Ginger

The food and drinks are amazing! Their cocktails are to die for. I recommend the Ahi Tuna Tower and the Quinoa Salad, super good! As for the drinks, I say start at the top of the menu and keep returning until you tried them all!

So a friend from work and I went to Ginger on a Friday night. We arrived around 7:30 and we were able to go straight to a table on the bar side. The ambiance was cool and classy. It seemed like all the lights were at the bar and that was how the restaurant was lit up. There were battery powered candle lights at each table which I’ll admit was a bit cheesy but I can appreciate the romance attempt.
As soon as we sat down, the waitress, or maybe water lady, came with glasses of water then asked if we wanted drinks. I got the Perfect Peach which I loved! There was even a surprise peach gummy at the finish of the drink! Mmm! We then ordered off the bar menu and shared each of the plates. We got the Kalua Pork Sliders (YUM!). The Mu Shu Tacos (Siracha lime sour cream, ’nuff said), the Mini Mac n’ cheese (has jalapeño!) and last but not least, the Mongolian beef nachos (to die for roasted corn and black bean salsa on top!). Everything we are was delicious, well made, and cleaned off the plates!
The waitress checked back with us frequently and was extremely nice! She seemed to know the menu from tasting everything herself at least once before. Same with the drinks, she was well versed in the majority of the drink menu.
We stayed from around 7:30pm til 10:30pm and we were not once pressured to leave. It was super comfortable and welcoming.
It was expensive, 3 drinks and half the appetizers was around $ 50. I will be back, but probably just for the food to save money.

I had lunch here around 2:00pm on a Saturday. The décor is beautiful and the servers very friendly. Ordered a virgin margarita and Scallops Macaroni and cheese and my friend had the vegetarian curry. Beautiful presentation. Fantastic food! I will definitely be back!

Great place for a date!
We started out with the «spicy» ahi tuna tower appetizer. While it was great, it was not spicy. That’s to say, there was not even a hint of spiciness to the dish. I’m sure it was a fluke because that is the only real issue I had the whole evening.
The service and wait staff are top notch and I had barely taken a sip of my wine before the food came out.
I had the Korean BBQ ribs as my entrée and it was delicious, but the star of the dish was the grits. The cornbread needed a lot more butter, but the grits helped with that. The bed of kale was a nice addition.
My date got the mango-​teryaki alaskan tofu and loved it. I tried a bite of the tofu and the noodles and I can confirm it was a good choice.
After our 2 entrees, 1 appetizer, glass of wine, and cocktail, the total was $ 80 before tip, which is a bit more expensive than listed here on Unilocal.I’m assuming that must be because their lunch/​breakfast menus are cheaper.
My only regret is not ordering the scallop mac and cheese which looks like a delightful food-​coma in a bowl. Next time!

I stopped by Ginger to grab dinner on my last night at Anchorage. I’m giving this place 5 stars on the food alone! It was that good.
I got the scallops mac and cheese and it was by far the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had. HUGE scallops on top. The truffle oil gave it a lot of flavor. My favorite part was the pine nut crust baked on top. It gave the dish a nice crispy texture and just made everything more delectable.
My colleague got the Mee Krob, which looked like another star dish. Unfortunately, I didn’t have room to try some because I gobbled down the mac and cheese so fast.
It’s too bad I have to come all the way back to Anchorage to get more of their food. But I’ll definitely be back again next time I’m in town.

This is a must visit place. Food is unbelievably great. We tried 3 different soups, mac and cheese with scallops and chicken curry. They were all ⁵⁄₅ stars! If my stomach had a little more room I would keep eating more! Another plus is the price which is really cheap compared to the quality of the food. 5 stars!

Great service, atmosphere, tea and food. This place deserves your money.
I ordered the vegan curry and it came out in a big bowl with the rice in the middle. It could have used more rice in retrospect but it was still very good.
I have the bartender a 25% tip because he did such a good job.
Come on Unilocal,is this long enough yet to be a real review?!

The five stars speaks to the service we had last night at dinner. Our server, Robert, was phenomenal. He was the right balance of attentive and not intrusive. He didn’t ask us inane questions like «Are you still working on that?» Or. «How’s the food tasting?» He wouldn’t interrupt and waited patiently for us to end our conversations before engaging. He offered up wonderful suggestions when asked. I can’t say enough about good things about his service. I wish all servers in Anchorage would take some tips from him on how to interact with guests. And the young gentleman who was clearing our table and filling water was just as delightful and professional.
BTW, the food was good too.

I was taken on a nice date here once. Since then I haven’t gotten this place off of my mind and I’ve returned many more times. I’m the biggest fan of Ginger. I really can’t get over this place. Between their professional employees, fine atmosphere, quiet sound level, and exquisite menu I’m having trouble trying to find at least a single thing to complain about (every good review needs at least one complaint). But this place is just ‘it’ for me. When it comes to Anchorage and fine dining, Ginger is at the top of my list for amazing food and an overall exquisite experience. There is no dress code here, but most of the guests try to arrive somewhat fancy (usually semi-​casual).
They do take reservations, but on most nights you’ll get a seat without one. They have a bar area as well as seating for small and medium groups. The seating is well-​spaced and although the lighting is actually fairly bright for a fine dining establishment– it’s still flattering. It’s a great place for a date and if you’re trying to impress someone– Ginger is a low-​pressure, not too-​fancy, but great place to do so. The seating is comfortable and always clean. I’ve never seen a drop of food on the floor at this place.
The waiters here are always very well informed on the menu and the drink options. They’re very friendly, professional, and prompt. I’ve never walked in here without a reservation and had to wait to be seated. If there is a table open they are very quick to have it ready for the next guests. The staff are also just genuinely very nice people. They don’t check up on you so often that it’s annoying, but they’re fantastic at keeping your drinks full and ensuring you have everything you need.
But the reason I come here is the FOOD. If you’re a macaroni and cheese fanatic (like I am), then you HAVE to go to Ginger. By far the BEST macaroni and cheese I’ve ever had– and it’s served with scallops. Well cooked, well-​seasoned, delicious scallops. But it’s the pasta that gets me every time. It’s so good I’ve had dreams about this place. I’ve woke up in the middle of the night and made promises to myself that I’ll go to Ginger the following evening– just for their macaroni and cheese. I don’t know what mixture of cheeses they use or how they get their parmesan crust topping so perfect– but ugh, this gourmet plate of deliciousness is worth visiting for over and over and over again. In fact, just writing about it has made me want to go to Ginger tonight. Aside from my rant on the diety-​blessed glorious mac and cheese Ginger serves, they also have other very delicious options. My boyfriend has tried array of their seafood and steak options and has never had a complaint. There’s a reason we’re willing to budget this semi-​expensive restaurant into our monthly meal expenses. The food is absolutely worth it. And the atmosphere and kind staff just make it all the better.
NOTE: I would like to give a special shout-​out to the waitress Amanda who, on New Years night, did an exquisite job of servicing the group that I came in with. There was no seating so we stood in the standing area where she greeted us promptly, served us drinks quickly, and checked up on us frequently. She later found us a table and, once again, was extremely prompt and professional. She went above and beyond– and was one of the best servers I’ve ever had, at any establishment.

The spring rolls were exquisite. The two sauces (hot and sweet and a mint sauce) were excellent. My daughter and I split the Panama beef curry substitute tofu. Just wow. The chef has cooked before. It was excellent. Wonderful tastes, like a party in your mouth.
The derive was impeccable. Water constant. The ginger soda is a must try.

Holy shit the scallop mac and cheese is so much food… good for at least 3 meals, I’d say. Wish the flavor of the truffle oil was drawn out more, since that was the reason why I ordered the dish. Sadly, despite the whole dish being incredibly greasy, the flavor was still lacking. Scallops were huge, and their texture was decent. Maybe a little tough; I prefer them more tender and juicy. The baked crust on the pasta was perfect.
I really loved the banana lemongrass soup! It was on the more unique side of restaurant food I’ve in Alaska. Very sweet with good complimentary spices.

Avoid this place if you like your food clean.
I used to come here quite a bit since I work close by, but today’s experience has put me off for life. When my waitress Melanie brought me my tofu and quinoa salad, she dropped most of the tofu onto the table. She then asked if I would mind eating the tofu that was on the table. I said no, because I didn’t know how clean that table was. She then had the audacity to say that «the table was just wiped this morning.» (I was there at 1 pm.) I asked for new tofu to be brought out, but that did not arrive until after I’d finished all of my food. Not once did Melanie apologize.
Given that they think it’s okay to ask a patron to eat tofu that has fallen on a table (that has been wiped only once between the restaurant’s opening that day and 1 pm), I think it’s safe to say that this place’s cleanliness standards are not up to par. And they certainly need new waitstaff. Though I guess Ginger would save a lot of money on plates and napkins if all the waitresses were like Melanie.

I have decided that after one too many negative food experiences, I can firmly state that Ginger is no longer the restaurant it once was.
A couple of improperly cooked duck dishes, a salad made of flavors that just don’t quite work, a chewy, overcooked steak bites appetizer… then, on my last visit, two out of the four dishes were blah, and one was just bad, twice!
To start, upon my sitting down at the bar, I learned that they no longer serve my favorite cocktail from their bar, the True Blood. It was good, one of my top five in town. Total disappointment. I had to Coppola sparkling in a can, which is fine, but i wish they had a better, cheaper sparkling option, like the Kenwood Yulupa. My S.O.thoroughly enjoyed his Manhattans, though, and proclaimed that the bartenders still have their mixers touch.
Then, we ordered apps. The pork sliders were yummy. A bit too much slaw in contrast to the meat, but the flavors were good. The fact that there are some things on the menu that remain decent and that the bartenders are so good are the only things keeping this place from a one-​star for me.
Then, the mushu tacos were just weird. I don’t even know how to describe the taste, but it was like turned mayo. My S.O. thought the tacos were fine, though, so it might have just been a taste I didn’t like.
The fries, I assumed would be fine. After a couple of bites, though, I felt something on my tongue, then proceeded to pull a long hair out of my mouth (for references, my own hair is very short). I than saw that there were several other hairs on the rest of the fries! Choking back the disgust, we informed our bartender server, who was prompt in removing it and ordering a replacement. He was apologetic, professional. Both bartenders who helped us were great, juggling their duties is the busy beautifully.
The next fries came to us quickly, but with no seasoning! Not even salt. These are fries people. I assume they rushed because they wanted to makeup for the grossness.
We sent back those fries and decided to try the Mongolian beef nachos, which I thought were awful. Tough, dry slices of beef, queso that tasted like it came from a jar. The server warned us that the dish was piping hot, but it wasn’t, and the nachos were actually a bit cool, indicating they had hung out in the window a bit.
I considered dessert, but I couldn’t take another disappointment. They brought the check and had taken off my one glass of sparkling for the hair incident, and of course didn’t charge us for the fries. It was a nice gesture, but I would have preferred not to have that experience.
I really have no desire to return here, which is sad because they used to be really fantastic, a great place in the downtown scene. We even got married in their little back room years ago and had the best little wedding feast ever! Time, and the change of chefs, has really brought them down.

I have long been a fan of Ginger and my past visit only added to my long list of reasons why I love Ginger. Aside from the chic interior, friendly staff and reasonable prices, Ginger also serves up some unexpected combos like their coconut banana lemongrass soup and my most recent favorite, their teriyaki chicken and pork bhan mi sandwich. Serious flavor and it was huge, enough to share and still have a belly full of food. I was worried the teriyaki was going to be like the kind you might find in a Japanese restaurant, a little too sweet and a little too saucy. This version simply had the teriyaki marinade flavor perfectly browned into the meat. The pulled pork added another appetizing flavor and texture element. To balance the sweetness of the chicken and pork, there was a cucumber vinegar salad inside the sandwich as well. Let’s not forget the two halves that make a sandwich a sandwich. The French bread used was light and fresh– the perfect holder of sandwich fixings. A nice side salad with a spicy wasabi dressing rounded out the whole plate. I enjoyed my meal here a lot!
My only complaint, the size of the strawberry chili salad my dad ordered. It was pathetically small…

Ginger has never been one of my «go-​to» downtown eateries and frankly, I’m not totally sure why. The ambiance is tasteful & serene without entirely claiming one particular design style (though a more Asian décor is certainly apparent). The lighting level is perfect throughout. I really like the bar area with varied seating options and the step-​up level. The craft cocktail options, though expensive, are impressive. This is both a great place to meet girlfriends and to also have a romantic date (so long as you get a slightly more tucked away table).
The food is where my opinion gets a little jumpy. Some of their dinner specials are just jaw-​dropping spendy (I can’t justifiably pay 41 dollars for halibut). Some of the bar appetizers look and taste a little average. The Mee Krob is too simple for my tastes; relying much on the rice noodles to fill one up and fill out the dish. On the other hand, many other dishes are outstanding, such as the crusted Ahi, filet mignon, and the pork belly (oh my LORD, the pork belly). Ginger has the best pork belly I have been privileged to taste. The banana & lemongrass soup has been with ginger since inception and is worth a try. If you’re looking for a rich yet affordable dish, definitely have the beef panang.
On a side note, I once attended a wine tasting here — 4 wines with food pairings. The food and wine melded beautifully. The food was also very inventive, timed perfectly with the wine pour and amply portioned (some couldn’t even finish — the food anyway).
This is a great spot for happy hour, which is quite apparent around 5 p.m. (especially on a Friday night).
I look forward to the evolving menu and plan on putting this restaurant closer on my go-​to list.

My boyfriend and I have been to Ginger many times, and as self proclaimed «foodies», have always enjoyed the food and service.
This last Friday night however, was impressive enough to «write a Unilocal»… :)
Service is always excellent at Ginger, and it seems the same core group of people/​management have always been there, at least since we’ve been going, and that says a lot.
The girl who waited on us Friday was outstanding, not sure of her name but she was blonde, pretty, and just gave above and beyond service. At one print, she asked my boyfriend; «another drink?» And he said «yes, please.» She replied; «coming up.» An exchange we really liked because it was old fashioned, confident, and done without hesitation.
Our food was out of this world. It truly was art. I was initially semi disappointed because my usual filet mignon meal was not on the menu, it had changed slightly.
It was replaced with what my boyfriend ultimately ordered, the filet mignon with crispy onions, broccolini, wasabi butter, and sweet potato and parsnip purée. He subbed out the sweet potato for some sort of peanut potatoes.
He loved the parsnip purée «tastes like Christmas», he says. I didn’t care for it but I’m not a purée kind of girl, ha.
The filet was cooked perfectly — medium– which a lot of places seem to have trouble with.
Wasabi butter was the absolute kicker. I want to try and make that at home. Peanut potatoes were like velvet.
I ordered «mee krob»…ground pork, chicken, and shrimp (I ordered without shrimp), stir fried with peppers and jalapeños, pad Thai style, with rice noodles and definitely spicy. One of the best things I’ve ever eaten.
We also both had their take on the Caesar salad.
It was presented sort of «deconstructed»…romaine lettuce, a spicy Caesar dressing, cheese crisps and fried wontons. Spicy and awesome. We are obsessed with Caesar salads and this one redid a classic and should be a classic in its own right.
Drinks from the bar were good, food and service excellent. Look no further than my pics to see amazing, beautiful food.

I haven’t been here in a couple of years. A coworker was in town and wanted to eat out, so we met at Ginger.
Still an awesome happy hour app menu and value… one of the best in Anchorage. We tried a few of those, and none disappointed. Dinner was a mix of dishes including the banana lemongrass soup, pork belly, and vegan curry. The flavors were off the hook!
Bonus was the private banquet room available for groups up to 45 or so. I’m booking this for my squadron reunion later this year. Come here, taste flavors you’ve never had before, go home happy :)

Probably one of the best eats Alaska has. We had a party of eight and everyone was very satisfied with their selection. I had the Ahi appetizer, Ahi main dish, cheesecake, and two martini vespers. Everything was above my expectations even though the prices were fairly high. Service was excellent and portrayed a positive attitude.
I would definitely eat there again and hope that time is soon.

I’m gonna be honest with y’all.
Initially. I was not very impressed with Ginger. It was a long summer day in Anchorage and I was in an odd-​kind-​of hangry funk at an oddly bright time of day. I stumbled in here and got a happy hour item from the bar. It was OK, but it didn’t really wow me. It also didn’t really fill me.
I’m not the type of person to make rash judgments though. I like to at least give places a second shot before I immortalize them with a star-​rating. (NOTE: you CAN re-​rate a place, and the NEW rating will obliterate the OLD rating.)
Anyway. So glad I gave this place a second chance.
On the complete opposite side of the spectrum: I came here for brunch, on a Sunday, in the winter.
Not a lot of people in here. The bartender was incredibly friendly and I just loved the general warm, friendly vibe on a chilly Sunday morning. (OK, OK, it was the afternoon by the time I rolled in here, you got me)
I got the «hot mess» which is, more-​or-​less, a «breakfast bowl». Portions were substantial and the flavors were terrific (spicy sausage, cheese, eggs, spicy sauce, etc). The biscuit (get the biscuit for your side, btw, skip the toast!) was house-​made according to friendly bartender, and you could definitely tell! I asked for some hot sauce *SIDEBAR: at this point most places in
Anchorage usually say something like «Is Tabasco OK?» in a timid, «sorry”-tinged voice ENDSIDEBAR* and the bartender brought me out some HOUSE-​MADE hot sauce. It was VERY HOT (just how I like it!) and very flavorful. It was kind of like Sriracha, but without overrated internet-​star-​status and MUCH MUCH more heat. I would come here again just to get some of DAT SAUCE, that’s how much I enjoyed it.
I also drank a ton of coffee, and they weren’t afraid to keep giving me more.
I’ll definitely be back, probably to try dinner this time.

Leaving a review on their desserts.
Blueberry pie egg rolls are delicious. Comes with this vanilla syrup, but you’ll want to get a scoop of icecream and make it into an a la mode style. Drizzle some syrup, add icecream (got the fireweed honey which is good), and you have yourself a really good dessert. Was hoping to get the green tea crème brûlée, but they were only serving the passion fruit crème brûlée. I like subtle passion fruit taste, but this was like bam-​in-​your-​face passion fruit explosion. If you’re a fan of passion fruit, you’ll like this dessert.