: All vegan, Friendly staff, Yummy sandwiches

Cedric_Trp

Points +206

Vegan
06 Sep 2022

Best Variety Café (yet; Sep 22)

Great Location; Huge Variety; Local Drinks; Vegan Personnel

Pros: Vegan Menu, Chill Staff, Great Drinks

Cons: Limited Business Hours

TreeHugger44

Points +111

Vegan
20 Aug 2022

All vegan oasis

Great all vegan menu with lots of options for everone. Most can be made gluten free too, like build your own burritos/bowls ,tacos, sandwiches, salads, spring rolls, smoothies, and really good buckwheat pancakes on the weekends.

Updated from previous review on 2022-08-20

Pros: All vegan, Lots of gluten free options

Cons: Prices going up, portions down, New menu items would be great

KarinaLynch

Points +412

Vegan
25 Jul 2022

Soooo Good!!!

One of the best breakfast in California so far…
We had pancakes and Tofu Scramble Breakfast… so delicious!!

Updated from previous review on 2022-07-25

lten

Points +26

Vegan
05 Jul 2022

Amazing

Everything here is vegan and the best. Reasonably priced too! Absolutely love Shine.

Katlynnb

Points +21

Vegan
18 Jun 2022

Delicious!

I love this place, it’s a classic in Morro Bay! Their pancakes are amazing, and I love the scramble as well!

Milkur0ats

Points +64

Vegan
08 Jun 2022

Bad Employees

Food was really good and i was excited. Me and my bf took my siblings here since it’s one of the 3(?) fully vegan places near our house there. My bf wanted hummus and a sandwich so we asked to replace the side salad with a side of hummus. they were confused and laughed at him. we opted to just got it on the side and they never gave it to us. the cashier was rude to me the whole time afterwards. you have to bus your own table (not a huge deal) but i didn’t know so i asked an employee and he scoffed and said yeah . i asked where and he walked away. i think they assume everyone that isn’t a regular is a tourist so they can just be rude without consequences. really good food though.

Pros: Good food, Good amount

Cons: A little pricy, Rude service

Laurenbdoeslife

Points +890

Vegan
22 May 2022

Healthy and tasty

I got a tempeh salad, which was very good and had me feeling full but light. I do wish the tempeh was like in my dad’s TLT, which was sliced and sauced. Mine was tasty but it didn’t even look like tempeh. I thought they gave me the wrong order! It was more quinoa, sweet potato, and broccoli mushed together than anything 🤔. I still enjoyed it and the service was fast.

Pros: Healthy

TomRyan

Points +20

Vegan
13 Mar 2022

Excellent TLT Sandwich

Ordered it on a whim while visiting Morro Bay and returned the next two days for the same. What a gem this place is.

Pros: Ton of vegan options, Excellent customer service

DJThomson

Points +60

Vegan
09 Oct 2021

Wonderful spot

Had the T.L.T. (Tempeh, Lettuce, and Tomato) with avocado. Ate outside in the sun in 68 degrees. Heaven!

dancingvegan

Points +765

Vegan
19 Sep 2021

Friendly Customer Service

I was in the general area for an out-of-my-town event, so drove here recently.

I ordered the tempeh reuben sandwich which came with a side salad. It was the most unique reuben I have had. The sandwich was about four inches high and was difficult to eat. The reason for the height is that the tempeh was about 3/4" high and not thinly sliced like I have had in the past. Also, it was served on regular bread instead of the usual rye bread plus there was very little sauerkraut on it. I love creative & unusual things, but this just didn't hit the mark for me.

The staff and the customers were awesome!! Being from out-of-town and by myself, I started conversations with several people and had a great time on their outdoor seating area. After which I walked up & down the street going into some shops in this very cool area of the city.

This is a popular restaurant and orders can take some time (mine was 20 minutes) to appear on your table when they are super busy, so best not to be in a hurry! Just sit outside in their beautiful area and relax!!

I will, if in the area again, go again and try something else.

BTW, I gave them a HappyCow 5-star excellent reviews' window sticker and they joyfully accepted it!!😄

Updated from previous review on 2021-09-19

Pros: Staff, atmosphere




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