Fairbanks, AK things to do/places to eat?

[Magnum Sherpa]

I’ll be flying into Fairbanks as a starting point for a hunt in September. I’ve never been there before. Are there any must do activities or things to see there? How about the best places to eat? The airport here in Missoula is closing that week for 5 days, so I will likely start my trip early and have 2 extra days in Fairbanks.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Head to north pole and get Mongolian beef from pagoda restaurant. Best I've ever eaten

Pagoda Chinese Restaurant & Bar
(907) 488-3338



https://g.co/kgs/2y3tVXM

 

[TheGrayRider]

Following. I am in the same boat for a hunt that starts in early August. Arriving a couple days early…

Also, any recommendations on any reasonable overnight lodging and hotels around Fairbanks? Prices have increased exponentially since the pandemic years.

Happy hunting, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.

 

[Dave N]

Big Daddy's BBQ.
Pagoda.
Pump House.

 

[crock239]

Hoo Doo Brewery is worth it...they actually make pretty good beer and the vibe is good.

There's a Thai place that's just a drive up food truck a little bit outside of town that was good (someone here will know it, i cant recall the name)...OK just checked the map pretty sure it was Spicy Thai by Moo

 

[crock239]

Following. I am in the same boat for a hunt that starts in early August. Arriving a couple days early…

Also, any recommendations on any reasonable overnight lodging and hotels around Fairbanks? Prices have increased exponentially since the pandemic years.

Happy hunting, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.

No hotels in Fairbanks were reasonable by lower 48 standards...tourist and hunting season overlap in Aug and Sep.

We actually stayed at these cabins and it was good enough, and IIRC about $100-150/night less than a crappy hotel room in town...and I felt better about having our vehicle right outside the cabin than in a hotel parking lot.

Alaska log cabins on the pond B & B

logcabinsonthepond.com

Edit: if I just "spot burned" LMK and I'll edit the post.

 

[Derek44]

Big Daddy's BBQ.
Pagoda.
Pump House.

I’ll second the Pump House!!
Incredible food

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

Good suggestions! I lived near Fairbanks for 30 years before retiring and moving to Montana.

The pumphouse can be hit or miss, most of the time excellent, a couple times dry halibut, nearly raw shrimp, etc.
Crowded with tourists during the summer, we usually ate there only during the off-season.

There are more Thai restaurants per capita in the Fairbanks area than any place in North America.
Lemongrass and the Thai House are 2 good ones.

Pagoda is a good choice if your headed to North Pole.

Silver Gulch is a good choice if your headed to Fox to see the pipeline.
If you are into pies and truck stop food, the Hilltop on the Elliot (north to the Haul Road) is good.
The Chatanika Lodge up the Elliot Highway on the way to 12-mile summit is an old-style Alaskan lodge.

 

[Dave N]

+1 on the Chatanika Lodge. You can spend hours looking at all of the stuff hanging on the walls and everywhere else they could put stuff, including a '55 T-bird and a Tommy gun. The chili was good!

 

[the nikster]

I stop in at HooDoo every year for 1 beer. It tastes great and the mood is perfect.
I also like the Pump house. I have never had a bad meal in a dozen tries, but, fwiw, a friend from Hungary got sick once, probably from shrimp since she was a vegetarian.
My wife really likes the owl cafe. I don’t eat that healthy crap.
We always stay at the Best Western. Just kinda habit at this point, we have a remote cabin so, a cabin in town ain’t our thing.
The wife also recommends the Blue Roof Bistro.
Lots of street art.
Go over to North Pole and take pictures for the children in your family.
Go over to Sportsman’s, buy a pink Barbie fishing pole and a couple lures. Run down to the river and catch your first grayling. Heck of a photo.
Bakery Restaurant on college way has a good breakfast.
We stayed once at an air BnB that was priced right and the host was a military family. Great stay.

Rental unit in Fairbanks · ★4.90 · 3 bedrooms · 6 beds · 1 bath

Close to everything you need Unit A

www.airbnb.ca

 

[Deleted member 56225]

There is also the Turtle Club (some say it sucks, some love it) out in Fox, same neighborhood as silver gulch and the same price range as the Pump House. If want to watch a football game The Banks (burgers, bar food, lots beer choices). There are quit a few Thai restaurants in Fairbanks but the one I liked the most is called Mom's. It is in the back of Tony's ( a bar) where youare in Tony's and its a counter in the back of the bar. For breakfast there is Hometown or the Cookie Jar. A good lunch spot is DW Grill and Catering. For something different The Crepery