Where Your Best Bet for Lunch Is in Missoula, Montana

Missoula has seen a lot of change in the restaurant landscape since 2020. We've seen a number of businesses close, and a number of lunch restaurants have closed their lobbies. Then again, we're excited to see that one area restaurant will be expanding and another will be reopening very soon (we hope!). We hope this trend of business openings, expansions, and remodels continues.

We've also provided recommendations in the past about where to go for lunch in Missoula, and where to get some breakfast, too. But these recommendations didn't take cost into consideration, and lately, that's something many people are considering.

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The USDA publishes a Consumer Price Index for Food, which breaks down the costs of food by food that you would purchase at a grocery store and food you would purchase at a restaurant. Here is the latest data on nationwide food costs:

• The food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI increased 0.8 percent from December 2022 to January 2023 and was 11.3 percent higher than January 2022; and

• The food-away-from-home (restaurant purchases) CPI increased 0.6 percent in January 2023 and was 8.2 percent higher than January 2022.

Given the increase in the price of food, a lot of Missoulians are wondering where to get a great lunch that won't "break the bank." We gave ourselves a budget of $15 (and that's without the tip) and then asked our listeners, with $15 for lunch in Missoula, where would they go and what would they order. Responses rolled in and gave a good overview of some tasty options for lunch in Missoula.