Article Overview: Top 10 Wasilla Restaurants
Wasilla, Alaska: Any-town USA
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 restaurants 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.
Why Trust Us On Restaurants in Wasilla, Alaska
Together AlaskaExplored has more than twenty years of experience traveling, working, and exploring the beautifully rugged 49th state. Working in television has taken us all around the world, and no place more than Alaska.
During our time here, we’ve documented countless stories from every corner and crevasse of the state. We’ve helped showcase the grandeur of this wild place for National Geographic, Discovery, Disney, and Animal Planet. Now we want to share our knowledge and real-life experiences with you!
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, drumroll please… Wasilla. It took us five months to shoot, it got one season before being canceled, and all the residents in town all celebrated when it did (except for maybe a desperate Sarah Palin hoping for a cross over special).
While the show didn’t last, I did have a blast helping to make it, and I did eat at a lot of the restuarants in Wasilla, Alaska.
Heading North and need some tips on Nome Restaurants? Check out our Top 5 Nome Restaurants.
Best Restaurants Wasilla, Alaska
So here we go! Here’s a list of our favorite restaurants in Wasilla, Alaska.
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. The 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 restuarant in the culinary desert of Wasilla, Alaska. #pinkiesOUT
They also host alot of fun events like Harry Potter Themed Trivia Night, Special Father’s Day Prix Fixed Menu’s, and “Sip & Shop” events with the other Clock Tower vendors. For an upcoming event schedule, click here.
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
Cafe Khao Neow or Cafe Sticky Rice, 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 its 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. There open from 11am-7pm everyday except Sundays and Mondays.
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.
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…
Best Restaurants Wasilla, Alaska (Post Summary)
Just to recap, here’s a list of our favorite restaurants in Wasilla, Alaska.
- Basil Ginger
- Settler’s Bay Lodge
- Meta & Rose
- Grape Tap
- Cafe Khao Neow
- Crazy Moose Subs
Wasilla Restaurants Map
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[…] did not disappoint; we found everything we needed and a friendly community happy to help us out. Wasilla also has plenty of restaurants and hotels, making this an easy spot to crash and regroup. The downside is all these conveniences […]