Excellent small and independent shake / burger stand near Mono Lake. We were coming back from Bodie and stopped for a quick lunch. They were temporarily out of slushies (because they just sold a bunch and the next batch was being made), so we tried a peanut butter milk shake in addition to some burgers and onion rings. Can't say anything bad about it--the burgers were delicious and the shake was spot on.
Cash only though, probably the only thing to watch out for if you're road tripping.
I don't care for ice cream much, but Mono Cone is just so utterly cute and classic it made me want some in a ye olde small cone. Their ice cream is really good! Two options for flavors, vanilla and chocolate. Easy peasy. If you're in town, stop in.
Apparently there is a yard type area in the back where you can sit and eat, we didn't see it so sat at the one picnic bench out front and watched the world of Lee Vining go by, perfectly enjoyable on a hot summer evening.
We decided to stop in for lunch and made sure we got our order right because of the Nazi order taker behind the screen ( We have been here before ) and this time the Nazi made the mistake on how much our outrageous bill was for , but she doesn't make mistakes only the customers. After getting our food we decided to sit out back since the weather was nice but for some reason it smelled like sewer, I looked down and my Cheeseburger was taking off carried by 100 flies. I grabbed our food back and went inside where I spent the whole time eating and swinging my arm waving off flies, less of them but still flies. Getting to the Burger, I honestly looked down to see if they had forgotten the patty because I felt like I was eating a Veggie Sandwich, yup there it is all 1/8 " thick in its glory. Between the grouch behind the screen, flies,sewer smell, high prices, small portions I'll take my money elsewhere where maybe I can get gas and food at the same time.
Review Source:3.5 stars
Cash Only
Outdoors picnic benches and indoor seating (good way to beat the heat on a HOT day). Order at front counter.
Great place to go after a long day of hiking to make up those calories.
Food: Lots of Shakes (now with option of buttermilk, whipped cream), malts, ice cream on cone, burgers.
1. Hawaiian Burger- The sauce was a bit salty, but otherwise good. Patties were a bit thin.
2. Salted Caramel Shake- Tasted like a vanilla shake with a poor attempt to swirl in the caramel. I didn't like the large pieces of salt. I've had other salted caramel ice creams and the salt is usually fine in texture. I loved the whipped cream on top.
3. Cherry Brownie Shake- Bf loved the tart tasting shake with pieces of cherry and large chunks of brownie mixed in. He had to finish the whole thing.
Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack -- Terrence Mann, "Field of Dreams".
If you build a nostalgic cone place in the middle of nowhere, people will definitely come, oh yeah, and they will fork over $20 + without even blinking an eye.
And with this flurry of HWY 395 reviews...I am now back in balance! Â 493 friends, 493 reviews. Â The Mayans are disappointed as they were counting on my imbalance to tilt the world to disaster.
And as I write this review, 4444 compliments! Â That's balance ;) Â
After our visit to Convict Lake, Mini-Me and I drove North on HWY 395 past the June Lake Loop and up near the Yosemite entrance in the small town of Lee Vining. Â We were both starved and this looked like it could fit the bill for sure. Â
Service is order at the counter and I don't know where they got her, but if you were filming a movie the crusty, crabby woman taking the orders is EXACTLY who you would expect. Â And why is she a bit crusty, crabby and even a little acerbic?
Tourist Exhibit 1: The lady with the IPhone who wants me to take a photo of her and her sullen boys. Â "Sure" I say cheerfully. Â "You want me to zoom in or take a wideshot?" "I don't care. Whatever just take the picture" Â I should have dropped her IPhone right there. Â But, instead, I take a few photos and hand her back the phone. Â Like a date waiting for her car door to be opened only to realize her date is a boor as he walks away leaving her sitting in the car; I paused for a few beats expecting the reciprocal photo with me and my son but instead she got up and left without even a thank you. Â No wonder her boys are so cheerless.
Tourist Exhibit 2: The rather rotund man with four screaming kids who thinks it is a smashing idea to approach the counter without his kids having decided on what they are ordering. Â Between the flavor burt cones, the shakes, the malts, the sundaes, the soft serves, the toppings...there are about 1000 different combinations to choose from and these rugrats went through all 1000. Â Both me and the Crusty Crabby Acerbic Lady wanted to drop multiple shakes on this family but I of course was prevented from doing that because I was behind this foursome ready to stab them repeatedly (Yep, added a different metaphor there...Bonus Day!). Â
Food is basic Tastee Freeze type fare...we ordered a Hamburger, Turkey Burger (Because the Turkey and Diet Pepsi will offset the ice cream), Lemonade, Diet Pepsi (Refills are a $1.00) Tater Tots (yummy) and fries (not so much yummy). Â Oh, and a flavor burst cone (you mix syrups with Vanilla, I think my son got Watermelon/Strawberry or something like that) and an Oreo Shake. Â Price was just over $30.00 for this healthy fare ;) Â
It was good but not great, certainly not a place I'd be a regular at if it was local. Â There is a completely unusable inside seating area that had more flies buzzing in it then my son could count (and he had never seen so many flies so count he did try). Â We sat in their outside seating area under a tree where the fly count was only single digits. Â Â
Recommended for a one time stop but not a consistent visit if you are in the area. Â And watch out if you get behind the wrong tourist in the order line...
Personally I love this place. It isn't the cheapest in town but then again the food is amazing. If pricing is really that big of an issue for some of you then you're just cheap because Mono Cone still manages to have a line up to the sidewalk on most days. Also not a lot of people know this so its easy to understand your frustration, but the couple that owns it is the same couple taking your order and making your food (Cashier and Cook). They are there by themselves early to setup and stay by themselves to clean. That being said its easy to understand how they'd only be open 8 hours, you try working about 12 hours a day EVERY day. From the first day of the season to the last, they only close for an EMEGERGENCY and never for holidays or just because. I just wanted to set some reviewers straight because a lot were very misinformed or unaware. Haha oh yea and the menu? Are you kidding? Its pretty straight forward, they've even had to write little statements under some items because a lot of people really are not the brightest out there. LONG LIVE MONO CONE!
Review Source:Very good. Â Beautiful day, so was nice to sit our back in the grassy area at the picnic tables to eat our delicious burgers and huge order of fries (might consider sharing an order) the sweet potatoe fries were really yummy. Â Large selection of unique burgers and many different flavors of milkshakes (for example caramel & sea salt also buttermilk shakes). Â Small indoor seating area. Â CASH ONLY
Review Source:We were out for a drive down the eastern Sierra's 395 this weekend and I just had it in my head to stop and get a soft serve ice cream cone. Its just one of the traveling road things that I really wouldn't do in the middle of the week in Reno. OK, so we stop, and there are a few people ahead of us. The line moved super slow...not that I really had anywhere to be, but still. I get the cone and upon my first taste, I could tell this was not going to be anywhere near the best I've had. For the price, I was hoping for better, I think it was around 4 bucks for a soft serve.....my BF paid , so I don't know the exact price. It was about on the level of taste as the free ice cream you get a Dickey's BBQ.....OK if you are a kid and don't know any better. Lee Vining is all a tourist trap...including the speed limits, so be warned. So, on north to Bridgeport for another attempt at a cone!
Review Source:This fast food treasure is located right on US-395 in a small town. I live about an hour away but have passed through lee vining (& completely missed Mono cone) several times on the way to June lake/Mammoth. This business is closed for winter and I'm under the impression that they don't stay open too late in the evening.
Parking is not too bad, few spots right in front, a few off to the side, but you can park on the street as well. The place is a little red/white building. You order at one window & receive your food at another. The menu is vast, namely burgers, sides (ie fries, mozzarella sticks, etc) and shakes/ice cream.
A couple downsides in my opinion: they only take cash (come on now! Join the 20th century!) and they are a little pricey (2 shakes and one burger cost $17).
HOWEVER, after our first time trying this place we were HOOKED!
Burgers: we've tried two, the Hawaiian cheeseburger (pineapple/teriyaki sauce - pretty good) and the pastrami burger (one word:DELICIOUS) I almost regretted having to share the pastrami burger with CJ but we only had cash for one burger. I think I drooled after my first bite... The patties are thin, but the taste is very good. If you're getting just a burger or cheeseburger I recommend opting for the double patty.
Side note: for any soda you have the option to add cherry or vanilla to it for 50 cents. Had Pepsi with vanilla AND cherry and i was in caffeinated bliss.
Sides: we've only tried their pickle chips and I must say it was a pleasant surprise. It comes with ranch & I really like it. It was around $5 but one order served both cj & i with leftovers. One day I will try the sweet potato fries because those are my favorite.. Also I noticed that everyone who ordered ahead of us ordered fries with their order so I'm assuming they are good.
Shakes: CJ is in love with their coconut shake, it's got little bits of coconut in it and it doesn't taste like artificial coconut flavoring, kudos for that. So far I've tried their Oreo/peanut butter shake (my two favorite things harmoniously blended together & decadently delicious beyond belief) & the strawberry buttermilk shake (best strawberry shake I've ever had. I promise you) -- you get the option for buttermilk in all their shakes. One man in line behind us recommended the blueberry buttermilk shake & he was a regular customer.
I haven't tried the ice cream, cause I'm pretty sure I'll be indulging in shakes every time I go there.
The location is great, just outside the east side of Yosemite. I definitely see myself going there whenever I'm in the area!
& also, this place is so good we have gone there twice in one day & we werent ashamed!
Great little road side burger joint with character. If you're passing through Mono Lake stop on in for food or a snack. The burgers and fries are ok, but the best thing about this place are the various flavors of ice cream milk shakes. The mint chocolate chip milk shake is a delicious post hike/run/climb dessert while watching the sun set over the surrounding mountains.
Review Source:Awesome little gem in Lee Vining, which I never knew about cause I always turn left onto Tioga road before I enter the main town! Not this time..
Went on a friends recommendation and man was she right! Â Classic little old school spot, serving up great 50's burger-shack style food and awesome shakes!
I got a ridiculously juicy double cheeseburger which I would describe as an In-N-Out burger on steroids, in the best way possible. Â Followed it up with a cherry-buttermilk shake with whipped cream, fantastic.
They don't take a temp order on burgers, and I doubt its organic, but man oh man is it tasty. Â A little more expesnive that I would want for that style food, but hey its Lee Vining... got ya "over the barrel" as they say. Â Well worth it.
I've been stopping and eating at the Mono Cone since the '70's. Â I usually go on camping/fishing trips in the Eastern Sierra in May, September and October and never fail to stop at least once at the Mono Cone for a double cheese burger, fries (sometimes onion rings) and coke. Â The burgers are flat out awesome and the best I've ever had....anywhere!
Order at the front window, pick up at the other front window, then eat inside in the small, very basic 'dining room', or, better yet, take it out back and sit at a table in a shady lawn area. Â Or, as some suggest, go a block away around the corner to the East and eat in the park.
Prices and speed of service? Â Reasonable for such good food. Â Remember, this is a small town on a highway (395) 30 some miles north of Mammoth Lakes in the Eastern Sierra. Â Prices in this type of setting are high anywhere for everything from groceries to gas to beer and ice. Â You're not getting some slapped together chain burger in the middle of a big city...you're getting an excellent high quality beef burger individually cooked. Â Heck, gas prices in this town are 55 cents to a dollar higher a gallon than in the 'civilized world', so you have to expect to pay a bit more for stuff that has to be trucked in at a greater expense than elsewhere.
Over the past 30 some years stopping here, I'm not sure if there's been a change of ownership but the quality hasn't suffered. Â However, I will admit that the 'lady' who usually works the window is a grump and always has been. Â I just know she's going to be that way so I'm always polite, say please and thank you, and let it go.
PS: Â Lordy, lordy! Â Please don't smoke within 50' of the front window or you'll really find out how grumpy that lady can be.
This is a place where you can get a decent burger when traveling on the Hwy 395 corridor. Â Even if there is a long line in front, they keep it moving reasonably well. Â
The patties seem a bit thin, so if you're hungry, be sure to get a double patty. Â Â I had a double cheeseburger with a slice of jack cheese, plus an order of fries for a bit over $10. Â I was hungry after hiking all morning , so it was a very satisfying meal before continuing on with the trek home on a warm, sunny day..
They have a small indoor dining room, and a small, grassy picnic area with a few tables in the back area where the restrooms are. Â
I prefer to walk a block  back away east and go to the small city park with the shaded, grassy lawn and numerous old farm and mining  machines on display.  It's quieter and there is more room to spread out and relax.  In the distance, you can see more mountains and have a nice view while you eat.   If you have a few minutes, after you eat, you can visit the kitschy "upside down house" on display in this park, and the little local museum (free, but donations are appreciated.) full of displays about the early history of the area.
Wow what a tourist trap! $.50 for a cup of tap water! Whats next? $1 for the restroom? Anyways...
So this place was promoted as an ice cream place.
So i got a Small cone with a chocolate dip for $4. So what did I get? McDonalds quality soft serve for $4. I dont mind paying $4 for ice cream if it is decent, but this is just a rip off. $4 for cheap softserve. You've  been warned. Â
Service was bad too, Cashier gave everyone attitude whenever a person would ask a question about the confusing menu.
What else could be better after an early morning of fishing?!?! Mono Cone of course!
TB told me of the place. Apparently its been here for years.
As you can read from previous reviews, this place is yummy.
Shakes are awesome.
Burgers and fries are awesome
Ice Cream cones are awesome.
Have to deduct a star because of the enclosed dining area. No ventilation what so ever so it smells gross. There is sitting out back by the restrooms but there are flies eveywhere.
CASH ONLY. Â Went to Mono Cone my first time Sat 8/14/10. Â It's not too far from the Lee Vining Visitor Center across the street from a motel on Hwy 395.
Order outside window, pay, then go to another window to pick up.
Lots on their menu:
Burgers: $4-7.50
Other items from Bowl of Chili $3.5 - Jumbo Chili Dog $8.25!!
Ice Water S .50c; M .75c; L $1 - No thanks!
Shakes $4.25
Malts $5
Freezes $4.25
Drinks: $1.75S; $2.5M; $2.95L
Ice cream flavors: chocolate; vanilla; half & half. Â S$3 (8oz); L$3.75 (12oz)
I got half & half small ice cream cone $3+.25c tax = $3.25. Â It's an ok size ice cream cone, like Dairy Queen. Â It's just nice cuz it's in Lee Vining I guess.
There's some benches out front, a small inside dining area on the side, & patio in the back. Â
Separate bathrooms in the back of the restaurant.
Maybe worth a stop if in the area.
Closed in Winter. Â I went Sat 8/14/10 hrs were 11am-7:30pm - call before going.
This place is an oasis in the desert. Â I stop here whenever I go up to Mammoth Lakes in the summer. Â Burgers here are good and the milkshakes are awesome! Â If you are coming down the grade from Tioga Pass or are simply in the area make sure to stop by this joint. Â You won't be disappointed.
Review Source:Quite simply, the best... I LOVE MONO CONE! Â
Their Bacon Cheeseburgers are amazing! Â Their french fries are delicious! Â Their shakes and malts are out of this world!!! Â
While I admit that their business hours are not the most convenient, as indicated by the line of people waiting to place their orders, they really don't have to be. Â
I will continue to drive out of my way and get there a little earlier just to be sure that I don't miss the greatness that is Mono Cone! Â Try it, you won't be disappointed!!!!
If you live anywhere at all in the culinary black hole that is the Eastern Sierra, you've heard of the mythical Mono Cone. Â They're only open in summer tourist season, which just adds to it's legendary status as the BEST SNACK SHACK ON THE 395! Â I mean, come on, if I could eat there every day, I'd probably start hating them for bringing me 30 years closer to rock-solid arteries.
Finally had a chance to make it out to the Mono Cone today on the way back from a sunshiney fun-filled day out on Topaz Lake. Â Crossing through the CA/NV checkpoint, I heard my tummy rumbling and lustfully thought about how my burger-deprived belly would murder my liver for a chance to digest a delicious treat from the Mono Cone. Â (I'm not some kind of food pervert or anything... If anybody else lives in Mammoth, then you know how it is. Â You get all food-crazed and wolf-like at the mere mention of anything edible that's not Roberto's or the fucking Pita Pit.)
Luckily, the cheeseburger gods were on my side today. Â We pulled into town, and saw their open sign hanging in the window. Â We ran up to the window and ordered a bacon cheeseburger, a bleu cheese bbq burger, an order of chili fries, and an orange freeze. Â Their "cash only" rule meant I had to run back to the car to scramble for extra singles floating around my cupholders. Â I found $3 and a travel pack of Charmin toilet seat covers (?!?) and made it back to the window before the nice lady on the other side had our total ready. Â I sadly mentioned that "we might have to cancel the chili fries," but a super nice bearded man walking up behind us offered to pay for however much we were short. Â (I believe his exact words were, "you can't go without the chili fries," which sounds like an endorsement if you ask me.) Â ...Good thing I didn't buy that bag of Funyuns at the Topaz Chevron, because the total came out to $23 --exactly the amount in my hand. Â Again, the stars align for my visit to the Mono Cone. Â ........But $23? Â Ouch.
That orange freeze hit the spot after driving for hours on a hot day. Â The Food? Â The food was AWESOME. Â The bacon cheeseburger was explosive. Â Cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of greasy bacon. Â Couldn't ask for more. Â The bleu cheese bbq burger had an impecabbly-cooked thick onion ring, some really tasty bbq sauce made even tastier with the addition of just the right amount of rich bleu cheese. Â YUM. Â Don't even ASK me about the chili fries. Â I fucking demolished them. Â
SO... you'd THINK I'd give this fantastic little establishment a full 5 stars? Â Yeah, normally I WOULD. Â You'd think it being out in the middle of nowhere would help --I mean, it is a glorious beacon of light for road-weary travelers and those of us who live semi-nearby, but completely out of range of decent food options that don't cost half a paycheck. Â But seriously. Â I'm so conflicted every time I'm in this area: Â Mono Cone or Mobil Mart.... Â And, while the Mono Cone is HANDS-DOWN one of the best burgers around, it's also on the pricey side for a roadside stand... and the Mobil Mart has MARGARITAS. Â ....Booze always wins me over. Â Nonetheless, the Mono Cone is worth every crumpled dollar bill. Â But seriously, booze always wins.
But who doesn't love eating a delicious burger off the hood of your car (or I guess you could sit at a table, if you are so inclined...) while little old men get ice cream in their mustaches nearby?
This review is based on 1 thing only...the dipped ice cream cone!!! Â It was awesome, huge, creamy and the chocolate dipped outside goodness was WAY better than Foster's Freeze. Â How do I know? Â Because after the wife and I split a cone, we regretted not each getting one...and en route back home to Berkeley we went to Foster's Freeze to try to recapture the yummy experience and was sorely disappointed.
Review Source:Limited hours, High prices, rude service, acceptable food. I understand that costs are higher in a remote area but 35 dollars for 2 burgers, 1 onion ring, 1 fry and two drinks is absurd. I paid less than that for 2 amazing seared ahi sashimi with seaweed salad dinners at Whoa Neli Deli around the corner. Next time we will wait til Mammoth. Total tourist rip off!!!
Review Source:Hmmm... a tiny town on a major north-south highway, that relies on tourism for nearly all of its revenue. OK, so far so good. Tourist-oriented towns realize (or they should realize) that tourists can arrive into town at any hour. That doesn't mean they have to stay open 24 hours a day. However, they ought to realize that people will be arriving as late as 9, 10, 11 p.m. and will be hungry. So what does the Mono Cone do? They close at 7:30 p.m. That's right folks, on June 4, 2009, the Mono Cone closed at 7:30 p.m. We walked up to the stand at 7:35 p.m. only to be informed that they had just closed. Oh well... wish I could report on the food, but sadly the food at Mono Cone is nonexistent.
Review Source:You can have your robins red breast, I'll take the opening of Mono Cone as my fave harbinger of spring. Â
I was headed to Reno on the first leg of my return to Portland, thinking I'd stop at In N' Out in Carson City for one last fix. Â As I crawled through Lee Vining, my heart skipped a beat when I saw Mono Cone's red, white and blue OPEN flag flapping in the breeze. Â I yanked my car over and got in line with the mix of local teens, Cal Trans workers and early season tourons (rhymes with "morons," get it?) Â
Mono Cone ain't cheap, but it's ever so good. Â I was prepared to order my usual - Cheddar bacon cheeseburger, onion rings and a soda - about $12. Â When I walked up to place my order the normally crotchety woman behind the window informed me (nicely, a shocker) the man two orders in front of me had ordered 30 double cheeseburgers and 30 orders of fries. Â She informed me the wait would be at least 30 minutes (this is just a stand after all, with one line cook and one ice cream/fry person)and offered me a cone to tide me over. Â I was planning on getting a dipped cone for the road and said I would wait the half hour if I could have my cone later. Â
I got a book out of my car and a table to myself on the sunny back lawn and waited to hear my number called. Â The fact that I was willing to wait speaks volumes, I usually try and break land speed records from point to point on road trips. Â Surprisingly, five minutes later my number was called. Â She handed me my food with a wink and said they'd bumped my order up.
I tucked into my juicy-greasy-cooked medium rare without asking burger. Â The small order of onion rings could easily feed two. Â They're lovely and battered in some sort of cornmeal goodness.
I was tempted to get back in line for a dipped cone, but I was just too damn full.
Hard to beat this place. Almost everything else was shut last saturday at 3, very limited options and feeling very p155ed about a town like this with no decent places to eat- the diner was barely busy but had next to no service and the fried chicken I saw come out was almost burnt to a crisp, no thanks.
But then when we decided to head out to a view point and use up our sandwich supplies and we spied this place, ahhhh. BIG choc dipped cones (I didn't say cheap, I said BIG) which goes down great in a town like this. Burgers were pretty tasty and juicy, server was nice and helpful, very enjoyable place! Check it.
I don't know if it's soo delicious because of it's food or because it takes 40 min to drive there from mammoth and the whole time you're thinking about how good it's going to be.
Burgers, fries and a drink is what i usually get. Can be kinda pricey and there's no combo meal so you have to buy everything seperately. Bench seating in the back is nice on a sunny day.
Very scenic drive on the 395 to get to this place and it's worth it if you're looking for a mellow afternoon trip to get out of mammoth. Take the june loop if you have the time too. There are awesome rock water falls in the spring.
Only problem is figuring out who is going to drive their car there from mammoth at 450 a gallon.
Mono Cone deserves an honorary "People Love us on Yelp" sticker. Lee Vining, which has a population of around 3, relies on travelers and tourists who pass through town. Since I was a young boy, every time I'm crossing the Sierras I make a point of stopping by the Mono Cone for a burger and shake or cone. They use Black Angus beef and have great soft serve cones, shakes and sundaes. Â An eastern Sierra highlight!
Review Source:No trip to Mono Lake is complete without a stop a Mono Cone. Â There is a dizzying array of milkshake flavors and the burgers, hot dogs and french fries are fantastic.
Of course, we usually stop here after we've been hiking out at Black Point hanging around those cool fissures. Â We love Mono Lake and we love Mono Cone.
Mono Cone is a benchmark for roadside burger / ice cream joints. Lee Vining is a small place, so you can walk to Mono Cone from just about any place in town. We picked up a few soft serve cones after dinner, which lasted just long enough for us to walk the block and a half back to our hotel.
Minus one star for a really confusing menu - I think they have more than just soft serve ice cream, but I couldn't tell. Otherwise this is a great place to stop in the afternoon/evening for a snack!
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