Almost every adventure sport-person in California knows highway 395. Winding its way along the sheer eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada mountains, 395 is home to some of the state’s most severe scenery. Attesting to the area’s geological prowess, a mere 85 miles separates the contiguous 48’s highest point (Mt. Whitney at 14,494 ft/4418 m) from the lowest point (Badwater, Death Valley at 282 ft/86 m below sea level) — and the 395 cuts right between the two. But as always with NKRH, the big question is “where to eat?”

Save it for Bishop. Last major stop from the South before hitting Mammoth Mountain, Bishop boasts two unlikely places in particular: India Palace (Indian, duh) and Imperial Gourmet (Chinese). Both sit at the rear of a minimall at 395 and Yaney St., and both boast large veggie-friendly sections of the menu. The produce at Imperial Gourmet is crisp (who knew fresh gai lan was so easy to score 200 miles from absolutely anything?) and the cooking at India Palace is straight homemade (I swear they put the lentils on the stove the second I ordered the dal). I’d go on, but let’s just say these two can hold their own against any Indian or Chinese restaurant in New York or the Bay Area. That’s a feat in itself for a couple of family-run stops in the beautiful middle of nowhere.

Imperial Gourmet is at 785 N. Main St, ste K in Bishop, CA. 760-872-1144

India Palace is at 787 N. Main St, ste D in Bishop, CA. 760-873-7000. Closed Tuesday.

Thanks to Yummy 4 My Tummy for this broccoli shot from Jasmine Seafood in San Diego (oops, I forgot to take a camera to Bishop).

And don’t forget to bread up at legendary Eric Schat’s Bakery before you head home from your adventures. This Dutch 395 stalwart claims to be home of the “original sheepherder bread” but the real treat is the jalapeño cheese bread–an absolute adventure all to itself.

The bread may harken back to 19th Century French occupation, but the fillings are 100% Vietnam. Simply put, the banh mi is a baguette slathered with mayo, filled with a substantial amount of spongy soy meat (a grayish turkey), then finished off with a solid dose of fragrant Southeast Asian accents like cilantro, hot chili peppers (jalapeño in the sandwich’s SoCal incarnation), and a shredded radish and carrot mixture dressed almost imperceptibly in rice vinegar. Common street fare in Vietnam, you’ll find six to eight-dollar versions in the hipster Eastside neighborhoods of Los Angeles, though I’ve heard chatter that one can find more OG versions for half the price in the neighboring San Gabriel Valley.

I’ve also heard there’s a donut shop in Humboldt county that makes a superb version. If anyone has any local banh mi recommendations, send them my way.

In the meantime: Angelenos can check out KP’s deli in Silverlake (pictured above, courtesy of our friends at Los Anjealous whose top ten LA vegan summary is a must read for anyone hungry in LA) and Lemongrass in Eagle Rock. For a delightful Mc-version of the veggie banh-mi, check out Lee’s Sandwiches, a family-run mini-franchise scattered across California and the Southwest.

Not today, but sometime soon, I’ll be talking about a Vietnamese crepe called a ban xeo. Now that’s serious hand food.