Where to Eat in Anchorage: Salmon, Halibut, King Crab and Reindeer

If you want to know where to eat in Anchorage, start with the four foods the city is known for: Alaska salmon, halibut, king crab and reindeer sausage. Downtown Anchorage has the biggest cluster, including Snow City Cafe, Glacier BrewHouse, Simon & Seafort’s and 49th State Brewing, and you can add Spenard Roadhouse and Bear Tooth in Spenard, Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria in Midtown and South Restaurant + Coffeehouse in South Anchorage. All 11 picks below are inside the Municipality of Anchorage, and we confirmed each one is open on its own official site.

In Anchorage, reindeer sausage turns up at breakfast, on pizza and in jambalaya, and nobody here thinks that is strange.

What are Anchorage’s signature foods?

Anchorage’s signature foods are wild Alaska seafood and reindeer sausage, and most local menus are built around them. Here is what each one is and what to look for on the menu.

• Salmon. You will see Alaska sockeye (red, rich and often smoked) and king salmon (also called Chinook, rich and buttery).
• Halibut. A big, mild, flaky white fish. Order it battered as fish and chips, crusted and baked, or as halibut cheeks, a small, tender cut worth ordering at least once.
• King crab. Anchorage menus list red king crab and golden king crab, served as steamed legs with drawn butter or folded into crab cakes.
• Reindeer sausage. The U.S. National Park Service explains that reindeer and caribou are the same species; in Alaska, reindeer are domesticated livestock, first brought to western Alaska from Siberia in 1892. In Anchorage the sausage is usually a mild, slightly smoky link served with eggs or on pizza.

How we chose

We started from restaurants Anchorage residents actually send visitors to and kept only places whose official websites show them open, list a current menu, and serve at least one of the four classics. Every pick is within the Municipality of Anchorage. We did not include places we could not confirm on an official site. Hours change by season, so check each restaurant’s own site before you go.

Where to eat in Downtown Anchorage

Downtown Anchorage is the easiest place to eat your way through the classics, because seven of our picks sit within a short walk of each other. Browse the wider area in our Downtown & South Addition guide.

1. Snow City Cafe (Downtown)

Snow City Cafe at 1034 W. 4th Avenue in Downtown Anchorage has served breakfast and lunch since 1998 and is typically open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Order: the Kodiak benedict, with Alaska red king crab cakes; the Tundra Scramble, with Alaska reindeer sausage; or the Ship Creek benedict, made with house salmon cakes.
• Why: it covers three of the four classics before noon. Add a pecan sticky bun: the cafe says President Obama bought its entire supply during his 2015 visit.
• Tip: Snow City Cafe does not take reservations, but you can join the same-day waitlist on Yelp through the link on its website.

2. Glacier BrewHouse (Downtown)

Glacier BrewHouse at 737 West 5th Avenue in Downtown Anchorage is a brewpub founded in 1996. It grills seafood and meats over Kachemak Bay alderwood, which adds a light smokiness.

• Order: the Bering Sea king crab legs (golden king crab, steamed to order), the herb-crusted Alaska halibut, or the alder-smoked sockeye salmon dip to share.
• Why: the bread on the table is baked by Europa Bakery using spent grain from the BrewHouse’s own brewing, so even the bread basket has an Anchorage backstory.
• Hours: typically lunch from 11 a.m. and dinner until 9:30 p.m. daily, with weekend brunch. It takes reservations.

3. Orso (Downtown)

Orso, Glacier BrewHouse’s sister restaurant, shares the 737 West 5th Avenue address in Downtown Anchorage, across the street from the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.

• Order: Alaska salmon, which Orso lists among its signature dishes, or Alaska halibut when it is on the Italian-leaning menu.
• Why: it is our pick for a quieter, pasta-and-seafood dinner before a show next door.
• Hours: dinner typically starts at 5 p.m. nightly, and the lounge opens at 4 p.m.

4. Simon & Seafort’s Saloon & Grill (Downtown)

Simon & Seafort’s at 420 L Street in Downtown Anchorage has served steak and seafood since 1978, and locals simply call it Simon’s.

• Order: the crab-stuffed halibut or the pan-seared Alaskan halibut cheeks, both from the “Simon’s Standards” section of classics that have been on the menu from the start. At lunch, the Cajun chicken fettuccine comes with reindeer sausage.
• Why: the halibut cheeks are the dish to try if you have never had them.
• Hours: typically 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with a daily happy hour in the afternoon.

5. 49th State Brewing (Downtown)

49th State Brewing at 717 W. 3rd Avenue in Downtown Anchorage fills a building that went up in 1917 as an Elks Lodge. It now holds a brewpub, two rooftop patios and a theater.

• Order: a pound and a half of wild Alaska red king crab with drawn butter, halibut and chips made with Kachemak Bay halibut, or the Spicy Reindeer flatbread.
• Why: you can cover king crab, halibut and reindeer at one table in Downtown Anchorage.
• Hours: typically 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

6. Crow’s Nest (Downtown)

The Crow’s Nest sits at the top of Tower III of the Hotel Captain Cook, 939 W. 5th Avenue in Downtown Anchorage. It is a dinner-only dining room, with a bar and lounge, and a business-casual dress code.

• Order: the one-pound king crab legs with lemon and drawn butter (market price), or the cioppino with king crab, scallops and black cod.
• Why: go here for an anniversary dinner or a splurge on your last night.
• Hours: typically Tuesday through Saturday evenings; book ahead.

7. Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop (Downtown and Airport Heights)

Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop started in South Addition in 2009 and bakes with all-organic flour. Its downtown shop is at 718 K Street, and a second bakery is at 2520 E. 16th Avenue in Airport Heights.

• Order: the Fire Island Rustic loaf, the bakery’s signature bread, and the raspberry lemon scone, which has been on the menu since opening day. Salmon chowder sometimes appears among the rotating soups.
• Why: a James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Bakery, it is where you pick up picnic supplies for the Coastal Trail.
• Hours: both bakeries are typically open Wednesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no online ordering.

Where to eat in Spenard and Midtown

Spenard and Midtown are where Anchorage eats on a weeknight: casual, lively and good with a pint. See our Spenard guide and Midtown guide for more.

8. Spenard Roadhouse (Spenard)

Spenard Roadhouse at 1049 W. Northern Lights Boulevard in Anchorage serves what it calls contemporary comfort food, typically daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Order: the jambalaya, which puts Alaska salmon and Alaska reindeer sausage in the same bowl, or the beer-battered Alaska halibut and chips. At breakfast, try the Cajun reindeer scramble.
• Why: save room for the peanut butter pie, which the restaurant counts among its local legends, and ask about the bacon of the month.

9. Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill (Spenard)

Bear Tooth at 1230 W. 27th Avenue in Anchorage fills the former Denali Theater in Spenard. It has a grill restaurant, which opened in 2001, and a movie theater where you eat dinner during the film.

• Order: Alaskan seafood from the grill, or a burrito and a Moose’s Tooth pizza in the theater.
• Why: you can have dinner and a movie in the same seat.
• Tip: Bear Tooth takes no reservations; check showtimes and hours on the official site.

10. Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria (Midtown)

Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria at 3300 Old Seward Highway in Midtown Anchorage opened in June 1996 and is named for a peak in the Alaska Range. Its house beer comes from Broken Tooth Brewing.

• Order: the Call of the Wild pizza, with reindeer sausage, steak, bacon, mushrooms and garlic cream sauce, plus the smoked Alaskan sockeye salmon spread to start.
• Why: in our opinion this is the most Anchorage meal on the list: reindeer on a pizza and a local pint.
• Tip: Moose’s Tooth does not take reservations, so expect to wait for a table at peak times. It is typically open from 10:30 a.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends, until 11 p.m.

Where to eat in South Anchorage

South Anchorage has a sit-down option for people staying near the Seward Highway or heading south toward Girdwood.

11. South Restaurant + Coffeehouse (South Anchorage)

South Restaurant + Coffeehouse at 11124 Old Seward Highway in South Anchorage is typically open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. It belongs to the same local restaurant group as Snow City Cafe and Spenard Roadhouse.

• Order: pan-seared Alaskan halibut or grilled Alaskan salmon at dinner, or the Polar Bear Breakfast with reindeer sausage as your side in the morning.
• Why: it is a useful last stop before a drive down Turnagain Arm to Girdwood.

Which Anchorage restaurant has each classic?

Most of these restaurants serve more than one classic. If you have room for just one stop per food, here is where we would go:

• King crab: 49th State Brewing or the Crow’s Nest for legs; Snow City Cafe for crab cake benedict.
• Halibut: Simon & Seafort’s for halibut cheeks; Spenard Roadhouse for fish and chips.
• Salmon: Glacier BrewHouse for alder-grilled salmon; Moose’s Tooth for smoked sockeye spread.
• Reindeer sausage: Moose’s Tooth on pizza; Snow City Cafe in a scramble.

A one-day Anchorage eating route to save

This route covers all four classics in a single day on foot in Downtown Anchorage, with one short drive to Midtown at the end.

1. Breakfast: Snow City Cafe, Downtown. The Ship Creek salmon cake benedict or the reindeer scramble, plus a sticky bun to go.
2. Late morning: Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop on K Street for a loaf and a scone, then walk toward the Coastal Trail.
3. Lunch: 49th State Brewing on 3rd Avenue for Kachemak Bay halibut and chips.
4. Dinner: Glacier BrewHouse or Simon & Seafort’s for king crab or halibut cheeks.
5. Late night: Moose’s Tooth in Midtown for a reindeer sausage pizza, open until 11 p.m.

Before you go:

• Join Snow City Cafe’s waitlist online before you leave your hotel.
• Book Glacier BrewHouse, 49th State Brewing or the Crow’s Nest ahead; Moose’s Tooth and Bear Tooth do not take reservations.
• Fire Island’s bakeries are closed Monday and Tuesday.
• King crab is often the priciest dish on the menu, so check prices before you order.

For more places to eat, browse our Anchorage food and dining listings or see what’s on this weekend.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What food is Anchorage, Alaska known for?

Anchorage is known for wild Alaska salmon, halibut, king crab and reindeer sausage. You will find all four on menus across Downtown, Spenard and Midtown Anchorage.

Where can I get king crab in Anchorage?

49th State Brewing on W. 3rd Avenue serves a pound and a half of red king crab, and Glacier BrewHouse on West 5th Avenue serves golden king crab legs, both in Downtown Anchorage. The Crow’s Nest at the Hotel Captain Cook serves one-pound king crab legs at dinner.

Where can I try reindeer sausage in Anchorage?

Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria in Midtown Anchorage puts reindeer sausage on its Call of the Wild pizza, and Snow City Cafe downtown serves it in the Tundra Scramble. Spenard Roadhouse adds it to jambalaya.

Is reindeer the same as caribou?

Yes, reindeer and caribou are the same species, according to the U.S. National Park Service. In Alaska, reindeer are domesticated livestock, first brought to western Alaska from Siberia in 1892.

Do Anchorage restaurants take reservations?

It depends on the restaurant. Glacier BrewHouse and 49th State Brewing take reservations, while Moose’s Tooth, Bear Tooth and Snow City Cafe do not; Snow City Cafe offers an online same-day waitlist instead.