While I wouldn’t exactly call Yellowknife a hotbed of culinary activity, there are a few places that you have to try while you are there. From historic, to quirky, to straight up delicious, these four places offer some of the most interesting northern dining experiences out there.

Wildcat Cafe

Reading up on Yellowknife, I learned that this is the oldest restaurant in Yellowknife. It was also one of the first businesses to open during the beginning of the Con Mine gold era in the 1930s, which was the main catalyst for European Canadian settlement in the area.

Situated in the restored original log cabin in Yellowknife’s Old Town neighbourhood, this is the perfect place to sit around and let your imagination wander to Yellowknife’s recent history as an old mining town. A gorgeous view of float planes taking off and landing on Great Slave Lake reminds visitors of the importance of aviation in this part of the world.

We stopped here for a cold beer on a hot day. When my 20 ounces of fermented goodness came out in a large camping mug, I was sold on the place. That blue enamel was just begging me to sit back, tell a few tall tales, and shoot the shit with my friends. My inner prospector was delighted.

There are a few “northern” items on the menu, the food is decent, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is awesome. Keep in mind, Wildcat Cafe is only open in the summer, so winter aurora chasers will have to find another place to unwind and share adventure stories.

Bullocks

This is probably the most famous place to eat in Yellowknife, and finding the words to describe how good their fish is may well end up being my greatest challenge as a writer. Every tasty morsel feels like a hit of dopamine to the brain.

“We sprinkle a bit of cocaine on top, keeps ’em coming back,” a server joked as she cracked open a few beers for me and my friends. She laughed out loud at her own joke. I chuckled along and secretly wondered. It really was that good.

If you get here early, you’ll see the staff clean off the high wood block table and knead out tomorrow’s bread, which is served with jam and butter for every customer.  In a couple of hours, that table will be packed with strangers, sitting shoulder to shoulder and sharing stories of what brought them to Yellowknife.

I recommend ordering the skewers with multiple types of fish. You’re going to want to try all of it. The service here is notoriously abrasive, but the atmosphere remains awesome. I will not be mad at myself if, one day, I make a trip to Yellowknife just to eat here again.

Sushi North

I was initially surprised to hear that there is a great Japanese restaurant in Yellowknife. Turns out, Yellowknife is a major Japanese tourist destination, especially in the winter. I have even seen quite a few job postings in Yellowknife that list Japanese language skills as an asset.

I freaking love Japanese food. Maybe it is leftover nostalgia from my years of reading Naruto for hours on end, or maybe I just have great taste. Either way, my personal version of heaven is sitting at the bar in a ramen house, slurping up hot noodles and sipping tasty broth. Anyways.

Sushi North is a great place to fill up on a cold day. A bowl of miso soup to warm you up, and a giant platter of sushi to fill the belly. This place has a great menu full of classic Japanese fare, and is one of the few places in the world where you will find Arctic Char Nigiri.

The Black Knight Pub

When out gallivanting on every which adventure, it is easy to forget that Yellowknife, as the territorial capital of the Northwest Territories, is such a government town. It seems like every second person you meet works for the government.

Something I love about a typical government town is seeing the swath of employees out for pints after work. To get this experience, and prime eavesdropping opportunities, head to The Black Knight Pub in downtown Yellowknife on a week night. You’re likely to overhear some juicy piece of gossip or scandal.

The owners here are great, they have a solid beer selection, and their menu is top notch. Typical pub fare with a few unique items. We have eaten here a few times and always have an awesome experience.

Eat in Yellowknife

I probably didn’t give Yellowknife enough credit when I knocked its culinary reputation at the beginning of this post. The truth is that, for a city of under 20,000 people, it’s remarkably easy to find a good place to eat in Yellowknife.

Did I miss any premium Yellowknife dining experiences? Have you been to any of these three places? Let me know in the comments!