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I know what you’re thinking…going to a national park doesn’t automatically make you think of food does it? No? Well, great eating in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks should definitely be on your radar along with all those animals, mountains, and geothermal pools you will see!
Since they’re so different, there’s no particular order, but these are my five places to eat in West Yellowstone and Grand Teton!
Yellowstone Resources & Recommendations
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- Yellowstone Lodge– (where I stayed) Read reviews | Book rooms
- Allianz Travel Insurance
– Protect yourself and your trip
- TripAdvisor– Find and read reviews for hotels, tours and more
- Skyscanner– Find and compare the best prices on flights
| best prices on rental cars
- Lonely Planet Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks Travel Guide– the best (and my favorite) guide books!
1. Running Bear Pancake House
West Yellowstone, Montana
Running Bear Pancake House is actually the #1 rated restaurant in West Yellowstone, MT on TripAdvisor and it definitely didn’t disappoint! Open for breakfast and lunch, it has a down-home feel with great service and great food (think strawberry crepes)!
TIP: Either be the first one in the door or go mid-morning around 9am during the week when most people have already left for the park!
Running Bear Pancake House is located at 538 Madison Avenue, West Yellowstone, Montana 59758
2. Buckaroo Bills Ice Cream & BBQ
West Yellowstone, Montana
We ate at the All-American Buckaroo Bills on our last night and it was the neatest little place! It has a lot of character complete with inside/outside seating, tables that look like covered wagons and a collection of several different car tags from each state!
Its extensive menu includes an array of items such as buffalo and elk burgers, hot dogs, steak, salads, bbq ribs, tacos, chicken, tater tots, and personal pizzas. To top it off? It has its own ice cream bar that includes classic flavors like chocolate and strawberry, but also specialty flavors such as huckleberry and mint moose tracks!
I had the Deputy Dog (comes with chili, cheddar cheese and onions-it’s pictured below!) with tater tots and it was fantastic!
TIP: This is a family-friendly restaurant. Portions (including the ice cream) tend to be on the larger side so if you are the sharing type, this would be a good place for that. I highly recommend the hot dogs!
Buckaroo Bills is located at 24 Canyon Street, West Yellowstone, Montana 59758
You might also like: THE BEST TIME TO VISIT YELLOWSTONE & GRAND TETON: 5 REASONS + 35 PHOTOS
3. Blue Lion
Jackson, Wyoming
The Blue Lion might have been the cutest little place EVER! It has a charming little outdoor deck complete with soft, live music, large lavender sun umbrellas and is complemented by multiple oversized hanging pots of the prettiest petunias! Inside seating is also available and has its own charm with photos from around the area displayed.
Rated by TripAdvisor as the #4 restaurant in Jackson, it is a bit on the nicer side with blue tablecloths (it IS the BLUE Lion after all 🙂 ) and menu items include starters such as Santa Fe Duck Cakes, Baked Brie en Croute and entrees such as Roast Rack of Lamb, Buffalo Tenderloin, and Elk Tenderloin.
Personally, because I had buffalo earlier in the week, I was feeling the Risotto Florentine with Grilled Shrimp. It did NOT disappoint!
TIP: Reservations are recommended or get there when the doors open at 5:30p like we did. If you get there between 5:30-6p, you get the early bird special of 20% off your bill!
Blue Lion is located at 160 N Millward, Jackson, WY 83001 and is open nightly from 5:30pm to 9pm.
4. Wild West Pizzeria
West Yellowstone, Montana
Wild West Pizzeria was the second restaurant we tried based on its #2 rank by TripAdvisor and the fact that we happened to be craving pizza on night 2! 😉 You can get personal 8” pizzas as well as larger pizzas to accommodate the number in your party.
Their menu includes their fun specialty pizzas such as Sitting Bull, Sacajawea, Butch Cassidy, Doc Holiday and Wild West Supreme (which is what I got and is pictured above)! You can also make your own pizza and they have pasta, hot sandwiches as well as live music on select nights!
TIP: Get there a little earlier or later than prime dinner time to avoid the crowds. This is a family-friendly restaurant.
Wild West Pizzeria is located at 14 Madison Ave, West Yellowstone, MT 59758 and is open 11am to midnight daily.
5. The Buffalo Bar
West Yellowstone, Montana
The Buffalo Bar was our night one dinner location. It came locally recommended to us and came in at #6 on TripAdvisor. It is most definitely a bar type atmosphere with a few dinner tables, several bar tables, pool tables and an arcade.
The food is spectacular and the menu includes items such as burgers, hotdogs, chicken, pot roast, tacos, and salads. They also serve breakfast from 10a-4pm!
I had the Penne Mac N Cheese with ground buffalo meat and oh my goodness, how YUMMY!!! It comes with a side of the most delicious garlic bread and a side salad.
Dressing choices included huckleberry vinaigrette, cilantro and lime vinaigrette, and jalapeño ranch. I couldn’t choose between the huckleberry vinaigrette and cilantro and lime vinaigrette so I got both and they were excellent!
I also just might have gotten some of the huckleberry BBQ sauce to dip my garlic bread in….this is a MUST TRY! SO good!!
Don’t miss the FULL mount bison kicking its back legs up in the middle of the restaurant!
TIP: Portions are big. My friend and I split the mac n cheese and we could not believe that what looked like a full portion was actually a half! Neither of us finished our “halves”!
The Buffalo Bar is located at 335 Highway Ave, West Yellowstone, MT 59758 and is open from 10am to 2am daily.
PIN IT!
And there you have it! My 5 places to eat when visiting Yellowstone and Grand Tetons…for now! I hope to go back soon and expand this list! 🙂
Where do YOU like to eat at these parks? Would love to know your favorites! I am always looking for new finds and cool eats!
‘Til next time…
Trimm Travels,
Can’t wait to try your recommendations!
I hope you like them! 🙂
Yum, Yum!!! I am hungry!