10 Best Restaurants in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Background Illustration for Restaurants

When traveling in Yellowstone it's always a good idea to bring along a cooler—that way you can carry some snacks and lunch items for a picnic or break and not have to worry about making it to one of the more developed areas of the park, where all restaurants and cafeterias are managed by two competing companies (Xanterra and Delaware North). Generally you'll find burgers and sandwiches at cafeterias and full meals at restaurants. The entrée selection includes beef and chicken, game meats such as elk and bison, fish like salmon and trout, and there are kids-oriented offerings. At the several delis and general stores you can purchase picnic items, snacks, sandwiches, and desserts like fudge and ice cream. Considering the park's remoteness, the selection and quality are above average, but expect to pay more as well. Reservations are needed for dinner at the Old Faithful Inn, Lake Yellowstone Hotel, and Grant Village dining rooms; during the summer reservations are recommended for all dining rooms.

Lake Hotel Dining Room

$$$$ | Lake Village Fodor's choice

Opened in 1891, this double-colonnaded dining room off the lobby of the Lake Yellowstone Hotel is the park's most elegant dining spot, and with a menu that focuses on regional ingredients. Arrive early and enjoy a beverage and the view in the airy Reamer Lounge, which debuted as a sunroom in 1928. The dinner menu includes such enticing starters as a charcuterie sampler with Montana cheeses. Favorites among the main courses include steelhead trout with spring pea puree, and bone-in maple-glazed pork chops with an apple-cider vinaigrette. The wine list focuses on California and the Pacific Northwest. Reservations aren't needed for breakfast or lunch, but they're highly recommended for dinner, as far in advance (up to a year) as possible.

Old Faithful Inn Dining Room

$$$ | Old Faithful Fodor's choice

The Old Faithful Inn's original dining room—designed by Robert Reamer in 1903 and expanded by him in 1927—has lodgepole-pine walls and ceiling beams and a giant volcanic rock fireplace. Note the whimsical etched-glass panels that separate the dining room from the Bear Pit Lounge; the images of partying animals were commissioned by Reamer in 1933 to celebrate the end of Prohibition. The dinner buffet favors quantity over quality, so it's wiser to order from the à la carte menu, which features dishes like wild sockeye salmon, New York strip steak, and pork osso buco, and at least a couple of vegetarian options.

Bear Paw Deli

$ | Old Faithful

You can grab a quick bite and not miss a geyser eruption at this snack shop in the Old Faithful Inn. Salmon, black-bean, and beef burgers as well as several sandwiches are available throughout the day, as is hand-dipped ice cream. There's a small seating area.

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Canyon Lodge Eatery

$

Diners pack this mid-century-modern–inspired restaurant for casual breakfasts, as well as lunches and dinners that deviate from your standard national park fare. Design your own wok meal with veggies, meat, and toppings, or choose a protein and sauce on a three-item combo plate. It's nothing special, but it is the best of the dining options in Canyon Village.

83B Lupine Ct., Yellowstone National Park, WY, 82190, USA
307-344–7311
Known For
  • More interesting than typical cafeteria-style fare
  • Asian-inspired wok stir-fries
  • Lemon layer cake
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed mid-Oct.–late May, Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted

Grant Village Dining Room

$$$ | Grant Village

Although the passable food here isn't the main event, the floor-to-ceiling windows of this waterfront restaurant provide dazzling views of Yellowstone Lake through the thick stand of pines. The pine-beam ceilings, cedar-shake walls, and contemporary decor lend the place a homey feel. Entrée choices at dinner range from pasta and trout to pork carnitas and elk meat loaf. Breakfast is also served.

550 Sculpin La., Yellowstone National Park, WY, 82190, USA
307-344–7311
Known For
  • Sweeping water views
  • Reliable breakfast fare
  • Vanilla bean crème brûlée cheesecake
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Oct.–late May, Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential

Mammoth Hotel Dining Room

$$$ | Mammoth Hot Springs

A wall of windows in the handsome art deco–style restaurant overlooks an expanse of green that was once a military parade and drill field. While enjoying breakfast, lunch, or dinner you might catch a glimpse of elk grazing on the lawn. Montana beef, bison, boar, and trout receive pride of place at dinner, which always includes a few vegetarian entrées. Dinner reservations are not taken in summer, but are essential in winter.

305A Albright Ave., Yellowstone National Park, WY, 82190, USA
307-344–7311
Known For
  • Bison burgers
  • Creative appetizers
  • Views of roaming elk
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed mid-Oct.–mid-Dec. and Mar.–late Apr., Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted

Mammoth Terrace Grill

$ | Mammoth Hot Springs

Although the exterior looks rather elegant, this is actually the casual option at Mammoth Hot Springs, a good bet for simple fare like hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken tenders. Continental breakfast is offered all day. Take a break and wander the volcanic-rock terraces outside.

Old Faithful Snow Lodge Obsidian Dining Room

$$$

From the wood-and-leather chairs etched with animal figures to the intricate lighting fixtures that resemble snowcapped trees, there's ample Western atmosphere at this relatively intimate dining room inside the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. The huge windows give you a view of the Old Faithful area, and you can sometimes see the famous geyser as it erupts. The French onion soup will warm you up on a chilly afternoon; among the main courses, standouts include pasta with house-made elk and bison bolognese sauce, and pecan-cornmeal-crusted Montana trout. It's one of the only full-service park dining options open in winter.

2051 Snow Lodge Ave., Yellowstone National Park, WY, 82190, USA
307-344–7311
Known For
  • Hearty regional wild game dishes
  • Open in winter
  • Lounge offering microbrews and lighter fare
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed late-Oct.–mid-Dec. and Mar.–late Apr., Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted

Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room

$$ | Tower Junction

The menu at this atmospheric log cabin in a pine forest includes appropriately rustic options like skirt steak, mesquite-smoked chicken, and blackened ruby red trout, but you'll also find simpler comfort fare, like carnitas nachos and fried-green tomatoes. For a real adventure, make a reservation for the Roosevelt Old West Dinner Cookout, which includes a horseback trail ride or a stagecoach ride.

Wylie's Canteen at Lake Lodge

$

The former Lake Lodge Cafeteria was upgraded and rebranded as Wylie's Canteen in 2019 and still offers quick and casual bites with awe-inspiring Lake Yellowstone views, but the quality of food has improved. Try the breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches in the morning, or build-your-own burgers (bison, beef, chicken, Beyond Meat, or salmon), fried chicken, and salads later in the day.

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