Hungry for a salty breeze and a plate piled high with fresh catch You are in the right place. North Carolina’s coast hides humble shacks where the hushpuppies are golden, the shrimp is sweet, and the sunsets do the talking. Plan a weekend around these spots and you will eat like a local, laugh like an old friend, and maybe discover a new favorite dock. Bring an appetite and a little patience because the lines mean you picked well.
Calabash Seafood Hut – Calabash, North Carolina
Prepare for simple plates that taste like pure coast. The frying here is light and crisp, letting fresh shrimp and flounder shine without heavy batter. Hushpuppies come hot, slightly sweet, and perfect for dipping in tartar sauce or a splash of vinegar.
Expect a line that moves fast because the team works with friendly rhythm. Seating is tight, conversations are louder than the waves, and every table looks like a postcard from summer. Pair seafood platters with sweet tea and you have the classic Calabash meal.
Come early for lunch to avoid the dinner rush. You will leave smelling like the fryer and smiling like a local. That is the whole point.
Captain Jack’s Seafood – Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Captain Jack’s feels like a beach day that never ends. The menu leans into peel and eat shrimp, buttery crab legs, and fried oysters that crackle when you bite. Portions stay hearty, so bring a friend and split a basket while the seagulls argue overhead.
Inside, it is relaxed and bright, with nautical touches that do not try too hard. Grab slaw and fries or ask for seasonal sides if you want something lighter. The staff will point you toward the freshest catch without any fuss.
Come sandy and happy after the beach. Order a cold beer, watch a game, and forget the clock. You will plan your next visit before dessert arrives.
Sanitary Fish Market and Restaurant – Morehead City, North Carolina
This iconic waterfront spot has history in every booth. You can watch the boats while eating broiled fish, fried clam strips, or a captain’s platter overflowing with local catch. The hushpuppies have a light crunch and a whisper of onion that keeps you reaching.
Servers move with practiced ease, topping off tea and sharing recommendations like old friends. The dining room feels classic coastal without gimmicks. You come here for reliability and a view that never gets old.
Time it around sunset for a glow on the water that makes everything taste better. Order pie if you saved room. You will leave with a story and a satisfied grin.
Provision Company – Southport, North Carolina
Provision Company keeps it easy, breezy, and delicious. Grab a seat overlooking the water, order peel and eat shrimp, and do not forget the famous conch fritters. The butter and garlic perfume carries on the wind while boats drift past like moving postcards.
Payment is old school, service is friendly, and the vibe is pure dock life. Sandwiches stack high with fresh fish, and the daily specials sell out fast. You will find cold drinks, paper plates, and zero pretense.
Come at sunset for pink skies and dolphin sightings if you are lucky. Linger after eating and let the evening settle. It is the Southport way, slow and content.
Dockside Restaurant – Wilmington, North Carolina
At Dockside, the Intracoastal is your dining companion. Boats glide by as you tear into blackened mahi tacos, steamed oysters, or a fisherman’s platter with extra hushpuppies. The breeze carries salt and laughter across the deck all afternoon.
Inside is casual coastal with big windows and plenty of chatter. Servers know the menu and the tides, and will steer you toward what is freshest. Cocktails lean citrus and crisp, perfect for warm nights.
Arrive early on weekends to land a deck table. Split oysters to start, then chase with fried shrimp you will dream about later. Stay for sunset, because Wilmington knows how to paint a sky.
Big Oak Drive-In and Bar-B-Q – Salter Path, North Carolina
This tiny counter spot turns out giant flavor. Order the shrimpburger, a Carteret County classic with crispy shrimp tucked in a soft bun, slaw, and secret sauce. Add fries and a Cheerwine for the full experience.
There is no fancy seating, just windows, shade, and the thrill of unwrapping hot food by your car. The line tells the story long before you taste it. Staff move fast and friendly, calling names like a hometown reunion.
Perfect after a beach swim when only salty, crunchy comfort will do. Bring cash and patience, then dig in happily. You will be back before the week ends.
Calabash Seafood Hut – Calabash, North Carolina
You could visit twice in one weekend and still crave more. The second time, try scallops on a combo platter with lightly breaded flounder. Everything hits the table hot, crisp, and seasoned just right, proving simple techniques beat trends.
Staff keep the pace friendly and the refills flowing, even when the line wraps outside. Inside, chatter mixes with the sizzle from the fryer. It feels like summer even on a Tuesday.
Ask for extra lemon and a side of slaw for balance. Share bites and compare favorites because decisions are hard here. Your only regret will be not ordering dessert.
Island Burgers & Bites – Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Do not let the name fool you because the seafood shines. Grab a shrimp po boy or blackened fish sandwich that drips flavor with every bite. Add hand cut fries and a local craft beer for an easy beach meal.
The vibe is laid back, kid friendly, and perfect for sandy flip flops. Staff offer quick tips on spicy levels and sauce swaps. There is enough variety that everyone finds a happy plate.
Stop in after a boardwalk stroll and refuel without breaking the budget. You will talk about the crunch and the kick long after. It is a solid Carolina Beach staple.
Fishy Fishy Cafe – Southport, North Carolina
Fishy Fishy sits right on the water with breezes that make every plate better. Order the crab dip, then move to grilled tuna or shrimp and grits with a coastal twist. The cocktail list leans tropical without getting sugary.
Deck seating is the move when the weather cooperates. Boats drift by as gulls circle, and conversation hums. Service is friendly and quick, even when the place is hopping.
Time dinner with sunset and let the colors steal the show. Save room for key lime pie if it is on special. You will leave relaxed and ready for a beach walk.
Island Seafood Company – Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Freshness leads the menu here, with local shrimp and seasonal fish prepared simply. Choose blackened, grilled, or fried and pair with corn, slaw, or red potatoes. The portions are generous without feeling heavy.
Inside is bright and welcoming, with staff who know which boats brought what. Specials change with the tide and sell out quickly. Order early if you have your heart set on a certain catch.
Perfect for a post beach dinner when you want quality without fuss. Bring friends, share plates, and compare favorites. You will taste the island pace in every bite.
Scallywags – Surf City, North Carolina
Scallywags brings pirate vibes with serious food. Start with fried pickles, then dive into shrimp tacos or a overflowing fish basket. The seasoning is bold, the batter stays crisp, and the sauces bring the fun.
Families fill the tables, surfers drift in, and everyone finds something craveable. The staff keeps things lighthearted but sharp. Try a local beer flight to sample what the island brews.
Come after a surf session or long beach walk. Refuel, laugh, and watch the sunset wash the sky pastel. You will leave plotting your return voyage like a happy pirate.
Midgett & Son’s Crab Company – Sneads Ferry, North Carolina
This is crab country and it shows on every tray. Blue crabs steamed to order arrive piled high, seasoned and ready for cracking. Butter cups, mallets, and napkins set the scene for hands on bliss.
It feels more market than restaurant, which means freshness leads. Staff can explain sizes, seasons, and the best way to pick like a pro. Add shrimp or oysters if you want a full coastal spread.
Go with time to linger because crab is not a sprint. Bring friends who do not mind getting messy. You will leave full, salty, and completely satisfied.