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

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

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

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The summer salad may just be one of the best salads we've ever had. It was so good we went back for it a second time! The fried goat cheese that comes with it made for a one of a kind, unique, and amazing bowl of greenery. The Turkey pot pie was also very tasty! I really liked that, and the baked deserts we got as well. I don't think you can go wrong with anything from the bakery. The 4 stars instead of 5 star ranking is solely due to the Halibut and chips. Those alone would merit 1 or 2 stars at most. They were wayyyy overcooked. The fish was super rubbery, and I've never had such chewy halibut. The breading was not my favorite either. Overall I would definitely never get this dish there but there are plenty of other options that are very good. read more

I love this little cafe! After driving around we finally found this space and it was open! Huzzah! We weren't sure if they only served snacks but they have a full dinner menu so we sat inside. We got the menu pretty quick but it took awhile to get our order in. I decided on a cup of their chili which comes with cornbread but I also got a side of sourdough bread just to try it. My brother ordered their veggie burger with a side of their soup of the day (coconut curry) instead of fries. Our food arrived pretty quickly and wow, the chili was great. I loved it. The cornbread was even better and came with honey butter. The sourdough bread was good as well but not worth $2 as it was only a small slice. But, my brother loved the veggie burger and soup. We, of course, ordered a dessert and I got the caramel pecan roll and he got their strawberry rhubarb coffee cake. This took awhile for the waitress to get to us as the restaurant was filling up but our desserts arrived warmed up and amazing. I thought about trying their cinnamon roll but the caramel roll looked too good to pass up and I stand by that decision. I would definitely eat here again. read more

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We planned this trip three times thanks to Covid and wavered on staying at the McKinley Creekside Cabins several times since it was a bit of a distance from the things we wanted to do while in the area. But our gut feeling was that it would be a great fit for us and we were right! We stayed in an upstairs king bedroom in the Lodge and were very pleased with the location, size and convenience of the room with parking right downstairs and a short walk to the main building. The two meals we ate here were great: breakfast (try the reindeer sausage!) and dinner seated outside. It was so nice to have a quality food option right on-site...(but highly recommended to make reservations!). We will recommend this lovely, laid back place over the packed/densely populated lodges right outside the park any time! (And be sure to digest all of the helpful documents they send re: booking nearby activities!) read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - The view of the creek and nearby mountain from our porch! - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

I just had to share....On our trip back home, from Anchorage to Fairbanks, I stopped back by, in hopes of getting a good cup of coffee. Well, I did NOT get what I expected....I GOT WAY BETTER! I have gone on to talk about it to everyone who will listen....LOL....it was a LIFE CHANGING cup of coffee! If you're a coffee connoisseur, do yourself a favor and STOP HERE! Oh, yeah! THE BAKED GOODS are awesome, too! :) Such a good place to stop! read more

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Amazing place close to Denali Park and middle of nowhere. The location is great, food is amazing and service is awesome! I had Mediterranean salad with halibut and it was amazing - beat halibut I have had so far during our 1 week trip to Alaska. Wife had burrito salad that was fantastic. Music selection was great. read more

It's not fair to find that one of my favorite places to eat is in Denali, Alaska when I live in Texas!! I confess that I am not the easiest person to suit when it comes to food. I don't eat meat and I avoid dairy. I thought the lettuce wraps with perfectly prepared tofu and an amazing peanut sauce was the best thing I've eaten in a very long time, until I returned during brunch time a couple of days later! I had the special - the fluffiest and mist delicious pancakes with white chocolate chips and cranberries! I can't rave enough about the food but I have to add that the service also earns a similar level of kudos due to Bonnie! She is wonderful, welcoming, and extremely attentive. The location is fantastic also. It's nestled alongside a beautiful bubbling creek (hence the name). Please don't miss out on a stop at McKinley Creekside while visiting Denali! read more

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Coming to the McKinley is like coming home. The food is the best there is anywhere around Denali. No fried foods here, no way. Just healthy, perfectly paired meals and perfectly cooked. We had dinner and breakfast here every day for four days and each meal was to write home about. The halibut was particularly amazing. On another night my husband and I split the meatloaf and a salad, and that was delicious. He had the turkey pot pie on our last night and I had the halibut glazed, every meal was 5 stars, and the service was 5 stars too. We love this place, and will be sad to leave. Oh, and the cinnamon rolls. Amaaaaaazing. read more

Great desserts, good wine, and good chowder. A surprisingly sophisticated little restaurant, though a bit uneven - neither the halibut special nor the Thai stir-fry were anything special - and the calamari was standard, probably from a frozen packet supplied to restaurants. The Caesar salad was a good salad, but didn't particularly taste like a Caesar salad - just romaine lettuce with croutons. On the other hand, the salmon chowder was fabulous, the coconut macaroon delightful, the gluten-free chocolate cake delicious. And then there's the wine - they had a really good selection of fine wines at very reasonable prices (for the kind of wines they are) - and we frequent tastings in Anderson Valley, Walla Walla, the Canadian Okanogan, Willamette Valley, etc, so that's not a casual complement. read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Tucked into this unassuming A-frame is a good restaurant - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

We visited here multiple times for breakfast while we were visiting the park. Every time the service was great. We were promptly seated and attended to. They have a good selection of breakfast items to choose from. We tried eggs, pancake, avocado sandwich, granola yogurt and none of them disappointed. They also have the option to pack if you are looking to get something quickly on the way to the park. They also have a little gift shop right by the entrance. Overall the ambiance is good, will be coming back the next time we are in the area. read more

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We stopped in for dinner because of the great reviews on Yelp. This is a fantastic place to eat! We all enjoyed our food and the sweet treats afterwards. We highly recommend stopping in to have something. read more

Great food. Great coffee. This place is open early for brunch. The portions are plentiful. Slightly on the expensive side but worth it. The skillet option was extended flavored with customizable sides. read more

We were around the area and this restaurant was recommended by staffs from Husky Homestead. I'm glad we stopped by because the food was amazing. There are indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor area was shaded so we decided to sit outside with mountains as our view. I have to say the mosquitoes were a bit annoying. However, overall dining experience was wonderful. Staff was super friendly and our food came out relatively fast. We got their appetizer platter and halibut. I like the crispy texture of the fried items without being too greasy. The onions were sweet and halibut were soft to the bite. The reindeer sausage wasn't gamy at all. Their sour dough was amazing with their salmon dip, which they gave us a huge amount that we ran out of bread to go with it. Their halibut dish was wonderful with great texture. I have to say their vegetables underneath the halibut kind of stole the show as they are delicious. My partner and I wish there were more! Highly recommend to come here for dinner if you don't mind driving out of the park a bit for food. read more

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This is cute little place just 30mins south from denali entrance. Beautiful view of mountains, patio seating and just by the main road. They have got a few mosquitoes though! When I ordered the daily special pan cake I thought they will bring me pancakes with banana and pineapple on top! But was so wrong it was blended pancake and one of the best I had! read more

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We adored this place! Definitely our favorite meal in Denali. We went for lunch on a rainy day and sat under the covered porch. We had a gorgeous view of the mountain and we were totally covered from the rain! Our waiter was so nice and friendly and gave great recommendations. We had the pretzel to start (delicious!) and then I had halibut tacos as my main meal. I would return here in a heartbeat! read more

This place is fantastic. We've had all types of food here from bakery to grilled halibut and nothing disappoints. If you're nearby or staying here you've got to stop in. read more

Our waitress was abundantly friendly, and it made for a bubbly and joyful atmosphere. This quaint, cozy cafe is nestled on the edge of Denali NP, just a few miles south of the entrance road. We were recommended this place by some people we met on a Denali Bus the day prior to our visit. I ate some pancakes, and another family member got a skillet. The food was pretty good and the atmosphere was great, and to top it off-- all of the staff were perfect as could be. I would absolutely visit again, and hope to do so. read more

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

Fabulous food in the middle of nowhere. Great fresh bakery. Delicious food, casual dining room. Creek side fire place and more. What a gem!

Consistently the best food every meal. We had dinner 3 times, and a sack lunch. Every one was delicious and well prepared. The chili, the salmon, their burgers, everything was so good. Staff is friendly and make a great meal even better. Can not recommend more highly. read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Tonite's special. They change this literally every night they are open. May be the best Salmon and meal I've ever had. - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

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I want to give this place 5 stars. I really do. If I was basing it off of the manager and the baked goods, I would. But for dinner, I just can't. We ate here on our first night in Denali a few weekends ago. We'd been on the road all day and wanted to have a good cocktail and meal before checking in to The Perch Resort. This place is so cute. And, it was the only spot open right next to us- Other than pizza. We arrived around 5- thank goodness. Since it was 1 of 2 spots open, it got busy quick. Everyone was friendly. The menu had a variety. Burgers, sandwiches and fish tacos. They make a soup every day. I was bummed that the only fish on the menu was fried and they wouldn't: couldn't make a grilled one for me. So, I ordered those and then just stripped the breading. It definitely decreased the mass of the meal a great degree but it also decreased the calories and carbs. (If these aren't on your radar- go for it!) They aren't terrible but they weren't that good either. It was food and who are we to complain. I was super bummed to find that they don't have liquor. Just wine. So, we made sure to drive about 20'minutes further down the road and back after dinner for a liquor store stop for the cabin at The Perch. Now, the main food here is well, food. But the real treat is the breakfast pastries and the desserts. They. Are. Huge. And delectable!!! I also love that this place has an espresso bar. AND! you can order a to go lunch to have ready for you in the morning as you leave to head in to Denali. That! Is such a great service. The pastries, sweets and this offering knocked my 2 star to a 4 star with no hesitation. That, and the sweet lady helping us. She was wonderful. Talk about customer service- I put coconut oil in my coffee. And, the next morning when we stopped there to grab some before heading in to the park, she busted out their coconut oil for me they use in the kitchen so I could out some in my coffee. :) That was phenomenally kind and great hospitality! read more

Halibut on a summer salad $25 Mooster Hamburger with kale soup $14 Everything was amazing The dressing on the salad was bland and watery. The only negative Service was fast and efficient Drove from Anchorage and saw bear and moose Weather is warm I read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Halibut on summer salad - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

Perfect breakfast destination while in the Denali area. Good coffee, Great Bakery(!!)) goods, highly recommend. We walked around the grounds, they also have cabins and they look very nice. We would possibly try staying here when we visit Denali again. read more

Let's be honest. On the pilgrimage from Anchorage to Denali National Park...there are many businesses trying to snag your precious, gullible, lower-48'r dollars. You'll find a lot of businesses with Alaska kitsch stapled to the walls and completely mundane (but expensive!) food on the plates. This is NOT one of those places. You'll see the word "gem" used in many reviews, and for good reason. The food here is all very fresh/local/etc type of food. I had a burger, a very simple item, but you could tell it was a burger from a happy cow. The hardest part of eating here was choosing WHAT to eat. They also had solid beers available. To be perfectly honest, I don't remember the menu, just that it was good. I simply made some positive, generic notes on this place, for a later review. I will return and give more specifics! Some people say this place is expensive? Bro, do you even Alaska? This place is pretty affordable by Alaskan standards, let alone 13-miles-from-a-National-Park standards. If you want to eat cheaply in this part of Alaska, pack some sammies! Don't whiz by this place! Stop. Eat. Drink. No one wants to enter Denali National Park hangry, it's a looooooong bus ride into the good stuff. BE WARNED though: this is likely a highly seasonal business. I wouldn't count on it being open in the winter months*. I really wish it were though. *Just looked on their website, there is nothing that says they are not open. I shot them an email, will update when I know for sure. UPDATE: business got back to me: "We are open Mid May through the first week in Sept." read more

Excellent and fresh food. They grow almost all the veggies in their garden. The owner maintains the garden very well. They are very welcoming. The cafe is located next to a small creek and next to Denali mountains. Highly recommended!!! read more

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There is nothing like a hot friendly dinner after Long day in Denali. This place is a gem Hidden on highway 3. We took the special soup of the day which was Caprese, surprising tomato, zucchini non crushed soup. We took Thai stir fry which came spicy and yummy for Kids shared burger and chicken stripes, while the stripes were crunchy and Home made, burger was a bit dry in our mind. Both had French fries, too salty but hot and fresh. Service was good and fast, worth coming back ! read more

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such a cute cafe! i got the smoked turkey blt and added avocado, it was amazing! I also had a cold brew coffee that was delicious :) there is no cell service here but they do have wifi which works great. overall an amazing place with such a great vibe! read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - smoked turkey BLT with avocado! - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

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Our stay at McKinley Creekside has been awesome. Sad to leave tomorrow The restaurant here has the best food and super friendly service. We had the best fish and chips we have ever here! Everything on the menu is fantastic, you can't go wrong. read more

We eat at McKinley CreekSide every time we visit the area. The food is always wonderful as is the service. And to to mention the homemade baked goods. Highly recommend . read more

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We stayed at these cute cabins right along the creek. Ate here for dinner first night after a long day at the park. Simple menu but was fantastic. 3 people had the fresh halibut special - over their own raised veggies with a Devine goat cheese / bacon / sauce. read more

The McKinley Creekside Cafe is ultra convenient to eat at. I'll say this 'tho, at least for our experiences, if you're in a rush, you may reconsider based on asking the servcie time before ordering, as it's a popular spot and the staff can get overwhelmed to the point if you're trying to make an appointment (such as a tour bus in Denali) you may create your own delays by dining here. The service is friendly and food quality is solid, a good place for a hot fresh meal. They seem to have a lot of deserts too incl. a huge cinnamon bun. It's a fairly casual place to come to, easy parking too. In an area with limited dining options, this is a solid choice for many. read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Fish and Chips (french fries) - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

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Rating the average of two meals, entirely different experiences. My halibut tacos Saturday dinner was very good. The flour tortilla was like an artisan piece instead of a mass produced tortilla. The ingredients seemed very fresh (for Alaska) and was a great combination. Served with chips and salsa. Service was very good. Breakfast was another story. The reindeer sausage side was good, but I abandoned the blueberry white chocolate chip pancakes because they were very salty. Also confirmed by my spouse - she agreed. Asking if I wanted to try something else, I thought go safe with eggs and toast so I ordered those with the eggs over medium. I got the eggs and the whites barely even had a thin skin over runny gelatinous whites. Not over medium. I bailed on those too and ate my $3 half slice of sourdough toast that was good. read more

I'd give this place a 4.5, but that's not an option. Super cute bakery, cafe, restaurant all-in-one. They have a great baked goods selection that seems fresh made. Their food menu is also pretty good (in offerings and taste). The coffee was also good (we had a cappuccino and a latte) but nothing was special. Overall, this is a great option (and one of the only options in this area), and the baked goods make it worth it. read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Alaska-sized cinnamon roll - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

YUMMY CAFE!!! Awesome house-made pastries, the blueberry scone and strawberry rhubarb coffee cake were all next level. Lots of yummy brunch cocktails like a dank bloody mary, Irish coffee, a spiked chai latte and AWESOME coconut hot buttered rum!! (Yes we drank all of them, no shame) Great top sirloin eggs Benedict special + horseradish hollandaise and yummy espresso shots to finish! Awesome breakfast / lunch spot on the way into town. Thank-you to Jillian for the great service! Such a fun day off at Creekside :) read more

Absolutely the best food and service! Do yourself a favor and eat here everyday. Grab a fresh pastry !!! read more

McKinley Creekside Cafe - Inside seating - Cafes Near Me - Denali, Alaska

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On your way north to Denali, don't pass up this cafe if you are hungry. We had a corn salmon chowder that was scrumptious and a turkey b l t that was equally good. Flowers adorn the front of the building and the interior feels woodsy. Service was good. We plan to return soon. read more

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This place is amazing for breakfasts. The photos really don't give credit to the awesome food. We almost decided on another place based on the photos but I am glad we didn't. The Avocado toast with eggs is great. The pancakes were also awesome. But the cake and the Californian skillet were the best. read more

Great little restaurant as part of the cabin. Small menu but good spread, great coffee shop plus a number of pastries to choose. Good restaurant near the national park read more

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The chowder and the Asian lettuce wraps (I had with tofu) were very good! We ate off the lunch menu, but the brunch menu (served through 2pm on Sat/Sun) looked good, too. Plenty of people arrived just in time to catch the brunch offerings. read more