Eat Like a Local in Mammoth

In June 2021 I drove to Mammoth, California a geologist's dream playground, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Not only was I there to partake in Mother Earth's expansive beauty (for my article on Mammoth Hikes click here) but to also visit a LOCAL! Below is the list of four MUST-VISIT establishments my tastebuds happily experienced during my two-day stay. The vibe at each restaurant gives you a sense of the town. The owners, staff, and local clientele are kind and want to interact with you. They enjoy hearing where you are from, what you are reading, and who you are. They love talking about their town and the geographic history behind it. The food is GREAT. The list below will fulfill all cravings for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks - Bon Appetit!

1. Stellar Brew and Natural Cafe 3280 Main Street Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

Hours of operation: 5:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. 5:30 a.m to 1:00 p.m. the kitchen is open. 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. grab-n-go meals are provided.

Stellar Brew is owned and operated by Sierra native Andrea Walker. Walker's mission is to feed her customers organic nutrient-dense food at an affordable price. Stellar's mouthwatering menu features carnivore meals, gluten-free options, vegetarian meals, and vegan food. Start your day off with The Stellar Sammy a bacon, egg, bagel masterpiece. Or my favorite, the Avoberry Smoothie made with local produce, the perfect blend of blueberries, strawberries, avocado, cinnamon, nutmeg, and almond milk are sure to set your day off right. Additional breakfast items include burritos, granola, acia bowls, a variety of caffeinated beverages, protein shakes, and more. The staff is welcoming and quick. There are inside and outside seating options, and a gift shop of goodies to bring home to family and friends. Stellar Brew the perfect first stop welcome wagon to Mammoth.

2. Distant Brewing 568 Old Mammoth Rd, Mammoth Lakes, California 93546

Hours of operations: Sunday - Wednesday 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday - Saturday 10:00 p.m. Kitchen is open until 8 p.m. Happy Hour is 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday.

Brothers Drew and Kirk Wallace opened Distant Brewing in 2019. This is Drew's second brewery in Mammoth. After hitting the slopes, or a day at the lake Distant Brewing is the place to be. Click here for the menu which features flatbreads (with gluten-free options), sandwiches, wraps, salads, nachos, and pretzels. They have live music nights, open mic night, two pool tables, and a mascot dog that customers can pet while sipping Opaque-DDH Hazy IPA with Citra, Mosaic, and Nelson hops 9.5% ABV or SURE, BERT! – Fruited Gose with mangoes and tart cherries 6.0% ABV. They also allow customers to bring their dogs to Distant Brewing. Wallace's brew list is updated a couple of times a month. They also have weekly rotating guest beers and growlers for purchase. Reading the creative and humorous names of the craft beers featured on the blackboard above the bar brings laughter from the patrons adding to the friendly, relaxed vibe of this establishment. While ordering a hard kombucha I ended up talking to the staff about books we are currently reading, the importance of practicing breathe work (using our nose more than our mouth), and hikes in the local area. The warmth of the staff shows their pride in working at Distant Brewing and their love for Mammoth.

3. Liberty Sports Bar and Grill 3399 Main St, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

Hours of Operation: Monday-Sunday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. kitchen is open. 11:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. Thursdays-Sundays the bar is open. Happy Hour Daily 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Liberty Sports Bar serves award-winning slow-cooked pork ribs, fish and chips, Italian vegetarian options, and more; check out the full menu here. They have 10 flat-screen televisions, 10 craft beers on tap, and a full bar for cocktails. Their outdoor patio is pet-friendly, which the locals love. Liberty hosts live music, click here for the calendar.

Boyz in tha Woods, a funk, hip hop, soul band was playing at Liberty Sports Bar, while I was there. Boyz in tha Woods is made up of 5 local band members who rocked out for several hours, with a full crowd in attendance. Celebrating with masks off, we gathered for the love of music, and the joy of summer in Mammoth. Boyz in tha Woods is humorous, soulful, and full of talent. I could have danced several more hours to their sound. I so look forward to hearing them again! The town ordinance prevented Liberty Sports Bar from having live music go past 7:00 p.m. that night (patience found as I recall the graduation out of Covid). However, in July the live music line-up for Liberty Sports Bar runs from around 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. which is fantastic for the musicians and town.

4. Salsa's Taqueria Mammoth Lakes 588 Old Mammoth Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.

Salsa’s Taqueria serves up delicious and authentic tacos, burritos, tortas, combination plates, vegetarian options etc. We ordered the veggie tacos, guacamole and chips, and the shrimp tacos; they were flavorful and filling. The staff is kind and quick with service. There is indoor and outdoor seating, or to-go option available. The artwork in the restaurant ranges from Diego Rivera to historical wanted posters, which was a joy to explore. I highly recommend you eat at Salsa's Taqueria.

Thank you for reading this article. If you want to share your Mammoth experience with me, you can find me on Instagram at Tess._1531. If you enjoy supporting artists you can click the like button on this article and provide a tip; I appreciate it. Much Love to Mammoth!!!