Morongo Valley Cafe is known for its dog-friendly patio and all-day breakfast. Diners can expect classic comfort food including biscuits and gravy, French toast, tuna melts, and rotating soup specials.

A little bit hipster, a little bit cowboy. That’s the vibe at Red Dog Saloon, a former Hell’s Angels biker bar that looks straight out of a western film set (because it was). Red Dog Saloon serves elevated Tex Mex menu items, including wagyu beef brisket tacos, mushroom asada tacos, and chips and queso. The cocktail list fits the desert setting: mezcal margaritas, mules with fresh ginger juice, and Manhattans made with mole bitters.

In 1946, a team of Hollywood investors created Pioneertown as an old Western film set. After more than 50 films and TV shows were shot on-site, it transformed into its current iteration: a restaurant, saloon, and live music venue. Located on an isolated patch of high desert far away from city lights and cell service, the restaurant serves quesadillas, barbecue, burgers, and cocktails in mason jars. In 2021, Desert Daze festival founder Phil Pirrone and Knitting Factory Entertainment took over booking for the venue.

Expect 7 a.m. breakfast through late lunch at this Yucca Valley option known for pancakes, french toast, and easy eating lunch sandwiches, burgers, and wraps — all served from a seriously retro space.

Minimalist desert style meets thoughtfully created dishes at this stylish fine dining hot spot. La Copine hits all the right notes with its sun-bathed interior and seasonal dishes. The seasonal menu includes an eclectic array of cuisine which can include items like corvina ceviche, pork belly ramen, crispy buttermilk chicken with grits, and warm beignets. Only open Thursday through Sunday, La Copine is very popular and does not offer reservations — but it’s worth waiting for a table.

El Guero is for the people, as evidenced by the wide array of folks who frequent the restaurant. Families split large combo plates, buddies share trays of nachos, and everyone eyeballs the fajitas and enchiladas as they pass.

Hummus, grilled meats, and side salads feel perfect for this small corner of the larger desert, and thankfully this Yucca Valley staple provides. Find families, hikers, and tourists all dining in on any given day.

Sam’s Indian Food & Pizza does indeed serve both of its eponymous items, with an emphasis on Indian food — shrimp tandoori, jalapeno naan, and saag shorba. The pizza menu includes all of the usual favorites (meat lovers, Hawaiian, veggie), plus unique Indian fusion pizzas, such as the Bombay pizza topped with chicken tikka masala.

From pre-hike sausage rolls and cortados to post-climb charcuterie, The Dez is a great option for grab-and-go breakfast, lunch, and dessert. Diners can choose from a la carte items such as caprese paninis and avocado toast or order entire boxed lunches made with desert adventures in mind.

Crossroads Cafe serves diner food inspired by southwest and California tastes. In other words, there are good old fashioned hamburgers made with beef, but there are also ahi tuna burgers with jalapeno-lime aioli and Impossible burgers on brioche. The menu also includes tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches, salads, housemade pastries, and beer and wine.

What is it about desert trips that makes roadside diner food taste so good? When passing through the town of Joshua Tree, the place to have it is Country Kitchen. Open since 1977, this restaurant serves all-day breakfast and lunch with comfort food classics such as biscuits and gravy, blueberry pancakes, and country-fried steak.

Joshua Tree Saloon’s outdoor space (simply called The Yard) may be one of the most photogenic spots in town. It’s also the site of live music and outdoor barbecue on the weekends, and it’s the perfect place to savor ginger-marinated ahi tuna poke with homemade tortilla chips or beer-battered jalapeño slices. An indoor saloon serves 14 draft beers and a must-try mojito. Karaoke night draws crowds here.

Longtime Twentynine Palms favorite The Rib Co. sits poised on the Twentynine Palms Highway (the two-lane road that serves as the main artery through the Joshua Tree area), just begging desert travelers to pull over for some brisket. The menu includes several styles of ribs, like baby back, St. Louis style, and Tennessee whiskey glazed, to name a few. There are also burgers, brisket sandwiches, and build-your-own plates served with a choice of meat, plus two side dishes, and corn muffins loaded with honey butter.

Swing into the Twentynine Palms location of Jelly Donut for steaming bowls of Vietnamese beef noodle soup, along with a classic collection of doughnuts. The bowl to get is the #1 with all the trimmings — brisket, meatballs, and tenderloin. A maple bar or apple fritter for dessert is a must.

The town of Joshua Tree gets a lot of acclaim for its artsy aesthetic and desert culinary gems, but in recent years Twentynine Palms has been drawing its own crowds, thanks in part to the addition of Kitchen in the Desert. Featuring a cactus studded patio interspersed with historic mining equipment, this restaurant serves Carribean-influenced American brunch and dinner seven days a week. Diners can enjoy jerk chicken, fried cauliflower, and mezcal palomas while exploring the historic property and listening to occasional live music performances.

Located way out in the Wonder Valley, Palms Restaurant is so directly in the middle of nowhere that it might appear as an actual mirage to travelers. Those curious enough to step inside will find one of the most authentic desert dive bars in California complete with a pool table, PBR on draft, and a stage out back for live music under the stars. The shockingly cheap menu includes burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and chili cheese dogs.