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Whats you favorite place to eat after hiking the canyon?

Bunhuggers in Flagstaff.

Jim Lyding wrote:Bunhuggers in Flagstaff.

Just beware of busy nights...
we waited in line ten minutes only to be told if we ordered it would be another thirty minutes before our food started to cook
still look forward to trying it when they figure out you can't turn people away looking to spend money

Had one of the best burgers of my life (I'm pretty picky too) at The Canyon Star Restaurant and Saloon in Tusayan. Not sure if that's the place... Bob, Wally or Denny probably know. If you like rare or medium rare and kissed by fire on the outside it's friggen awesome. The service is... wonder how they stay in business but if you can get past that... mmm mmm

I always go to the cafeteria at Maswik, although I can't say it's the greatest, it is ok. There are a lot of choices, anyway.

@joe bartels
Not sure what the name was...but that burger was awesome and the fries(which somehow you got more than anyone else). The service wasn't that good but the food made up for it. If you sit at the bar...you can sit in a saddle and get half price drinks.

azbackpackr wrote:I always go to the cafeteria at Maswik, although I can't say it's the greatest, it is ok.

It has the extraordinary virtue of being close at hand. That's great for at least taking the edge off to tide you over to the meal you've been dreaming of.

I usually am not dreaming of any particular meal. Since the hike is over with (and I usually wish it wasn't) I just want to get something to eat and go home. I have no desire to stop in Flag (when I didn't live here) or anywhere else. After Havasupai hikes we always stopped at Grand Canyon Caverns. They have good onion rings, and other stuff.

I think though, that contriving to make the trip last a little longer, by going to a restaurant with people you have been hiking with, is very anticlimactic. The whole mood has changed, since you no longer have the dynamics that occur between and amongst a group of backpackers. Being "out" changes the dynamics. So, then it is over. It was great while it lasted, but taking that same smelly group and plopping them down in a clean restaurant does not improve upon the backpacking trip experience. I would just as soon eat a sandwich, make my goodbyes, give and receive the hugs, and be on my way.

I always view the after-hike meal to be very important. After Utah trips, Gouldings and Navajo Tacos are essential.

On one very exausting hike in the Pinals I stoped at wendys to get a burger and that burger was amazing. A wendys burger never tased so good. I think it was because I was so tierd and hungry, but I'll never forget it.
I'll be looking for my next great burger after the GC hike, plus its fun to find good "hole in the wall " place to eat.

North Rim - Jacob Lake Inn - Fresh Salad, New York Strip Steak and a glass of Red wine
South Rim - El Tover - Fresh Salad, Filet Mignon and Cabernet Sauvignon.

azbackpackr wrote:I always go to the cafeteria at Maswik, although I can't say it's the greatest, it is ok. There are a lot of choices, anyway.

I haven't tried the Maswik caf, as I usually go to the one at Market Plaza, though it's probably the same grub. You can't go wrong with the spaghetti and meat sauce after a good solid hike!!

Al_HikesAZ wrote:North Rim - Jacob Lake Inn - Fresh Salad, New York Strip Steak and a glass of Red wine
South Rim - El Tover - Fresh Salad, Filet Mignon and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wow! You are a spendy guy! I spent $14 at Mazwik last time and complained about it. (So did everyone in my group, so we might go somewhere cheaper in Tusayan next time.)

maxpower wrote:

azbackpackr wrote:I always go to the cafeteria at Maswik, although I can't say it's the greatest, it is ok. There are a lot of choices, anyway.

I haven't tried the Maswik caf, as I usually go to the one at Market Plaza, though it's probably the same grub. You can't go wrong with the spaghetti and meat sauce after a good solid hike!!

I haven't tried that, maybe I will sometime. Usually get a veggie burger or something Mexicanish. And onion rings, if I get the burger. This last time I got an actual burger and was sorry, since they just don't agree with my stomach. The other mistake I made was falling for one of those pretty desserts. I think it was chocolate pie. No way I could eat it, after eating the burger and onion rings. Next time I go there I will drink water (they really get you on sodas there) and no dessert, and it will be more affordable.

Honestly, I can't imagine appearing clean enough to go to El Tovar for filet mignon. I can't even put on that spiffy an appearance in normal life, let alone after a backpacking trip! Gotta hand it to Al! ;)

azbackpackr wrote:Honestly, I can't imagine appearing clean enough to go to El Tovar for filet mignon. I can't even put on that spiffy an appearance in normal life, let alone after a backpacking trip! Gotta hand it to Al! ;)

Heh! Maybe that's what the El Tovar needs....a group of sweaty hikers with mule poop on their boots, traipsing in for an after-hike meal!

My kitchen. But if not that, then the Arizona Room, or the Wendy's. Avoid the Yippie Kai Ay cowboy steakhouse, that place is over priced and lousy.

azbackpackr wrote:Honestly, I can't imagine appearing clean enough to go to El Tovar for filet mignon. I can't even put on that spiffy an appearance in normal life, let alone after a backpacking trip! Gotta hand it to Al! ;)

I (usually) take a shower at Mather before going to dinner at El Tovar. Although sometimes I just use those big Hospital wipes for a spongebath

All those restaurants up there have all kinds there and you see all sweaty hiker next to the older people that dress to the nines...

All the restaurants up there are a lot more expensive even Mcdonalds.... the Tusayan cafe is a nice breakfast place ( and is cheaper than the mcdonalds and just as fast)

I used to hate it when I would be hungry for a snack on the drive back to Flagstaff (back when I delivered to the NPS and Xanterra in 2007 and 2008) and would go to the McDonald's to see they had no value menu to speak of. No 2 pies for a dollar, as I recall.

krispykritter wrote:A wendys burger never tased so good. I think it was because I was so tierd and hungry

My burgers are ALWAYS top notch ;)

Navajo Tacos from Gouldings or Cameron fantastic, Burgers at Lilo's Westside in Seligman if you're coming out of Havasupai, and if you'll believe it, we've really started to enjoy a burger at the BA Lodge dining room after coming out at the rim. It's not the food, so much as the convenience and selection - and they typically are happy to stash your backpack up front. Oh - and you can bring your drinks in from the lounge (and order more when you're done!)

Jim_H wrote:I used to hate it when I would be hungry for a snack on the drive back to Flagstaff (back when I delivered to the NPS and Xanterra in 2007 and 2008) and would go to the McDonald's to see they had no value menu to speak of. No 2 pies for a dollar, as I recall.

I remember reading somewhere that the Tusayan McDonald's is the most expensive in the world.