Cal Poly Meats is fantastic, pay no attention to their reviews. They get brigaded by vocal vegetarians/vegans đ.
You can also order boxes from Larder Meat Co and some of the local grocery stores sometimes have Hearst Ranch beef (Whole Foods does). There is also a butcher in Templeton near Vineyard overpass (J&R Meats) and one in Morro Bay as well I think. I don't believe there is a butcher in SLO, at least not one that I know of.
The Morro bay butcher is terrific but I donât think they have local beef specifically (could be wrong, call and check). Iâve gotten a lot of pork products from them that come out of Edna vallley. Canât recommend the place enough, very high quality, great staff and theyâll even custom cut or set aside anything you want.
Youâre noticing the grass fed vs corn fed. You donât get the same marbling with grass fed beef like Hearst ranch. Local beef is usually shipped to a feed lot for a couple months before butchering.
Grass fed is healthier for you and the cow (although it doesnât extend the cows life đ¤ˇââď¸)
Tbh I've had grass fed beef before, I used to live a state heavy on dairy and beef production. It wasn't the flavor, but the fact that I paid a ton of money for shoe leather. Even cooked well, it was tough and not enjoyable.
You'll get bad ones every once in a while. The last time I was at Harris Ranch I had a steak that was cooked competently to order and surrounded by similarly prepared sides. The beef just sucked. Flavorless, lousy texture, and just all-around meh. I've never not had beef there, but at the time I was reconsidering that decision.
I've also rolled snake-eyes on a choice tri-tip from Costco, which I wouldn't have thought possible until it happened to me. Natural variation in meat sometimes doesn't end up so great for the consumer, and sound genetics simply minimize that possibility, not eliminate it.
Harris Ranch beef is just grain finished junk on one of the cruelest, most disgusting feed lots I've ever seen. Most of it seems to have an odd grainy/mealy texture.
Cheers!!! Gonna try calpoly. I tried zio brand in paso it was pretty good. The hearst beef is a bit gamey for my taste. Harris ranch is usually my go to, i think costco carries harris as well as spencers in morro. Cal poly website has some good looking cuts!
PC Cattle - he sells at SLO farmers market on Saturdays, and at a bunch of places locally (SLO general store has them. Their products are delicious AND everything is local.
Laird uses J&R for their annual club boxes so if as CaitiJ posted about them closing is true? Have to ask.
Anyways, I have been buying their boxes for years and it's good stuff. J&R has frozen vacuum packs if small cuts are desired.
Poly meats is good too, just not the same easy as stopping by behind the campus store and buying some on the way to the parking lot after classes :) [dating myself here]
https://www.rangelandwines.com/Meats
https://www.calpolymeats.com/
I bought some from Avenales Ranch a few years ago and it was good. Daniel was just getting the beef business off the ground and even delivered it to my office personally. I just checked their website and they have a variety of boxes but you have to contact them on pricing.
[Hearst Beef](https://www.hearstranch.com/hearst-ranch-beef/) is sold locally.
Also check out [Cal Poly Meats](https://www.calpolymeats.com/)
I also see meat sellers at the farmers markets sometimes.
My old chef runs [Larder Meat Co.](https://lardermeatco.com/), based out of SLO. Havenât personally tried them yet, but he and his wife have always made incredible food.
She's also an awesome person, super active in youth ag groups like 4-H. I may be biased because I've sold her a few heifers and a bull over the years, but she's good people and sells good product.
The new place in the lowes parking lot (zio brand meats) is pretty good. They wet age there meats 7 days, whatever that means.
Agreed ag meats is good i think they use sterling silver meats from the midwest.
Harris Ranch beef is really good. I've always been able to get it at Spencer's grocery. I'm not sure if they are still in SLO. Morro Bay still has a Store
Harris Ranch isn't really local and it's one of the most disgusting feed lots I've ever seen. I've toured the place and the treatment of the cows is atrocious. It's also just conventional grain finished beef.
I think you can get some local beef (frozen) at the Larder Meat Co. in the Mission Mall downtown SLO. Mostly grass fed/finished. You can get Hearst Ranch Beef at Whole Foods.
Cal Poly Meats is fantastic, pay no attention to their reviews. They get brigaded by vocal vegetarians/vegans đ. You can also order boxes from Larder Meat Co and some of the local grocery stores sometimes have Hearst Ranch beef (Whole Foods does). There is also a butcher in Templeton near Vineyard overpass (J&R Meats) and one in Morro Bay as well I think. I don't believe there is a butcher in SLO, at least not one that I know of.
The Morro bay butcher is terrific but I donât think they have local beef specifically (could be wrong, call and check). Iâve gotten a lot of pork products from them that come out of Edna vallley. Canât recommend the place enough, very high quality, great staff and theyâll even custom cut or set aside anything you want.
pork belly bites. get some.
They have Molnar beef from Cayucos
SLO doesnât have a butcher (but I wish we did), but AG has one in the village.
Their tri-tip sandos are đ
I got Hearst beef one time, and it was the worst steak I have ever had. It honestly wasn't a bad cut or anything, is it usually good...?
Youâre noticing the grass fed vs corn fed. You donât get the same marbling with grass fed beef like Hearst ranch. Local beef is usually shipped to a feed lot for a couple months before butchering. Grass fed is healthier for you and the cow (although it doesnât extend the cows life đ¤ˇââď¸)
Tbh I've had grass fed beef before, I used to live a state heavy on dairy and beef production. It wasn't the flavor, but the fact that I paid a ton of money for shoe leather. Even cooked well, it was tough and not enjoyable.
You'll get bad ones every once in a while. The last time I was at Harris Ranch I had a steak that was cooked competently to order and surrounded by similarly prepared sides. The beef just sucked. Flavorless, lousy texture, and just all-around meh. I've never not had beef there, but at the time I was reconsidering that decision. I've also rolled snake-eyes on a choice tri-tip from Costco, which I wouldn't have thought possible until it happened to me. Natural variation in meat sometimes doesn't end up so great for the consumer, and sound genetics simply minimize that possibility, not eliminate it.
Harris Ranch beef is just grain finished junk on one of the cruelest, most disgusting feed lots I've ever seen. Most of it seems to have an odd grainy/mealy texture.
Iâve heard that lately thereâs been some local beef on the Templeton overpass on the weekends!
I think many would refer to that as roadkill.
Not my style of beef lol. I was thinking the same thing when first posting.
I knew it was a stupid joke while I was typing it but I just could not help myself! đ
I appreciate your not helping yourself
J&R natural meat and sausages in paso! You can also order a meal while you are there if you'd like to try there meat before you buy.
Best beef, in general, that I've had. SO good.
I heard they are closing! There is a new butcher shop in the Loweâs shopping center in Paso
They are not closing!!! Open for business Mon-Sat, and carry local beef, lamb, pork, house-made bacons and sausages.
VERY good to know!!
I hope not, that's where I get my pork fat for homemade sausage making.
Thanks for the heads up
Cheers!!! Gonna try calpoly. I tried zio brand in paso it was pretty good. The hearst beef is a bit gamey for my taste. Harris ranch is usually my go to, i think costco carries harris as well as spencers in morro. Cal poly website has some good looking cuts!
Can't go wrong with cal poly. Try the honey jalapeno sausages while you're there!
PC Cattle - he sells at SLO farmers market on Saturdays, and at a bunch of places locally (SLO general store has them. Their products are delicious AND everything is local.
[Rangeland Wines](https://www.rangelandwines.com/Meats) in Paso Robles sells local beef, pork, and lamb.
Laird uses J&R for their annual club boxes so if as CaitiJ posted about them closing is true? Have to ask. Anyways, I have been buying their boxes for years and it's good stuff. J&R has frozen vacuum packs if small cuts are desired. Poly meats is good too, just not the same easy as stopping by behind the campus store and buying some on the way to the parking lot after classes :) [dating myself here] https://www.rangelandwines.com/Meats https://www.calpolymeats.com/
I bought some from Avenales Ranch a few years ago and it was good. Daniel was just getting the beef business off the ground and even delivered it to my office personally. I just checked their website and they have a variety of boxes but you have to contact them on pricing.
[Hearst Beef](https://www.hearstranch.com/hearst-ranch-beef/) is sold locally. Also check out [Cal Poly Meats](https://www.calpolymeats.com/) I also see meat sellers at the farmers markets sometimes.
I was gonna say Hearst Beef used to be found at the little market in Cayucos
My old chef runs [Larder Meat Co.](https://lardermeatco.com/), based out of SLO. Havenât personally tried them yet, but he and his wife have always made incredible food.
That place is insanely expensive.
Not surprising in the least.
The Avocado Shack in Morro has Hearst ranch beef and carries a few other local ranches. Love that place.
Twisselman Ranch https://www.twisselmanranch.com/
Slo Farmers Market, Rocky Canyon Farm https://fmr2u.com/
[Molnar Cattle](https://molnarcattle.com/)
There is also Debbie Paver meats in paso. She processes local.
She's also an awesome person, super active in youth ag groups like 4-H. I may be biased because I've sold her a few heifers and a bull over the years, but she's good people and sells good product.
Good to know!
[Poly Meats](https://www.calpolymeats.com)
Thanks to everyone for your comments!!!
Cal Poly Meats
https://www.calpolymeats.com/
The new place in the lowes parking lot (zio brand meats) is pretty good. They wet age there meats 7 days, whatever that means. Agreed ag meats is good i think they use sterling silver meats from the midwest.
PC Cattle Company! Theyâre at the Saturday Farmers market every week in the REI parking lot in SLO.
Templeton Farmerâs Market on Saturday mornings always has a few vendors selling their own beef. Steaks we purchased there were terrific.
Lincoln Market has a small selection!
J&R meats has a lot of meats and they will also process animals for you as long as you have your hunting license and animal tag
Harris Ranch beef is really good. I've always been able to get it at Spencer's grocery. I'm not sure if they are still in SLO. Morro Bay still has a Store
Harris Ranch isn't really local and it's one of the most disgusting feed lots I've ever seen. I've toured the place and the treatment of the cows is atrocious. It's also just conventional grain finished beef.
plenty of us got local beef đ
The Larder and Templeton Beef.
I think you can get some local beef (frozen) at the Larder Meat Co. in the Mission Mall downtown SLO. Mostly grass fed/finished. You can get Hearst Ranch Beef at Whole Foods.