Where to Eat in North Lake Tahoe

After a day of skiing, snowboarding, biking or boating in adventure-filled Lake Tahoe, all you want to do is relax in a cozy atmosphere and enjoy some scrumptious food. On the North Shore in California, you’ll find amazing food and a laid-back vibe everywhere you go.

Here are my recommendations for where to eat in North Lake Tahoe. And if you’re looking for the best restaurants in South Lake Tahoe, I’ve got that, too!

Breakfast and Lunch in North Lake Tahoe

Rosie’s Cafe, Tahoe City. Cluttered with vintage and antique pieces right up to the rafters, Rosie’s exudes character and history. They offer excellent food for reasonable prices – create your own three-egg omelet for $8.50. Rosie’s also has a diverse and comprehensive lunch and dinner menu.

Syd’s Bagelry and Espresso. This is the place to pick up a coffee and breakfast sandwich and enjoy it on their patio overlooking the lake. Syd’s offers bagels, burritos, wraps, sandwiches, soup, smoothies and great coffee. Try the Blackberry Lavendar Latte!

The Dam Cafe, Tahoe City. This homey little spot near the Truckee River Dam is a favorite of the locals. Their breakfast burritos and egg sandwiches take center stage, but they also offer excellent coffee drinks, smoothies and pastries. 

Where to Eat Apres-Ski

Squaw Valley is where we’ve spent most of our Tahoe skiing time, and I haven’t had a bad meal in any of their restaurants. But these three rise to the top.

Rocker, Squaw Village. My favorite place to eat in Olympic Village. They have a way of putting a slightly unique spin on some classic dishes that makes their food interesting, but still completely friendly. My family loves the kale chips, brisket fries, bacon jalapeno mac-n-cheese, chicken avocado sandwich, short ribs and chicken noodle soup – which my kids crave and say is the “best soup ever.”

Fireside Pizza, Squaw Village. My kids ask to go here for the salad. That’s right… the salad. They don’t eat a lot of salad, but something about the flavorful house dressing, the thinly-shaved onions, and the crispy croutons has them asking for this salad again and again. The pizzas are also excellent – order one of their specialties or choose from whatever toppings your like for your own personal pizza. I love the ham and pineapple!

The Auld Dubliner, Squaw Village. This authentic Irish pub (“imported directly from Dublin, Ireland”) has awesome comfort food sure to warm your belly after a day on the slopes. If their Irish Stew – rich beef stew over mashed potatoes – isn’t comfort food, I don’t know what is. Their traditional boxty dishes are delicious, and their corned beef sandwich – served with melted swiss, apple-onion relish, horseradish mayonnaise on grilled rye – is absolutely out of this world.

Any of these apres-ski eateries would also be perfect for lunch or dinner. 

Dinner in North Lake Tahoe

Caliente, Kings Beach. Caliente is at the top of my list of favorite places to eat. The food is outstanding, the drinks aren’t watered down, and the portions are big. Even the non-Mexican entrees (such as ribeye steak and short ribs) are phenomenal. Don’t miss the Spicy Jalapeno Shooters, stuffed with bacon and cheese and served in a shot glass. And save room for ice cream tacos or chocolate-drizzled churros for dessert!

We’ve visited on quieter evenings, but for the young and rowdy crowd they have plenty of happy hour specials and tequila tastings. And they have a good sense of humor: The bottom of their menu reads, “Children’s menu – goes well with tequila – on request.”

Jake’s on the Lake, Tahoe City. Jake’s is fine dining right on Lake Tahoe. The view is amazing and so is the food. I started with a warm brie wedge with bacon marmalade and a sliced baguette. I’m actually kinda drooling now thinking about that bacon marmalade.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of culinary options in North Lake Tahoe. And there are many more that I hope to explore soon!