Cowboy Cuisine in Montana

Cowboy up for some fine Western cooking—plus a few culinary surprises you’ll never see coming—at these quintessentially Montana outposts.

451 E Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA
On Main Street in downtown Bozeman, the Garage is a funky place for a casual meal. Car parts hung on the walls and license-plate-frame menus (not to mention the name of the place) reveal the eatery’s former life as a fix-it shop. Now the space serves suped up diner fare such as bison burgers with grilled mushrooms and Swiss cheese. Be sure to visit the self-serve “soup shack” where the cooks’ latest creations might include sausage and mustard, green chili pork, or Thai coconut soup. Save room for a huckleberry ice cream dessert.
2829 King Ave W Suite D, Billings, MT 59102, USA
The Staggering Ox is a unique beast. This sandwich shop – with locations in Billings, Helena, and Missoula – serves up their creative fare in vertical tubes known as Clubfoots. The idea here is that your delicious sandwich meat won’t spill out the bottom, and the clubfoot is easier to hold than traditional starchy vessels. Hey, whatever works. Gimmicky presentation aside, the sandwiches at the Staggering Ox truly are delicious. My favorites include the Blackfoot (black beans, cheddar, Monterey jack, salsa, and more) and the vertical taco (ground beef, cheddar, black beans, jalapenos, Monterey jack). I’m also a bit of a sucker for their green moon juice that comes spills forth from the futuristic beverage dispenser.
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