Palmer, Alaska might not spring to the front of most peoples minds when talking about great food cities. But by Alaskan standards this little agriculture town in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley has some real gems. The charming town doesn’t only offer breathtaking views of mountains it also boasts a growing restaurant and food scene that includes food trucks and breweries.
From eco minded farm-to-table brunch houses to smoothie bowls and beet infused beers; Palmer, Alaska’s restaurants pay homage to the region’s ingredients and rich agricultural heritage. Keep reading and join us as we embark on a gastronomic journey through our favorite restaurants in Palmer, Alaska.
Quick Palmer Restaurant Guide
| Restaurant | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey Red | Mediterranean/Farm-to-table | Best dinner in town |
| Vagabond Blues | Cafe/Coffee | Breakfast, road trip fuel |
| Colony Kitchen/Noisy Goose | Diner | All-day breakfast, local institution |
| The Fern | Health/Smoothies | Acai bowls, smoothies |
| Palmer City Alehouse | Bar/Restaurant | Live music, 40 beers on tap |
| Reuben Has | Food Truck | Best sandwiches in the Valley |
| Matanuska Brewery Company | Brewery | Best beer, burgers |
| Bleeding Heart Brewery | Brewery | Brunch beers, smoked salmon bagel |
MY Experience with Restaurants in Palmer, Alaska
Filming in Alaska often means, sleeping in the bush and eating dehydrated meals or something that came out of a tin can. So whenever a story takes us to an actual town like Palmer, the crew is overjoyed. Not only does that usually mean we can take a warm shower for the first time(typically in weeks) but it also means we aren’t too far away from a hot pizza and a cold beer.
While I’ve never filmed much tv in Palmer, Alaska; it is always a town our crew stops in to fuel and stock up before heading out into the wilderness. There was a solid year where I was filming in McCarthy every couple of weeks, and we would pass through Palmer every time to get groceries, beer, and one last good meal. It became sort of a ritual, and I got to try a bunch of the different restaurants in Palmer, Alaska.
Turkey Red
Locally sourced Mediterranean inspired fare is the focus of this Palmer, Alaska restaurant. They take a lot of pride in the farm to table approach and clam that “in 2012, 71 percent of our food purchases came from businesses in Alaska, while more than a quarter of our produce was grown right here in our region”. Numbers to brag about indeed.
Fresh baked bread and baked goods are the star during breakfast and lunch hours, but come to Turkey Red for dinner and get spoiled with stuff like home-made crab pasta, baked rockfish with orange salsa, and bacon pesto seared scallops. Yum!
Colony Kitchen/Noisy Goose
Come hang out at this Palmer, Alaska restaurant and dine with a bunch of stuffed birds, antler chandeliers, and a giant Carhartt wearing wooden moose sculpture. Their ostentatiously Alaskan decor and playful attitude has made the Colony Kitchen a restaurant staple in Palmer for decades.
Breakfast is served all day and should be the focus of your trip here. They’ve got all the classics like country fried steak, eggs benidict, biscuits & gravy, and a selection of omelettes. The Colony Kitchen has rebranded as The Noisy Goose, same location, same legendary breakfast. The menu is extensive and complete with a disclaimer that reads “If our food, drinks, or service aren’t up to your standards, please lower your standards“. Now that is Alaskan AF.
Good selection of tasty pies too!
The Fern
Relatively new to the Palmer, Alaska restaurant scene, The Fern is a health and wellness based joint that cranks out fresh acai bowls and excellent smoothies. Everything is super instagramable, but more importantly it freaking taste really good.
Their popular Glacier Bowl, picture above, contains blueberries, pineapple, coconut, cacao bins, granola, honey and Spirulina (a super nutrient rich type of algae). If you’re not into algae bowls (you should be), try one of their smoothies, the Blood Orange Creamsicle is fantastic!
Vagabond Blues
Vagabond Blues was my crews favorite Palmer, Alaska restaurant to hit after stocking up at the Fred Meyers across the street, and before heading down the Glenn highway to film near Wrangell St. Elias National Park. They’ve got all the caffeine you’ll need for the long road trip ahead. It’s also just a super groovy spot to sit down and start your day at.
Fuel up with one of their reindeer sausage Breakfast Burritos, a the Bella Panini(Portobello mushroom marinated in balsamic), or grab a cold sandwich to go. When you’re standing in line they torture you with a wall of killer baked good. Snickerdoodle Cookies the size of your head, Pumpkin Spice Scones, and Strawberry Rhubarb Pie all vying to lose your belt. A lot of the baked goods are gluten-free and vegan!
If you’re making the trek from Anchorage to McCarthy, like we did, check out our helpful guide: Anchorage to McCarthy, Alaska: The Journey is the Destination
Palmer City Alehouse
If free live music in a bitching back yard and over 40 beers on tap isn’t enough to catch your attention, well then maybe hit a drive thru, I dunno. Or head inside of this Palmer, Alaska restaurant, grab a bar stool and watch the game on one of their many TV’s.
Inside or out, this is a pretty cool Palmer, Alaska restaurant to hang out at and enjoy a solid meal. Housed in a renovated old colony building, they’ve been serving the community since 2014. Their menu is huge, maybe too big, with everything from pizza, calzones, gyros, tacos, salads, and more. I really like the Greek Pizza.
Feather & Flour
⚠️ Update: Feather & Flour closed their regular restaurant services as of October 1, 2025. They continue to offer private dining but are no longer open for regular walk-in service. We’ve kept the description below because they may reopen and they deserve the recognition — but call ahead before planning a visit.
Feather & Flour is a super ambitious little brunch restaurant in Palmer, Alaska. They converted an old 1950’s home fully functioning commercial kitchen and dining area. They brand themselves as an ultra local and seasonal, “fjord, forest, and farm to table restaurant“. They’re on a mission to support sustainable food practices and the local Alaskan food industry. Noble indeed.
They incorporate ingredients like hand picked wild blueberries from Hatcher Pass and range raised beef from Delta Junction into their innovative and delicious brunch menu. They do fun stuff like Berry-Prosciutto Ricotta Toast, a Shrimp & Barley bowl with spruce tip pesto, and Chocolate Sourdough Bread w/ cookies n’ cream Butter. Hat’s off to this thoughtful pioneering Palmer, Alaska restaurant.
For more of their story and a list of their food sources, check out their website.
Best Food Truck in Palmer, Alaska
Who doesn’t like food trucks? Fast, casual, cheap, good food that you eat outside, hooray for meals on wheels! Here’s our favorite restaurant/food truck in Palmer, Alaska.
Reuben Has
With humble beginnings as a yearly booth at the Alaska State Fair, this Palmer, Alaska food truck pumps out some seriously good sandos. Of course the drawl here are their namesake reuben’s, corned beef, bacon, beer braised sauerkraut and a house made Russian dressing all piled high on marbled rye.
Don’t sleep on their chicken sandwiches either! All I’ll say is, pepperoncini aioli.. drool. They also do a Kale salad for those with dietary/fun restrictions. It’s actually really good, Maple tahini dressing, cranberries, honey coconut almonds, fresh Parmesan, Com’on!
Breweries in Palmer, Alaska
What’s better than good food? Well, beer and a good food obviously! Palmer is lucky enough to have a few breweries within its city limits. These are our favorite restaurant/breweries in Palmer, Alaska.
Matanuska Brewery Company
This award winning brewery/restaurant in Palmer, Alaska converted an old historic milk factory (the Matanuska Maid Dairy facility ) into a thriving beer haven. They’ve since grown and opened two additional brewpubs, in Anchorage and Eagle River.
They serve up classic pub fair with a few elevated options like Poke Nachos or Brussel Sprout Benedict. They’re known for their juicy burgers and Blueberry Ale. They also make hard seltzers and ready-to-drink canned cocktails, the Blueberry Mule(ABV: 15%) is killer! Their eagle river location hosts live music.
Bleeding Heart Brewery
You might not consider going to a brewery for brunch, but Bleeding Heart Brewery is making a strong case for it. First choose your beverage, a Seltzer-Mosa(house-made of course) Beer-Mosa or a Red Beer(bloody Mary mix, pickled veggies, and your choice of beer). Then try and decide between one of their great brunch options like Stuffed French Toast, Corned Beef Hash, or their excellent Smoked Salmon Bagel. Bruch at a Brewery, I think so!
If you’re not into morning beers and breakfast fare don’t fret, they have lunch and dinner options that include stuff like cheesesteaks and Mac n cheese. Or just grab a seat at one of the leather couches and enjoy the really good beer. The Grounds For Divorce coffee porter and the Beet IPA infused with local Beets are both must try’s!
Oh, and they’re located right next to the water town near Matanuska Brewery Company, so start here and do a little Palmer, Alaska Brew Crawl.
Restaurants in Palmer Alaska Map
Palmer Alaska Restaurants FAQs
What is the best restaurant in Palmer Alaska?
Turkey Red is the consensus best restaurant in Palmer — Mediterranean-inspired farm-to-table fare using locally sourced ingredients, with a menu that includes homemade crab pasta, baked rockfish, and bacon pesto seared scallops.
Is Palmer Alaska worth visiting for food?
If you’re driving between Anchorage and Hatcher Pass or heading toward Wrangell-St. Elias, Palmer is the right place to fuel up.
What is the Palmer Alaska State Fair known for?
The Alaska State Fair in Palmer runs late August through Labor Day weekend and is one of the best Alaska experiences worth building a trip around. Giant vegetables — cabbages the size of small cars — are the signature attraction, but the food vendors, live entertainment, carnival rides, and general Alaska vibe make it a genuine event. If you’re in the area in late August, go.
Does Palmer Alaska have good breweries?
Yes. Two worth knowing. Matanuska Brewery Company converted a historic milk factory into a thriving brewery with excellent burgers, poke nachos, and their signature Blueberry Ale. Bleeding Heart Brewery is right next door and makes a strong case for brunch beers.
What is Vagabond Blues?
Vagabond Blues is a Palmer institution, a groovy cafe and coffee shop with excellent breakfast burritos, reindeer sausage, and a wall of baked goods that will destroy your diet.
Is Feather & Flour still open?
No. Feather & Flour closed their regular restaurant services as of October 1, 2025. They continue to offer private dining events but are no longer open for regular service.
What is the Colony Kitchen in Palmer?
The Colony Kitchen is now operating as The Noisy Goose, a Palmer institution serving all-day breakfast in an ostentatiously Alaskan dining room complete with stuffed birds, antler chandeliers, and a giant Carhartt-wearing wooden moose.
What food trucks are in Palmer Alaska?
Reuben Has is the standout — a food truck that started as a booth at the Alaska State Fair and now serves some of the best sandwiches in the Mat-Su Valley.
More Alaska Restaurant & Travel Guides
- Talkeetna Restaurants — another Mat-Su Valley food town
- Best Restaurants in Wasilla — 20 minutes down the road
- Anchorage to McCarthy — Palmer is your last good meal stop
- Best Places to Live in Alaska — Palmer gets a full section
- Best Bars in Anchorage — 45 minutes south
- Alaska in September — Hatcher Pass in fall is extraordinary
- 7 Day Alaska Itinerary — Palmer deserves a stop