The food was so good here we ate here three times! Just be warned, portion sizes are LARGE. The side salad looks like some main salad sizes. The first day I got the salmon chowder (highly recommend) with a caesar side salad. I also got the turkey pot pie which had such a buttery, flakey crust. The sauce of the pot pie is heavy on black pepper but I didn't mind. The next morning I got an oat milk latte and a piece of strawberry rhubarb coffee cake which they heated up for me which was a nice touch and a good start to a day of hiking. The second night we went here for dinner even though we weren't staying here, and I got the meatloaf, chili, and brussel sprouts. All of the food was delicious, the meatloaf was a bit dry but the whipped potatoes were incredible. The brussel sprouts were also nice and crispy and delicious with goat cheese and bacon. Definitely recommend! read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Oat milk latte - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

See all

EXCELLENT FOOD: Terrible service: I just want to start by saying the food was excellent. The kitchen absolutely did its job. The service, however, was terrible enough to have to make a review. Our server, Kat, acted like our table was an inconvenience from the moment we sat down. My sister was dining with her 1-year-old child, and when we asked for a high chair, Kat rolled her eyes, grabbed one, and dropped it off on the opposite side of the table from where the baby was actually sitting. No offer to help, no kindness, no basic courtesy. The attitude only got worse from there. Every time we needed something, we were met with eye rolls, annoyance, and the feeling that we were bothering her simply for asking her to do her job. We even noticed the same behavior toward other tables, so it clearly wasn't a one-time misunderstanding. When I ordered an iced latte, I asked what syrup options were available because there were no drink menus at our table. Instead of answering a completely reasonable question, Kat acted irritated that I dared to ask. Customers shouldn't be expected to magically know what you offer. I understand that everyone has bad days, but if you dislike interacting with guests this much, hospitality may not be the right industry for you. No customer should be made to feel unwelcome for asking for a high chair, ordering a drink, or requesting basic service. It's incredibly disappointing because the food was honestly amazing. But amazing food doesn't excuse rude service. There are too many restaurants serving great meals to spend my money somewhere I'm treated like an inconvenience. Good food gets people through the door once. Great hospitality is what keeps them coming back. read more

See all

Some of my favorites from their bakery included the blueberry frosted lemon loaf, sweet and savory bacon scone, and the snickerdoodle cookie. read more

I'd give this place 10 stars if I could. Clean, bright, friendly service, awesome location across the road from a mountain, wonderful ambiance, and terrific food! Try the Alaskan sized cinnamon roll. Clean bathrooms. This place is perfect! read more

First time in Alaska staying in Fairbanks and drove down for Denali NP last two days. The extra 15 minutes past the park entrance is so worth it. The Salmon Chowder is off the chain!! Elk Sausage Biscuits and Gravy legit. Coffee Bar.... Strawberry Rhubarb Pie ala mode so good. Amazing views. Service was prompt and friendly. If you're down for Denali you have to eat here. Best of Alaska for sure! read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Elk Sausage Biscuits and Gravy side of home fries. - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

Great find away from the busier restaurants north of the park . Our waitress Megan was wonderful. The turkey pot pie was great. Turkey was SO moist and the crust SO flakey. I would prefer smaller chunks of Turkey so I can more easily grab a little bit of everything per bite, but minor point that did not take away from the dish. The salmon chowder was exquisite. Perfect consistency and loved the subtle kick/heat. Paired with delicious toasted sourdough. We took some strawberry rhubarb coffee cake for bfast the next day. Those were so so good. read more

Just finished our week in Alaska! My son and I visited the Creekside Cafe several times! Loved the service! The staff was willing to work around my allergies! So glad! Portions were great! Prices were awesome compared to those down the street and the food was much better! And the running creek beside it was the cherry on top! read more

Wow! We loved this place! Food was amazing, ambiance nice, and service gracious. We'll be back! If you're considering a visit the salmon chowder and the strawberry rhubarb coffee cake are both MUST try items. So good! For our entrees, we both enjoyed a halibut dish. The kitchen knows how to cook it to perfection--just right doneness, tender and flaky, with minimal seasoning so the freshness of the fish speaks. read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - The halibut special for the evening--a creative choice--served with latkes, broccoli, and tzatziki sauce. - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

Service was great -Roasted artichokes - salmon clam chowder - highlights. Burger and fish and chips were good - very pricey. Ambiance is nice. Patio seating and indoor seating has great views. read more

Good cinnamon and pecan rolls. All the food we had was tasty. Service was decent but kind of slow probably due to their popularity! One time we were seated right away but the second time it was a long wait so we ordered to go and ate in our RV in their parking area :) read more

This little place is on the way from Anchorage to Denali. It offers some pretty darn good food and a nice atmosphere. There's a nice deck and an area by a creek. It's not particularly fast, but the food is darn good. I don't have much of a highlight, except for the smoked salmon chowder. It was excellent! There was plenty of smoked salmon, potatoes, onions, and the broth was delicious. Not too salty and not too thick. They have a bakery and the items look good but they just aren't that good. The pie I had was rhubarb blueberry and it was clear they used store-bought blueberries not Alaskan wild blueberries and the crust was tough. read more

See all

We visited Denali this week & we're lucky to find this gem! It was so good we ate here 3 times in 3 days! The giant cinnamon roll was the least good thing & it was still really good. The pecan roll, salmon chowder, French onion soup, & mountain man bfast were all GREAT!!! The only downside is that it's so good they often had a wait I highly recommend & would definitely go back if we come back to Denali! read more

I dined here twice during my stay in Denali. I had dinner and breakfast here. Love the rustic look and feel of this place. So fitting for a building in Alaska. If you've never been to Denali, go see it! Heads up in the service in this place. It's slow. Plan ahead so you're not late to an appointment for an adventure or just hitting the road to another Alaska destination. Food is great though. For dinner. I had the Salmon chowder. They offer a cup or a bowl. I ordered a bowl with a side of sourdough bread. I highly recommend ordering this WITH the sourdough bread. The bread is freshly made. They have a bakery that offers several baked goods for sale. Great to take on the road or for a morning treat with a cup of coffee. Overall, I very much enjoyed the Salmon Chowder. I would order it again. I love that they serve it in a cast iron skillet. The bowl of chowder rests inside the skillet with the bread in the side. Nice presentation. Fortunately, I was able to quickly pay my bill and make it to my adventure appointment at 6:30 PM. I recommend this place for a dining option in Denali! read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - View from my dining room table - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

Since we stayed in a cabin for two nights, we ended up having two dinners, two breakfasts, and a boxed lunch from the café. Service throughout was warm and attentive. There's plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. The dinners were excellent! We tried the halibut tacos, salmon tacos, the salmon special, turkey pot pie, chili, and the Mooster Burger. Everything was flavorful and well-prepared. Breakfast was also good. On our first morning, we grabbed breakfast burritos to go and ate them at the Denali Bus Depot while waiting for the East Fork Transit Bus. They were huge, filling, and tasty. The next morning, we had a sit-down breakfast and had the avocado toast and the King Creekside Skillet. Their excellent drip coffee deserves a special mention! read more

Delicious food, great service, wonderful bakery. We ate on the porch in early July. Everyone loved their meal, from the baked halibut, watermelon salad, French onion soup, chicken tenders with mushroom gravy and strawberry rhubarb pie and baked Alaska pie! The rhubarb margaritas were great. Nice beers on tap. Got a cinnamon roll, pecan caramel roll, and strawberry rhubarb coffee cake for breakfast and that was awesome too. This place was a winner with no wait, about 20 minutes South of the Denali entrance. read more

Ana, Tyler, Craig and Grace are excellent servers we have had here at Creekside Cafe. I'm sure the entire Creekside team is amazing because we have been eating breakfast, lunch and dinner here and the food and service are both exceptional. Outdoor and indoor seating is available. Prices are fair. The restrooms are clean. The bakery selections look delicious and fresh. The decor especially the artwork is eclectic and inviting. The furnishings are beautifully rustic with wood finishes. Plants are colorful and cheery on the decking and grounds. It's a lovely place to relax over a good meal. There aren't many gluten free options but my servers have done their best along with the chef to adapt some of the choices. Grilled halibut was perfect. Thank you, McKinley Creekside Cafe. read more

See all

I had the opportunity to eat a few times at McKinley Creekside Cafe while staying at their adjacent property. I really appreciated their focus on fresh ingredients. For dinner, I had the lettuce wraps with tofu. The tofu was perfectly cooked, nicely marinated and with good texture. It came with these amazingly huge romaine lettuce leaves, chopped cabbage and peppers, a delicious peanut sauce and chopped peanuts. This was tasty and satisfying. I liked it so much I had it again the second time around at another dinner:) For breakfast, I had the oatmeal. It was a huge portion with two massive slices of toast, complete with homemade strawberry rhubarb jam. Definitely a great pre-hiking breakfast --my only nit was that I didn't have enough jam for these huge slices of toast! My second breakfast was the avocado toast with two additional eggs over easy. Delicious, especially with the seasoning on the avocado. Coffee was very good and the staff ensured that I had as much coffee as I wanted. The service was very pleasant. I'd definitely come back here when visiting Denali! read more

Nice cafe and lodging with good views and decent food. It can take a while for the food to come out though. I recommend making reservations for dinner. The tomato bisque and eggs benedict were really good. The home fries were overcooked and hard. The fish entrees were ok. read more

See all

Came here hungry and felt cozy as soon as we walked in. Husband and I had a late lunch on Labor Day, and we also celebrated our anniversary with a dessert. I got the smoked salmon chowder, which was not bad but also was not spectacular. Portion was a bit small, and I had to pay an extra $3 for sourdough. The bread seemed to just be slightly toasted sliced bread, meaning not very special nor sour. Husband was delighted with his burger, which he paired with soup of the day (carrot ginger). After our lunch, we were enticed by the display of desserts. So, we opted for a serving of crème brûlée. It was pretty good, but the sugary layer on top was too thick. Service was fast and friendly. Would have been great to see a wider menu selection, especially with some vegetarian options. read more

See all

Love the place! Great ambiance, service was superb and food was delish! I wish I could have more! Glad we found it tucked a tad away from Denali! Well worth the trek on what was a glorious day! read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

See all

This is a must visit for delicious homemade sweets. I first stopped here too get coffee and pie. The pies are sooooo good. We got the berry pie and the strawberry rhubarb - perfection. We returned the next day to get lunch to take on the road with us on the way out of town. My friend got the ham and cheese sandwhich she said was only okay. I got the veggie quinoa cup and it was fantastic - tasty and filling. I also got the sticky bun which was to die for. I wish they had one of these in my town because it has fantastic homemade baked goods. read more

This place. Best eating in miles. Not too far from Denali by car. Short wait during dinner hours. Beautiful river views. Friendly service. Excellent homemade honey mustard dressing and fresh baked croutons on my salad. Delicious turkey pot pie. My nephew had the salmon tacos since they sold out of their meatloaf. He was impressed. We were sad to be too full to order dessert. Home cooking at its best! read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - River next to restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

See all

The food was horrible! The eggs were as dry and flavorless as chunks of styrofoam. The potatoes were frozen, dry, and tasted terrible and still cold on the plate. The so-called "Alaska Sausage" was nothing more than a seasoned brat-sized hot dog cut down the middle. It was so hard that it took a knife to cut it. Unfortunately we got another meal there in the evening: A Turkey Pot Pie which wasn't bad, and Salmon Chowder, which included a muffin that was so stale that I could smell the staleness. The chowder was so spicy that it had no flavor except spice. We both got sick from it the next morning. To make matters worse, all the waitresses were very snippy and not at all courteous. read more

We are staying in cabins here so it was an easy walk to get to the Cafe for dinner. Mrs M had a salad with grilled chicken and I had the chili with cornbread. Both were delicious! We had great service from Katie, even though I teased her about the cornbread and the spiciness of the chili. She tolerated me well and was very funny. We'll be back in the morning for breakfast! read more

Good service: they were able to accommodate our 14 party group. Patient with our groups menu modifications. I had the meatloaf & a blueberry scone for dessert. They have a little gift shop at the entrance. Coffee & baked good to go as well. read more

See all

This café was awesome! Delicious food and friendly, fun and joyful staff. We were five girlfriends, enjoying our trip to Alaska. Our waitress Renata was exceptional. And the drink maker, Courtney was delightful and fun. I even ask if they made a drink I had read about, the Alaskan Duck Fart and they had not. But, they they read the recipe and offered to make one if I was interested. So Brittany made me one for dessert and she did a terrific job. How's that for accommodating? I highly recommend this restaurant. My compliments to the chef too. read more

Cute wooden cabin with indoor and outdoor seating. Our waitress was super friendly and helpful. Food was a blast from salad, to salmon dipping to Thai stir fry with added salmon, and lastly dessert bread pudding and pies. We loved everything! Awesome spot to recharge after a long hiking/traveling day. read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Thai stir fry with added salmon - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

See all

We were recommended this cafe by a friend in Anchorage. They have a bakery and you can order coffees or sit down for a meal. So glad we took a chance on it for breakfast. The breakfast was delicious. Our server was so sweet and full of personality. The place is super cute and friendly. We ended up back there for dinner and for bakery items. The manager remembered us and came and talked with us for a little bit while we were waiting on a table for dinner. Highly recommend stopping at this cute cafe! read more

See all

4th time in a row . Avocado Toast: largest portion of avocado. Certainly had an Alaskan spin! Very different from SF avocado toast (where I guess this dish is originated from?) Best CA avocado place is Red Door om Howard St SF CA. Meatloaf: pretty decent. Toast is certainly Alaskan size! Sunny side up is perfectly made. Potatoes are ok. Rhubarb sauce is homemade and excellent. Blueberry chocolate chip: I'd say it's a common pancake, sitting right on my expectation. Nothing impressive but it's a classic thing to have. If I have to choose, I'd do blueberry pecan. The King: similar side to Meatloaf. Sausage alone is very well made! Big portion of meat (than starch) in the sausage and not on the salty side like many many other places do. read more

See all

The food here is so good! Especially the house made caramel latte and the Rhubarb Coffee Cake. 10/10. The service was quick and the people are so kind. They have a fire pit and a gazebo along the creek and it was so beautiful to be out there. We also stayed at the signature creekside cabins and it was truly amazing. We also got to see a lot of fall colors and the northern lights as well! Such a magical experience! read more

oh my, the food is soooo good here--definitely worth a calorie splurge, including deserts, which are made fresh here. The smoked turkey pot pie was full of moist turkey and lots of veggies, and the crust was amazing. My friend had the pad Thai with salmon and raved. Several desserts had caramel sauce. I was amazed to learn that they make it there with real cream and no corn syrup! our waitress was super friendly and helpful. Portions were ample--we took our leftovers back to our hotel and ate it for lunch the next day. Seven minutes from the park and a real treat after a day of hiking. read more

I've seen the café recommended on a Denali Facebook page and it did not disappoint. My friend and I both had a delicious bowl of salmon chowder and it was a nice place to relax after time in the park. And, we could not leave without buying a couple of bakery items for later on! I'm happy to report they also were delicious. read more

Can say this will be the best, if not one of the greatest breakfast and wholesome eatery experience in this area. What a pleasantly peaceful ambiance. Exceptional service from staff. Our server recommended my brother and I a hike right in the restaurants backyard that had lovely sites of the creek. I was enamored by this place and so happy I found it. What an incredible addition to our trip choosing this place. Also the giant cinnamon roll is FIREEE! read more

See all

Probably one of the best places to grab a bite near Denali National Park. COVID-19 Measures: Things are pretty laid back at the McKinley Creekside Cafe. Staff wears masks, but guests are not required to do so. This probably has to do with the success of the vaccine rollout. Location: The cafe is located not far from Denali National Park, and it is especially convenient if you are staying at the McKinley Creekside Cabins which are located on the same property. Food/Drink: I had the meatloaf which was excellent. My group also ordered a white wine which paired well with my meatloaf and our dessert, berry pie. Service: The staff were all very friendly. Verdict: Definitely visit for the great dinner fare or even for morning coffee. read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Menu - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

See all

We stayed at the Perch Hotel next door, so the Creekside Cafe was within walking distance from our cabin. We had a couple meals and some baked goods to take away. The dinner meal we had was baked halibut and the grilled halibut taco's and the artichoke dip. All the dishes were good and tasty and satisfying. Breakfast we shared a 2 egg breakfast and Creekside skillet. The breakfast was very good with the potatoes cooked well. I ordered a hazelnut oatmilk latte, and found that all the flavored coffees that were made (in Alaska) are VERY sweet. You will have to be sure to ask them for less sweetener, if that is what you like. The star of the show were the baked goods: The rhubarb strawberry coffee cake, banana pecan bread, and a scone. We ended up getting those the following morning after we checked out and were on our way to our next destination. They were a great snack for us for our road trip and very yummy! The service was a bit slow, but it was interesting to talk to the waitstaff. People are from all different walks of life. Learning about what others were studying in school, aspirations, and just enjoying their summer jobs... read more

See all

The cafe was wonderful, the inside was very clean and our server was amazing! We got the halibut and chips, coconut salmon, and chicken lemon rice soup! The halibut was incredible, it melted in my mouth with each bite. The salmon was good but didn't have much flavor without the sauce. And finally the chicken lemon rice soup was the soup of the day and it was AMAZING. We also got the bread pudding and it was great, very light and the berry sauce on top was 10/10. We took the cinnamon roll to go and had it the next morning after microwaving it for a minute and it was perfectly airy, light and not too sweet! Loved the service!! read more

See all

We went here for dinner tonight. Had the seared halibut and rice. Others had the halibut and chips. Both were very good read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Seared halibut - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

What a delicious meal! We had the halibut tacos and the fish & chips. Amazing! And the service was quick and very attentive! Thank you!

We stayed here for 2 days. Lovely place. So very beautiful and great staff. The food at the cafe was top notch. read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - The creek is beautiful. Or a river actually. - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

See all

My wife and I were craving a warm meal on our way back from Denali. We stopped by the cafe and had a couple of espressos and chili. Food was delicious. Very convenient that they have a pick up window. Would definitely recommend if you are by the area. read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Menu - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska