Best Burger Places in Buffalo, Wyoming: Local Favorites Guide
Buffalo, Wyoming isn’t just a place to grab a burger — it’s where food, story, and landscape come together in a way you can’t replicate anywhere else. This is the middle of cattle country, after all, with the number of cows outnumbering humans by at least a 6-to-1 margin. The cattle industry is part of the county’s history and legends.
Here’s why it stands out as a true burger destination — and why it belongs on any Wyoming itinerary:
- The Western hospitality is authentic with locally-owned restaurants that welcome travelers, ranchers and local diners.
- The burgers are fresh, with many restaurants working with regional producers for the best beef possible.
- The dining establishments are located in the center of Western culture and history, from the early days of ranching, rodeos and Western homesteading to the current Longmire mystery series. This culture is evident in the local museums, historic sites and even the shops and restaurants.
Why Buffalo, Wyoming Is a Burger Destination
Visitors to Buffalo Wyoming should make plans to experience the burger scene in Johnson County because there are a variety of restaurants that provide a variety of experiences. It is food with a sense of place, reflecting the Western culinary traditions that help connect visitors to the West.
In addition to the Western burgers that include bacon and cheese, sometimes onions and more, there are places in Johnson County for bison burgers and elk burgers.
How to Experience Buffalo’s Burger Scene
When planning a trip to visit Buffalo Wyoming, burger fans should make a plan to try to include some memorable meals into their trips, whether that follows an afternoon at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum, a morning of hiking on the Clear Creek Trail, or a day exploring the Bighorn Mountains. There are restaurants located throughout the city of Buffalo — some along Hart Street/Highway 16 where hotels and RV parks are located; and some in the downtown near shopping, the Gatchell museum, and the trail.
It can be a fun way to build an itinerary by including great burger stops.
One-Day Burger Experience
Looking for the best of burger experiences in Buffalo?
Those in town for a short time can still put together some memorable dining activities. Downtown diners can grab a bite at Tavern 307 for lunch, spend the afternoon strolling the shops and exploring the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum before an evening stop at the Historic Occidental Hotel & Saloon. There’s a good chance there will be live music at the Ox to make the evening even more special.
For the more adventurous willing to take a little drive into the mountains: Spend the morning at Tie Hack Reservoir to hike around, take a dip in the cool water, and watch the canoes and kayaks before heading to South Fork Mountain Lodge. After a little more hiking around or driving and exploring the mountains, head down to the Cowboy Bar & Grill for an evening meal.
Multi-Day Burger Trail Adventure
Visitors who have the opportunity to make Johnson County as the basecamp for several days of exploring will have opportunities galore to enjoy a great burger as part of their trip. After a day of hiking at the Dry Creek Petrified Tree Environmental Education Area, the Cowboy Bar & Grill is a great stop on the way back into town. Checking out the downtown, including the Longmire merch at the Bucking Buffalo Supply Co., can precede or be followed by burgers at Tavern 307 or the Occidental Saloon.
A trip into the mountains provides the opportunity for a meal at South Fork Mountain Lodge. And a road trip to Outlaw Canyon or Chris LeDoux Park in Kaycee should include a stop at the Invasion Bar. Johnson County has a lot to see, but planning some exceptional dining stops should be part of the itinerary.
Best Burgers in Buffalo, Wyoming: Top Restaurants
Johnson County Wyoming has been welcoming visitors to cattle country for more than a century, and it has restaurants such as the Occidental Saloon and Dash Inn with decades of history serving up meals to hungry travelers. Restaurants old and new continue that tradition of serving up quality burgers with Western hospitality that keeps people coming back to this special place.
Bozeman Trail Steakhouse
675 E. Hart Street, Buffalo, WY
Bozeman Trail Steak House has been a tradition for locals and travelers for many years, and in 2025 was featured on America’s Best Restaurants. The burgers at Bozeman Trail feature a half-pound of delicious beef, and the menu includes special treatments such as the jalapeno burger, bacon cheeseburger, Western burger (bacon and barbecue sauce), and the Bozeman burger (blue cheese and bacon).
Bozeman Trail also serves up a lean and flavorful elk burger. The full menu also includes steaks (of course), pasta, prime rib, seafood and chicken dinners, salads, and more. The steakhouse is known for its consistent hours from noon to 9 p.m. everyday but major holidays. The atmosphere is western steakhouse with artwork and mounts, and there is a conference center for large groups as well.
And leave room for dessert!
Busy Bee Cafe/Occidental Saloon
10 N. Main Street, Buffalo, WY
Two other restaurants with great atmosphere are the Busy Bee Cafe and the Occidental Saloon, both on Occidental Row as part of the Historic Occidental Hotel & Saloon.
The Busy Bee is open mornings until 2 p.m., serving breakfast and lunch. It is famous for being mentioned in the Longmire mystery series of books as a frequent stop for Sheriff Walt Longmire. You can grab a window seat overlooking Clear Creek in this traditional diner that dates back to 1927.
The saloon opens at 2 p.m. and serves through the evening, often with live music. One of Buffalo’s biggest draws, the Occidental Saloon is a step back in time to the days of the Wild West. Pictures and mounts on the walls pay tribute to the building’s history. Ask the staff to point out bullet holes from the lawless early days of Buffalo.
The menu includes a variety of burgers served with fries or cole slaw: the Angus burger; the mushroom Swiss; and the Western, featuring bacon, barbecue sauce and an onion ring. The offerings also include a black bean burger and a bison burger.
Cowboy Bar & Grill
177 U.S. Highway 16 East, Buffalo, WY
One glance of the menu at the Cowboy Bar & Grill and you will realize the centerpiece is burgers. Made from fresh beef raised in the Mountain West, the Cowboy Bar & Grill serves up one of the best burgers around. Or as one Facebook comment says, “Best burgers and fries this side of the Rio Grande.”
In addition to hamburgers and cheeseburgers, the Cowboy serves up the eponymous burger with bacon, American cheese and barbecue sauce; and the Vaquero, which uses pepper jack cheese and adds grilled jalapenos along with the bacon and barbecue sauce.
There are some other things on the menu, and specials as well, but the burger is the star. And each one comes with a hefty serving of crunchy french fries. The Cowboy Bar & Grill is family friendly and has a true Western atmosphere with a wooden bar and rodeo on the television most of the time.
Bison House
500 W. Hart Street, Buffalo, WY
Located at the Buffalo Golf Club, the city’s municipal golf course, the Bison House offers a laid-back atmosphere and a menu that is not in any way pretentious.
To be honest, it’s the Detroit-style deep dish pizzas that set this restaurant apart. That, and Guiness on draft. But the Bison House does burgers — a smash burger of two patties with bacon, sauteed onions and American cheese; and a bison burger with lettuce, cheddar cheese, and onion.
In addition to pizza and burgers, the menu includes chicken wings, loaded fries, steak sandwich, and much more.
Tavern 307
Buffalo’s newest restaurant is Tavern 307, located downtown on Main Street along Clear Creek. The full menu includes steaks, salmon, prime rib, and more. But Tavern 307 also offers BYOB — Build Your Own Burger — with a variety of toppings including grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, blue cheese crumbles, onion rings and four kinds of cheese.
In addition, look out for Tavern 307 specials such as the peanut butter and jelly burger with house habanero jelly, peanut butter, bacon and cheese; or the German burger with pork patties and sauerkraut.
Tom’s Main Street Diner
41 N. Main Street, Buffalo, WY
Another downtown restaurant on Main Street, this diner offers the classic, unpretentious diner experience with big portions for breakfast and lunch.
The breakfast dishes — such as blueberry pancakes and western scrambles — are beloved at this cash-only restaurant, but the burgers are also a hit and budget-friendly.
Dash Inn
620 E. Hart Street, Buffalo, WY
The Dash Inn is a well-known restaurant throughout northern Wyoming. Judging by the number of school buses that populate the parking lot, it seems every high school team in this area has stopped by the Dash Inn before or after competitions. With good reason.
The Dash Inn offers good food fast with a menu that includes fried chicken, barbecue ribs, Mexican, buffalo wings, even spaghetti, and fish. But it’s famous for the Dash Burger and Super Dash Burger. There’s also the Bacon Dash Burger in addition to hamburgers, cheeseburgers and bacon cheeseburgers. You can still score a hearty cheeseburger here for under $5.
The restaurant has been in business since 1967 and at its current location on Hart Street (Highway 16) near Interstate 25 since the 1980s.
Taylor’s Invasion Bar
In business for more than two decades, the Invasion Bar is a staple in downtown Kaycee. It serves up a contender for best burger in the region. The bar’s name is a reference to the Johnson County Cattle Wars, and it’s only fitting that burgers with regionally-sourced ingredients are the highlight of the menu.
Weighing in at a half-pound, the burgers are big enough to support the amazing toppings, including green chili or red chile varieties. The waffle fries also are a special added touch. The menu includes steak and other dinners.
With its location in Kaycee, the home of Chris LeDoux, the Invasion Bar definitely is filled with Western character and characters.
South Fork Mountain Lodge
Located in the Bighorn Mountains about 16 miles west of Buffalo, South Fork Mountain Lodge is open during the summer season and offers the chance to order up an elk burger. There are beef burgers, cheeseburgers, and much more on the menu. South Fork offers full service with breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days per week in a great mountain lodge atmosphere.
It’s also a place where you should definitely plan for dessert as part of the meal with great home-made pies.
Making Reservations and Practical Tips
Visiting Johnson County can create a lifetime of memories, and that can include a memorable meal with great hospitality in a Western setting. Check the social media to see what specials might be served at the restaurants, and call ahead to check for seating availability. During the summer months, some of the restaurants fill up with diners. During the winter, some restaurants restructure their hours.
Any time of the year, you can count on a delicious burger and great service.
