211 Best Restaurants in Alaska, USA

A simple but sublime option for lunch, Johnny's serves a short menu of around a half-dozen Asian-influenced bowls with sticky rice, sesame slaw, kimchi, marinated mushrooms, and an egg along with a variety of proteins (hazelnut-crusted halibut, seared sockeye salmon, crispy curried tofu) and sauces. Every bowl can be prepared vegan, and there's also a teriyaki chicken option. You order at the window, and seating on a patio overlooking the bay, at the end of Homer Spit. Johnny's sources from adjacent Salmon Sisters, one of the best fish markets in town, and there's also a neighboring coffeehouse, Mug Up.

Talented and friendly Chef Chad Miller, who regularly makes his way around the cheerful dining room, presents a dazzling menu of fusion cuisine that incorporates locally harvested produce and seafood. Start with an order of Alaskan shrimp dumplings or crispy mushroom bao, and then consider the complexly flavored smoked black cod risotto or tallow-infused local tenderloin with compound butters and caramelized-onion mashed potatoes. In addition to great food, The Kannery serves inventive and delightful cocktails and mocktails.

Located at the end of the docks, this downtown grill owned by a former Floridian is the place to come to sample Alaska's famous king crab and enjoy a beer in the sun (if you're lucky) at one of the outdoor tables. If crab legs aren't your thing, try the Dungeness crab mac and cheese, the crab-topped fries, or the blackened halibut salad.

This out-of-the-way restaurant provides a respite after a summertime hike or wintertime ski in nearby Kincaid Park. Meals are artistically presented, and the diverse and creative menu, with a focus on Alaska regional cuisine, seafood, and game meats, changes seasonally.

With a back side that faces Kenai Lake and offers splendid views, and food equally worth your attention, this unassuming roadhouse is the place to stop in Cooper Landing. The halibut crab cakes with an excellent homemade tartar sauce come highly recommended, and there are always great fish options at the peak of the season. Musicians from all over entertain in the evenings.

This converted powerhouse facility allows a close-up view of Near Island and the channel connecting the boat harbors with the Gulf of Alaska. Enjoy fine steaks and classic seafood dishes or fresh sushi and sashimi while watching the procession of fishing boats gliding past on their way to catch or bring back your next meal. Keep your eyes peeled for sea otters, seals, sea lions, and eagles, too. The menu also features gyoza, shumai (fried noodles), and rice specials.

Down the boardwalk from the port you'll find the Landing Zone. Larger and a bit more upscale than the Cookhouse, the Landing gets its name from its location at the end of the ZipRider zip line; those who remained on the ground can watch their braver friends fly through the air on live-stream video monitors while sipping an Alaskan-brewed beer at the bar. The Landing's half-dozen menu items include salmon prepared at an outdoor grill, beef brisket, and reindeer sausage.

Amid the summer shops and docks, this little café offers warm drinks and soups, sandwiches, and fresh-baked pastries, along with an Alaskan favorite, soft-serve ice cream. The busy shop has only a couple of indoor seats, but there's outdoor seating overlooking the harbor, which is quite pleasant on sunny days. They also sell box lunches for those embarking on a cruise or day hike.

With a great outdoor deck and a heap of local company, the Linwood emphasizes its "bar" side at night and serves up hearty grilled burgers, pizzas, and seafood by day and into the early evening. Musicians from all over the state take the boat over to perform for Seldovians here.

This basic but cozy eatery offers a range of food from morning to night. The menu includes pizza, burgers, omelets, wraps, nacho burritos, milkshakes, barbecue, and even packaged candy to go.

As its name suggests, Louie's specializes in steak and Alaska seafood, but they have a number of other alternatives on the menu as well. The clam chowder gets quite the rave reviews, and the clam and mussel appetizer is outstanding. On the weekend, the breakfast menu offers a bountiful amount of food. The decor is not for everyone, but for those not bothered by the sight of taxidermied animals, it's a chance to see just about every creature that roams the state.

This casual bakery serves well-crafted espresso drinks, excellent baked goods, over-stuffed sandwiches, and some of the best bagels in the city. The well-lit dining is a locals' favorite spot to meet up with friends, read the newspaper, or watch the bakers knead fresh dough through a viewing window from the dining area.

At this very casual family-owned establishment you order at the counter, sit at the Formica-covered tables, and check out the photos of local fishing boats. The battered halibut is excellent—light and not greasy. Other menu items include homemade clam chowder, but if you're eating at the Halibut House, why try anything else?

With its lovely waterfront and mountain views, this bright and airy café is a great place to start the day with traditional American breakfast or lunch. The menu includes egg dishes, pancakes, burgers, wraps, and sandwiches and salads, plus smoothies and brunch favorites like mimosas and Irish coffee. There’s also an express lunch buffet during the work week.

Mario's offers a full slate of American dishes, from pizzas, calzones, and pasta dishes to salads, burgers, sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, chicken strips, and hot wings. Expect basic decor, ample portions, and lots of choices.

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.

Located downtown Wasilla in the old clock tower, Meta & Rose serves gastropub fare from an eclectic menu, including brie-and-pear salads, chicken-fried chicken, lemon-garlic halibut, and rib-eye steaks. On the weekends, they host live music. Reservations are recommended.

This popular Front Street restaurant has a casual atmosphere and offers dine-in service as well as takeout from midmorning to late. They serve pizzas with a wide assortment of toppings, along with steak dinners and Japanese (including sushi), Korean, and Italian food. One side of the restaurant has an Italian theme and the other a Japanese style.

One of the state's most beloved pizzerias, Moose's Tooth is packed all week, despite the ample seating (it can hold up to 300 guests). The reason for the popularity is obvious: exclusive handcrafted beers, and a seemingly endless roster of pizzas topped with inventive options like jalapeños, cream cheese, reindeer, and even macaroni.

Flatbreads, pizzas, calzones, and an excellent array of salads and garlic-filled dishes are the reasons locals congregate at this laid-back downtown eatery all year long. The calzones are true works of art.

Meet the locals over espresso, brewed from fresh-roasted beans, and a fresh-baked pastry at this busy corner natural-foods store, deli, café, wine-and-spirits shop, de facto meeting hall, and hitching post. Mountain Market is great for lunchtime sandwiches, wraps, soups, pizza, and salads.

A warm and inviting wood-paneled restaurant and Victorian lounge inside Hotel Seward, Ms. Gene's is one of the town's only fine dining establishments, serving breakfast and dinner year-round. The dinner menu changes often, but dishes such as seared ahi tuna, filet mignon, and halibut cheeks appear with frequency and are revered. There is limited seating so be sure to book a table in advance.

Stop at either the Downtown or Midtown New Sagaya grocery stores for quick lunches, healthy to-go food (perfect for hiking or camping), and Kaladi Brothers coffee. The in-house bakery and deli, L'Aroma, makes specialty breads, sandwiches, California-style pizzas, and a wide range of snack-worthy pastries.

This restaurant at the Top of the World Hotel offers a range of American food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including reindeer sausage scramble, chicken fajita salads, and various burgers, along with entrées like steak and halibut. For a good start to the day, try the well-prepared egg dishes for breakfast, with diner-style hash browns. Be sure to get a window seat. Closes early evenings.

Travelers flying out of Sitka's airport retreat to the Nugget while waiting for their plane to arrive. The Nugget serves American classics for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but the homemade pies are the real attraction.

This restaurant in the Nullagvik Hotel serves classic American food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Evening entrées include salmon, reindeer dishes like stew and goulash, and standbys like meat loaf and surf-and-turf. You can also choose from a selection of pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, and appetizers. There are great views of the sound and Wi-Fi, too.

A favorite with locals, the Ocean View serves decent burgers, steaks, pasta, pizzas, and seafood, but the main draws are the authentic and very filling Mexican dishes. Three tables in the back look out to the Tongass Narrows.