INSIDER LIST: My Favorite Things To Eat In Bozeman

Let's take a tour of my favorite food to order in the Bozeman area. I'll admit it. I love food. Always have and always will. Fancy stuff. Classic stuff. A great salad dressing is just as important and wonderful as finding your new favorite burger.

Good food is all over the Bozeman area. No matter your taste or budget, this corner of Montana is packed with tasty gems. Dare I say it has been one of the benefits of so much growth around here. More people = more options.

If you're not familiar with Bozeman's food scene, allow me to share a few of my favorite things. It would be impossible for me to list everything, but these meals are a good place to start. Consider it a 'Bozeman Tasting Menu'.

NOTE: This is a short list of good things to try when you visit Bozeman. It is NOT complete and it doesn't include everything I crave. There are many more bars and restaurants that I love very much, so perhaps there will be another installment.

The Lanny Burger with bacon at The Haufbrau. The crab cake eggs benedict at Jam! downtown. The spinach artichoke dip at Sidewinders. The Bloody Mary at Café 191 in Big Sky. I think about delicious food more than I should.

My 'favorite things to eat in Bozeman' list is in no particular order. These are not ranked or rated. I just really like them. And no, nobody paid to get on this list. It's simply my personal opinion on a few tasty menu items around here.

House Salad with House Dressing: MacKenzie River Pizza Co. Bozeman - (232 East Main, Bozeman) Get whatever salad you want, but slather it with that house dressing. I personally like the house salad because it's got Grape Nuts on it, but this is all about that House Dressing. I'd probably drink it.

Vietnamese Chicken Wings: Feast Raw Bar & Bistro - (270 West Kagy, Bozeman) I always order them extra crispy. As far as I know, these are a legit homage to the famous wings of Pok Pok in Portland, which closed in 2020. They're loaded with garlic and delicious.

Pickle Barrel Sandwiches - (809 West College, Bozeman) My personal favorites are the Mushroom Steak and the Turkey Sandwich, but there's whatever sandwich you want. They're huge. They're delicious. They're a Bozeman institution.

The Pickle Barrel was started in 1975 and there are locations in Bozeman and Livingston. Two generations and probably thousands of locals have worked at PB in one point in their life. It might be a small sandwich shop, but it's church to me.

The Simkins-Hallin Margherita Pizza: Mountains Walking Brewery - (422 North Plum Avenue, Bozeman) There are many great pizza places in the Bozeman area, but this particular one is my favorite. The Tachos are also worth sharing.

Mountains Walking dough is scratch made and has a 48 hour cold fermentation process before it’s cooked in a wood fired oven. The pizza is rustic and beautiful. I hardly ever drink beer anymore, but I'll make a trip to MW just for that pizza.

Egg Rolls: Ponderosa Social - (515 West Aspen, Bozeman) These egg rolls are crack rolls. Ask anyone. The egg rolls are big, hand-made, and the dipping sauce is ridiculous. Like most of their other apps, these things are elevated bar food that has been thoughtfully prepared.

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