9 of the Best Restaurants in Juneau, AK

This past weekend I had the opportunity to participate in the International Food Bloggers Conference in Juneau, Alaska. And as you can imagine, we got to taste a whole lot of amazing food. The food scene in Juneau is vibrant, thanks to a couple of award-winning chefs and fresh seafood.

I owe a huge thanks to the International Food Bloggers Conference and to all the sponsors, especially Travel Juneau, who made the conference possible.

Thursday night at the conference, we were treated to an amazing reception put on by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute where we learned that over 60% of the nation’s seafood is produced by Alaska. And Friday night we got to experience some of that seafood at A Taste of Juneau where 18 local restaurants served small bites.

My sister and her family actually live in Juneau, so I also got to eat both crab and shrimp that my brother-in-law literally just pulled out of the ocean on his boat. But since you don’t know them, I thought I would share with you some of the best restaurants in Juneau based on what I ate while there.

Twisted Fish

My cousin (who also lives in Juneau) took me here one day, and we both ordered fish tacos with a Spanish rice tamale, our server’s recommendation for the sunny day. Mine were salmon, and hers were halibut.  Both types were served on what seemed to be homemade grilled corn tortillas with a bed of sweet slaw and blackened, spicy fish on top and with pico de gallo and creamy sauce on the side. The combination of sweet and spicy was good, and I especially loved the halibut.

Seong’s Sushi Bar

My sister, nieces, and I visited Seong’s one day for lunch and enjoyed a wide array of sushi rolls. If you like sushi, you should visit. Their Dragon Roll was especially good, but all of the rolls tasted fresh and full of flavor.

Tracy’s Crab Shack

Tracy’s Crab Shack is famous for their crab bisque and of course, crab legs. Thick and creamy with bites of fresh crab, their bisque was my favorite dish served at the Taste of Juneau.

Forno Rosso

Forno Rosso specializes in woodfired Neopolitan-style pizza, and they do it well. This is a potato pizza that I tried at the Taste of Juneau, but I also went to their food truck and got a pepperoni pizza later in the week. Crispy with authentic Italian cheese, it was great for a light lunch.

Alaska Fish and Chips

This crab cake that I tried from Alaska Fish & Chips was crispy and delicious, and the sweet red sauce served with it was good, too.

Roma

This lamb from Roma’s was one of the fanciest dishes we tried at the Taste of Juneau. Tender meat with a sweet sauce and fried onion on top was a nice break from all the seafood we tried.

Coppa

This ice cream from Coppa’s was candied salmon if you can believe it. (No, it wasn’t fishy-tasting). I also tried their rhubarb flavor, and both flavors were really delicious.

McGivney’s

McGivney’s is a sport bar and grill right on the edge of downtown. They serve your regular pub fare and also Tracy’s Crab Bisque. I ate an Old Fashioned Burger and their famous beer-battered fries. The burger was HUGE — 1/2 lb. — and was cooked just as ordered. The French fries were crispy and full of real potato-y taste.

Deckhand Dave’s

I saved the BEST for last. Deckhand Dave’s Rockfish Tacos were, by far, my favorite dish from the week. They were the lightest and crispiest fish tacos I’ve ever had. And the pico de gallo and spicy chipotle sauce were to die for. You’ll have to walk downtown Juneau to find them — although they are a food truck, they have a covered outdoor eating area that you can enjoy whether it’s rainy or beautiful outside.

If you visit Juneau, you definitely should eat at one of these restaurants. Many are within walking distance of cruise ships, and trying out Juneau’s food scene is a huge part of experiencing the town.

Have you been to Juneau? What was your favorite restaurant? Tell me in the comments below!