25 Must-Try Food and Drink Spots in Billings, Montana
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Emily Contois
Author
We’ve done it; we found the best restaurants in Billings, Montana! At these 25 spots located across Billings, Montana, distinct local flavors match the area’s affordable prices and unpretentious style. Nicknamed “The Magic City” for its rapid growth after its founding in 1882, Billings now boasts a similar proliferation of desirably eclectic eateries.
Please note, Lilac has permanently closed.
Local diners and culinary professionals alike laud Lilac as one of the best restaurants in all of Big Sky Country. Proprietor and chef Jeremy Engebretson opened the restaurant in 2012 and describes the food as, "Local from scratch responsible cooking. Modern American food with a fistful of approachability." 2515 Montana Avenue
Local diners and culinary professionals alike laud Lilac as one of the best restaurants in all of Big Sky Country. Proprietor and chef Jeremy Engebretson opened the restaurant in 2012 and describes the food as, "Local from scratch responsible cooking. Modern American food with a fistful of approachability." 2515 Montana Avenue
1502 Rehberg Ln, Billings, MT 59102, USA
Open since 1998, Bistro Enzo offers European ambiance and a menu that combines the cuisines of the Americas, France, Italy, and Asia. It has talent in the kitchen too. Chef James Honaker was named a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef, Northwest in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Visit the Bistro Enzo website to learn more about this must-visit dining spot.
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2912 7th Ave N, Billings, MT 59101, USA
A mainstay in Billings since 1995, Juliano’s defies categorization. The chef prepares American food influenced by both European and Asian culinary traditions. The menu also routinely features fresh fish, flown in from Hawaii. Built in 1902 as a stable for the "castle" that resides next door, the restaurant’s architecture is a reason to visit as well. It affords multiple dining spaces on two floors with period details like a pressed-tin ceiling and fireplaces.
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2700 1st Ave N, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Described as "urban Montana," Walkers offers not only a modern American menu with Mediterranean roots, but also a one-of-a-kind dining environment. The restaurant space features barbed wire and hand-blown glass chandeliers and cattle guard bar rails. It even has painted ceiling panels depicting the big blue skies Montana is known for. What’s more, the chef was voted the 2016 Chef of the Year by the Chefs and Cooks of Montana. There's no doubt about it; Walkers is one of the best restaurants in Billings, Montana.
2601 Minnesota Ave, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Cool meets conscientious at The Fieldhouse, opened by chef Ben Harman and Krystal Harman in 2012. The restaurant’s design and décor provide something akin to a Montana taste of Brooklyn. The menu is divided into Smalls (like tea smoked local duck and Korean short ribs) and Bigs (like meatloaf with perfectly Montana-y huckleberry ketchup). To top it off, The Fieldhouse is certified by the Green Restaurant Association.
115 Shiloh Rd, Billings, MT 59102, USA
Commons 1882 opened in 2014 with experienced area chefs Jason Corbridge and Henry Kennah at the helm. Cooking New American cuisine, they delight diners in a renovated cherry-red country house built in 1882, which inspired the restaurant’s name. 404 North 30th Street
1430 Country Manor Blvd, Billings, MT 59102, USA
Opened in 2015, Local Kitchen & Bar extends even the most diehard locavore’s definition of "local" a step further. The restaurant doesn’t just serve up locally sourced ingredients. It also pays employees to volunteer, donates 100 percent of proceeds to charity one day a month, and features local artwork. Even the fuel for the wood-fired oven is local, cut from trees in eastern Montana.
19 N Broadway, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Named for the owner’s father, Thomas E. Nelson, TEN is known for traditional American fare with an international twist and Montana ingredients. It’s one of two restaurants located in The Northern, which first opened in 1904 and has been voted the best hotel in Billings.
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Please note, Bistecca at the Granary has permanently closed.
An iconic marker in the Billings landscape since 1935, The Granary first opened as a restaurant in 1976. It then re-opened as Bistecca (Italian for steak), and boasts a menu that features Italian and American fare. Meals, drinks, and bites can be enjoyed in the dining room, at the bar, or, during good weather, on the shaded patio. The restaurant also boasts a swoon-worthy wine cellar.
An iconic marker in the Billings landscape since 1935, The Granary first opened as a restaurant in 1976. It then re-opened as Bistecca (Italian for steak), and boasts a menu that features Italian and American fare. Meals, drinks, and bites can be enjoyed in the dining room, at the bar, or, during good weather, on the shaded patio. The restaurant also boasts a swoon-worthy wine cellar.
Please note, JP Kitchen has permanently closed.
Opened in 2015, JP Kitchen weds modern trends, family, and tradition at every turn. The restaurant offers an Asian fusion menu (the smoked trout fried rice is a special treat), traditional family style service, and a sleek interior. Open for lunch and dinner, the JP Kitchen menu is also available for takeout. 805 24th Street West, Suite 2
Opened in 2015, JP Kitchen weds modern trends, family, and tradition at every turn. The restaurant offers an Asian fusion menu (the smoked trout fried rice is a special treat), traditional family style service, and a sleek interior. Open for lunch and dinner, the JP Kitchen menu is also available for takeout. 805 24th Street West, Suite 2
18 N 29th St, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Opened in 1979 by the Renzios brothers, Athanasios (Tom), Nickolaos (Nick) and Christos (Chris), The Athenian has been churning out Greek favorites for decades. Complete with colorful murals of Greece on the walls, The Athenian is a causal spot popular for lunch and dinner, as well as takeout.
2916 1st Ave N, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Serving traditional Thai specialties in a relaxed setting, local eaters and globetrotters alike declare Cham Thai one of the best in the west. Favorites include the crispy tofu and, of course, the Pad Thai.
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2809 1st Ave N, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Rockets' menu features more than a dozen wraps, served in locally made tortillas, including a gluten-free option. Open downtown since 1998, they’re also known for their salads (the Saigon is a crowd favorite) and their handcrafted sodas in flavors like root beer and grapefruit.
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114 N 27th St, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Owner and chef Brad Halsten and general manager Andi Halsten have satisfied area burger cravings since 2010. Halsten even took the top prize at the 2014 Burger Bash hosted by Rachel Ray for his "Blackened Sabbath Burger." It’s described on the menu as one-third pound of premium Angus beef with blackened seasoning, blue cheese, bacon, onion ring, and garlic mayonnaise. It's without a doubt one of the best burger joints in Montana.
19 N Broadway, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Located inside The Northern hotel and named for the owner’s mother, Bernie's Diner serves up breakfast (with wonderfully giant cups of coffee) and lunch. Customers also rave about the diner’s décor and design, which seamlessly meld classic nostalgia with a modern brightness.
1707 17th St W, Billings, MT 59102, USA
Since 1981 husband and wife team, Jan and Judy Boogman, have hand-baked traditional Dutch caramel cookie waffles, called stroopwafels. The café’s menu also includes soups, sandwiches, and pastries. And if you can’t make it to Billings, you can even order stroopwafels on their website and have them shipped to your door! It's also important to keep in mind that the eatery typically closes for the summer, so make sure to check the Caramel Cookie Waffles website before visiting.
Please note, Harper and Madison has permanently closed.
This popular café charms its patrons with sandwiches, salads, baked goods, and coffee in a trendy yet homey setting. Temporarily closed for remodeling and reimagining, the café will reopen in 2016 with a new menu developed in partnership with chef Jeremy Engebretson of Lilac. 3115 10th Avenue North
This popular café charms its patrons with sandwiches, salads, baked goods, and coffee in a trendy yet homey setting. Temporarily closed for remodeling and reimagining, the café will reopen in 2016 with a new menu developed in partnership with chef Jeremy Engebretson of Lilac. 3115 10th Avenue North
Please note, Good Earth Market Deli Café has permanently closed.
Lesser known than some lunch spots, the deli café is located inside the Good Earth Market. The market is Billings’ only food co-op that’s been around in one form or another since 1987. The menu includes items like soups, sandwiches, salads, pizzas, coffees, and juices. All are made in-house and many from locally sourced and responsibly produced ingredients. 3024 2nd Avenue North
Lesser known than some lunch spots, the deli café is located inside the Good Earth Market. The market is Billings’ only food co-op that’s been around in one form or another since 1987. The menu includes items like soups, sandwiches, salads, pizzas, coffees, and juices. All are made in-house and many from locally sourced and responsibly produced ingredients. 3024 2nd Avenue North
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2419 Montana Ave, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Located in a bright and historic building erected in 1910, McCormick Café has been feeding its regulars on Montana Avenue since 1998. The cafe serves up breakfast (like fresh baked goods from Log Cabin Bakery) and lunch, including a grilled cheese that’s rumored to be better than your momma’s.
Big Dipper Ice Cream, 100 N Broadway, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Scooping up homemade ice cream since 1995 in Missoula, Big Dipper Ice Cream has earned accolades from the likes of Food and Wine Magazine and USA Today. They opened a Billings location in 2015. Inventive ice cream flavors like cardamom, cayenne caramel, and mango habanero sorbet keep ice cream lovers coming back for more.
2712 2nd Ave N, Billings, MT 59101, USA
3024 2nd Ave N, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Opened in 2016, Ebon Coffee Collective is a multi-roaster café and bakery, all in a light-filled space downtown that smacks of modern rustic cool. Their menu boasts the best coffees from around the state and further afield. They also serve baked goods, many of which are tailored to customers seeking options free of gluten, diary, soy, or eggs.
124 N Broadway, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Located downtown on the corner of an intersection marked by a soaring outdoor sculpture called "Skypoint," Rock Creek Coffee Roasters is a café and roastery. It even has an enormous, fire-engine-red Diedrich coffee roaster prominently placed on its main floor. A favorite for a morning buzz or afternoon pick-me-up, Rock Creek specializes in espresso beverages and pour over coffee.
2305 Montana Ave, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Uberbrew specializes in handcrafted custom beers, like fan favorite Pink Slip made from fresh raspberries. They also serve gastropub comfort food like burgers, beer cheese soup, pretzels, and mac and cheese. Customers dig the upscale-yet-casual vibe and the beer sampler—four hearty-sized tastes for just a few bucks.
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2526 Montana Ave, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Owner and Brew Master Michael Uhrich named Carter’s Brewery for his son, when the brewery opened in 2007 shortly after the baby’s birth. Consistently faring well at the North American Beer Awards, Carter’s beers are on tap at the brewery, located near the bustling energy of the train tracks. The brews are also available at more than a dozen restaurants throughout the city.
2314 Montana Ave, Billings, MT 59101, USA
1400 S 24th St W, Billings, MT 59102, USA
Trailhead Spirits is a small batch, craft distillery that produces award-winning sprits from grains sourced from their family farm in Highwood, Montana. They are well known for their vodka, gins, and whiskeys. Their tasting room is also a thing of beauty, located in a historically registered building that oozes western charm.
So, do you agree? Are these the best restaurants in Billings? What are your favorite Billings, Montana restaurants? The city is brimming with incredible eateries. These 25 restaurants are just the start of the culinary adventures in Billings, where you’re sure to find even more great food and drink options.
The best restaurants in Billings aren’t the only eateries that belong on your culinary bucket list. There are so many others, including these famous Montana restaurants that every resident should visit at least once.
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More to Explore
Best Restaurants In Billings
Where can I find the best pizza in Montana?
There are lots of pizzerias in Montana, but if you’re searching for some of the best pizza in Montana, you’ll have to head to Biga Pizza in Missoula. Taking pizza seriously, the eatery prepares all of its pies from scratch, using the freshest produce, artisan meats, cheeses, and homemade sauces. What’s more, every pie starts off with homemade dough, which is prepped utilizing a unique method of dough-making. The final touch is the brick oven, which is used to cook every pie to perfection. And though pizza is the star of the show at Biga Pizza, it’s not all you’ll find on the menu. The tasty selection also includes salads, sandwiches, calzones, and desserts.
Are there any waterfront restaurants in Montana?
There are some great waterfront restaurants in Montana and the Harbor Grille is one of them. Located in Lakeside, the eatery is situated on the shores of Flathead Lake, offering patrons the opportunity to dine on one of America’s most picturesque and pristine lakes. The beautiful setting is just part of the restaurant’s appeal, though. There’s also the menu, which features casual American cuisine and craft cocktails. Live music, free Wi-Fi, and lots of outdoor seating only add to the restaurant’s perks.