Calabash shrimp is one of North Carolina’s proudest food traditions, and it started in a tiny fishing town near the South Carolina line. The style is simple: fresh seafood, a light breading, a quick fry, and a basket of hushpuppies on the side.
Plenty of menus across the state use the word Calabash, but the real thing is lighter and crispier than your average fried shrimp. This list covers seven spots, from the riverfront in Calabash itself to Raleigh, Wilson, Charlotte, and Wilmington, that keep the style alive.
Some are old family places, a few sit right by the water, and one brings it into the middle of the Piedmont. You will find hours, menu highlights, and a few practical tips for each stop.
Save it for your next beach trip, or send it to the friend who always orders the shrimp platter.
1. Beck’s Restaurant, Calabash, NC
History matters in Calabash, and Beck’s is part of it. The restaurant is known as one of the town’s founding restaurants and a pioneer in the Calabash-style fried seafood that made this little town famous.
The shrimp here is the classic version, lightly coated and fried until crisp. Every meal starts with complimentary hushpuppies and honey butter, which is reason enough to arrive hungry.
Beyond fried seafood, the menu covers Low Country shrimp and grits, stuffed flounder, a fried flounder and shrimp combination, and crab legs with clarified butter. A ribeye steak is also available for anyone at the table who skips seafood.
Beck’s is family-run, with a clean and bright dining room and a kids’ menu. Most plates fall in the $10 to $20 range, and the lunch specials add even more value.
Hours are 11 AM to 9 PM every day, and the restaurant takes reservations. Sunday afternoons and Saturday evenings get busy, so I would aim for a weekday lunch if you want a quicker seat.
You will find it at 1014 River Rd.
2. Calabash Seafood Hut, Calabash, NC
No frills, no fuss, just a roadside seafood stop doing exactly what Calabash is known for. Calabash Seafood Hut sits a short stroll down River Road from Beck’s, at 1125 River Rd.
The kitchen keeps the seasoning simple. Flounder, shrimp, and scallops get a light salt and pepper treatment before frying, and the shrimp comes out lightly crisp instead of heavy.
Popcorn shrimp, oysters, clam strips, and a scallop plate fill out the seafood side. There is also oyster stew with crackers, a flounder sandwich, and stuffed crab.
Burgers, steak, BBQ, and even a corn dog cover the pickier eaters.
Plan ahead on timing. The Hut is closed Mondays, open 11 AM to 9 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and closes at 8 PM on Sundays.
Reservations are not accepted, and there is usually a wait at peak times. Curbside pickup and takeout are options if the line looks long.
3. Captain Nance’s Seafood, Calabash, NC
Shrimp just tastes right when the marsh is in view. Captain Nance’s sits beside the Calabash River at 9939 Nance St, and the outdoor seating looks out over the water and inlet.
The setting is unassuming, which fits the food. The Calabash Sampler platter is the order to know, and the fried shrimp and hushpuppies are the heart of the menu.
Sea trout, a flounder filet fish platter, stuffed flounder, and clam chowder round things out. Locally caught seafood is a big part of the draw.
Doors open 11 AM to 9 PM daily, and reservations are accepted. Friday evenings and Saturdays fill up, so a weekday lunch special is the calmer play.
Kids have their own menu, and dogs are welcome outside. Prices typically run $10 to $20 per person.
4. Captain Stanley’s Seafood Restaurant, Raleigh, NC
Since 1986, Raleigh has had a reliable answer for anyone craving Calabash shrimp without the drive to the coast. Captain Stanley’s is family-owned and sits at 3333 S Wilmington St.
Seafood here is lightly breaded and fried in true Calabash fashion. Shrimp, scallops, oysters, crab cakes, catfish, and popcorn shrimp all make appearances.
The sides give it a Piedmont touch. Brunswick stew, lima beans, and coleslaw sit next to platters of flounder, croakers, or whole flounder.
Bang Bang Shrimp and a stuffed salmon platter offer a change of pace. A private dining room and catering help with bigger groups.
Hours need a quick check before you go. Weekdays run 11 AM to 2 PM and 4:30 to 8 PM, Saturday is 11 AM to 8 PM, and Sundays are closed.
5. Salty Shores Calabash Style Seafood, Wilson, NC
Wilson is better known for barbecue, which makes a Calabash seafood spot here a pleasant surprise. Salty Shores puts the style right in its name, and the kitchen backs it up.
The fried flounder is big and flaky, and the shrimp combos come in generous portions. Trout, oysters, stuffed flounder, and a catfish plate are also on the menu.
Fried okra is a side worth adding. The owner is a friendly presence in a cozy, quiet dining room.
Hours are limited, so timing matters. The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday through Friday 11 AM to 2 PM and 4:30 to 8 PM, Saturday 4 to 8 PM, and Sunday 11 AM to 3 PM.
Find it at 3007 Downing St SW. It is an easy detour for anyone traveling the I-95 or US-264 corridor through eastern North Carolina.
6. Harbor Inn Seafood, Charlotte, NC
Charlotte sits hours from the coast, yet Harbor Inn Seafood keeps the classic fried platter going in the University area at 8805 University E Dr.
The seafood platter is a good way in. It pairs boneless fried flounder with Calabash shrimp and a stuffed seafood crab, plus coleslaw, hushpuppies, and a side of your choice.
An everyday special features fried flounder, baby shrimp, and deviled crab. Broiled jumbo shrimp, sea scallops, clam strips, and steamed snow crab legs cover other cravings.
Save room for dessert, since red velvet cake is on the menu. Fried pickles make a fun starter for the table.
Harbor Inn is closed Mondays. It opens at 11 AM the rest of the week, staying open until 10 PM on Friday and Saturday and 9 PM on other days, and reservations are accepted.
7. Cape Fear Seafood Company, Wilmington, NC
Here is the polished option on the list. Cape Fear Seafood Company is best known for award-winning shrimp and grits, but its fried side deserves just as much attention.
The Whole Boat is a large Calabash-style assortment with shrimp, scallops, oysters, clam strips, and flounder. Smaller appetites can simply order a plate of Calabash fried shrimp.
Crab dip, lemon pepper sea scallops, mussels, and roasted red pepper and crab bisque show off the broader menu. Key lime pie makes a tidy finish.
The dining room leans a little more upscale, and prices run about $20 to $30 per person. Dinner reservations are recommended, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Brunch is served on weekends, with doors opening at 10 AM Saturday and Sunday. You will find it at 140 Hays Ln in Wilmington, an easy stop before or after a day near Wrightsville Beach.
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