Food & Drink in Anchorage

A third-generation Alaskan native, Mike Dodge is proud of his roots through and through. This dedication shines through in his cooking; he insists on using as many fresh and local ingredients as possible in order to support Alaskan businesses. Yet as the executive chef and owner of Hott Stixx, Mike isn’t afraid to look elsewhere for inspiration. He often blends his local raw materials with recipes plucked from all over the world. His appetizer selection—including ginger black-bean tacos, steamed pork buns, samosas, and spicy thai peanut wings—provides insight into the eclectic assortment of dishes. Incorporating international flavors throughout his menu, Mike also uses cooking techniques he learned from his parents, who taught him at a young age to cook baby formula from scratch.

The White Spot Cafe, which was established in 1946 and these days can be considered a throwback to the dying breed of old-fashioned diners, has maintained a loyal following with fresh Alaskan halibut fillets surrounded by crispy golden breading. The Alaskan halibut is filleted every day at the diner and served as a sandwich, but it's only one of the menu's winning fresh-ingredient offerings. Fries are handcut daily, juicy burger patties serve as vehicles for barbecue sauce, bacon, and onion rings, and old-fashioned milk shakes incite smiles with infusions of blueberry or Oreo. The dining room’s setup invites guest to sit beneath a mounted bear or pull up barstools and watch the chefs work, whether they’re flipping pancakes or using rolling pins to flatten eggs into omelets.

Thirty years ago, the Ramos family set out to establish a Mexican eatery that would reflect the hospitality of their own home and feature a menu replete with south-of-the-border staples such as tacos, fajitas, and chimichangas. The fruits of their early labors have since multiplied, and today Don Jose's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina flourishes in three locations. Known for its tangy margaritas and extensive selection of burritos and chimichangas, the restaurant also caters to heartier appetites with macho combos such as the El Presidente, a beef and cheese chili relleno served with a tamale, chicken flauta, and lengthy trade agreement to peruse throughout the meal.

Amid the cinnamon-laced aroma of deep-fried sopapillas and scent of beef simmering in spicy red sauce, the chefs at Ernesto's Grill bustle about the restaurant’s kitchen assembling traditional Mexican dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The team takes pride in creating the most authentic eats possible—from house-made pork tamales to tortas mexicana. They send platefuls of their culinary creations into the dining room laden with wholesome produce, such as green chilies and juicy tomatoes. Servers assemble orders of guacamole tableside, impressing diners with the dip’s freshness and proving to skeptics that it actually doesn’t come from the guacamole bush.

A good home-cooked meal can be hard to beat, but Downtown Grill is ready to take that gamble. With its diverse menu of hearty dishes prepared by expert chefs, the whole family can find something to satisfy their hunger cravings. Whether hungry for lighter fare such as the DT Fitness Bowl with seasonal veggies and brown rice, or meatier entrees like the blue-cheese-stuffed Blue Wolf burger. And while Downtown Grill is definitely family-friendly, the cozy, warm dining atmosphere makes it equally compatible for couples on a date or their groups of friends, seated nearby and ready to cheer them on.

Yes Bistro’s cuisine is based on recipes from the Old World—France and Italy, to be exact. Meals such as chevre-stuffed chicken roulade, homemade arancini risotto balls, and brined game hen fill the menu at this eatery, where diners can catch glimpses of the mountains from the windows. In addition to cooking up bistro-style entrees, the chefs also pull wood-fired flatbreads and pizzas from the oven with a gondolier’s oar.