Railroad Dining Options

Alaska Railroad Dining Options

Your choices for dining on the train will vary somewhat with which route you are traveling on, as well as whether you are traveling on the Alaska Railroad or on a private dome car. Scrumptious food and beverages (including beer, wine and cocktails) are available for purchase on every route and class of service offered on AlaskaTrain.com. Passengers who upgrade to the Alaska Railroad GoldStar Dome service will enjoy all-inclusive meals on board, see more details below. All trains are cashless so be sure to bring a credit or debit card.

Guests who are traveling on the Denali Star route between Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks in the Alaska Railroad’s Adventure Class can enjoy a wide selection of grab n’ go fare in the Wilderness Café dining car. Sit down dining is available only to GoldStar passengers in the lower level dome car dining room. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on both the northbound and southbound trains.

Alaska Railroad Adventure Class passengers on the Coastal Classic route between Anchorage and Seward can also enjoy food and beverage items for purchase in the Wilderness Café, while GoldStar passengers are welcome in the sit-down dining car. Breakfast is served on the southbound leg from Anchorage to Seward, and dinner is available on the evening return trip from Seward to Anchorage.

Dining on the Glacier Discovery Route is limited to the Wilderness Café grab ‘n go items described below.

Sit Down Dining on the Alaska Railroad                 

GoldStar passengers traveling on either the Denali Star or Coastal Classic can access a full-service dining experience in the lower level of the GoldStar dome car. Tables generally accommodate parties of four, and small parties are typically combined with others during busy periods. The railroad prides itself in the freshly prepared cuisine served on board and strives to include local Alaskan ingredients in many of its dishes.

Breakfast features specialties such as the Aurora Breakfast or biscuits and gravy. The lunch menu has a nice selection of items such as Reindeer Penne Bolognese, burgers, or soup and salad. Dinner entrees include favorites like the Slow Braised Pot Roast, Gold Rush Gumbo, and hearty Railway Burger, with salad and soup options also available. A tasty selection of desserts and cocktails are available to complete your Alaska dining experience. Meals are included for GoldStar passengers.

ARR GoldStar Dome Service Meals
Passengers who upgrade to the Alaska Railroad’s GoldStar Dome service will enjoy all-inclusive meals appropriate to the time of day. You can see a full list of included meals by clicking on the blue bar above. Guests may choose from any of the first-class meals offered on the Alaska Railroad’s onboard menu. In addition, GoldStar guests will receive two adult beverages per trip including beer, wine and cocktails, as well as unlimited non-alcoholic drinks.  All meals include an entrée, beverages and gratuity.  In addition, lunch is served with a soup, while dinner also includes soup OR salad as well as a dessert selection.

Here are some samples of the sit down Alaska Railroad Denali Star breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, as well as the Coastal Classic breakfast and dinner menus.

Wilderness Café on the Alaska Railroad

The Wilderness Café is the place for simpler fare called grab ‘n go items. The café is available on the Denali Star, Coastal Classic, and is the only option on the Glacier Discovery. Breakfast items range for $3 to $8 for items like breakfast burritos, muffins, hot and cold cereal and fresh fruit. The all-day menu includes salads, sandwiches, cheese nachos, pretzels and fruit and cheese trays. You will also find tasty treats like ice cream novelties, fresh baked cookies and brownies, as well as a wide selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

Wilderness Express Dining Options

Passengers who book the Wilderness Express private dome cars between Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali or Fairbanks and choose to dine onboard will do so in the Wilderness Express dining room located on the lower level of each rail car. Breakfast choices range from simple to hearty. Choices include Wilderness Cream of Barley, Mountain Blueberry Pancakes, and Miner’s Scramble. For lunch, try a favorite like the Halibut Cake Sandwich, Garden Veggie Wrap, or a tasty French Dip sandwich. Last, but certainly not least… the dinner menu offers mouthwatering creations such as Prime Rib, Herb Roasted Chicken, and Halibut Supreme. Appetizers, side salads, gluten free and vegetarian options are available. You will also find a nice selection of premium wines, Alaskan beers, and specialty cocktails. Be sure to save some room for a scrumptious dessert like a Brownie Extraordinaire, or an after-dinner drink like the Moose Kiss which offers the perfect balance of Irish Cream, Kahlua, and coffee.

Here is a sample of the Wilderness Express Menu.

McKinley Explorer Dining Options

The McKinley Explorer dome rail cars offer service between Anchorage, Talkeetna and Denali Park on a separate train, with a slightly different schedule than the Denali Star. Similar to the GoldStar and Wilderness Express, the McKinley Explorer features a fabulous dining room on the lower level. For breakfast you can choose from simple items like a Bagel Breakfast Sandwich, or hearty selections like the Reindeer Sausage Breakfast Burrito. Expect to pay $6 to $17 for breakfast. Lunch options range from $12 to $16 for dishes like Alaskan Smoked Salmon Chowder or an Alaska Seafood Roll. Ask your server for vegetarian options, specialty drinks and awesome desserts like the Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae. You will note that there is no dinner service since the McKinley Explorer train concludes service around 5pm.

Here are samples of the McKinley Explorer menus for breakfast, lunch and desserts, as well as snacks and treats available in upper level dome after 1pm.