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    Pioneer Cafe

    3.8 (136 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Pioneer Cafe Photos

    PIONEER CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Pioneer Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Gavin Carl K.

    Food was amazing, biscuits and gravy, reindeer sausage. Also my pork chops and corn beef hash, eggs, hash browns all made perfectly. Service by Kristi was awesome. Very kind and friendly. I love the cafe ambiance reminds me of an old school local spot with great vibes. Definitely coming back!!!

    Cute Route 66 theme cafe
    Val G.

    Came in while the girls went shopping in the area. Just had a cup of coffee and was waiting for the girls to get done to share some pie with them. The staff was really nice and I sat enjoying my coffee and got to talk to a few locals. It has a Route 66 vibe and look and everything around me looked really good. Especially the big breakfasts. As it got later I got a call from the girls that had walked pretty far away and I noticed that there was a group waiting for a spot to sit. By leaving I was able to allow them to sit so I never got my pie.

    Jennifer J.

    After several days filling our bellies on a cruise ship, naturally we were craving a good breakfast when we arrived in Ketchikan! I searched for breakfast spots on Yelp, and up popped the Pioneer Cafe. It was a quick (maybe 5-7 minute) walk from our ship, so we headed on over as soon as we got off the ship. Luckily, it wasn't very busy when we arrived. That changed quickly, as soon other apparent cruisers were lining up to get in. We loved the classic diner vibe of this place, and settled in to a booth near the window. Insider tip: this was a great spot for people watching - which is a fun local pastime when there are literally 5 cruise ships in port! Soon, our coffee cups were filled and our orders were taken. We decided to split one of their massive 4-egg Denver omelettes, and I was having some sweet cravings so I got a side of their Texas French toast. It was all delivered hot, fast, and delicious. Our server was super friendly, too. This appears to be one of the only full service breakfast restaurants in downtown Ketchikan, so if you're on a cruise ship my advice is to arrive early. It's also right next to Creek Street, so we were able to walk off some of our breakfast calories over there while perusing the various galleries and shops.

    There must be an interesting background to this sign in the men's room.
    Larry B.

    Stopped in for a quick bite while visiting town. The reindeer hotdog was very good. It perfectly fits my desire to try something new and local while traveling. The decor is 70s diner and functional. Service was a bit sporadic even though there wasn't much of a crowd. If there's a next visit to Ketchikan we will likely try a different place.

    L N.

    Delicious hamburger with buttered buns and milk shake with malt. Service friendly and efficient.

    Country potatoes with a side of gravy
    Jennifer L.

    Cute little diner! We went for dinner and we also came here for breakfast in the morning. Dinner wasn't as busy as breakfast so that was a plus. My cheeseburger was cooked well done and there was way too many fixings for the amount of bun and burger. The mozzarella sticks were alright, nothing to rave about. For breakfast I wasn't extremely hungry so I got potatoes and a side of sausage gravy for dipping. The potatoes were delish and I loved how the green peppers were still crunchy, green, and not over cooked. The toast was a little sour, so maybe they accidentally gave me sourdough instead of white toast like I ordered.

    Exterior
    John C.

    Was in Ketchikan on an Alaska cruise and our excursion was just a few hours so we time to explore the city a bit more. I was searching for a hot dog and after strolling around it seemed like the Pioneer Cafe was the best option. The cafe had a classic diner feel inside. They were busy so my plan was to get my hot dog to go and sit in the park across the street. The server was also working the register so it took a while for her to come around and take my order. I got the hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard with fries. Again, it was busy inside so it took a while for the food to be ready. When it was I took it into the park. The dog was big. They had put the mustard in a cup on the side which I thought was interesting instead of just putting it on the hot dog. Everything was hot and tasted good. The fries were probably the highlight of the meal, well-seasoned and crispy. I can't say for sure that hot dogs and/or quick service is where Pioneer Café shines, but the other dishes coming out of the kitchen looked good.

    Cindy E.

    This place was recommended by a local after our first choice was closed. If you're looking for friendly service, this isn't the place. Our server Eliza was as stone faced as you can get, and if you looked in the kitchen, the cooks weren't any different. I had the chicken club sandwich and the breaded chicken looked and tasted like it was cooked in the microwave. The onion were actually not bad. Husband had the chicken fried steak which was pretty good size and he said it was good. I guess if you're super hungry this place will suffice.

    P. Amanda S.

    Whenever we are in Ketchikan, we make it a point to stop by here. Why? Alaskan blueberry pancakes, and reindeer sausage. The pancakes are so big, one is almost the size of the plate. The blueberries taste different than the blueberries found in the lower 48. I can't explain it. They just taste better. Flip the pancake over, and the underside is full of blueberries. The reindeer sausage was a little on the pricey side, but they get them from Anchorage, and are delicious. We really couldn't get enough. The location is small, and service seems rushed to quickly turn over tables, but it is worth it for those two items.

    Reindeer dog
    JoAnn M.

    It hit the spot. Retro spot--looked like a mix of locals and tourists. Really good potato soup. My friend said the clam chowder was good too. We split a reindeer dog--simple, but good amount of sausage.

    Breakfast menu (second page) on the front glass of cafe.
    Jenn R.

    Originally scouted out a few locations for breakfast but landed at the Pioneer Cafe because the first place wasn't open and the second place ran out of batter to make crepes (yes, that was weird to hear, but things happen). Overall, we enjoyed our breakfast and the staff were friendly. THE FOODS | Traditional diner food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We went on a Thursday and there was only one cook in the kitchen, so food came out about 30 minutes after putting in our order. If you're on a tight schedule like we were, I suggest planning ahead and account for the extra time needed for the cook to prepare your meal. We ordered... - Corned Beef Hash | Nicely crisped corned beef hash with three over easy eggs, hashbrowns, and English muffin. Portion size is big but I ate almost everything because I was hungry. - Stuffed Hashbrowns | Hashbrowns are crispy on the outside and stuffed with chunks of thick ham, cheese, chopped onions & bell peppers on the inside. Two eggs cooked over easy completed the perfect diner-style breakfast. THE PIONEER CAFE FEELS | Old school diner vibes with booth and counter seating. Pictures of classic cars, Route 66 signage, and other images of Americana plaster the cafe walls. THE PARKING SITUATION | Free street parking in front of the cafe.

    Pies and cinnamon rolls
    Karl A.

    This is a classic 50's diner. I made a couple of visits here while I was in town. The interior does a great job of giving a nod to Route 66 travel. Even though it's 2,276 miles away, you'll feel that Rt. 66 vibe! The staff is super friendly and the food is pure diner magic! Breakfast all day long and the coffee is sweet sipping happiness! If you have a sweet tooth, try the pie or the cinnamon roll. It was covered in a rich cream cheese frosting. I had breakfast here one day and it was simplicity at its finest. The light breakfast was a perfect size for me. The next day I decided to try a burger. It was cooked so well and the bun was light and fresh. I am really surprised at how great and cost effective the meal was! This is now my go to diner in Ketchikan!!! Great food, great service!!! Check them out!!!

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    10 months ago

    Food was ok. It was over cooked and if it wasn't it would be better. I'll try again when I'm in the area again.

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    3 years ago

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    8 months ago

    Good breakfast choices, friendly service. Fish-witch and chowder was great ........................

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    9 months ago

    Great place to grab breakfast old school style. Fresh bread,eggs and excellent hash browns. Perfect way to start your cruise shopping.

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    8 months ago

    This is standard American diner food, but good, and is down town, and close to many places I like to go to. The service is good.

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    9 months ago

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    3 years ago

    GREAT BREAKFAST!! Excellent service and the quality of the food was great! Possibly the best corned beef hash I have ever had!!

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    The Asylum

    The Asylum

    4.6(142 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $

    We both agreed that The Asylum was our favorite of the 3 pubs that we visited in Ketchikan during…read morethe pub crawl. It's well known for their specialty Duck Fart shots, but it's really the owners that make it so special. We were greeted warmly by Carlos. He made this visit so much fun. Honestly, I would have loved to stay longer to sample some of the local beers. They have many craft beers on tap. I just couldn't pass up the Booty Juice cocktail. It's strong & unique. I think he said it was a local huckleberry vodka, but I could be wrong. The best part was the Duck Fart shot. Don't go by the recipe because he actually makes it a little different. I won't spoil it for you. Not all Duck Farts are created equal. Haha! My husband won a t-shirt with the pub logo. Yes, our group played a trivia game. The owner admittedly has no filter. That's really what made the whole experience such a blast. Unfortunately, it was our first stop so we had to move on. I'd definitely revisit this one again in the future.

    4th time in Ketchikan and we decided not to do an excursion for once. As we were walking around…read morefrom the cruise ship, we stumbled upon this place. Great place to grab a drink with your friends and just enjoy your time. Drink prices are reasonable and the drinks were great. The vibes were chill. Met some kind people. Definitely recommend giving this place a try when in Ketchikan. We know we'll be back again one day.

    Photos
    The Asylum
    The Asylum - So cute in here

    So cute in here

    The Asylum

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    Pioneer Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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