Whether snow is on the ground or during deep summer months, La Lena Mexican restaurant has a cozy spot with delicious food with albondigas soup, tacos, or the occasional barbecued ribs.

Frazier Park and nearby Pine Mountain Club are two lesser-known mountain communities near greater Los Angeles, each situated inside the Los Padres National Forest. The sleepiness of the two towns means more local flavor, like the kind found at clean-eating restaurant The Red Dot. The meatless restaurant offers everything from Indian dishes to standard American salads to fish-free tacos, served daily from the morning through dinner.

There is no busier restaurant in Wrightwood than the Grizzly Cafe. The hearty-eating American spot turns out a mean weekend breakfast before transitioning into burgers and other fare for lunch, all meant to satisfy Pacific Crest Trail through-hikers and wintertime skiers alike.

Crestline may not see the same influx of visitors as nearby Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear, but the tight-knit community still has mountain views and crisp summer air to spare. Both are in abundance at Hortencia’s, a laid-back Mexican restaurant with a cliffhanging patio that provides impeccable looks at the mountains below.

Much of Lake Arrowhead’s waterfront property is squeezed by private land and homes, making the Lakefront Tap Room all the more appealing for part-time visitors. Stop through for burgers, fries, pretzels, and a surprisingly robust craft beer list to go along with the stunning lake view.

Everyone who has ever been to Big Bear knows about Himalayan Restaurant. In a small community ringed with chain restaurants and a few other local gems, Himalayan manages to stand out for its Indian and Nepalese fare, including some particularly delicious momo dumplings on a spacious outdoor patio. The indoor dining room is cozy, with a bar that’s perfect for happy hour.

One of Big Bear’s oldest establishments, the 63 year old Teddy Bear Restuarant resides in the central Big Bear Village, where comfort foods like chicken fried steak with sausage gravy and house made biscuits with brown sugar-glazed bacon are popular favorites.

Big Bear’s hottest place to eat is drive-thru creperie Cafe Crepe. Open in November 2020, the walk-up/drive-thru spot maintains lengthy line for crepes made-to-order, including vegan options and a buckwheat crepe for those avoiding gluten.

There’s a small cluster of restaurants and bars that populate the center of town in Idyllwild, and among them is La Casita. The simple lunch and dinner space offers lots of shaded patio seating and simple Mexican and Mexican-American fare, including taco salads, burritos, and big-plate staples like enchiladas.