Missoula, Montana’s OG Smash Burger Went From a Parking Lot to Downtown

For four years, Missoula foodies tracked a retrofitted camper to a Kettlehouse Brewing parking lot, drawn by the smell of grass-fed beef smashed on a flat-top.

In 2019, Travis Walnum and Kelsey Buckley, whose last names give the restaurant its name, opened a brick-and-mortar at 319 East Front Street in downtown Missoula. In December 2024, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives rolled in and everything changed.

Locals were already voting it the best burger in Missoula year after year before the DDD feature brought national attention. It made Only In Your State's 50 best burger picks.

The mission Travis and Kelsey started Wally and Buck with in 2015 has never changed: hyper-focus on one thing and do it better than anyone. The camper concept was the proving ground. The brick-and-mortar was the result.

What to Order

The Wally Burger is the signature: Oxbow Cattle Company grass-fed beef, sharp Oregon cheddar, bacon jam, griddled onion, lettuce, tomato, and Wally sauce on a brioche bun.

The OG is the purist version: house beef, American cheese, iceberg, tomato, onion, pickle, and Wally sauce. Check the seasonal special before ordering; the kitchen rotates creative options that are worth the detour from the classics.

Salt-N-Pepa skinny fries are the essential side, in Lemon Parmesan and Dill versions for those who want the variation. The buttermilk-brined fried chicken sandwich with smoked hot honey has developed its own following. For more on the food scene nearby, see the best restaurants in Missoula.

From Parking Lot to DDD Feature

The brick-and-mortar on East Front Street was the first business to anchor a commercial block near the old Missoula Public Library. The DDD feature in December 2024 brought national attention, but the local reputation was already there.

Local craft beer from Montana breweries. Seasonal cocktails. A dining room that fills quickly on weekends.

The DDD feature aired in December 2024 and introduced Wally and Buck to an audience that had no frame of reference for Missoula's food scene. The local following was already firmly established long before Guy Fieri pulled up.

Local Montana craft beers on tap rotate with the season. The dining room is small, and the outdoor seating fills first on warm evenings.

The DDD feature aired in December 2024 and introduced Wally and Buck to an audience with no frame of reference for Missoula's food scene. The local following was already firmly established before Guy Fieri arrived.

Travis Walnum has described the founding mission simply: hyper-focus on one thing and do it better than anyone else in town. That philosophy drove four years of parking lot service before the brick-and-mortar was even a plan. For more of the state's dining history, see Montana restaurants featured on Food Network.

Plan Your Visit

Wally and Buck is at 319 East Front Street in downtown Missoula. Hours run Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Covered parking nearby. Indoor seating is limited; outdoor seating available seasonally. While you're planning the trip, check out farm-to-table restaurants in Montana.