The Best Restaurants for Dinner on the Outer Banks
Dinner is when the Outer Banks shines, think seafood dinners, signature cocktails, and fresh catch served right off the boat. From Corolla to Ocracoke, you’ll find locally owned restaurants serving everything from tuna tartare and house-made pastas to BBQ platters, tacos, steaks, and steamed seafood pots.
Whether you’re looking for a date-night dinner, a family-friendly meal, or a casual bite after the beach, OBX has a table for it.
What to Expect Dining Out for Dinner
Expect local seafood, Southern hospitality, and sunsets that stop you mid-sentence. While some restaurants are open all day for lunch and dinner, many restaurants on the Outer Banks open around 4 or 5 PM and fill up quickly in summer.
Reservations are your friend. Dress is usually coastal casual, and you’ll often find live music, daily specials, or seasonal menus.

Where to Get Dinner on the Outer Banks

American Pie Pizza & Homemade Ice Cream
This local, family-owned, and operated restaurant has grown to be an Outer Banks favorite. In fact, they were voted best pizza and ice cream in the Taste of the Beach! American Pie sits on Highway 12 in Kill Devil Hills, just walking distance from many hotels, motels, cottages, and of course the beach! The restaurant provides both indoor and outdoor dining.

Dirty Dick’s Crab House
Fresh, local seafood with a New Orleans accent in our Nags Head Restaurant. The menu includes such Cajun hits as chicken etoufee, shrimp, oyster or pork chop po’ boy, Creole stuffed crabs, Louisiana crawfish, shrimp Creole over cheese grits, and for the brave, delicacies like fried frog legs and fried gator tail.

Steamers Restaurant & Catering
Steamers Restaurant in Southern Shores, NC, has been serving fresh Outer Banks seafood since 1994. Famous for their steamed seafood pots, lobster rolls, and hand-cut steaks, Steamers offers casual dine-in and convenient takeout, including steamer pots to-go. A perfect spot for relaxed, family-friendly dining with authentic coastal flavor.

Sugar Creek Seafood Restaurant
Not many restaurants actually sit out over the water, so relax and watch all the activity above and below the waterline. Made famous for local shrimp and a menu that serves everything from incredible prime rib to native crab cakes and the Outer Banks’ best seafood.

JK’s Restaurant
JK’s has the best Outer Banks Steaks. The beef and signature ribs come exclusively from the Midwest, providing the restaurant with a product that has superior marbling, tenderness, and flavor without artificial stimulants. JK’s is also a great Kill Devil Hills Seafood Restaurant.

Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant
Truly an Outer Banks family tradition, Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant has been owned & operated by the Miller family since 1982. Overlooking the Roanoke Sound in Nags Head, you can now enjoy your meal with a view from the new Waterfront Sunset Bar & Grill located upstairs where you will have a front row seat to kite-boarders, windsurfers and the most beautiful sunsets on the island.

Yellow Submarine
Established in 1976, Yellow Submarine is a Beatles-themed pizza parlor offering stone-oven-baked pies & subs, bone-in and boneless chicken wings, strombolis, calzones, fresh salads, plus wine, beer, and desserts on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Our restaurant provides pizza delivery in Nags Head while also offering in-store pickup and dine-in eating at our convenient location inside the Outer Banks Mall at milepost 14. You’ll love Yellow Submarine’s delicious hand-tossed, made-from-scratch pizzas prepared with only the freshest ingredients.
Pigman’s Bar-B-Que
Offering traditional eastern North Carolina style BBQ, smoked on site. All bar-b-que is cooked slowly with hand-crafted sauces to perfection. Pigman’s also offers a tomato or “ketchup-based” BBQ option. You can also enjoy St. Louis Ribs and smoked chicken, along with comforting southern sides, such as hushpuppies, baked beans, potato salad, french fries, and cole slaw. Be sure to experience country ham at Pigman’s Bar-B-Que. Pigman’s salt-cured hams are smoked to perfection. Pigman’s Bar B Que is a kid-friendly restaurant offering a Kiddie-Que Meal as well as chicken tender and hot dog kids meal options.

Mama Kwan’s Tiki Bar & Grill
Mama Kwan’s has served the Outer Banks for the many years, with our very own twist on food from around the world – and around the block. Our menu is designed to cover all types of tastes, so even the pickiest member of your party will find something they enjoy.
We are laid back, and fun offering a casual dining experience for the entire family. Eat outside, at the bar, or in our dining area. Our offerings include splashy & festive eats with Pacific Rim flavors & renowned mahi mahi tacos, plus tropical drinks.
Come to Mama’s and have a time in Kill Devil Hills on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Insider Advice for a Better Meal Out
- Make reservations when you can. Especially in summer or on weekends, popular spots book up fast.
- Arrive early for sunset views. Many soundfront restaurants offer unbeatable golden hour dining.
- Look for nightly specials. OBX chefs love showcasing what’s fresh, check chalkboards or ask your server.
- Be flexible with timing. Eating early (5–6 PM) or later (after 8 PM) can help you avoid long waits.




















