Best Filipino American Classics Across the US

Diaz Cafe

Ketchikan, AK

“Diaz Caf is a historic Ketchikan institution and living monument to Alaska's Filipino heritage, operating continuously for over 50 years since the 1960s. This family-run restaurant, currently managed by Clara Diaz with longtime manager Rudy Manabat, traces its roots to Juneau in the 1930s when "Mama" Bernalda Diaz opened the original caf while her husband Manuel worked in gold mines. The family relocated to Ketchikan in the 1950s, establishing the Lucky Spot which became Diaz Caf in 1964, right in the heart of what was then Ketchikan's thriving Filipino community. A historical marker stands outside, commemorating the "Alaskeros"-Filipino workers who came to Alaska's booming canneries in the 1920s and built lasting communities. Clara Diaz, now featured in a permanent history exhibit inside the restaurant, has served as a mother figure to generations of customers, teaching Filipino dance classes and welcoming countless visitors to Alaska. The restaurant serves authentic Filipino-American cuisine with specialties like chicken adobo, pancit, lumpia, and the sweet and sour ribs that have become legendary. Beyond Filipino food, the menu includes Chinese-American favorites, reflecting Ketchikan's diverse Asian heritage. Diaz Caf is far more than a restaurant-it's a cultural landmark where three generations have gathered, a place where governors have dined, and a gathering spot for all of Ketchikan.”