Dining in the Yukon
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Yukon, Northern Canada.
Canada’s northern territories are vast and largely unexplored. Of these regions, the westernmost territory—Yukon—is the most popular destination. Tourists head north every year by road or by plane to see its wondrous sites, including the fiery northern lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer. Accommodations are plentiful, recreational opportunities abound and some of Canada’s best homegrown and homemade food is found in the close knit communities of Yukon.
Visitors considering travelling to Yukon draw up images of vast icy landscapes, a cold harsh climate, and barren winters. Tourists may immediately wonder how the first inhabitants survived off of the sparse land, largely void of agriculture. But when people visit the territory they begin to see a different picture—the summer growing season is temperate and the sun follows the land throughout the entire day. Local residents impart their knowledge and wisdom through stories about forging, hunting and growing food in home gardens, and a wealth of food sources springs from the amazing diversity of natural vegetation, fresh fish and wild game.
WHITEHORSE
Visitors may come to the Yukon by driving on the picturesque Alaskan Highway, considered one of the most scenic drives in the world, and Yukon's capital city, Whitehorse is a primary destination. There are plenty of culinary choices in this city. Casual dining is fun and convenient at bakeries, cafes, fast food restaurants, pizza parlours, and pubs. Traditional fare can be found in a variety of family restaurants and steakhouses, and upscale restaurants offer modern Canadian cuisine as well as international fare.
Since many exotic foods can now be brought to the city from a distance, the variety of ingredients and cuisines found in Whitehorse has grown. Chefs have come to rely on sundries from afar, while choosing as often as possible to use fresh, local ingredients. This has the added benefit of excluding chain restaurants from the culinary scene. Most eateries are locally owned and operated, and serve homemade food made from original recipes.
Diners can begin the day with a hearty breakfast at Alpine Bakery, which specializes in producing only organic goods made as often as possible from local ingredients. This bakery produces a local staple that shouldn’t be missed—a sweet nutritious bread with a long shelf life, aptly called Expedition Bread. The Midnight Sun Coffee, a micro-roaster, offers a variety of espresso and brewed coffees to kick-start the day.
A light lunch can be enjoyed at the Talisman Cafe, which serves healthy meals including vegetarian dishes, or after a long morning of adventuring, sportsmen can take a break at the Wired Cabin, which has coffee, goodies and high-speed Internet. The Moose Cafe is another popular destination with indoor and outdoor seating for over 150 guests. The atmosphere is reflective of the natural environment and the restaurant prides itself on serving authentic Yukon cuisine.
For dinner, diners can enjoy a fine dining experience at Bistro on Fourth, which has an excellent wine selection. The Cellar Steakhouse serves Yukon caught seafood and wildlife Alaskan king crab, and wild sockeye salmon. Exotic cuisine can also be enjoyed at one of the international restaurants in Whitehorse. Several Chinese, French, Japanese, Mexican and Middle Eastern restaurants are well-established eateries.
DAWSON CITY
Dawson City, famous for the 19th century Klondike Gold Rush, is a unique destination. Over a hundred years after the gold rush, Dawson City maintains old fashioned architecture and traditional decor that echoes the times when entrepreneurs, adventurers and prospectors came to pan for gold in a mad frenzy. It’s easy to find a good eatery while wandering down Main Street and many of the restaurants draw upon nostalgic historical themes.
Staff at the Bonanza Dining Room are dressed in period costumes taking visitors back to the glory days of the gold rush, The Keno Lounge is designed like Dawson’s historic casinos, Klondike Kate’s is situated in an original building, circa 1904 and the Sourdough Saloon serves an array of cocktails and liquors in true Klondike fashion.
The Jack London Grill and China Village Restaurant are two of the few eateries that don’t reflect Dawson City’s historic themes, instead adopting a more modern feel. At the Jack London Grill, located centrally in the Downtown Hotel, patrons can enjoy fresh Yukon salmon as well as barbecue favourites such as steaks and hamburgers, and at China Village Restaurant, situated in the Midnight Sun Hotel, diners can partake in rich, traditional, fare that can be made as spicy as each individual wants it.
SMALLER COMMUNITIES
The Yukon's smaller isolated settlements offer tourists the opportunity to explore unrivaled scenery and enjoy the unique cultural experiences of Northern Canada’s remote communities. Many local residents are predominantly of First Nations descent and keep alive the traditions of their ancestors through rituals, clothing, stories, language and food, on special occasions and in everyday life. Patrons can enjoy authentic Yukon fare at many family owned restaurants.
The Caribou Crossing in Carcross serves up northern classics year around, and in summer families and especially children can enjoy an ice cream bar and outdoor barbeque served up in a covered wagon. The Wolf-It-Down Restaurant and Bakery in Watson Lake is also well worth visiting. Visitors will enjoy generous portions of buffalo steaks, burgers, fries and fresh oven bread and will delight fresh fruit pies for dessert.
Many of the area's restaurants are situated in accommodation properties and are generally quite accessible from the road, making it easy to stop for a quick bite when visitors are on a long journey. The Gold Panner Restaurant, in the Hotel Carmacks on the junction of the North Klondike and Robert Campbell Highways, is a family restaurant offering traditional fare. Drivers on the Alaska Highway may stop for a meal at the Yukon Motel Restaurant in Teslin; popular dishes here include grilled halibut and lake trout.
The natural beauty of Yukon and its rich history continue to draw recreationists to the far north every year, and its people continue to welcome them with good stories, good food and the good advice about exploring the land.
Visitors considering travelling to Yukon draw up images of vast icy landscapes, a cold harsh climate, and barren winters. Tourists may immediately wonder how the first inhabitants survived off of the sparse land, largely void of agriculture. But when people visit the territory they begin to see a different picture—the summer growing season is temperate and the sun follows the land throughout the entire day. Local residents impart their knowledge and wisdom through stories about forging, hunting and growing food in home gardens, and a wealth of food sources springs from the amazing diversity of natural vegetation, fresh fish and wild game.
WHITEHORSE
Visitors may come to the Yukon by driving on the picturesque Alaskan Highway, considered one of the most scenic drives in the world, and Yukon's capital city, Whitehorse is a primary destination. There are plenty of culinary choices in this city. Casual dining is fun and convenient at bakeries, cafes, fast food restaurants, pizza parlours, and pubs. Traditional fare can be found in a variety of family restaurants and steakhouses, and upscale restaurants offer modern Canadian cuisine as well as international fare.
Since many exotic foods can now be brought to the city from a distance, the variety of ingredients and cuisines found in Whitehorse has grown. Chefs have come to rely on sundries from afar, while choosing as often as possible to use fresh, local ingredients. This has the added benefit of excluding chain restaurants from the culinary scene. Most eateries are locally owned and operated, and serve homemade food made from original recipes.
Diners can begin the day with a hearty breakfast at Alpine Bakery, which specializes in producing only organic goods made as often as possible from local ingredients. This bakery produces a local staple that shouldn’t be missed—a sweet nutritious bread with a long shelf life, aptly called Expedition Bread. The Midnight Sun Coffee, a micro-roaster, offers a variety of espresso and brewed coffees to kick-start the day.
A light lunch can be enjoyed at the Talisman Cafe, which serves healthy meals including vegetarian dishes, or after a long morning of adventuring, sportsmen can take a break at the Wired Cabin, which has coffee, goodies and high-speed Internet. The Moose Cafe is another popular destination with indoor and outdoor seating for over 150 guests. The atmosphere is reflective of the natural environment and the restaurant prides itself on serving authentic Yukon cuisine.
For dinner, diners can enjoy a fine dining experience at Bistro on Fourth, which has an excellent wine selection. The Cellar Steakhouse serves Yukon caught seafood and wildlife Alaskan king crab, and wild sockeye salmon. Exotic cuisine can also be enjoyed at one of the international restaurants in Whitehorse. Several Chinese, French, Japanese, Mexican and Middle Eastern restaurants are well-established eateries.
DAWSON CITY
Dawson City, famous for the 19th century Klondike Gold Rush, is a unique destination. Over a hundred years after the gold rush, Dawson City maintains old fashioned architecture and traditional decor that echoes the times when entrepreneurs, adventurers and prospectors came to pan for gold in a mad frenzy. It’s easy to find a good eatery while wandering down Main Street and many of the restaurants draw upon nostalgic historical themes.
Staff at the Bonanza Dining Room are dressed in period costumes taking visitors back to the glory days of the gold rush, The Keno Lounge is designed like Dawson’s historic casinos, Klondike Kate’s is situated in an original building, circa 1904 and the Sourdough Saloon serves an array of cocktails and liquors in true Klondike fashion.
The Jack London Grill and China Village Restaurant are two of the few eateries that don’t reflect Dawson City’s historic themes, instead adopting a more modern feel. At the Jack London Grill, located centrally in the Downtown Hotel, patrons can enjoy fresh Yukon salmon as well as barbecue favourites such as steaks and hamburgers, and at China Village Restaurant, situated in the Midnight Sun Hotel, diners can partake in rich, traditional, fare that can be made as spicy as each individual wants it.
SMALLER COMMUNITIES
The Yukon's smaller isolated settlements offer tourists the opportunity to explore unrivaled scenery and enjoy the unique cultural experiences of Northern Canada’s remote communities. Many local residents are predominantly of First Nations descent and keep alive the traditions of their ancestors through rituals, clothing, stories, language and food, on special occasions and in everyday life. Patrons can enjoy authentic Yukon fare at many family owned restaurants.
The Caribou Crossing in Carcross serves up northern classics year around, and in summer families and especially children can enjoy an ice cream bar and outdoor barbeque served up in a covered wagon. The Wolf-It-Down Restaurant and Bakery in Watson Lake is also well worth visiting. Visitors will enjoy generous portions of buffalo steaks, burgers, fries and fresh oven bread and will delight fresh fruit pies for dessert.
Many of the area's restaurants are situated in accommodation properties and are generally quite accessible from the road, making it easy to stop for a quick bite when visitors are on a long journey. The Gold Panner Restaurant, in the Hotel Carmacks on the junction of the North Klondike and Robert Campbell Highways, is a family restaurant offering traditional fare. Drivers on the Alaska Highway may stop for a meal at the Yukon Motel Restaurant in Teslin; popular dishes here include grilled halibut and lake trout.
The natural beauty of Yukon and its rich history continue to draw recreationists to the far north every year, and its people continue to welcome them with good stories, good food and the good advice about exploring the land.
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