ANCHORAGE - Anchorage is a great place for food lovers, and there are plenty of new restaurants to choose from.
Over the last two years Anchorage has added 600 new jobs in the restaurant industry.
The Rodriguz family ate lunch at the newly opened Pho Vietnam 3, in Jewel Lake, on Thursday.
“We just like eating out at different places, trying new places, this is our first time here,” said father of three Ryan Rodriguz.
"It's just easier to come out, and have somebody to prepare your meal, and we can sit down and enjoy our time together. It's easier on her, and it's easier on me, and I don't mind spending the money and having some time,” said Rodriguz.
The restaurant industry provided 20,000 people with work last year and that number is continuing to rise.
Economists say the growth in the restaurant industry is a long-term trend, though it took a slight hit in 2008 with the recession. Since then though, employment figures have been steadily rising.
"When we look at Anchorage and the demographics, Anchorage has a very high family and household income and that has to be a positive for the restaurant industry,” said Neal Fried, economist with the state Department of Labor.
"A little less than 50 percent of the Anchorage consumer's food dollar goes to eating away from home,” said Fried.
