I, as a kid growing up in England, saw these American diners on tv, and we didn't have such things where I lived in my tiny little village, and oh how I longed for the diner experience - sitting at the counter, having a breakfast and coffee, "just like in the movies" And, so of course, when I moved here at the ripe old age of 41, there, shining in all its chrome beauty, was the epitome of all my teenage fantasies beckoning me inside, to pop my diner cherry. As yet, I have still not sat on one of the counter stools, but they are there! Just like on tv! And I, who has lived here now for almost 14 years feel such pride in our beautiful shiny diner, which in my humble opinion, is better than any I saw on tv, because it's metal. I challenge any movie maker (pfft, like that gonna happen) who might be planning a movie based in Alaska, and needing a 50's style diner, to find anything so beautifully retro, even in the Lower 48, and probably needing very little styling to make it meet their vintage needs. It has booths, it has counter stools, it has a lovely floor, great art on the walls. Anyway, I digress. We've been coming here for years, ever since it was still called City Diner. They have a good, large, wide ranging menu, covering breakfasts lunches and dinners. I've never had anything bad here. Service is great, and you're almost always seated immediately. It's always busy, but never seems chaotic if you catch my drift. I love that if you order a soda, they bring out the soda, as well as a jug full of said soda, so you can have top ups. Not that I drink loads of soda, I just think it's a nice touch. Today I got a BLT, husband got the Lika chicken wrap, I got fries with mine, and he got tots. We both got coffee, in a good old fashioned diner mug. They are always THAT style of mug, you know the one I mean, kinda got a slim waist, unlike myself. Food came out unbelievably quickly, I was gonna give 4 stars, but I just changed it to 5, cos you know what? Yeah, it's not fine dining, or an amazing dining room, linen tablecloths etc, but it is exceptional for what it is. So it's a 5 star diner. My BLT. Can I just say, this is the best BLT I've had in quite a while, and I get them a lot. Bacon was plentiful and the exact right crispiness, lettuce was fresh, not limp, tomato sliced decently thickly, and I'd normally pick it out, as I find it bland, and doesn't really enhance the sandwich for me, but I ate every bit of it. That bacon man, it was so good. So flavorful. The fries too, crisp and hot. He got that chicken wrap based on my recommendation, as I'd had it on my previous visit. He said it was moist and juicy, and he ate it all. The coffee's very good too. I don't drink a lot of coffee, but our server came round offering refills which I didn't have, but not because it didn't taste good. The worst thing I can say about this place is, I find it difficult to choose what I want to eat, as they have some very desirable options. bathrooms are very clean, and echo the 50's diner style, with the same flooring as throughout the dining room, and black and white tiling on the walls. Often some places dining rooms might be clean, but then the bathrooms are not kept clean - almost an afterthought. I'll continue to frequent Sami's diner, it's one of my go-to lunch spots. read more

Sami’s City Diner - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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I'm not sure if this place is under new management/ownership or what but...things have massively improved. There is still no jam on the table, but service is much better regarding the coffee refills. The menu prices are affordable, as they should be at a diner. Service was snappy. I got the steak and eggs and it came with toast and taters and everything was perfectly cooked to my specs. The vibe in here is great, it's unlike any other Anchorage breakfast spot. The real reason to come here though: it doesn't usually have a line/wait time, even on the weekend. read more

Sami’s City Diner - steak and eggs - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

I come here regularly, and while the food isn't exceptional, it's consistently good and satisfying. The atmosphere has that classic, old-school diner feel, which adds to the experience. Even when it's busy, the food comes out fairly quickly, which I appreciate. What really stands out, though, is the service. The servers are always friendly and welcoming, even when they're clearly busy and under pressure. That kind of attitude goes a long way. I usually stick to breakfast items, and they've never disappointed. And the milkshakes are absolutely great--definitely a highlight. Everyone I've brought here has enjoyed their meal. At the end of the day, sometimes it's the people that elevate a place beyond just "good food," and that's exactly what happens here. read more

Sami’s City Diner - Traditional item - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

We ended up eating here twice during our Anchorage stay. It was my mom's favorite place. The service was friendly each time. I enjoyed the breakfast food a bit more than the dinner, but my mom and brother would disagree. They were both craving comfort food. I feel like this is a must go to place for breakfast, you won't be disappointed! read more

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Had breakfast here twice of my four day trip and would have happily eaten here 4 times. The staff were friendly and accommodating, food was great portions with the sausage huge, and it was like walking back in time to an old style diner. Warm and inviting. My only issue was the open at 7am and I'm an early eater. read more

I had a friend visiting from California who was craving "diner food," so after a quick online search, Sami's City Diner came up as the most popular option in Anchorage. I'll admit, I was a little apprehensive--I've lived in the city for almost four years, and for some reason, I hadn't made it to Sami's. But hey, my friend was excited, so off we went! We were greeted immediately upon walking in and seated right away, which was nice. The service was great--our server was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome. The menu was extensive, with many options, and the prices were fair for what you get. They also offer a small alcohol menu for anyone interested. We all went for breakfast, and overall, the food was decent. My friend raved about the hot chocolate--definitely a winner. I tried the French toast, which was fine, but I wouldn't get it again. It was presented nicely, though, so I give it points for that. The bacon, on the other hand, was fantastic and perfectly prepared; I would go back just for that! My friend ordered an egg scramble with pancakes and French toast, and he cleaned his plate, so he was a fan. Everything he had was solid. As for drinks, I was underwhelmed by the cranberry juice. I wouldn't recommend it, but I liked that they serve soft drinks with a little pitcher for refills. Overall, Sami's City Diner isn't somewhere I'd rush back to, but I'd return, especially if I'm in the mood for some delicious bacon. This place works if you're craving a no-frills diner experience with a decent menu. read more

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In town for work and saw this place on the way to my hotel from the airport. It is a retro 50s style diner and I was looking for good home cooking. I had the chili cheeseburger, and it was good, portion sizes were large, it was served as I had ordered it. The fries were a little bit snail, but edible. Returned for breakfast the following morning and the biscuits and gravy were probably some of the best that I had ever had! Portions were good biscuits were light and flaky. Hashbrowns left a little bit to be desired, but they definitely edible. My only criticism was the service was friendly, but not attentive. They did not appear overworked, but I had to flag them down every time I needed something - they delivered the food and never checked back on us. read more

Sami’s City Diner - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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Sami's has good food, no doubt but for the prices they charge, the portions just don't measure up. You walk away satisfied, but not quite feeling like you got your money's worth. It's one of those spots where the bill makes you blink a little too hard. That said, the customer service is outstanding! super attentive, friendly, and genuine. The line cooks clearly know what they're doing, and the food comes out hot and fast. The ambience inside is great too; clean, stylish, and welcoming. It has all the ingredients for a top-tier diner experience... except for the price-to-portion ratio. Worth a visit, but be ready to pay a lot more than you'd expect. read more

Great diner to catch breakfast. Food was good, service, and good prices. Stopped in to have breakfast before my flight. I had a nice sized serving of pancakes, eggs, hash browns, bacon and coffee. The meal was tasty and stayed with me until I landed in Seattle. Will definitely go back next time I'm in Anchorage. read more

We came here because Snow City was packed, and the Gweenies weren't open. Both times, Sam's city diner hit the spot. Great food and service, read more

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Super good food along with excellent service with a nostalgic feel! I highly recommend visiting this quaint little restaurant while you're visiting Anchorage. read more

Sami’s City Diner - Chicken bacon wrap with tater tots. - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

I have never had a bad meal from Sami's Diner whether I'm dining in or doing takeout. Service has always been top notch and friendly. I believe it's mostly family ran as I see a lot of the same familiar faces when I visit, which I love! Always great for breakfast. Their burgers are REAL burgers not frozen. I enjoy their tuna melt as well. The open faced beef wasn't bad either. My grandma raved about her taco salad. Diner fare and old school diner decor. Prices are still affordable than most places in town now in 2024 read more

I was hangry and I was looking for a place to get something to eat. As I am driving I came across this Dinner and I decided to pull in. The hostess greeted me Nd she was pleasant. I waited at the bar to be serviced. I ordered eggs , bacon , hash browns and toast . Everything was cooked to order and delicious. The staff is pleasant and very attentive. My glass was always full, i was checked on continuously. If you are hungry on on the way to the airport and don't know where to stop. Well, now you know. read more

Sami’s City Diner - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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This is my little brothers favorite spot to come to when he's in town. While the dishes aren't gonna blow your mind, it's exactly what you expect. Comfortable, homey atmosphere, super quick service, and a full belly. Their menu is pretty diverse, and they have consistent regulars that frequent the place. Feels like home! read more

Ambiance of course. It's a fifties Diner in the middle of Anchorage. Classics like Breakfasts from 50's and 60's plus modern junk food.

When the staff has on a sweatshirt that says... Abcdfuck off We aren't a prude but really! Why would you let your employee wear that in your restaurant and be in public? The food was just ok. Waitress was great. We used to love to come here when in AK. Hope they can improve. read more

The avocado burger was exquisite and so were the onion rings the cheese was melted evenly and perfectly and so was the meat mmmmm chefs kiss the water was good and so was the ice I don't usually rate water and ice but wow was that ice chompable the server was funny and nice and when I had mayo on my burger she just got a new top bun and I has an 80's diner aesthetic I give it a 10 out of ten read more

Great diner with standard diner fare. I enjoyed my Monte Cristo & am always delighted to find a place that offers tater tots. The service was friendly and helpful and the location was convenient from my hotel. I always love a good diner. There's just something comforting about them. read more

Sami’s City Diner - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Excellent service, great decor, clean restaurant and Delicious food! We had the Avo Jack burger and an omelette. Bonus was mimosas! read more

Sami’s City Diner - Brut champagne mimosas - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Food here is nice, warm and hearty. The service is fast to seat and very friendly and without stopping by too frequently while eating. I recommend Sami's to anyone looking for a decent old fashioned diner meal with some Alaskan charm on the menu. read more

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OUTSTANDING !!!! I love being able to walk in anytime of day get breakfast with Mimosa in the mimosas are outstanding and very good price the food is very good as well as a beer with tomato juice the tuna sandwiches outstanding all the food is wonderful it's a must go enjoy and great personality staff food is above and beyond in a very clean atmosphere read more

My husband loves a great diner, and Sami's hit all the right notes from the massive menu to the well-executed service to the generous portions. The coffee was hot, fresh, and satisfying. My omelette of caramelized onions and mushrooms makes my mouth water just thinking about it. I typically skip breakfast, but I'm flying didn't pass on this delicious, fresh food. The home fries were my favorite--crispy outside with buttery interior. Hot sauce / ketchup / salsa might have enhanced these crispy delights, but I enjoyed the steamy, hot morsels just as they were. My husband had the vegetable scramble with spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms and onions: perfect. The ambiance is classic American diner: lots of tables, bustling movement, big windows, brightly lit, and local photos, reflecting community pride. This is a busy place with ample parking. Even though we didn't have to wait for a table, it would have been worth the wait. And this is from a typical non-breakfast eater. read more

Yea this is a diner! It has all your standard dinner items and specials! You want that milkshake with your omelet they have you! You want a delicious pastrami sandwich they've got it. I have not had one thing here that I didn't absolutely enjoy. Enjoy. The portion sizes are great and hit the spot. I always end up taking food home. Or to the parking lot to eat out of the view of my friend. I've come here a few times to sit and write reports they never cease to amaze me to always have my coffee refilled or my water before I even get close to the bottom. This is the top diner in all of Alaska. You won't find anyone that comes close. read more

Sometimes diner have the look, but the food doesn't match. Sami's City Diner absolutely delivered! My first visit was for lunch. I had a mushroom swiss burger. It was made fresh in house (none of that frozen patty stuff here). The bun was nice and fresh too. The fries were a perfect golden brown and were salted just right. My second visit was a team breakfast. I went with a simple traditional breakfast. The eggs were cooked perfectly to order, the hash browns had an ideal crisp, and the bacon... holy cow it was goooood!!! The only downside was the server never came by to refill our coffees. I think they are a little understaffed. Great food, service was good! read more

Sami’s City Diner - Traditional Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

The food tastes amazing but it's a really big portions so if you are a small or a picky eaters I don't recommend and keep in knots the foods can be very expensive. read more

On our trip to Anchorage Alaska my wife and I noticed Sami's City Diner and decided to go in for lunch. Our waitress immediately served us water and took our order. We both got Cheeseburgers and fries which were great. Both my wife and I enjoyed our meals and service. Two days later we returned and had Fish and Chips which also was good. We definitely recommend Sami's City Diner. read more

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We were greeted when we arrived by our the front staff fairly quickly We sat down and within five minutes we were asked if we were ready to order We eventually ordered and got a Chicken salad sandwich, avocado toast and steak and eggs Food took about 30 minutes to arrive When the food arrived it was cold The sandwich was filled with lettuce The pink Chicken salad just tasted like a bunch of mayo with bits of chicken Avocado toast was atrocious, dry eggs and it just did not look appetizing The steak had overdone and underdone pieces I felt so disappointed having to pay 80$ for this food While I understand that this is diner food it still can be better but save your time and go to ihop I swear it's better but unfortunately when restaurants still get service by tourists and some locals they could care less about a review or improvement For Alaska standards this was a low 0/10 The staff weren't so bad just seemed over worked and burnt out read more

I hadn't been here in years- this diner is family own and ran. The daughters of the owner wait tables and take care of everyone e eating. We were seated right away and our food didn't take too long to come. I ended up ordering the wrong thing because I didn't really like the breakfast sandwich. I chose a croissant but it was too soft and made the whole sandwich just fall apart. Not sure if they made the bread or got it from somewhere (wasn't a Costco one) had American cheese, fried egg(hard) and bacon. It was just kinda a mess and very greasy. I ate all my hashbrowns and a few bites of the sandwich only. Next time I would want to try the buscuits and gravy. A side order of buscuits and gravy plus hashbrowns would be the same cost as a meal tho. I would come back and try other things. Probly great for lunch too. With their sandwiches. read more

I like it! I like the ambiance. I like the friendly service. I love that it was packed on a Sunday. I love all the things. It was clean it was poppin. Food was good. We prefer if they make the burger meat medium versus well done, tater tots and onion rings overcooked but hey it's room for improvement. The eggs benedict my son had he wolfed them down so you already know that was bomb! He also enjoyed his Oreo shake. Yes I think we'll be back. read more

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I had the crabby Benny and my husband had the chicken fried steak. My crab cakes had huge chunks of crab in them...yummmm. The chicken fried steak and gravy were delicious too. Service is friendly with a happy and relaxed vibe. The booth was a bit worn and saggy so I kind of sank low into the seat. I'm an average height woman so it made it a little difficult to eat. Hubby said maybe a booster seat would help haha. Very nice place. read more

I'm visiting my girlfriend and her family in Alaska, they decided to take me here for breakfast. It's the real old school diner feel like in movies. The service was great and the food portions was huge even for the kid. Parking was easy and the mimosa was perfect. Also, the chocolate milkshake was really chocolaty. read more

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Had breakfast here. Staff was on point! Seated, order taken, and food served in less than 20 mins. They refilled my coffee and water without being asked and even cleared my trash. Very attentive. I got the traditional breakfast. 3 eggs seemed like 6, and the bacon was thick. Only negatives were undercooked hash browns, only one slice of bread, and the coffee tasted burnt. Other than that I had a really good meal. read more

Haven't been here in a while and recently had to stay on the west side to meet someone, so my kids and I popped in for dinner and we were all pleasantly surprised. Service was great and quick, food was delicious -- my 7 year old inhaled his burger and then ate part of my sandwich and tots. We'll definitely be back! read more

Sami’s City Diner - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Food was pretty good, nothing spectacular. The BLT was ordered with extra bacon, but definitely not received. Service was subpar, but it's a dinner so I didn't expect much. read more

Sami’s City Diner - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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Was driving around looking a breakfast place for a while. Went to three other places that were overly crowded so happened upon this restaurant. Went inside and was immediately seated. Maybe the seater was having a bad day because he looked annoyed by every customer that was coming in. Our waitress was very attentive and nice. The food came quickly and tasted amazing. Wen we arrived it was about 8-10 customers but by the time we was done it more than tripled. Guess we got there pretty early. Would dine here again. read more

Sami’s City Diner - Eggs, bacon, hash browns and sourdough toast. - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

We had a late dinner tonight and didn't want fast food. We decided to give Sami's a try. We're glad we did. We had excellent service and the food was like home cooking. The prices were ver reasonable which was nice for a change. It's a typical diner atmosphere which was fine for us. We would go back if we're in Anchorage again. read more

Sami’s City Diner - Spaghetti and meatballs - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

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This place was pretty good. It has a classic diner atmosphere, and can be a bit noisy. We ate there for breakfast and for lunch. The food is above average diner fare, done right and the portions are huge. I had a chicken fried steak, which was accompanied by three eggs, a mountain of hash browns, gravy and thick sliced toast. It was all really tasty. The sliders I ate for lunch would make White Castle cry! An especially nice touch was the small pitcher of refills that came with my iced tea. The service was perfect for the setting - our waitresses were there when we needed them and otherwise unobtrusive. The service was FAST, even though it was very busy on both occasions. One couple we were traveling with ate there three mornings in a row. The breakfast was much better than at our posh hotel. I have no reservations recommending this joint - I just wish I had room for one of their giant milkshakes! read more

Sami’s City Diner - Sliders and onion rings! - Diners Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

The server was nice enough but obvious to anything. The food was nothing special for breakfast. The sausage patty was the best thing on my plate and the only hot thing. Eggs, toast and hash browns were all cold and hash browns had zero seasoning and only half cooked. Had to ask for refills on coffee. It's been years since I've been here now I remember why. Won't be giving this place another chance. read more

Service was a five, food was a three, so I think it averages out to about a four on the rating scale? I was seated quickly and my waitress was incredibly friendly, just super busy. Ordered the breakfast sandwich on a croissant with home fries. The sandwich was good but unfortunately my fries were cold, and I didn't see my waitress until I was ready to cash out. (Plus it seemed like such a small and annoying ask even if I had gotten a hold of her lol.) I'll just heat them up at home. read more

This is my favorite place for breakfast although all their food is delicious. Big portions, cooked to order. I love the eggs Benedict . My husband likes their open faced sandwich. They make their strawberry jam in house. Service is quick, accurate and friendly. Never had an order I didn't like there. read more