Where to Eat in Nags Head NC
There is certainly no shortage of great, locally-owned restaurants in Nags Head, NC to choose from. From fresh seafood and burgers to ice cream and donuts, you won’t have any trouble finding an exceptional place to enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner during your Outer Banks vacation!
If you love seafood paired with stunning soundfront views, Basnight’s should be towards the top of your list of restaurants to sample in Nags Head. Lots of different seafood dishes to choose from, all of which are very fresh and almost exclusively from local fishermen. Huge indoor dining room and a spacious bar. Very busy during the summer months!
The chefs here are very talented, and the entrees are creative and most important of all, delicious. This place gets really busy during the summer so consider arriving early for lunch or dinner. It's worth the wait though!
What started out as a small catering business has evolved into a thriving little restaurant with less than a dozen tables inside. Yummy sandwiches, soups and more. Their desserts are made in-house and they’re amazing. Takeout is also available for lunch and dinner. Open year-round!
A place to get hilarious souvenir t-shirts and delicious New Orleans-inspired seafood entrees. Large groups are always welcome. Lots of delicious things on the menu to choose from, other than seafood.
Made-to-order donuts created right in front of you. You decide the glaze and the toppings – the flavor combinations are endless. If you haven’t been to Duck Donuts yet, don’t walk. Run here and try a maple bacon donut with a hot coffee.
A no-frills burger stand that’s been operating on the Outer Banks since the 1950s. The prices are small. The flavor is big! Order a juicy burger with fries and a shake, you won’t be disappointed.
Delicious ice cream and shakes. Also serving burgers and sandwiches. Takeout only, shoes and shirt are not required! Great place for a bite during a long beach day, well within walking distance of the beach and Jennette’s Pier.
The best happy hour on the Outer Banks, enjoy 15 cent shrimp and over 30 beers on tap. Located on the Outer Banks Fishing Pier, you can’t get any more oceanfront than Fish Heads.
Super chill place to enjoy a cup of coffee and a pastry. Locally-owned on the Outer Banks. They roast their own coffee beans! Very popular with OBX locals.
No frills American restaurant in the Outer Banks Mall. One of the best places in Nags Head for breakfast. Prices are very reasonable compared to other nearby eateries.
If you love sandwiches and meat, you’ll love It’s All Gravy. Not sure what the owner who prepares the subs puts in them, but it's crave-worthy. Order the OBX Steak sandwich. Do it.
All of your favorites from south of the border. They take pride in serving only the best authentic Mexican dishes. The kitchen is fast, and you won’t have to wait long for your order.
Burgers, pizzas, buffalo wings, seafood and more at Lucky 12, the best sports bar in Nags Head. Catch the big game or shoot some pool with friends. This family-friendly establishment is open year-round! Serving pizza and beer until 2:00 am nightly.
Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant
Mulligan’s Raw Bar and Grille
Nags Head Pizza Company
New York Pizza Pub
Old Nags Head Cafe
Open for dinner nightly during the peak season. Owned by the same family for over 70 years. making Owens one of the oldest single-family-owned restaurants on the Outer Banks. This upscale restaurant has lots of seafood and steak on the dinner menu as well as some American favorites.
Pier House Restaurant
Pizzazz Pizza
Red Drum Grille and Taphouse
Sam & Omie’s
Across the street from Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Choose from over two dozen homemade ice cream flavors. Sundaes, shakes and taffy are also available, as well as basic sandwiches like peanut butter and jelly and grilled cheese.
Single Fin
Sooey’s BBQ & Rib Shack
South Beach Grille
Sugar Creek Seafood Restaurant
Some of the very best sushi on the Outer Banks. Excellent place for lunch, portions are healthy and prices aren’t too bad. Get the vegetable hibachi or a Hollywood box and you won’t be disappointed.
Waterfront dining with Roanoke Sound views for days. Some of the best shrimp and grits you’ll ever taste. Open during the peak season for dinner.
Very popular for breakfast. Serving mostly American food with plenty of seafood options available on the menu.
The Fudgery
Real fruit smoothies, snacks, acai bowls and ice cream. A surf-inspired ambiance makes The Spot a fun, clean and inviting place for a quick bite to eat while out and about in Nags Head.
Tortugas’ Lie Shellfish Bar and Grille
When Guy Fieri visited the Outer Banks to film an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, he had nothing but good things to say about Tortugas’ Lie. You’ll feel the same after your first visit. This place just has a great vibe to it, and everything is prepared by chefs who clearly know what they’re doing.
Viva Mexican Grill
Excellent sandwiches are prepared here; they’re huge and filled with great-tasting meats and veggies! Has the feel of a quiet coffee house. Breakfast sandwiches are worth driving out of your way to try. Friendly staff in a very laid-back atmosphere. Enjoy your beverage or meal while lounging on one of their couches… or savor the contents on your plate at the bar or traditional dining area.