Highest-rated restaurants in Fairbanks by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans say they rarely or never try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, according to a from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—67% of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on social media or online restaurant reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google. The TouchBistro survey found that 52% of Gen Zers have opted to try a new restaurant due to positive feedback on social media, and 67% of millennials have gone to a new dining spot solely because of favorable reviews online.
New restaurants in particular tend to garner a lot of online attention. About 50,000 new restaurants open each year in the U.S., and that number continues to rise. An analysis by Yelp published in June 2024 found that from May 2023 to April 2024. But some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established eateries that customers have been visiting for decades.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Fairbanks, according to reviews from diners as of January 2025. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews and a 3.0 rating were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
#30. Mom's Kitchen Fairbanks
- Rating: 4.2/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 537 Gaffney Road Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Thai, American, Asian Fusion
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#29. Chicken Town
- Rating: 4.3/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1454 South Cushman St. Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Korean, Chicken Wings, Barbecue
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#28. The Cheesehead Joint
- Rating: 4.3/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 506 Merhar Ave. Ste B Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Sandwiches, Juice Bars & Smoothies
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#27. Noodle House
- Rating: 4.3/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 731 2nd Ave. Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Thai, Noodles
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#26. Lemon Grass Thai Cuisine
- Rating: 4.3/5 (355 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 388 Old Chena Pump Road Ste K Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Thai
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#25. kanpai
- Rating: 4.4/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 1448 South Cushman St. Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Sushi Bars
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#24. Aurora Crepes & Peking Duck
- Rating: 4.4/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 512 Old Steese Hwy Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Creperies, Noodles
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#23. The Hungry Robot
- Rating: 4.4/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 910 Old Steese Hwy Unit C Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Pizza, Food Stands
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#22. Forget Me Not Espresso
- Rating: 4.4/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1246 Noble St. Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#21. Thai Orchid Drive Thru
- Rating: 4.4/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 910 Old Steese Hwy Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Thai
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#20. Little Owl Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1755 Westwood Way Ste 2 Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Cafes
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#19. Glacier Grind Coffee
- Rating: 4.4/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 1255 Airport Way Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Sandwiches
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#18. Blue Roof Bistro
- Rating: 4.4/5 (294 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 13 Timberland Drive Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: New American, Tex-Mex, Burgers
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#17. The Alaska Cheesesteak Company
- Rating: 4.4/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Cheesesteaks, Food Trucks
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#16. Simply Thai
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3611 Rewak Drive Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Thai, Food Stands
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#15. Nim's House of Thai Food
- Rating: 4.5/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1456 South Cushman St. Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Thai
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#14. Oishi Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 329 Driveway St. Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Bakeries, Ramen
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#13. AK BURGER ZONE
- Rating: 4.5/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 20 College Road Ste 8 Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Burgers
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#12. DW Grill & Catering
- Rating: 4.5/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 617 27th Ave. Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: American, Burgers, Sandwiches
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#11. Jazz Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (297 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 527 4th Ave. Ste B Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Music Venues, Puerto Rican, Cuban
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#10. East Ramp Pizza
- Rating: 4.6/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3788 University Ave. South Ste 301 Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Pizza
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#9. Yes Noodle Soup
- Rating: 4.6/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 244 Illionis St. Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Noodles, Soup, Thai
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#8. Soba
- Rating: 4.7/5 (245 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 535 2nd Ave. Ste 106 Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Modern European
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#7. Spicy Thai
- Rating: 4.7/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 1189 Old Richardson Hwy Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Thai
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#6. KC's Kitchen
- Rating: 4.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 1707 South Cushman St. Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Seafood, Chicken Wings
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#5. The Crepery
- Rating: 4.7/5 (871 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 523 2nd Ave. Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Creperies, Coffee & Tea
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#4. Pita Place
- Rating: 4.7/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3300 College Road Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Fast food, Mediterranean
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#3. Bucko's Coffee
- Rating: 4.9/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 281 Bentley Trust Road Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#2. Aurora Restaurant
- Rating: 4.9/5 (124 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1452 South Cushman Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Mediterranean
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#1. Lane's Quickie Tacos
- Rating: 4.9/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3412 College Road Ste 1 Fairbanks, Alaska
- Categories: Street Vendors, Tacos, Tex-Mex
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 318 metros.