Nags Head Restaurants and Dining on the Outer Banks

Flying Fish Cafe

2003 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-6894

Flying Fish Cafe features a Mediterranean-style menu with lots of coastal favorites. The Carolina crab cakes are exceptional, and a fresh fish entrée is offered every evening. You select how it is prepared: grilled, sautéed or blackened. They also have beautiful preparations of beef and chicken, like their seared Filet Mignon with Gorgonzola crust or the free-range chicken breast stuffed with Gruyere cheese. The wine list is extensive, with 40 by-the-glass options and reserve bottle selections. They also have a full bar. Top off your delicious meal with a drink from their cappuccino bar and one of their homemade desserts. We like their signature Chocolate Hurricane, a tower of chocolate five ways, wrapped in a cylinder of white and dark chocolate…heaven! Flying Fish is open for dinner nightly, year round. Reservations are recommended in-season.

Food Dudes Kitchen

1216 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Seashore Shops, The Beach Road, MP 9
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-7994

An instant favorite when they opened last season, Food Dudes is a place that really is all about the food. With years of experience working in two of the best local kitchens, this duo is big on preparing the best food from the best seasonal ingredients. While the regular menu is simple enough to showcase the unique flavors of their food, their daily specials board really showcases their talents and the variety of options you’ll have to choose from. They feature vegetarian dishes, local seafood and organic and local produce from Currituck County farms whenever possible. You can dine in and enjoy beer and wine with your meal or do take-out. They can also do off-site catered meals. They are open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and offer a nice Sunday brunch.

Fuji Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar

1201 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 9
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 449-0628

Fuji is a Japanese steakhouse where Hibachi cooks prepare authentic Japanese food right in front of you. The meals are delicious and the experience is entertaining. They also have a sushi bar where fresh raw and cooked selections are available. They accept reservations. Fuji is open year round for lunch and dinner.

Good Life Gourmet

The Dare Center, The Bypass, MP 7.5
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 480-2855

Within the busy Dare Center strip mall, there is a mecca of gourmet food. The Good Life Gourmet is a bistro, bakery and wine shop. They have fresh-baked pastries and breads and an impressive menu of gourmet salads, sandwiches, wraps and paninis all available for lunch and dinner. The desserts are to die for. They also have a full espresso bar and an extensive selection of wine. And while you sit and enjoy the perfect afternoon break, you can connect to their free wireless internet in the café and email away! The Good Life Gourmet is open every day at 8 a.m. for breakfast, and they serve lunch and dinner year round. They close at 6 p.m. on Sunday and Monday evenings, but stay open until 9 p.m. the rest of the week. Additionally, they offer catering for all kinds of events including birthdays, family reunions and wedding receptions. They are very flexible and can do anything from simply creating the meals for you to pick up yourself and bring home all the way through full, on-site service.

Goombays Grille & Raw Bar

1608 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 7
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-6001

Goombays is a casual restaurant with an island feel. The food is fresh and creative with a Caribbean spin on Outer Banks seafood favorites. Try the Rasta Pasta, fresh seafood tacos, Tuna Reuben, Jazzy Coconut Chicken or Caribbean Creole Pasta. They have a full steamed or raw seafood bar. Goombays is family friendly with a colorful dining room and a special menu for kids. They have a full bar, including lots of imported and microbrew beers. Goombays serves lunch and dinner with daily specials.

Grits Grill

5000 S. Croatan Highway, Outer Banks Mall, The Bypass, MP 14
Nags Head
(252) 449-2888

Grits Grill serves up breakfast foods all day along with huge fluffy biscuits and all the eggs, bacon and grit combinations you can imagine. They also have lunch standards such as hamburgers, sandwiches, soups and salads. They’re open year round from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Harbor Point Grill & Pizzeria

5000 S. Croatan Highway, Outer Banks Mall, The Bypass, MP 14
Nags Head
(252) 261-6800

Harbor Point has everything you crave including sub sandwiches, pasta, pizza and prime rib. They offer a late night menu and offer free delivery within Nags Head from 5 p.m. until they close.

Henry’s

3396 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 5
Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-2025

Henry’s is a family-owned and operated restaurant and has been serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in a family-friendly atmosphere on the Outer Banks since 1989. Breakfast is available until 1 p.m. so you won’t miss out on delicious, home-style choices like hot cakes, seafood omelets and biscuits and gravy. There’s something for everyone on the lunch and dinner menu. Choose from seafood, burgers, sandwiches, salads or, if you’re a young one, the kid’s menu. They serve beer and wine and they are open year round, but the hours change seasonally, so call ahead if you’re visiting in the off-season.

High Cotton BBQ

The Beach Road, MP 1
Kitty Hawk
(252) 255-2275

High Cotton is owned and operated by a native North Carolina family that was born and raised in the heart of barbecue country. They serve authentic eastern North Carolina-style pork barbecue. The pork is smoked for hours over hickory, is hand-chopped and then seasoned with a light, vinegar-based sauce that doesn’t overpower the natural flavor of the smoked meat. The Southern fried chicken is crisp and delicious. The smoked chicken is so tender it falls right off the bone, and the Texas-style beef brisket is smoked, sliced and served with a tangy sauce. The St. Louis cut ribs are the local’s favorite for good reason. Portions here are generous. They serve traditional side dishes like cole slaw, baked beans and fresh vegetables plus crispy corn sticks and French fries. The sauces are homemade and available for purchase. They have a kid’s menu. This is a great place to feed a crowd, and they have a speedy to-go counter for take-out. Check out their convenient to-go packages and bring home your own pig-pickin’. The restaurant also offers catering. High Cotton serves lunch and dinner every day in season and closes for a short time in the winter.

Hooters of Kitty Hawk

4020 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 3.5
Kitty Hawk
(252) 255-1808

The Hooters chain bills itself as “delightfully tacky, yet unrefined” and this Kitty Hawk location follows suit. You’ll find a casual menu with wings, shrimp, burgers and sandwiches. Hooters offers drink specials, a late-night menu and more than 20 televisions tuned to sporting events. They sell souvenirs and merchandise with the hard-to-miss Hooters logo.

Hurricane Mo’s Beachside Bar and Grill

E. Kitty Hawk Road, just off the Beach Road, MP 4
Kitty Hawk
(252) 255-0215

Hurricane Mo’s is just steps from the ocean and has an intimate, beachy atmosphere. On the menu you’ll find fresh seafood, steaks, chicken, pasta and sandwiches. Daily specials are offered at lunch and dinner. Kids will be happy with the selections on their children’s menu. Hurricane Mo’s has a full bar and happy hour specials from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., including 10-cent shrimp, 25-cent wings and $1 tacos. Hurricane Mo’s is open year round for lunch and dinner, and you can get take-out if you prefer. Check them out if you’re looking for fun.

I Love Coffee

4104 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Surfside Plaza, MP 13
Nags Head
(252) 715-0116

Situated on the beach road in the historic part of Nags Head, I Love Coffee has all the hot and cold, frozen and blended coffee drinks you can imagine. With a mixologist’s array of syrups, they have many creative concoctions to warm you up or cool you down. They also offer Breyer’s hand-dipped ice cream (because Breyer’s is made with just cream and sugar, no artificial ingredients), and reverse osmosis filtered water for your coffee or to drink. Regulars are encouraged to bring their own mugs and will receive a discount if they do. Their coffee beans are artisan roasted in Virginia, and the free Wi-Fi and a friendly atmosphere sweeten an already sweet deal.

Island Deli

1314 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 9
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 715-0710

From the Island Dyes guys comes this great little deli. It’s bright and sunny in both atmosphere and personality. They have continental breakfast offerings plus a huge lunch selection of cool deli sandwiches of their own invention, all using Boars Head meats. A nice salad bar (and the chef offers a healthy piece of local fish to top it off), coffee, cappuccino, wine and ice cream round out the offerings. Eat-in, take-out and delivery are available.

Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet

4117 N Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 4
Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-4973

Jimmy’s is a family destination offering a variety of Outer Banks seafood and more than 100 tempting dishes from both land and sea including homemade soups and made-from-scratch desserts. Check out their 10 types of crab legs, including king, snow and Dungeness as well as stone crab claws. Early birds get a free lobster tail with their adult buffet. They also have many to-go options like fried platters, steamed dinners and the handy carry-out seafood buckets. The clambake-style seafood buckets make enjoying great, steamed seafood at home a snap — just add water and cook on the stovetop for 30 minutes. If you choose a steamed bucket, they’ll steam it for you and include fries, cole slaw and hushpuppies. Call ahead for curbside pick up. Jimmy’s Seafood opens for dinner at 4 p.m. They have live nightly entertainment, and while you’re waiting there are free pony rides for the kids, and you can play cornhole or putt-putt. New this season, they’re serving a breakfast buffet on the weekends starting Memorial Day. Going to Ocracoke? They’ve just opened a place down there and are serving lunch, dinner, a bar menu and of course their famous seafood buffet.

JK’s

1106 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 9
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-9555

JK’s is famous for their steaks and fresh seafood, all cooked over a mesquite wood grill. The steaks are of exceptional quality and are prepared by their in-house butcher. They have several cuts of steak on the menu, and many steak dinners are complemented with fresh local seafood. All entrees are served with the fresh vegetable of the day and either rice pilaf or their perfect mashed potatoes. Top off your meal with a homemade dessert. JK’s is a very consistent restaurant with high-quality fare. They have a full bar where they serve cocktails, wine, beer and their full menu. They are open year round for dinner. In the off-season, JK’s is closed on Sundays, but in season they are open every day.

Jockey’s Ribs Bar & Grill

3948 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 13.5
Nags Head
(252) 441-1141

Don’t let the name fool you, as this is a lot more than a barbecue place—though the barbecue is great! They have been family owned and operated since 1985, and their menu is large and varied, with something sure to satisfy everyone in your family. Their appetizers include some Southern favorites such as fried green tomatoes or fried pickles, and their entrees include fresh seafood and hearty meat selections like steaks and chops. There are specials daily, and they also offer creative salads and delicious homemade desserts. They are open for lunch and dinner.

John’s Drive-In

The Beach Road, MP 4.5
Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-6227

John’s Drive-in is famous for their milkshakes and their free puppy cups—ice cream for our four-legged friends. Locals and tourists alike are addicted, making this a busy stop, but the speedy service moves things right along. The only thing that might take a while is choosing what kind of shake to have since they have a long list of flavors including fruit and other sweet choices. Try a combination like banana-peanut butter-chocolate, and you might not have room for lunch. But you’ll wish you did, with the fried mahi sandwiches and juicy hamburgers served here. Food is served to-go style, and there are several umbrella-shaded picnic tables. John’s is open every day but Wednesday from spring through fall.

Jolly Roger Restaurant

1836 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 6.5
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-6530

The Jolly Roger has been an Outer Banks fixture for years. You can’t miss the pirate out front, and you shouldn’t miss the big breakfasts that are served here until 2 p.m. They have some of the biggest biscuits on the beach, and their rye toast is incredible. They also serve lunch and dinner, with a big menu of seafood, pastas, steaks and Italian specialties. The Jolly Roger is open every day, all year round, with entertainment nightly; call for details.

Kentucky Fried Chicken / Taco Bell

7328 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Bypass, MP 16.5
Nags Head
(252) 441-3028

Grab a bucket of tried and true Kentucky Fried Chicken or some tacos and burritos and head to the beach. The ocean is just across the street! This restaurant is two in one, so it makes pleasing the entire family a breeze.

Kill Devil’s Frozen Custard

1002 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 8.5
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-5900

The specialty here is authentic frozen custard: a thick, delicious concoction of cream, milk, egg yolk, sugar and vanilla and they make it fresh hourly. Whether you call it ice cream or frozen custard, we just like to call it delicious. They offer the frozen custard in cups or on cones and also create awesome sundaes, shakes, waffle sundaes, floats, hurricanes and more. On the menu are better burgers, Coney Island dogs, NC barbecue sandwiches, wraps and veggie burgers. The specialty beach fries are hand cut every morning. Kill Devil’s is open for lunch and dinner from April to December.

Krave Grill & Games

710 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Oceanside Plaza, The Beach Road, MP 8.5
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 480-1010

With affordable food and games for all ages this is a great new place for those who want to do more than just eat and drink. They have nine-foot billiards tables, shuffleboard, arcade games, foosball and more! Their menu includes deli sandwiches, awesome NY-style pizza and calzones, big burgers and yummy cheesesteaks. But also, there is always something going on here like live entertainment on the weekends, Texas Hold Em’ tournaments, pool tournaments or rock video laser light shows.They are open all year and offer lunch, dinner, a late-night menu and a children’s menu.

La Fogata

4933 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 14.5
Nags Head
(252) 441-4179

La Fogata serves traditional Mexican favorites and specialties at this casual restaurant. Locals love it for offering tasty food at a good value. Within minutes of sitting down, you’ll have warm chips and yummy salsa to munch on while you look over the menu. There’s a full-service bar. They’re open for lunch and dinner.

La Fogata Mexican Restaurant

3924 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 4.5
Kitty Hawk
(252) 255-0934

The two La Fogata restaurants, one in Nags Head and this one in Kitty Hawk, are locals’ favorites for inexpensive, delicious meals. The exhaustive menu of authentic Mexican specialties is a little overwhelming, but complimentary warm chips and spicy salsa hold you over while you decide.

Longboards Island Grill

3833 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 4
Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-7833

Longboards is casual dining for lunch and dinner. Choose from seafood, chicken, pasta, pizza, sandwiches and salads. This is also a great nightspot with live entertainment, several pool tables, games and a large bar. They are open year round.

Lucky 12 Tavern

3308 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 12
Nags Head
(252) 255-LUCK

This neighborhood-style tavern serves good quality food at great prices. Lucky 12 has fresh local seafood, hand-patted burgers, great New York-style pizza, authentic Buffalo chicken wings and boardwalk fries. Everything is fresh and well prepared, and the chef creates tasty daily specials. There’s a menu for kids. The dining room is open for lunch and dinner every day. The bar is a popular late-night hangout, with DJs spinning tunes often during the summer, and you can order pizza until 2 a.m. The bartenders mix up Bushwackers, delicious frozen cocktails, using the recipe from Quagmires (a now-closed and missed oceanfront restaurant). They also have a good selection of beers and a martini menu. For entertainment there are pool tables, foosball and sports on TV including the popular NFL Sunday ticket. There is never a cover charge. Lucky 12 is open year round.