Award-Winning International Fare in Montana’s Yellowstone Country

While it may seem out of character, we have quite an exciting selection of international fare tucked up in Montana’s mountains. You can still get a great steak, but for those with adventurous palates, you’ll be thrilled with the culinary options available across the region - even in the most unexpected of places.

In Bozeman, Shan is a James Beard nominee for Best New Restaurant! The menu consists of Thai and Chinese dishes, and everything is stellar. We’ve tried to eat our way through the menu, but it rotates often, giving us even more reason to keep returning! They take walk-ins, but the restaurant is fairly small, so we suggest making reservations as soon as you know you want to go.

An unexpected delight in Fishtail, Montana, chef Lee Johnson from MontAsia is another James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef from the Mountain Region. Half the menu is Montana-based, with steaks, burgers, sandwiches and salads. The other half is Malaysian with curries, Kung Pao, and Whiskey Beef Noodles. One of the curries is even served with Yak raised in Anaconda, Montana — a twist we’ve never heard of! We understand that Chef Johnson gives you quite a spice range, including "Devil's Curry" and an "Insanity Level Spicy" designation — so those who love spicy food will want to put this one on the list.

Located in Belgrade, Bone Broth Noodles turns out Vietnamese food worth taking a special trip. The pho is what they are known for, but everything – curries, egg rolls, buns, are all on point! Japanese comfort food is the specialty at Tanoshii in downtown Bozeman. The ramen is stellar, but the showstopper is the chicken and waffles made with kimchi and topped with kewpie, maple soy, oko sauce, furikake.



For Italian food lovers, Blacksmith Italian has a loyal following. Everything is made in-house, including the ricotta, and Chef Cory Dragone uses a variety of local producers to source his ingredients. The team repeatedly wins Best Chef, Best Fine Dining, and Best Italian Food in the local Best of Bozeman awards.

Thai Basil is one of our favorites for Thai cuisine. They started as a no-name business working from a tent in farmer's markets, expanded into a food truck for several years, and eventually opened a full-service restaurant in Bozeman. They just opened a second location in Big Sky, and we’re thrilled for them! True to Thai tradition, everything is fresh, and each dish runs the gamut of flavors. Even the soups are made to order! If you're in Livingston, Big Sky Thai is also excellent! It’s a popular place to grab takeout if you’re passing through.

Also in Livingston, the Roman-inspired Campione, has been making headlines. Featured in Food and Wine, and making the New York Times’ list of best restaurants, visitors are coming specifically to enjoy the restaurant. (And yes, it is worth every bit of the hype.)



Five on Black is a local favorite for a quick yet healthy option. This Brazilian Street food restaurant features build-your-own bowls. Start with either rice or greens, proteins such as Churrasco chicken or beef (grilled with lemon and garlic), beans, greens or sweet potatoes, plus sauce and toppings. It's flavorful, hearty, and full of nutrition.

Pakeezah Indian Cuisine is the place to go for Indian food. The recipes were developed in their Belgrade restaurant, Curry Express, and are now showcased in their full-service location in Bozeman. It's a long menu with an astonishing number of options, all authentic and flavorful.

I-Ho’s Korean Grill has been a local favorite for decades. Their new location in downtown Bozeman includes Korean BBQ tables that you can reserve for parties ranging from 2-6 people. They’re also known for their kimchi, which you can buy jars of both in-house and at local grocery stores around town.

Of course, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the Mexican food. We highly encourage a little exploration on this front because there are several excellent places, including local food trucks. But one of our favorites is La Tinga. Their tacos are the most popular, but our favorite is generally the rotating specials – everything is authentic and takes you right to the flavors of Mexico.