Hey there, fellow foodies! Let’s spill the beans on my recent Outer Banks adventure in July 2023, where er embarked on a drool-worthy mission to find the most mouthwatering food (and coffee) on these sunny barrier islands. I gotta say, the trip was a delicious success, and now I’m here to dish out all the tasty details to you!
We set up camp in Kill Devil Hills area, but that didn’t stop us from going on a foodie road trip up and down the island. While the Kitty Hawk-Kill Devil Hills is a bit commercial, there were still some hidden gems sprinkled in there like little culinary treasures!
Let’s talk coffee – the lifeblood of every adventurous day. We kicked off our mornings with those perfectly caffeinated drinks from cute coastal coffee shops. But the food, oh boy! Brace yourself for some seriously drool-worthy dishes.
Scroll on down where I’m spilling all the beans on the best food and coffee shops in the Outer Banks. Whether you’re planning a vacay or just daydreaming about your next food adventure, this guide will have you covered.
Ladles, A Charleston Soup Company
Location: 1901 S Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
Website: https://www.ladlessoups.com/ladlessoupsobx/
Listen, you MUST visit Ladles while in Outer Banks. It’s an unassuming spot in a former Arby’s (by the building decor)on the main road (Croatan Hwy) and you might just think it’s a random soup restaurant in a place that errs on the side of hot weather. But, it is so much more than that! They offer a huge array of soups, salads, and sandwiches that were all frankly delicious. I had the she-crab soup and a caprese sub which were both phenomenal. We actually went to buy some frozen soup to bring home but they closed early the day we were leaving! 10/10 recommend a visit to Ladles during your trip to Outer Banks.
Blue Moon Beach Grill
Location: 102 E. Dove Street – Nags Head
Website: https://www.bluemoonbeachgrill.com
You will need to make a reservation for the Blue Moon Beach Grill and it’s totally worth it. Honestly, call before you even go to Outer Banks, we called on Tuesday and could only get a 1:30PM lunch on Friday! The vibe of this spot is super similar to Kitchen Social for any of the Ohio readers out there. It’s definitely family friendly, has a great menu, a huge patio in the back where they also have live music, and the food was awesome. We loved the Jamaican jerk wings and the key lime pie for dessert was absolutely incredible.
Ashley’s Espresso Parlour
Location: 100 E Helga St Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
Website: https://alltimeroastingobx.com/ashleys-espresso-parlour/
I LOVED this place and wish I would have gone back more than once but I only took one trip for some reason. There are some wonderful fun coffee options to drink like the iced butterbeer latte I had or the chai shake my sister got and loved. Inside the coffee shop, they have a TON of locally made art, gifts, etc. I picked up some cute matching ornaments for my mom and I made by a local artist. Also, I did not sign the OHIO! Go Bucks! in the guest book, it’s just that us Buckeyes are everywhere.
Corolla Village Bar-B-Que
Location: 1129 Corolla Village Rd Corolla, NC 27927
Website: https://www.facebook.com/CorollaVillageBBQ
Historic Corolla Village is the cutest little area on the northern part of the Outer Banks. It’s a fun little way to spend the morning or afternoon especially when you can enjoy the Corolla Village Bar-B-Que! The smoked chicken was so good, full of flavor, and the Mac and cheese was a Lewis kid favorite. ou can also get a pulled pork sandwich for just $8 which is a steal in a tourist town!
O’Neals Sea Harvest
Location: 618 Harbor Rd,Wanchese, NC 27981
Website: https://onealsseaharvest.com
This is one spot in the Outer Banks where you can be certain the fish is SUPER fresh. O’Neals Sea Harvest (which we’ve written about here) is “a trusted and preferred seafood wholesaler, known for hand-selecting the freshest catch each day.” But, they also have a restaurant where you can enjoy their fresh catches daily! It’s a bit off the beaten path but the drive is beautiful and the food is great. It’s approachable, fresh, and straightforward which is how I like my seafood.
Morning View Coffee House
Location: 2707 South Croatan Highway, Nags Head, NC 27959
Website: https://www.morningviewcoffee.com
This was our go to coffee spot while we were in Outer Banks and luckily it was just a few minutes from our house. They have straightforward coffee, cold brew, and whole bean options but I opted for their “frou frou” drinks most days with The Mermaid and Samoa winning the race for us. They also have some breakfast options if you want something a little bit more filling.
The Cookshak
Location: 2515 S. Croatan Hwy, Unit A Nags Head, NC
Website: https://thecookshakfriedchicken.com
Leave it to me to find the best fried chicken on any trip. We spotted The Cookshak while waiting for our keys to our house. They actually have two locations but we were to the one in Nags Head. This fried chicken was crispy with a little bit of spice and very delicious. It was approved by the whole Lewis Family and Olivia is a fried chicken connoisseur. Their prices are also incredible, including a lunch special daily until 3PM.
Sugar Shack Seafood Fish Market & Restaurant
Location: 7344 S. Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959
Website: https://sugarshackobx.com/seafood/menu/
The Sugar Shack Market is a cute little spot where the highway splits off towards Manteo and sits next to their other restaurant the Sugar Creek Restaurant. The two super yummy things from Sugar Shack were the hush puppies with cinnamon butter and their homemade banana pudding, so delicious. Their fried seafood was some of my favorite of the trip because it was a light batter and seemed delightfully fresh. If the day isn’t too hot, I’d recommend eating out on their waterfront patio.
Biscuits N’ Porn
Location: 2112 S Croatan Hwy, Nags Head
Website: https://www.biscuitsnporn.net
This is literally our top performing blog post and for good reason, this place is DELICIOUS. It’s inside a gas station and the vibe is a little bit sketchy but those buttery biscuits are just incredible. It’s also pretty darn inexpensive. I highly suggest a plain biscuit for fun and then getting a breakfast sandwich on a cheese biscuits. Also, it gets busy! We went once at 7:30AM and once around 9AM and both times there was a pretty decent line.
Booty Treats Ice Cream
Locations: 2600 South VA Dare Trail Nags Head, NC, 27959 & 6406 South VA Dare Trail Nags Head, NC, 27959
Website: https://www.bootytreats.com
We didn’t actually plan to go here but stumbled upon it when another spot was too busy and I’m so glad we did! They serve Hershey’s ice cream which I personally love and so do the kiddos. Joel and I both got a version of The Booty Freeze which I felt silly saying to order but it was delicious. It’s your choice of flavored shaved ice with your choice of dippin’ dots flavor! I got vanilla dippin’ dots and blue raspberry shaved ice and it made a yummy creamy sweet treat.
There you have it, ten places that you are sure to love in the Outer Banks! No matter if you are staying in Kill Devil Hills or up in Corolla, I hope you make it to one of these delicious spots on our list.
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