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    Atomic Cow

    4.5 (160 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Atomic Cow Photos

    Business Info

    ATOMIC COW ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Atomic Cow

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    Reviews With Photos

    Brownie sundae
    Jamie W.

    Very friendly workers, and bomb ice cream desserts. The large size is a generous amount, and their soft serve vanilla ice cream was smooth and delicious. The amount of toppings on the sundae was perfect, and it was cool that they checked with us if we wanted whipped cream before putting it on. The peanut butter milkshake, which they advertise to be thick, was in fact a thick malt-like texture. They accidentally remade our order of two brownie sundaes because they forgot to throw out the ticket. But kudos to them because they gave the extras to us instead of throwing them away. My Dad tipped when we bought the milkshake to go because of the kind gesture. They had good indoor seating in a heated area, including a table with a long bench. I would definitely come back to this shop when visiting Idyllwild.

    Elisa N.

    ATOMIC COW @ IDYLLWILD Parking was super easy, there's free street parking all around the town, and we found a spot within minutes. We visited this town just for the day, and in the afternoon we stumbled upon Atomic Cow. The moment I walked in, I was like wow, their milkshakes looked incredible, and they had some of the craziest, most fun flavor combinations. I saw the strawberry Oreo one, and my boyfriend and I immediately knew we had to try it. The price was unbeatable too: only $4.60 for a small milkshake, which is so reasonable! We had already eaten at another restaurant earlier, so we just grabbed a milkshake. It came out in about 10 minutes, and the flavor was amazing. The strawberries tasted so fresh, the Oreo crunches were delicious, and there were actual pieces mixed in. I also loved the ambiance, there was so much space, and the place felt cozy even as it started getting packed the longer we stayed. They also offer sandwiches, soups, pickles, and scooped ice cream if you're in the mood for something else. Overall, it was an incredible experience. The vibe was cozy, the service was great, and the milkshake was definitely worth the stop.

    Inside bar style seating + tables behind it
    Kevin M.

    Atomic cow is an awesome gem in Idyllwild which could be easily missed, but if found, a truly cool place. Pros: I ordered the small strawberry shake here and it was very interesting flavor, but really good flavor and consistency. The shake was very thick and had pieces of Oreo inside. This place also has sandwiches subs and other drink items to choose from. There is plenty seating inside, including a bar area and tables for chairs. I did not try the food, but the food looked really good based on what I saw from other people's orders. The service was also quick and helpful, which was very good to see. Cons: I did not see any bathrooms inside the restaurant. Parking could be very hard to find depending on what what time of the year you visit I was able to find very good parking only because it's the off season and was raining. Verdict: Overall, this place was a real good find when I visited and if I didn't already eat food somewhere else earlier, I would have eaten here. And I will try and do that next time I'm here.

    Vitali Z.

    I walked into this place and my first thought was: "Wait... where did I end up?" You know when a restaurant looks like something from the past, not because it's styled that way -- but because it's actually old? Yeah, that vibe. The furniture wasn't fancy, the chairs weren't the most comfortable, space inside was tight, and there was a line like in a small-town grocery store the day before Christmas. Nothing dramatic, just very... real. But the reviews were strong, so I decided not to judge too fast. And honestly -- I'm glad I stayed. The menu here is huge. Burgers, sandwiches, fries, ice cream, shakes, subs, even soup. And the prices? That's the part that really surprised me. In 2025, seeing a full burger meal for the price of two coffees in LA feels unreal. I ordered the Pastrami Burger, Smokey Bear Burger, fries, tomato soup, and a drink. The food didn't just look big -- it felt heavy in a good, old-school way. The kind of burger that doesn't need marketing words, just foil and gravity. First bite and I just sat there like: "Okay... now I get it." Juicy, messy, smoky pastrami, melted cheese stretching like a pizza commercial, fresh lettuce and tomatoes, and that soft classic bun. Not a gourmet burger -- just a good one. The kind you remember because it made sense: price, portion, flavor. The tomato soup was simple but warm and comforting -- honestly perfect for this mountain town. Would I call it the best burger of my life? No. But would I come back? Absolutely. Because the food tastes honest. And sometimes that's better than perfect. So yeah -- if you're in Idyllwild and want something real, filling, and priced like it's still 2010 -- this place is worth a stop.

    The inside of the Virginian turkey dinner sandwich
    Jim M.

    The Virginian is a delightful dinner sandwich Real turkey breast cranberry's stuffing mayonnaise

    Menu
    Brenda H.

    Uploaded pic of recent menu. Clean store with friendly staff. Easy to walk to from center of town.

    Kathy M.

    Food was good & inexpensive. There were a lot of customers and steady stream of people coming in. Down side was it took 30 minutes for the food. But we were alerted as we.were ordering the food & appreciated the heads up. Not sure if the kitchen is not big enough to accommodate more people to prepare the food or I they were short staffed today. It doesn't seem like it should take that long to cook the sandwiches, burgers & fry tater tots. We walked around with the buzzer and went back before the buzzer went off to wait at a table. I got the grilled cheese with all three types of the cheese they offered & hubby enjoyed his Italian sub. Tater tots were piping hot & crispy. We were too full to try their ice cream but they looked good. We will try other stuff next time we are there.

    Michael K.

    We enjoyed the ice cream here. Small place but enough seating outside. We had a slight customer service issue; however, they recognized it and solved without us saying anything. That says to me they're focused on customer service and fix an issue. We camp at the Idyllwild Regional Park campground a few times a year, so we'll be back.

    Outside
    Anna P.

    Don't judge this place by the outside -- it'll honestly surprise you. The inside is super simple and low-key, but the food is totally worth it. Ambience is just usual. What I really liked is how huge their menu is. They've got pretty much everything: burgers, sandwiches, soup, coffee, ice cream -- literally something for any group. Even though it was packed when we came in, the service was pretty fast. They told us it'd be about 30 minutes, but our food showed up in like 20. We ordered the Smokey Bear Burger ($9.75), the Pastrami Burger ($10.5), a soda & fries combo ($5.5), and the tomato soup ($5). Everything was honestly amazing. For the price, you get these giant double burgers with an awesome sauce and super tender meat. They don't skimp on the fries either, but you've gotta grab the sauces yourself. Make sure to ask for their house sauce -- they make it in the kitchen, and both versions are excellent. One thing though -- you probably won't manage to get a refill unless you're willing to wait in line again. And trust me, you likely won't want to, because the stream of customers basically never stops. Highly recommend this spot. Incredible food!

    Super cute decor, full on Hawaiian theme.
    Jamie S.

    Seriously - there's a reason they have a line out their door! When you walk in, the vibe pulls you into an era and place you may have never been - think of a combination of a little surf town meets the comfort and innocence of a skating rink. Tiki and vintage decor adorns the walls and music for the 40's to the 60's fills the place. So many kids meeting up for food before heading out to wherever. Prices are outstanding! I ordered the basic atomic burger and hubbs for the Smokey Bear double burger, we shared tots and a Coke. All for $22. Smash burgers! Fresh, hot and delicious. (I love shredded lettuce on a burger!) the person who took the order smiled despite the nonstop line. We didn't feel rushed at all. I'm only bummed we were too full for ice cream. They have plenty to choose from. The Dole Whip would've been amazing, but the burgers are plentiful and on this hot day, the ice cream area did not lack business. Good stuff!

    Brooke L.

    Haven't gotten my food yet but it's so awesome here I'm already going to make this place one of the favorite spots! The service is incredible even though it's insanely busy! The vibes are amazing! Ali is such a sweetheart! She's the one with our hair and piercings. She is just wow so much love and good service and good vibes it just made the whole trip! Going to get the pastrami burger with french fries and I was able to substitute my soda for a coffee. I got the Huckleberry scoop of ice cream and I wanted to try the cinnamon so they gave me a scoop since I had to wait and somebody kept running in front of me all the time. Tourist lol but yeah this was amazing! Two minutes later ... the food is really good oh my gosh! The french fries I think they're McDonald's lol very good! OK hands-down best latte in town.

    pastrami sandwich
    Hannah K.

    i had their pastrami sandwich, it was fantastic. we also had their burgers and it was super tasty. got it to go, so i can't speak on the ambience but it seemed super cute. i want to go back to try their sweet items! service was friendly and fast

    Holy Cow Tots (also almost gone)
    Maureen T.

    Lots of food for the price! Sandwiches are huge, dining room is small but clean, and they provide wonderful customer service. Great for snacks, lunch, and dessert!

    Yummy vanilla soft serve

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    4 years ago

    An Idyllwild gem. Tasty, fun food and nice people. If you're looking for something quick this is your jam! Do it!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Best sandwiches in town. Prices are great and selection huge. You can also grab a ice cream cone, cookie and other sweet treats!

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    Business owner information

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    Jennifer F.

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    6 years ago

    I love this place. When I'm craving something sweet- this is where I go. I haven't tried their subs yet- but the look amazing!

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Excellent place, great food! We will absolutely be back! Ps, this place uses good meat, and REAL cheese!!!!

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    5 years ago

    Delicious grilled cheese sandwiches! Totally cool peanut butter Reese's shake. Good service.

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    7 years ago

    I bought two pies to bring to family Easter dinner, peach and apple. They were both superb and they were both devoured. Excellent! :)

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    7 years ago

    Great ice cream and awesome ladies up front! We got the cookies and cream in a waffle cone and weren't disappoint

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    Page 4 of 4

    Ask the Community - Atomic Cow

    My son has a peanut allergy and I see there is peanut ice cream on the menu. Do you use safe cross-contamination practices so that he can order a non-peanut ice cream? Some shops will take a scoop from a new batch or sanitize the scoopers for example

    Yes we sterilize the scoops after every use. We recommend people with severe peanut allergies to get our soft serve or dole whip ice cream because it never gets close to any of the ice creams with nuts.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Perfect spot for breakfast and bunch! You can either order at the counter and take a seat or get…read moreyour order taken after seated. We found it easier to order at the counter. All of the servers and workers were amazing. All super attentive and friendly. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. The portions were generous. The breakfast burrito was massive and is what you picture when you think of a breakfast burrito. The chilequiles red sauce was good. When my bf and I go out for breakfast/brunch, we love to order something sweet to balance out our savory order. We ordered the tiramisu French toast and wow! It was a proper French toast and it had good flavor. It was a bit too sweet for my taste though. I'd recommend this spot to anyone visiting Idyllwild.

    This was our second visit, and we'll definitely be back. We drive about an hour from La Quinta to…read moreget here, and it's absolutely worth the trip. The restaurant is always clean, organized, and welcoming, and the restrooms are spotless as well. I ordered the chilaquiles with steak and chose the red sauce. I can usually handle spicy food, but this dish definitely had a nice kick to it. Everything tasted fresh, especially the microgreens, onions, and black beans. I also added two eggs over medium, which were cooked perfectly. The steak had good flavor overall, but mine was cooked more well-done than I would have preferred. I wasn't asked for a preferred temperature, so I'm not sure if that's an option. The ribeye is also sliced very thin, which may contribute to it cooking through more quickly. If I could suggest one improvement, it would be serving this dish on a flat plate rather than in a bowl. The bowl made it a little challenging to cut the steak comfortably, whereas a flat plate would make it easier to enjoy. Overall, the food was delicious, the restaurant is consistently well-maintained, and the experience was excellent. Looking forward to our next visit

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    Interior corner seat
    Interior corner seat
    Chilaquiles with Ribeye Steak
    Chilaquiles with Ribeye Steak
    Breakfast burrito

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    Idyllwild Brewpub

    Idyllwild Brewpub

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    We came here before going camping & for an early lunch and got here right when they opened, we had…read moreour dog that gets a bit antsy so they accommodated us on the patio and appreciated that. Our Dog did great! I saw they provided water bowls for them and they do have a doggie meal for them that's $7 and it's just chicken, veggies and rice or hamburger patty with no salt. My Dog eats anything cause he loves food but I was a bit thrown back on how it was served.. (it just looked like Mush & it was cold and more rice than anything) I only gave him the small pieces of chicken and the few carrots that were in there. The paper container was a bit hard for him to eat off but we made it work. I get it it's a doggy treat but it would have been a bit better if it was served on something more sturdy. Their service was Excellent. As we arrived they were quick and took our order for our drinks and flights of beer. We ordered and our food came out within 10 min and it was delicious, presentation was great, was warm and everything was well balanced and just delicious. I got their smash burger with fries and loved the fries and they had a satisfying crunch to them. We also tried their pretzel with Dipping sauce the Dijon mustard was a bit much but the cheese was fantastic. The atmosphere was great, they have indoor and outdoor seating and the inside is pretty rad as well. Their bathrooms were clean and tidy. Their merch was pretty sweet. They had quite a variety of things you can purchase along with their beer and other options they had in the fridge. Would we come back Absolutely! We loved our experience here, the staff were great and very attentive and the food was delicious to pair with great local beer.

    Great food, good beer, a well-made Old Fashioned, and incredibly friendly service! We are always on…read morethe lookout for great dog-friendly spots when we travel, and this place definitely fit the bill. They made us and Lyla feel completely welcome. If you're in Idyllwild, this is a fantastic spot to grab a drink, a great meal, and relax. Highly recommend!

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    Idyllwild Brewpub
    Crispy Sprouts
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    Mamma Mia Crepes and Desserts

    Mamma Mia Crepes and Desserts

    4.1
    (151 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    So many sweet and savory options here! We came here twice during our trip - in the late afternoon…read morefor desserts and the next morning for a savory brunch. For sweets, we did the Lily Rock and Hippo crepe. Both were great, but we were a huge fan of the bubble waffle. For savory, we went with their most popular pick, the Chicken Pesto and the Turkey Bubble Waffle. The pesto sauce was creamy and delicious - we were a fan! For some reason, we were definitely not expecting the bubble waffle to be a sandwich. Nonetheless, both were great to fuel us up for the afternoon. Workers are nice and so are their regulars! We had two dogs with us, so we grabbed a table outside and were also able to enjoy the view. Great place to stop by for a quick bite or especially if you're trying to avoid the crowd as the other brunch spots are packed.

    Food was mediocre at best. I ordered 5 crepes and 4 drinks which cost just over $100. All fiver…read morecrepes were relatively small for what I would think a $15 crepe would be. I asked if one was enough for me and the associate said "yes, I can barely finish one". Not sure how that was the case as I was left hungry after I finished mine and my coffee. While they were preparing my order I overheard a cook say they ran out of bacon, then was told my order was delayed because they had to go to the nearby restaurant to get some bacon. My biggest gripe though is that they prepared 2 of 5 dishes on plates and for some reason made the other 3 in to-go containers. (We were one of two groups seated to eat in the dining area). Then they gave is plastic ware to use resulting in me breaking two forks while I was cutting my chewy crepe. Nice concept but it did not deliver on expectations. Highlight was the Mexican coffee. That was actually pretty good. Unfortunately I will not be returning.

    Photos
    Mamma Mia Crepes and Desserts
    Top: Nutella crepe. Bottom: Monte Cristo bubble waffle.
    Top: Nutella crepe. Bottom: Monte Cristo bubble waffle.
    Mamma Mia Crepes and Desserts

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    Atomic Cow - icecream - Updated June 2026

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