16 Jun The Best Restaurants in West Yellowstone, Montana (The Gateway to Yellowstone National Park!)
The Best Restaurants in West Yellowstone, Montana (The Gateway to Yellowstone National Park!)
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You know that finding quality restaurants in touristy towns like West Yellowstone can be frustrating.
Yellowstone National Park is known for its isolation and amazing natural beauty. But with that isolation comes the difficulty of finding quality, affordable lodging and restaurants in towns outside the park — like West Yellowstone. What’s worse is these towns are often filled with overpriced shops peddling tourist merchandise — or restaurants that charge you an arm and a leg for some lackluster meal!
Fortunately, Drew and I have spent a lot of time in and around Yellowstone National Park – and live just 30 minutes from West Yellowstone during the summer. And, we’ve tried just about all of the restaurants in West Yellowstone so you don’t have to!
Here are our favorite restaurants in West Yellowstone.
— In the time of COVID-19, many West Yellowstone restaurants are only offering limited dine-in, delivery, and curbside services. Please check with your restaurant before you head out.
Table of Contents
Running Bear Pancake House
Running Bear Pancake House is just what I think of when I think “mountain breakfast.” And, it’s the best restaurant in West Yellowstone to carb up with with tasty pancakes before that big hike in Yellowstone National Park.
For breakfast, I usually go with an order of the Non-Traditional French Toast (homemade Apple Pecan, Banana Walnut, or Peach Pecan) or the Mama Bear (1 egg, 2 strips of bacon, and a pancake — or toast).
Breakfast is served from 6am until 2pm.
Lunch is served from 11am until 2pm.
Running Bear Pancake House is located at 538 Madison Ave, West Yellowstone, Montana.
Firehole Bar-B-Que
We’re southerners, y’all know – so we know BBQ. And Firehole Bar-B-Que is legit good.
Get some of their brisket and burnt ends, a pulled pork sandwich, and a side of their mac and cheese and Tex Mex beans.
They’re open 7 days a week from 11am until they’re sold out (or around 10pm).
Firehole Bar-B-Que is located next to Taquiera Malverde at 120 Firehole Ave, West Yellowstone, Montana.
Taqueria Malverde
You know a food truck, right? Well, Taqueria Malverde is located in a decommissioned school bus and is definitely one of the best resturants in West Yellowstone.
After you get your order, head over to the park across the street for a relaxing afternoon or evening meal.
I love getting the California burrito with chicken (it’s got fries in it, so you can’t go wrong). But don’t miss out on getting some of their street tacos (the lengua is delicious!) or the pastor gordita.
They’re open every day from 11am until 10pm.
Taquiera Malverde is located next to Firehole Bar-B-Que at 28 Firehole Ave, West Yellowstone, Montana.
Mountain Mama’s Coffee House & Bakery
Mountain Mama’s specializes in locally-sourced wild game (elk, bison, pheasant, and trout) that they use in their fantastic homemade potpies and breakfast burritos! If you’re scared of a trout pot pie, they also have good ole’ chicken and beef!
My typical order is one of their wild game breakfast burritos and a fresh breakfast pastry. While you’re in Montana, you have to try something with huckleberry and this is a good place for it!
With COVID-19 mucking everything up, we haven’t been able to get our fix of Mountain Mama’s yet this year. It’s frustrating because their Google page says they’re closed, but their website looks like they are open.
In any case, if you happen to visit this year, take a drive by Mountain Mama’s to see if they’re open. It’ll be worth it!
Mountain Mama’s is located at 17 Madison Ave, West Yellowstone, Montana.
Rustic Candy Shop
Okay, so this isn’t a restaurant in West Yellowstone — it’s just your typical candy store with candy sold by the pound. We always stop in here on the way into Yellowstone National Park for a few little goodies while we’re driving.
I always load up on their grapefruit sour balls and taffy (they have homemade huckleberry taffy!). But don’t miss out on their homemade chocolate confections. The chocolate seafoam (which is spun honey covered with chocolate) and the milk chocolate sea salt caramel are my favorites!
The Rustic Candy Shop is located at 33 N Canyon St., West Yellowstone, Montana.
Buffalo Bar - Restaurant & Casino
The Buffalo Bar should be your go-to restaurant in West Yellowstone if you have a large group with a bunch of competing food demands. They have a pretty extensive menu that covers all your bar food favorites: hot chicken wings, queso dip, nachos, and burgers. But they also have really good entrees that are sure to suit any mood.
The Buffalo Bar is open at 8am for breakfast and closes at 12:30am every day.
The Buffalo Bar is located at 335 Highway 20 West Yellowstone, MT.
West Yellowstone Grocery Stores
Are you more of a make it yourself kind of person? Are you gearing up for a long hike? Or do you need to stock your RV or campsite? These are the two grocery stores you’ll need to know about in West Yellowstone.
- Food Roundup Supermarket – Probably my preferred location, but only because it feels more open. Food Roundup is located at 107 Dunraven St., West Yellowstone, Montana.
- Market Place – Wonderful assortment of local liquor and huckleberry items! Market Place is located at 22 Madison Ave., West Yellowstone, Montana.
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I’m Sarah – a southern gal who found her way to the Las Vegas desert! Welcome to my travels with my husband, life with our two dogs, and all the things in between.
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Spent yesterday afternoon with @NevadaLtGov in Laughlin at the @laughlin_bullhead_airshow 🛩️ We saw amazing historic, military, and civilian aircraft and automobiles, but my highlight was meeting a true hero, a 101-year-old WW2 and Korean War veteran 🇺🇸 Forever grateful for his service and sacrifice.
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We hiked around 6 hours each day walking mixed terrain of rocks, boulders, ice slopes, and glaciers. Our trek also included Chola Pass which, at around 18,000 feet, is no easy feat! 😛
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Got to pet a cockatoo named Woody, two ferrets, a dwarf hamster, a Guinea pig, and the cutest pup named Jasper at a pet adoption event!
Shelters across the country are busting at the seams with beautiful, loving animals ready for a forever home. If you`re looking for a pet, please check the local shelters to find your perfect new family member!
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Sarah hails from the land of fried chicken, sweet tea, buttered biscuits, and the friendliest people you’ll ever meet…Alabama! She loves exploring undertouristed locations — places that you wouldn’t automatically think “I’ve always wanted to go there!” Of course, we’ll always have Paris, but what gets Sarah really jazzed is finding those diamond in the rough cities and sharing them with you. Read More…
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