The Great Debate: Alaska’s Best BBQ / Pizza / Seafood Spots Ranked
In Anchorage, a city that feels like Alaska’s urban heart with its blend of wild and cosmopolitan, the smokehouse at Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzaria stands out as a pilgrimage site for barbecue and pizza lovers alike. Located just minutes from downtown, Moose’s Tooth offers a unique twist on classic barbecue flavors with its smoked meats that echo the rugged wilderness nearby. Their wood-fired pizzas, topped with local specialties like smoked Alaskan salmon and wild mushrooms, are a revelation against the backdrop of towering Chugach Mountains visible through the windows. Visiting in the summer, when the long daylight hours extend your appetite, enhances the experience as the patio fills with locals and visitors savoring the perfect marriage of smoky, savory, and tangy flavors after a day spent hiking trails like Flattop Mountain, just 20 minutes away.
Traveling north to Fairbanks, the heart of Alaska’s interior, one encounters The Pump House, a historic riverfront restaurant on the banks of the Chena River. About a 10-minute drive from downtown Fairbanks, The Pump House offers a distinctly Alaskan take on seafood, serving fresh, wild-caught king crab legs and halibut in an atmosphere steeped in gold rush-era charm. The building itself, constructed in 1903 as part of the city’s waterworks, provides an immersive step back in time. Visitors can enjoy the river views while indulging in the fresh seafood that defines the region. The long, cold winters here mean that dining by the river in late spring or early summer, when the midnight sun begins to soften the landscape, creates a magical setting for a meal that celebrates the bounty of Alaska’s waters.
Down in Juneau, the state capital perched on the Gastineau Channel, one can find Tracy’s King Crab Shack, a modest but beloved spot that embodies Alaska’s seafood culture. Just a short walk from downtown Juneau, Tracy’s is famous for its sweet, tender king crab legs, harvested from the nearby icy waters of the Inside Passage. The shack’s no-frills environment belies the quality and freshness of its offerings, which are often enjoyed al fresco with views of the harbor and the majestic Mendenhall Glacier a few miles away. Visiting in the summer months, when the salmon runs bring an influx of wildlife and the weather invites outdoor dining, gives travelers a front-row seat to the natural spectacle that pairs perfectly with the catch of the day.
In the small town of Talkeetna, about two hours north of Anchorage, Denali Brewing Company has cultivated a reputation for its barbecue wings and pizzas that showcase Alaska’s rustic flavors. After exploring the nearby Talkeetna Lakes Park, a serene spot for hiking and wildlife viewing with trails that range from easy strolls to moderate loops, visitors can warm up at the brewery. Their smoked ribs and specialty pizzas often feature local game meats and wild berries, combining smoky barbecue techniques with the tastes of the Alaskan wilderness. The brewery’s cozy interior, supplemented by an outdoor seating area with views of Denali itself on clear days, makes it an ideal stop in late summer or early fall when the mountain’s famed summit is most visible.
On the Kenai Peninsula, the town of Homer is a fishing and foodie haven about three and a half hours south of Anchorage. The Salty Dawg Saloon, an iconic establishment with weathered wooden walls adorned with hundreds of signed dollar bills, offers hearty seafood dishes that highlight the local halibut, salmon, and Dungeness crab pulled straight from Kachemak Bay. Homer’s location at the tip of the peninsula means visitors can pair their culinary adventures with visits to the nearby Homer Spit, a long, narrow finger of land extending into the bay. The spit holds shops, galleries, and stunning overlooks, perfect for digesting a fresh seafood feast. Homer’s best season for seafood is mid-summer, when the fishing boats return daily with their catch and the skies open up to endless daylight and warm breezes.
Back on the coast, Sitka’s waterfront area, about 250 miles southeast of Anchorage, combines Russian heritage with seafood traditions. At the Sea Mart Bait and Tackle Shop, famously doubling as a fresh seafood counter, locals and visitors alike gather to pick up the freshest salmon, halibut, and shellfish. Sitka’s unique history as a former Russian settlement lends a distinctive cultural backdrop to the seafood, which can be enjoyed at nearby restaurants or prepared at home if you’re camping along the Sitka National Historical Park trails. The park itself, a few blocks from the water, showcases totem poles and the natural beauty of the Tongass National Forest, enriching the seafood experience with cultural and natural context. Late spring and early summer are superb times to savor fresh fish here, coinciding with the peak fishing season and vibrant cultural festivals.
Finally, in Ketchikan, known as the “Salmon Capital of the World,” the borough’s Creek Street area provides an atmospheric setting for sampling both seafood and smoked meats. Just a short walk from downtown, Annabelle’s Famous Keg & Chowder House offers a cozy refuge where smoked salmon chowder and barbecued halibut sandwiches pay homage to local ingredients prepared with care. A stroll along the nearby Rainbird Trail, a gentle half-mile stroll through lush rainforest and past ancient totems, primes the appetite and connects diners to the rich, rain-soaked environment that nurtures Ketchikan’s abundant seafood. Visiting during the shoulder seasons of spring and early fall reveals the region’s temperate rainforest beauty without the summer crowds, enhancing this quintessential Alaskan culinary stop.