Didn't taste chocolate in the chocolate babka. Was dry and had a burned note. Cinnamon babka had much more flavor, and was less dry. Others in my party ordered scones and muffins, and we're raving about them. But I can only rate what I had read more

Birch & Alder - Chocolate babka - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

See all

Cute little coffee shop! Line seemed to take forever but at least the baristas were friendly. Got a chai, pretty decent read more

Birch & Alder - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

First time stopping in. Wanted a quick lunch on our way to Homer. Everything is prepped and ready, so it really is a quick drive thru. Bought a cod bagel, french onion bialy, and burrata on focaccia. The flavors were fresh, bright, and beautiful. The bread alone was spectacular, but the extra flavors of carmelized onions and zhoug made it super special. A sunny day with a view and delicious sandwich. What could be better? Already planning on what I want to grab on my way back to the city! read more

Birch & Alder - Drive Thru - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

See all

Great stop during our road trip to Seward. Came here for breakfast and coffee and was decently surprised with their breakfast focaccia and excellent coffee. Their staff were friendly and welcoming. read more

I got the Bagel Experience, and honestly, it tasted even better than it looked! I felt like I was at a fine dining establishment. The inside decor was so chic, clean, and cozy. I will most definitely be back! read more

See all

Came about an hour before closing and was honestly pleasantly surprised. Located on the side of the highway between Anchorage and Seward, Birch & Alder has a lot to offer. It is such a quaint location that has great views and good food! We got a Smoked Black Cod Bagel, banana bread, and a cold brew. They were unfortunately out of the furikake bagel because we came pretty late b the everything bagel was so good with the sandwich. The banana bread and coffee were also good! Looking forward to coming back and trying more things on the menu! read more

Went here with my two daughters on the way to Alyeska. My cod bagel was fantastic, my daughter's focaccia was "the best she's ever had" and my other daughter's mocha was also "the best she's ever had." Inside was clean and charming, and the staff were quite friendly. Great spot! read more

I was working out along the Seward highway and forgot a lunch the other day, to my surprise, when I expected to have to buy my lunch from the gas station, I came across Birch and Alder. The pictures of the food online looked incredible though I was weary about there not being many options for meat, I mustered up my courage and asked the staff what their favorite sandwich was. They were super sweet and accommodated to my dairy allergy with their dairy free cream cheese which was delicious! The sandwich blew me out of the water with how good it was! All in all, the staff was fantastic, food was amazing, and the outside of the shop is super cute and easy for on the go people to grab their food or coffee and be on their way! read more

Birch & Alder - Barrata Sandwich & an unpictured cold brew coffee that was delicious - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Ambiance, location, flavor, customer service - everything was pitch perfect! What a sweet little place! I'm so glad I decided to stop by on my way down to Homer. I was going to go with the bagel experience (smoked salmon) but the server recommended the black cod is often overlooked even though it's delicious. Furthermore, they don't always have it and they always have the bagel experience. I like when things are seasonal or rare - often that means the ingredients are fresh and delicious. She did not steer me wrong. The bagel was the perfect balance or savory and smoky - just delicious. I asked for a caramel chai initially but she mentioned the birch syrup that they make themselves. She mentioned "tastes like maple syrup but with a little smoky flavor" and I was sold. Just say something is smoky and I'll most likely order it, to be honest. Again, she did not steer me wrong. Both items were absolutely divine. I can't wait to come back and try more things off their menu! read more

See all

Tasty espresso beverages. Delightful pastries. Long, LOOOOONNNGGG wait. I'm the type of person, for better or for worse, that believes a line at an establishment usually means they have something worth trying. I started timing the length each car in front of us spent at the window (there were seven cars in front of us when we got into the line) and found the average wait was about five minutes per car. There's no order microphone so there's the order and the time to make the order as each car arrives. The staff doesn't appear to be chagrined by the long line of cars. They are as chipper and friendly as a golden retriever with a pool of water to play in. If you aren't in a rush and looking for solid espresso on the way to, or from, Girdwood or the Kenai, give this place a chance. read more

Birch & Alder - Worth the wait! - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

See all

My group and I were visiting from San Diego and we absolutely loved this place . We had the smoked black cod bagel and it was so delish! The scallion cream cheese was amazing with the smoked fish. Definitely a must get! I had the mate tea sweetened with honey. Super good. We also had the soup of the day, it was vegan wild mushroom. Amazing, I love mushrooms so for mushroom lovers - this is a must try. I used my other half of my bare bagel with the soup and it was super tasty that way . We had a party of 18 and didn't realize they were only into day two of opening! Thanks for the warm service read more

See all

The avocado toast is unreal. A Magical breakfast if there ever was one. I can't stress this enough....drive there and order it. you'll be glad you did read more

Gourmet food Beautiful setting by Turnigan Arm Very busy on a Saturday so service was slow

Must stop on the road to Anchorage!!!! Amazing food! "Everything is good" is an understatement ....

The bagel taste just okay nothing surprised me. Latte is not so impressed. I would still go with Starbucks. Drive thru order only. No inside or outdoor seating. About 25mins wait time when there was 5 vehicles in front of us. A little pricy if based on the taste of food and drink quality. read more

See all

Food was great! Service was quick & friendly. The price however was more than i feel it was worth.

Awesome food and drinks for the price. Friendly staff, even in the cold of winter! Loved being able to take the food and park off at a spot to enjoy the morning with. read more

Very good! I love how they always are so nice and friendly! It is so fun when I get to go in the morning! read more

Birch & Alder - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

An absolute GEM. These fine people really know what they're doing, and its wonderful to see a craft perfected. They bring joy to our community. read more

Like Andrew H. I too was extremely saddened by the closing of Froth & Forage. There was no other restaurant like it, and stopping was a highlight of our drives along the Turnagain Arm with that said I'm beyond ecstatic that a new restaurant has taken its place! I'm even happier because Birch & Alder (B&A) seems committed to serving the same delicious, well presented & fresh food as F&F. The owners are so friendly and kind. Their son works the window with them so it's truly a family run business. They have some big plans for Birch & Alder, and it will be going beyond drive thru fare soon! They will be opening up the patio for brunch as well as the inside once they complete the interior renovations. They are aiming for summer time. This will be an all year round business with plans for dinner service in the future as well. The owners are super enthusiastic about this restaurant, and I love it! I just know they're going to put 110% behind everything they do. I've never seen a scratch kitchen do a drive thru concept & they do it well! The menu is small so that everything can be executed perfectly. The scones & babka are really tasty. My favorite is the savory scone with prosciutto, leek & Irish cheddar. I'm not typically one for savory over sweet, but this scone is amazing. The focaccia sandwich is absolutely delicious. Honestly one of the tasitier sandwiches I've had in a while. The focaccia was perfectly crispy & theres a generous portion on burrata. I am excited to see what else is up their sleeve menu wise for sit down service. I know the food is going to be good. As for now the next time you're heading south make it a point to stop here for some treats! You will not be disappointed! This is a drive thru like you've never seen before! read more

See all

Warning, massive digression: Froth & Forage used to be in this space. It was a huge part of my life in Alaska while it was open. Coming here first thing in the morning on weekends was like therapy for me. It helped me gather my thoughts. About things as simple as what to hike or as complex as "what do I really want in a long-term partner". IT definitely got me through some difficult times in my life. In the final months of their being open, they even hung some of my photography on the wall! Birch & Alder has as similar name, but different owners. From my one sampling of the food today, there seems to be a similar level of hand-crafted attention to detail at B&A as there was at F&F! I got the sandwich special which was: House Focaccia, Burrata, Arugula pesto, Marinated Heirloom tomatoes, prosciutto di parma. It was amazing and, unlike most sandwiches, was NOT something I could've thrown together at home! I also got the soup of the day, which was tomato. It seemed to be made from scratch and was really good! I do wish it has a bit more seasoning to it though. Overall, the quality of the food here was really above-and-beyond. My only criticism is that the portions left me wanting more. Still, this is a place that serves sit-down-restaurant-quality food, at drive-through speeds which is mighty impressive! I can't wait to see what they do in the future. I will be one of the first people to dine-in, whenever that opens up! read more

See all

I have nothing bad to say about this place at all other than I am BUMMED other people love it as much as I do. Everything from birch and alder is going to be an absolute experience for your taste buds. What makes this place so special is the time and care that they put into making each item they offer really unique and a flavor experience. I have probably tried just about everything on the menu by now but without a doubt my favorite will always be the bagel experience. From the fluffy whip of the cream cheese to the lemon zest and the satisfyingly crispy tomato chips, every bite is nothing short of perfect. Recently I got to try their new bialy and it is equally as amazing. While the foods I get from here are heart warming and happy comfort foods in my mind, I never leave feeling heavy because of the quality and freshness of the ingredients used. Thanks for bringing such a great spot into the community. See you next time (and every time) I drive past! read more

See all

There was a long line that goes out to the road almost. Probably waited 20 mins. Cute looking drive thru place. Food was okay I feel like it was overhyped. Kind of hard to eat in a car while driving. So you kind of have to pull over to eat the bagel that is falling apart. Bread is hard to bite through. I mean it's nothing to rave about nothing to complain about. It was pretty pricey for the food I feel. But that's just me. read more

See all

Coffee was exactly what we needed and we had the perfect view of the mountains and water from the parking lot. The breakfast focaccia and the bagel sandwiches were even better than we could have imagined and I'm bummed we only got to go here once. 10/10!! read more

Birch & Alder - breakfast focaccia - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Pulled in to the side of the road to answer a phone call and voila - there was 4 cars in line. I walked in but it was drive through only place. So we got in line and within 5+ mins more cars came forming a long queue on the side of the road. Presentation of sandwiches and bagels were great! But for $15 to go price, it's a little pricey (however keep in mind this is Alaska). Latte is latte - there was no wow. They ran out of date babkas so I ordered a chocolate. Not too sweet and that was good. We drove another 5+ mins and stopped at Beluga Point to enjoy the food. read more

See all

Cute location and great vegan tomato soup, but not worth visiting on a busy day as they quickly run out of food. After waiting half an hour in the shop for food and drinks, they got my coffee order completely wrong despite verifying I was getting the correct drink. Felt no urgency amongst baristas to quickly get out orders despite physical line out the door and several cars in to go line. read more

I had a great breakfast sandwich, a nice cup of coffee, and some delicious scones here. It was an unexpected find on the Turnagain Arm. read more

Birch & Alder - Egg, peppers, herbs on fresh focaccia. - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

The food was so fresh and tasty, such a friendly atmosphere. Left feeling full and happy!

I had passed this place many times driving through Girdwood and always thought it looked like a trendy, cool little spot. Recently, I read a review in the Anchorage Daily News and decided to try it. My friend was visiting from out of town and on our way from Anchorage to Girdwood, we stopped to have lunch at 12:30pm. We waited five minutes to order and we're excited. We knew the dining room was closed but it was a beautiful day so we were happy to sit outside. The view is breath-taking!!! First, they were ONLY serving breakfast at 12:30pm, which seemed strange considering they closed at 3/4pm. Not sure when they switch to the lunch menu, but we were disappointed. There are only a few items on the breakfast/brunch menu, so we both went with the everything bagel and lox. We got our order, parked and went to sit at one of two picnic tables. The tables had nothing on them. No table cloth, no napkins, no salt/pepper, no little vases with flowers. The grass around the table was overgrown, which isn't a huge deal, but considering their dining room was closed, you kind of think they'd have a bit of an outside area that was well-kept. It was as if we were eating at a shoddy camp site. There was not a visible trash can to discard the paper our sandwiches were wrapped with and we had to surmise that the bin on the steps on the side of the building was where to put it. The bagel sandwiches each cost $15, which seemed fair for a gourmet bagel. The bagel tasted awesome! It was clearly fresh. The ingredients were tasty, but nothing groundbreaking. We didn't have any coffee either, so I can't comment on that. I wouldn't recommend this spot for the subpar ambiance and price. It's not special enough to stop for. Wish that there were more options on the menu, an earlier lunch time period, and maybe even some sides that came along, possibly a small fruit cup or chips. read more

Pricey and super slow BUT... worth the wait AND the price. So delicious; my sandwich and drink were A+ and I will be back.

Wow the best breakfast sandwich I have ever had! What a treat to have shaved truffle's! So good I ate it before I could take a pic. Yum!

What a beautiful place to stop and get your delicious coffee and pastries! We had scones and chai lattes! Everything was so thoughtful and delicious! They only offer a drive through window now, but you don't have to drive to the window. We parked our car in their lot and walked to the window, which gave us more time in the sun! They also have a ton of bike racks to serve the cyclists. It sounds like the owners will expand to full brunch and private dinners soon! read more

Birch & Alder - Delicious treats and a great view! - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Would be better if they served their bagels open faced. The bagels are so chewy all the fillings fall out. Also they wouldn't serve us just a plain bagel, we were required to purchase the cream cheese at a ridiculous price. Greedy read more

Stopped here on way back from Animal Conservatory and it was well worth the wait (maybe 7-10 minutes) and the drive out from Anchorage. I ordered the sandwich special ? I think it was and it was the best sandwich of my life. Revolutionary? Yes. Also maple latte was good too. But less important than the sandwich special. read more

If you're looking for bagels and an amazing view, this place has got you covered! the staff are amazing, they have a large menu, short wait in line, and their coffee and bagels are amazing! thank you birch & alder for an amazing breakfast! read more

This was the best brunch I have had in a long time and while being in Alaska. My birch latte with cashew sunflower milk was incredible. The bagel experience WAS an experience. The mix of lemon and sun dried tomatoes with the salmon and sprouts produced an explosion of flavor on my tongue. The seasonal scone (sunflower dandelion honey deliciousness) was moist and delectable. The line moved fast, people were friendly, SO worth any drive or wait. Also, cute spot :) read more

Birch & Alder - breakfast focaccia and bagel and experience on sesame - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

My favorite place to drive out to for a treat. Such kind service and amazing coffee and baked goods! The breakfast focaccia is incredible! So worth the drive! read more

This hidden gem is awesome, great customer service and the food and drinks are way above average in compression to other drive thru. Can't wait until the restaurant offers sit down meals read more

Birch & Alder - Coffee shop - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Stopped here on the way back from camping one weekend. The breakfast focaccia was good, but the babka was just okay. Mostly bread with very little cinnamon. The portions are small, but everything is made small batch. There is some limited outdoor seating, but the views are fantastic! I'd stop by again and give their lunch menu a try. read more

Birch & Alder - Breakfast focaccia - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

See all

Excellent coffee and customer service. Highly recommend grabbing a latte with Alaska milk and some scones (nice and fluffy) on your way down to your next adventure. Coffee is made to perfection (not nasty burnt like Starbucks) and gives a nice boost to your day. They have babkas too that are delicious and come in three flavors: chocolate, chocolate espresso and cinnamon. But get there early Bc they sell out. read more

Birch & Alder - Fresh babka - Cafes Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska