Reindeer sausage is Anchorage's signature street food, sold from yellow- and red-umbrella carts on 4th Avenue all summer and tucked into hoagie buns with grilled onions and yellow mustard.

Reindeer were imported to Alaska from Siberia in the 1890s to support Inupiat herders. Today commercial reindeer farming supplies the Anchorage sausage trade, with Tia's Gourmet Sausage (4th and E Street), Fio's Reindeer and Red Umbrella Reindeer running the downtown summer carts. Snow City Cafe and other downtown breakfast spots run reindeer sausage as a breakfast meat.

Where to eat Reindeer sausage in Anchorage

5 editor picks for Reindeer sausage in Anchorage, ranked by editorial score. All Anchorage signature dishes · Reindeer sausage across every city.

Make it at home

Serves 420 minEasy

Ingredients

  • 4 commercially-made reindeer sausages (around 110g each)
  • 4 hoagie or hot dog buns
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced thin
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • Yellow mustard, ketchup and grilled onions to garnish
  • 1 tsp olive oil

Method

  1. Heat a heavy skillet over medium-low heat with the butter, then add the sliced onion. Cook 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden.
  2. While the onions cook, score the reindeer sausages lightly on the diagonal so they don't burst.
  3. Brush a grill or second skillet with olive oil and cook the sausages over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side until well-browned.
  4. Toast the buns lightly in the same pan.
  5. Place each sausage in a bun, top with caramelised onions and serve with yellow mustard and ketchup on the side.

Editor tip. Outside Alaska, source from Alaska Sausage and Seafood Co for an authentic version, or substitute a venison or wild-game sausage.

Common allergens: Gluten (bun).