The city of Prineville was founded in 1870 and is today the oldest city in Central Oregon. The modern-day community of 11,500 residents pays tribute to the past with a historical museum, Old West-inspired decor, vintage shops all around town, and other fun attractions. Visitors looking further afield, meanwhile, find that Prineville makes an idyllic getaway to the likes of the Painted Hills, Steins Pillar, and the Ochoco National Forest—one of many stately forests in Central Oregon.
Whether your own adventures take you across town or across the farm-covered landscapes at Prineville’s doorstep, a great meal can help fuel up for a busy day and help you unwind from an epic outing. So to help make the most of your next trip, we’ve put together a guide to the best restaurants in Prineville, Oregon:
Mexican Food in Prineville
A handful of sit-down, family-friendly Mexican eateries dot the city and are among the best restaurants in Prineville, Oregon.
At the western edge of the city, Ranchero Grill dazzles with a food menu that includes fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, and appetizing entrées; it all goes down well with Ranchero’s flavorful margaritas. Just north of downtown, Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant in Prineville serves all your family-style favorites—along with steak dishes, seafood items, and vegetarian cuisine—for dine in and take out. If you’d rather grab a quick bite, Tacos Toledo Mi Tiendita specializes in street tacos, tortas, chile rellenos, and other grab-and-go items that are both portable and filling.
Pizza in Prineville
Whatever you and your group are craving after a busy day, everyone can almost always agree on a few slices of ‘za—and you’ll find no shortage of quality pizza in Prineville, Oregon.
The Stone Pine Pizza resides on the patio at Wild Ride Brewing—and is beloved for slinging a variety of house-made pies. And at Corral Tap Room & Food Carts, the family-owned Nomads Brick Oven Pizza food truck sells a variety of personal-sized pizzas with all the classic toppings.
For more of a sit-down, pizza-parlor experience—complete with flashy arcade games—take the family to Abby’s Legendary Pizza. The Oregon-based pizza chain launched in 1964 and has since earned the affection of generations of diners across the state; today, Abby’s stands out for adding toppings to the very edge of its thin-crust pizzas.
Food Trucks in Prineville
In recent years, food carts and food-cart pods have exploded in popularity across Central Oregon—and the trend has reached Prineville. Today, a handful of food carts churn out flavorful fare around the community.
When the sun’s out, stop by Initiative Brewing The Station—which sits alongside Ochoco Creek near the eastern edge of downtown; there, you’ll find craft beers from Redmond-based Initiative Brewing alongside a handful of food carts, shaded picnic tables, and a stage for live music.
Just down the street sits the second outpost from Wild Ride Brewing. The brewery’s taproom pairs its house-made ales and lagers with an expansive beer garden and a handful of food carts—including Burger Love (offering a handful of creative burgers) and Wild Catch (which makes English-style fish-and-chips).
Finally, your whole crew is sure to enjoy a hearty meal at Corral Tap Room & Food Carts. The gathering space hosts food carts crafting fare from around the world, as well as a taproom that pours regional craft beer and ciders. Trivia nights and occasional events add to the good vibes.
Convenient Fast Food Options
You’ll find all the classic fast-food options around Prineville; McDonald’s serves its famous burgers and fries, Taco Bell puts its appetizing spin on casual Mexican dishes, Subway offers basic sandwiches, and Dairy Queen delivers a slice of old-school Americana with grilled dishes and a variety of ice cream treats.
Of course, plenty of locally owned, fast-casual options can be found around town, as well. Chief among them is Tastee Treet, which has dished old-school burgers, hand-cut fries, old-fashioned milkshakes, and other classic items in the heart of Prineville for roughly six decades. Ingredients are sourced locally, and most items—including chili, soups, and salads—are freshly made in-house. Take it to-go, or kick back on the patio and underneath Tastee Treet’s classic neon sign.
A few blocks away, The Dawg House takes a similarly old-school approach to its food menu—which comprises a varied selection of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and (of course) hot dogs. Choose among several sausage dogs, a slightly spicy Cajun dog, and even a corn “dawg”.
Things to Check Out While Visiting Prineville
From other iconic restaurants to outdoor activities, here are a few suggestions for when you visit Prineville, Oregon.
Sit-down restaurants: We’ve already passed along several great stops, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t shout out a few more delectable places to eat in Prineville, Oregon. Dillon’s Grill is popular with locals, thanks to an extensive craft beer selection, perfectly cooked barbecue dishes, and filling burgers. If you’re jonesing for a steak, you’re in luck: Prineville is home to two outstanding steakhouses. Barney Prine’s Steakhouse & Saloon prides itself on serving hand-cut, USDA meats and a menu of fresh seafood favorites, while Club Pioneer has been serving top-quality steaks, seafood, and classic cocktails since 1942.
Prineville Reservoir: Four seasons of outdoor activities await at Prineville Reservoir—including boating, camping, hiking, stargazing, and wildlife-watching. Learn more with our guide to Prineville Reservoir.
Ochoco National Forest: The 845,500-acre Ochoco National Forest sprawls out across meadows, forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, and more at the eastern border of Prineville, hosting countless trails and other outdoor attractions all year long. A few popular stops within the forest include Steins Pillar (where visitors can hike to the base of a 350-foot-tall rock formation) and Big Summit Prairie (whose springtime wildflower displays are the stuff of legend).
Curious to see what else is happening in and around town? Check out our list of upcoming events in Prineville to start planning your next getaway.
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