Foodie Favorites in Carolina Beach, NC

Sea- and Farm-To-Table

Salt Fish Restaurant and Bar serves an eclectic menu with Caribbean and Polynesian influences, all prepared using fresh, local ingredients. Begin with enticing appetizers such as the Smoked Fish Dip and the Spicy Kani Salad. For the main course, choose from a selection of entrees like the Saigon Noodles tossed in soy ginger sauce, the Crab Stuffed Portabella with curry marinara or the day’s fresh catch with coconut rice and seasonal vegetables. Savor the fresh flavors alongside a beer, wine or a tropical cocktail in a casual island dining atmosphere.

Soul Flavor Kitchen & Bar offers everything from fresh seafood dishes to vegan and gluten-free options. The restaurant prepares its delectable Southern fare in-house using the freshest ingredients. Start with an appetizer like the Triple Decker Fried Green Tomato Stack and choose a signature entrée like the Nana Maria’s Paella with scallops, shrimp, crab and clams prepared in a vegetable and saffron tomato broth.

Noteworthy Noshes

Lake Park Steakhouse is known for prime cuts of beef and tasty seafood selections served alongside massive baked potatoes and sides like brussels sprouts and macaroni and cheese. Locals and visitors alike rave about the chargrilled ribeye, prime rib and custom salads. To complement your meal, peruse the well-curated wine list.

Recognized by Yelp as the "Top Cheeseburger for the State of North Carolina," Island Burgers & Bites serves up full-flavored burgers from a gas station in the heart of Carolina Beach. While ordering from the walk-up counter, keep your condiments classic or choose from toppings like candied bacon, fried eggs and homemade slaw.

Head to Havana’s for a casual yet polished lunch or dinner of seafood, steak, scratch-made pasta and more served in a 100-year-old beach cottage. Local favorites include the Cha-Cha Salmon, Lobster Seafood Bake, Fat Daddy Crab Cakes, French Quarter Pasta and Seafood Paella. The restaurant’s outdoor dining decks and patio provide a perfect spot to watch the summer beach fireworks.

Join Hang Ten Grill next to Carolina Beach Lake Park for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch and surf-inspired dishes with Southern ingredients like fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese combined with local shrimp, softshell crab and fresh beef. A favorite dock-and-dine spot at the marina, Stoked Restaurant, serves delicious dishes from land and sea, including the Captains Fish Sandwich and Stoked Up Island Tacos.

Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, The Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar serves a limited lunch and dinner menu, while the Ocean Grill’s upstairs dining room provides panoramic coastline views to relish while dining on fresh coastal cuisine. The menu includes a variety of sandwiches and tacos, as well as daily fresh catch specials and Calabash-style fried oysters, shrimp and flounder with fries and hushpuppies.

Expertly combining sweet and savory into unique pancake flavors, Kate’s Pancake House offers a variety of pancake options to start your beach day on a delicious note. Try the Sweet Potato Pancakes with cinnamon chips, nuts and whipped topping, or indulge in the Death by Chocolate Pancakes smothered in chocolate syrup. The menu also includes Chicken and Waffles, more than 15 omelet options, a variety of benedicts and vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options like the Tofu Skillet and Healthy Breakfast Burrito.

The Southerly Biscuit Co. was featured in Our State magazine for its Hot ’n’ Hot Catfish, a scratch-made biscuit filled with fried fish and spicy mayonnaise. This takeout spot’s menu consists of locally sourced, made-to-order options to build the biscuit sandwich of your dreams. Groups can opt to share the Biscuit Charcuterie, a smorgasbord of sweet and savory biscuits surrounded by waffles and fruit.

Delicious Dives

Named one of the "Best Seafood Dives in America" by Coastal Living magazine, Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar serves fresh seafood in a casual atmosphere, including the restaurant’s spin on surf and turf: oysters, shrimp or crab legs with chicken wings.

Nollie’s Taco Joint bills itself as the “Best Tacos and Burritos at the Beach” and operates on the belief that simplicity is best. Inspired by a skater vibe, the menu features options like the On-Time Tacos, Back-Flip Burritos, Kick-Flip Quesadillas and No Comply Nachos. The Salad Grinds are served in tortilla bowls and include a range of toppings, including vegan-friendly jackfruit and tofu options.

Carolina Beach regulars have been coming to Gulfstream Restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner near the Carolina Beach Marina for more than 40 years. Diners can feast on a range of daily specials, classic Calabash-style seafood and creative offerings that range from tacos to Cajun pasta and more.

Foodie Tours and Events

Combine a love of good food with learning during a Tasting History Tour of Carolina Beach and its neighbors, Kure Beach and Fort Fisher. The Signature Food Tour will take you on a guided walking tour through the history of the island, dating back to the Civil War, as you enjoy samplings from local restaurants. In addition, foodies can sample different cuisines from the local food trucks that appear at beach events during the year.

Seafood Market

Blackburn Brothers Seafood may be off the beaten path, but it’s known for providing some of the freshest seafood around. Offerings include a variety of fresh fish, mussels, oysters, clams, shrimp and crabs, along with fresh spices, sauces and knowledgeable, friendly staff. Select your seafood favorites and whip up a fresh dinner at your beach house vacation rental.