Tunnel Creek Café

My rating is based off of my food. Ordered the breakfast burrito w/house bacon jam. Pictures look better than it taste! It was more of a dessert favor than breakfast. The overly sweet flavor of the bacon jam made the burrito barely edible. Every bite felt as if I was pouring sugar directly into my mouth.

This was the perfect spot to grab food after hiking or biking. I got the Rancher Salad but turned it into a wrap and added blue cheese. It was so tasty and VERY filling. We could have split it, but it was great. The line around 12:15 was out the door, it moved slow, but wasn’t awful. There are plenty of seats inside and outside. And once ordered the food came pretty quickly. There was a guy playing guitar and singing and there were a few cornhole boards, too.

What a gem. Stopped in for a breakfast sandwich on our tour around Lake Tahoe and loved the setting, decor, and food. Definitely worth the stop!

My friends and I decided to visit this cafe for our stay at incline village and ordered a variety of dishes. The food was not bad but definitely overpriced for what you got. I payed over 13 dollars for a singular salad (the latte is my friends that I stole from her for the picture), so keep in mind it’s a little pricey. The mocha and latte there is brewed nicely and comes in a cute mug. Really nice atmosphere to sit in as well!

Nice, inviting cafe. Good breakfast options. The lady at the counter was warm and friendly. Well decorated for Halloween. Options for outdoor and indoor seating. Very convenient parking and access to the cafe entrance. Service was quick. The waiter brought our hot breakfast pretty quickly! Definitely recommend you check out this place when you are in Lake Tahoe!

Stopped by Tunnel Creek Café while in Lake Tahoe and tried the Big Bleu Burger—absolutely worth it. The beef was juicy, the blue cheese added the perfect tang, and the crispy onion rings sealed the deal. It’s the kind of burger that hits after a hike or kayak trip. The vibe here is relaxed and welcoming, with outdoor seating that lets you soak in the Tahoe air. Great food, friendly staff, and the perfect spot to recharge after hitting the trails. Highly recommend!

Friendly service with good food selection. Lots of outdoor seating. Large parking lot. Right on walking trail.

The turkey club 🤌 not sure if I was extra hungry or y’all just made the best club sandwich of my LIFE. Salad greens were tasty, too ✌️ Highly recommend before a walk up to Monkey Rock 🐒

Went here for a quick bite to eat before a morning bike ride. There were already maybe 15 people lined up even before the cafe was opened and a line out the door within the first 20 minutes of opening! Get there early if you want to eat here. You order your food first and get a number to sit down at a table. The food came out fairly quick and menu was pretty standard breakfast items I got a veggie breakfast burrito and orange juice and added onions and peppers in it which was a nice touch. Their green salsa is amazing with nice freshness and acidity that paired perfectly with the burrito. I saw a lot of people ordering the pancakes and French toast so I'll have to try that out next time as well. Parking is also pretty limited as a lot of people want to hike and bike near the east trail so come earlier if you can. The paid parking lot has about 20 spots or so and you pay at a machine with your license plate.

Looked up a breakfast place nearby while staying in Tahoe last week. Came across this place, which seemed promising with a pretty good rating. My husband and I shared the breakfast burrito. It was just "eh". Our friend also felt the same way about his breakfast bowl. If in town again, we will seek out a different breakfast joint.

We got a quick bite after the monkey rock trail. The burger with salad was a nice snack before heading out to grab a lunch. They have 1 hour customer parking for their restaurant. You can also park in the paid parking if you are going for a hike. Casual ambiance for good grab and go or sit down.

The location is the star here. The food was not it. We all thought it so bland. The outdoor tables and napkin holder, salt pepper etc haven't seen a towel or rag in a v long time.

Perfect after hike meal! Once my friends and I finished hiking the Monkey Rock Trail, we were so hungry so being right next to the trail, we opted to try Tunnel Creek Cafe. This cafe did not disappoint as the portions are huge, food was delicious, and prices are affordable! I got the Ponderosa Plate and it was a hearty meal that satisfied all of my cravings. The French toast is also fluffy and just melts in your mouth. Great for a little sweet treat. It's a buy first then seat yourself system and the staff bring your food out for you. Service is fairly quick and there's not much of a wait. There's plenty of seating inside, but catch some fresh air outside or upstairs at their outdoor seating. I'll definitely be stopping by again the next time I visit Tahoe!

Perfect spot for hungry hikers! We were lucky it was a Friday mid day because we walked right up to the counter. Years ago we waited in a line out to the parking lot! The pancakes were thick, crispy on the outside and moist and soft on the inside. Hearty and tasty. I don't know how they make them but we always get em! Turkey pesto was hot with melted cheese. Salad was Caesar possibly. That Sando had so much flavor. Don't mind the red tinted photos, we were relaxing under the UMBRELLAS!! Have water bowls for your pooches.

I stop here every time I'm in Tahoe and you should too! Fun atmosphere with delicious food and service! Hands down the best salad I've had in a long time!

Don't be intimidated by the massive cars in the parking lot--they move fast here! From the moment you order to when you get your food, it's only about 5-10 minutes. The food is amazing! We always order the TC Hash with a protein, and the green salsa is to die for. Usually, we grab coffee at the local coffee shop, but today we got it here, and my vanilla latte was on point. Thank you for always fueling us before our day!

This place is great for dogs and lots out outdoor sitting. They don't have french toast until after 10:30 am. We came early and we had to get other options. The Philly steak sandwich was average I didn't like the taste as much it was like missing something more savory. I ate 1/3 of it. The breakfast burritos look okay I didn't eat it but I wouldn't order it based on what I saw. This place has a great location but the food was average.

Really good breakfast burrito. Service was fast and the staff were all nice. I highly recommend. Can't beat the scenery!

I've always passed by this place or parked nearby and went hiking above this place. But finally a couple friends invited me to go and watch another friend perform their music at their outdoor patio here. They have a decent amount of parking in addition to the parking people use for the hiking and biking. They have bikes for rent Nextdoor too. They have breakfast and lunch items across the board. I got their Swedish pancakes and they are so good and different! Worth it just for those! Their breakfast and lunch sandwiches are good too that my husband got the bee sting and it's the best thing ever...it was soo good! They have a cute indoor and outdoor seating. You first order at the counter and then find seating. Would definitely come here again!

laid back atmosphere, fast service, and bus your own table. I had the breakfast bacon burrito. Portion was large, so i could only eat half

Love this place. 2nd time there. First time for lunch tho. Loved the miso broth. Tea eggs were done perfectly. And the skin on the duck was rendered to perfection. Great service, I'm a FTM and the server Dani saw me wrestling with my LO and offered support and had a gave me a great solution for a diaper changing area. The vibe is always great too. I the only thing I wish they had was a diaper changing station. But the little stool I made do with in the front restroom.

Great honey cinnamon latte. Loved the ambiance. The place is also right off one of the popular trails which is nice.

- The best french toast you'll ever have in your life!! - Service was superb and beyond my expectations - Cozy place to hangout

Had Chai Latte and salad here! These orders might be simple but definitely satisfying! Huge area with indoor and outdoor seating. Welcoming and fun atmosphere. Staff were nice.

If you're looking for a convenient and hearty brunch spot before your hike in North Tahoe, definitely check out Tunnel Creek Cafe (especially if you're by/parking at Incline Village)! Stopped by here to use the bathroom after parking but ended up grabbing breakfast, with no regrets! The line to order was long and slow at 10 AM on a weekend, but once we ordered, the food and drinks came out not long after. We ordered their limited French toast, which was made from fresh challah and strawberry puree, and was one of the BEST I've ever had. The cheesesteak was also made well and stuffed with high quality cuts of steak, although there wasn't much cheese. Their coffee was decent, but definitely not the best roast. Recommend sitting inside to avoid the swarm of bees and taking advantage of their free 1 hour parking if you can't find a space in the park lots!

Tunnel Creek Cafe is a great stop just outside of Incline Village on the start of the large walking trail that runs along Lake Tahoe. They have a gorgeous patio area that surrounds the whole property. We enjoyed sitting outside near the corn hole boards. Our group ordered the green brûlée French toast, the bee sting, some eggs, and some coffees. They were out of cold brew so I settled on iced americano. Food here is good. Get the crème brûlée French toast. It's so good they only make a limited amount each day and it sells out! Slightly pricey due to the tourist nature of the cafe and being at the lake, but the portions were good so overall the value is fine. The service here is order at the counter and they deliver your food to you. The food came out pretty good quick. Parking is tricky as the free lot fills up quickly on busy days but there is tons of paid parking off the side of the highway.

We decided to go to breakfast here after snowshoeing. I've been here before and wanted to take my daughter and friends here to try. It didn't disappoint! Tunnel Creek Cafe is conveniently located next to the Sand Harbor walking trail and Monkey Rock . It usually has a beautiful view if you're sitting outside but with all the snow we had to eat indoors which was still cozy, cabin vibe. We ordered at the counter and were quickly served. I ordered the avocado toast. My daughter and her friend ordered the same but with an egg or gluten free bread. The avocado toast is served on a thick multi seeded soft bread. The toast had a good amount of an avocado smear loaded with fresh yellow and red Cherry tomatoes. A delicious marinated onion and fresh salad on top of the bread with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and finally topped with pumpkin seeds. Love the food here and the rustic cabin feel! The parking is free right in front of the restaurant for one hour!

Best food I've had in a very long time- The BLT looked amazing but I had the Hoss burger- it was incredible

A local favorite, we always enjoy visiting Tunnel Creek Cafe. On this day, we stopped by for lunch. Parking during the summer is always a game of patience, so come prepared. I ordered the "Hot Sierra Burger", a Smash Patty served with Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Grilled Onions and Jalapeños. I held the BBQ Sauce, which I'm sure would have been good but wasn't feeling it on this day. The burger was cooked to perfection. The bacon, cheese and onions were the perfect blend of flavors, to complement the patty but I felt that it was the Jalapeno Peppers that were the "pièce de résistance". The perfect topper to an already great burger. My wife had the Turkey Club. A delicious blend of Turkey, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Avocado and Mayo. Our friends had the Turkey Pesto, which looked amazing. Sitting outside, on this day, there was plenty of seating. We were lucky enough to grab a table with nice shade from the awning. Shade is a premium on the warm summer days of Tahoe. There was a band playing during the lunch hour. A nice complement of chill classic rock and roll. There were two points that were less than stellar. The sandwiches are served with chips. The serving size of the chips was disappointingly small. You can do better. The restaurant asks guests to bus their own tables. The prior guests left our table with a filthy array of dirty plates, half-finished drinks and a rather disgusting selection of unfinished sandwiches. I can appreciate that this is not the restaurant's fault per se but jeez, your mother doesn't work here, clean up after yourselves. A disappointing distraction to an otherwise lovely lunch on the patio at Tunnel Creek Cafe.

Wonderful staff. Very friendly. Food was great. Cool establishment. Lots of seating. On vacation from Chicago so if we come back to this area, we will definitely come back.

Good food. Good drinks. Good staff (who gave my crazy pup bacon ). Good amount of seating with umbrellas. Will go again

We try to make it a yearly tradition to visit Tahoe whenever we can, and we always enjoy the food options in Incline Village. This place was absolutely amazing everything we ordered was delicious and really hit the spot! We came at a time when it wasn't busy (lucky us), ordered at the counter, and grabbed a table. The food came out hot, fresh, and full of flavor. We'll definitely be coming back!

Each one of the girls on our trip got coffee, and every cup was yummy the French toast was soooooo good, don't sleep on it. Their butter was a game changer. Actually everything we ordered was great. The seating can be a little tight, so planning ahead is key.

The food was good however the line was so slow and the menu is lacking to say the least! I couldn't find something that I would even try. But my party did enjoy their food, however I thought it looked like something that you would get at the shack and a T-ball game. The staff had quite the attitude and said some weird comments to someone that was there by being rude about busing the tables! She said it with such a tone that I couldn't believe what I heard. We also had to bus our own tables which is never a good thing. Like what are workers even for nowadays? If you're picky or looking for an actual dining experience then do not try this place.

Visited on a Sunday morning and had an amazing experience. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked "the order before you are seated" approach. This ensured we were in and out within the hour. I got the BLT and my partner got the Turkey Club, both phenomenal. Their coffee is really delicious, my partner got a hot mocha with some neat latte art. The service was excellent. Love this place and will make it a stop when visiting Tahoe.

This is a nice place for lunch if it is NOT a weekend. We ate there for lunch on a Thursday and it was great, no problem finding a parking space. I had the Philly Cheese steak ($16) and it was good and dog friendly too. We came back 2 days later and it was a 3 ring s**t show. We couldn't find a parking spot for a mile. It's on the walking trail to hidden beach.

This is a great option for a little café in incline Village. Counter service and good food. When we were there, it was standing room only, they are popular.

If youre celiac, do not come here. They unfortunately do not have the means to ensure zero cross contamination, which isnt a reflection of anything other than accessibility. The staff were rude when I was inquiring of accommodations but maybe i caught them on a bad day? Accessible or not to my diet restrictions, its unprofessional to be rude when someone inquires. I can only comment on my own experience.

Enjoyed a lovely early summer lunch before hitting the unforgettable East Shore Trail. Had the cheese steak and the pesto turkey along with a cookie and some beers. The backyard patio was well shaded and the perfect setting for relaxing. Line was a little long when we first arrived but then was much shorter the rest of our time there. Food and drinks were both provided promptly by a staff that cares.

Everyone there is so nice, and the food is really good. Best bacon I've ever had. Great for your dogs too.

They got very good food here. Try to be there early because otherwise they seem to run out of stuff. Do not order anything different than what's on the menu because you might not get it the way you want it. You have to wait in line to get to the register, and the system is different than what you expect everywhere else you order at the register, and then they delivered the food to you. they got an awesome place to sit outside, great during summer.

Until last night I only thought of Tunnel Creek for breakfast and lunch, but they have transformed it into a legitimate dinner spot. They added touches like velvet drapes, low lighting, new art, and white table cloths to spruce the place up, making it nice and cozy. The space is intimate--maybe 8 tables and they try to space out reservations in order to make everything fresh and to order. They have a small but nice cocktail and wine list and the menu has nice choices. We started with the steamer clams: my favorite dish of the evening. One of us had the ramen with scallops (also good and a nice sized portion, but only came with two scallops), and the fish of the day, which was also good but could have used more asparagus to fill out the plate. I had the eggplant. The toping was delicious (pomegranate seeds, quinoa, and a yummy sauce), but the eggplant could have been roasted longer to soften it. It was a little chewy. The sides it came with were delicious. Service was wonderful and attentive. I recommend!

Nice sandwiches to pick up before or after a hike or beach. There was a long line but it moved relatively fast and staff were nice. Great outdoor seating/ ambiance with live music on Saturdays in summer and dog friendly. Wish the sandwiches came with a bag of chips and not a side.

Busy busy cafe with lines out the door. Order at the counter and if you eat there, you get a number and they bring the food to you. We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon after a 5 mile hike on the east Tahoe shore trail. They have lots of options for sandwiches & burgers. Also with kids meal. Bleu burger: blue cheese, bacon, burger. 4 stars husband enjoyed it. He ate everything. Pesto turkey sandwich: 5 stars according to the little one. She ate every bite within a quick amount of time so I knew she really liked it. I can see the gooey cheese and pesto sauce. Turkey club sandwich: 5 stars. One of the best sandwiches I've had with thick slices of turkey, crispy well cooked thick bacon, avocado and fresh veggies with some whole grain bread. It was do delicious. Only bad thing was the side salad which was a bit salty from the dressing but otherwise 2 thumbs up. We sat out side under the tree shades and there was live music!!! Loved it. Enjoy our food and the music. Sorry for the red color. It was the umbrella shade.

A great spot to grab a bite after a nearby hike! The line can run pretty long especially closer to meal times. We ended up waiting at least 30 minutes to order at the front and get seated, then another 15-20 for the food. Ordered a turkey pesto sandwich, which came with a side salad. Was what you would expect in a good way and very filling!

Stopped in after a hike to get some breakfast food. Ordered the oatmeal pancakes and the TC hash. Service is quick, but you need to bus your own plates, which is understandable. Ambiance is nice. The outdoor seating in the shade was great. The food itself was subpar. Pancakes were a good idea, but overall bland like unseasoned/undressed oatmeal. The butter and maple syrup helped, but I was hoping the pancakes themselves would have more flavor. The hash was just a bowl of potatoes mixed in with the things listed on the menu. For some reason I envisioned something more complete/cooked together. I feel like all the components were cooked separately and just layered on. Potatoes lacked flavor. I was also told that I could not order the French toast, which the menu said had limited availability, because they were out. Understandable. But, I saw guests who came in later eating the French toast. Not sure what happened there. I would've gladly waited for them if it was a timing thing. Sandwiches here seem to be the way to go, based on other reviews.

Chris (outside bartender with cool beard) is the man. recommended us two great drinks. also management should get him a fan-mister or something, he was sweating up a storm! lol

Gayle and I have talked a lot about going up the Lake for a relatively easy hike. But there's something about living in the high desert of the Carson Valley and making the drive up to a more crowded Alpine Nevada that has served as a mental roadblock. Last Saturday, with Gayle was out-of-town, I signed up for a joint TBY/NHJC hike that started at the Tunnel Creek Cafe. We then walked down towards Sand Harbor, enjoyed the stunning Lake Tahoe scenery, and paused a few times for spiritual reflection. It was a great time out, and with a few long drives on each end that made it all worth it. The Tunnel Creek Cafe has its own parking space, but since I wasn't there just for the restaurant, I parked early in one of the nearby paid parking spots along the trail. Before the hike started, I enjoyed coffee and a cookie at the Cafe and when I came back, there was a tasty Lunch (either inside or out). This place was a perfect bookend for this trek. And now that I know the lay of the land a little better, this is one hike that I'll repeat soon with Gayle. But as we move into the summer season, we make stick to the early side of weekdays, for both the trail and the restaurant.

Great place to get a bite before or after a hike to monkey rock!! Nice burger with a cold beer is hard to beat...... Cheers!

This is a great little place to stop off and get a sandwich if you are hiking or driving by in the road. It's super cute on the outside. When you walk in, you go up to the counter and place your order. They give you a number and will bring you your food, but after you finish eating, you are required to bus your own table. I mentioned this because I think it's a little bit crazy that they are asking for Tips. Even though we tipped well, considering that the only service they provide is bringing the food to the table, it's a little bit much to ask for tips. Since this was our our first time, we didn't know what it was like, but we'll definitely keep that in mind the next time we come through.. Since I have a gluten allergy, they do have gluten-free bread. I had the grilled cheese sandwich and it was so, so tasty! The tomato soup that came with it was also gluten-free, but to be honest, it tasted more like marinara sauce. my guy got a sandwich that he also enjoyed. We would definitely come back again! Cute little find.

This is a great spot to get a tasty breakfast of lunch. You order at the counter and they bring the food out to you. They have a full espresso bar and make great mocha and coffee drinks too. So good that our friend couldn't stop raving about the taste of his quad-shot mocha. I had the go to breakfast of eggs, potatoes and toast and it was really good. Cooked perfectly and the food quality is better than other breakfast spots around town. My friends both enjoyed their breakfast sandwiches and agree it's a solid place to add to our list. People here are nice and it's casual and chill.

Stopped here after hiking the Tahoe East Shore Trail as it's conveniently located right off the parking lot/trailhead. There was a big line to order and it was slow going but the customer service was great so that made up for it. The food, though, was just ok. I just went with a burger and a beer. No fries came up with the burger surprisingly, just chips (not good ones, either). The burger was dry and tasted under seasoned to me. I would go back, though. The scenery was stunning from the outside top deck. I think I would order something other than the burger, though.

Tunnel creek is nestled right next to the parking lot for the walking past to sand harbor. At tunnel creek you'll find a variety of things to eat, burgers, sandwiches( the Turkey pesto is a great choice IMO), drinks, and coffee. I stopped here recently on my way back from the beach and was able to get a quick shot of espresso that woke me Right up before a night of dinner plans. It's such a convenient location for the path that is what attracts most people to here.

We visited Tunnel Creek Cafe on a Wednesday afternoon around 2:20 PM. We rode our bikes here at the end of our East Short Trail exploration and were ready to eat. We locked up our bikes and headed inside to wait in a decent size line of maybe 10 - 15 people or so. When it came time to order the staff was friendly and helpful enough. I asked about adding Cold Foam to my iced coffee drink and he checked with someone else and said they could do it. I asked for a side of Sausage to go with our order. We went and sat outside to wait for our food to be brought out. There was a nice seating area where you will be greeted by hungry and brave birds and chipmunks who all want a taste. When the food was delivered the iced coffee did not have the cold foam and I was missing the side of sausage. I checked my receipt and he never input the side of sausage. I figured they didn't charge me so I would let it be. I ordered the avocado toast with eggs on top and my wife ordered the protein bowl. I thought it all tasted fine but was hoping for a more tasty meal after all our biking. I think this place benefits from being one of the few spots in the area. In my opinion, everything was good not great and so I am giving it a 3 star review and was disappointed they missed my request for the cold foam and the side of sausage even though he nodded that he had everything down. Most people will eat here because it is quite quaint and has less competition. It was just okay for me thought. Your mileage may vary.

We came here for a late breakfast before heading down to hidden beach. The decor gives you the cabin feel and the staff were friendly. Do note that when you walk in, you should pick your own table and then head to the counter to order. After you order, you're given a number stand for your table of choice. The waiters will come to your table with food. But after, you're also expected to clean your own table by placing dishes in the nearby baskets. We ordered the turkey pesto, cheesesteak, French toast, and the ponderosa plate. The turkey pesto was great, meaty and flavorful with a nice toast on the outside. This came with a choice of salad or chips. The cheesesteak was made with ribeye and also came with a choice of chips or salad. The French toast came with butter and jam and tasted sweet with flavoring of a creme brûlée. The ponderosa plate is a breakfast plate, coming with a choice of bacon, sausage, ham, chicken apple sausage, or bacon jam. Two eggs, toast, and potatoes are also part of the plate. We got hash browns for our plate, but they were bland and pale. The hash browns were not brown and could use some extra time to crisp up. Overall the food was mostly great. The sandwiches were tasty but there were some inconsistency with the breakfast plate.

Loved our experience here. Kind people. Positive vibe. Food was fabulous! Highly recommend the Beesting. Water is self-servw. Two nice restrooms. Merch for sale. Adorable outdoor space for dining. Music on Saturday nights. Perfect for a fuel load before hiking Monkey Rock or biking.

The staff was extremely patient with our quirky group who struggles to order. They even spent time conversing with us during our meal. Very kind. The seating was fun and plentiful if you went outside. Many options for sun or shade complemented by great weather. The latte was beautiful and delicious. The majority of the food was mediocre. Anything with potatoes were soggy. The breakfast burrito felt very separated, making the ingredients not compliment each other. The salsa could use a little more flavor. I do have to say that the strawberry compote crème brûlée French toast was delicious though! Crispy outer with light and fluffy, flavorful center. The compote rather than syrup really topped it off. I'd give this place another try but I wouldn't bring others just yet.