I know that many diners won't soon find themselves in Point Hope, a large Inupiat Eskimo village in Northwest Alaska, but it can be hard to know where to eat out in the rural areas of the state. So what I'm about to say might save a life or two.
If you're looking for a bite to eat in Point Hope you have two options. You can head to the local grocery store, or pay a visit to the village's only restaurant, A.J.'s Store and Deli, which opens in the evenings at 6 p.m. after the grocery store closes.
Locals rave about the soups at A.J.'s, and the day I stopped in they had already sold out of their Mexican Chicken Soup. Albert Perez, who was working the counter with his wife, Harriet, said the soup made with Mexican spices, chicken, rice, bell peppers and onions is always a top seller. It's the menu item my disappointed dinner partner had been hoping for, and staking a claim on the next batch, he placed an advance order for the next day.
The first thing you notice when you walk in to A.J.'s is that there are no tables, no chairs. For now, it's take-out only, although the family says they hope to expand. It's a busy place that's part restaurant, part candy store. The phone rings with customers placing orders, and children barely tall enough to reach the counter stream through to buy soda and candy bars. A variety of grocery items are also available for sale. Hip waders, fishing lures, roaster ovens, Ziploc bags, clothing, kettle corn and Lipton tea line the shelves. Chilled drinks are also available.
AJ's is busiest on the weekends, and the Perezes say especially on Sunday night. Harriet says in the evenings after church services, they often open to a long line of customers standing outside waiting to come in.
Menu items include nachos, pot stickers, roast beef sandwiches, deep fried shrimp and grilled cheese. There is also a long list of hamburgers to choose from. I chose a bacon cheeseburger with fries. It arrived neatly packaged to go, making it easy to transport home. 
The standard hamburger, loaded with a sliced tomato, pickle, onions and mayonnaise, was great. Even better were the fries. Golden, crisp and not too greasy, they were unexpectedly good.
A.J.'s is owned by Tom and Leona Frankson and is named after their daughter, Alisah Jewels. The family also recently opened a bed and breakfast next door, where guests are treated to free breakfasts from the restaurant.