United States Alaska Anchorage Anchorage Guide Things To Do Essentials Where to Stay Itineraries Getaways All Anchorage The Top 10 Restaurants in Anchorage By Scott Laird Scott Laird Freelance Writer Facebook Instagram Twitter Alaska Pacific University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Scott Laird is a freelance travel writer. His work has been published in TravelPulse, TravelAge West, and other publications. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Published on 11/03/21 Simon & Seafort's / Facebook For a relatively small city, Anchorage punches well above its weight in the restaurant scene. The city’s dining establishments range from quirky cash-only coffee houses to venerated dining rooms that have charmed patrons for decades. Visitors may get just a sample of the city’s food scene during their brief visits, but there are a few local must-stops that make Anchorage stand out. Bleu cheese-stuffed steaks at Club Paris are a perennial favorite, as are Alaska-sized plates of deep-fried halibut at the aviation-themed F Street Station. Visitors can venture into the city’s eclectic neighborhoods for some local color: Spenard for time-honored pasta concoctions at Pizza Olympia, towering sandwiches at Charlie’s Bakery in Midtown, or soul-warming, chocolatey mole at South Anchorage's Mexico in Alaska. Read on for the 10 best restaurants in Anchorage. 01 of 10 Best Overall: Simon & Seafort’s Simon & Seafort's / Facebook View Map Address 420 L St, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA Get directions Phone +1 907-274-3502 Web Visit website Perched on a hill with sweeping views of Cook Inlet, Simon & Seafort’s is a longtime favorite among those familiar with the city. Guests will find a lively dining room with capable, friendly service and throwback décor evocative of the plush grills of the early 20th century. There are often plenty of fresh seafood specials; menu favorites include halibut cheeks, steaks, prime rib (paired with fresh seafood for best results), king crab, and a long list of crafty cocktails. 02 of 10 Best Fine Dining: Marx Bros. Café View Map Address 627 W 3rd Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA Get directions Phone +1 907-278-2133 Web Visit website “Intimate” is the byword at this petite dining room in one of the city’s oldest homes. Large enough for just 16 tables, Marx Bros. Café has been synonymous with fine dining in Anchorage for nearly a half-century. The menu is nothing less than a sumptuous parade of sustainable seafood such as Alaskan sockeye salmon en papillote or lobster bisque garnished with king crab and truffle salad. Caesar salads are famously tossed tableside, often by the restaurant’s co-owner (the other one is the chef). 03 of 10 Best Mediterranean: Pizza Olympia View Map Address 2809 Spenard Rd, Anchorage, AK 99503-3601, USA Get directions Phone +1 907-561-5264 Web Visit website A Spenard Road institution helmed by the same family since 1984, Pizza Olympia checks all the boxes for Mediterranean dining: fresh food, abundant portions, and a family atmosphere. The menu is a very standard selection of American-style Greek and Italian entrées and pizzas, but there’s one unbeatable standout: Zoi’s Special. The entrée consists of spaghetti tossed with baby shrimp, clams, fresh garlic, parmesan, and fresh parsley, all mixed in a housemade vegetarian red sauce. For those who prefer to order in Greek, the bilingual staff is happy to accommodate. 04 of 10 Best Steak: Club Paris View Map Address 417 W 5th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501-2309, USA Get directions Phone +1 907-277-6332 Web Visit website Another venerable Anchorage institution is Club Paris. There’s nothing particularly French about this cozy downtown cubby, with its well-loved furnishings and lovely throwback ethos inherent from the menus to the service ware—but it's the top restaurant in town when it comes to steak. They come out of the kitchen sizzling on hot iron platters, and you can order 'em with a bleu cheese stuffing if you're feeling decadent. Fresh Alaskan seafood also features prominently on the menu, including beer-battered halibut “fingers,” steamer clams, and an intimidating entrée-sized king crab leg. Continue to 5 of 10 below. 05 of 10 Best Fast Food: Lucky Wishbone Lucky Wishbone / Facebook View Map Address 1033 E 5th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA Get directions Phone +1 907-272-3454 Web Visit website This historic restaurant is right on your way into town. Lucky Wishbone has been serving pan-fried chicken (on or off the bone), burgers, sandwiches, and milkshakes to Anchorage residents since 1955. The coleslaw is notably made with a house-made pineapple dressing, and nostalgic diners can indulge in old-fashioned ice cream sodas, smothered fries, or onion rings alongside their orders. 06 of 10 Best Seafood: F Street Station View Map Address 325 F St, Anchorage, AK 99501-2217, USA Get directions Phone +1 907-272-5196 Web Visit website Long a favorite among international flight crews (aviation stickers adorn the walls around and above the bar), this beloved bar-and-grill is known for its deep-fried halibut (the “Texas” portion is half the size and price of the “Alaska” portion), and for the giant block of Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese sitting atop the bar. The sign says it’s “for display only” (for liability reasons), but that doesn’t stop diners in the know from shaving slices off the top to enjoy while they wait for their meal. 07 of 10 Best Breakfast: Snow City Café Snow City Cafe / Facebook View Map Address 1034 W 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA Get directions Phone +1 907-272-2489 Web Visit website Snow City is almost a celebrity unto itself. Because of its proximity to the Hotel Captain Cook, it’s popular with actors and other notables who take up residence there—most famously President Obama, who bought out the café’s entire complement of cinnamon rolls on a visit in 2015. On more regular mornings, diners can warm up with housemade tomato soup with pesto, French toast stuffed with walnut mandarin orange cream cheese, or the “Heart Attack on a Plate”—hash browns smothered in bacon, cheese, onion, mushroom, tomato, and sour cream. 08 of 10 Best Brewpub: Glacier Brewhouse View Map Address 737 W 5th Ave #110, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA Get directions Phone +1 907-274-2739 Web Visit website This downtown brewpub (locally known as simply “The Brewhouse”) is a fine antidote to a cold winter evening. Greeted by the warmth and aroma of the wood grill, patrons pair their craft beers with rotisserie meats and Alaskan seafood. Longtime favorites include bleu cheese salad with caramelized pecans and red grapes, jambalaya pasta, crab-stuffed halibut, and the “world-famous” bread pudding. Continue to 9 of 10 below. 09 of 10 Best Latin American: Mexico in Alaska View Map Address 7305 Old Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99518-2884, USA Get directions Phone +1 907-349-1528 Web Visit website Located in a mission-style building on Old Seward Highway, this longtime favorite has been serving family recipes from Mexico since 1972. Mole, sauces, and salsas are made in-house daily, which, along with the burritos, are sold in grocery stores around town. For those dining in, it’s hard to beat a combination plate with a mole-covered tamal, enchilada, and “crispy dog”—a beef frank with cheese wrapped in a tortilla, deep-fried, then topped with lettuce, tomato, more cheese, and créma Mexicana. 10 of 10 Best Asian: Charlie’s Bakery Charlie's Bakery & Chinese Cuisine / Facebook View Map Address 2729 C St, Anchorage, AK 99503-2619, USA Get directions Phone +1 907-677-7777 Web Visit website Tucked into the corner of a strip mall on C Street, Charlie’s Bakery is best known for its workday sandwiches on fresh-baked bread, plus an extensive menu of Chinese dishes such as dim sum and whole roasted duck. It’s also a good place to order special occasion cakes, which come in flavors like decadent mocha and strawberry pineapple. It’s counter service with no-nonsense seating, but the food is the star attraction here. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email