I ate at Arctic Roadrunner in Alaska, and I can see why its burgers are so popular among locals

Several local newspapers annually ask the community to vote for their favorite food spots — and almost every year, Arctic Roadrunner is named Anchorage's best burger.

Arctic Roadrunner has been serving burgers, specialty sandwiches, and hand-dipped milkshakes since 1964. It began as a trailer before expanding into two brick-and-mortar restaurants, but the smaller location closed after the owner's death in 2017.

I've now lived in Alaska for over 21 years. And even though the restaurant is an Anchorage institution, my family and I hadn't eaten there in almost a decade.

So we decided to revisit the burger joint and see if it lived up to the hype.

Arctic Roadrunner is located at 5300 Old Seward Highway at the Campbell Creek overpass.

Walkers, runners, and bicyclists pass by on the adjacent Campbell Creek trail while kayakers, rafters, and stand-up paddleboarders float in the water.

The patio umbrellas go up in the summer or once the snow melts, so you can enjoy your meal creek-side by following the two sets of stairs that lead from the restaurant to the outdoor seating area. There's also a ramp from the parking lot for a more accessible route.

The restaurant's exterior resembles a large cabin.

Carved wooden animals are embedded into the roof's eaves, and a large totem pole flanks the restaurant's left side.

A sign in the parking lot often displays inspirational messages, but when I visited, it simply read, "open for takeout and delivery."

The seating is a mixture of booths and tables, and a fireplace in the main dining room warms the space up during the winter.

The decor is chock-full of Alaskan charm. The wood beams are painted with Alaska Native images, and eclectic pieces like moose antlers, dog sleds, and trophy mounts are scattered throughout.

Photos of national and local celebrities share wall and ceiling space alongside pictures of long-time customers.

My daughter and I ordered at the counter while my husband and other daughter went to claim a patio table.

Additionally, Arctic Roadrunner only accepts cash, but there's an ATM on-site if you show up empty-handed.

There were also paper menus available and a handwritten board with the daily specials. The menu is subject to change.

When I went, Arctic Roadrunner offered a variety of beef burgers, from basic options to larger and more adventurous meals like the Kenai Whopper (with chili pepper and mozzarella cheese) and Mexican burger (with chili pepper and a special sauce).

There were also specialty sandwiches with smoked turkey or barbecue beef and chicken, salmon, and halibut burgers.

The restaurant offers typical burger sides, like french fries and onion rings, as well as chili, beans, and coleslaw.

We opted for the Arctic cheeseburger, pepper burger, halibut burger, and BLT. Sandwiches are sold solo, so we also ordered a side of fries and onion pieces — not to be confused with onion rings.

Our total, which included a bottle of apple juice and two milkshakes, came to $53.

The condiment station had standard options like ketchup, onions, and relish, as well as spicy peppers.

The real star was the slightly spicy pickle slices. My daughter got seconds, declaring herself "obsessed."

When we arrived at 5:30 p.m. the line was out the door, but we probably waited no more than 10 minutes for our food.

Arctic Roadrunner's 1/4-pound beef patties were cooked medium-well and served on a hamburger bun with a pickle slice speared through the top.

My go-to burger order is anything with pepper because I like the heat, and this one was topped with mayo, lettuce, tomato, mozzarella cheese, and a mild chili pepper.

The pepper didn't give this a spicy bite but the taste came through. Plus the patty was juicy and well-seasoned.

This was a basic burger with ketchup, mayo, onions, and American cheese.

Like the pepper burger, the patty was flavorful and well-seasoned. My daughter is quick to speak up if her food is dry or bland, but she made no such complaints.

My daughter ordered a BLT, and it was perfectly assembled with lettuce, tomato, and crisp, medium-thick bacon sandwiched between two pieces of toasted bread.

When I dug into the leftovers for lunch the next day, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the sandwich held up. Even the bread was still crisp.

Halibut has been my favorite fish since moving to Alaska 21 years ago. It has a firm, meaty flesh that's flaky and tender when properly cooked.

And my husband's halibut burger didn't disappoint. It had a crispy crunch and was topped with American cheese, tartar sauce, lettuce, and an onion ring. I kept sneaking an extra bite when he wasn't looking.

The burger came with a side of good coleslaw, though you could opt for beans instead.

My main critique is I thought most of the sandwiches had too much mayonnaise or, in this case, tartar sauce. Even my husband, who's yet to meet a mayo-based salad he didn't like, thought it was a lot.

The french fries were fine, but the delicious onion pieces were almost a cross between grilled onions and fried rings.

My husband and I picked at these long after we were full.

Before going to Arctic Roadrunner, I asked my local network what I should order, and the only consensus was a milkshake.

The shakes come in several flavors, including vanilla, peanut butter, and cookies and creme, but my daughter and I opted for strawberry and blackberry, respectively.

These shakes were the real deal — hand-dipped Tillamook vanilla ice cream blended with fresh frozen berries to a perfect consistency. The fruity flavor burst through.

My daughter initially complained that I'd ordered an extra-small, but after eating the burger and fries, she agreed it was the perfect size.

It's clear why Arctic Roadrunner is a perennial favorite for Anchorage's best burger. It offers great food, good-sized portions, and a family-friendly atmosphere, all for a fair price.

And on a perfectly sunny day, I don't know if there's a nicer place than the patio for dinner with the family.

It definitely won't be another 10 years before we return.