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.
Atlantic Coast Café
- 25150 N.C. Highway 12, across from the KOA Campground
- Waves
- (252) 987-1200
Best known for its great breakfasts, Atlantic Coast Café also serves delicious lunches and dinners. You’ll find sandwiches, traditional and unique Reubens (ever heard of a shrimp Reuben or crab cake Reuben?), grilled wraps, marinated or Cajun grilled tuna, chicken strips, seafood baskets (check out the oyster po’ boy), mac-n-cheese, salads, smoothies and freezes, and chef’s dinner specials like a seafood quesadilla and shrimp and grits. A value menu is available daily. In addition to coffees, lattes and teas, the beverage list includes a variety of bottled sodas, waters and juices, beer and wine coolers. The staff is friendly and efficient, and the restaurant is definitely family friendly. Pets are even welcome on the deck. Free WiFi is a plus. The full menu is available for take out, and free delivery is offered after 5 p.m. to Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo (their menus, including the catering menu, are available online). Atlantic Coast Café opens at 7 a.m. every day between March and October.
Dancing Turtle Coffee Shop
- 58079 N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-4004
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 and biscotti. The atmosphere is warm and friendly; hang around awhile and meet some of the regulars. Wireless Internet service is available. Pottery, books and gifts are for sale here too. It’s open almost all year round; the owners close for a month in the winter so call ahead.
Diamond Shoals Restaurant
- 46843 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-5217
Diamond Shoals is well known for its hearty breakfasts. Get here early for eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage and all the delicious sides you’d expect. There’s a popular breakfast buffet on weekends. Dinner features steaks, seafood, pasta and a salad bar. Diamond Shoals is a family-style restaurant with a friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere. The kids will love the big saltwater aquariums. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week in season. Diamond Shoals is open on weekends in winter. Also on site are the Diamond Shoals Seafood Market, offering fresh fish and other seafood, and a gift shop.
Dolphin Den
- 40126 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-7717
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 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, and you can try it for lunch and dinner every day. 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.
Frisco Sandwich Company
- 53674 N.C. Highway 12
- Frisco
- (252) 995-DELI (3354)
Frisco Sandwich Company serves quick, healthy fare for people on the go. It’s fast, but we can’t call it fast food because it’s all prepared with care and fine attention to flavor. You wouldn’t find house-made potato chips and homemade ice cream sandwiches at any fast food joint. Frisco Sandwich Company serves specialty sandwiches, paninis, wraps, burgers, salads, smoothies, fresh-squeezed juice, breakfast sandwiches and ice cream. They sell sliced deli meats and cheeses, and if you’re in a big hurry they have just-made sandwiches ready to grab and go. Seating is available indoors or at picnic tables outside. Ask about the Beach Box, which includes four sandwiches and sides. FSC is also a cool spot to hang out — drink coffee, watch surf videos, kick back on the leather sofa and pick the house guitar, throw a game of darts, enjoy good music and friendly people. Frisco Sandwich Company is open for breakfast and lunch every day and dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. It’s located across from the Ramp 49 beach access. They also offer a catering business known as The Catering Company.
Kaia’s Kitchen
- 56190 N.C. Highway 12, Stowe on Twelve
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2024
Kaia’s Kitchen is a good place for a quick breakfast or lunch or to pick up a picnic or takeout meal. For breakfast they offer breakfast sandwiches on bagels, biscuits and English muffins and coffee. For lunch and late-afternoon meals, they offer gourmet sandwiches, wraps, homemade soups, salads and locally baked desserts. Two of the sandwich/wrap favorites are the chicken almond grape salad and the spicy turkey jack club. Kaia’s serve ice cream, beer and wine, and you can eat outside in the courtyard or take your order to go. Online ordering is available. Kaia’s is open seven days a week year round.
Top Dog Café
- 25202 N.C. Highway 12
- Waves
- (252) 987-1272
Top Dog Cafe has been a local icon serving great food for more than 12 years on Hatteras Island. They’re reputed to have the some of the biggest and best burgers on the Banks, the largest of which is the two-pound Cyclone. Top Dog also offers innovative appetizers, salads, wraps, burgers, seafood, sandwiches and dinner entrees. Some of the favorite items are the Cajun crab wrap, fish tacos, Jamaican tuna wrap, golden lump crab cakes, bacon-wrapped scallops, fresh mushroom and Swiss burger, Parrothead Salad and Paradise Pasta. The atmosphere is a relaxed and rustic “Keys style” casual — perfect for the whole family. Kids’ meals are available, and beer and wine are served. Top Dog is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week in the summer and is closed on Tuesdays in the spring and fall.
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. You order at the counter then find a seat in the dining room, and since they don’t have servers you save a little on tipping. 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 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 can enjoy a nice meal without having to dress up. Avon Café serves dinner only, focusing of 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 compliments the offerings. There’s a bar area, and they have live acoustic entertainment a couple of nights a week in the summer. This is a nonsmoking establishment. It’s open nightly for dinner, and closes 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.
Big Waves Market
- 26006 N.C. Highway 12, St. Waves Plaza
- Waves
- (252) 987-2352
When hunger calls, head to Big Waves, which is a deli and small market. The deli is for take out only, and it’s a great place to pick up a picnic for the beach. The deli offers gourmet sandwiches and subs, deli salads, prepared foods and ice cream. The market sells fresh produce, beer and wine (include build-your-own six packs from a great selection of beer) fresh bread, meats, condiments, necessities, organic and gluten-free products, salsas and sauces, and much more.
Boardwok South
- 24267 N.C. Highway 12, Pamlico Station
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-1080
Boardwok South brings something for the adventurous palates of Hatteras Island. Billing itself as an Asian-American eatery, it offers delicious 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. Boardwok South’s atmosphere is clean, comfortably spartan and relaxing, and there’s a bar in back. 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.
Bubba’s Too BBQ and Chicken
- Hatteras Island Plaza, 41934 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-4385
If you’ve had enough seafood, head to Bubba’s where you can get slow-cooked, hickory-smoked Carolina barbecue. Choose from ribs, pork, beef, turkey and chicken, all served with Bubba’s original sauce. Fried chicken, sandwiches, dinner plates, traditional sides and desserts are available. Bubba’s now offers Mexican foods as well such as tacos, burritos and enchiladas. Catering and take-out are available, or you can eat in. Bubba’s also has a location on Roanoke Island.
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 homemade cake, cookies and pie.
Burger Burger and Angelo’s Pizza share a building, and together they make a real crowd-pleasing combo. You order at either counter and take your meal to the seating area. 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, chicken and excellent vegetarian fare. It’s open Monday through Friday year round for take-out or to eat in. They open on Saturdays 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 out. Cafe 12 is open for lunch and dinner every day; call ahead in the off season.
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.
Coastal Blue Waterfront Dining Restaurant
- 39450 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-3800
Winner of 2008’s Hatteras Island Chowder Cook-Off, Chef Cleat Van Meter features simply prepared, elegantly presented dishes that are surprisingly affordable. Van Meter describes his style as “Coastal Fusion” and “Seasonally Southern” and his range extends from shrimp and grits to molasses-glazed pork tenderloin to dry-rubbed NY strip to all kinds of creative renditions of local seafood. The menu changes seasonally, there are chalkboard specials every night, and an impressive wine selection is available. With its white tablecloths, elegant stemware and china, and expert service, you might be tempted to describe Coastal Blue as fine dining, but the owner says it’s more casual than that, and the entree prices ($14 to $28) won’t set you back too much. Coastal Blue is open for dinner only every night except Sunday. Call for reservations, especially if you want to be there for the sunset view, as the restaurant only seats 50.
Coffee Shop at Indian Town Gallery
- 50840 N.C. Highway 12
- Frisco
- (252) 995-5181
Inside Frisco’s beloved Indian Town Gallery, the Coffee Shop offers expertly made espresso and coffee drinks, including cappuccino, lattes, mochas and more, plus delicious chai and tea. Heavenly-smelling homemade scones and muffins are available too. They have WiFi, and you can bring your own computer or rent theirs. The Coffee Shop is open every day in season, weekdays starting at 6:30 a.m. and weekends starting at 7:30 a.m.
Cool Wave Ice Cream Shoppe
- 47237 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 996-0635
This brightly painted shop in the fork of Back Road and N.C. Highway 12 is a great place to stop for treats. They’ve got soft-serve ice-cream, hand-scooped ice cream and a bunch of fun souvenirs. You can play Corn Hole here for free.
Dairy Queen
- 25199 N.C. Highway 12
- Waves
- (252) 995-5624
This location offers a pick-up window and drive-thru for ice-cream and all of Dairy Queen’s frozen treats as well as hotdogs and drinks.
Dairy Queen
- 39774 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-5624
You probably know what to expect from the Avon Dairy Queen. Stop here for delicious soft-serve ice cream, old-fashioned dip tops, Blizzards, sundaes, cool drinks and snacks.
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, 48-seat restaurant with a great big view. At sunset, make time to sit at the beautiful African mahogany bar with a cold beer before dinner. 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, the restaurant is non-smoking, brown bagging is permitted and everything is available for take-out.
Dirty Dick’s Crab House
- 41001 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-3708
It 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. Dirty Dick’s is right next to Avon Pier. There’s also a location in Hatteras Village. Check out their popular T-shirts and other merchandise.
