5 Best Restaurants in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Led by a two-time James Beard Award--nominated chef, this hot spot is spoken of with reverential tones by locals. With its own veggie gardens and daily changing menu that's sourced from nearby farms, this is as local as you can get; dinner is the only seated meal offered, box lunches are available for tours through Denali.

If you're lucky enough to pass by on a Sunday in winter, be sure to check out their brunch menu.

Top-notch craft beer and plenty of food options makes 49th State Brewing Company a must when passing through Healy. Committed to using local ingredients whenever possible, they offer plenty of Alaska-grown dishes, the keystone being the Alaskan-raised, all-you-can-eat pig roast on Friday nights. More than ten in-house beers are on tap to go along with the outdoor beer garden. Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are also available.

This is the place for hearty, delicious food, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. While the menu does offer some very good salads, the real treats include the mooster burger (made of locally sourced beef, as wild game can't be sold in restaurants), grilled halibut tacos, and Alaskan salmon with a rotating cast of sides and marinades. No matter how big you go on the meal, don't skip their legendary desserts. If you're in town at the start of the season, the café hosts an annual chili cook-off party for the community with live music and cheap beers.

If you're staying nearby, you can order lunches to-go for the next morning that'll be ready for pick-up by 6 am.

Situated in a cluster of restaurants and cabins along Carlo Creek, Panorama is one of the more lively and festive options. Hand-tossed pizzas include one with Alaskan microbrewed beer baked into the crust. Lawn games such as cornhole and horseshoes add to the atmosphere.

Built on top of an old glacier moraine, the Perch offers dining in a more removed and relaxed setting than elsewhere in the area. Steak and seafood make up the menu---local ingredients are used when possible---although gluten-free and vegetarian options are also available. Home-cooked breads and desserts make this a worthwhile stop as you head to or leave the park. Cabins are also available on the premises starting at $125 per night.