Billings is the largest and most populous city in Montana. Nicknamed the Magic City and the City Beneath the Rimrocks, Billings’ countryside is filled with massive sandstone formations, mountains, lakes, peaks, national parks, and prairie land.
Is it any surprise that the city is host to a number of outdoor activities ranging from hiking, fishing, and hunting to kayaking, winter sports, horseback riding, and more?
With a host of attractions spread throughout the area, the adventurer and explorer in you will be spoilt for choice. Now, all that stands between you and a complete all-around experience of Billings, Montana is their food scene. The best restaurants in Billings also account for some of the best cuisines in the entire state.
Featuring a vibrant mix of state-of-the-art cuisines, Billings’ food culture is as rich and diverse as its heritage and geography! Browse our top choices of desirable restaurants in Billings and give yourself (and your taste buds!) a flavored ride of a lifetime.
Let’s check out some of the itinerary-worthy restaurants in Billings that will leave you spellbound.
The 12 Best Restaurants in Billings
1. Bin 119 | 119 N Broadway, Billings, MT 59101, United States | $$
Bin 119, an American bistro serving delicious Tapa dishes, offers a spectacular casual dining experience complete with an unmatched vibe and ambiance. The interior is elegant, modern, and romantic, just the perfect spot for an intimate wine and dine experience.
The best thing? They also have patio seating available. You and your significant other can indulge in some quality food surrounded by some of the best views in Billings.
Operating throughout the day, they serve brunch, lunch, and dinner. You know what this means, right? No more pushing back your meetings or changing your itinerary to sample their unparalleled menu and well-crafted wine collection!
From Scrambled Eggs and Smoked Salmon to Baked Brie, Spicy Barbeque Beef Sandwiches, and Charcuterie Plate, every dish has a flavor that appeals to the palate. Don’t forget to end the meal with a taste-bud-tingling glass of wine. Their price range is affordable, and their portions are huge. A visit to the Bin 119, then, is bound to delight both your stomach and senses.
Check out their full menu before heading over, as well as their Facebook page to check on daily specials!
2. The Burger Dive | 114 N 27th St, Billings, MT 59101, United States | $$
Don’t let the name fool you, The Burger Dive is one of the best restaurants in Billings. The popular spot boasts some award-winning burgers such as “I’m Your Huckleberry Burger” with mouthwatering “Huckleberry Hatch” chili barbecue sauce.
In fact, the Burger Dive is world-famous!, Brad Halsten, owner and head chef of The Burger Dive, was previously crowned “Burger Champion” at the World Food Championships.
Besides boasting some of the most acclaimed burgers in all the states, The Burger Dive is also well known for its onion rings, fries, and hot dogs.
Make sure you check out the menu before you visit to see what they are serving up, but you can’t go wrong by picking from one of their three award-winning burgers!
3. NaRa Restaurant | 3 Custer Ave, Billings, MT 59101, United States | $
Craving sushi? Why wait until you get home to your favorite restaurant when you can visit NaRa Restaurant and experience sushi bliss like never before?
Hesitant at the idea of trying sushi at a new restaurant? Don’t be! The Billings Gazette voted NaRa as the best sushi and Japanese Restaurant for over 12 years in a row. We’re certain that you won’t regret it.
A contemporary family-run venue offering some of the biggest, tastiest sushi rolls made with fresh ingredients, the chefs at NaRa are known to get really creative with their recipes.
The food arrangement is so picture-perfect that you might even say it’s almost too good to eat. Be prepared to click a gallery full of pictures of your dishes because, let’s face it, you absolutely must make your sushi-loving friends envious.
Of course, sushi is not their only area of expertise. They also serve a variety of Japanese, Korean, and Maki entrees that will have you craving for more. What are you waiting for? Grab a table and indulge in some Sushi-gasm.
Are you up for a sushi adventure of a lifetime? Make sure to participate in their in-house Godzilla Challenge.
Available on weekdays, the Godzilla challenge involves eating a huge platter of food items filled with cream cheese, sauces, and avocados, all under 15 minutes. If you win, you get to take a 5lb roll home, free of cost.
4. Montana Brewing Company | 113 North 28th Street Billings, MT 59101 United States | $
Don’t let the name fool you. Montana Brewing Company does more than serve the best beer on Planet Earth. It also offers its guests an assorted blend of American, Italian, and Mexican cuisine.
Montana’s first brewpub, Montana Brewing Company, features a brewery and a fully-stocked bar and grill. It has everything from pale ales to golden ales. Have a sweet tooth? Try their selection of beer cocktails! No matter how picky you are with your beer, you’ll always find something of interest here.
Make sure to get your hands on The Montana Dip, Ale House Burger, and the good ole ‘Mac and Cheese. The food is as impressive as the beer!
5. Ciao Mambo | 2301 Montana Ave, Billings, MT 59101, United States | $$
Ciao Mambo brings all the goodness of Italian cuisine to Billings, Montana. The lighting, music selection, and fine wine add a special touch to Mambo’s atmosphere and ambiance making it at once both a romantic and family-friendly restaurant.
Ciao Mambo is so transparent about the quality and freshness of their ingredients that they put the dish together right in front of you. No, they don’t invite you to the kitchen—they bring the kitchen to your table. Fascinating, isn’t it?
Relish in the pasta dishes made with fresh ingredients and savory sauces and binge on thin-crust pizzas baked to perfection. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to order the Linguini Arrabbiata or Penne Pasta Alla Vodka for the entrees. Top it off with a slice of Lemon Mascarpone Cake with Raspberry Sauce.
The menu can get terrifying, but pleasantly so. After all, how are you supposed to pick one out of so many incredible dishes, recipes, and wines? A good way to find bestsellers will be to take recommendations from the waiter. They never fail to come through as clear winners.
Check out the full menu before stopping by, including both eats and drinks!
6. Jake’s Downtown | 2701 1st Avenue North, MT 59101| $$-$$$
Jake’s is a big name on the local food scene in Billings. The restaurant has been something of a cornerstone in the downtown region for close to 40 years, and the brand also has a diner and grill in the West of town.
What you get here is Classic Montana Steakhouse fare accompanied by a decent enough wine list—as can be seen from the MENU.
The Downtown location continues to provide an authentic and unpretentious environment for hungry diners to gather, and the establishment is renowned locally for its attention to detail and use of the best local ingredients.
Whether you are interested in elegant dining or just a casual, spur-of-the-moment night out, the warm, wood-paneled Montana-style setting will soon have you feeling at home.
Jake’s runs various happy-hour specials and other promotions and hours of operation are Monday-Friday 11 am to 10 pm and Saturday 4 pm 11 pm.
7. The Fieldhouse | 2601 Minnesota Avenue, Suite 3, Billings, MT 59101| $$$
The Fieldhouse is a modern and trendy eatery serving its own take on classic American fare like burgers & small plates but this is no fast food joint and is not even your usual standard Billings eatery.
The restaurant is known for its attention to detail and inspiring creations served in a spacious building that is old but has been fully renovated.
The cuisine at the Fieldhouse is reportedly delicious with unique touches and servings that are generously proportioned. Only fresh and locally-produced ingredients are used where possible, and they are prepared and served with care and patience.
Customers largely report the obvious attention and thought that has gone into every detail of every item ordered. Words like ‘inspired’ and ‘expertly prepared’ are not uncommon in the reviews for this Billings eatery.
Picture thin sourdough appetizers topped with spring greens and an exquisite homemade plum-style mild sauce; perfectly-cooked NY Strip with thin, crispy, curly fries and a puffed pastry which creates a wonderful mix of textures, and noodle bowls.
The Fieldhouse offers a limited, seasonal menu that changes frequently and features a nice but not overwhelming wine selection. A large selection of beers & wine is also available as can be seen from the MENU.
Typical hours of operation are 11.00 am-3.00 pm Tuesday to Friday for lunch; 9.00 am-2.00 pm on Saturday and Sunday for brunch and 5.00 pm-9.00 pm for dinner between Tuesday and Saturday.
8. Walkers | 2700 1st Avenue North, MT 59101| $$-$$$
Walkers is a local eatery that describes itself as a ‘regionally-farmed food adventure’. You can judge by yourself from the MENU which features local cuisine, fusion-style creations, American fare, and vegetarian and vegan-friendly options.
Picture a great burger and fries, a variety of salads like the house, roasted beet, wedge salads, charcuterie plates, tacos, and much more. The funky décor features barbed-wire chandeliers and various examples of local art, and the menu is extensive including a wine list.
Typical hours of operation are from Monday-Thursday between 4 pm and 10 pm, and 5-10.30 pm on weekends.
9. Juliano’s Restaurant | 2912 7st Avenue, MT 59101| $$-$$$
Juliano’s is housed in nothing less than a 1902 former stable that has been converted and comes complete with a patio.
Here you’ll find creative fusion-style American cuisine with Asian touches. The atmosphere is very rustic, and the food and the service are reportedly impeccable.
Think along the lines of appetizers such as mango salad, escargot stuffed mushrooms, beer and cheese soup, and brie soup with mushrooms and apples. Main courses like the pork entree and schnitzel, elk meatloaf, and duck breast are popular choices, and the restaurant holds a good wine selection as well.
You can check out more selections of the delightful options offered at this restaurant from the MENU.
Lunch is served Tuesday to Friday between 11.30 am and 2.00 pm, and dinner is offered Wednesday to Saturday between 5.30 pm and 9 pm.
10. Texas Roadhouse | 1824 King Avenue West, MT 59102 | $$
Texas Roadhouse is a chain steakhouse that serves regular-style American fare with a Southwestern twist which the Texas-themed décor hints at strongly.
The roadhouse is quite a busy place where the steak comes tender, the pork ribs fall off the bone, and the shrimp comes on the spicy side.
There are plenty of other Southern-inspired delights and Texas-style dishes on the MENU, which includes a great selection of daily fresh-cut steaks—steak is the main thing here and it’s priced much more reasonably than many other steakhouses.
There are sautéed mushrooms and onions with jack cheese or brown gravy options with the steak, and the good-sized sirloin steak comes with five grilled shrimp in a sauce as well as a mountain of mashed potatoes.
The service is reportedly excellent at the Texas Roadhouse even though this is a fast-moving eatery.
11. Wild Ginger | 2713 Montana Avenue, MT 59101| $$-$$$
Wild Ginger is a Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar in Billings that serves authentic and high-quality Japanese and other styles of Asian cuisine.
This is another local Billings eatery that prides itself on the taste of the dishes and the high-quality fresh ingredients, and alongside the steak and sushi, the hibachi chicken and shrimp come highly recommended.
The atmosphere is friendly and the service is highly rated. The Main Menu and the Lunch Menu are offered between 11.00 am and 9.30 pm every day except for Tuesdays.
12. Local Kitchen & Bar | 1430 Country Manor Boulevard, MT 59102| $$
This cozy little Billings eatery serves up fine dining made from locally-sourced ingredients.
The menu makes it difficult to decide and includes such delights as duck curry, pistachio-crusted lamb, and some of the best mushroom ragout you’ll find in the region. Diners will find lots of other amazing options and a small but excellent range of local tap beers.
There is a nice little patio as well as indoor seating in this great-value restaurant with friendly service and separate Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner MENUS.
Recommended Food and Wine Tours in Billings
- Yellowstone Cellars and Winery • 2.5 hours • 5 stars
- Canyon Creek Brewing • 2.5 hours • 4.5 stars
- Carter’s Brewery and Tap Room • – hours • 4.5stars
- Angry Hank’s Microbrewery • 2.5 hours • 4.5 stars
- Thirsty Street Brewing Company at the Taproom • 2 hours • 4.5 stars
Check out our article on the best breweries in Billings.
Travel Tips for Eating in Billings
Playing host to classic western diners, modern martini bars, and eclectic restaurants, Billing thrives on everything Huckleberries, a milk-flavored addition found in almost all cuisines.
Before you set your sight on exploring them all, here are a couple of facts you must know:
- Billings is Montana’s largest city, with over 100,000 residents.
- Surrounded by big landscapes and endless open areas for hiking and biking, Billings is an excellent destination for outdoor tourist activities.
- The best time to visit is from late June to late August.
- Huckleberries are a local favorite, so you must try them when you visit. They grow in abundance in Montana and are served and enjoyed with everything. From Huckleberry Drink Syrup to Huckleberry Pie Filling and Huckleberry Chocolate Candy, the list goes on.
- Enjoy Montana’s only walkable brewery trail, a 1.6m-long walkable trail featuring several breweries, distilleries, and a cider house alongside historical sites.
Final Thoughts
Want to make the most out of your Billings trip? Don’t just take in the scenery—there’s a lip-smackin’, belly rumbling, and exhilarating adventure waiting around each corner, inside restaurants, breweries, and clubs.
From award-winning sushi to braised short ribs and beef brisket sandwiches, there is plenty to explore in finding the best restaurants in Billings, MT. It is a world of culinary thrill waiting to be discovered.