Tantalizing Anchorage Alaska Restaurant Memories Sampler

What are your favorite Anchorage Alaska Restaurant memories? From burgers and fries to steaks and more. Can you taste it?

Do you want to get hungry?

Which of these were a favorite of yours?

Remember burgers at the Arctic Roadrunner, yummy corn dogs at the Fur Rondy and fine dining at Alaska's own Double Musky Inn located in Girdwood?

If you still live in Anchorage, or if you lived there at one time, you likely have great memories of your favorite restaurants.

Take a moment to enjoy the stories below and remember when.

We guarantee you'll get hungry just thinking about your favorite places to eat in Anchorage.

Gwennie's Restaurant Anchorage Alaska

Meet Gwennie Thornton, the lady who created one of the most popular restaurants in Anchorage.

From the Story:

Anchorage Memories – Mike and Mary:

When did you get the idea for Gwennie's?


Gwennie:

It was when I was working at the Captain Cook Crow's Nest.

Gwennie's Diner was located at 2915 Spenard Road, right next to the Fire Station. We used to pass food through an opening in the wall between us and the Fire Department.

Double Musky Inn

What follows is the true story of how the now world-famous Double Musky Inn, a Girdwood, Alaska landmark – got its start.

From the Story:

At the fork in the road was a small island with several trees. The first business sign for the Double Musky Inn was nothing but an unpainted plywood board nailed to a tree.

The following words were hand painted in black.

“Double Musky Inn – Booze, Beans, Bunks”

The Lucky Wishbone

Discover where the name and the fried chicken recipe came from.

From the Story:

Anchorage Memories – Mike and Mary:

The Lucky Wishbone first opened for business on November 30, 1955. What was their first day like?

Pat:

We brought in a whopping $80 the first day!  

What Are Your Favorite Anchorage Alaska Restaurant Memories?

Pictured above are Hans and Gerry Kirschner of the Garden of Eatin

First, the couple above tried farming their Spenard property on McRae road. But they were not successful.

Then, in 1951, the two opened the “Garden of Eatin”, which was located in a Quonset hut.

It became an Anchorage favorite.

Here is a partial list of favorite restaurants

Do You Remember These?

• Don's Green Apple

• Lucky Wishbone

• Arctic Roadrunner

• Cattle Company

• How How

• The Abby

• Benny's Taco Wagon

• Gwennies

• Downtown HofBrau

• Woolworth's lunch counter

• Hewitt's lunch counter on 4th Avenue

• La Cabana

• La Mex

• Shakey's in Spenard?

And we didn't come close to naming most of them.

Anchorage Alaska restaurants are a great escape from long winters. Your favorite places can quickly become almost a part of the family.

And when warmer weather finally arrives, your favorite restaurants are part of what's great about Alaskan summers.

Have you ever sat by the creek at the Arctic Road Runner?

How to Get People from Anchorage Talking

Just ask them if they have ever visited the old A&W Drive-In, where the lions were on display.

Or ask them what burger they like to order at the Arctic Roadrunner. Or ask them how often they visit the Lucky Wishbone.

Most will tell you who had the best burger, the best fries, and where to go when it's time to have a really nice dinner, in or near Anchorage.

Are you hungry? We are!

How Did It All Begin?

Many of these fun Anchorage Alaska Restaurant Memories include how the restaurant got its start and other interesting facts that you might not already know.

You'll get to know the owners or some of their family as they tell you how the restaurant you love came about.

And the pictures that accompany the stories will really remind you of memories you may have forgotten.

So, what special place are you thinking about now?

The White Spot

The original A&W Drive-In

The Arctic Roadrunner

La Cabana

A wonderful steak at Club Paris

Anchorage's Tastee Freez

Benny's Food Truck

And the list could go on and on.

Are you hungry? We certainly are.

Anchorage Alaska Restaurant Memories, the early days

In 1915, when Anchorage was nothing more than a rough settlement of cobbled together tents, the first settlers used to put syrup on everything they ate, including bread and meat, just to get enough energy to sustain them.

Two Girls Waffle House, Circa 1916

Can you imagine how welcome this waffle house was in those early days?

By the way, what was (is) your favorite place to get waffles in Anchorage?

BONUS

Popular Anchorage, Alaska Restaurant Memories that will Make You Hungry by Michael R Dougherty

Take a look at some favorite restaurants in Anchorage. Some are only a memory.

Read on Substack

BONUS

*Memories of the Anchorage you love, sent to you by email

*History of Anchorage, Alaska

*Meet the Pioneers who built Anchorage