Serving “Mountain Mexican” food, in its words, El Burro Loco is a local favorite in Welches for burritos, fajitas, and quesadillas. Diners sit down to plates of wild boar tacos, portobello mushroom tamales, or smoked pork enchiladas, but skiers and snowboarders love to stop here for giant plates of nachos — particularly those smothered with chile verde. They’re best paired with a margarita, beer, and mojito.

There’s nothing quite like Koya Kitchen in Mt. Hood Village, both in terms of the cuisine served and the actual environment of the food cart’s unusual seating area. Tucked into the woods off Highway 26, string lights and paper lanterns hang over small tents, an A-frame, and picnic tables scattered among the surrounding forest. Inside a small cabin, a small bar serves beer and sake to diners waiting for their food from the cart next door. Any given meal at Koya may involve chicken karaage, cold-smoked salmon poke, a steaming bowl of shrimp tempura udon, or yuzu-avocado fried rice, ideally finished with green tea cheesecake. The bar’s warm sake options are a lovely post-snow treat, as well.

At this charming breakfast spot along Highway 26, locals and tourists stop for scrambles, huevos rancheros, and Benedicts, all served in a cozy log house at polished wooden tables. It’s a fun detour during marionberry season, with cobblers and pancakes studded with Oregon’s most famous fruit.

This Rhododendron pizzeria is the spot for Italian food and pizza near the mountain, whether it’s a pile of baked ziti or a calzone stuffed with artichokes and caramelized onion. The pizzas here are baked in a 800-degree stone hearth oven, for char and chew, and are generous with toppings like mushrooms and hot peppers. Anything on the menu goes well with a maple hot toddy or a glass of house-made limoncello.

Since 1991, Mt. Hood Brewing Co. has been brewing beers with Pacific Northwestern hops and the pure glacial water of Mt. Hood itself. It might be the quintessential stop in Government Camp, Mt. Hood’s relaxed and barely populated ski town. This classic Mt. Hood brewery has named each of its beers after iconic Mt. Hood elements, whether it’s the Ice Axe IPA, Hogsback Oatmeal Stout, Timberline Tucker, or Highland Meadow Blonde. Stop by for a classic pub selection of food, including pulled pork poutine, clam chowder, burgers, or even Oregon rockfish fish and chips. Parents will dig the excellent kid’s menu options, as well. 

Timberline is home to a number of cozy, casual restaurants and bars — the Wy’East Café and Y’Bar for a quick lunch stop, the Ram’s Head Bar and Restaurant for cocktails and bowl of soup, — but  the fanciest place to eat on the mountain is easily the lodge’s Cascade Dining Room. In a wood-lined dining space with mountain views, visitors order dishes like cider-braised pork shank with Hood River apples and mushrooms, sea scallops with parsnips and Hood River pears, and Columbia River salmon with potato cream and celery root; the restaurant also boasts a very strong wine list, heavily featuring Oregon and Washington bottles. along with an extensive wine list. Reservations are highly recommended.

Mt View Orchards has it all: A winery? Check. A brewery? Check. Cider? Check. Wood-fired pizza? Check. Incredible mountain views? Check. A steer named Carlos? Check. This Mt. Hood farm is a popular stop for families, who pop by for apple and pumpkin u-picking in the fall, tulip festivals in the spring, and more. The Grateful Vineyard tasting room is the site of the tasting options and food pairings, which can involve s’mores on certain days. Visitors might also recognize Mt. View Orchards from its appearance in season 18 of Top Chef Portland.

This nautical-themed coffee roaster is one of the best in the Hood River valley, featuring beans roasted onsite in Parkdale. The roaster’s coffee shop in an unassuming garage off Parkdale’s main road is a fun spot for seasonal lattes and espresso — things like cinnamon hazelnut breves or caramel mochas. The shop also sells a handful of pastries for a quick breakfast.

This Parkdale brewery is not just a fun spot for inventive sours, fruit beers, and fresh hop ales; it’s one of the finest spots in the area for lunch. Cubanos, curried butternut squash soup, and sriracha powder grilled cheese sandwiches land at picnic tables around the brewery, with gorgeous mountain and orchard views. Beers are available in pints, growlers, pitchers, and tasting trays.