One of the best things about going on vacation is being able to experience all of the local restaurants in the area. Finding what an area is known for like Italian, seafood, comfort food is the perfect way to find the best restaurants in the area. The Outer Banks and all of the surrounding barrier islands have so many different unique cuisine options you won’t want to miss out on. To make sure you don’t miss out on anything when visiting the OBX, we created a list of our favorite restaurants and eateries around the area.
Kitty Hawk
Kitty Hawk is one of the first beach towns that greets you with a variety of food options. From fine dining to casual family-friendly restaurants, there is something for everyone in Kitty Hawk. Here are a few of our favorite restaurants to visit in Kitty Hawk.
Black Pelican
The Black Pelican, located in Kitty Hawk, was originally the historic life-saving station #6. After serving many years and saving many people, the life station was converted into a wonderful restaurant that it is today. The restaurant serves things from steaks to seafood and even has its own separate menu for the kids. This seafood restaurant also has comfortable dining rooms that will accommodate dinner for two or 20.
Address: 3848 N Virginia Dare Trail Kitty Hawk, NC
Phone:252-261-3171
Website: https://www.blackpelican.com/
Tacoloco
A local favorite, Taco Loco is a delicious take on anything taco. This authentic Mexican cuisine offers a creative twist to the Outer Banks’ Mexican restaurant scene with its chef-driven menu. Try their bbq Caribbean jerk tacos, nachos, tostadas, or quesadillas. Their fresh ingredients create the perfect dinner menu to sit back and relax with a cold beer. Tuck into tacos paired with one of their craft beers suggested based on what you choose.
Address: 3723 N Croatan Hwy Kitty Hawk, NC
Phone: 252-261-8226
Website: https://tacoloco-obx.com/
OUTER BANKS BOIL COMPANY
The Outer Banks Boil company is famous for everything you would find in a boil plus more. Grab dinner for two or take a whole wedding party, there is plenty of food. Enjoy snow craps, clams, mussels, lobster tails, and crab cakes. This restaurant is kid-friendly, as they will love learning how to crack crab legs. The local seafood offers the freshest dinner you could think of. They have a restaurant in Corolla, North Carolina, and also Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Address: View their website for directions to your restaurant of choice.
Phone: 252-453-6578
Website: https://www.outerbanksboilcompany.com/
TRIo Restaurant & Market
TRIo is all about the simple pleasures, authentic flavors, and good food. Their menu is crafted to enhance the natural goodness of exceptional ingredients through their simple preparations. Offering one of the largest selections in craft beer, they have over 600 to choose from and over 2000 wines to choose from. With over 20 different wines sold by the glass and 24 bottles of wine in the self-serving wine station tasting machines. Trio offers live music 4-5 times a week, it is considered a bistro, wine bar, and tap house, gourmet market. It is a more fine dining restaurant and market.
Address: 3708 N. Croatan Hwy Kitty Hawk, NC
Phone: 252-261-0277
Website: https://obxtrio.com/
Argyles
Argyle’s Restaurant is located in Kitty Hawk and has been serving farm to table goodness since 1980. The chef/ owner features local seafood, free-range wild game, fresh pasta, a gluten-free menu, and fresh bakery desserts. They offer one of the largest tap bars in the area as well a wonderful happy hour in a family-friendly and pet-friendly environment.
Address: 4716 N. Croatan Hwy Kitty Hawk, NC
Phone: 252-261-7325
Website: https://argylesrestaurant.com/
Kill Devil Hills
Known for the Wright Brothers Memorial, Kill Devil Hills offers exciting and innovative restaurants to choose from. Whether you are in the mood for traditional southern cuisine or an OBX twist, you will not be disappointed.
Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar
The Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar was the very first oyster bar to open on the Outer Banks over 33 years ago. They are known for their delicious, fresh seafood and casual, friendly atmosphere. It was dubbed one of America’s greatest oyster bars by Coastal Living and recognized by Esquire for it’s steamed, spiced shrimp. Enjoy their delicious crab legs or the clams and shrimp. No matter what you get you will not be disappointed.
Address: 2106 N. Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC
Phone: 252-441-5955
Website: https://awfularthursobx.com/
Miller’s Seafood & Steakhouse
Miller’s is coined as family dining at its finest. They can accommodate large parties in their dining room, and their warm hospitality will make you feel right at home. You can dine in or take out, from a wide selection of dishes. They offer hand-rolled sushi, scallops and oysters, and of course Angus Beef. They not only have great seafood, but they are a wonderful steakhouse too.
Address: 1520 S Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC
Phone: 252-441-7674
Website: https://www.millersseafood.com/
Duck Donuts
There is nothing quite like a fresh, warm, made to order doughnut. At Duck Donuts you are in charge of exactly how you want your donut. You can choose the inside filling, flavor of the donuts, and choose your favorite toppings. There are several locations on the island, one in Corolla, Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head.
For more information on directions to one of their locations, check out their website.
Website: https://www.duckdonuts.com/
Makos Beach Grille & Bar
Located in Kill Devil Hills, this family-friendly restaurant creates a memorable dining experience starting at the greeting at the door. The colorful and aquatic decor prepares your palate for some of the most unique entrees around. Although it is a bar and grille, they offer seafood, steaks, pork, veal, chicken, pasta chowders, and much more. They also offer a pizza made from their authentic Italian wood-burning oven as if you were at a pizzeria in Italy.
Address: Milepost 7 on Hwy. 158 1630 North Croatan Highway Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
Phone: 252-480-1919
Website: https://makosobx.com/
MILLER’S WATERFRONT RESTAURANT
Located in Nags Head, this waterfront restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy a wonderful meal while watching kiteboards and the famous Outer Banks sunsets. The rooftop outdoor dining experience will not only give you great oceanfront ocean views but also great food. Enjoy lunch, dinner, and even brunch occasionally seven days a week. Make sure you try one of their famous cheese curds appetizers and some oysters on the half shell at the raw bar when you visit. Their fish tacos are something you don’t want to miss.
Address:6916 S Croatan Hwy Nags Head, NC
Phone: 252-441-6151
Website: https://millerswaterfront.com/
Corolla
Where you eat on vacation is just as important as where you go on vacation. Experiencing all of the new foods that an area has to offer is vital. It not only helps you learn more about their culture, but it also enlightens you to many new options. Here are a few of our favorite restaurants in Corolla.
Uncle Ike’s Sandbar & Grill
Uncle Ike’s Sandbar And Grill is located in Corolla, NC in the Light Town Center. They feature a southern comfort menu for all three meals a day. Enjoy waffles, bagels, or fried chicken and ice cream, no matter what you are in the mood for, Uncle Ike’s has it all. Everything is fresh, made to order so remember that good thing take time when you visit.
Address: Corolla Light Town Center, 1159 Austin St, Corolla, NC 27927
Phone: 252-597-1606
Website: https://uncleikesobx.com/
Mike Dianna’s Grill Room
Enjoy one of the best brunches on the island at Mike Dianna’s Grill Room. From delicacies to old breakfast classic’s there is something for everyone’s pallets here. They offer curbside pickup and takeout in case you are wanting to dine and dash. The pork loin and surf and turf will make you feel like you are at grandma’s house for a wonderful Sunday dinner.
Address: TimBuck II Shopping Center 777 Sunset Blvd, Corolla, NC
Phone: 252-453-4336
Website: https://www.grillroomobx.com/
Duck
Duck North Carolina is a thriving coastal community that has some of the more fine dining experiences that you may be longing for. However, they also offer many casual dining experiences as well, after all, you are on an island. Here are a few of our favorite restaurants in Duck.
The Paper Canoe
The Paper Canoe is known for its freshly baked bread, perfect cocktails, and affordable wines/ craft beers. The menu changes quite frequently but there are a few staple items that you can always expect. The diverse menu offers handmade pasta, locally caught seafood, and rustic wood oven specialties. They also have options for vegetarians and gluten-free diets. Unlike many other restaurants on the island, Paper Canoe accepts reservations.
Address: 1564 Duck Road Duck, NC
Phone: 252-715-2220
Website: https://papercanoeobx.com/
Village Table & Tavern
Brought to you by TRIo in Kitty Hawk, this restaurant is one of Duck’s newest waterfront dining options.bUt may be new, however, the recipes and experience are aged and tweaked to perfection. With a menu that is appetizing to all ages, you can find anything you are looking for. Enjoy a light ahi tuna salad or a more decadent soup with mussels and clams.
Hatteras Island
While Hatteras is a part of the Outer Banks it is much more remote and unique than any of the other islands. There are many independently owned markets and restaurants off of highway 12 to pick up a freshly made deli sandwich or enjoy a hot meal. Here are our favorite restaurants on Hatteras Island.
Dirty Dicks Crab House
Though it holds a funny name, this full menu is made up of fresh, local seafood with a New Orleans accent. Families are welcome and kids’ meals are served on frisbees. They offer things from grouper, flounder, fried frog legs and crab cake, and creole stuffed crabs. The menu is the perfect amount of island meeting New Orleans favorites.
Address: 41934 Nc 12 Hwy Avon, NC
Phone: 252-995-3425
Website: https://www.dirtydickscrabs.com/
For more options, see: outerbanks.org/takeout/
Or Specials: see Facebook Restaurant Group.