Lunch is a contentious topic for skiers and snowboarders. Some people are more than happy spending some money to get a nice, hot lodge lunch, taking their time to eat it. Others believe taking a break to eat mid-ski day is unacceptable, choosing instead to ski or snowboard through lunch or potentially eat something on the chairlift. We asked our Facebook followers what their favorite ski resort lunches look like. After crunching the numbers and combining similar answers (e.g. sausages and brats), these were the top 5 favorite ski resort lunch options.
Top 5 Ski Lunches, Ranked by Popularity
1. Sandwiches
Whether you’re a PB&J fan, turkey and cheese lover, or egg salad sandwich loyalist, the sandwich skiers and snowboarders took the first spot. A majority of the responses were in relation to packing your own sandwich to avoid spending a ton of money on the mountain for lunch, though a few mentioned specific sandwiches and locations available for sale on the mountain. The D’Ellies Avalanche at Sugarloaf in Maine is a personal favorite of this writer.
2. Burgers
There’s something about a good burger that can really bring you back to life in the middle of a ski day (if you’re into that kind of stuff). Burgers come with a mixed sentiment among our followers. Some dig buying a fancy burger, like the bison burger offered at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Beaver Creek. Others love to grill their own in the parking lot, enjoying the cool air and tailgating atmosphere while saving cash.
3. Chili
There are so many different ways to enjoy chili, so it’s not surprising that it found its way high up on this list. Chili, whether it’s loaded with cheese or tucked into a bread bowl, is a clear favorite. Utah’s Deer Valley was mentioned for its general food options several times, but its chili seems to be the most popular. Chili can go on so much, too (hot dogs, french fries, pouting, burgers, etc.), and it’s heat is a great way to warm up your body on a frigid day.
4. Sausages/Brats
Sausages and brats are once again split between those that like to purchase their lunch and those that like to save some money. Sitting by the parking lot grill with a beer in one hand and some tongs, cooking up some nice cheesy brats is a great way to enjoy your lunch break at the ski resort. At the same time, some people prefer purchasing a nice fancy brat or hot dog like the epic dogs offered at Loveland Ski Area.
5. European/Japanese Ski Resort Food
Commenter Mark C. made a pretty darn good point when he said “this really just comes down to Italy vs Japan.” Outside of North America, ski resort food is often less expensive while tasting significantly better. Italian pasta, French meats, Swiss fondue, and so on all make a European ski trip worth it alone. In Japan, the lunches include curries, ramen, and much more, often for just a few dollars. Plus, many Japanese ski resorts have Asahi or Sapporo beers in dirt-cheap vending machines. In this writer’s opinion, very little beats a Japanese ski resort pork curry.
Honorable Mentions
With so many comments and so many different options, there were plenty of answers that didn’t make the cut yet deserve some attention. To see the full list of comments, go check out the post yourself. Other highlights from the comments include the ramen at Powder Mountain, the sriracha blueberry mayo BLT on super thick Texas toast at Maine’s Camden Snowbowl, and the BBQ at Arapahoe Basin.
There’s also those who prefer to go the less conventional/skipping lunch direction. Granola bars or jerky in the pocket is a go to for those who prefer to keep skiing until their legs are completely burnt or the mountain is closed. One person said they like a ketchup and oyster cracker soup (not 100% clear what that is or how filling it would really be but you do you). Of course there were plenty of answers mentioning beers, whether they’re local IPAs or pilsners.
At the end of the day, whatever fills you up and keeps you moving is the best ski resort lunch. If you need a massive bowl of mac & cheese to keep moving, get yourself a massive bowl of mac & cheese. If all you need is a bag of jerky, than that’s all you need.
