Our daughter found this spot when we were making a drive from Anchorage to Denali and insisted we stopped. She said it was the best cafe on the drive. My other half took a look at it and discounted it as a puppy stop not a cafe. We all lamented and insisted must stop on the drive back. We did and thank God because is THE BEST FOOD SPOT BETWEEN ANCHORAGE & DENALI. we pulled up not knowing what to expect and found a super cute trailer, well maintained & cleaned with lots of cute seating, games and music! There was also a doggy that was beautiful and wonderful to see, we missed any dog exhibitions or sled pulls but the food and drink made it so we did not feel like we were missing anything. We had smoothies, Mac n cheese, sandwiches and a lotus energy drink that I Loved and had never heard of and it gave me enough energy that I'm writing this review while driving back rather than dozing off. The service was kind, attentive and patient. We didn't know what to expect and were taking a while, add to that 3 little girls that had a million questions and you have a real test in hospitality. They passed it all. If you are driving between anchorage & Denali and don't stop, you are missing out. Do not let the idea of it being paired off with pups discourage you. Honestly very simple, but some of the best food we've had while visiting and I have been wearing my way through Alaska. Ohhhh and don't forget to ask about the secret menu or be afraid of trying g their pickle soup. It's all winners!!!! read more

Trailside Cafe - Had to stop to check it out. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Willow, Alaska

Where do I even begin--the food, the staff, the location? All three were absolutely perfect for us! We ended up going three times in just two days, and every visit was a hit. Between the rich chai, the flavorful BLT, my son's Ziggy panini, the triple berry dessert with ice cream, and my other son's simple yet satisfying toast and bacon--everything was delicious and clearly made with care. The staff were genuinely invested in what they do, and it showed in both their service and the quality of the food. The ambiance - open air, picnic tables, - and more make this a great, inclusive, welcoming cafe! Turns out after talking to the ladies working one of them was a student in my college friend's class way back when. Hands down this is the place to go eat! Oh, i'd be remiss if I didn't mention my one complaint: they don't have a location in Seattle. read more

See all

Great lunch spot on our drive up to Denali. The butternut squash soup was delightful and the Fall Turkey Panini was delicious. Ate it next to their fire pit. Cozy cozy. read more

Had milk shakes, breakfast sandwiches and got to meet some retired sled dogs! Such a great stop to stretch your legs and get a drink or snack. A must stop! read more

Trailside Cafe - Got to meet 2 sister retired sled dogs, cashew and peanut! Sweet girls! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Willow, Alaska

See all

Adorable little roadside cafe with really delicious and fresh offerings. We stopped for a quick lunch on our drive from Denali to Anchorage, abd were delighted with the charm, the food, and the fact that they are also a retired sled dog rescue! read more

Sitting in the parking lot eating biscuits and gravy as I write this. So GOOD!!! Lots of meet in the gravy. My Americano was perfect also. Ill be back! read more

Good food, friendly people, a fire pit and dogs! What more could you ask for? Great place to stop if you're headed to Denali National Park or on the way back. I did both. read more

Biscuits and gravy were amazing. Employees were extremely friendly and service was excellent. I'll need to make this stop a regular thing.

I love this little spot! I've stopped by on two road trips now and both times ordered the bbq pork sliders - amazing flavors with the coleslaw and sauce. The service is what's really 5 stars. We got caught in traffic leaving Anchorage this time, and I was worried we would arrive in Willow after closing time, so I called to cancel our order. The woman offered instead to hang on to our food until 8:30 while they cleaned and closed the cafe - so generous and made it easy for us to pick up our road trip dinner! read more

Such a cute local Cafe. Service was amazing! Super friendly, welcoming, and accommodating. We got there a little after they opened so it was just us. They gave us plenty of time to order and were so helpful explaining things, allowing us to see some of their cake and dessert options, and even wiping down the grill for us since we're vegetarian. The cashier even gave us a bunch of great local recommendations of where to go for sight seeing! Sitting in the back waiting for our food, the aromas of our food being freshly made was wonderful. Other patrons arrived with their dogs and kids. Family friendly place. The food was pretty affordable comparatively speaking and had lots of vegetarian options! Plus we got to see cute Husky dogs. Definitely recommend stopping at this local gem! read more

See all

The food was delicious and different from the standard sandwiches. All of my family enjoyed it and especially the sweet treat after lunch. Great sandwiches, great milkshakes and a great outdoor ambiance! The service was very nice and helpful. read more

What a cool place to stop on your drive through Willow. Great food and amazing smoothies. I had the pleasure of getting a tour from the owner Kale. Great positive energy with a passion for his business, dog mushing and sharing the Alaskan dream with his customers. Definitely worth the stop if you're on the Parks Highway. read more

So glad we tried it! We had the grilled pb&j and the peanut butter cup sundae. Both were made perfectly. If you're a fan of Friendly's peanut butter cup sundae, this one at Trailside Cafe is even better! And who knew adding bacon and candied jalapeños to a pb&j, then grilling it, would be so good!! read more

Stopped here in a whim on our way up to Denali and we were not disappointed! The staff were super friendly and the food was fantastic! I ordered the Grilled Chicken and Pesto Panini with a Cinnamon Roll Coffee, while the rest of my family ordered the Grilled PB&J and the Triple BLT. All we're cooked perfectly and tasted great! Each item came with a side of kettle chips which went great with the sandwiches. The coffee tasted great, although I would say it's more of a coffee cake than a cinnamon roll. Unfortunately I ate my food before I remembered that I should take a picture, but trust me when I say it looked great too! Definitely recommend you take a minute and stop by for some great food and snacks! read more

Great place to get good homemade food and puppy love at the same time. Yum and yum. A must if you are in the area. read more

See all

The food here is phenomenal. I had the perfect 10 breakfast sandwich and I wanted to bathe in the aioli. My husband really enjoyed his cinnamon roll and my mom loved her avocado toast. The biscuits and gravy were also really good. Highly recommend stopping here and checking them out. We also got to see one of their huskies while we were there! The people who run it are also very nice and the setup is adorable. read more

This quaint little Trailside cafe produces some of the best food I've ever eaten! I was blown away by the flavor combinations and how everything was made with such fresh ingredients LITERALLY hands down the best cheesecake EVER. Seriously you have to try it. Plus - their prices are extremely reasonable. Friendly staff, incredible food, and wonderful prices... you're missing out if you don't stop at this gem. read more

You definitely get way more than just their amazing food here...the owner Kale loves to share his enthusiasm for dogs, tents, and other fun facts about the area and is super friendly and inviting. We ordered the Mona dog, deviled eggs, coleslaw, and tomato basil soup and ate it around their campfire. They had some games, cute dogs named Ziggy and Polar Bear, and a covered area for enjoying our food. Awesome experience, you must stop here on your way North from Wasilla to Denali. read more

Very good food and excellent service! We ordered the caprese salad kabobs. The quality was excellent. Carrot cake was fantastic. Tonight we are having the deconstructed nachos. read more

This is our go-to place just about every time we go to Willow...and that is often. Don't let the quirky setting just off the highway deter you. Yes, it looks like your average espresso stand with a small dog yard attached, but you won't be sorry. Say hi to their beautiful, friendly pups...it is Willow, after all--the Dog Mushing capitol of the world! The staff are super friendly and they serve surprisingly upscale sandwiches and salads using local produce, creative homemade milkshakes, locally made sweets and even have a dog menu. Our favorite is the roast beef on a ciabatta roll with bleu cheese aioli. On nice days, they have a comfortable outdoor seating area with lights for ambiance and you can enjoy their firepits on a cool day. We love this place! read more

Trailside Cafe in Willow, Alaska. Joanna and I were driving around and sightseeing and we decided to get lunch. This roadside cafe has delicious fresh food and nice outside tables. We had deviled eggs with pickled red cabbage, southwest salad and a ham and turkey melt. Plus fresh iced tea. The owner talked to us about dogsled racing. We loved the food and the outdoor Alaska ambiance. read more

Trailside Cafe - Trailside Cafe in Willow, Alaska - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Willow, Alaska