Mike Hallahan is not your typical chef. Sure, he’s sliced his way through kitchens from fast food to fine dining and from hospitals to jails. But, at the heart of what sets Hallahan apart is finding a balance between opposites: creativity and logic, ambition and humility, culinary artistry and business acumen. Hallahan describes his philosophy as an infinity symbol.
A figure eight is continuous motion,” he says. “You’re always circling back, always refining. You have to be humble enough to ask, ‘Is this the right way? How can we do it better?’”
A self-proclaimed insomniac, it’s not rare to find Hallahan in Enbär’s kitchen into the wee hours of the morning refining recipes or experimenting with ways to push his craft forward.
From Great Falls to Flavortown: A Taste of Fame
It’s no wonder the Food Network came knocking. Two years ago in January of 2023, Hallahan represented Great Falls on “Guy’s Grocery Games”, a popular cooking competition hosted by Guy Fieri. The series challenges chefs from across the country to create culinary masterpieces using ingredients from the whimsical "Flavortown Market." Hallahan competed in three intense rounds against some of the nation’s top talent.
“It was one of the most intense, exciting experiences of my life but also so much fun,” Hallahan recalls. “The contestants were amazing, and working with Guy and the judges was incredible.”
Reflecting on his experience, Hallahan expressed pride in how Great Falls’ food scene is gaining national recognition. “The food scene in Great Falls is evolving,” he says. “We’re giving it some big city pizzazz while keeping that small-town feel.”
Foodie Turned Chef
But let’s rewind. Hallahan’s culinary journey started humbly at a small pizza place in Douglas, Arizona. As a young kid he was lucky to have family members who knew their way around a kitchen. “I guess I’m a foodie turned chef,” he said. “I loved the food, but I also loved the business side,” he said. That dual passion propelled him through formal training at the Scottsdale Culinary Institute and, in his words, “the school of hard knocks,” where he learned the trade under chefs who were as likely to teach as they were to toss a pot across the room.
“I’ve always been drawn to the process,” Hallahan explains. “Taking inventory, troubleshooting inefficiencies, refining workflows – it’s all about figuring out how to make things better,” he said. That mindset served him well as an executive chef for Aramark, overseeing hospital kitchens and training chefs nationwide. His unexpected path as a chef ultimately laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial ventures in Great Falls, Montana, where he and a team of partners have redefined the city’s dining and entertainment scene.
Hallahan’s approach is anchored in three pillars: people, process, and performance. “If you’ve got the right people and the right processes, the performance follows,” he explains.
This ethos is evident in Hallahan’s ventures. From co-founding Enbär to launching Side Quest Arcade Bar, The Block, and Big Dipper, each concept is meticulously planned and executed. In the case of The Block, the downtown space opened up and Hallahan and his partners had the opportunity to expand. Using his philosophy of finding balance between opposites, he got to work ideating.
“We’ll sit with whiteboards and sketch out six or seven different concepts before landing on the one that makes sense,” he says.
Creativity balanced with logical thinking, this is where Hallahan shines.
Beyond the Kitchen: Investing in Community
Not only does he bring that care and dedication to his restaurants, but he also extends it to his community involvement. From organizing free concerts (Downtown Summer Jam and 4th of July Hootenanny) with partners to employing dozens of local teens, Hallahan is passionate about how he contributes overall to the growth and development of our city. “It’s about more than making money,” he said. “It’s about making Great Falls a better place to live.”
Hallahan’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Balancing a thriving career with family life is, as he puts it, “a tightrope.” Yet, he and his wife, a school principal, share a commitment to hard work and community. Their three children, one of whom works summers in the family business, are already absorbing the lessons of grit and giving back.
As For What’s Next?
Hallahan is keeping his options open. “We’re at a point where we’re circling back,” he says. “Looking at what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next.” Whether it’s a new venture, a return to the Food Network, or another bold community project, one thing is certain: Hallahan will approach it with the same infinite drive that’s propelled him this far.
For Hallahan, there is no summit, only the next climb. “Every time you think you’ve made it, you realize there’s another level,” he says. “The trick is to keep moving, keep refining, and keep coming back to what matters most.”
