food & drink

Coffee

Whether you need a morning boost, or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, these coffeehouses have just what it takes to get you going. But really, you don’t need an excuse for a caffeine craving when it comes to these voter picks.

  1. The Loose Caboose
  2. Butterfly Herbs
  3. Break Espresso

Espresso

Missoulians called the shots, and here are their choices for best local espresso.

  1. The Loose Caboose
  2. Break Espresso
  3. Liquid Planet

Tea

There’s no shortage in selection when it comes to great local tea. Missoula’s Butterfly Herbs reports they have the largest bulk tea and herb source in the Northwest, and local voters gave kudos for the selection.

  1. Butterfly Herbs
  2. Liquid Planet
  3. Start Your Engines

Breakfast

Waffles, french toast and pancakes, oh my! It’s enough to make you hungry just thinking about it, and these local breakfast joints don’t disappoint.

  1. The Shack
  2. Paul’s Pancake Parlor
  3. Hob Nob

Bakery

Bernice’s Bakery takes the cake, and other homemade goodies, for Missoula’s favorite bakery. They strive to mix good food with community responsibility, and locals have taken notice. Second place winner, Le Petit Outre, follows the time honored baking traditions of Europe. While Great Harvest grows its own wheat in Montana, and grinds it on their own mill every morning.

  1. Bernice’s Bakery
  2. Le Petit Outre
  3. Great Harvest Bread Company

Brunch

It’s not quite breakfast, and it’s not quite lunch, but it’s a delicious excuse to get some good grub. Here are the winners for best brunch.

  1. Finn & Porter
  2. The Old Post
  3. McDonald’s

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Soup

By using fresh ingredients and inventive recipes, the Catalyst pleases the palates of Missoulians with their tasty, homemade soups. Jaker’s and Doc’s also make the grade for a hot and delicious bowl of soup.

  1. The Catalyst
  2. Doc’s
  3. Jaker’s

Sandwich

Missoulians go downtown to get their favorite sandwiches. Doc’s credits its popularity to generous sandwiches made with the freshest ingredients. Staggering Ox is noted for its’ “tubular” bread, and Worden’s Market is complimented for its tasty, unique sandwiches.

  1. Doc’s
  2. Staggering Ox
  3. Worden’s Market

Salad

A great salad needs to have fresh, wholesome ingredients, yummy dressing, and offer enough to actually fill you up. These three places have all the ingredients for a fantastic salad.

  1. Good Food Store
  2. Iron Horse
  3. MacKenzie River Pizza

Appetizer

Diners indulge in these tasty and cheap treats when they just can’t wait for the main course, or as a snack to pair with drinks. Either way, appetizers at these local restaurants are sure to hit the spot.

  1. The Depot
  2. Iron Horse
  3. Jaker’s

Deli

A great alternative to greasy fast food, local delis are a perfect way to get a quick and healthy lunch. Worden’s Market credits their popularity to real people and real food. The Good Food Store has fresh, organic ingredients, while Tagliare patrons say they feel like they’re in a New York deli in Missoula.

  1. Worden’s Market
  2. Good Food Store
  3. Tagliare

Burger

It’s a must to order a burger and beer at when going into the Missoula Club. The Club is busiest when it’s late, but their burgers taste just as good at lunch as they do at midnight. Here are the top picks for tastiest burgers:

  1. Missoula Club
  2. Five Guys Burgers and Fries
  3. Fuddruckers

Burrito

The burrito has become a staple of inexpensive, good food in just about everyone’s diet. Therefore, these three “best burrito” winners have become regularly frequented in Missoula.

  1. Taco Del Sol
  2. El Diablo
  3. El Cazador

Pizza

Biga Pizza is all about local food, and local patrons are all about them. Mackenzie River Pizza and The Bridge also get top honors for their saucy, cheesy goodness.

  1. Biga Pizza
  2. Mackenzie River Pizza
  3. The Bridge

Hot Wings

Not only do hot wings give you an excuse to test your tolerance, they also give you an excuse to lick your fingers clean. Locals voted these three places the best place to indulge in these behaviors.

  1. Desperado
  2. Hooters
  3. The Old Post

French Fries

It could be argued that french fries are the best finger food ever invented. Here are the picks for the best place to go for the trusty standby.

  1. Hoagieville
  2. Iron Horse
  3. McDonald’s

Steak

Tender. Juicy. Mouth-watering. When steak is done right, it’s oh so right, and these guys know how to do it.

  1. Lolo Creek Steakhouse
  2. The Depot
  3. Outback Steakhouse

Sushi

Not all that long ago, it wasn’t the greatest of ideas to eat raw seafood in Montana. But we’ve come a long way since then, and these local sushi places have it down to an art.

  1. Sushi Hana
  2. Nara
  3. Good Food Store

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Vegetarian dish

More and more people are discovering that is doesn’t take meat to make a dish dee-lish. The vegetarian dishes these places put out prove it.

  1. Good Food Store
  2. Sa Wad Dee
  3. HuHot

Dessert

You know a dessert is “to die for” when you have to have it even after stuffing yourself with a full meal. You want to eat it before you even have your main dish. And you crave it out of nowhere. Locals say these places offer desserts to die for.

  1. Mustard Seed
  2. Big Dipper
  3. Albertson’s

Chef

There’s no such thing as delicious cuisine without an amazing chef behind it. These local culinary artists have been recognized for their talents.

  1. Scott Gill (Scotty’s Table)
  2. Ana and Jason Willenbrock (Posh Chocolat)
  3. Abe Risho (Silk Road)

New Restaurant

Adding to the mix of Missoula’s already eclectic variety of restaurants are two new neighbors located on the Hip Strip. Iza offers Asian fusion cuisine, while the Silk Road offers tasting menus from around the globe paired with wines to please the palate. For those on a budget, Five Guys Burgers and Fries has quickly become a local favorite for students and burger aficionados alike.

  1. Iza
  2. Silk Road
  3. Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Family Restaurant

The Montana Club’s huge menu and budget- friendly choices give families the perfect evening out to get away from the hustle and bustle in a fun and cozy atmosphere. Other family favorites include Ruby’s Café and Applebee’s.

  1. The Montana Club
  2. Ruby’s Café
  3. Applebee’s

Asian Restaurant

Longtime Missoula favorite, The Mustard Seed, blends the cooking of the Far East with the tastes of the Pacific Northwest. Sa Wad Dee charms Missoulians with their daily lunch buffet and authentic Thai cuisine, while China Garden’s noodle bowls and soup are sure to warm up any chilly Montana day.

  1. Mustard Seed
  2. Sa Wad Dee
  3. China Garden

Italian Restaurant

Ciao Mambo’s atmosphere is as genuine as the food. Friendly service, lively music, and smell of garlic bring a smile to the face of every patron. Other Missoula favorites offering a wide variety of Italian favorites are Johnny Carino’s and Romeo’s.

  1. Ciao Mambo
  2. Johnny Carino’s
  3. Romeo’s

Mexican Restaurant

While walking along Higgins you might be tempted by El Cazador’s wide array of Mexican fare. Fiesta en Jalisco has tres locations to satisfy your nacho cravings. Heraldo’s, with two locations, is a favorite in the outskirts of town.

  1. El Cazador
  2. Fiesta en Jalisco
  3. Heraldo’s

Dinner on the Cheap

When you’re looking for a lot of food with just a little bit of money, Taco Del Sol’s Mission Supreme Burrito will fill your belly all day long. The Good Food Store deli offers everything from soups and salads to a daily hot food bar, while the Iron Horse has a huge variety without an inflated price.

  1. Taco Del Sol
  2. Good Food Store
  3. The Iron Horse

Fast food

Wendy’s with their extensive value menu, reliably good food and fast-moving lines have established it as a favorite fast food destination among Missoulians. Also on the list are Taco Del Sol and Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

  1. Wendy’s
  2. Taco Del Sol
  3. Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Take Out

Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy some delicious food at home without going to the trouble of actually making it yourself. These restaurants whip up a great meal for customers to enjoy without the hassle.

  1. Noodle Express
  2. Mustard Seed
  3. China Buffet

Outdoor Dining

Ambiance can make or a break a dining experience, and there is nothing like sitting in the sun on a nice warm day, sipping a drink and people watching. These places let us enjoy those little things in life:

  1. Finn & Porter
  2. Iron Horse
  3. The Depot

Splurge

Everybody’s got to treat themselves every now again, right? A favorite place to do it is with the Pearl Café’s “country fare with city flair.” Red Bird’s innovative ingredients and Scotty’s Table’s urban, yet cozy neighborhood bistro also top the list of great places to celebrate.

  1. Pearl Café
  2. Red Bird
  3. Scotty’s Table

Restaurant Bathroom

It can really put a damper on the evening when you’re at a nice place, you go to use the john and suddenly, you feel like you’re in a dungeon. Not so at these restaurants, on the contrary, you feel like a king or queen upon a throne.

  1. Iron Horse
  2. The Keep
  3. Fuddruckers

Catering

When planning a nice event, there’s no question that the food can make or break the occasion. Luckily, Missoula has a strong variety of caterers with a delicious selection of food to make any event a hit.

  1. Two Sisters Catering
  2. All Events Catering
  3. Cathy’s Casual to Caviar

Wedding cake

Your wedding only comes around once in a lifetime (hopefully). That’s why it’s so important to have an extra-special cake to match the extra-special day. These local wedding cake connoisseurs have what it takes to make an unforgettable cake.

  1. Bernice’s Bakery
  2. Margaret Ambrose-Barton (Pearl Café)
  3. Rosauer’s

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