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The best way to describe the hospitality industry in Alaska is "informal," and this applies all over the state—even in Anchorage. Don't worry if you still have your hiking clothes on when you go out to eat. Every kind of food is available, especially in larger towns, but options decline considerably from mid-September through April.
Open at 7 am, this little café near the end of the Spit is a perfect stop before a day of fishing, but lunch is an equally fulfilling experience. Owner and renowned chef Kirsten Dixon and her daughter Mandy, both of them graduates of Le Cordon Bleu, the Paris cooking school, create simple, highly pleasing meals like fresh ramen with homemade broth, local vegetables, and seasonal fish. All the wild seafood dishes here are tremendously flavorful.
This cozy restaurant and inn serves some of the finest crepes in Alaska with options that range from savory, like fresh spinach and cheese, to sweet, like mixed-berry compote with Nutella, ground almonds, and whipped cream. Other options include Belgian-style waffles and rich house-made hot chocolate. The adjacent inn is quite pleasant.
Owned by Chef Kevin Lane and his wife Stacey, who also operate the renowned Cookery restaurant up the street, this festive taqueria offers out-of-this-world taco fillings, such as lightly breaded and fried rockfish and slow-cooked pork carnitas. Other good bets include tortas and burritos, and there's a terrific selection of house-made sauces and salsas.
At the top of the dock overlooking Halibut Cove, this is one of Southcentral's most beautiful places to sit and soak up the pleasures of a summer afternoon. Locally caught seafood, the restaurant's specialty, is prepared with finesse, and there's always a mouthwatering vegetarian option. Before or after dinner you can stroll Halibut Cove's boardwalks and visit the Experience Gallery, which features works by 18 local artists, or just relax on the dock. Reservations are essential for the ferry, which requires that you return the same way in which you came unless you've secured lodging on the Cove.
This airy two-story microbrewery serves eclectic and creative gastropub fare prepared with locally sourced ingredients—think Alaskan salmon poke steam buns with a crunchy wonton and spicy mayo, and exceptional pizzas topped with fried-garlic olive oil, braised oyster mushrooms, sausage, fontina, and burrata. The high-ceilinged restaurant's design blends rustic-chic, modern deco, and industrial elements and is anchored by an enormous copper fish welded by a local artist.
The epicurean heart of Whittier for more than two decades, Swiftwater offers delightful surprises like its famed calamari-steak sandwich—squid tenderized and fried in a secret batter. Other menu items include burgers, homemade chowders, rockfish, halibut, and salmon.
A fisherman's bar, the Anchor is built for appetites and not ambience. There's a great deck outside overlooking the water, though, and the burgers and sandwiches—enormous, delicious, and made with fresh bread —are all the rage in Cordova.
A funky bus turned food stand with an attached dining room, Baja Taco serves creative Tex-Mex dishes. Some come with a little added Alaska pizzazz, like the halibut-cheek tacos or the fish of the day. In addition to lunch and dinner, Baja serves breakfast—and possibly the only migas (Spanish scrambled eggs) for many a mile. There's also an espresso bar and plenty of room to eat out of the rain.
A great spot to hit after a day of fishing, the Burger Bus is just as it sounds: an old school bus converted into a kitchen, with a shack built around it, and delicious burgers on offer. The portions are big and the flavors are great. The place might look a little sore on the outside, but you can tell by the way the locals hover that it's worth the visit.
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 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.
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.
This trusty spot for burgers, sandwiches, and seafood specials is known for generous portions and reasonable prices. There's often live music in summer.
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.
Head just south of town to this cozy and convivial family-owned bakery to start your day with a dish of blueberry-barley hot cereal or avocado–smoked salmon toast, or consider one of the healthy and hearty sandwiches as lunch. There's also a nice selection of pastries and cookies.
A longtime local favorite, Fu Kung serves some of the best sushi (Japanese- and Korean-style), Chinese, and Thai food in the region. From the extensive menu, consider flavor-packed dishes like shrimp with lobster sauce, pineapple-fried rice, and a slew of inventive sushi rolls. It's a popular stop in the summer, so reservations are highly recommended.
This roadhouse was first built in 1952 replete with cut, hauled and split timber. It's a great place to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner, with specialties ranging from double quarter-pound burgers topped with applewood-smoked bacon and cheddar to halibut fish-and-chips.
A big, boisterous, friendly place near the small-boat harbor, Henry's has a menu that's equally big. There's fresh local seafood, of course, but also everything from barbecue to gourmet salads, pastas, and even some Cajun dishes. Get started with one of the many appetizers, and finish up with one of their tasty desserts.
A rarity in the 49th State, this colorfully decorated newcomer to downtown Talkeetna specializes in Southern cuisine, although with a nod to Alaska. The addictive crab hushpuppies feature locally sourced barley, cornmeal, and crab, and among the mains, the rich scallops and grits, seafood gumbo pie, and smoked-wild-mushroom hoppin' John all feature Alaskan ingredients. Save room for the rotating array of pies and cobblers.
Located at the harbor with splendid outdoor seating, this laid-back eatery features smoked meats, fresh baked goods, and an array of rotating specials on the menu, including barbecue ribs on Friday. On the weekends they have fantastic dinners and live music.
This great coffee shop represents the true essence of Kodiak life. Fantastic breakfast burritos, vegetarian sandwiches, and excellent coffee make this the perfect place to stock up on provisions before embarking on exciting bear-watching and salmon-fishing adventures. They have lots of vegetarian options.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
