Juneau’s Wild, Seasonal, and Surprisingly Gourmet Food Scene

Juneau, Alaska might be a remote capital city, but don’t let its size or isolation fool you — this place knows how to eat.

Surrounded by icefields, sea, mountains, glaciers, and forest, Juneau’s roughly 32,000 residents have developed a food culture that is often wild, seasonal, and deeply connected to place. Here, the tides can influence dinner plans, fishermen sell fresh halibut from their boats, and it’s not unusual to see someone bringing a bundle of spruce tips or foraged mushrooms home instead of a bag of groceries.

Getting food to Juneau is no small task. With no road connecting us to the rest of the state, everything, from bananas, milk, and eggs, arrives by barge or plane. It’s also what spurs innovation and local food production. Locals also use the land and sea as resources to feed themselves and others. It’s also why Juneau’s food scene is so unique.

A Rich Harvest, Right Outside the Door

Living here means having direct access to some of the most pristine ingredients in the world. Five species of wild Pacific salmon, halibut, rockfish, black cod, Dungeness and King crab — they’re all right offshore. Many locals fish, hunt, and forage year-round, not just for sport, but to stock their freezers and feed their families.

Spring brings nettles, tender fiddleheads, and bright green sea asparagus. Summer means baskets of wild blueberries, salmonberries, and many other berries. In fall, mushrooms take center stage — chanterelles, hedgehogs, chicken of the woods, and more. Spruce-tips can be found in beer, gin, and shortbread cookies.

Locals know how to make harvests last, too. You’ll find us smoking salmon, lining the pantry with fermented foods, and pressure canning during summer. Whether drying or canning smoked salmon or turning spruce tips and local berries into jelly, this DIY spirit runs deep.

Juneau is also home to several thriving community gardens where residents grow everything from leafy greens to root vegetables. Often the harvest is shared, swapped, or donated to organizations helping feed neighbors in need.

Taste What Makes Juneau Unique

Juneau’s culinary identity is built on what’s fresh, wild, and real — and our chefs, brewers, and makers are proud to tell that story on every plate and in every pint. Here are just a few local standouts:

Sustainable Seafood & Local Producers

Juneau Greens – Local residents established a hydroponic warehouse and now supply locals and restaurants with fresh greens, live basil, and more.

The Salty Lady – A woman-owned oyster farm harvesting fresh Pacific oysters from local waters with an eye toward sustainability.

Barnacle Foods – Creators of kelp-based pickles, hot sauces, marmalades, and marinades, made from kelp harvested right here in Southeast Alaska.

Artisan Beverages

Juneau is home to four craft breweries, two small-batch distilleries, a kombucha brewery, and a coffee roastery. All are owned and operated by locals who understand the value of quality and of community.

Alaskan Brewing Co. – Pioneers in sustainable brewing, this award-winning brewery captures CO₂ during fermentation and uses their spent grain to fuel beer production.

Foraged & Fine Dining

Red Spruce – Chef-owner Nel crafts thoughtful global street food but also uses local ingredients — a true taste of the Tongass.

In Bocca al Lupo – Led by chef Beau Schooler, “Lupo” as it’s known to locals has been nominated regularly for a James Beard Award and is one of The New York Times’ 2023 “Top 50 Restaurants to Watch.” Schooler and his team hand make their pasta and experiment with inventive takes on Alaska-grown or harvested food.

Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos – What started as a food truck by a former fisherman now ranks #3 on Yelp’s Top 100 Taco Spots in the U.S. (2023).

Local Flavor, One Bite at a Time

Juneau Food Tours – Guided by local expert Midgi Moore, these walking tours dive deep into the stories, people, and flavors behind local Southeast Alaska cuisine — from fireweed honey and smoked caviar to spruce-tip jelly and salmonberry jam.

Juneau’s food scene isn’t just about what’s trendy — it’s about tradition, resourcefulness, and respect for the place we call home. Whether you're savoring salmon or crab fresh off a fishing boat or enjoying a flight of locally made beverages, you’re getting more than a taste of Alaska — you’re experiencing what it means to live here.