While it’s music that put Branson, Missouri, on the map, the local cuisine goes a long way in keeping visitors well-fed and hungry to discover all the city has to offer.
Seeing as how the city is known as the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World,” it only makes sense that many of Branson’s top eateries form a kind of world showcase all their own:
- Japanese – A truly unique dining experience can be enjoyed at Mitsu Neko Fusion Cuisine and Sushi Bar. This Japanese restaurant is owned by a young Russian couple who are usually on-site to help guests decide what to choose from the large menu. Along with sushi, it serves Westernized Japanese mains and innovative cocktails. Popular dishes include the house-smoked salmon and the blue fire roll; guests also rave about the house-made crème brûlée and the strawberry roll. WaKyoto Japanese Steak & Sushi is a “local” spot, where many of the residents have their own chopsticks lining the walls. The menu, created by chief proprietor and head sushi chef Billy Whang, is packed with great fresh fish and lunch and dinner items.
- Mexican – Arandas Tacos serves up authentic Mexican cuisine (as opposed to the Tex-Mex you may be more familiar with). Recommended dishes include the al pastor tacos, fajitas Jalisco, menudo (Sundays only) and the fried catfish. Cantina Laredo creates Mexican food inspired by the cuisine of Mexico City, with a modern twist. Imagine grilled fish, chicken or steak topped with one -of-a-kind signature sauces like chipotle-wine and Portobello mushroom or sautéed artichoke heart and roasted red bell pepper. Pair that with their award-winning margarita, the Casa Rita, and you’ve got “Modern Mexican.”
- Indian – India Clay Oven specializes in dishes from the southern part of India, and its chefs have years of experience preparing both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The distinguishing and enriching cuisine has been recognized around the world as the land of coconuts, with an intoxicating fusion of flavors that may be not be found anywhere else.
- Mediterranean – The menu at Vasken’s Deli, a Mediterranean deli and food market, comes from generations of family cooking, combined with more than 27 years in the international food business. Sample such traditional dishes as hummus, baba ganoush and gyros, or feast on specialty sandwiches, like Aric’s Garlic Chicken or Rosa’s Mediterranean Turkey.
- Thai – Since 2007 Thai Thai Cuisine’s menu of authentic Thai food has been refined to culinary perfection. Check out the Larb salad (ground chicken with chili pepper, lime juice, onion and cilantro), the Fisherman Soup (spicy and sour, with shrimp, calamari, fish and scallops), the Pahd Woonsen (stir-fried bean thread noodles with egg, tomato, onion and black mushroom) or the Pahd Ka Prow Seafood. And be sure to leave room for coconut ice cream.
If, however, you’re looking for some place to feel more at home, Branson offers a number of memorable spots for American cooking:
- Educate your palate at Dobyns Dining Room, at the Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks. Whether it’s a casual lunch, intimate dinner for two or an elegant private dinner party for 60, our culinary staff of students at Dobyns Dining Room offer something for every taste. Also, your Branson dining experience will be enhanced by student entertainment on Thursday through Saturday evenings from the wide range of musical talent on campus. For the sweet tooth, at any time of day, the bakery will satisfy any desire with pastries, desserts, homemade ice cream, and a variety of coffee and fruit drinks.
- Danna’s BBQ and Burger Shop offers a taste of local, old-fashioned barbecue. Every night, Danna’s smokes beef and pork for 12 to 14 hours over locally smoked hickory wood. The grill masters smoke ribs, chicken and sausage for four hours twice a day. All of Danna’s meats are sourced from reputable vendors who meet strict standards for fat content and tenderness. Sink your teeth into the Smoked Pork Plate, or go wild with the BBQ Nachos, Boss Man Salad and the not-to-be-missed burgers.
- Billy Bob Dairyland is a ‘50s style diner/malt shop with a Rock-Ola jukebox playing era-appropriate tunes. The small dining area sometimes means waiting for a table, but once you’re seated, the burgers and milkshakes make it well worth it for the entire family.
- Billy Gail’s Café (not to be confused with Billy Bob) is a down-home breakfast-and-lunch joint known for its jumbo pancakes and other country comfort grub. Visitors also rave about the sloppy biscuits (with eggs, cheese and sausage, smothered in gravy), chicken fried steak and homemade biscuits.
No matter whether you’re in the mood for something exotic or home-grown, Branson’s bounty of top-notch restaurants will satisfy your appetite. To learn more about traveling to Branson, or any of our 40+ dynamite destinations, contact us at [email protected].