Top Anchorage Restaurants to Visit that Support Local Food in Alaska

Alaskan halibut with local food in Alaska from Sacks Cafe
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Must Visit Restaurants in Anchorage

Traveling to Anchorage? Something you’ll quickly notice is the expensive cost of food in Alaska due to Alaska’s remoteness.  That is why local food in Alaska is a big deal.   Anchorage is over 2,000 land miles away from Seattle, which means that food brought into the state travels a long way.  Oftentimes late/delayed shipments from Seattle means food shortages of fresh produce and even bulk supplies in Alaska.  All those miles also mean the food quality of perishable items can suffer.  This is enough reason for me to support shopping locally, and just as importantly, eating at restaurants that serve locally sourced produce, meats, and seafood. Check out these restaurants that serve locally grown and caught on their menus while you are visiting Anchorage on your Alaska vacation.

 

Bear Tooth Theatrepub and Grill

Beartooth is one of those restaurants that has it all. Watch a cheap movie on the big screen while drinking local brew and eating Alaska Grown at one of Anchorage’s favorite restaurants.  When available, Bear Tooth uses Alaska grown produce and seafood.  They just changed their menus to include a symbol for the menu items that incorporate Alaska Grown ingredients.

Bubbly Mermaid Oyster and Champagne Bar

Typically this restaurant has 1-2 fresh oyster options daily that are sourced from Alaskan waters. Exclusively using Alaskan oysters, this restaurant closes when they’re out of oysters for the day. Served with a flute of champagne, there is no better way of feeling fancy on a night out in Anchorage.

Crush Wine Bistro and Cellar

Crush Wine bistro knows its wines. It has the most exceptional wine list in Anchorage, including flights of wine and wine pairings. This pairing often feature in-seson Alaska produce and fish/meat on their weekly specials list.  These are smaller tapas style plates so order a few and pair with a scrumptious wine.

Fire Island Bakeshop

You need to go to this bakery.  I still actually can’t believe this quality of a bakery can exist in Alaska as it rivals top bakeries in New York and San Francisco. But seriously, they are the real deal and perfect for a morning dash-in, dash-out on your way out to your great Alaska adventure. With fresh baked breads, scones, croissants, etc and an assortment of prepared sandwiches and soups, I guarantee you’ll find what you are looking for.  Even better, some of their breads are made from  Alaska Flour Company‘s barley flour and they use Alaskan grown produce in the summer for their sandwiches and focaccia toppings.
Bakery intermission….

Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge

This chocolate lounge is for the serious chocolate lover. I will never forget my first visit to this chocolate haven, and I don’t think you will either. Their handmade truffles and chocolate bars are exquisite, and their drinking chocolate and an espresso bar will leave you feeling euphoric.  Many of their truffles feature interesting and unique Alaska flavors incorporating  Alaskan salmon, Alaskan beer, and sometimes, Alaskan honey.

South Restaurant and Coffeehouse

Casual American all-day bistro that incorporates Alaska grown produce in the summertime.  Opening just last year, they had a kitchen garden on their patio and grew their own herbs for the kitchen and bar. They also host Back Room/Community Chef dinners, where they invite chefs from other restaurants around the state to cook a set course meal on one night for a small group of people (tickets are around $75 pp). If you are in town during one of these dinners, they are not to be missed.

Spenard Roadhouse

Owned by the same folks who run the beloved Snow City Cafe and South Restaurant and Coffeehouse, Spenard Roadhouse uses Alaskan grown produce where possible during the summer.  This is also a restaurant that has a bacon of the day menu. Need I say more?

Torchon Bistro

This upscale bistro is redefining farm-to-table in South Anchorage. They will buy whole hogs from Glennallen, AK, then use every part for various dishes (from ribs and bellies to cracklins and ears), and always have other Alaskan veggies and/or proteins on the menu. This is Alaska fine dining at its best and will give you an evening meal you won’t soon forget.

Cafe 817

Cafe 817 really takes sandwiches to the next level. They focus on having the freshest ingredients, source local vegetables in-season, and really leave people feeling full and satisfied.

 

Organic Oasis Restaurant

The chefs at Organic Oasis redefined the lamb burger for me, and I’m forever eternally grateful.  Also, they are huge supports of Alaskan grown organic produce and you are guarantee one of the freshest salads you’ll eat in Alaska. The restaurant feel a little like a cafeteria, but they often have live music and there food will leave you feeling refreshed.

Sacks Cafe and Restaurant

The easiest way to sum up Sacks is to say “quality.”  The chefs at Sacks Cafe and Restaurant just get it and serve food with subtle flavors and artful presentation. Located downtown, this is a perfect place to catch lunch and get a taste of local produce in-season.

 

Table 6

This classic Americana restaurant in Midtown does seafood proud and has crowd pleasers like spicy grilled halibut. When in-season, they’ll incorporate local produce to keep their fresh, full-flavored menu even more exciting.

Bridge Seafood Restaurant

This seasonal eatery with one of the prettiest views in Anchorage also is a class act in supporting local foods. They’re only open in summer and cater mainly to tourists (they’re down in ship creek by the train station). They feature stunning AK seafood and pretty much anything they can get veggie wise from local purchaser and distributor Kyla Byers with Arctic Harvest Deliveries.  They purchase potatoes, beets, lettuce, zucchini and whatever local buyer, Kyla, can get her hands on.

 

A special thanks to Emily Wiswesser for compiling part of this list. Emily is the owner and operator of two amazing locally sourced companies: Alaska Artisanal: Gift baskets featuring 100% Alaskan made small-batch specialty foods, with free shipping to any US destination and APO/FPO addresses worldwide and Grow and Gather: They scour the state to find the best-tasting, 100% Alaskan made and grown foods. Orders over $15 ship free to Alaska, orders over $35 ship free anywhere in the US.

 

Did I miss a restaurant? Was I wrong about any of these restaurants? Let me know in the comments and we’ll add/make corrections.

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3 Comments

  1. maila

    What a fun read! It would be great to include links to the restaurants as well as the providers you’ve mentioned above. Thanks for the info, looking forward to a farm tour.

  2. janine

    can’t believe you did;t mention Marx Bros Cafe! The original restaurant that has been open for 37 years and has blazed the way for most of the other restaurants on your list. They grows their own salad and herbs in the back yard in the summer, buy local veggies and potatoes, has a day boat that catches various kinds of fish, uses only local oysters. Of course not every single thing on the menu of the restaurant comes from Alaska, like the other restaurants on your list, but there is a deep commitment to buying and serving local

    • Margaret Adsit

      Hi Janine,
      I didn’t know this about Marx Bros Cafe. I got my information from many farmers who supply to restaurants in Anchorage and it wasn’t mentioned. That being said, I’ll be happy to add them to the list! Thanks for letting me know about this oversight!
      Cheers,
      Margaret

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