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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
HCL hosts this dining event several times throughout each summer. Seating is outside on an enormous deck that overlooks the bay, and live jazz music is performed on a floating stage. Each event, raises money for a community nonprofit in Homer, features a renowned guest chef from somewhere in the state, locally grown produce, and fresh seafood. Dinner is a set price and includes boat transportation from Homer.
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.
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.
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.
On clear summer evenings, you can relax on this roadside bar's deck overlooking Eyak Lake and enjoy whatever the cook's in the mood to make. Located inside a former storage shed for railroad explosives, this place serves homemade soups, burgers, pizza (by the slice), and sushi (on Friday); seasonal seafood, including shrimp, scallops, razor clams, and whatever else is fresh, is also available every night.
Part of Seward Windsong Lodge, the Roadhouse offers deck seating that overlooks the Resurrection River and the surrounding mountains. Classic Alaskan seafood and American fare fills the menu, along with multiple Alaska-brewed beers on tap.
