Welcome to Wasilla, Alaska, a town with a restaurant scene that may not immediately sweep you off your feet, but as The Rolling Stones remind us, “If you try sometimes, you get what you need“. While the restaurants in Wasilla, Alaska tend to lean towards the strip mall and chain type vibe, there are a few buried truffles out there.
So keep on scrolling with us as we take you through our list of the best restaurants in Wasilla, Alaska. There’s only like six… so this shouldn’t take too long.
| Restaurant | Vibe | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Basil Ginger | Asian fusion, sushi bar | Date night, sushi craving |
| Settlers Bay Lodge | Upscale lodge dining | Views, special occasions |
| Meta & Rose | Hip brunch spot | Brunch, wine cocktails |
| Grape Tap | Fine dining | Hot dates, celebrations |
| Cafe Khao Neow | Lao/Thai hole in the wall | Best food per dollar |
| Krazy Moose Subs | Sandwich shop | Lunch, quick bite |
My Experience with Wasilla Resturants
The first tv show I worked on in Alaska, was a horrible house reality show for MTV that followed a bunch of drunken kids from around the Mat-Su Valley. It took us five months to shoot it, it only got one season, and all the residents in town celebrated when we left. Except for maybe a desperate Sarah Palin hoping to land a cross over special.
While the show didn’t last, I did have a blast helping to make it, and I did eat damn near all the restaurants in town. So consider this the most honest restaurant guide you’ll find for the Mat-Su Valley.
Basil Ginger
It is my firm belief that no man, women, or child should ever have to live in a sushi-less town. No matter race, creed, or sexual orientation, EVERYONE should have fair access to some really bitch’n sushi. Basil Ginger is that sushi restaurant for Wasilla, Alaska.
When you walk in, don’t let the giant Samurai statue holding a war spear scare you off. Take a seat at the sushi counter, the bar, or the dinning area. The sleek interior has high ceilings with exposed ventilation, dark walls with red accents, and a cute little bamboo plant at every table.
The food is Asian in a very broad sense; Chinese, Thai, and Japanese dishes fill out the menu. Crowd favorites include the Wonton soup, panang curry, and the Mongolian beef. They have a TON of sushi rolls and a really nice selection of sashimi/nigiri. They have a nice wine list, a lot of fun sake selections, and your standard beers.
Residents of the Mat-Su valley know they have a gem with this Wasilla, Alaska restaurant.
Settlers Bay Lodge
Settlers Bay Lodge is one of those places you see in a travel magazine advertising “elegance in the wilderness” or some sh*t like that. But, they wouldn’t be wrong, this restaurant in Wasilla, Alaska really is photo worthy, I mean instagramable*, excuse me.
Plopped in the middle of the beautiful Mat-Su Valley, amidst the picturesque backdrop of snow capped mountains, this long running institution is a culinary destination for more reasons than simply salmon. The wooden interior, cozy fireplace, and warm lighting create a sense of and comfort and help offset the snooty white table cloths.
Walls of massive windows let you look out towards the rugged Alaskan wilderness while you sit table side sipping overpriced mediocre cocktails. Hey you can’t have everything alright. Stick to the modest beer and wine list and the view will continue to impress you all night.
The food menu reads like most American steakhouses with mozzarella sticks co-mingling with flatbreads and sesame crusted tuna. Burgers, Steaks, Pasta and stuff from the sea round it out. Nothing that is going to offend anyone and nothing thats going to blow your socks off.
Sometimes in life you gotta see things for what they are. Settler’s Bay Lodge is a beautiful spot to order a burger, drink a beer, and sit on their awesome patio during a warm summer day. You’ll be happy you did.
Meta & Rose
Located in the sleek multi-use Clock Tower on N Yenlo St, Meta & Rose is a hip, stylish, restaurant in downtown Wasilla, Alaska. Meta & Rose offers a full service Brunch, Lunch, & Dinner menu, but if they only did brunch on the weekends, they’d still make our list of the best restaurants in Wasilla, Alaska. It’s ALL really good, but their brunch is next level.
Start the day off right with a ginger and lime mimosa, or their birthday mimosa that has cake balls on a skewer, or say f@#k it and get a pitcher! They also do wine cocktails and “Beer & Bites”, a selection of beers they’ve paired with a little nibble. For example: Twister Creek IPA & Spiced Cashews, or a Seasonal Amber with Reindeer Sausage. Fun right!?
If you ain’t Booz’n you looz’n! Ah I joke, I respect sobriety; and if thats more your vibe, great! They have a really nice tea & espresso menu. Check it out
Get the eggs Benedict for brunch, they come with truffle potatoes and you can add lobster on it for $10. Fantastic! The biscuits and gravy are all made in house and excellent. If you’re there for lunch or dinner, the French Wellington dip sandwich makes me happy, as does the Korean pork belly. But the entire menu is solid and everything comes out looking beautiful. Meta & Rose is a much welcomed restaurant in the culinary desert of Wasilla, Alaska. #pinkiesOUT
They also host a lot of fun events like Harry Potter Themed Trivia Night, Special Father’s Day Prix Fixe Menu’s, and “Sip & Shop” events with the other Clock Tower vendors. For an upcoming event schedule, click here.
They’ve also expanded since we first wrote about them — there’s now a full upstairs bar that can host parties of 30, live music on Friday and Saturday nights from 8-10pm, and a late night menu Thursday through Sunday until midnight. Meta & Rose keeps getting better.
Grape Tap
You might be surprised to find out that Wasilla has a fine dining option. It might not look like much from the outside, but the Grape Tap restaurant in Wasilla, Alaska is truly a diamond in the rough. Located on N Boundary street in a renovated pioneer home from the 1930’s, this restaurant in Wasilla, Alaska has been cultivating first class fine dining experiences for over a decade now.
The Italian and French influenced menu leaves room for some Alaskan flare. Appetizers include fun options like, warm crab and brie dip, or prawn nachos with a chipotle béchamel. Entree’s like the Herbed Roasted Duck with a cherry chipotle glaze, risotto, and veg du jou or the Beef Tenderloin with house made Bordelaise sauce, bacon, mushrooms, and onions are mainstays.
They have a good wine selection, fun flight options, and champagne “cocktails”. All their desserts are made in house and change frequently depending on the season, but if the espresso Creme Brûlée is available, get it. To see their full wine menu click here.
If you have a hot date, a celebration, or you just want to go to a damn fine restaurant in Wasilla, Alaska; the Grape tap is the spot.
Cafe Khao Neow: Cafe Sticky Rice
This is one of the best restaurants in Wasilla, Alaska for good reason. Their food is just really damn tasty. It slaps, as the youth might say. They serve up “delicious traditional homemade Lao family recipes”. There is a pretty sizable Asian population in Alaska, and it’s easy to find Thai food, but this is the only Lao restaurant in Alaska that I know of, so thats pretty neat.
If you’ve never had Lao food or Thai food, then you are missing the f@#k out! Food from this part of the world is what dreams are made of, and Cafe Khao Neow is killing it! You would be hard fought to find something on their menu that isn’t tasty AF.
Some favorites are, the steamed pork curry buns or Galapao, their Roasted Pork Belly, and any of the Laab Salads. Everything there is, as my wife would say “to die for!” They’re located in the Creekside Plaza and have kind of wonky hours, so just be aware. They’re open most days 11am-8pm — hours can be a bit unpredictable so worth calling ahead: (907) 376-5426.
Krazy Moose Subs
I crave Italian subs, I need Italian subs, and I’m always on the hunt for a great Italian sub. So if you’re in Wasilla, and you’re anything like me and require a weekly dosage of capocollo and salmi, look no further than Krazy Moose Subs. This is THE sub sandwich game in town.
Not everyone has olive oil and red vinegar running through their veins, like I do, and that’s ok. Krazy Moose does all the classic Hot and Cold Sub Sandwiches, and then some. A couple crowd favorites include the Chicken Bacon Ranch Sub, and the Cheeseburger Sub. They also have a selection of salads, soups, and big ass cookies.
Krazy Moose Subs is right of Main Street in a historic old building that’s been around since Wasilla first became a town. It’s got ample seating with an open layout and a second floor. It does get busy during the lunch rush however. If you come at a busy time don’t be scared away, its worth the wait, definitely one of the best restaurants in Wasilla, Alaska.
Wasilla, Alaska Restaurants: Honorable Mentions
A few more spots worth knowing about in the Mat-Su Valley.
Cadillac Cafe
I’ve eaten here multiple times and I genuinely have no idea if the food is good. Every single visit was fueled by a hangover so severe that I would have given five stars to a gas station hot dog. The place was full every time, which either means it’s great or Wasilla doesn’t have enough options. Probably both.
Bearpaw River Brewing
Here’s an honest suggestion: if you’ve exhausted the restaurant options in Wasilla and nothing is grabbing you, just get a beer. Bearpaw River Brewing is a solid local brewery with good taps and pub food. Sometimes the best meal in a strip mall town is the one you wash down with a cold pint and stop overthinking. No shame in it.
Evangelo’s
Evangelo’s has been feeding Wasilla since 1984 — Mediterranean and Italian, pizza, pasta, steaks, seafood, full bar. It’s ranked consistently near the top of every Wasilla restaurant list and locals clearly love it. We haven’t eaten there personally so we can’t vouch for it firsthand, but forty years in business in a small Alaska town means they’re doing something right.
Chain Restaurants in Wasilla, Alaska
More than any other city in Alaska, Wasilla reminds me of any-town USA. Besides the mountains in the back and the eagles in the trees, Wasilla is indistinguishable from most American towns. It’s a series of busy roads with lots of traffic lights, strip malls, and chain restaurants. If thats your thing, or if you’re just looking for something familiar, GREAT! Here’s a list of the chain restaurants in Wasilla, Alaska.
- Red Robin
- Ihop
- KFC
- Raising Canes
- QDOBA
- Wingstop
- Wendy’s
- Sonic
- Dairy Queen
- Domino’s
- Subway
- Carl’s Jr
- Panda Express
- You get it…
Wasilla Restaurants Map
Conclusion
Wasilla isn’t going to make anyone’s list of Alaska’s great food cities. But it has more going on than it gets credit for — a legitimately great fine dining spot, the only Lao restaurant in the state, and a brunch spot that would thrive anywhere. If you’re passing through the Mat-Su Valley, you don’t have to settle for Subway.
If you’re driving between Wasilla and Anchorage and want to make a meal of it, we put together a full guide to the best stops along the way — check out our Wasilla to Anchorage road trip eating guide.
Restaurants in Wasilla, Alaska FAQs
What is the best restaurant in Wasilla Alaska?
For the best overall dining experience, Grape Tap is the answer; fine dining in a renovated 1930s pioneer home with an Italian and French influenced menu.
Is there good food in Wasilla Alaska?
More than you’d expect. Wasilla leans heavily on chain restaurants and strip mall dining, but there are genuine gems if you know where to look. Basil Ginger does excellent sushi, Grape Tap is legitimately fine dining, and Meta & Rose could hold its own in any city. You just have to find them.
Does Wasilla have good sushi?
Yes — Basil Ginger is a legitimately good sushi restaurant with a full Asian fusion menu, sake selection, and a sushi counter. It would be a solid restaurant anywhere. In Wasilla, it’s a minor miracle.
Where should I eat in Wasilla if I’m just passing through?
Krazy Moose Subs for a quick, satisfying lunch — it’s right off Main Street and fast. If you have more time, Meta & Rose for brunch or Basil Ginger for dinner are both worth the stop.
Is Settlers Bay Lodge worth it?
For the views and the setting, yes. The food is solid American steakhouse fare — nothing that’s going to blow your socks off — but the patio on a warm summer day overlooking the Mat-Su Valley is genuinely beautiful. Stick to the beer and wine list, skip the cocktails, and enjoy the scenery.
What is Cafe Khao Neow?
Cafe Khao Neow — also called Cafe Sticky Rice — is a Lao restaurant in Wasilla serving traditional homemade family recipes. It’s the only Lao restaurant in Alaska that we know of. The food is outstanding, the prices are reasonable, and it’s the kind of place that would have a line around the block if it were in a bigger city. Note the hours — open 11am-7pm, closed Sundays and Mondays.
Are there good bars in Wasilla Alaska?
Wasilla’s bar scene is limited compared to Anchorage. Your best bets are the bar at Settlers Bay Lodge for a scenic drink, or the bar at Meta & Rose for wine cocktails. For a proper bar night, the best bars in Anchorage are only 45 minutes south.
How far is Wasilla from Anchorage?
About 45 minutes north on the Parks Highway. Many Wasilla residents commute to Anchorage daily. If you’re staying in Anchorage and considering a Wasilla detour just for food, it’s probably not worth the drive — but if you’re already in the Mat-Su Valley, these restaurants are worth seeking out.
What is the Mat-Su Valley known for?
The Matanuska-Susitna Valley — Mat-Su for short — is known for its farming, its proximity to spectacular wilderness, and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which starts nearby. The Matanuska Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska and worth a visit if you’re in the area. The valley also has a strong agricultural tradition — the state fair in Palmer every August features some of the largest vegetables in the world.
What chains are in Wasilla Alaska?
Wasilla has a full complement of chain restaurants including Red Robin, IHOP, KFC, Raising Cane’s, QDOBA, Wingstop, Wendy’s, Sonic, Dairy Queen, Domino’s, Subway, Carl’s Jr, and Panda Express. If you need something familiar, you’ll find it.
More Alaska Restaurant & Travel Guides
- Best Bars in Anchorage — 45 minutes south, much better bar scene
- Best Thai Restaurants in Anchorage — if Asian food is your thing
- Restaurants in Talkeetna — worth the stop on the way north
- Wasilla to Anchorage Road Trip — the full food trail between the two
- Best Places to Live in Alaska — if the Mat-Su Valley is growing on you
- Anchorage Airport Parking — practical guide for flying in and out
- 7 Day Alaska Itinerary — plan the rest of your trip