17+ Delicious Outer Banks Restaurants To Satisfy Your Cravings

One thing I know for certain from our time spent in the Outer Banks, there’s no shortage of wonderful places to eat. Being by the coast, you can expect to find an abundance of locally caught, fresh seafood and Southern fare, as well as organic produce and relaxed, family-friendly vibes.

We know that when planning a trip one of the hardest decisions to make is finding a place to eat. We have two daughters who have very different tastes, so we know how hard it is to find an amazing Outer Banks restaurant that will satisfy every member of the family. To help you out, we’ve listed some of the best Outer Banks restaurants as well as recommendations from local friends from the area, so you can pick a place that everyone will be happy with.

The Best Outer Banks Restaurants To Try Today!

From waterfront restaurants to beach shacks, tiki huts, cafes, breweries and bistros, there’s endless places to eat in Outer Banks for everyone to enjoy! Its salty flavors are one of the reasons it’s on the list for best food destinations in NC.

1. Fish Heads Bar and Grill (Nags Head)

I’m going to start with a classic Outer Banks experience. And that’s what we want on an Outer Banks vacation right, experiences and moments we talk about long after they’ve happened. For us, Fish Heads Bar and Grill is quintessential OBX. Think laid-back and chilled local vibe, amazing ocean views from on the pier, fresh seafood, family-friendly atmosphere, live music, and 20 cent shrimp during happy hour 4-6pm every day – yes, I said 20 CENT SHRIMP.

We don’t have piers at our beaches where we grew up in Australia, and the Outer Banks Fishing Pier is now our favorite pier in the country. Dump your tacky rides into the ocean and pop up some colorful umbrellas, a few tables, and a tiki hut with a solid beer selection (40 beers in total).

No, it’s not the best shrimp we’ve ever eaten (we are fussy being Aussies who grew up on the coast), but they have a variety of entrees and take it from us, this is one of those super cool local spots you just have to experience for yourself. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

• Address: 8901 S Old Oregon Inlet Rd, Nags Head
• Website: FishHeadsOBX.com

2. The Paper Canoe

On a 2024 solo getaway to Duck, Caroline discovered a new favorite Outer Banks restaurant, The Paper Canoe, a cozy, intimate, yet upscale waterfront restaurant. Their American gourmet cuisine focuses on fresh and uncomplicated yet flavorful dishes ranging from locally sourced Outer Banks seafood, handcrafted pasta, and mouthwatering wood oven specialties.

Deciding what to eat will be difficult, but my recommendation is the shrimp and scallop risotto. The scallops in my dish were the best I’ve had in America and reminded me of home. My server said the scallop dish at this restaurant is extraordinary – I believe it!

Enjoy a glass of wine or craft cocktail with your meal and be ready for a spectacular sunset over the Currituck Sound. If you don’t manage to get a table by the window, you can walk outside on the jetty for a front row view. The restaurant is across the road from the luxurious Sanderling Resort (highly recommend a stay here!)

• Address: 8901 S Old Oregon Inlet Rd, Nags Head
• Website: The Paper Canoe

3. Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant (Nags Head)

Another cool thing we love about the Outer Banks is you can watch the sunset over the water, even though you’re on the East Coast. If you’re looking for one of those famous OBX sunsets, head to Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant overlooking Roanoke Sound.

Miller’s is one of the most highly recommended places to eat in the Outer Banks and always has many positive reviews, but we felt our food fell a little flat. Many of our friends tell us they love the food, so we’ll put it down to a bad day and will try again. We dined downstairs in the restaurant, but next time we’d like to try upstairs at the Sunset Bar & Grill.

For us, the sunset stole the show, and even if you don’t think your meal here is all that memorable, definitely come here for sunset drinks outside on the grass area and watch the magic happen over the sound, which appears to be an Outer Banks tradition.

• Address: 6916 S Croatan Hwy, Nags Head
• Website: MillersWaterfront.com

4. Mulligan’s Grille in Historic Cottage Row (Nags Head)

We love tiki bars, and if you do too, this place is worth your time. If we lived in the OBX this is the kinda place I could call my local. Mulligan’s offers several dining and drinking areas, and we chose to eat in the casual and chilled Tiki Bar upstairs. You get distant views of the beach, fresh coastal breezes, and a fun vibe. We had to drag ourselves out of there!

They have fresh local seafood, good burgers, and a nice selection of beers. There’s a downstairs bar, and indoor and outdoor seating with views of Jockey’s Ridge.

You’re set back a few blocks from the ocean, but high enough to have views of the beach. Come chill out here with a bite to eat and a few drinks and wear your relaxed OBX persona.

• Address: 4005 S Croatan Hwy, Nags Head
• Website: MulligansOBX.com

5. NC Coast & Grill (Duck)

One of the biggest attractions in Duck is the Duck Boardwalk. Situated along that boardwalk is the NC Coast & Grill. I recommend starting or ending your boardwalk stroll here with lunch, or even just a drink. You’ll get superb Currituck Sound views and delicious food described as coastal and Southern with nuances from around the world. Our Mexican poutine and fish street tacos were perfect evidence of that. NC Coast Grill had the most modern and innovative food we had in the Outer Banks. And I’m guessing this would be a great sunset spot too.

• Address: 1184 Duck Rd, Duck
• Website: NCCoastOBX.com

6. Noosa Beach Grille, Kill Devil Hills

How could we not love a restaurant named after one of our favorite coastal towns in Australia? It’s exactly what I’d expect from an Aussie inspired restaurant – coastal, laid-back ambiance, with a menu that artfully blends fresh, locally sourced seafood with innovative flavors and techniques, delighting patrons with dishes like their signature seared tuna and decadent crab cakes. We loved an Aussie favorite – Surf and Turf and octopus!

• Address: 2003 S Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills
• Website: https://www.noosabeachgrille.com

7. Art’s Place Bar & Grille (Kitty Hawk)

There are no shortage of great restaurants for lunch and dinner in the Outer Banks, but we found the breakfast options not so appealing. Except for this local’s favorite, Art’s Place Bar & Grille in Kitty Hawk. Highly recommended by several people in our Instagram community, especially for their pancakes, which our kids loved. We also loved their country ham breakfast, omelette’s, breakfast sandwiches, and French toast!

This long-running burger joint has ocean views from it’s rooftop and features live music and classic American eats – said to have the best burger on the island, we’ll be back for one of those next trip!

8. The Spot Box (Nags Head & Kitty Hawk)

If you like starting your day with a great smoothie bowl or acai, put the SpotBox on your list of places to eat in the OBX. You know a place is popular and good when there’s literally a line out the door. Known as the OG acai bowl shop in the Outer Banks, we can confirm the delicious Acai bowls will make queuing worth your while. You’re at the beach, be sure to grab yourself a smoothie bowl. It’s the OBX way. On the menu is a wide variety of bowls, with two locations in Kitty Hawk and Nags Head.

• Address: Nags Head & Kitty Hawk
• Website: TheSpotBox.com

9. Outer Banks Brewing Station (Kill Devil Hills)

If you’re like us and are always up for a good local brewery, especially a family-friendly one that serves great food, then consider the Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills for a meal, and a drink or two! The interesting thing about this brewery is that it’s thefirst wind-powered brewery in America, and we like to support and celebrate local businesses that support Mother Nature. We found the food to be well above average brewery food, and enjoyed our bacon mussels, the local puppy drum with sweet corn risotto, and Bratwurst Sausage Plate.

There’s a large beer garden area with plenty of room for the kids to run around, and live music! As for drinks, we suggest the LemonGrass Wheat Ale or Hugh Hefeweizen, plus there’s wine and specialty cocktails. They also make their own root beer, ginger beer & Orange Vanilla Creamsicle Soda! They have a jam-packed events calendar with live music in their garden pretty much every night of the week, as well as sports playing on the TV screens. Check their website for upcoming events. 

• Address: 600 S Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills
• Website: OBBrewing.com

10. Tortuga’s Lie (Nags Head)

Another locals favorite OBX restaurant located in Nags Head is Tortuga’s Lie. And one thing they don’t lie about is the quality of their shrimp! They serve probably the best steamed shrimp I’ve had in North Carolina! At Tortuga’s Lie you’ll find a cool beach vibe and it is suggested you sit at the bar, order Cayman Crippler drinks, and pair with their spiced steamed shrimp. Great fish tacos and fries too! 

11. Fresh Fit Cafe (Nags Head)

If you enjoy a healthy start to your day, and water views, find your way to Freshfit Cafe overlooking the sound on the Nags Head-Manteo Causeway. It’s kinda tucked away as all hidden secrets should be. As health conscious eaters, we particularly like to start off our day with a healthy breakfast and we’re glad we found this place during our research. This Outer Banks cafe is a health-oriented cafe and juice bar. They serve breakfast and lunch daily with an awesome waterfront setting, and we enjoyed our hearty omelettes – one of the best we’ve had actually – and our kids their choc-chip pancakes.

On the menu is organic coffee, espresso, a full juice bar, detox drinks and smoothies, and they accommodate vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets. Come for the healthy food, stay for the awesome water views!

• Address: 7531 S Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
• Website: OBXFreshFitCafe.com

12. Breakwater Restaurant (Hatteras)

We loved the Breakwater Restaurant with waterfront views on the Pamlico Sound on Hatteras Island. With a fun local community vibe, live music, a seafood dominant menu, and spectacular sunset, there is no reason to doubt it as one of the Outer Bank’s best restaurants. We offer a range of dishes including seafood, pasta, sandwiches, and more – along with a kid’s menu to ensure there’s something for the whole family. Don’t miss the steamed shrimp, shrimp and scallop alfredo, and fresh local fish!

We were fortunate enough to be staying at the Breakwater Inn across the road, so when the kids had enough, they went to the room and Craig, and I stayed up to dance to the band! (FYI: We have teens!)

• Address: 57878 NC Hwy 12, Hatteras, NC 27943
• Website: dine.breakwaterhatteras.com

13. Lost Colony Brewery and Tavern (Manteo)

In case you don’t know, way back in 1587, 117 English men, women and children came ashore on Roanoke Island to establish the first English settlement. But, in 1590, when English ships returned, they found the island deserted, hence the name the Lost Colony. The namesake brewery in Manteo was our first stop after driving to OBX from Raleigh. We grabbed lunch here, and found the burgers are good and an overall good selection of British style beers and pub type food. It’s a fun little brewery and tavern-style café. Located in a quaint and historic building, it’s cozy inside with outside patio dining as well. It’s dog friendly too, if you have furry friends traveling with you. 

• Address: 208 Queen Elizabeth Ave, Manteo
• Website: LostColonyBrewery.com

Read more: 15 things to do in Manteo, OBX

14. Donutz on a Stick and Ice Cream (Duck)

I know when you’re in Duck you’ll probably want to hit up the original Duck Donuts, and sure do that, but you can find them in other places around North Carolina. We can walk to one near our house in Raleigh. So if you want a more unique experience, listen up guys, the locals know there is another amazing option in town for all things donuts!

One of our local followers on Instagram suggested we go to Donutz on a Stick. He said it’s family-owned, not super busy, and better than Duck Donuts! Always up for taking our followers recommendations, we went. It turned out to be a great suggestion, trust us, our kids will tell you!

They serve up made to order donuts and donut sundaes (two donuts topped with ice cream and whipped cream), which our kids demolished. Plus they even have gluten-free and vegan offerings, coffee, espresso, gifts and souvenirs, sandwiches. 

• Address: 1216 Duck Rd, Duck
• Website: DonutzOnaStick.net

15. Treehouse Cafe and Coffee (Duck)

Another cafe to add to your list if you’re looking for breakfast and good coffee, is Treehouse Cafe and Coffee. Proudly serving North Carolina’s famous Counter Culture coffee out of Durham, and a full breakfast including made from scratch Southern biscuits, plus Empanadas, Smoked Salmon Sammy, Huevos Ranchero Burrito, and Crab Cake Brekkie Sandwich.    

Treehouse Coffee is a hip and popular local cafe located in the Scarborough Faire Shopping Village in Duck. It’s nestled amongst the beautiful tree lined boardwalks. This place is popular so expect a bit of a wait, or consider ordering ahead online and get a pickup time to avoid waiting. 

• Address: 1177 Duck Rd #34, Duck
• Website: TreeHouseCoffeeNC.com

16. Dajio Restaurant (Ocracoke Island)

Our favorite restaurant on Ocracoke Island is the elegant Dajio Restaurant. Their impressive southern fusion menu has made-from-scratch menu items showcasing fresh local seafood and quality ingredients. Popular Dishes include burgers, po’boys, tacos, seafood platters, salads, and fish of the day. We recommend the Low Country Purloo which is a delicious take on jambalaya, and the grilled flank steak with tamari ginger cream sauce was fantastic.

There is an outside bar, covered deck, and lower patio which often has live music during the summer. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. Daijio is considered a little fancy on Ocracoke, but you can still turn up in your casual wear and not be looked at – it’s the Ocracoke Way. The prices are reasonable for a fancy place as well, with dishes to suit all budgets. 

• Address: 305 Irvin Garrish Hwy, Ocracoke
• Website: DajioRestaurant.com

17. Mama Kwan’s Tiki Bar & Grill (Kill Devil Hills)

When we asked our Instagram community for their Outer Banks restaurant recommendations, the most popular suggestion was Mama Kwan’s Tiki Bar & Grill. They have been serving the Outer Banks for 16 years with a twist on food from around the world with a bright and tropical Hawaiian-esque vibe. Expect good portion sizes, delicious mahi mahi tacos, and fun tropical drinks.

The blackened tuna nachos were delicious! Craig loved his Jerk chicken tacos. You’ll also find wraps, sandwiches, salads, and entree plates! There’s truly something for everyone and easy to see why it’s constantly rated as one of the best places to eat in the Outer Banks.

• Address: 1701 S Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills, NC27948
• Website: https://www.mamakwans.com/

More Places to Eat in The OBX

Since we only had four days in the Outer Banks, we could only eat at so many restaurants and cafes. We did get to speak to many locals and friends in the area who had their own favorite restaurants. Below are some favorite places that came highly recommended by our local friends and followers on our Instagram account who reached out to us with tips. We have these penciled in for our next OBX trip:

• Lighthouse Bagels (Corolla) have the best bagels in the OBX apparently. Homemade bagels and donuts, plus deli sandwiches and salads
• Watermen’s Bar & Grill (Waves) great spot to watch a phenomenal sunset. Local seafood and good burgers! They have live music and drinks specials
• Black Pelican (Kitty Hawk) oceanfront restaurant serving seafood, and great prime rib. Located in a circa-1874 former lifesaving station, we’ve been told to get the dirty bird drinks “extra dirty”
• Coastal Cravings (Duck) a low-key eatery and takeout restaurant for seafood, steaks, sandwiches and breakfasts, with live music
• Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar (Manteo) love raw oysters? Check out their daily oyster happy hour from 4pm-6pm. Plus many other seafood and meat dishes come with water views and exceptional service
• Darrell’s Restaurant (Manteo) Not high priced, fresh local seafood. Popular diner since 1960 for homestyle seafood like fried oysters plus hearty breakfasts too
• John’s Drive In (Kitty Hawk) Classic drive-in shack (open May-October) specializing in thick milkshakes and fried fish sandwiches. Great dolphin and shrimp

• Hurricane Mo’s Beachside Bar And Grill (Kitty Hawk) tropical-themed watering hole with an outdoor patio serving spirits, pub grub and seafood entrees. Best happy hour for food in the area
• Kill Devil Grill (Kill Devil Hills) classic American diner on the National Register of Historic Places. Serving excellent seafood, burgers, and desserts. They have live music and a fun atmosphere
• Rundown Cafe (Kitty Hawk) island-themed spot serving Caribbean and Pacific Rim dishes. They have an amazing ocean view deck and live music
• Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar (Kill Devil Hills) best raw oyster bar and beach bar vibe, with casual lounge decor, ocean views, and a friendly atmosphere
• Food Dudes Kitchen (Kill Devil Hills) a hidden gem in OBX. Surf-shack vibe, serving Caribbean and Mexican-inspired seafood, burgers, and wings. They do great nachos!
• The Blue Point (Duck) high-end seafood and Southern fare that overlooks the Currituck Sound. Fabulous locally sourced food, friendly Southern hospitality, and a nice spot for sunset views with outside seating. They have occasional live music
• Stack’em High Pancakes and So Forth (Kill Devil Hills) for over 30 years this breakfast joint has been fixing up amazing pancakes and biscuits, plus Belgian waffles, and Greek omelets in a colorful setting
• Henry’s Restaurant (Kill Devil Hills) all-around great seafood restaurant and a popular breakfast spot. They do great steaks and sandwiches in a comfy, kid-friendly diner setting

• Bros Sandwich Shack (Hatteras Island) best burgers and sandwiches on the island. Chef-owned and family-run, which is a casual counter service restaurant with excellent local craft beers
• Waveriders Coffee & Deli (Nags Head) a popular nautically themed hangout with outdoor seating, espresso drinks, panini, beer, wine. Great coffee/deli/bar
• Dinky’s Waterfront Restaurant (Hatteras) one of the best Outer Banks seafood restaurants with a full bar in nautical digs on a marina. When in Hatteras, don’t miss Dinky’s!
• Goombays Grille & Raw Bar (Kill Devil Hills) vibrant, family-friendly seafood place with Caribbean-accented dishes, tropical drinks and island decor. Excellent food and reasonable prices with an awesome atmosphere
• Roadside Bar & Grill (Duck) seafood-centric dining in a quaint renovated historic house with an upstairs bar and grill. Wonderful food, great atmosphere and decor, plus outdoor music
• Red Drum Tap House (Nags Head) a great place for seafood, steaks, ribs. 18 beers on tap and a relaxed setting and cool local vibe. Great peel and eat steamed shrimp, and shrimp and grits
• I Got Your Crabs (Kitty Hawk) locals OBX at its best specializing in seafood and seasonal menu of steamed dishes. Great local Blue Crabs and soft shell crab
• Salt Box Cafe (Kill Devil Hills) steaks, local seafood and craft beer offered in a charming cottage with creek views. They have a top brunch menu. Great choices for vegans and gluten free visitors
• Barefoot Bernie’s Tropical Grill & Bar (Kitty Hawk) a lovely beach-themed restaurant serving everything from hot dogs for kids to fried chicken salads to sushi! The tuna bowl is a popular favorite. A great all-round place with tons of variety on the menu, so everyone can leave happy
• The Colington Cafe (Kill Devil Hills) an upscale restaurant in a historic, Victorian house, serving fresh seafood that comes straight from the boat in Wanchese to their kitchen!
• Blue Moon Beach Grill (Nags Head) a laid-back, casual restaurant serving Southern comfort food and snacks. Expect hearty meals with bold flavors in a nautical themed setting
• TRIO Restaurant & Market (Kitty Hawk) your friendly, neighborhood bistro known for its American pub food, live music, and local wine and cheese platters
• The Froggy Dog (Avon) a relaxed, wood-paneled pub serving up the best of American and seafood cuisines, with great cocktails, live music, and cozy outdoor beer garden

Final Thoughts

With over 100-miles of barrier islands, fresh seafood is certainly the star of the show here, the best in North Carolina, but there’s plenty on offer for all taste buds and food groups. Of course we haven’t eaten at every restaurant, but from the ones we have, we can’t imagine it getting any better!

Pin To Save To Pinterest