A Longtime Outer Banks Steak & Seafood Tradition
JK’s Restaurant is one of the last remaining restaurants of it’s kind on the Outer Banks from an era gone by. It is not a flashy steak and seafood chain, it’s a true dining tradition earning the loyalty of locals and visitors alike.
The staff is locally rooted, building the restaurant’s reputation on quality sourcing the steaks for their mequite wood grill from their own ranch located out west in the heart of cattle country and the seafood from waters nearby. They consistently deliver high-class plates and genuine hospitality.
Here’s what you can expect if you tie up your horse and venture inside to JK’s… The place for steak!
Dining Details at JK’s Steakhouse
If you’re dining at JK’s Restaurant, the are a few things you should know first.
- Attire can be casual or feel free to dress up a little
- The restaurant is open for dinner only and closed on Sundays
- Prices on the menu range from $15 for appetizers and salads to $25 and up for entrees
- No reservations are taken – get there early because these folks often close doors early to ensure no diners are rushed through their evenings
- Dining facilities include walled off booths for a more private dining experience
The dark and quite moody interior makes JK’s the ideal spot for a date night or family dinner. The bar area tends to have more natural light and is a great space to grab a drink while waiting for your table or sit on a crowded evening.
What’s on the Menu at JK’s Restaurant in Kill Devil Hills?
Once you’ve secured your table at JK’s you will be asking yourself what should I get to eat or drink? Here’s what is on the menu along with some of our recommendations for favorite dishes.
Mesquite Wood-Grilled Steaks, Ribs, & Chicken
When you first walk into JK’s you are greeted with a fiery show. The mesquite wood grill is the heart of the kitchen and is wonderful to watch while waiting for your table through the glass window framing the kitchen and waiting area.
Each meat entree is is cooked over live mesquite wood, giving it a smoky flavor you won’t find anywhere else on the beach.
You cannot go wrong with JK’s signature steaks including:
- Center Cut Filet Mignon
- Aged Beef Tederloin
- Ribeyes including the 26 oz bone-in Cowboy Steak Ribeye aged for 40 days
- New York Strip
- Filet Mignon
But we encourage you to not sleep on the chicken and rib combinations! Ribs are also available on the appetizer menu, but trust us, you will be sucking the meat off each rib and possibly order another round after. They’re so good, even if you’re not a big ribs fan! Maybe it’s their legendary dry-rub seasoning that you can purchase and take home.
Each steak entree pairs with a side of red bliss mashed potatoes or the vegetable of the day. Seafood entrees pair with rice instead of mashed potatoes.
When we came in August, everyone ordered the Succotash and really enjoyed the fresh pairing, but you may also find asparagus. You also can add on their seafood bisque or soup of the day or enjoy a side salad.
If you’re not in the mood for seafood, beef or chicken, JK’s also serves specialty meats such as their Veal Rib Chop and Lamb Racks.
Fresh Seafood including Fish & Shellfish
JK’s menu stretches beyond steakhouse classics. Fish and shellfish, a staple regularly enjoyed locally, are obviously on the menu at this Outer Banks establishment.
JK’s gives seafood the attention it deserves by preparing it with refinement. Depending on what is in season will determine what is their fish of the day. The Seafood Pasta is a guest favorite and also crafted with the chef’s choice of fresh catch. There are
The Baked Oysters Rockefeller are a popular seafood appetizer served year round on the half-shell, topped with spinach walnut pesto and Parmesan. If you’ve never had oysters before, this dish is a great way to decide if you like them or not!
Another seafood mainstay we cannot get enough of is the Spinach and Fried Oyster Salad. The fresh spinach is tossed in balsamic vinaigrette giving it a softened feel and then topped with roasted red peppers and garnished with fried oysters with an out of this world lemon dill sauce.
Wine & Cocktail Menu at JK’s Restaurant
Great food deserves a great glass to go with it. JK’s offers a thoughtfully curated wine list alongside classic cocktails and craft beers.
If you are celebrating something special or just want to enjoy a laid-back night out, ask the wait staff! We always have great success with their suggestions for the right pour to complement our meals.
Don’t Forget Dessert!
After we polish off a meal, we always round dinner out with JK’s unforgettable desserts.
You cannot go wrong with their Key Lime Pie featuring fresh whipped cream and a perfectly executed graham cracker crust. This dessert is typically always on the menu and what we go for when still hungry after dinner, but we have also tried their Blueberry Cobbler that was also to die for!
Is JK’s Restaurant Really the Place For Steak?
JK’s Restaurant claims to be the place for steak and to us, they back up what they claim.
Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, JK’s is one of those Outer Banks restaurants you’ll hear locals recommend again and again. It’s the place for a perfectly grilled steak, a fresh seafood special, or just a great night out.
While other places have changed names, JK’s keeps doing what they’ve always done since the 1980s: serving unforgettable meals with a side of true Outer Banks hospitality. There’s something comforting about a place that hasn’t changed just because the world has.
Maybe it’s the sizzle of the mesquite grill. Maybe it’s the dim booths perfect for quiet conversation. Or maybe it’s the kind of service that knows when to chat and when to let the food do the talking.
Whatever it is, JK’s is a standout in a sea of seafood. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself on the OBX, do what the locals do, put JK’s on your list and come hungry.
