This place years back was a great hidden oasis. Â Then it got too popular. The prices rose. The Cul. inst. of Amer chef left to start his own place in Mammoth. Â The service sucks. (Agreed, it IS a pick up at the counter type of place, but at least clean a few of the tables). And the FLIES,!!!!!
The last 3 times I was there I spent most of my time waving off the flies.
Like Ancient Rome, it was great, then it collapsed. I'm back to being a Nicelys customer whenever in LeeVining
This is why I love Yelp and Yelpers. Â We have drive Highway 395 from Palm Springs to Reno many times, and have always driven right by this little town. Â We were hungry, and our favorite restaurant in Bishop had lines around the block, so we continued on to Lee Vining. Â I checked Yelp and this place sounded so good. Â
It is. Â It is wonderful. Â The fish tacos rock, and the lobster taquitos were fresh and flavorful. Â It is not an inexpensive place for order at a counter food, but it is worth it. Â When you consider how remote this little place is, and the quality and freshness of what they serve, it is quite remarkable. Â
We now have a new place to look forward to stopping on our journeys up and down the 395 corridor. Â Note, they are open only May - October.
Who knew the Tioga Gas Mart and Whoa Nellie Deli would be a highlight of our trip? Â Go figure. Â But it was really that good. Â It is the first restaurant and Mobil gas station you see after you turn off on highway 120 on the way to Yosemite.
This deli/gas mart is fairly famous  to those whose frequent the Eastern entrance to Yosemite.  There's a full selection of Yosemite gift shop paraphernalia, some last-minute back country sporting goods supplies, and some pretty tasty eats served up by the kitchen staff.
What other gas station serves up 1/2 lb handmade burgers. seared ahi plates, and the like? Â Â
There are restrooms, indoor and outdoor tables for dining, plus a decent selection of grocery items for sale in addition to the touristy t-shirts and posters.
As Whoa Nellie's is only open from the end of April to the end of October, I hadn't gotten the opportunity to try this place when driving by on Highway 395 (I'm a frequent visitor to Mammoth Lakes in the winter). However, I spent the 4th of July in Mammoth and had just eaten lunch for the first time at Toomey's in Mammoth (run by Whoa Nellie's former chef, Matt Toomey). On the way home, as I turned off the highway toward Tioga Pass (Highway 120), I saw that Whoa Nellie's was open and just HAD to stop in. The deli is located in the back of the Tioga Gas Mart, which was bustling with tourists buying souvenirs.
The menu appears identical to Toomey's. I was surprised that it was an "order at the counter" place since most items were fairly pricey - has a cafeteria atmosphere with a nicer restaurant prices. I've been following a modified Paleo Diet so I ordered the Wild Buffalo Meatloaf - extra lean, grilled cowboy style with port wine au jus, garlic mashed potatoes and fresh veggies. $23 with tax and tip. It was a nice slab of meatloaf and very tasty.
As other reviewers have said, this place wasn't "all that" but I'm glad I had the chance to finally eat at this famed place. Friends have been touting it for years. I'll stop again for a quick meal if opportunity presents itself, but for ambiance and service, I think Toomey's beats it by a mile, since it is open year round, has sit-down service and a nice outdoor patio with well-designed furniture.
The "asian salad" isn't very asian, but it is tasty! I love that this place allows you to shop for drinks either in the restaurant or in the super funky gas station area. I had a locally made kombucha with the salad after a day of hiking in the Tolumne Meadows: de-licious. They apparently very often have live music.
Review Source:My husband and I love stopping by this place whenever we are in the Tuolumne Meadows area. Â I highly suggest that the gas mart offer a non-fried option for the fish tacos. Â After hiking around Tuolumne Meadows I'd like to keep the weight off and eat some healthier tacos before heading home. Â Â
There is a mismatch between the website description and what is printed on the menu for the fish tacos entree. Â That is, online the fact that they are fried is not mentioned at all. Â I was also disappointed that this dish came with re-fried beans when the menu advertises that they are "Brazilian". Â I'm sure they are Brazilian re-friend beans, but hyping them up as sounding exotic when they are only re-fried seems frivolous. Â The online and in-store menus are in desperate need of some synchronization and revision.
I'm probably going to get disowned by my many, many friends who live for trips to Whoa Nellie Deli - but this only gets three stars.
I stopped here on my way to Yosemite National Park after countless people demanded that I grab lunch here, and while it was delicious, it was way overpriced for what I got.
I ordered the fish tacos platter, which comes with two fried fish tacos (each with different toppings: tasty cream sauce and fresh, crunch slaw on one, pineapple mango salsa on the other) and a dollop of really tasty refried black beans. But my goodness, it was $15 for TWO regular sized tacos.
If money isn't an issue, you really, really ought to stop here to experience these fish tacos. They're great. But if you're traveling on a budget, it's frankly not worth the price.
I'm going to go with the "overrated", as some others have noted. After an active day in Yosemite, if you're starving, it probably seems better than it is.
I had an order of utterly flavorless fish tacos. I got some lemon slices to squeeze some juice on them AND added salt. That sort of did the trick.
Throwing in a 3rd star for featuring local musicians on Thursday and Sunday in the summer months, the afternoon we stopped by there was a chamber music concert, very nice. The people who work at Whoa Nellie are super nice too.
Whoa Nellie! Â Don't wast your money! I visited the Whoa Nellie Deli last year on our way to Yosemite and my husband and I purchased a couple of deli sandwiches. Â They were good so I thought I would return the next year. Â Well, I brought my mom this time to have lunch and boy were we disappointed. Â I ordered the carnitas tacos for $10.50 and they were cold. Â The tortillas had not been warmed and I think the meat was barely warmed. Â My mother ordered a hamburger and it was lukewarm. Â The fries were also a disappointment. Â We ordered the chili cheese fries and the chili was not at all flavorful and there was very little cheese on them. Â It is a neat little place with a great view, but don't expect too much from the food. Â We paid a little over $30 for a very mediocre meal.
Review Source:What a treat. 5-star food served up with a great view of Mono Lake, in about as unassuming a location as one could imagine: a gas station in the middle of nowhere. The meatloaf is to die for, as is the perfectly creamy mashed potato and fresh-as-a-daisy young broccoli that accompany it. Pus, we happened to go in at a low-rush time of day - 5:30pm on a Thursday - so both our plates of food were delivered hot within 3 minutes of ordering. Hobby also sampled the chocolate cake, a huge slab served with raspberry coulis on the side, which he raved over. We may actually take the 300-mile detour to return one of these days: I'm still dreaming about this food!
Review Source:The food has changed but the prices have not. Â Hubby and I love to take a day ride on our Harleys from home to the Whoa Nellie Deli for a five star lunch, oops, that was in the past. Â The ride is as gorgeous as ever but the food has lost it. Â We had two orders of fish tacos with drinks $40 for a mediocre lunch. Â NOT AGAIN. Â Felt it was a rip off. Â The former Chef Matt Toomey who made this place a five star destination has gone and it is very apparent. Â Look for his restaurant in Mammoth Lakes, Toomey's, our next destination for a pricey but worth it lunch.
Review Source:My bf and I were doing a roadtrip, so we wanted something we could possibly take on-the-go. Â After Yelping this place, we had high expectations, but were met with disappointment when we grabbed two hoagies to-go. Â They were just...really...really average. I'm sure the sit-down food is probably better, which is likely where they got such a good rating, but for sandwiches, I wouldn't consider getting another.
Review Source:Man I used to love this place, wow has it changed for the worst. I ordered the ribs, decent but I used to get a great portion of the spaghetti squash & mashed potatoes, not any more, not even half, serious disappointment. Also ordered the lobster taquitos, again small tiny portion, 2 tablespoons of the black beans....Great thankx, your super. We paid for 2 meals $38, $47 with tip & I left hungry. I'll visit again but I won't be ordering any food. Just go for the music & bring your own snacks/drinks.
PS. I just found out why it's gone terribly wrong, they let go the chef of many years that put this place on the map. So sad but thankfully he opened his own place, Â Toomey's in Mammoth, Yaaaaaaaaaa can't wait to go there!
Mobile gas station in the middle of nowhere...
GREAT FOOD!!
After reading the reviews on Yelp, I had to try, and they were all correct. The place is weird, yes, but so cool! It's very clean and has a beautiful view of Mono Lake, and the food selection and quality are startling.
We had the steak sandwich and a bowl of albondegas (spelling?) soup. They had an oyster po boy as the special, that, if not for my darn shellfish allergy I would have destroyed!!
It's the kind of place where you order at the counter and pick up your own food. You then have the difficult decision to eat inside under the totally-out-of-place-but-incredible crystal chandelier, or outside on the beautiful patio with incredible views of the lake. The food came out quick too so don't wander too far.
Even if the town had a hundred restaurants (clearly they do not), I would still recommend this place!
This probably is the best quick meal in Lee Vining. I've stopped here twice while in the area. However, I don't think the food is amazing. Yes, "for a gas station" the food is great, but their sign clearly says "restaurant" and they certainly aren't charging gas station prices.
Most recently I tried the cheeseburger and my wife ordered the ribs. The ribs were the best item we have had at the Whoa Nellie Deli. The flavor and tenderness were fantastic. The burger was very much mediocre. On a previous visit we tried the lobster taquitos and fish tacos. I can't remember the fish tacos being at all memorable, but I can remember both of us feeling ripped off by the lobster taquitos. They were not bad tasting, but definitely not worth $15.50. I could not taste the lobster at all. I would have been happier if they just threw some chicken in and cut the price in half.
When you are looking for a meal near 120 & 395 you don't have many options. Whoa Nellie Deli is a fine choice with a good view of Mono Lake. However, don't go in expecting an amazing meal.
Overrated. The food (burger, BBQ chicken sandwich, roasted veggie sandwich) was average-tasting but overpriced, around $10 for each. (Mind you, this is a semi-self-serve restaurant.) My companions liked the crunchy fries (which were a bit cold), but I thought they had a strange aftertaste. No substitutions (salad for fries) were allowed, even for an extra fee. If I ever had to go back, I'd order the fish tacos ($12.50), which looked fresh and colorful on other people's tables.
Review Source:My husband and I took a 9 day backpacking trip through the Yosemite High Sierra Camps two years in a row, and both times once we came out of the wilderness we headed straight to Whoa Nellie Deli on the way home. This is like a gourmet restaurant inside a gas station, totally unexpected and totally delicious, especially after you've spent 9 days backpacking.
All the food is pretty great, but the real standout is the CHOCOLATE CAKE! It is thick and moist with a super rich ganache frosting and drizzled with raspberry sauce. Seriously, this is some of the best chocolate cake I've ever had!
Love this place!!
I LOVE the fact that you can go to a gas station and order REAL food that a CHEF prepares with care. Â The food is good. Â It is a bit pricey if you look at where you are eating at... however, the novelty of eating a nice sit down dinner with probably the only gas station which has its own chandelier alone gets 5 stars. It's the first gas station I have been to with a glass chandelier. Â If you sit outside, it's a pleasant view, too.
Review Source:After a long drive through Yosemite to Mono Lake, we stopped at the Whoa Nellie Deli for lunch. Typical gas station food it isn't. They have an eclectic mix of options like jambalaya, lobster taquitos, fish tacos...
I had the lobster taquitos, which were delicious. They came served on a bed of black beans and a salad with some kind of berry dressing on the side. Yum.
Why four stars?
For one, it's very expensive. Even for far better than average gas station food, their prices are totally absurd. $16 for fish tacos? Highway robbery. A drink, meal and a salad with tip set me back nearly $30. I get that it's a novelty and for that, they feel like they can charge more, but I wouldn't go back at those prices. It's good food, but not worth what they charge for it.
For two, I ordered a side salad not realizing that a salad was also coming with my lobster taquitos. I should have asked, but I wish they had told me. Live and learn.
This place was like a breath of fresh air after hiking and driving all day on the Tioga Pass. The food here is really hearty, lots of ribs, steak and seafood on the menu. I was so happy to see food after hiking that I was about to eat anything, but the food and selection is good regardless. Â Prices are about $12-18 for a dinner. There's plenty of seating and even a mini convenience store inside. They have a small selection of emergency camping gear, snacks, souvenirs, and drinks. There is casual seating outside on picnic tables with a beautiful view of Mono lake. The area is pretty desolate besides this restaurant, so it's a landmark.
Fish Tacos:
Meh, fish was deep fried and had a lot of mayo sauce. Would be better if they used guacamole or salsa.
Steak Salad,
Nice cut of steak, and lots of it. Salad was plain besides the steak on top. This is for non hikers.
Buffalo Meatloaf
Lean but hearty because the mashed potatoes are filling. Spaghetti squash is really good.
Tuna Sushi
really good, but more of a snack. This one was for non-hikers.
I love this oasis of food in an otherwise bleak desert of meal choices (overcooked spaghetti - it's not even pasta - and tinned sauce anyone?). Love the spaghetti squash lightly seasoned with garlic and butter, the chicken and whatever else is on special. Never had dessert (too full from the large portions) but if I'm happy with a good meal, what else can you ask for!
We've been going there for years on our annual visit to Twin Lakes and the trek to Whoa Nellie's is a treat I look forward to. Going again in a week or two and can't wait!
I really wanted to like this place. Â Yelpsters helped me find this place when we were driving to the Eastern Sierras. Â There are 219 reviews on yelp with 4 star rating.
What can go wrong? Â Bad food.
Fish Tacos ($12.50), cheeseburger, fries ($3.50), pepperoni pizza ($4.50). Â We were not impressed with anything there.
I supposed if you're been hiking around all day or camping, their food can be considered good.
The only positive thing I can add is that there was a fun band playing on the patio on our visit (Thurs).
Of yeah, and gas was $4.99 for regular unleaded.
If you're heading south on 395, wait for Bishop about 60 miles south of here. Â More eating options and cheaper gas $4.19.
Meh! Â Ok, there is something about the novelty of eating at a gas station. Â No, really, there is. Â Seems that lots of backpacker types like to come here too after hiking through Yosemite. Â Frankly though, was not impressed by the $20 baby back ribs. Â Very fatty. Â Spaghetti squash was good. Â Mashed tators so so. Â Bottom line, for the price you pay, go somewhere else and get a really good meal. Â
The plus side, no corkage fee! Â Also live music on the patio on Sun night.
Delicious food in the restaurant! I've stopped here on a few occasions, and it's always been pleasant. In the morning, their breakfast burrito (get it with sausage) is enough to jump-start your day and keep you going for several hours. Later on, their sandwiches are substantial and pretty tasty. And yes, as one reviewer mentioned, part of that amazingness is the first real food after a stay in the park, or (in my case) an overnight trip to the Mammoth hot springs. But I can think of no better way reintroduction to the "real world" than a nice meal at the Whoa Nellie Deli.
Pro tip: Get the mango margarita. No matter the price. No matter the time of day. Just do it. And get the pitcher to share with your friends!
Fish tacos! Â At a gas station! Â And they're actually good! Â This was quite welcome after a several long days of photography and activity at Bodie ghost town and Mono Lake and other areas!
Two fish tacos. Â One had mango salsa! Â
This is a very popular stop for people going up or returning from Yosemite, so you'll see lots of hikers, rock climbers, nature enthusiasts, and tourists hanging out and drinking beer in the very large outdoor area and relaxing.
Interesting how around the Owens Valley, some of the best food is in gas stations!
I mean, it's pretty good food for a gas station, but nothing really to write home about. Â Plus, it's expensive to eat here for the type and quantity of you receive, and you have to wait in a long line.
I had the fish tacos on the way in to Yosemite (which deserve 3 stars) and the Lobster Toquitos on the way out (which deserve less than one star). Â With the fish tacos, get the cabbage version only. Â The mango topping is a terrible addition to fish tacos.
I think most of the 4-5 star ratings are a result of the "gas station restaurant" novelty and because this is the first real food guests to Yosemite have eaten in several days. Â If you want better food, just wait to you get a little down the road to Bishop. Â Much better.
Yum! Â THIS was GAS STATION food? Â So impressed! Â
When I told some of the local people I met in the area that I was going to Yosemite for a day trip they all advised me to stop at "that great restaurant in the Mobil station." Â It sounds funny, but it's true. Â The Whoa Nellie Deli was everything they said it would be!
It was surprisingly upscale. Â I didn't try the desserts, but they looked fantastic. Â I stopped here for coffee on my way in to the park and then dinner on my way out. Â The view is of Mono Lake... does it get better from that? Â And this was my first Mobil with a crystal chandelier. Â I had a burger with a "side salad." Â That was a HUGE side salad! Â It wasn't just a handful of iceberg with some tomatoes, either. Â Lovely mixed greens with raspberries on top. Â This was exactly what I needed but didn't expect to get. Â ;)
After driving over the Tioga Pass from Yosemite all the way out to Mono Lake, I was in serious need of somewhere to stop and rest my jangled nerves and just take a break. The drive was phenomenal scenery wise and the road is well maintained but it really does a number on your mind since there are few guard rails and the road is windy with MASSIVE cliffs just off the road.
I was beyond thrilled to find the Whoa Nellie Deli at the end of the road and the other reviewer that called it an oasis was completely on point. A full size gas station/convenience store with tons of snack foods plus a full service deli was exactly what I was looking for. I wasn't looking for gourmet so I just went for a nicely made sub with decent meats and toppings.....it wasn't anything special but their other selections looked very promising. We really enjoyed the sandwich and the views from the hill next to the gas station were really nice as well.
If you drive the road from Yosemite to Mono Lake you'll be stopping here regardless but when you do you'll be lucky to find a nice, clean store and a welcome stop off the windy roads of Yosemite and the Tioga Pass.
Once the restaurant/live music novelty of a gas station wears off you'll realize that you're paying a lot for mediocre food straight off the Sysco food truck. Â I would expect a $15 salad to have homemade croutons, not the ones out of a box. Â If you need groceries head up the road to Mono Mart. Â They have a better selection without the price gouging.
Extra star for hosting bands and good customer service.
What an amazing little oasis of gourmet food located in the Mobile Gas Station. My friends make fun of me for taking the long way to Yosemite but I like to enter through Lee Vining just so I can make a stop at the Whoa Nellie Deli.
I love that it's gourmet food found in a plain old ordinary gas station. Its served to you on paper plates(sturdy ones) but real silverware  (with wood covered handles of course).
They have amazing fresh tasting mango margaritas. Delicious gourmet French fries, sandwiches and full course meals if u so desire.
The picnic tables and view of mono lake at dusk are super charming and romantic. I've seen wedding receptions hosted here.
It's 10:36 am on a sky-blue May morning. I am lying on a large flat rock drinking beer and waiting for an order of fish tacos to arrive. But there is no rush. I need to slow down for more than a second or two, or I am liable to implode.
My Outback Sport (sparkling clean after an impromtu self-service wash in Fallon) is fully refueled and finally resting, although I sense that it is as eager as I am to tackle the next mountain pass (Tioga, 9945 ft.) on our itinerary. As for me, I'm letting a few hundred miles of ramrod-straight Nevada roads disappear entirely from my dwindling supplies of short-term memory. As I drift aimlessly in blissful silence, my mind rushes ahead, all the way up to 11,004 feet, to the knife-edged but easily accessible summit of distant Gaylor Peak, where my body will be in about 90 minutes time. If only one's mind could rest as easily as our bodies, then we'd all be happier people.
So ... yes, those tacos can take their sweet little time in arriving. This is the first opportunity in hours that I've been able to close my eyes, feel the breeze on my bare skin, and bask in the bright sunshine of a picture-perfect morning.
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/2GQADXKVwW5DZ6pQ9ykuTg?select=ssbuW4aKqNNc4eA0XFPSyg#sDaHTk8j1ATaiDaSwqc05A">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
I open my eyes because, frankly, it's a fantastic view. Mono Lake spreads out before me like a blue plate with Paoha Island resting languidly on its surface. Like so many others before me, I stumbled on a gas-and-go oasis hidden in the high Californian desert, pressed up against the awesome eastern front of the Sierra Nevada in late spring snowmelt. It's a wonder of the world.
Any guesses where I am?
Hmm ... must be in Lee Vining, right?
Bingo.
The fish tacos are a deliciously wet welcome back kiss to California: freshly grated carrot and red cabbage ginger cole slaw, green onion, wassabi mayo, mango salsa, refried Brazilian black beans, shredded cheese, and chipotle sauce. Not bad for a late breakfast, wouldn't you say?
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/2GQADXKVwW5DZ6pQ9ykuTg?select=ssbuW4aKqNNc4eA0XFPSyg#VZgJjvq99ykpvbSVXdZz5Q">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
A local pilsner, a lot of sunshine, Lake Mono to one side and the Sierra front to the other. I'm the only one outside on the patio, the second person of the day to order the fish tacos (and it's not even 11 am yet!), and probably the only one drinking a beer at such an hour. But I've been up since 5 am driving, and this is my last meal before Tioga Pass, Gaylor Peak, and - as it turns out - Lembert Dome as well as the top of Nevada Falls in Yosemite Valley.
Those fish tacos and beer went a loooong way. Fuel for high-altitude adventure, for sure.
So, yes. This is an oasis, unquestionably. Here you can stock up on precious fuel before heading up Tioga Pass to sample the wonders of Yosemite. And it's here that you will find the second best fish tacos in a gas station that I have ever tasted.
What? The second best gas station fish tacos ever?
Yes, that's right. The Mercado gas station and taqueria in Pescadero is slightly better, although more traditional taqueria style than the New Californian offerings here at Whoa Neli.
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/mercado-and-taqueria-de-amigos-pescadero">http://www.yelp.com/biz/…</a>
But seriously: second best is this case is still very much 5 stars. For the food, the service (starting lunch 20 minutes earlier than usual), the setting, and the basic belief that $4.99/gallon gas and great food belong together.
Somewhere, thousands of feet above me, perched on a snow-covered ridge overlooking still-frozen Gaylor Lakes, my future self was shaking its head vigorously in my direction.
"You'll need those tacos and beer if you want to see the top of Nevadas Falls later this evening before the light of the setting sun," the future me advised:
"And you seriously need to wait a few minutes longer, to rest up for the journey ahead. This is IT: that mythical place at the edge of the mountains where you can refuel with good food and drink before the next stage. Yelp hasn't steered you wrong! Trust in the random wisdom and unsolicited advice of others. And listen to your taste buds! You know this is real find. You'll be wanting to write a review later, before the memories fade away."
The future me was so right.
A friend recommended that I stop by the Exxon Gas station near Mono Lake and have lobster taquitos. How could I say no to this?
The market has an awesome selection, especially given that you're in the middle of nowhere between Yosemite and Mono Lake. Lots of good beer, jerky, and of course the deli selection.
My girlfriend ordered the mango fish tacos, and I ordered the lobster taquitos. The entrees were in the ~$15 range, so you're definitely paying a premium for a gas station lunch. However, you'll get to take your meal out to the tables overlooking Mono Lake. The food itself was really tasty. The taquitos were filling, and the salad accompanying them was delicious.
I had a bite of the mango fish tacos, and the both the mango and fish were fresh.
I would definitely stop by again if driving through. In fact, I tried to on my return trip, but was sad that the station closed at 8pm.
So I had never heard of this place and on a recent trip through Yosemite my friends and I noticed this place. We just saw the sign for gas station and restaurant and were intrigued. Unfortunately their gas prices are $$$. Like $5 a gallon. The food is a bit pricey too, but it is tasty. Lobster Taquitos, Ahi Tuna, Ribs? It was a pretty great selection. I had to go for the lobster taquitos. They were alright. I was a little disappointed because I was expecting chunks of lobster. This was more like lobster cakes (filler and some lobsters) stuffed inside taquitos. I did see the ahi tuna served and it looked amazing. Â I think the novelty of this place is the main thing for people, which isn't totally bad. But I would recommend checking it out if you are ever in the area.
I mean it's probably 1 of a handful of gas stations in a few miles,
it's got a good variety of food,
it's in Yosemite,
and it has a great patio overlooking Mono Lake (from a distance).
But it's a little too pricey to become a regular spot to stop at for me when traveling through the area.
When traveling through Yosemite or the Eastern Sierras near Mono Lake the Whoa Nellie is a must. While it's popular and touristy, the food is always delicious and top it off with a margarita.
Summer weekends find big crowds so budget some time if you are stopping by. Not many places can you get such a fantastic meal inside a gas station.
I think we all had the same initial thoughts -- Gas station? In bufu central California? ... Good food?! Does not compute.
Give it a go, and you'll never think twice. It's expensive but, again, take a look at where you are. The menu is expansive, food is great, and atmosphere is awesome -- especially when the weather is nice. On a sunny day, every inch of picnic table real estate will be packed along with the lawns.
There'll be music playing, once there was an actual band jamming, and people having a great time either fueling up for or refueling after a day of adventure.