Anchorage, if you haven’t realized yet, is surprisingly vast. And you probably live in just one corner of it. Which means that throughout your time here, you have countless burgers to discover and a whole lot of eating to do.
Hamburger Haven
$ | (907) 337-6141 | WEBSITE
Every single person who arrives in Anchorage has the exact same goal in mind: find the best burger in town. And while we will always condone such a plan, the reality is there is no such thing. Our burger scene is too diverse, too varied, and frankly too good to ever crown an official king. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a favorite. Hamburger Haven is the kind of cozy, old-school burger joint you could go to once a week for the rest of your life and not even realize it.
The food is delicious and excellent, the service is always right, and two of those peanut butter shakes will have you smiling before you can even reach for more crinkle cut fries.
Leroy’s Family Restaurant
$ | (907) 279-6162 | WEBSITE
If Anchorage has a shiny new burger joint on every corner, Leroy’s is the grandparent who taught them all how to do it right. This family-diner institution serves the kind of hearty comfort food that separates the tourists from the locals. And from those who think breakfast only means cereal. How? Portions. And more of them than anywhere in town. Oh, but just ask for a smaller plate, right? DON’T TELL A GRANDPARENT HOW TO FEED YOU.
Dining-in at their charming retro location is a must, but their reliable service and reasonable prices (think $12-$18 for most entrees) make it our weekend family tradition.
Applebee’s Grill + Bar
$$ | (907) 222-7753 | WEBSITE
Another day, another burger joint finds its way onto the Best Burgers list. But as opposed to other burger entries on the list, Applebee’s Grill + Bar is a lesson in consistency. Each burger from the kitchen of this lively chain can’t have more than a handful of classic toppings and yet, each component is prepared with care. There’s nothing pretentious about this spacious spot in the practical and reliably suburban Anchorage setting and that’s exactly what makes it so dependable.
Generous portions, friendly service, and the most well-executed comfort food in the area. Our move is the whiskey bacon burger, but this is a menu stacked with crowd-pleasers. Note: Open for reliable delivery.
Burger Cache
$ | (907) 272-6973 | WEBSITE
Burger Cache is exciting because if you’ve ever wanted to eat a burger that tastes like it came from a backyard grill in Alaska, but don’t have the time to fire one up yourself, now you can do it at their drive-through. The food clearly speaks for itself, but it’s the friendly staff that ranks this more-consistent-than-you-think burger spot near the top.
Burger Cache’s dinner situation remains one of the best quick meals in Anchorage, but their daily order-at-the-counter lunch extravaganza has become the real meat and potatoes. We could make a stupid burger pun here, but we’re better than that. And so is Burger Cache.
Long Branch Saloon
$ | (907) 349-4142 | WEBSITE
This is Anchorage. If we didn’t include a burger joint in our “Best Burger Restaurants” list then we should all be fired. And there’s none better than Long Branch Saloon. The popular spot is the kind of truly excellent burger place you’ve always imagined exists on every corner in AK. But you’re also there for one thing – the homemade buns.
With a slight crusty exterior and soft inside that hold up perfectly to toppings like mushrooms and Swiss cheese, there isn’t a more satisfying burger experience in town and Long Branch Saloon knows it. They’ve perfected the art of the burger while keeping prices reasonable – you can get a fantastic meal without breaking the bank. And that’s a brand of quality we can get behind.
Wee B’s
$ | (907) 522-1260 | WEBSITE
If you haven’t heard the name Wee B’s by now, we’re not sure what part of Anchorage you’ve been hiding in, but our apologies, that neighborhood must’ve been remote. Because plain and simple, there are few burger joints in south Anchorage as recognizable as Wee B’s and locals claim it as their own. And while its landmark location on O’Malley was a game-changer for the entire burger scene back in the day, it’s that classic neighborhood shack atmosphere that takes the cake these days.
With house-made buns and some of the juiciest patties in town, it doesn’t get more Anchorage than this.
BurgerFi
$ | (907) 277-3630 | WEBSITE
Anchorage has plenty of burger joints to choose from. But whenever someone asks where they should go for their first proper burger in town, we always point them to BurgerFi. The straightforward, quality-focused spot with its signature Wagyu burger has completely won over this city (both in reputation and in taste), and if you think they’re resting on their laurels, you’d be mistaken.
But what’s most impressive about BurgerFi is despite the occasional service hiccup, the burger on the plate hasn’t lost a step.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews
$ | (907) 522-4321 | WEBSITE
Welcome to Anchorage’s reliable favorite. A classic burger chain with a local twist opens up its doors and delivers exactly what you crave. In a city with a growing food scene, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews holds its ground as a dependable choice. This is classic American comfort food with thoughtful touches, and we appreciate every bit of it. Aside from the burgers themselves, the atmosphere is straight-up welcoming with some of the friendliest service around.
The endless fries and cold beer in frozen mugs keep the good times rolling, while the accommodating space makes everyone feel at home. It’s the kind of spot where you can bring the whole family and know you’ll leave satisfied, even if you’re hoping for that perfect, juicy burger every single time.
O’Brady’s Burgers & Brew
$ | (907) 338-1080 | WEBSITE
The cool thing about O’Brady’s Burgers & Brew is it’s basically a neighborhood burger joint, but happens to be one of the best casual spots in Anchorage. The place is truly generous, with maybe 20 tables to go around, so come peak dinner hours you’re definitely looking at a solid crowd. But sneak in early or swing by for lunch or just settle in and wait it out like an adult, and you’re in for one of the great bar food meals in town.
And then after dinner, feel free to walk the two blocks down to the street and thank the kitchen for what you just experienced.
Club Paris
$$$ | (907) 277-6332 | WEBSITE
Anchorage’s best steakhouse is easily our most polarizing. Some people will tell you Club Paris isn’t all that great, and those are the same people who hated Titanic because they thought it made them look cool. Don’t trust them. Club Paris is exceptional and the kind of first-rate, nostalgic steakhouse this city needed.
The dark, cozy downtown location can certainly get a bit hectic, but the classic spot remains the best place in town to grab a steak and a drink and enjoy not being one of those people who hates Titanic.
Arctic Roadrunner
$ | (907) 561-1245 | WEBSITE
The thing about Arctic Roadrunner is that you should actually hate it. You just waited in a line that snakes out the door, some guy at the next umbrella table just showed you a photo of the salmon he caught, and it’s 8:30pm and everyone around the fire place is still wearing their hiking boots. So why is it still your favorite? The food. It’s incredible.
And in a city not necessarily known for its high level of casual dining (Anchorage), Arctic Roadrunner is an important anchor to the local scene as a whole. You will hear it billed as ‘good food at a reasonable price’ but know that the Lord Baranof and Kenai Whopper are some of the best you’ll find – you should prepare for generous portions. This is a meal you and your out-of-town friends are going to be talking about for a while.
Alaskan Burger & Brew
$ | (907) 677-4373 | WEBSITE
Anchorage’s burger scene is wholeheartedly deserved. But it’s also very predictable. Exhibit A: Alaskan Burger & Brew. This downtown spot with the cute patio swings is the true holy grail for everything burger and one of the finest meals you can have not only in Anchorage, but probably the state. No, Alaskan Burger & Brew is not your once-a-week neighborhood drop-in spot. Alaskan Burger & Brew is your roll-up-your-sleeves, put-on-your-big-boy-pants, and ball-out-hard destination experience.
You’re going to eat juicy burgers with perfect soft but strong buns and balanced sauce, crispy fries, and awesome onion rings simply because you can. And your salad portion will simply have to deal with it.
Lucky Wishbone
$ | (907) 272-3454 | WEBSITE
You learn quickly in Anchorage that diner food and fried chicken are almost two entirely different things, with entirely different scenes. And while there’s a pantheon of elite burger spots throughout Anchorage, Lucky Wishbone is our first move. With about a dozen different kinds of comfort food on the menu, there isn’t one you shouldn’t order. And that’s why you get the fried chicken meal. Perfectly cooked chicken with a side of your choosing, $12.99 out of your wallet. Life is good.
The family diner is holding strong, with its cozy atmosphere stretching all the way from the 70s to today. Even better news for you and your uncontrollable comfort food urges.
Tommy’s Burger Stop-Dimond
$ | (907) 677-7867 | WEBSITE
Great. Another generic burger joint serving up dry patties on stale buns that only make us crave something better. Think again. Tommy’s Burger Stop-Dimond opened a few years back in a busy shopping center and frankly changed how people viewed consuming classic burgers. No, we’re not counting any calories on that Spenard burger anytime soon, but for the most part Tommy’s is dishing out juicy, flavorful, and whatever-other-buzzword-you-choose delicious burgers. And they’re great. REALLY great.
Eating at Tommy’s is like eating from the hands of a master burger craftsman (who, btw, really knows his sh*t). And that alone is worth the reasonable $12-16 price tag for their generously portioned creations, especially when paired with those crispy fries that are a genuine highlight. The cool interior with its unique Disco mural and the outdoor seating area create a fun, unpretentious atmosphere that matches the excellent customer service perfectly.
Max Burger
$ | (907) 337-1012 | WEBSITE
Whatever Anchorage lacks in burger spots is entirely made up with the presence of Max Burger. Located on a semi-busy road with limited parking (just four spots!), Max Burger is the best burger joint in Anchorage by a mile and the only proof you need to understand Anchorage’s best food often flies under the radar. But let’s slow our roll for a second. What did we just say to you? A semi-busy road? Did we lose a bet? No, we didn’t. In fact, we feel like we won the lottery.
Because tucked away in this modern, clean interior is this no-frills restaurant that’s worth the visit whether you’re dining in or grabbing takeout. Warning – all other burgers and fries from here on out are ruined.
Winky’s Wings
$ | (907) 279-4647 | WEBSITE
Anchorage has its mountains, Fairbanks has its auroras, and Juneau has its glaciers, but we have our burger joints. And at Winky’s Wings, you’ll find one of the most satisfying fast food experiences in town and an essential part of our comfort food culture. And that means three words – gigantic portions. While you could try a different burger spot every week for months and not hit them all, our favorite is Winky’s Wings.
Nowhere do you get more flavorful wings, friendlier service, and the family-friendly (re: welcoming) atmosphere that one seeks at a fast food spot better than here. Warning: With those amazing Sweet and Sassy wings, this might be one of the hardest tables to snag during dinner rush. So put your order in early and go get Jambalaya-satisfied by the sweet owner.