The only thing better than a road trip in Montana is a road trip in Montana that’s planned around food. And since many of us would prefer a good old-fashioned mom-and-pop restaurant to a pretentious eatery or a chain restaurant, we made a list of some delicious hidden gems – and it’s entirely possible to visit them all in one weekend. These fantastic hole-in-the-wall restaurants around Montana are some of the best in the state and come packed with tasty eats that are all made with extra care.

Depending on where you live, you may have to do this road trip in reverse or completely out of order. But as long as you end your drive with a full belly and a happy smile, that’s all that matters.

Google Maps

  1. The Western Café, Bozeman

Rob Flanigan/GoogleMaps

Western Cafe of Bozeman / Facebook Start bright and early with breakfast at the Western Café in Bozeman. Once named Montana’s best hole-in-the-wall diner by MSN, this place is a historic gem that sits tucked away in the most unassuming of locations. The cooks here make a mean breakfast. 443 E Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA

  1. Branding Iron Café, White Sulphur Springs)

BikerCowboy/GoogleMaps

David Hampton / Google Next, head up to White Sulphur Springs and enjoy a meal at the Branding Iron Café. This no-frills local gem is known for its breakfast. And while no one will judge you if you decide to repeat your morning meal, they also make tasty burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, too. 307 3rd Ave SW, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645, USA

  1. Clark & Lewie’s Restaurant, Great Falls

Clark & Lewie’s Restaurant / Google

Chanin Kirby / Google Clark & Lewie’s is located inside Great Falls’ O’Haire Motor Inn. Treat yourself to a delicious dinner, stop by the infamous Sip N’ Dip Lounge next door for a nightcap, and get some rest to prepare for another day of indulgence. Oh, and did we mention there are mermaids here? 17 7th St S, Great Falls, MT 59401, USA

  1. El Vaquero Taqueria, Helena

Mostly Montana/GoogleMaps

El Vaquero Taqueria / Facebook MSN also gave this place a shout-out, listing El Vaquero Taqueria as the best hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant in Montana. Sink your teeth into one of their tasty street tacos and you’re sure to agree. 1338 11th Ave, Helena, MT 59601, USA

  1. Pork Chop John’s, Butte

Mike Alcazaren/GoogleMaps

The Official Porkchop John’s / Facebook John Burklund invented the pork chop sandwich in 1924, and nearly a century later, it’s still a staple in Butte. Stop by one of the two Pork Chop John’s locations in town and end your road trip with an iconic culinary staple that is “Only in Montana.” 8 W Mercury St, Butte, MT 59701, USA2400 Harrison Ave, Butte, MT 59701, USA

What are your favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants in the state? Some of the best restaurants in Montana are off the beaten path, and we love discovering new places! Nominate your favorite to give these local hidden gems the attention they deserve.

Google Maps

Rob Flanigan/GoogleMaps

Western Cafe of Bozeman / Facebook

Start bright and early with breakfast at the Western Café in Bozeman. Once named Montana’s best hole-in-the-wall diner by MSN, this place is a historic gem that sits tucked away in the most unassuming of locations. The cooks here make a mean breakfast.

443 E Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA

BikerCowboy/GoogleMaps

David Hampton / Google

Next, head up to White Sulphur Springs and enjoy a meal at the Branding Iron Café. This no-frills local gem is known for its breakfast. And while no one will judge you if you decide to repeat your morning meal, they also make tasty burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, too.

307 3rd Ave SW, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645, USA

Clark & Lewie’s Restaurant / Google

Chanin Kirby / Google

Clark & Lewie’s is located inside Great Falls’ O’Haire Motor Inn. Treat yourself to a delicious dinner, stop by the infamous Sip N’ Dip Lounge next door for a nightcap, and get some rest to prepare for another day of indulgence. Oh, and did we mention there are mermaids here?

17 7th St S, Great Falls, MT 59401, USA

Mostly Montana/GoogleMaps

El Vaquero Taqueria / Facebook

MSN also gave this place a shout-out, listing El Vaquero Taqueria as the best hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant in Montana. Sink your teeth into one of their tasty street tacos and you’re sure to agree.

1338 11th Ave, Helena, MT 59601, USA

Mike Alcazaren/GoogleMaps

The Official Porkchop John’s / Facebook

John Burklund invented the pork chop sandwich in 1924, and nearly a century later, it’s still a staple in Butte. Stop by one of the two Pork Chop John’s locations in town and end your road trip with an iconic culinary staple that is “Only in Montana.”

8 W Mercury St, Butte, MT 59701, USA2400 Harrison Ave, Butte, MT 59701, USA

Now that you’re fueled up, we hope you’ve saved room for dessert too! Montana has an incredible ice cream trail that you’re definitely going to want to check out.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants in Montana & Related Info February 07, 2023 Jennifer Which restaurants in Montana have the best views? Farm-to-table dining takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to Montana’s best restaurants. In fact, many of the state’s top-rated eateries can pinpoint the source of their ingredients just by pointing out a window! Fortunately, dining with a view comes just as easily in Big Sky Country. Waterfront restaurants, mountain-top resorts, and even remote restaurants in the heart Montana’s wide-open spaces all offer phenomenal sights to go with your locally-sourced meal, whether you enjoy it al fresco or in a cozy, romantic space. These delicious restaurants (and bars) in Montana all offer some of the best views in the state:

Amber Bear Inn, Heron Boat Club Restaurant, Whitefish East Shore Smokehouse, Polson Fiesta en Jalisco, Polson Finn, Missoula Flathead Lake Brewing Co., Bigfork Gallatin River Lodge, Bozeman Gallatin Riverhouse BBQ, Big Sky Harbor Grille, Lakeside Iron Horse Bar & Grill, Missoula Lakeside on Hauser Bar, Beach & Marina, Helena Lolo Creek Steakhouse, Lolo Mackenzie River Pizza, Great Falls Montana Sky Restaurant, Billings Raven, Woods Bay Schafer’s Restaurant, Bigfork SkyBar at Casey’s, Whitefish Tamarack Brewing Company, Missoula Whitefish Lake Golf Club Restaurant, Whitefish Yellowstone Valley Grill, Livingston

 

The OIYS Visitor Center

Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants in Montana & Related Info

February 07, 2023

Jennifer

Which restaurants in Montana have the best views? Farm-to-table dining takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to Montana’s best restaurants. In fact, many of the state’s top-rated eateries can pinpoint the source of their ingredients just by pointing out a window! Fortunately, dining with a view comes just as easily in Big Sky Country. Waterfront restaurants, mountain-top resorts, and even remote restaurants in the heart Montana’s wide-open spaces all offer phenomenal sights to go with your locally-sourced meal, whether you enjoy it al fresco or in a cozy, romantic space. These delicious restaurants (and bars) in Montana all offer some of the best views in the state:

Amber Bear Inn, Heron Boat Club Restaurant, Whitefish East Shore Smokehouse, Polson Fiesta en Jalisco, Polson Finn, Missoula Flathead Lake Brewing Co., Bigfork Gallatin River Lodge, Bozeman Gallatin Riverhouse BBQ, Big Sky Harbor Grille, Lakeside Iron Horse Bar & Grill, Missoula Lakeside on Hauser Bar, Beach & Marina, Helena Lolo Creek Steakhouse, Lolo Mackenzie River Pizza, Great Falls Montana Sky Restaurant, Billings Raven, Woods Bay Schafer’s Restaurant, Bigfork SkyBar at Casey’s, Whitefish Tamarack Brewing Company, Missoula Whitefish Lake Golf Club Restaurant, Whitefish Yellowstone Valley Grill, Livingston

 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Farm-to-table dining takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to Montana’s best restaurants. In fact, many of the state’s top-rated eateries can pinpoint the source of their ingredients just by pointing out a window! Fortunately, dining with a view comes just as easily in Big Sky Country. Waterfront restaurants, mountain-top resorts, and even remote restaurants in the heart Montana’s wide-open spaces all offer phenomenal sights to go with your locally-sourced meal, whether you enjoy it al fresco or in a cozy, romantic space. These delicious restaurants (and bars) in Montana all offer some of the best views in the state:

  • Amber Bear Inn, Heron
  • Boat Club Restaurant, Whitefish
  • East Shore Smokehouse, Polson
  • Fiesta en Jalisco, Polson
  • Finn, Missoula
  • Flathead Lake Brewing Co., Bigfork
  • Gallatin River Lodge, Bozeman
  • Gallatin Riverhouse BBQ, Big Sky
  • Harbor Grille, Lakeside
  • Iron Horse Bar & Grill, Missoula
  • Lakeside on Hauser Bar, Beach & Marina, Helena
  • Lolo Creek Steakhouse, Lolo
  • Mackenzie River Pizza, Great Falls
  • Montana Sky Restaurant, Billings
  • Raven, Woods Bay
  • Schafer’s Restaurant, Bigfork
  • SkyBar at Casey’s, Whitefish
  • Tamarack Brewing Company, Missoula
  • Whitefish Lake Golf Club Restaurant, Whitefish
  • Yellowstone Valley Grill, Livingston