You may have heard about the stunning view, skyrocketing mountains, vast plains, national parks, glaciers, and lakes of Montana. However, today, we will enlist the famous food items available nationwide. This article on Costco Travels will feature the unique dishes and flavors that Montana’s food is known for, making it stand out from the rest. It is a paradise for food lovers, ranging from huckleberry pie, steak, classic American food staples, and sweet treats to hearty ranch cuisine. Let’s find out what else you can try here.

Iconic Food Items:

We have listed the unique and fantastic food items of Monata below.

Huckleberries in All Forms

We first want to tell you about Huckleberries, a characteristic part of Montana’s cuisine and culture. These berries have a versatile flavor profile. They are sweet and tart simultaneously and are picked especially during summer to uniquely make pies, ice cream, and jams. Their presence adds a lot more to the natural beauty across Montana. Local and international visitors pick these berries during their trip as an eventful activity. Here are some of the farms where you can collect these berries.

Location:

• Gallatin Valley Botanical at Rocky Creek Farm: 34297 Frontage Rd., Bozeman, MT 59715.
• Dude’s Montana Peaches: 28 Seed Orchard Ln., Plains, MT 59859.
• Getmans’ Cherry Red Orchard: E Shore Rte, Bigfork.

Flathead Cherries

Flathead Cherries are named based on their belonging to Flathead Valley in Montana. In terms of flavor, these cherries are a variety of tart and juicy while they appear small and dark red. Locals have been growing and harvesting them for decades, making them a vital food source during the long winters. Their flavor profile makes them ideal for jams, pies, turnovers, and other bakery items available in Montana.

Mackenzie River Pizza

MacKenzie River Pizza is a Montana-based restaurant chain that offers delicious food and a casual, rustic atmosphere. It was founded in 1993 to capture the spirit of Montana through its menu, decor, and overall dining experience. Visitors will have pizzas, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, and desserts here. The location of its main branch is below.

Location:

• 232 E Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA.

Steak

Steak is another popular food known in Montana that travelers can have while exploring the state. Cattle are raise with great care by the locals here, which results in the production of high-quality ranches and beef. Therefore, when cooked, tender and flavorful meat gives a unique taste, from earthy to sweet. These flavourful steaks are paired with other traditional food items like potatoes or huckleberries, resulting in a fantastic meal. Below are the locations of some of the places that offer the best steaks.

Location:

• Marysville House, 153 W Main St., Marysville.
• Land of Magic, 11060 Front St., Logan.
• Babb Bar Cattle Baron Supper Club, 3990 Us Hwy 89, Babb.

Bison Burgers and Elk Burgers

The wild bison is available as a menu item in many restaurants around Montana, including the Corral in Gardiner, Montana Grill, and Hops Downtown Grill in Kalispell. It is often regarded as buffalo. The freshly grilled bison burger has a slim texture that gives a juicy yet flavorful taste on the first bite. You can find them with unique toppings of BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, and crispy onion rings as per your taste in many restaurants and food trucks across the state. Similarly, elk meat is leaner and higher in protein than beef. When it gets inside the burger with mayonnaise, mustard, or even portobello mushrooms, blue cheese, and a fried egg at the top, it gives a juicy and flavorful taste, just like beef burgers.

Pasties

If you enlist some of the classic food items that have been a part of Montana’s food heritage, pasties will surely earn a deserving place here. One of its significant aspects is that it is a convenient food item you can eat with a hand while walking. Preparing these pies includes filling with flour, buttermilk, butter, and beef or pork. Its crust gets folded on the mixture in a half-moon shape and baked until it has a golden brown appearance. People love to have them with mashed potatoes and gravy. Some of the shops that sell the best pastries are below.

Location:

• 208 E Park Ave, Anaconda, MT 59711, USA.
• Mineshaft Pasty Co, 111 N 2nd St, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA.
• Big Paul’s Pastys, 1831 11th Ave, Helena, MT 59601, USA.

Cream of the West

Cream of the West is also a well-known food item in Montana. They offer simple hot cereals made from high-protein, hard-red, organic wheat. Besides its 100% organic roasted wheat, tourists can have various hot cereal varieties, including roasted ranch oatmeal, roasted 7-Grain, and cowgirl, 100% organic 7-Grain. You can find them in grocery stores or farmer’s markets across the state.

Huckleberry Bear Claws

Huckleberry bear claws are a delicious, sweet pastry originating from Montana. They are a sweet roll shape like a bear paw with a sweet and tart huckleberry filling. Even though tourists will find them all over the state, Polebridge Mercantile is mainly known for having the best bear claws in terms of taste. You can find this bakery at the location below.

Location:

• 265 Polebridge Loop, Polebridge, MT 59928, USA.

Burger Dive

With their epic burgers, Burger Dive has won several awards and multiple hearts of locals and outsiders for over a decade. Their fresh and never-frozen burgers are a complete treat for burger and fast food lovers. Tourists can find the Burger Dive in a building at the location below.

Location:

• 114 N 27th St, Billings, MT 59101, USA.

Pickle Barrel Sandwiches

The Pickle Barrel is known for selling the best sandwiches across Montana. Local and international visitors both enjoy their Bobcat Special, which is indeed its best-selling item. These sandwiches are topped with turkey, roast beef, Swiss, and Monterey Jack cheeses; it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. Two of its branches are at the locations below.

Location:

• 809 West College Street, Bozeman, MT 59715.
• 119 S Main St, Livingston, MT 59047.

What is Montana Food likely to be known for?

While you are exploring Montana, among the things that you will love for sure is its food. It has various food options and spots, many of which are popular too. But the one for which Montana food is known is Huckleberries. Several shops are dedicated only to huckleberries, including a famous name on the list, Huckleberry Patch in Hungry Horse. This shop was inaugurated in 1949 and provides all kinds of Huckleberry you are familiar with. We suggest you try some of the huckleberry pie during your visit to Montana and get them for your homies, too.

Outdoor Activities You can enjoy in Montana.

During your trip to Montana, tourists can enjoy various outdoor activities. While exploring the city of Helena, you must visit the Montana State Capitol, Montana Historical Society, and various art galleries. Other than that, Yellowstone National Park in Bozeman attracts visitors. The book lovers can visit more than 60 bookstores in the city to find the exciting stuff. Also, you discover the historical significance of Richest Hill on Earth and the diverse wildlife available here. Lastly, Glacier National Park, spanned by the famous Going-to-the-Sun road from east to west, is another visiting option for nature lovers.

Final Words:

Montana has a rich and diverse food culture that showcases its natural beauty and frontier heritage. The cuisines available at the crossroads are the true reflection of the particular region. Visitors must try the various dishes available across the state at least once. For this, read about the unique food items via this article and shortlist the ones you want to try.