Hatteras Island Restaurants
Dining on Hatteras Island means that you can expect restaurants with originality, personality, fresh ingredients and even some secret family recipes.
The best thing about dining on Cape Hatteras is that there are no chain restaurants with predictable atmosphere and bland fare. All Hatteras Island restaurants reflect the laid-back personality of the island lifestyle in a variety of ways, but you can rest assured that the owners, chefs and staff are quite serious and very professional about the fare they serve and the experience they offer.
Most Cape Hatteras restaurants put a major focus on the bounty of the sea. Local menus tout such specialties as Gulf Stream fish (yellowfin tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi), inshore fish (trout, flounder and drum), succulent crab meat, oysters, clams, scallops, mussels and more. Restaurants will let you know what’s in season, and therefore the freshest, when you’re on the island. If it’s soft-shell crabs, don’t miss a chance to taste these delicacies! Fried seafood is no longer the staple of local menus, but you can get it if you want it. Most Hatteras restaurants feature more healthy preparations, like steaming, grilling, sautéing, blackening or broiling. If you want to cook seafood yourself, there are several Hatteras Island seafood markets; those are included in the listings in our Hatteras Shopping page.
If you’re not a seafood lover, don’t worry. Even the Hatteras Island seafood restaurants offer a wealth of other options like beef, pasta, chicken, pork and vegetarian entrees. And not every restaurant is seafood-oriented. You’ll find down-home North Carolina barbecue, Italian restaurants, plus pizza places, delis, ice cream shops and bakeries.
Meals are fairly priced on Hatteras Island, and dress is very casual. At this writing, Cape Hatteras restaurants can only serve beer and wine. Most Hatteras eateries close for some portion of the winter, though there is always something open, even in the dead of winter, to serve the growing population of locals. If you’re dining out from November through March, it’s best to call ahead to make sure your restaurant of choice is open. We have listed the Hatteras Island restaurants alphabetically within their respective villages, from north to south, starting in Rodanthe and ending in Hatteras Village.
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Atlantic Coast Café
- 25150 N.C. Highway 12, across from the KOA Campground
- Waves
Expect great food and awesome service at the Atlantic Coast Café in Waves — featuring a comfortable, clean, casual beach atmosphere, friendly staff and free WiFi. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stop in for great breakfasts and fresh coffee, lunches that showcase stuffed grilled wraps, great burgers, unique Reubens (crab cake, shrimp, classic), their famous marinated or Cajun grilled tuna, possibly the best chicken strips east of the Mississippi, delicately fried seafood baskets, mac ‘n cheese to die for (four versions of it), a hefty chef salad, double-shelled fish tacos, creamy shrimp & grits and lots more, including a kids menu. Smoothies, café mochas/lattes, chai tea, fresh muffins (chocolate cappuccino, blueberry, carrot raisin), killer desserts and a variety of sodas, juices, beer and wine all add up to an enjoyable and affordable Hatteras Island meal. The full menu is available for take-out.
Atlantic Coast Cafe
- 41001 N.C. Highway 12, at the Avon Pier
- Avon
The Atlantic Coast Cafe is a nice addition to the restaurant scene in Avon for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Great food, awesome service, free WiFi and a comfortable indoor or outdoor setting make for a very pleasant experience. Stop in for fresh coffee and a breakfast wrap or at lunch for a cold beer to go with their stuffed grilled wraps, great burgers, unique Reubens (crabcake, shrimp, classic), their famous marinated or Cajun grilled tuna, delicately fried seafood baskets, mac ‘n cheese to die for, popular double-shelled fish tacos, salads, steamed shrimp, mussels and a nice selection of appetizers. After 5 p.m., they offer a full dinner menu including fresh seafood, steaks and pasta, in addition to burgers and lite fare. Smoothies, freezes, lattes, teas, amazing muffins and killer desserts are available all day, along with the usual variety of beverages, including a nice beer and wine selection. Large parties are welcome — reservations are accepted for parties of six or more after 5 p.m. The full menu is available for take-out.
Dancing Turtle Coffee Shop
- 58079 N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-4004
- map
The Dancing Turtle is a great neighborhood coffee shop, the kind where you’ll find townspeople and vacationers gathered for conversation along with espresso, lattes, mochas, cappuccinos and just plain wonderful coffee. They also serve fruit smoothies, chai, frozen drinks, organic teas, baked goods, instant oatmeal and biscotti. The atmosphere is warm and friendly; hang around awhile and meet some of the regulars. Wireless internet service is available. Books and gifts and loads of pottery from North Carolina artists are for sale here too. They close in the winter.
Diamond Shoals Restaurant
- 46843 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-5217
- map
Diamond Shoals is a restaurant, seafood market and sushi bar known for its friendly atmosphere and friendlier staff. It’s open seven days a week for breakfast lunch and dinner. Be sure to try their award-winning clam chowder. Newly renovated, Diamond Shoals features a new lounge and Hatteras Island’s only sushi bar serving sushi every night. You can finally get a mixed drink on Hatteras Island, and Diamond Shoals has all ABC permits! Diamond Shoals has a beautiful seafood market that is open every day with large selection of fresh, local seafood. Catering for all your events or family gatherings is available; choose from sushi, fresh seafood or from their vast menu of options.
Dolphin Den
- 40126 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
The Dolphin Den is a family restaurant that specializes in locally caught seafood. Seafood entrees are served with the traditional accompaniments — cole slaw, cornbread and homemade French fries. Favorites include the coconut shrimp, crab cakes, crab legs, seafood platters and pastas. They also feature hand-cut steaks, a variety of special salads and appetizers, sandwiches, she-crab soup and homemade desserts. The Dolphin Den’s Key lime pie was chosen as the best in North Carolina by the Travel Guide Association. Dolphin Den is open for dinner nightly, and early bird specials are available from 4 to 5 p.m.. If you want to feed a crowd at home, Dolphin Den offers a separate menu with family-size meals for take-out; this menu includes full meals of barbecue, ribs, brisket, chicken, seafood and Italian fare. Delivery is available in Avon in June, July and August.
Froggy Dog Restaurant & Bar
- 40050 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-5550
- map
Originally a hot dog stand, the Froggy Dog has grown into Avon’s largest restaurant over the years. The Froggy Dog serves three meals a day. Breakfast features everything from cereal to bagels to crab omelets to homemade biscuits. For lunch, there are burgers, sandwiches, salads and gourmet hot dogs (try the Froggy Dog). The dinner menu has something for everyone, from steaks and seafood to pasta and vegetarian dishes. Kids’ and seniors’ menus are available. Families are welcome at the Froggy Dog, and there’s a Kiddie Corner with toys and a TV to entertain kids while their parents eat. The lounge is a popular late-night hangout with karaoke and acoustic music. Ribbits Gift Shop sells T-shirts and a lot of other Froggy Dog paraphernalia.
Good Winds Seafood & Wine Bar
- 24502 N.C. Highway 12, Waves Village Kiteboarding Resort
- Rodanthe
Whether you’ve worked up an appetite kiteboarding on site or you just want a meal with a water view, Good Winds is a good choice on northern Hatteras Island. With its second-floor perch over the Pamlico Sound and a deck for outdoor dining, it’s the place to watch the sunset. The menus feature familiar local seafood — tuna, snapper, shrimp, crab cakes — along with some more exotic offerings like an alligator picante and conch fritters. Appetizers, grilled pizzas, wraps, burgers, fish tacos and salads are offered for lunch, while dinner goes a little fancier with finely crafted seafood entrees, surf & turf, pasta, chicken and the traditional North Carolina Muddle. Everything is chef-prepared and made from scratch. A kids’ menu is available. The bar has one of the most extensive wine and beer selections on Hatteras Island, and it’s a good place to hang out after a ride in the wind or until midnight on the weekends. Good Winds is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Angelo’s Pizza
- 46903 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-6364
Angelo’s is a casual eatery that serves Italian-inspired favorites like pizza, calzones, subs, spaghetti, lasagna, a variety of appetizers and daily specials. This is a great place to take the family because it’s laid back enough for kids and there is a super-cool game room with more than 30 games attached to the seating area. It’s open for lunch and dinner every day except Sunday year-round.
Avon Café
- 40774 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-7866
“Fine dining in your flip flops.” That’s the slogan at Avon Café. It’s upscale dining, Hatteras style, where you’ll enjoy great service and a nice meal without having to dress up. The atmosphere is fun, with good music for good times. Avon Café serves dinner only, focusing on prime steaks, hand-cut to order, and fresh seafood. An award-winning chef from D.C. brings special flair to the entrees, and a good wine and beer list complements the offerings. There’s a bar area, and they have live acoustic entertainment a couple of nights a week in the summer. It’s open nightly for dinner in the summer (closes Monday and Tuesday in the off season) and closes for a while in the winter.
Beach Mugs
- 24267 N.C. Highway 12, Pamlico Station
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-2005
Beach Mugs serves coffee and all sorts of espresso-based drinks, tea and delicious smoothies and baked goods. Internet access is available on your computer or theirs. This shop also houses The Glass Bead bead shop, where you can make your own jewelry from thousands of beads. All the jewelry-making supplies you’ll need are available here. They also sell jewelry and photography by local artists.
Boardwok South
- N.C. Highway 12, St. Waves Plaza
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-1080
Boardwok South brings something for the adventurous palates of Hatteras Island. Boardwok offers delicious Asian-style entrees from the wok, incorporating fresh vegetables, seafood, chicken, rice and noodles into flavorful, healthful dishes. There’s also an Americanized side to the menu with surf and turf entrees (try the “steak and cake”), crab cakes, scallops, kids’ offerings and excellent sides. The steaks are fresh and hand cut and the seafood is fresh. The owner does 95 percent of the cooking, so it’s guaranteed fresh and consistently good. Boardwok South’s atmosphere is clean, comfortable and relaxing and there’s a nice tiki bar serving beer and wine. Boardwok serves dinner Monday through Saturday nights and is closed Sunday.
Breakwater Restaurant
- 57896 N.C. Highway 12 at Oden’s Dock
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2733
Run by Hatteras Island’s native Oden family, The Breakwater at Oden’s Dock offers the village’s most upscale atmosphere for dinner and a long-standing tradition of excellent meals. The second-story restaurant and bar overlook the harbor and its stone breakwater, from which the restaurant gets its name. The view of the sound and the sunsets is breathtaking. The restaurant serves dinner only, featuring creative, contemporary preparations of seafood, beef, chicken, pork and pasta. The fresh-baked bread and desserts are delicious. The atmosphere is sophisticated yet casual. Live acoustic entertainment is offered on the deck on some summer evenings. You’ll love the old photos of Hatteras Village on the dining room walls. Breakwater now has a full bar.
Burger Burger
- 46903 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-0065
Burger Burger specializes in freshly ground, hand-shaped burgers. There’s a variety of burgers to choose from, but the local’s favorite seems to be the Smile Burger with cheese that’s been crisped on the grill. They also offer seafood sandwiches, wings, fresh salads, fries, onion hoops, sweet potato fries and hand-dipped and hand-spun milkshakes. Burger Burger and Angelo’s Pizza share a building, and together they make a real crowd-pleasing combo. There’s an arcade here, too.
Buxton Munch Company
- 47365 N.C. Highway 12, Osprey Shopping Center
- Buxton
- (252) 995-5502
Buxton Munch has been rockin’ the island’s lunch boxes since 1999. Buxton Munch Company serves big portions of good eats at great prices. The wraps and quesadillas are stand outs, and real fruit smoothies are so good it’s hard to choose. There are also gourmet salads, munchies (beer-battered onion rings, egg rolls, wings), sandwiches, burgers, seafood, fish tacos and excellent vegetarian fare. From March through New Year’s Eve, Buxton Munch is open for lunch Monday through Saturday for take-out or to eat in. And they’re open for dinner in June, July and August. Eating in is fun because this place is lively, the background music is good and the people are friendly.
Cafe 12
- 41934 N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Island Plaza
- Avon
- (252) 995-3602
Cafe 12 is an awesome spot to satisfy everyone’s craving for a big, hearty lunch or casual dinner. The specialty of the house is the Hatteras Flat, an herb tortilla crisped on the grill, topped with blended cheeses and a choice of toppings — it’s like a California pizza and so delicious. The menu also offers tons of options for wraps, sandwiches, salads, burgers and appetizers, ranging from familiar comfort foods to the chef’s creative inspirations. Children have their own menu here. Beer and wine are served, and you can eat in or take it out. Cafe 12 is open for lunch and dinner every day; call ahead in the off-season.
Capt’n Rolo’s Raw Bar & Grill
- 53060 N.C. Highway 12
- Frisco
- (252) 995-3663
Fresh local seafood is the catch of the day at Cap’n Rolo’s. From fresh fish to clams, oysters, shrimp and scallops to mussels, crab legs and crawdads, they can satisfy a seafood craving. Fish tacos and great big seafood baskets (served with pasta salad or fries, cole slaw and hushpuppies) are some of the menu favorites. How about a frog leg basket? If you’re not in the mood for seafood, the menu has sandwiches, half-pound burgers, salads and a great selection of appetizers. Cap’n Rolo’s is open for lunch and dinner until 11 p.m. every day in the summer, and there’s a kids’ menu. Take-out orders are welcome. The bar serves beer, wine and liquor and is a good place to hang out to watch TV with friends or listen to occasional live music.
Chinatown Chinese Restaurant
- 41934 N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Island Plaza
- Avon
- (252) 995-0118
Specializing in Szechuan, Hunan and Cantonese fare, Chinatown offers all the Chinese favorites and then some. The menu is so long you’ll have trouble making up your mind, and there is also a buffet. You can’t go wrong with daily specials. Lunch and dinner are offered, and you can eat in or take it out.
Cool Wave Ice Cream Shoppe
- 47095 Buxton Back Road
- Buxton
- (252) 995-6628
Cool Wave has it all when it comes to cool treats. They offer soft-serve ice cream and hand-scooped ice cream and all the good things that can be made with those — sundaes, banana splits, milk shakes and more. They also make their own homemade waffle cones, and you really can taste the difference. You can play corn hole for free outside.
Dairy Queen
- 25199 N.C. Highway 12
- Waves
- (252) 987-1228
This location offers a pick-up window and drive-thru for ice cream and all of Dairy Queen’s frozen treats as well as hot dogs and drinks.
Dairy Queen
- 39774 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-5624
You probably know what to expect from Dairy Queen. Stop here for delicious soft-serve ice cream, old-fashioned dip tops, Blizzards, sundaes, cool drinks and other eats.
Dinky’s Waterfront Restaurant
- 57980 N.C. Highway 12, Village Marina
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2020
Dinky’s name stems from the fact that the folks at the Village Marina call their small marina “the best little dink marina in town.” This is a cozy, 68-seat restaurant with a great big view. At sunset, make time to sit at the beautiful African mahogany bar — they now have full bar service. Dinky’s serves dinner only year-round. The fare is traditional American with a creative flair and includes local fresh seafood, beef, poultry, appetizers and lots of specials. Families are welcome and everything is available for take-out.
Dirty Dick’s Crab House
- 41934 N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Island Plaza
- Avon
- (252) 995-DICK (3425)
An Outer Banks-based chain restaurant, Dirty Dick’s is in the same shopping center as Food Lion in Avon. Judging by the name, this might sound like a simple seafood shack, but Dirty Dick’s is actually a nice restaurant with a fun-loving atmosphere and seriously good food. The menu pays homage to New Orleans and Louisiana cuisine with dishes such as seafood gumbo, jambalaya and Po Boys, but it also offers a vast array of classic seafood favorites, including the biggest variety of crab preparations we’ve ever seen. Steaks, chicken, pork, burgers, ribs, salads, unusual sides and appetizers and sandwiches round out the offerings. Check out their popular T-shirts and other merchandise.
Down Under Restaurant and Lounge
- 25920 N.C. Highway 12
- Waves
- (252) 987-2277
Down Under is a longtime favorite family restaurant on northern Hatteras Island. Adventurous eaters might want to try the Australian specialties, including kangaroo burgers and Aussie-inspired sandwiches. But Down Under is really known for its seafood dishes. The menu also includes chicken, pasta, steaks and kids’ offerings. The view of the sound and sunsets is fantastic, and they have a new deck out back that’s perfect for enjoying the sunset. Down Under has a full bar with beer, wine and mixed drinks. It’s open for lunch and dinner, and large parties are welcome. They also have a tennis court; call to reserve it.
Fatty’s
- 46618 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-FATT
Fatty’s is a kayak-tour business that also sells ice cream. They sell 24 flavors of Hershey’s ice cream as well as shaved ice and smoothies. Their milkshakes are hand-blended and therefore very thick and delicious. You’ll find it next to Daydreams.
Forbes Candies HWY 12 Coffee and Tea Company
- 24502 N.C. Highway 12, Waves Village Kiteboarding Resort
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-2320
Forbes Candies HWY 12 Coffee and Tea Company offers the sweets that Forbes Candy in Nags Head is known for — saltwater taffy, fresh fudge and chocolates. At this location they also offer coffee, including a full espresso bar offering specialty coffee and espresso drinks. The blended frappuccinos are a customer favorite. They mix up smoothies and sell 20 varieties of loose tea. In the bakery case are cinnamon rolls, muffin tops, New York Bagels and a variety of other treats. Summer hours are 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.
