211 Best Restaurants in Alaska, USA

By far the fanciest restaurant in Unalaska, the Chart Room offers classic fine dining and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and Margaret Bay. On most nights it's not difficult to grab a table, though it pays to make a reservation for the famous Wednesday night seafood buffet or the Sunday brunch buffet. The regular menu offers some interesting fish and crab creations, along with such standard fare as halibut and chips with delicious homemade tartar sauce.

Rocket scientists from the nearby Poker Flat Research Range gather for hearty pub grub at this cedar lodge, as do mushers, snowmachiners, and local families (including the owners, who expanded the bar so much it consumed their cabin). The eclecticism of the clientele is matched by the decor, which includes bear skins, exercise bikes, and a John Wayne memorabilia wall. It's a great place for a burger or a bowl of chili after a long drive, and it offers simple overnight accommodations too. The rooms generally have a double and single bed, a sink, a television, and Wi-Fi. The toilets and showers are down the hall. Most of the thousands of Christmas lights at the lodge stay up year-round.

This classic Chinese restaurant features local seafood and amazingly fresh vegetables. The grilled halibut is fantastic, and for nonfish lovers, the Mongolian beef and kung pao chicken are excellent choices.

This locally owned spot is one of two situated right on the harbor, with big windows that offer terrific views of marine life, water, and mountains. They have a sleek downstairs bar, and a quiet upstairs dining area with large windows that look out into the bay. Most dishes are Alaska-themed with fish, crustaceans, and reindeer. There's a reliable wine list and a dozen Alaska-brewed beers on tap.

This little roadside restaurant in Hoonah doesn't look like much from the outside, but it comes highly recommended by the locals. The salmon tacos garner particularly high praise. Hours can be variable, especially in the off-season.

Alaska's oldest steak house has barely changed since opening in 1957. The restaurant, with its dark wood and old-fashioned feel, serves tender, flavorful steaks of all kinds, along with a large seafood selection. Dinner reservations are advised.

This busy little seafood deli and burger joint in the heart of Petersburg is a great place for a quick bite en route to your next adventure, or a breakfast sandwich before you get started. Live or cooked crab is available for takeout, and the shop can process your sport-caught fish.

Featuring local oysters harvested daily along with locally sourced meats and vegetables, this convivial bar and grill has a loyal following. In addition to freshly shucked and broiled oysters, chef-owner Kevin Lane is known for his inventive melding of flavors to make scrumptious and dishes like the wild and tame mushroom toast. Be sure to make a reservation in summer.

A short way down the waterfront boardwalk from the cruise port is the Cookhouse, a casual restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Heat lamps on the deck make the outdoor seating attractive even on cooler days, and with views like this, it makes sense to head outside. Menu items include burgers, reindeer slider sloppy joes, and (highly recommended) halibut-and-chips.

It's hard to believe the forever-in-motion staffers at the Cookie Jar can squeeze in the time to provide such friendly service, but they do. Don't miss the French toast made from sliced cinnamon rolls, but if you're not in a breakfast mood, don't worry: the menu includes everything from salads to coq au vin.

King, Dungeness, and tanner (or snow) crabs are served in various forms when in season at the Crab Station, an outdoor stand with tables on the docks extending out over the water. During Dungeness season, crabs are caught in the surrounding waters of Port Frederick and kept alive until your order is prepared.

This roadhouse diner is a great place to grab a bite and a libation and soak up the sun (when it makes an appearance) on the outside deck. The café offers an array of dishes, but they're particularly known for their excellent variety of burgers. Breakfast is served on weekends, and the country-fried steak is out of this world. On weekends, the venue presents outdoor concerts by bands from all over the country (and in winter, acoustic music is performed indoors). This makes lodging and comping a hot commodity when concerts are scheduled, so make sure you have your lodging and tickets in place before making the long drive.

Try the tamales and flan at this eatery specializing in tasty Mexican fare. The owners were born in Cuba and Mexico, met in Utqiaġvik, and teamed up to make the food they grew up eating. The menu includes an array of dishes like camarones rancheros, enchiladas verdes, tacos, and choices for vegetarians as well as meat and seafood lovers. They've got great fresh baked goods and desserts, too. Seating is limited, and they close early in the evening.

Like every good brewery, Denali Brewing Company has a large outdoor porch for sunny days, and a menu of savory items to soak up the beer. Burgers, fish-and-chips, and a host of appetizers pack their menu. Denali Brewing is also home to Alaska Meadery, Alaska Ciderworks, and Denali Spirits.

It's all about the dog at this casual, dog-decorated and hot dog–theme joint whose menu includes hot dogs topped with gourmet bacon, cheese, kraut, slaw, or chili. The owners are locals and rely on made-in-Alaska products so all quarter-pound burger patties are hand-pressed while fries and onion rings are fresh. The owners put more love and care into their fast-food burger and hot dog fare than they really need to—you'll be sorry it's not in your hometown.

Affectionately known as "The Bake," this upbeat and lively spot does everything it can to make every night a party: from frequent live music events, to karaoke, to cramming every holiday into the summer season, there's always something happening. While salmon and other Alaska seafood is on the menu, there is no traditional all-you-can-eat salmon buffet. Beers from the 49th brewery are on tap and a shuttle service ensures that everyone makes it safely back to their tent or hotel.

Take a break from salmon saturation at this Old Town Ketchikan spot on historic Stedman Street. The café serves hearty Filipino cuisine beloved both of locals and cruise-ship staffers hungry for a taste of home, and the linoleum-and-tile 1950s interior is a wonderful time warp.

This restaurant and acoustic music venue (adjacent to Bear Creek Lodge) prides itself on epic meals with a twist, like two-layer crab cakes and deep-fried cheesy rice and Alaska sausage. The food is delicious, but the interior, with its one wall that opens up to let the delightful summer outdoors in, really makes this a terrific place to dine, drink, and enjoy great live music.

Diners have an appeal all their own, comforting in their consistency yet unique to the towns in which they're found, and the Dockside is no exception. Stop in for a traditional breakfast before starting your island adventures, or grab a burger on your way back. The pie is also highly recommended. 

Anchorage residents say eating at this beloved spot is well worth the one-hour drive south to Girdwood and the inevitable wait for dinner. The interior is completely covered with tacky art and Mardi Gras souvenirs, but the windows frame views of huge Sitka spruce trees and the diverse menu mixes hearty Cajun-style meals with such favorites as Creole-style halibut, French pepper steak, and shrimp étouffée.

In the heart of quiet Douglas, across the bridge and a couple of miles from downtown Juneau, this family diner has Formica tables and a menu that includes omelets, sandwiches, kids' favorites, and burgers that are often cited as the best in the city. This is a good choice for those seeking an alternative to downtown Juneau's midsummer crowds.

This trusty spot for burgers, sandwiches, and seafood specials is known for generous portions and reasonable prices. There's often live music in summer.

Located just north of the control tower of Fairbanks International Airport, this place combines Alaska's love of airplanes with the universal love of pizza. Grab a paper menu from the waiting area, circle your preferred toppings, and a made-to-order pizza will be ready in minutes from the 625° wood-fired pizza oven. Window tables at this second-story restaurant overlook both runways and the floatplane base.

Look for mostly Thai, Chinese, and American dishes at this spot along the shore. It offers a simple but filling selection of tempura, rolls, burgers, soups, and more, along with fast and friendly service.

Not the greasy fast-food joint its name might suggest, this relaxing place serves surprisingly interesting cuisine. Portions are sizable—that prime rib dinner will induce a nap—and the variety provides welcome relief from the roadhouse burgers served by most Alaska Highway restaurants (though there are plenty of burgers here, too).

This funky waterfront eatery delivers tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner dining year-round indoors as well as outside on a patio on warm summer days. The menu includes creatively topped pizzas, Alaskan seafood, burgers, and plenty of vegan and plant-based options. Be sure to try the fresh cod or halibut dishes. Reservations are advisable for dinner.

Pumpkin-color walls, light streaming through tall front windows, and a playful collection of Italian posters add to the appeal of this fine Tuscany-inspired bistro. The menu offers up appetizers, salads, sandwiches, calzones, and pizzas, and in the evening they have rotating specials that often include seafood. If you're in a hurry, just get a giant slice of the thin-crust cheese pizza to go. You can order meals at the bar, where you'll find a great wine selection, and there's always something decadent for dessert.

Drop by this casual place for pizza, burgers, pastas, salads, and even fish-and-chips. You can choose from a nice selection of beer and wine along with an ample menu that includes calzones and jumbo wings. It has tables and bar space for dining in, or you can order for pickup, and it's open late.

Just blocks from Downtown hotels, this family-run bakery makes a perfect destination for a leisurely morning muffin run. The bustling Downtown location anchors K Street Market, a sunny emporium shared with a plant store, produce stand, and bottle shop. 

Inside a gallery that features work by local and regional artists, this café at Four Corners offers light fare such as crepes, pastries, and cookies, as well as milkshakes and specialty espresso drinks and teas. The café's drive-up window is groundbreaking for Gustavus (but if you're a visitor, you'll want to go in to see the art and crafts).