About Sam & Lee's
Over 30 years feeding the community at the top of the world
A Family Restaurant at the Top of the World
Sam & Lee's Restaurant was established in the early 1990s in Utqiagvik — known to many as Barrow — Alaska. For over three decades, it has been one of the most familiar and dependable restaurants in the community, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Kim with care, consistency, and warmth.
Located in our distinctive red building on Kogiak Street, we've become a place where neighbors catch up, travelers find a hot meal after a long journey, and workers come to refuel. Whether you're a lifelong Utqiagvik resident or visiting from the outside, you'll find a welcoming table here.
Our menu reflects the full range of what we do best: Chinese and Asian-inspired entrées like Mongolian Beef, General Tso's Chicken, and King Crab dishes sit alongside American classics — steaks, burgers, sandwiches, and breakfast served all day. It's a broad menu built around satisfying real people with real appetites.
We serve the people of Utqiagvik: locals, Indigenous community members, oil field workers, researchers, government employees, and visitors from across Alaska and beyond. Whoever walks through our door, they leave full.
"We didn't just open a restaurant. We built a home — and this whole town became our family." — Mr. & Mrs. Kim
A Life Built in Utqiagvik
The story of a family, a restaurant, and a community.
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Late 1980s
A New Beginning
Mr. and Mrs. Kim arrive in Utqiagvik from South Korea — settling at the very top of the world with a bold vision and hearts wide open.
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Early 1990s
Sam & Lee's Opens
The red building goes up. Word spreads fast — Chinese and American food, hot and hearty, in a town that needed exactly that. Lines form before the doors open.
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1990s – 2000s
Raising a Family
Four children are born and raised in Utqiagvik. The restaurant becomes their classroom, their playground, their identity — and the community watches them grow.
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2010s
Part of the Fabric
Utqiagvik changes — new buildings, new businesses, new faces. Through it all, Sam & Lee's remains constant: the warm light on the corner, the familiar smell of frying and broth.
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Today
Still Going Strong
The corner where the restaurant stands is recognized as Sam & Lee's Street. Open 9 AM to 1:30 AM, seven days a week — the dragon still watches over Utqiagvik, and the Kims still welcome everyone through that red door.
Meet the Family
Mr. & Mrs. Kim — Serving Utqiagvik since the early 1990s
What We Stand For
Community First
We've been part of this community for over 30 years and we take that seriously. Utqiagvik is home.
Good Food
A broad menu done well — from Asian favorites to American comfort food, made to satisfy every time.
Family-Owned
Mr. and Mrs. Kim have poured their lives into this restaurant. When you dine here, you support a family business.
Open to All
Locals, travelers, workers, and visitors — everyone is welcome at Sam & Lee's.
A Comfortable Place to Eat
Our dining room is cozy and familiar — green booths, checkered tablecloths, and the smell of something good coming from the kitchen. It's the kind of place you come back to.
We offer dine-in seating, takeout, and delivery (with a $20 minimum order, available 11:45 am – 1:30 am). Call ahead to confirm availability, especially during busy periods.
