Dig into where to travel in California’s Eastern Sierra; sooner or later, you’ll come across Mammoth Lakes. Immediately after that, you’ll likely wonder what the best Mammoth Lakes restaurants are.
Having moved to the Sierra Nevada town of Mammoth Lakes five years ago, I’m partial to California’s Eastern Sierra. However, when talking with our travel planning clients, we found that the region outside of California is unknown. It’s worth visiting to help you have a great trip; I’m sharing my favorite Mammoth Lakes restaurants. First, let’s get to know the Mammoth food scene and then dive into where to eat.
What Is The Food Scene In Mammoth Lakes?
Mammoth is a very small town at a very high elevation (set at about 8,000 feet with just over 8,000 residents) with a tight community of outdoor lovers.
But that elevation and few permanent residents means the options for everyday conveniences — from dry cleaners to boutique shopping — are limited. And that limitation also applies to the dining option. For example, you won’t find as much farm-to-table fresh food as in other parts of California. Also, the town has a lot of places that cater to families and budget travelers.
The good news is there are only a couple of chains, so every one of the best restaurants in Mammoth Lakes is a locally-owned business. And in that mix, restaurants serve healthy bites, others shake up quality cocktails, and others still do their version of California mountain fine dining.
So you can find some gems and support the local economy as you eat!
Top Mammoth Lakes Restaurants
Here are 17 of the best restaurants in Mammoth Lakes, California to eat local and fresh:
For Breakfast Burritos: Stellar Brew
Started by Andrea Walker, who was born and raised in the Eastern Sierra, Stellar Brew is a go-to for locals. This coffee shop is just off Main Street and is the perfect place to grab good food made with fresh ingredients to fuel up for a day in the outdoors. The menu tends toward healthy-ish, including vegetarian, vegan, and even gluten-free options.
Their breakfast burrito is what they’re known for in our friend circle though other beloved made-to-order options are the egg-cheese sandwich (get it with pesto and avocado) or the Mushroom Chorizo Tacos. Other options are smoothies, açai bowls, soups, to-go salads, and on-point espresso drinks. They also have a refrigerator section with local goods like eggs, artisanal bread, and greens.
Stellar Brew and Natural Cafe, 3280 Main St, Mammoth Lakes
For Espresso Drinks: Black Velvet Coffee
Black Velvet firsts started roasting coffee in 2008, but the Main Street coffee shop, serving organic, rainforest alliance, and fair trade-certified coffee, opened in 2011. Easily the best coffee shop in Mammoth Lakes for third-wave espresso, they also have a seasonal menu of coffee drinks like Honey Orange Cappuccino and Fig Spiced lattes. Their cinnamon sugar waffles have a cult following in our crew, and they often have a few additional baked goods in their case.
You can also stop in for wine nights when they serve sustainable and often California-based wines. And, if you’re in town before heading out on a backpacking or camping trip, get one of their coffee growlers to go.
Black Velvet Coffee, 3343 Main St SUITE F, Mammoth Lakes
For Breakfast: The Warming Hut
Though it’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we think The Warming Hut is a great place for brunch. This family-owned friendly restaurant is named after the original moniker for the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge. It has a throwback feel even though it’s just been open a few years.
The food is always fresh, and almost everything is made from scratch. It’s an excellent place for families because there is something for everyone. We’re fans of the chilaquiles, the breakfast hash, the bacon, the pancakes, and the Bloody Marys. FYI, they don’t take reservations, so plan to wait for a table on the weekends.
The Warming Hut, 343 Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth Lakes
For Diner Food: The Stove
Family-owned and operated for over 40 years, this spot on the edge of Old Mammoth town is an institution. There is always a crowd on the weekends for breakfast and brunch, and with good reason: they serve filling breakfast classics (pancakes, omelets, and scrambles) with friendly service. Go for lunch or go during the weekdays when there is always room, and you can try their large variety of sandwiches like BLTs and Patty Melts.
The Stove, 644 Old Mammoth Rd, Mammoth Lakes
For Latin Fusion Eats: The Rolling Chef 395
One of the newest additions to our list of where to eat in Mammoth Lakes is the Latin fusion food truck known as The Rolling Chef 395. Run by the husband and wife team of Ismael Rivera and Claudia Gonzalez, they started in the nearby town of Bishop and became so popular that they opened a second food truck in Mammoth Lakes.
Their food is fresh, pretty healthy, and always flavorful and inspired by Mexican, Argentinian, Cuban, and Peruvian cuisines. Our menu favorites include the tallarines saltados, the Cubanito bowl, the shrimp burrito, and the choripan.
The Rolling Chef 395, Next to Footloose Sports, 3043 Main Street, Mammoth Lakes
For Quick Mexican Food: Salsas Taqueria
There are a handful of Mexican restaurants in town, but the best restaurant in Mammoth Lakes for Mexican food is Salsas Taqueria. This is a locally-owned Mexican restaurant with one location in Bishop and one in Mammoth. The interior of this taqueria is sparse, so we often take the food to go.
The portions are generous, the prices great value, and they have all the usual hits at a classic taqueria — i.e., carnitas, carne asada, and lengua — as well as Mexican-American classics like burritos and nachos. Our recommendations are the carne asada burrito, the quesabirria tacos, the salsa verde enchiladas, and the taquitos.
Salsas Taqueria, 588 Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth Lakes
For Handmade Crepes: Café Crêpe
The newest addition to this list is this food truck that focuses on French-style crêpes and espresso drinks (made with beans from Black Velvet Coffee). The French owner serves up a legit crepe batter with sweet and savory options. We’re partial to their buckwheat batter (which can be made gluten free!) served with savory fillings like the Complète (cage free eggs, Monterey Jack cheese, and ham) and the Double Cream Salmon (made with smoked salmon, house made blend cream cheese & crème fraîche). It can take upwards of 15 minutes for the food on a busy day so be prepared to wait (it’s worth it) by grabbing a spot in their outdoor seating!
Cafe Crepe Mammoth, In The Outbound Resort Parking Lot, 202 Old Mammoth Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
For Whole Foods: Elixir Superfood & Juice
Locals and visitors like Elixir for their whole foods-based salads, grain bowls, and laidback, quick eating; it’s one of the best restaurants in Mammoth Lakes.
You can order on their website if you’re in a hurry (or about to hit the road to drive back home), or you can wait in line and make your own. We recommend a few items on their menu: the Thai Buddha Bowl, the Nourish bowl, or the Falafel Bliss bowl.
In addition, they always have some fresh-pressed juices and a few healthy-ish treats. You can also find a few drinks here, like hard kombucha. FYI, their kitchen is 100% gluten-free, so you can eat here without issue if you have celiac disease.
Elixir Superfood & Juice, 3325 Main Street, Mammoth Lakes
For Produce-Driven Food: Dish Deli
A self-described “produce-driven granny chic dig,” this tiny spot is down the way from Salsa’ Taqueria, but you might miss it if you weren’t looking for it. Like Elixir, this spot has made-from-scratch whole foods dishes, making it great for vegetarians and vegans.
But unlike Elixir, this takeout deli leans toward eclectic global flavors that complement comfort food fare like Red Pepper Tomato Soup, Bubble and Squeak, Butter chicken poutine, and three-mushroom ravioli.
Dish Deli, 588 Old Mammoth Rd #4, Mammoth Lakes
For Quick Noodles: Noodle-ly
Mammoth Lakes is seriously lacking in Asian food — a shame considering how much incredible Asian food you can find across the Golden State. Luckily, long-time locals Pat and Taylor Kumlue, have helped fill that void with Noodle-ly.
As a nod to Pat’s Thai and Chinese background, the menu features the best hit of Asian noodle dishes ranging from Khao Soi to Pho and BBQ Pork Noodle. They have vegetarian options on the menu and will try to accommodate gluten-free.
Noodle-ly, 437 Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth Lakes
For Burgers And Cocktails: Mammoth Tavern
Just off Old Mammoth Road and tucked away in the second level of a shopping center, you could easily miss Mammoth Tavern. And that’d be a shame because you’d be missing out on what is, in our opinion, the top tavern in Mammoth Lakes.
The cocktails are excellent, and there’s always a selection of craft beers, but we like it for the elevated comfort food ranging from the best burger in town to an excellent fried chicken sandwich. Other favorites are the delicious appetizers like the homemade potato chips, the artichoke dip, and the smoked salmon potato skins, as well as the Brussels sprouts and the shepherd’s pie.
They have a generous happy hour, so you can go as soon as you get off the mountain. And, before or after, you can swing into Bevi Bene next door to grab an exciting bottle of wine.
Mammoth Tavern, 587 Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth Lake
For Quality Cocktails: Shelter Distilling
The Mammoth Village is charming and has fabulous live events, but the restaurants in the Mammoth Village are not ones we locals frequent for meals. The exception is Shelter Distilling, which offers specialty cocktails mixed with house-distilled spirits and casual dining with a selection of small bites.
We’re fans of “The Crib” cocktail and frequently order small bites like the shishito peppers, the Smashburger, and the sweet potato tacos. The seating is first-come, first-serve, and you can snag a spot at the bar or on the front or back patio, weather permitting.
P.S. If you’re looking for a quality glass of wine at the various restaurants in Mammoth Village, head around the corner to Side Door Cafe.
Shelter Distilling, 6201 Minaret Road, Mammoth Lakes
For Best Views Mammoth: The Yodler
Some call the Eastern Sierra “the Alps of California,” and spots like the Yodler attest to that. Set at the foot of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (across the parking lot from the Main Lodge), the deck of this historic Swiss Chalet (imported piece by piece from Europe and reconstructed!) has some of the best views of Mammoth and is the ideal spot to watch the action on the mountain.
Head here for lunch or an early après and dive into their German-inspired menu with everything from fondue to spaetzle and unique German beers. We’re partial to the chicken schnitzel sandwich, their enormous pretzel, the duck fat fries, and the Hunter’s Platter, which includes a pretzel roll, bratwurst, roasted grapes, and sauerkraut. This place is as perfect for a family with kids as it is for a group of friends.
Yodler Restaurant & Bar, 10001 Minaret Road, Mammoth Lakes
For Dinner Near The Village: Petra’s Bistro
Petra’s Bistro and Wine Bar has excellent service and is located just across from the Mammoth Village within the Alpenhof Lodge. We appreciate that their wine list has some reasonably priced gems and that their menu changes regularly.
We recently enjoyed the pork loin with chile pasilla tomatillo, the Coq Au Vin with fingerling potatoes and mushrooms, and the butternut squash gnocchi pasta with sage cream. They also have some of the best classic cocktails and the best value wine list in town.
Petra’s Bistro & Wine Bar, 6080 Minaret Road, Mammoth Lakes
For Creative Italian-American: Vulcania
Set adjacent to the village gondola, this just-opened restaurant by the celebrity chefs, the Voltaggio brothers, makes modern takes on classic Italian-American dishes. The decor, service, and creative food raise the bar with an upscale casual ambiance.
It opens at 4 PM daily, so you can stop in when you leave the ski slopes. They have a full bar, a creative wine list, and the best pizza in town. The most popular dish is the Voltaggi-Os, which are an elevated take on the childhood classic. As of this writing, their cocktails miss the mark so head to other spots on this list (i.e. Shelter Distilling, Lakefront, Petra’s, or Tavern) for a well-crafted drink.
Vulcania, 6201 Minaret Rd #240, Mammoth Lakes
For Rustic American: Lakefront Restaurant
If your mountain vacation dreams include eating at the lakeside in a rustic lodge, then you’ll want to book one of the tables at Lakefront restaurant. Set along Twin Lakes in the historic Tamarack Lodge, this rustic restaurant serves a California twist on comforting mountain food, including game and seasonal produce.
A recent menu included bison carpaccio with drunken goat cheese, elk chops, and wild mushroom cannelloni. They also regularly have live music, and it’s one of the best restaurants in Mammoth Lakes for a classic cocktail, so be sure to plan appropriately.
Lakefront Restaurant, 163 Twin Lakes Road, Mammoth Lakes
For Fine Dining: Skadi
Don’t let the off-the-beaten-path location fool you: this tiny spot is the best fine dining in Mammoth Lakes and will make for a memorable dining experience. Named after the Norwegian goddess of hunting and skiing and headed by Chef Ian Algerøen, this spot serves seasonal food with an Alpine flair.
Staying true to its roots, the menu often features Scandinavian flavors, a well-curated, extensive wine list, and imported Norwegian craft beers like Nøgne and Haandbryggeriet. Just a heads up: the restaurant is small, so it’s not the place to go with a huge group, and reservations are mandatory.
NOTE: Skadi will close at the end of March 2024 to move locations. It is expected to reopen in 2025.
Skadi, 94 Berner Street, Mammoth Lakes
New Mammoth Lakes Restaurants
For the 2023-2024 ski season, a few new restaurants are opening in Mammoth Lakes, including a wine and charcuterie spot known as The Shed and a hand-thrown pizza spot called Mammoth Pizza and Tap. You can also check out the excellent pop-up Ursa Kitchen, which serves creative California cuisine from Friday through Sunday nights at the Mammoth Coffee Roasting Co.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the top places to eat are Shelter Distilling, Vulcania, Side Door Wine Bar & Cafe, SKADI, Mammoth Rock Brasserie, Dish Bistro, and Warming Hut.
Head to the Yodler to eat in an historic chalet with a view of the mountain; go to Mammoth Tavern or Mammoth Brasserie for a view of the Sherwins; or head to Lakefront to eat outside near Twin Lakes.
A lot of visitors like to get food to go when they visit Mammoth Lakes so that they can have an outdoor picnic, eat as they road trip around, or head home to rest after a day of adventure. The easiest places to get quality takeout are Mammoth Pizza, Elixir, or Salsa's. If you want picnic food, head to Stellar Brew, Elixir, or Rolling Chef 395.
Travel To Mammoth Lakes
Though Mammoth is best known as a ski town, there is a ton to do here year-round – read up on our tips on what to do in Mammoth Lakes. But it’s also a great jumping-off point for exploring Highway 395 from the Sierra Nevada as far south as Mount Whitney or up to Yosemite.
Have Us Plan Your California Trip
Looking to travel to the Golden State? Did you know we’re also a boutique travel agency specializing in California vacation planning? If you’re looking to plan a trip to California, our California trip planner services are here to help you plan your perfect itinerary.
Photo Credit: Opening photo courtesy of Shelter Distilling; Wrap photo courtesy of Stellar Brew; Khao Soi photo courtesy of Noodle-ly; dining room photo courtesy of Skadi; and table of food photo courtesy of Warming Hut
2 thoughts on “17 Delicious Mammoth Lakes Restaurants To Eat Local (2024)”
So many great options! My family and I have been to a number of restaurants on your list, and there are quite a few new-to-us places I want to try. Warming Hut is one of my favorites.
So glad to hear, Lisa! Also a new wine/cheese/charcuterie spot called The Shed just opened this week near Elixir so be sure to check that out on your next trip.