Things to do / Travel Guide
When it comes to dining in Yellowstone, don't expect dainty dishes. These parts are considered cattle country and the culinary cuisine follows suit. On top of local hearty grub, larger hubs like Jackson, Cody, Bozeman, and Billings offer more diverse options featuring everything from Tex Mex to egg rolls, so there is sure to be a dining option to satisfy every palate.
Montana and Wyoming Local Dining Specialties
Belly up to the bar and fill up your plate with some of Yellowstone's famed local specialties. Expect plenty of biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steaks, turkey loaf, and mashed potatoes, mixed in with huge half pound burgers and juicy steaks. Don't forget the apple pie for dessert. One local “delicacy” that often tricks the tourists is Rocky Mountain Oysters; deep fried bison testicles, normally served in pairs. Vegetarians aren't easily accommodated, as this cattle country is serious about its meat, so be prepared to eat lots of hearty baked potatoes at the average grill or traditional restaurant.
For a special treat, visitors can get a true taste of the Old-West and combine eating with entertainment by attending an Old West style cookout. Trips depart via horseback or by horse-drawn wagon to a special scenic site, where you can chow-down on steak and beans and listen to campfire music. Popular chuck wagon cookouts are available in Jackson Hole and in Yellowstone, which combine rides with the Old West feast and cowboy style entertainment.
Dining Inside Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks
Inside the parks you will find the typical tourist-driven eateries, generally plain but reasonably priced and quite convenient, especially for families. There is also campfire cuisine to get the tummy rumbling. With so many picnic areas and campgrounds, many visitors to Yellowstone find this a great family option. Snack bars, delis, and convenience and grocery stores are dispersed throughout the parks, providing all the necessities for a cook out, but remember that a wider selection and cheaper prices can be found in the supermarkets in larger towns like Cody and Jackson.
The parks concessionaire, Xanterra, runs most of the in-park dining options. For a slightly more upscale dining option in the parks, the pleasant restaurants and dining rooms of the park's historic inns are a great option. The dining room at Old Faithful Inn, with its classic log interior, and Jenny Lake Lodge in Grand Teton, offer delicious gourmet meals in a cozy rustic setting.
Dining Around Yellowstone in Cody and Jackson
In addition to the local specialties, visitors to Yellowstone aching for a bit more variety in their sustenance source need not worry. Gateway towns, particularly Cody and Jackson, are home to numerous diverse dining options, including Italian, Thai, Chinese, and French style cuisine, in addition to the typical delis, pizzerias, and burger and fries joints. The area also hosts a number of acclaimed microbreweries, so you can wash down the grub with a nice cold beer. Jackson is actually home to the more sophisticated, and pricey, upscale dining in the region, with restaurants that would be celebrated even in the biggest U.S. cities. The highlights of these establishments are the elegant settings and rustic mood, not to mention the gourmet food (think bison ribeye or elk fillet topped with baked brie and blackberry butter). Cody, and even Dubois, also boast a selection of up-scale options.
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