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Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station is located in the Stanislaus National Forest at the 6300-foot elevation, and has all of the outdoor adventures you could ever wish for, along with many amenities, including cabins, campgrounds, store, saloon, AND... best of all... a fine restaurant, Kennedy Meadows Restaurant, located a few miles east of Pinecrest, CA.. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's just past 08:00 in the morning, Monday, June 22, 2026 and I've arrived at Kennedy Meadows Restaurant, located at the Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station, in the Stanislaus National Forest, about 20 miles east of Pinecrest, CA. From about the end of April until Columbus Day the restaurant is open every day of the week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The resort includes many amenities, including a store, lounge, saloon, campground, cabins, showers, packstation, guided pack tours and more. If you're a Pacific Crest Trail hiker, you know all about this fine resort. For "foodies," the crown jewel is the awesome restaurant.
Photo: The restaurant, store and lounge are co-located in one large building, with a sweeping porch, that offers fine, outdoor dining. Since Kennedy Meadows Resort is a packstation, a Pacific Crest Trail stopover and a destination for Tulolumne County tourists, it makes for a great mix of people watching, it that's your sport. Cowboys, hikers, cosmopolitan types, four wheelers... they come together at Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station.
Photo: The lounge, which also serves as an office, is located between the restaurant and the general store, and serves as an entry for both. Kennedy Meadows is located in the high Sierra Nevada mountains, and the resort, along with the decor is rustic. When the weather is chilly, there is a cheery fire burning in the wood-fired stove, but it wasn't needed on this beautiful summer morning in late June.
Photo: The dining room is cozy, rustic and comfortable, and the many windows offer a beautiful view of the mixed pine forest, the craggy mountain peaks, and a the goings-on of a working packstation.
Photo: The breakfast menu offers all of your breakfast favorites every day of the week. The food is delicious and the prices are very reasonable, especially considering the remote location of the restaurant.
Photo: Meet Tammy, my amazingly friendly server, who brought my breakfast to me with a smile, and treated me like a member of her family. In chatting with her, she told me yesterday she was the chef who prepared my exceptional breakfast of "Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs." This lady has talent in the dining room and in the kitchen!
Photo: I'm a happy guy, as I'm ready to enjoy a delicious breakfast of "Ham and Eggs," complete with enhancement from Cholula hot sauce.
Photo: From the "Egg Dishes" section of the menu, I went with "Ham and Eggs," along with the included hash browns, toast and jelly. Like yesterday, I enjoyed Cholula hot sauce, to enhance my eggs and potatoes. The sizable slice of ham was fried on griddle, and it sported a small amount of attractive charring, which enhanced the enticing presentation. The knife was simply window dressing, as the ham was fork tender, so no knife was needed. It was perfectly prepared, juicy, succulent and mouth-waterly delicious! The side of hash browns were crispy griddled to a beautiful golden brown on the outside, crispy and crunchy, yet tender, white and juicy on the inside, just the way I like them. My eggs were perfectly fried sun up, as per my request. Two slices of buttered sourdough toast, a delicious side by itself helped me clean up every bit of goodness from my plate. I didn't use the jelly, as I really don't have much of a sweet tooth. The tender, juicy ham was the star of the breakfast, supplemented by the delicious, crispy hash browns, the perfectly fried eggs, and the buttered, sourdough toast. My breakfast was wonderful, and kept me happy for the rest of the day. When I'm camping, my appetite always runs wild, and Kennedy Meadows Restaurant is my idea of a perfect restaurant, thanks to their delicious "comfort food," super friendly staff and large portions.
Photo: One slice of the juicy, fork-tender ham, with no knife needed. Delicious!
Photo: It's Father's Day Sunday, June 21, 2026, and I was honored to enjoy the company of Sally, my amazingly friendly waitress, who gave superior service and treated me like family.
Photo: I raise my can of Coors beer and toast Sally, the friendly staff and the amazing mountain cuisine, at Kennedy Meadows Restaurant, located east of Pinecrest, CA.
Photo: From the "Egg Dishes" section of the menu, my choice was "Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs," along with the included side of hash brown potatoes, and two pieces of toast. A bottle of Cholula hot sauce made for fine enhancement, and a can of Coors beer made for a great appetizer and dessert. At the time, I didn't know the talented chef who prepared my meal was Tammy, who would be my waitress the next morning. The sizeable beef patty was seasoned, pounded thin, battered, and deep fried to a crispy, golden brown on the outside, but tender, flavorful and juicy on the inside, just the way a perfect chicken fried steak should be. It was covered with thick, rich sausage gravy, with many chunks of country sausage, and sprinkled with ground pepper. Oh my... what a way to get a Father's Day Sunday breakfast started! The side of hash browns were griddle-fried to a beautiful golden brown on the outside, crispy and crunchy, yet tender, white and juicy on the inside, which made for perfect hash brown potatoes. I ordered my eggs fried sun up, which is my de facto standard when I order hash browns, and they arrived as ordered, fried perfectly. The breakfast rounded out with two slices of buttered sourdough toast, delicious in itself, which helped me clean up every bit of goodness from my plate. The Cholula Mexican Hot Sauce came in handy with breakfast, as it's a sauce that excels and takes any breakfast to the next level. When it's available, it's my breakfast hot sauce of choice. With my first bite of the chicken fried steak, I was rewarded with a taste sensation cornucopia of the tender beef, the crisp, deep fried batter, and the luscious, country gravy. This chicken fried steak was simply amazing! The crispy hash browns, the eggs and the buttered sourdough toast made for the perfect sides, and made this a perfect breakfast. The breathtaking view of the mountains I enjoyed from my table on the patio made the savory mountain cuisine taste even better!
Photo: I cut off a piece of my chicken fried steak, and it was love at first bite! I could enjoy eating this fantastic breakfast every day, for the rest of my life... You'll savor the delicious, hearty mountain cuisine, served by the friendly staff, and you'll find your food tastes even better, thanks to the crisp mountain air and the breathtaking scenery as you enjoy your fine meal. The food is delicious, the price is very reasonable, and the staff is super accommodating and friendly. Fine gold country dining in the high Sierra Nevada mountains at Kennedy Meadows Restaurant, located at Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station, 20 miles east of Pinecrest, CA. Kennedy Meadows Resort and Pack Station Copyright(c) 2026 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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