Restaurants - Kill Devil Hills
If you love dining out, then you’ll love the town of Kill Devil Hills. Within the town limits, you’ll find more than 30 different restaurants. Each has a distinct specialty, but of course fresh seafood from local waters is the main dish at most restaurants.
One thing that may surprise you is the creativity of the cuisine. There are many talented local chefs who develop imaginative fusion dishes, sampling international flavors with delicious results. You’ll find a great variety of cuisine, like Pacific Rim, Southwestern, Italian and good old Southern home cooking. Top it off with specialties like home-brewed beers, fresh-roasted coffees and luscious desserts, and you’ll see why locals tend to eat out a lot too.
A great fact of Kill Devil Hills restaurants is that most are locally owned and operated. Visitors can branch out from the familiar chain restaurants they find at home and discover something new. (If you must have a fast food fix, however, Kill Devil Hills is home to French fry alley, which is what the locals call the area along the Bypass around Milepost 9 where several fast food chains are located.) We haven’t included them here because everyone is familiar with what they offer. Wherever you go in this town, you’ll find that casual attire is perfectly acceptable, even in fine dining establishments.
Remember that locals call Croatan Highway—aka U.S. Highway 158—The Bypass, and they refer to Virginia Dare Trail—aka N.C. Highway 12—as the Beach Road. Those simple names are just easier to remember!
Bad Bean Taqueria
- 3105 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 5, Seagate North Shopping Center
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 261-1300
- map
Bad Bean’s renovation of their new Kill Devil Hills location is reason enough to come in, even if the food didn’t persuade you (which it will). Local artwork, cool lighting and wonderful color greet you and set a comfortable yet energetic backdrop to your meal. The food, in a word, is great. Honoring the essence of true Mexican cuisine by using fresh, simple ingredients cooked with integrity is what owner/chef Rob strives to deliver to you each time he prepares your meal. The fresh-made salsas and guacamole are perfect with the house-made corn tortilla chips. And they’ve added in some extras at this location too—daily lunch specials year round, full-service dinners and a full-service bar featuring one of the best Ultimate Margaritas on the beach. They’ve taken the fish taco idea and expanded it to the Nth degree—tuna, shrimp, softshell or calamari tacos, anyone? Their Carne Asada is a must have as well. Don’t miss this place. It’s a locals’ favorite for a reason. Note that they often have entertainment in the bar during the summer months.Take-out is available.
Brewing Station
- 600 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 8.5
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 449-BREW
- map
Brewing Station serves innovative dishes that are prepared by chefs in their open kitchen. The restaurant and bar has a decidedly metropolitan feel, and the food follows suit. The meals are creative and delicious. The menu changes seasonally and offers a wide variety of options. They serve lunch and dinner and offer “appy” hour specials daily at the bar. This is also a brewery, with a seasonal menu of beers that are brewed in-house. You can order their beer to go in growlers or kegs and limited bottles. They also have a full bar. For the kids, they brew root beer, offer a children’s menu and have a fun pirate ship playground. From the bakery comes fresh breads and pastries, and the desserts are outstanding. They serve sushi on Sundays. The Brewing Station is also a busy nightspot with live entertainment like music from local or national acts and dancing. They can accommodate special events and large groups. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day in the summer. In the off-season, dinner is served every night and lunch is available on the weekends. They are open year round. Check out their 92-foot wind turbine and their outdoor beer garden.
Front Porch Cafe
- 2200 N. Croatan Highway, Milepost 6 Plaza, The Bypass, MP 6
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 449-6616
- map
The Front Porch Café roasts their own coffee beans, so the delicious aroma will greet you as soon as you walk in the door. Enjoy a full espresso bar with a wide variety of coffee drinks. They also have a great selection of teas, both loose and bagged. Pastries are baked fresh everyday, like croissants, muffins, cinnamon buns and cookies. The Front Porch is open year round every day at 6 a.m. Get connected here with free wireless internet access. Visit their other locations in Nags Head and Manteo too!
Kill Devil Grill
- 2008 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 9.5
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 449-8181
- map
Kill Devil Grill may look like a diner, but step inside and you’ll be treated to a gourmet meal that is miles ahead of typical diner fare. It starts with a great menu of dishes that are all made from scratch. Choose from creative daily specials, fresh fish and other seafood, steaks, ribs, sandwiches and killer salads. The chicken wings have become legendary: They’re rubbed, smoked and then grilled with homemade sauce. The Grill has a kid’s menu and outstanding homemade desserts. There are a few menu items you’d expect to find in a diner, like blue-plate specials, root beer floats and apple crisp that’s served warm with vanilla ice cream. They have a full bar. Kill Devil Grill serves lunch, dinner and on big holiday weekends they may also offer brunch on Sundays. They are only closed for a short time in the winter.
Mako Mike’s
- 1630 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 7
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 480-1919
- map
The menu at Mako Mike’s is filled with fresh seafood with choices ranging from Mako shark to crab legs. They have excellent crab cakes, pasta dishes and steaks. The chef creates lots of specials every night. A kid’s menu makes the tikes happy. When it comes to dessert, there are many delicious choices. Catch one of the early bird specials; they’re offered daily. Large parties can easily be accommodated and they have private dining rooms for special events. Don’t leave without checking out their freshwater shark tank. Mako Mike’s, part of the Kelly’s Hospitality Group, is open for dinner year round and has a full bar.
Pigman’s Bar-B-Que
- 1606 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 9.5
- Kill Devil Hills
At Pigman’s you’ll find several types of barbeque. In addition to the traditional pork, they have beef, tuna and turkey. They also have slow-smoked chicken, St. Louis ribs and fried shrimp. Side dishes include baked beans, coleslaw, hush puppies (yum! some of the best!), French fries and sweet potato fries. You can dine in or carry out. They have a children’s menu. Pigman’s even does catering. They are closed January and February.
Port O’ Call Restaurant & Gaslight Saloon
- 504 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Beach Road, MP 8.5
- Kill Devil Hills
Port O’ Call has been a great dining choice for families on the Outer Banks for many years with its large and interesting menu and Victorian-style décor. The menu changes seasonally but always includes lots of fresh seafood prepared in a variety of ways: steamed, broiled, blackened, fried, seared or grilled. They also serve steaks, ribs, chicken and pastas. On holidays they prepare a special buffet. Kids have their own extensive menu. They accept reservations and can easily handle large parties. Port O’ Call serves dinner nightly. Ask about their early bird specials. They also do special events such as weddings, rehearsal dinners, reunions, fraternity and sorority parties and office and holiday parties that can be planned as sit-down dinners or buffets. In the gift gallery you’ll find a little bit of everything, like antiques, lamps, glassware, jewelry, collectibles and more. At night, Port O’ Call’s Gaslight Saloon hosts live music and dancing. Call or go to www.outerbanksthisweek.com to see what’s on the schedule.
Western Sizzlin’
- 804 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 8.5
- Kill Devil Hills
Locally owned Western Sizzlin’ is a family dining establishment that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. They are open all year, and in addition to the great steaks you expect, you’ll find lots of other options including chicken, seafood, vegetables, fresh baked breads and desserts. In the summer season they have a terrific seafood buffet you won’t want to miss. They welcome large parties and have a kids menu. Also, located within the restaurant is the Old Nags Head General Store with gifts, T-shirts and more.
American Pie
- 1600 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 9.5
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 441-3332
American Pie serves two vacation favorites: pizza and ice cream. Enjoy hand-tossed New York-style pizza, subs, wings and salads. Then for dessert enjoy homemade, hand-dipped ice cream. This restaurant is right across the street from the beach and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. You can also take your food to go or have it delivered.
Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar & Restaurant
- 2106 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 6
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 441-5955
Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar is world-famous for their casual, raw bar atmosphere and great local seafood. The steamed shrimp are so good that they were featured in Esquire magazine. The menu features lots of seafood, but there are also burgers, pastas, steaks and chicken. The chef creates specials every day. They have a full bar and an upstairs lounge with an ocean view. Awful Arthur’s is open year round for lunch and dinner.
Big Eye Seafood
- 3213 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 5
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 441-5755
Big Eye Seafood brings fresh Outer Banks seafood directly to you. Pick up local shrimp, scallops, tuna, flounder, mahi-mahi and hard shell and soft shells crabs in season. They have everything you need to prepare a delicious seafood dinner as well as lots of take-out items like sandwiches, dolphin boats and homemade crabcakes with hand-picked jumbo lump and back fin crab meat served with a cool lime sauce. A favorite item is their tuna sandwich done either grilled, jerk or blackened with wasabi mayonnaise. Everything here is handmade and local. Try their homemade remoullade sauce (or any of their others). They’re so good. Call ahead so it’s ready when you are!
Bob’s Grill
- 1219 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 9
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 441-0707
You have to love a place where you can get breakfast into the afternoon. Bob’s is casual, with reasonable prices and large portions. Breakfast includes huge hot cakes, three-egg omelets, French toast and waffles. At lunch, try Bob’s burger, Philly steak and cheese, a fried chicken sandwich or a fresh salad. Dinner at Bob’s includes lots of seafood specials like tuna, shrimp and scallops or grilled chicken, ribs, Prime Rib and rib eye steak. They also do all-you-can-eat crab legs with steamed shrimp, fried shrimp, hush puppies and two sides of your choice. Cold beer and wine is also available. Try their homemade carrot cake or any of their other yummy desserts. The restaurant is open year round for breakfast and lunch, and dinner is also available during the summer season.
Captain George’s Seafood
- 645 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 8.5
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 480-6677
A Virginia Beach favorite that opened in Kill Devil Hills last year, Captain George’s serves an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet with more than 70 items including Alaskan Snow Crab legs, savory prime rib and fresh steamed shrimp. They offer made-to-order entrée items as well and prepare everything in-house daily. Their Oysters Rockefeller is a secret family recipe that you won’t want to miss. They are open for dinner every day except Christmas. On Sunday, they begin serving at noon and offer an early-bird discount until 4 p.m. with the exception of holidays. The buffet costs $28.99, with a half-price deal for kids 5-12. Kids 4 and younger eat free with the purchase of a beverage. Just George’s Bar and Grill is located inside Captain George’s and has a fun menu and great atmosphere.
Carolina Seafood
- 2042 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 6.5
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 441-6851
Carolina Seafood is a buffet-style restaurant with lots of fresh seafood, roast beef, hushpuppies, veggies and more. They have a big salad bar and lots of dessert selections. They have a full bar, take out and children’s menus. In season they open at 3:30 p.m. and offer free lobster tail until 5:30 p.m. with an adult buffet. They also offer carry-out and crabs by the bushel. Call for off-season hours.
Chilli Peppers
- 3001 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 5
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 441-8081
Chilli Peppers is famous on the Outer Banks for their Southwestern cuisine, fresh seafood, great steaks and award-winning soups and sauces. Everything is made from scratch. The dining room is casual and colorful. Every day the chef’s lunch specials include a bamboo steamer pot creation, a pasta dish, burrito, sandwich and soup, so there’s lots of delicious choices. Chilli Peppers has a full bar, and there’s always something special happening. Whether it’s an open mike night, live music or steamed seafood served late every night, you’ll find the kind of fun you’re looking for. Check them out on Wednesdays for their Hot Summer Nights events with music by Revenge Of… and giveaways and raffles from Outer Banks Boarding Company, The Mystic Jewel and big name surf brands. In the off-season, don’t miss the popular tapas nights on Thursdays. Each week the chef devotes the entire tapas menu to a different country’s cuisine, and the results are always original and delicious. The Sunday brunch is a local’s favorite (and voted Best on the Beach by the Virginian Pilot), with selections like Bananas Foster French toast, eggs Benedict with lump crabmeat and build-your-own omelets. Chilli Peppers is open year round, serving breakfast Monday through Saturday starting at 8 a.m., lunch and dinner every day and brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Colington Cafe
- 1029 Colington Road
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 480-1123
Colington Café is located on Colington Road in a Victorian-style home. This is a great place for a special night out and has received accolades from Southern Living magazine. The chefs are skilled at preparing outstanding dishes with fresh local ingredients. They are famous for their she-crab bisque and crab cakes. Nightly specials always offer a unique take on dishes such as fresh local seafood or quality steaks. The desserts are incredible and include a white chocolate crème brulee, triple chocolate mousse cake and coconut cream pie. The wine list is long. Reservations are recommended. Colington Café is open for dinner from late March through Thanksgiving and then reopens for the Christmas holidays and the week surrounding Valentines Day.
Colington Pizza
- 100 Colingwood Lane
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 441-3339
Colington Pizza is friendly, locally owned neighborhood restaurant on Colington Island. They offer homemade pizzas, appetizers, salads, sandwiches and subs, plus beer and wine at a bar that’s a popular Colington hangout. Eat in, take out or have it delivered; they deliver from Colington Harbour to Bermuda Bay on the east end Colington Road. They’re open year round, for dinner every night and for lunch a few days a week in the summer months. Look for Colington Pizza on Colington Road, a half-mile outside the entrance of Colington Harbour by the water tower.
Crabby Fries
- 1006 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 9
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 441-9607
Need a quick bite to take to the beach, or looking to feed a group for dinner? This new carry-out place has it for you. Find delicious seafood sandwiches, pressed cuban sandwiches and their specialty, amazing hand-cut beach fries. Yum! They also offer steamed crabs, freshly squeezed lemonade, beer, wine and more!
Dare Devil’s Authentic Pizzeria
- 1112 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 9
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 441-6330, (252) 441-2353
For more than 20 years, Dare Devil’s has been serving delicious pizzas, strombolis, subs, salads and appetizers. They have a full bar and TVs that are great for watching sports events. You can eat in or take it out. Dare Devil’s is open for dinner at 5 p.m. year round and serves lunch on the weekends.
Duck Donuts
- 710 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 8.5
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 480-3320
Here’s a real Outer Banks treat! These donuts are made fresh to order and are served warm. Choose your coating (vanilla, chocolate) and then your topping (peanut, coconut, sprinkles and more). Sinfully good! Order by the dozen to bring home to the family. They also serve locally roasted premium coffees, juice and cold drinks. Be sure to check out their other locations in Duck and Kitty Hawk.
Dunkin’ Donuts
- 3210 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 5.5
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 480-4629
Visit their two locations on the Bypass for coffee, breakfast/lunch sandwiches and of course…donuts. They serve breakfast all day, and they’re open 24-hours for you die-hards!
Five Guys Burgers & Fries
- 1203 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 9
- Kill Devil Hills
- (252) 255-0006
Five Guys serves up their famous burgers, hot dogs and, of course, French fries. You can add cheese and bacon to your burger and then choose from a variety of toppings like mushrooms, fried onions and pickles. The “famous fries” are hand-cut and served either Five Guys style or Cajun. Yum!
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.
