Restaurants - Kill Devil Hills

Food Dudes Kitchen

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

Food Dudes is a place that really is all about the food. With years of experience working in two of the best local kitchens, the Food Dudes 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 get take-out. Food Dudes is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and offers a nice Sunday brunch. They can also do off-site catered meals.

Front Porch Cafe

• 2200 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 6, Milepost 6 Plaza
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 449-6616

The Front Porch Café roasts its 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 like croissants, muffins, cinnamon buns and cookies are baked fresh every day. The Front Porch is open year round, every day starting at 6 a.m. Get connected here with free wireless Internet access. Interconnecting to this coffee shop are a bead store and a paint-your-own-pottery store. Visit their other locations in Nags Head and Manteo, too.

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 in which fresh raw and cooked selections are available. They accept reservations. Fuji is open year round for lunch and dinner.

Good Life Eatery

• 3712 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 4.5
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 480-2855

The Good Life Eatery has moved! They are now located a few miles north in Kitty Hawk at about MP 4.5, in a bigger space that is great for private parties. With more seating and an expanded menu, they still serve all their terrific fresh-baked pastries and breads and an impressive menu of gourmet salads, sandwiches, wraps, paninis and homemade soups for lunch and dinner. Relax with a glass of house wine or mug of specialty coffee by the fireplace and waterfall. There really is something for everyone in the dessert and pastry cases, and they carry a wide variety of wine, beer and specialty foods to go. Custom catering is a big part of their operation. Steve Mace, owner and head of catering, is known for delicious food, superior service and innovative and creative ideas. Good Life is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, and you can get a full breakfast weekdays until noon and weekends until 1 p.m. You should definitely try one of their featured breakfasts served in a personal frying pan. Free wireless Internet is available for customers.

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, Tuna Oscar, daily specials or a selection from the full steamed or raw seafood bar. Goombays is family friendly with a colorful dining room and a special menu for kids. The full bar includes lots of imported and microbrewed beers. Goombays serves lunch and dinner every day.

JK’s

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

JK’s is famous for its 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 and serve cocktails, wine and beer. JK’s is open year round for dinner. In the off-season, JK’s is closed on Sundays, but in season they are open every day.

Mama Kwan’s

• 1701 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 9.5
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 441-7889

Mama Kwan’s serves delicious, local Outer Banks seafood with flavors from the Pacific Rim. The chef whips up specials every day, and there are lots of tempting dishes on the menu. Try the pepper-seared tuna dinner — sushi-grade tuna served rare with wasabi, soy sauce, rice and cucumber salad. The unique flavors of the Special Occasion Pasta make it a menu favorite. Mama Kwan’s has a full bar, and you can enjoy a specialty drink in their novelty glassware. The whole family will enjoy the fun, tiki-bar atmosphere of this restaurant. Kids love to eat here. Mama Kwan’s serves lunch and dinner every day year round and a special late-night menu on Friday and Saturday nights. They also have entertainment on certain nights most of the year. As with many local hangouts, they are closed for a few weeks early each winter season, but the exact time may vary. The sign outside always lets you know what is going on at Mama’s.

MexiCali Brewz

• 1200 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 9
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 480-0069

With a nod toward the Grateful Dead, this local cantina promises a “Gratefully Good Time,” and they deliver! Created by the owners of Mama Kwan’s, MexiCali Brewz serves up classic southern California/Mexican cuisine like fish tacos and burritos and also a cool spin on some local dishes. Their marinated mahi mahi is excellent. They have a colorful and fun kid-friendly atmosphere, but their late-night menu and outdoor entertainment is a big hit with the party crowd. As one local said, “It’s like playland for grown-ups.” Check out them out!

Miller’s Seafood & Steakhouse

• 1520 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 9.5
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 441-7674

Miller’s is a family-owned and operated tradition that began in 1978 and is being carried on by a second generation. Breakfast at Miller’s includes a big menu of favorites like homemade buttermilk biscuits, three-egg omelets and a never-ending cup of coffee. Dinner specialties feature Miller’s famous made-from-scratch hush puppies, local seafood, Angus beef and pastas. Miller’s has a children’s menu and a full bar. The restaurant is closed from December through February.

New York Bagels

• 1708 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 7.5, The Dare Center
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 480-0990

The bagels are fresh and the fillings are delicious. You must experience their killer egg salad, lox or veggie cream cheese spread. Drinks include sodas, juices, water and, of course, fresh coffee. The hours change seasonally.

Outer Banks Epicurean

• 1484 Colington Road
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 480-0005

Outer Banks Epicurean is dedicated to the love of local food. It’s a place to pick up homemade dinner to go, always made from fresh, local food in keeping with the Slow Food movement. There are several heat-and-eat selections ready for pickup at noon each day, including a daily vegan option. Meals are sophisticated and simple; for example, Fresh Local Catch with Oregano Butter, Corn-off-the-Cob and Engelhard Field Peas; Weeping Radish Andouille Sausage with New Potato and Pancetta-Mushroom Hash; or Roasted Organic Patty Pan Squash and Mattamuskeet Onions with Organic Brown and White Basmati-Veggie Pilaf. The menu changes daily and is posted on the website each day. Epicurean is also the place to stock up on freshly baked cupcakes, lemon pound cake, cakes and salty chocolate brownies. It is located on Colington Road, about 2.5 miles off the Bypass.

Plaza Azteca Restaurante Mexicano

• 1502 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, Milepost 9.5
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 255-1060

You may have heard of Plaza Azteca, a Virginia Beach–based chain of restaurants. The restaurants serve upscale Mexican food, and they’re known for their many flavors of margaritas, sizzling fajitas and fresh guacamole, made right at your table. The extensive menu features all the traditional favorites — quesadillas, nachos, burritos, enchiladas and tacos — along with some nice surprises, specials and combinations. Vegetarian items and a kids’ menu are available. The atmosphere is lively and family friendly.

Port O’ Call Restaurant & Gaslight Saloon

• 504 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Beach Road, MP 8.5
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 441-7484

Port O’ Call has been a great dining choice for families on the Outer Banks for many years, known for its large and interesting menu and Victorian-style decor. 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 Port O’ Call prepares a special buffet. Kids have their own extensive menu. The restaurant accepts 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.

Quiznos Sub Sandwiches

• 710 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass MP 8.5
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 441-3837

Oven-toasted goodness in every bite, Quiznos piles freshly sliced meats and veggies onto their fresh-baked bread and toasts it all to a golden brown. This is a good, quick stop for lunch or dinner.

Rita’s Water Ice

• 710 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 8.5
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 449-2653

Rita’s serves Italian ice, custard and an array of interesting combinations, including mixes, shakes, frozen coffee drinks and fat-free treats. Stop in and cool off.

Ship’s Wheel Restaurant

• 2028 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 9.5
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 441-2906

The Ship’s Wheel at the Ebb Tide Family Motel serves breakfast, lunch with homemade specials daily, and dinner. If you get there early enough you can take advantage of true early bird specials. At breakfast they serve huge pancakes, chipped beef and eggs any way you like them and offer it all with great service.

Stack ‘em High

• 1225 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 9
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 441-7064

Stack ‘em High is a great breakfast stop filled with everything you could ever want for breakfast. 2011 marks their 30th anniversary. In this family-friendly restaurant, you’ll go through a line to select your own beverage, fresh fruit, cereal or muffins and a complete line of breakfast items that are then prepared fresh the minute you order. Choose from delicious breakfasts like pancakes — short or high stack — with fresh fruit, pecans or plain. They also have waffles, omelets (try the crab meat and cheddar or the shaved ham), bacon, sausage and more. For those looking for lunch, they also have a light sandwich selection like BLTs, hot ham & cheese and even PB&Js for the little ones. Find a seat in the dining room, and they’ll bring your breakfast to you piping hot. Stack ‘em High is family owned and operated. They serve breakfast every day all-year round. There is a second Stack ‘em High located in Kitty Hawk.

Thai Room

• 710 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 8.5, Oceanside Plaza
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 441-1180

The Thai Room has been a local’s favorite for more than 25 years. They provide affordable, delicious Asian cuisine, serving Thai, Chinese and American food. Thai Room was voted Best Asian Restaurant in a local poll for several years in a row. You can eat in or take out. They have vegetarian selections and a children’s menu. The Thai Room is open year-round, serving lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and dinner on Sunday.

The Pearl

• 1731 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 7
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 480-3463

One of the few restaurants to offer oceanfront dining, The Pearl sits right on the beach in the Sea Ranch Hotel. The chef offers a varied menu that includes lunch and dinner and leans toward French-inspired cuisine such as Coquilles St. Jacques, but there are many traditional local seafood selections as well, including a delightful she-crab soup. There’s also a lovely brunch on Sunday. The atmosphere is upscale and light, and there’s a full bar and a gourmet coffee bar. A beachside take-away window is great for lunch service. The Pearl provides on-site and off-site catering and welcomes any event from business meetings to retreats to weddings.

The Pit Surf Shop & Boardriders’ Grill

• 1209 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 9
• Kill Devil Hills
• (252) 480-3128 ext 5

The Boardriders’ Grill (adjacent to The Pit Surf Shop) is a traveling surfer’s dream and a favorite stop for hungry local surfers and whoever is hanging with them. The cozy dining room is an authentic log cabin adorned with tons of surfboards and surf photography, but the real reason this hip spot is a must-stop is the incredible food. With a continually evolving menu, The Boardriders Grill spans the far-flung tastes the owners acquired during a lifetime of boardriding travel. From Cali-style (huge) wraps and the Mexi-Cali Burger to gourmet personal pizzas and Steve’s Chicken Sammie (yay, guacamole!), these guys have something tasty for everyone. The who’s-who of the summer scene know not to miss $1 Taco Tuesdays — the place is packed but it is worth the wait — or any of the great live music shows and DJs that keep the place grooving from sunset to the wee hours.

Most nights are age 21+ only after 10 p.m., but The Pit also caters to the not-yet-21 set three nights a week with Teen Night on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights all summer. Most entertainment on the beach is strictly limited to those 21 and older, so this is a really special offer for local and visiting teens. Although The Boardriders Grill serves lunch and dinner daily, they are closed for part of the winter, so call ahead if you are visiting in the off-season.