Cooler weather means oyster season is back in North Carolina, and there are few better ways to celebrate it than with a tray of hot, freshly steamed oysters and a shucking knife in hand. The seven casual seafood joints on this list range from Outer Banks beach stops to small-town Piedmont bars, and every one of them takes the steamed oyster seriously.
Some are known for giant seafood platters, some for bargain oyster buckets, and a couple sit close enough to the ocean that you can see the water from your seat. Whether you are planning a fall beach weekend or just hunting for a new dinner spot closer to home, this list gives you plenty of good reasons to grab a bib and go.
1. Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar, Kill Devil Hills, NC
Few names on the Outer Banks are easier to remember, and the joke works because the food backs it up. Awful Arthur’s sits at milepost 6 on the Virginia Dare Trail in Kill Devil Hills, right along the beach road.
Inside, the copper-topped raw bar is the centerpiece, surrounded by nautical decor and views toward the ocean. It is the kind of place where you can pull up a stool solo or bring the whole family, since there is a kids’ menu and high chairs on hand.
Steamed oysters are a regular order here, and a popular move is splitting a dozen half steamed and half raw. That way you get to compare both styles without committing to one.
The rest of the menu leans hard into seafood. Oysters Arthur, clams casino, crab balls, tuna bites, and the crab and lobster bisque all show up often, along with hush puppies and fried grouper.
Plan around the schedule. The restaurant runs 11 AM to 9 PM but closes on Wednesdays, and Friday evenings tend to be the busiest stretch, so expect a wait then.
Reservations are accepted, which helps if you are bringing a group.
2. The Full Moon Oyster Bar – Jamestown, Jamestown, NC
You do not need a beach to get serious about oysters. On West Main Street in historic Jamestown, just outside High Point, The Full Moon Oyster Bar brings a coastal menu deep into the Piedmont.
The space has bar seating and a relaxed, slightly divey personality, which suits a menu built around shellfish. Oysters come several ways, including steamed, raw on the half shell, and char-grilled, and the steamed ones are known for being big.
Hungry pairs should look at the restaurant’s namesake platter. The Full Moon is sized for two and piles on king crab legs, shrimp, scallops, oysters, clams, and mussels.
A few other plates give this spot some personality. Bacon wrapped scallops, jambalaya, shrimp and grits, blue crab cakes, and a crawfish alligator cheesecake all appear on the menu.
Timing matters. Reservations are not taken and there is usually a wait, with Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons into evening drawing the biggest crowds.
Doors open at 11:30 AM every day, so an early lunch is a smart way to beat the rush. There is also outdoor seating and occasional live music.
3. Shuckin’ Shack – Surf City, Surf City, NC
Topsail Island regulars know that a good oyster bar makes the drive over the bridge even better. Shuckin’ Shack in Surf City sits along NC-50 and keeps things simple: shellfish, wings, and a no-frills room.
What sets this location apart is range. Oysters are offered raw, steamed, and grilled, and there is often a broad selection of varieties to try side by side.
If you cannot decide, the steampots do the deciding for you. Saul T’s Steampot and the Low Country Boil load up the table, and there is also a steamed sampler with crab claws, shrimp, and clams.
Families will find it easy here. The kids’ menu, high chairs, and a casual setup make it a comfortable stop after a day at the beach, and dogs are welcome outside.
The kitchen stays open until 10 PM Thursday through Saturday and 9 PM the rest of the week. Reservations are not accepted, and Sunday afternoons plus Friday and Saturday evenings are the peak times.
Parking is usually plentiful, which is a nice bonus in a beach town.
4. Tidewater Oyster Bar, Wilmington, NC
Sunday is the day to circle on the calendar. Tidewater Oyster Bar on Market Street in Wilmington has become known for a Sunday steamed oyster bucket deal that stands out in a city where oyster prices keep climbing.
Even on other days, the steamed oysters are a strong reason to stop in. Pair them with the hush puppies, which come with pimento cheese honey butter, and you have a very Southern plate.
The menu has a bit of a Gulf Coast accent too. House gumbo, shrimp creole, oysters Bienville, oysters Rockefeller, seafood nachos, and po’boys all share space with clam chowder and fried clam strips.
The room stays casual and fairly calm, and there is outdoor seating where dogs are allowed. Vegan and vegetarian options are also available, which makes it easier to bring along friends who skip shellfish.
Tidewater opens at 11 AM daily and stays open until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Saturday afternoon into the evening is the busiest window, and reservations are accepted if you want to lock in a table.
5. I Got Your Crabs Shellfish Market and Oyster Bar, Kitty Hawk, NC
The name makes people grin, but the steamer is what keeps them coming back. I Got Your Crabs sits right off North Croatan Highway in Kitty Hawk and works as both a shellfish market and an oyster bar.
Steamed seafood is the heart of the menu, which changes with the seasons. Steamed oysters, steamed shrimp, middleneck clams, snow crab legs, and big heavily seasoned Atlantic blue crabs all come out of the kitchen here.
I like this stop for anyone who wants their crab with a side of oysters instead of the other way around. The blue crab focus shows up everywhere, from the crab bisque and crab dip to the blue crab nachos.
A few non-steamed picks deserve a mention too. The oyster stew is a fitting order once the fall wind picks up, and the Oysters Rockefeller come with a creative twist.
Soft shell crab plates are another specialty.
Hours are simple: noon to 8 PM, seven days a week. There are no reservations, but the lot usually has plenty of parking.
6. Shuckin’ Shack – Carolina Beach, Carolina Beach, NC
Night owls, this one is yours. The Carolina Beach Shuckin’ Shack stays open from 11 AM until midnight every day, which makes it one of the latest oyster options on this list.
It shares a name and a menu backbone with the Surf City location, but the personality is different. The Carolina Beach spot is small and bar-like, with a quirky, local-hangout charm and a beachside location on North Lake Park Boulevard.
Steamed oysters are on the menu alongside raw oysters, and the local Carolina Beach salty oysters are a popular pick for anyone who wants something from nearby waters. Crab legs, clams, mussels, and corn round out the steamed side of things.
For a bigger spread, look at Saul T’s Steampot, the Low Country Boil, or the steamed shrimp and corn platter. Mahi fingers, fish and chips, a lobster roll, and clam chowder are there for the rest of the table.
Parking takes some patience. Spaces are paid and can be hard to find, and there is usually a wait with no reservations.
Dogs are welcome, and there is outdoor seating.
7. Full Moon Oyster Bar – Clemmons, Clemmons, NC
Order your steamed oysters medium here and you will be doing what plenty of regulars do. The Clemmons Full Moon, on River Ridge Drive just west of Winston-Salem, lets you choose how long your oysters stay in the steamer.
This location has a different setup than its Jamestown sibling. It is built around a lively bar lined with stools, so it works best for couples, small groups, or anyone happy to eat shoulder to shoulder.
Steamed oysters share the spotlight with steamed clams and mussels, and the char-grilled oysters are another favorite. Bacon wrapped scallops, seafood mornay, and all you can eat snow crab also appear on the menu.
Keep the hours in mind before heading out. Doors open at 4 PM daily and close at 9 PM most nights, or 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Friday and Saturday evenings bring the biggest crowds, and reservations are not taken, so arriving right at opening is a good plan. Parking is usually easy, and the bar sometimes hosts live music and holiday events.
It makes a fitting final stop on a fall oyster tour, proving you can find a great steamed dozen hours from the coast.
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