Eating in Alaska's Hidden One Building Town 

The fear off living In One building ,also the excitement is overwhelming. Sounds like a very well grounded little town.

The fact they bought the restaurant only a couple of years before the tunnel opened is such a stroke of luck.

This town would be a great setting for a horror game.

You should have name dropped the originator. She deserves it so much.

I love their story. I love that he gave the Japanese lady credit. I want to go there. 🐟♥️

This town is fascinating and I loved learning about it but people forget that its not in the middle of nowhere. Its a major ferry port in Alaska and about a 1 hour drive from the nearest Costco

Well, considering that the restaurant used to be owned by a Japanese person; it's possible that the fish is battered in potato starch rather than flour. Using potato starch can give your food a crispier and lighter flavour, and it's easier to taste the spices and/or marinade.

I worked for the railroad in Alaska for a number of years and the Swiftwater was definitely one of our go-to places when we went off duty there. Tiny place, great views of the harbor and sound, and excellent food. Definitely one of the highlights of Whittier.

I’ve eaten there. Definitely not a one-building town anymore, but a cool place to visit. The train is a whistle-stop train that will drop you off at a place where you can hike to Spencer glacier, there’s a great log cabin you can stay at near there

You’re not disappointed that this is THE place to eat while you’re waiting on the tunnel to go out.

I love living in Alaska. Born and raised. Grew up traveling the Seward highway.

Ever since I first saw Peter Santanello's video on Whittier it's been living rent free in my head. This video just gave me another reason to add visiting this place (or moving there) to my bucketlist.

The original owner gave then all the knowledge and they followed it.

We love seeing mom and pop shops thriving 😮‍💨❤️🫂

This is the first reason I've ever had to want to visit Alaska. Thank you #Munchies for always bringing us the great real-life stories of people conquering their fears and making lives of those around better. Continued success and happiness in 2023 to everyone in #Whittier Alaska. #FishAndChips #Family #Friends #Restaurant

i’ve been up to whittier before … first time i’ve ever been knocked on my ass by wind lol. the weather change after you go through the tunnel is unbelievable.

Yup, the tunnel leading into Whittier is pretty unique as it's shared by cars and trains. The only other tunnel similar to it in the US is the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel in Pittsburgh which is shared by buses and light rail. On top of it being shared by trains, it's also the longest highway tunnel in North America (at 2.5 miles long), the first designed for -40 Fahrenheit temperatures and 150 mph winds, as well as the first to be aired out with jet turbine ventilation. The reason trains and cars share the tunnel is because they wanted to save money so they didn't have to build another tunnel for cars back in 2000. How did Whittier become such a rail place? Because of WWII. Whittier was pretty important during WWII when it comes to protecting Alaska. The US Army selected Whittier as a rail port because it was a shorter voyage, reduced exposure of ships to Japanese submarines, reduced the risk of Japanese bombing the port facilities because of the bad weather, and avoided the steep railroad grades required to traverse the Kenai Mountains. So the tunnel was built for the port in 1943.

I'd love to try Alaskan fish and chips... Being Australian and living on the coast, fish and chips are a staple here.

I was stationed in anchorage and alaska was the best place I ever lived. The fishing, the camping, great golf, the food, everything was life changing. All the road trips, train trips, national parks unreal! Can't wait to move back

Yaaay! I watched a mini documentary this guy did about this place. Loved the community.

Growing up in Alaska, and have lived abroad for almost a decade. I am 32, and hearing "You are working, so no beer please"... reminds me of how weird that sounds, like that would be a big deal. But it was and and how far I drifted away. My dad hitched on the train and camped in the shale hills with his best friend in the 60s. And if no one said it already... "The weather is always .... in Whittier." You fill in the blank. Even driving out of Anchorage... Whittier feels like a place to stare into the abyss for a day. I miss the air.

Sounds like they got their own slice of unique paradise

Grew up in Alaska and worked out of Whittier for a few years. This place has been the same since day 1. Worth the stop if you’re visiting Alaska.

While living in Alaska I visited several times and found the folks both gracious and entertaining.

Alaska is beautiful. Breathtakingly so. My family and I stayed in Anchorage. When I go back, Whittier is on my list, as well as Nome, & Fairbanks! Oh, & going back to Anchorage, have to catch the Iditarod! ❤

Whittier! Went backpacking and sailing out there a few years ago, so beautiful and cozy. Love Alaska!! 😁

I learned about Whittier back in 2017 or so, and have always wanted to visit since then. What I particularly love about this documentary is that it focuses on a spot that I have never heard about before! Most of the documentaries focus on the Begich Towers, so its refreshing to see one focus on the locals and their pride in their food. Primary reasons for wanting to visit is the one-way tunnel and just to admire the breathtaking views. Now I have another reason to visit! :)

I looooooove visiting Whittier! I live in Alaska near Whittier, it is such a beautiful place to visit! Never had the chance to eat at the Swiftwater cafe. It is usually closed when we go. But one day, I am going too!

I actually was there in August. You can ride a train or drive there. The tunnel actually is shared with cars and cars can only go through at certain times. They have a neat glacier cruise you can do

I worked here in summers of 2000 and 2001 cleaning after hours. My friend josh was their waiter. Don and Margaret were always extremely nice and welcoming to me. Lots of nights playing humble pie full blast, cleaning dishes and stocking the fridge and prepping. Great times.

Always love hearing about Whittier!

Some Whittier history: The region occupied by Whittier was once part of the portage route of the Chugach people native to Prince William Sound. Later, the passage was used by Russian and American explorers, and by prospecting miners during the Klondike Gold Rush. The nearby Whittier Glacier was named for American poet John Greenleaf Whittier in 1915, and the town eventually took the name as well A sad fact about Whittier, it once had a huge earthquake in 1964 that had a magnitude of 9.2...that remains in the top four of the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history (second to be specific!). Whittier faced three tsunamis as a result, killing 12 people (including six children) in a single lumber mill who were celebrating a birthday, as well as a woman and her infant perishing elsewhere in town. From Whittier's role in WWII to the earthquake, a town famous for its one building sure has a story to tell.

Reasons for omitting a thirteenth floor include triskaidekaphobia on the part of the building's owner or builder, or a desire by the building owner or landlord to prevent problems that may arise with superstitious tenants, occupants, or customers. In 2002, based on an internal review of records, Dilip Rangnekar of Otis Elevators estimated that 85% of the buildings with Otis brand elevators did not have a floor named the 13th floor. Early tall-building designers, fearing a fire on the 13th floor, or fearing tenants' superstitions about the rumor, decided to omit having a 13th floor listed on their elevator numbering.This practice became commonplace, and eventually found its way into American mainstream culture and building design. -Wiki

Some years ago i used the ferry from whittier to valdez. It was the journey of my life so far...#lovealaska

Went to Whittier on a whim for my trip to alaska...it is absolutely spectacular in winter, even if most places are closed

Can't wait for the great north to do an episode there. I love that show

Ok, but who owns it NOW? Because if you pay attention that couple said they owned it from 1997 to 2019. And the head chef said she came in "when her boss bought it".

Damn I’d buy a restaurant for 5K. That’d be sick

That place remind me of a little fish restaurant in Charlottetown. My bestfriend and I went there back in 2015 and asked the locals what's a good place to eat and every one of them told us to go to this place. They were right. The food was phenomenal and the ambience warm.

that chowder with smoked salmon looked AMAZING!

Just the thought of looking out over those open spaces, waterfalls and quiet makes me long to visit Alaska. I feel like it's the place I was always meant to be.

The halibut from this place is phenomenal.

Wow this is my favorite restaurant in Whittier ! ❤️ So cool to see it on one of my favorite RU-vid channels (:

I love this serie munchies!!! would love to visit alaska one day

Journalist: How did you hear about swift water? Guy: We live in a boat

Was lucky to visit this town back in June, I wish I ate here!

gosh i love these 2,they are so realistic its a breath of fresh air !

This is one of my favorite feel good comfort video ever on RU-vid

*This was one of the best videos I’ve seen all week*

Oh wow, the food looks really good. And, I love her voice and his voice especially.

We went while we were in Anchorage. Had fish in chips in Anchorage and then here. The difference is unbelievable. 100% agree that this is the best fish in chips. Nothing compares.

That lady working is GORGEOUS!

For some reason, once I saw a documentary about begich building, I was hooked!

I made Whittier a stop in my trip to Alaska. Swiftwater has amazing food. The calamari burger is very good. I did the glacier cruise and spent the night there. Pretty cool little town.

Thank you! Can’t wait to visit! 0:35 Sad that this isn’t the primary tenet of all food establishments/businesses😢 Greetings from the coast of SoCal!

I found a cool fishing hook and bought some salt in tiny trailer style shop during this past summer. Also saw their history museum. That was pretty cool too

Alaska had some of the best food I've ever had. Best pizza I ever had was in Juneau. Best pad thai I had was in Skagway. Best Chinese food was in Ketchikan.

Never in my life been to Alaska but seeing this video I would 100% try this food. Great story A++ Work

What an awesome little piece of the world.

Man these munchies gives me the munchies

I’m from Anchorage Alaska. When I get back to Alaska I’ll have to visit this place.

I remember Henry constantly telling us how much she loves us to do and I think that she would love that for her to be honest and to have her back to me so I think she was really happy to have that and that she would like us all being friends with us to do it was so nice to see you

I remember visiting here this year very fondly -- great place!

What a beautiful town.

Swift water seafood cafe is absolutely amazing. Literally the only place me and my family will eat every time we’re in Whittier

Dude she's so nice I remember her saying she's moving there she works very hard

Kayaked from Whittier to Valdez once. It was such an amazing experience. Shame I wasn't able to stop by.

There is some pretty good fish and chips on the Homer spit. Fresh caught halibut every day can't go wrong.

I absolutely love fish and chips. Im always on the hunt for the best spot. Believe it or not I had such a hard time finding a decent place in Los Angeles, at least to my liking, but ive had better luck on the east coast. I have to try this place before I die. It HAS TO HAPPEN! lol Im only 27 so fingers crossed lol this seems like such a nice and friendly town. Ive seen videos about this place before but they only focused on the idea of everyone living in one place and not so much the area and how gorgeous it is and how the locals are. great video!

I watched a of Hobo Shoestring, am who rides the goods trains and he visited your town. Great video and all the best from Australia 🇦🇺 👍

On my bucket list now coz I LOVE fish n chips😋

Found out about Whittier years ago through a Thoughty2 video, never thought I’d see it again on Munchies lmao

I have been to Whittier and it’s magical .. entire city in one bldg..

Been going here since I was a kid; their crab cakes are awsome too!

Thanks, I love re=watching this episode.

This would be a great place to stay for a week or two and decompress. And try everything on the menu while I'm there between hikes 😄

I live in a "small" town in Hudson County NJ. 1/5th of the population lives in the same high rise building complex as me. We live 20 min across the river from Manhattan, and there's something I really love about the community here. Were in the city but not, and people are friendly because the town has such small borders. The total pop of the whole county is the pop of all of Alaska, so no comparison, but it really is a special way to live like this.

I could listen to female owner for hours telling her stories. GREAT speaking voice and comforting.

Such an inspiring story !!!❤❤❤

I live almost 9k km from this place and I am still tempted to visit this place and taste the food

Honestly one of the most interesting ways I’ve seen to combat the cold. One big building to insulate. They killed the food too, might have to bucket list this spot lmao

I love this story.

Sees the intro: “Huh, that looks like Japanese deepfry” 2:38 : “Ah makes sense”

How lovely! Grateful for people like you!🙏☯️🙏

The Halibut looks amazing, in Europe it's impossible to get something like that. Even when you buy it for 50-60€ per Kilo, it doesn't look like that. Would love to taste it.

Would LOVE to have tried that fish & chips and the chowder!!!

I lived across the street from that Bukner building for work. That was some creepy stuff.

We drive down once a week to eat there. Spectacular food!

Munchies, if you want other secret Alaska restaurants, go to Amelia's in Dutch Harbor. They're known for their avocado milkshakes.

I have never really traveled much but I think If be down to go to Alaska for this place and some fishing. Let’s make it happen!

What a lovely story!

Alaskans are a different type of people. They're great!

Check out Fermont in Quebec, it’s literally a whole city in a “wall” building!

the tunnel time blows my mind. do they shut the gates? or just have trains going thru nonstop?? 90% of the people living in one building is one hell of a social experiment

Crazy how much attention Whittier is getting recently.

Damn! I’m craving FnC now. Funny that I worked in a seafood restaurant for years and I ate my share of FnC and I still love it.

The best fish and chips I've had was on the Oregon coast in Astoria... they use chunks of Tuna.

Fish and chips looks delicious!!🐟🍟

Reminds me of "the brick" from northern exposure. 😂 So awesome

y'all have good reason to be proud! M'Mmmmm! paprika on the cod before deepfrying! ... my mouth is watering!