Ketchikan, Alaska just might steal your heart with its breathtaking scenery and quirky charm, but don’t be fooled its culinary scene will steal your taste buds too. Ketchikan, Alaska’s restaurant scene offers a nice respite from cruise ship food with fresh crabs, fish-n-chips, bbq, pizza, and plenty of pastries. So grab your rain jacket, come on an empty stomach, and prepare to embark on a delicious tour of Ketchikan, Alaska’s vibrant restaurants.
Quick Guide to Ketchikan Alaska Restaurants
My Experience with Ketchikan, Alaska Restaurants
After working in Alaska for over a decade, there is no part of this giant state I’ve spent more time than in the South East. While I haven’t spent nearly enough time experiencing the Ketchikan Alaska restaurants as I want, Ketchikan has been a crucial part of so many of my trips while shooting for Nat Geo on Prince of Wales Island.
If you spend any amount of time traveling in South East Alaska you will quickly become familiar with the Alaska Airlines milk run, a flight that puddle-jumps from Seattle to Anchorage. One of those stops is Ketchikan Alaska, which is how I became familiar with this rustic hard-working Alaska town. Once you get past the cruise ship culture during the summer season and experience the real town, this is where you will find the Ketchikan Alaska restaurants worth your time
Best Seafood Restaurants in Ketchikan, Alaska
New York Cafe
Located just off the waterway under the wonderful New York Hotel, this cafe serves up modern seafood, Mediterranean fair, and a solid breakfast. When you step into the sleek wood paneled Ketchikan, Alaska restaurant it feels like you’ve been transported back to the 1920’s. Although I don’t think they were eating this good back then.
Tuesday-Saturday 8am-8:30pm, Sunday 8am-2pm, closed Mondays // 907-247-2326
Alaska Fish House
It’s hard to choose a favorite at this Ketchikan Alaska restaurant, its all pretty damn good. Folks swear by the smoked salmon chowder and the fish n chips. Choose between cod, halibut, or salmon; either way they all come with mesquite fries and southwest coleslaw. This place gets busy, but its worth the wait.
Mon-Fri 10am-8pm // (907) 247-4055
George Inlet Lodge
The historic George Inlet Lodge is bit out of the way, but its an experience well worth the trip. Take part in their famous crab feasts in a repurposed cannery bunkhouse. The meal includes Dungeness crab, a romaine salad, and blueberry cheesecake. It’s hard to beat fresh crabs, but it’s really about the experience of eating right where the crabs are caught. Thats what makes this one of Ketchikan, Alaska’s best restaurants.
To book on their website // 907-617-8844
Best Budget Restaurants in Ketchikan, Alaska
Alava’s Fish n Chowder
Don’t let the modest trailer fool you, this little shack is one of Ketchikan, Alaska’s best restaurants. There small but mighty menu is just like the sign says, fish-n-chips and chowder. They don’t mess around with anything else because, “we don’t serve breakfast because we’re out catching lunch“. And when you do something really good, you don’t need to do anything else. Choose from pacific cod, halibut, shrimp, or oysters; you can’t go wrong.
Mon-Sat 11am-6pm, closed Sundays // 907-617-5328
Sweet Mermaids
This gem of a cafe/restaurant in Ketchikan, Alaska is a must stop for a sampling of their tasty pastries. Think, Apple streusel, cranberry muffins, key lime pie bars and more. They also serve coffee, smoothies, a solid sandwich focused lunch, and breakfast all day, like bagels and lox.
Open daily 8am-4pm // (907) 225-3287
Best Pizza in Ketchikan, Alaska
Fat Stan’s Pizza
Fat Stans may be bar forward, but whats wrong with that? This spot really is loved by locals and tourists alike, cause its just damn good pizza. They import Italian flour and make their sauces from scratch everyday, and you can taste the effort. So take a break from all that seafood and order up a slice at this favorite Ketchikan, Alaska restaurant.
4pm start, closed Wed // 907-247-9463
Best Burger in Ketchikan, Alaska
Burger Queen
This locals favorite joint is located on the edge of town in a little shack with Tasmania devils painted on its side. They pump out massive burgers, halibut sandos, and a slew of yummy milkshakes. They maintain the same irreverent humor that Ketchikan is know for, selling t-shirts that say “Burger Bitch, just didn’t sound right”.
Open Tues-Sat 11am-7pm. // 907-225-6060
Restaurant with the Best View in Ketchikan, Alaska
Heen Kahidi Restaurant
Not only the best restaurant in Ketchikan Alaska with a view, Heen Kaidi is the one of best restaurants in Ketchikan all around. Located inside the Cape Fox Lodge with panoramic harbor views, this local eatery serves up awesome seafood dishes like Miso Salmon and Thai Curry Halibut. Save room for their banana dessert, caramel cheesecake with fresh bananas wrapped and fried in a tortilla and drizzled with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. I mean com’on!
Open everyday from 6:30am-9pm // (866) 225-8001
Best Brewery Restaurant in Ketchikan, Alaska
Baleen Brewing Co.
Bar Harbor Ale House has closed, but Ketchikan’s beer scene didn’t go anywhere, Baleen Brewing Co. is a genuine local brewery, not just a bar with a deep tap list. Owner and brewer Al trained at the Doemens Academy near Munich, Germany, and built the brewery from the ground up to bring real German brewing technique to Ketchikan using Alaska’s own water. Expect proper, well-made beer across a range of styles, a Bavarian-style weißbier, a milk stout served as a float with vanilla ice cream, even a Flanders red. It’s a small, community taproom feel rather than a big bar scene, which fits Ketchikan’s general vibe better than a chain ever could.
449 Mill St, Ketchikan, AK 99901 // 907-220-7492
New York Cafe, Eagle’s Nest, and Good Fortune are all an easy stroll along Creek Street. If you want the full history behind Ketchikan’s most famous boardwalk while you’re there, check out our Creek Street guide.
Ketchikan, Alaska Restaurants: Honorable Mentions
Heres a few other more than serviceable restaurants in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Good Fortune Restaurant
Solid Chinese food served up right on Creek Street. Curiously, sushi is an option as well. Open everyday from 11am-9pm // (907) 225-1818
Eagles Nest
For a more casual bite, the Eagle’s Nest Brick Oven Pizza offers steaming hot pizzas and handcrafted cocktails on their outdoor patio. It’s tucked behind/beside Cape Fox Lodge, with a separate entrance via tram or hillside stairs, not accessible from inside the lodge itself.
Diaz Cafe
A locals favorite for Asian fare and some very…. unique fashion. Think burgers with fried rice on them! Cash Only // Tue-Sat, split service 11:30am-2pm and 4pm-8pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. // (907) 225-2257
Pioneer Cafe
Stat your day off right with at this classic diner on creek street. Big portions of familiar fare with unlimited coffee refills. 6am-10pm most days, open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays
Map of Ketchikan, Alaska Restaurants
Post Summary
Just to recap, here’s a list of our favorite Ketchikan, Alaska Restaurants.
- New York Cafe – Best seafood
- Alaska Fish House – Best seafood
- George Inlet lodge – Best seafood experience
- Alava’s Fish n Chowder – Best on a budget
- Sweet Mermaids – Best on a budget/pastries
- Fat Stan’s Pizza – Best Pizza
- Burger Queen – Best Burger
- Heen Kahidi Restaurant – Best View
- Baleen Brewing Co. – Best Beer Selection
- Good Fortune Restaurant – Solid Chinese
- Eagles Nest – Cocktails on a patio
- Diaz Cafe – Fried Rice Burgers
- Pioneer Cafe – Classic Diner on Creek Street
Ketchikan Alaska Restaurants FAQs
When is the best time to visit Ketchikan for food?
Summer offers the widest variety of options.
What are some must-try local dishes?
Dungeness crabs, Halibut, Salmon, and Chowder.
What’s the tipping etiquette in Ketchikan restaurants?
Same as the rest of the US, 15-20%.
Is cash required at any Ketchikan restaurants?
Most places take cards, but a few longtime local spots, like Diaz Cafe, are cash-only. Worth carrying some cash for the smaller, family-run places downtown.
Do I need reservations?
Generally no for casual spots, but George Inlet Lodge’s crab feast is a booked excursion, not walk-in dining, and it fills up — reserve in advance, especially in peak summer. Salmon-forward sit-down spots like New York Cafe can also get a wait during cruise ship hours.
Are restaurants busy when cruise ships are in port?
Yes, significantly. Wait times spike when multiple ships are docked, especially at spots close to the cruise terminal like Burger Queen and Alaska Fish House. If you want a calmer meal, aim for early morning or after 5pm when most ship excursions wind down.
Which restaurants are within walking distance of the cruise dock?
Most of downtown Ketchikan’s restaurants, including New York Cafe, Alaska Fish House, Burger Queen, Diaz Cafe, and the Creek Street spots, are an easy walk from the cruise terminal. George Inlet Lodge requires a separate booked tour with transportation included, and Eagle’s Nest involves a short tram ride or hillside walk up to Cape Fox Lodge.
Do Ketchikan restaurants close in the off-season?
Some do. A handful of seasonal/walk-up spots reduce hours or close entirely outside the summer cruise season, so if you’re visiting in winter or shoulder season, call ahead to confirm a place is open before making a special trip.
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