How to Spend a Food-Filled Weekend in Mount Shasta

The Bay Area is spoiled with weekend trip possibilities, including pampered spa and wine outings in Napa or bunny slopes in Lake Tahoe. But what Mount Shasta offers is fun, small-town life without the traffic of other tourist-congested areas, and it’s only getting better. We’ll leave you to plan your own outdoor activities for your time in town — which might include nearby waterfalls, skiing, cycling, or even an outdoor skating rink — but if you’re looking for food and drink recommendations, you’ve come to the right place.

On the Road

Granzella’s Restaurant

Mention heading up north to Mount Shasta along Highway 5 to anyone who’s been, and inevitably someone will mention stopping at Granzella’s. Located in Williams, just 100 miles outside of San Francisco, getting there is just the right amount of time to feel like you’ve left home, but fits in as a food stop before your group gets rampagingly hungry. It’s easy to see why Granzella’s is a mainstay: It’s crowd-pleasing fare with a side of distraction. Get a little lost browsing the gift shop for knick-knacks, ogling rows of hot sauce bottles, and parsing through several jars of pickled vegetables. Opt for a sit-down lunch or dinner, or pick up a sandwich to-go, like the meatball sub or the Tom, a portable folding in salami, mortadella, turkey, ham, and cheese — whatever your road trip timeline demands. Pro tip: Gelato fans will want to peruse the flavors in the ice cream case, as an employee shared they make it in-house in the morning. 451 Sixth Street, Williams

La Fortuna Bakery

For a hit of Mexican food, La Fortuna Bakery is a great place to stop in for tortas, tacos, and burritos stuffed with adobada, or spiced pork, chorizo, chicken, and more. The hit here, however, is the sandwiches — the fluffy-soft torta bread is a perfect foil to the protein, vegetables, and avocado, especially considering that this spot is also a bakery. For baked goods, stop into the grocery store next door for pan dulce in the back or to grab a drink from the stocked fridges. There are a quad of tables inside to eat at if it’s cold, and a couple of outdoor spots to sit if the weather’s nice. 669 F Street, Williams

Olive Pit

Olive fanatics will get a kick out of perusing the aisles at the Olive Pit in Corning, just an hour up Highway 5 from Williams. There’s an olive bar for sampling the wide variety of jarred olives in stock, which run the gamut of stuffed, spicy, and martini-ready. There’s enough here to cobble together an olive-centric charcuterie plate for when you arrive — there’s also an attached wine section if needed — complete with olive wood serving ware. Meanwhile, the attached cafe has some bites in case you bypassed a food stop earlier, serving items like the bacon jam burger or an olive-appropriate muffuletta. Intriguingly, the signature shakes include a hearty dose of fruit-slash-balsamic drinks, and a strawberry balsamic shake proved to be a roadworthy balm for the remainder of the drive. 2156 Solano Street, Corning

Mount Shasta

Pipeline Craft Taps and Kitchen

North Mount Shasta Boulevard is filled with mainstays like Yaks Shack and Sparky’s Landing, but modern gastropub Pipeline Craft Taps and Kitchen is one of the newer kids on the block, having opened in 2019 with an expansion to Redding in November 2024. On a recent Friday night, the place was bustling, with groups sharing bites like the breaded and perfectly-fried cheese curds or the duck fat fries. The “handhelds” portion of the menu features hefty burgers and sandwiches; the Pipeline Classic features a 1/3-pound beef patty loaded up with American cheese and grilled onions with the house sauce. The Southern fried chicken sandwich was done well, with a jalapeño aioli that gave it a slight kick. Don’t skip out on the taps of craft beers, and there’s a wine menu on hand, if that’s more what you’re craving. 316 North Mount Shasta Boulevard, Mount Shasta

Theory Coffee

Skip the Starbucks on the main drag in town, and sidle up to the coffee bar at Theory Coffee, a Redding-based coffee company. The Mount Shasta location is the company’s third cafe — and its first outside of Redding — and judging by the weekend crowds, it’s a favorite amongst the locals. Your coffee order is between you and your caffeine needs, although Theory has it all, including a few specials such as the Matchacano and the soda espresso. The food offerings are also popular, such as the chocolate-hazelnut cruffin and sellout bacon breakfast sandwich on an Everything-spiced brioche bun. A double-sided fireplace warms both rooms of the cafe, with one side serving as a cozy living room-esque setup. 228 North Mount Shasta Boulevard, Mount Shasta

Alua’s Thrive Bar

Alua’s Thrive Bar claims to be “the home of healthy habits” and that’s certainly tough to argue, as it serves locals and tourists a dose of acai bowls, smoothies, kombucha, and avocado toast. Fueling up for the trails around Mount Shasta will be easy here with delicious kombucha on tap and available to-go in quart, half-gallon, and gallon containers; recent flavors included hibiscus-ginger and turmeric orange cinnamon. Sasquatch’s Stash is a treasure trove of fruit atop an acai bowl, cramming in strawberries alongside blueberries, banana, granola, almonds, peanuts, and cacao nibs. There are also vegan and gluten-free food options, if preferred. 315 Chestnut Street, Mount Shasta

Seven Suns Coffee & Cafe

On the south side of town, Seven Suns Coffee & Cafe is a local favorite for breakfast and lunch, with a full coffee menu to keep everyone happily buzzing. The breakfast burrito is a lovely cheesy-eggy number that can be customized with bacon, ham, sausage patty, or Cajun sausage. It’s not quite a foil-wrapped portable meal for hikes like the Mission does it, but the cafe knows full well to include a sauce cup of salsa, which makes up for it. There are trail bars and pre-packaged snacks for on-the-go customers, and seating for those who prefer to linger over coffee and lunch. 1011 South Mount Shasta Boulevard, Mount Shasta

Deadwood Supply Company

Deadwood Supply Company manages to be a triple threat on North Mount Shasta Boulevard, combining bike repairs and community events with beer and cider from local breweries on tap. Pick up a cider from Auburn’s Ponderosa Cider Co., or an IPA from Sacramento’s Touchstone Brewing Company, and cozy up to the space’s fireplace in the winter. A large roll-up door promises a pleasant environment in the summer, an excellent position from which to chat with the friendly locals who stream through the doors or for taking part in a quiz night with prizes. 408 North Mount Shasta Boulevard, Mount Shasta

Handsome John’s Speakeasy

The charmingly-named Handsome John’s Speakeasy isn’t quite a speakeasy, but you will get hints of IYKYK vibes when you walk past the wooden fence with mere “Cold Beer” and “Must Be 21 or Older” signs to guide your way. Enter and you’ll find a larger-than-expected drinking pad perfect for groups, with a ping pong table, foosball, and arcade machine inside to keep everyone happy. Detroit Tigers and Michigan fans will feel at home with all of the team paraphernalia and TVs to watch sports on, but be forewarned that this is a strictly beer and wine spot, not a full bar. And while one might expect this place to be rife with burgers and fries, the bar, in fact, serves sushi rolls and pancakes — though there was a pastrami Reuben on a recent menu. As for “Handsome John”? You can also refer to him as mayor Handsome John, as he is the standing mayor of Mount Shasta as of this writing. 316 Chestnut Street #2213, Mount Shasta

Weed

Asian American Bar-BQ

When you spot a streetside smoker out on North Weed Boulevard in — where else? — Weed, California, you’ve found Asian American Bar-BQ, a 13-year-old Thai barbecue spot that mixes pork spare ribs with papaya salad. The owner is a chef, cashier, and menu whisperer, helping first-timers with their order and proudly leading diners to their perfect dish. The mixed plate is an easy hit that’s shareable, offering a sampling of grill-charred brisket, pork, and smoked chicken leg, alongside papaya salad. It’s a no-frills environment with Thai music playing inside, but it has some tables to accommodate diners who decide to stay. Notably, the website still mentions an October 2024 vacation until “further notice,” but a quick phone call during business hours will confirm the restaurant’s status. 10 North Weed Boulevard, Weed

Shasta Brewing Company

If you’re looking for another fun diversion in Weed besides barbecue and weed-themed gift shops, head to Mount Shasta Brewing Company. There’s an eclectic taproom with mismatched furniture and a beautiful, old-timey back bar, and it’s serving its own brews made with Mount Shasta spring water. The Jalapeño Amber is worth a sample, and seasonal options cycle on and off the taps. Hungry visitors will be pleased to find an available food menu with sandwiches, flatbreads, and wings; those looking to stay awhile can pass the time with shuffleboard, pool, or ping pong. 360 College Avenue, Weed