Get ready for a taste of the wild in Big Sky Country. Montana’s cuisine reflects the varied landscapes and love of tradition in the Treasure State. From local ingredients to delicious dishes at restaurants, here are 10 popular Montana foods and drinks you must try. I bet a couple of them surprise you!
This story is brought to you in partnership with Visit Montana and is based on my family’s adventures in the Big Sky State.
This website sometimes receives compensation, hosted travel, or products related to blog posts. This article may include affiliate links at no extra cost to consumers. As an Amazon Associate, we earn money from qualifying purchases.
1. Huckleberries
Huckleberries are one of the most famous foods in Montana, and for good reason. These vibrant berries are not only a delicious treat but also a symbol of the state’s wild natural beauty. Montana’s indigenous tribes have long revered huckleberries, using them in traditional dishes and for medicinal purposes. Found in mountainous regions and often in areas that have recently burned, huckleberries are a prized find.
Montana’s official state fruit tastes similar to blueberries, but they are a bit bigger and more tangy. You’ll find huckleberries in sweets like ice cream, huckleberry pie, or huckleberry bear claws. Huckleberries also add zip to savory items like meat glazes and salad dressings.
You’ll see lots of packaged huckleberry treats in local stores, too. So, pick up some huckleberry jam, pancake syrup, candies, or other goodies to bring the taste of Montana home!
2. Steaks & Burgers
Indulging in a steak in Montana celebrates the state’s rich ranching heritage. In fact, Montana ranks #7 in the U.S. for beef cattle production. Eating locally-raised beef ensures a tasty farm-to-table experience.
Burgers are also a big deal in Montana. In addition to juicy patties made from ground beef, look for elk burgers and bison burgers from game meats on local menus.
I can’t stop thinking about the Bacon Egger Burger at Bread & Butter Café. This 1/3-pound hamburger comes topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, hash browns, and a fried egg. I liked it so much that I’ve tried to recreate this dish at home, but my efforts don’t compare to the over-the-top deliciousness served at this Townsend restaurant.
3. Farm Fresh Produce
Montana grows more than huckleberries and cows. With over 58 million acres of farmland, Montana is a treasure trove of agricultural delights. Common crops include wheat, lentils, peas, and potatoes.
Find a colorful array of produce at farmers markets throughout Montana. The state’s fertile soil makes it a great place to grow vegetables like tomatoes, squash, peppers, green beans, and leafy greens like lettuce and kale. Locally grown fruits include apples, pears, plums, and apricots. Montana is famous for its delicious cherries, especially Flathead cherries that grow around the picturesque Flathead Lake, the state’s largest lake.
You can also taste the state’s farm fresh goodness in local restaurants. Can you believe I ordered the pretty garden salad pictured above from a restaurant attached to a bowling alley? The Alley Bistro in Ennis prides itself on serving family-friendly fine dining.
4. Rainbow Trout
The most common fish in Montana is the rainbow trout. Freshly caught from the state’s pristine rivers and lakes, this popular Montana food is a staple on many restaurant menus. This culinary delight is cherished for its delicate, flaky texture and mild, slightly nutty flavor. Often, it is served with lemon butter and prepared grilled, baked, or pan-fried.
I enjoyed a rainbow trout filet seared and topped with seasonings at The Grand Hotel Restaurant in Big Timber. Served with a huge baked potato, vegetables, and salad, unless you’re a big eater, you could definitely split this dish.
5. Picnic Fare
If visiting Montana in summer, then a picnic lunch is an absolute must. With its majestic mountains, serene lakes, and lush meadows, the state of Montana offers the perfect backdrop for a memorable picnic. You can order boxed lunches from cafés and delis near Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, or Montana’s plentiful state parks.
My family picked up made-to-order sandwiches from Big Timber’s Earth Wise General Store, where the focus is on sustainable, local foods. We ate our meal at the nearby Lions Club Park with its adorable Montana-themed playground. Even better, you could drive 25 miles south from Big Timber to Natural Bridge Falls in the Gallatin National Forest for a beautiful picnic spot.
There are also dining options within Montana’s state and national parks. For example, we got salads and sandwiches from Caverns Café inside Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park. What a spectacular lunchtime view we were treated to!
6. Craft Beer
Montana offers a bevy of craft brews for beer connoisseurs and casual imbibers. Many of Montana’s breweries welcome kids and some offer live music. Most offer non-alcoholic options like sodas or juices, too.
The most popular local beer is Moose Drool. Missoula’s Big Sky Brewing Company brews this brown ale but it can be found at eating and drinking establishments throughout the state.
Order a beer flight to sample multiple hoppy options from beloved spots like the cozy Burnt Tree Brewing in Ennis, Philipsburg Brewing Company in a historic 1888 bank building in Philipsburg, or Blackfoot River Brewing Company, a taproom that serves free popcorn alongside their handcrafted beers in Helena.
7. Barbecue
You might be surprised to learn that BBQ is one of the most popular foods in the Big Sky State. Montana ranks as the U.S. state that loves BBQ best, based on barbecue restaurants per capita, plus search volume for terms like brisket, ribs, and BBQ sauce.
In Belgrade, Bar 3 BBQ combines two local favorites — barbecue and beer. I found their smoked half chicken with white barbecue sauce to be particularly tender and tasty. There are a bunch of sides to choose from, like fried okra, mac and cheese, or coleslaw. Best of all, though, is their green chili cheese grits. The onsite One Pride Brewing serves all sorts of suds on tap, too.
For a Big Sky Country twist, Montana City Grill & Saloon is renowned for its chicken or pork ribs slathered with huckleberry BBQ sauce. It’s located just three miles outside Helena in Montana City.
8. Hearty Breakfast
In a state known for its farming, cattle ranching, and outdoor activities, it makes sense that its residents fuel up with a hearty breakfast for an active day. At diners frequented by a loyal local clientele, you’ll find stick-to-your-ribs favorites, like chicken fried steak, potato hashes, cheesy egg dishes, and pancakes topped with huckleberry syrup.
Step back in time at Yesterday’s Soda Fountain in Ennis, where photos of local legends adorn the cheery yellow walls. Their signature breakfast dish is biscuits and sausage gravy. Another customer favorite is their Indian fry bread served with honey butter. Yum!
Faye’s Café in Livingston receives 5 stars on Tripadvisor for its welcoming vibe, scratch-made food, and vegetarian options. You’ll find plenty of American standards like scrambles and cheesy grits plus muchos Mexican dishes like huevos rancheros, breakfast tacos, and pulled pork enchiladas.
9. Coffee
Whether you want a great cuppa joe to help wash down your big morning meal, or you’re looking for an afternoon pick-me-up, you’re in luck. Montana boasts a thriving coffee culture, with numerous coffee shops and roasters spread across the state.
Look for locally roasted coffees in Montana restaurants and coffee shops. Montana Coffee Traders is the most widely offered brand. They have their own coffeehouses in White Fish, where the company launched in 1981. You can buy their beans online, too, like their Montana Blend and Grizzly Bend.
My family was fond of The Coffee Stop‘s extensive menu featuring coffees, teas, smoothies, and “Foo Foo Drinks” like the Sweet Kiss made with white chocolate and strawberry. Pull through the drive-through or head indoors for a breakfast sandwich or burrito to enjoy with your drinks.
10. Pizza
Did you know pizza is one of the most popular Montana foods? In fact, Montana ranks among the U.S. states with the greatest number of pizzerias per capita, with 25.8 pizza shops per 100,000 people.
Biga Pizza in Missoula, known for its handmade sourdough crust, consistently shows up on lists of the best pizza in the state. A favorite is the Salsiccia Pizza, featuring Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, and mozzarella and mascarpone cheeses.
Best known for their homemade cinnamon rolls and other baked goods, it should come as no surprise that Big Timber Bakery in Big Timber makes one heckuva pizza dough. The puffy crust is a delightful combination of lightness and chewiness, baked to perfection in a wood-fired oven. What’s more, the bakery’s own gluten-free crust was just as delicious.
Treat your tastebuds to another tempting option at Deep Creek Pizza Co in Townsend. Their crispy thin crust is made with Kamut Khorasan Flour, made from ancient grains grown in Montana and praised for its ease of digestibility even by gluten-sensitive folks like me. (A gluten-free crust is available, too.) Their pies reminded me of the authentic pizzas you’ll find in Italy — not at all what I was expecting. Then again, maybe that’s exactly the caliber of cuisine I should have expected to find in a small town in Montana!
Taste More Delicious Foods
If you like this list of popular Montana foods, then you’ll love the farm-to-table cuisine in Talkeetna, Alaska (gateway to Denali).
From hatch chiles to gourmet chocolates, dig into farm fresh foods in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Discover what to eat in Iceland (and a couple of Icelandic foods to skip)!
For great food at home, read these helpful tips for hosting a backyard BBQ without stress.
Save These Popular Montana Foods
For future reference, save this list of what to eat in Montana. Simply pin one of the images above or below to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow Travel Mamas on Pinterest while you’re at it!
When you think of Montana food, what dish do you think of? Let us know in the comments below!
A Note from The Travel Mama: Visit Montana sponsored this blog post about Montana foods and drinks. Follow @visitmontana on Instagram for more inspiration. All opinions are mine, as always.
