Best Restaurants in Surf City
Surf City, a charming coastal town, is not just known for its stunning beaches and thrilling water sports, but also for its vibrant culinary scene. This gastronomic paradise offers a plethora of restaurants that cater to every palate, from seafood lovers to vegetarians, from gourmet diners to fast food enthusiasts. Whether you're craving for fresh-off-the-boat seafood, authentic local cuisine, or international delicacies, Surf City's best restaurants have got you covered. This article will guide you through the top eateries in Surf City, ensuring you experience the best of its culinary delights. So, prepare your taste buds for an unforgettable gastronomic journey.
Shaka taco surf city
4.7
(1489)
Casual, contemporary window selling tacos, nachos & wings, plus beer & wine, with patio seating.
Reviews:
The food is good, the shrimp taco was loaded with shrimp, but a little sweet; the fish tacos were good, but could’ve used more flavor. There is a parking lot, which is nice, and although there is a constant line of people, they take care of folks pretty quickly. We waited 10 mins in line…if that. Service was on point. The 4 stars is only because they don’t provide free water/water cups. They have canned water or canned drinks only. That being said, the surf shop (that’s connected) has fountain soda, lemonade, and tea that is bottomless.
Lyndee Dabular
The tuna nachos and pork nachos were fabulous. As were the tacos! Only complaint was the chicken was very bland and the chicken bowl someone in our group ordered was bland and dry- could’ve used seasoning and some crema/ sour cream or something - otherwise it was a great beachy vibe with good food and the line moved fast.
Jennifer Jordan
Shaka Taco in Surf City, NC is a hidden gem that offers a mouth-watering selection of fish and shrimp tacos. I was blown away by the freshness and quality of the ingredients, as well as the creative and flavorful combinations that the chefs came up with. The fish tacos were perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a hint of spice that added a nice kick to each bite. The shrimp tacos were equally impressive, featuring succulent shrimp that were marinated with a zesty blend of herbs and spices. What really stood out to me was the attention to detail that the staff put into each taco, from the handmade tortillas to the generous portions of toppings and sauces. The ambiance of the restaurant is also worth mentioning, with a laid-back and beachy vibe that makes you feel right at home. Overall, I highly recommend Shaka Taco to anyone looking for an authentic and delicious taco experience. Whether you're a seafood lover or just looking to try something new, this place won't disappoint!
Noel Angelito
We went today for the first time & it was super busy but, we loved the atmosphere! As far as food, I got the fish taco, tuna taco, & carne taco. The tuna was over cooked so I likely won’t choose that one again. The carne was decent and the beer batter cod was honestly the best. I truly enjoyed it! My only recommendation would be offering a salsa that’s spicier than mild please. That would have been perfect!
Sarah Arey
Fresh and delicious - are truly on point when it comes to Shaka Taco. The commitment to using fresh ingredients is evident in both the pineapple guacamole and the taco bowls with shrimp and carne asada. The flavors are bright and bold, with just the right balance of spice and seasoning. The pineapple guacamole is truly a standout dish, with the sweet and tangy pineapple complementing the creamy avocado perfectly. The chips are freshly made and provide a perfect crunchy texture to accompany the dip. Moving on to the taco bowls, both the shrimp and carne asada are cooked to perfection and pair perfectly with the fresh, colorful array of toppings. We ordered carryout to skip the line. Then, we wandered next door to Eventide to snag a drink and stuff ourselves silly. Overall, Shaka Taco provides a top-notch experience with their commitment to fresh ingredients and delicious flavor combinations. I highly recommend giving them a try - you won't be disappointed!
Shannon Arndt
107 B, N Shore Dr, Surf City, NC 28445, USA
High waters bar and grill
4.2
(1080)
Easygoing tavern serving hearty American fare in a vibrant, casual space with plenty of TVs.
Reviews:
The oysters are CRAZY expensive here, $36 for a dozen. Most other restaurants in the area charge about half that. The High Seas Linguine was fantastic. I really wish I hadn't ordered the oysters, feeling like I got scammed.
Spencer B
Honestly, the first thing we do when looking for new restaurants is review the google online reviews. We looked at the reviews and they were mostly good with a few random one star reviews. Normally, we might look for another place but not so this time because of the owner responses to the poor reviews. We appreciated how thoroughly the owner dissected erroneous claims about his business and his blunt approach. Based on this, we knew we had to try it! The food was amazing! We had the fish and chips and the mixed shrimp platter. The fish was breaded to perfection, flakey, and fresh. The shrimp was perfectly cooked as well. The Brussels sprouts were season welled with a delightful amount of kick that was not overbearing. The coleslaw was fresh and light. Anna, our server, was extremely attentive and made the experience even better. Overall, High Waters has great food, great atmosphere, great service and did we mention there is a television in the men’s room? If you’re in Surf City, check this place out.
Ryan Sheehan
Place is very inviting. The staff was very friendly. We had a little hiccup with one of our drinks sitting on the bar for a few minutes... but it was still good! We ordered the crab Nachos for appetizer. Very good. Their Bloody Mary is an appetizer in itself!! I ordered the Shrimp Po Boy with their ranch chips... man that was on point! My wife ordered the Salmon with scallops and shrimp with potatoes. Very pleasing to the palate!! The sauce and Potatoes knocked it out of the park!! Afterward I ordered a bit of their homemade ice cream.. strawberry and chocolate. Oh my goodness... while it wasn't what I was expecting I have to say it was very tasty!! Almost like a frozen mousse. Very nice place to get a snack and drink!! We will be back.
Darrell Andes
I've been here a few times and it's a great local hangout with honest sports bar food. On my most recent trip I ordered the Shark's Breath burger, medium rare. The fries were crispy and perfect and the burger was the most perfect medium rare I've seen in a few years anywhere. It was messy and spicy and I was very impressed. This place deserves more business. Love it, will always return.
Timothy B. Barnhill
HIGHLY recommend! Loved the replica draw bridge in the middle of the restaurant. The food was OUTSTANDING ... service was OUTSTANDING (thank you Autumn). The owner even came to our table to check on us ... thank you so much for a great dinner! We will be back the next time we visit Surf City!!!!
nicole reinhardt
614 N New River Dr B, Surf City, NC 28445, USA
The fast fish poke + more
4.3
(57)
Reviews:
I love the food at fast fish and how fast it comes out! When I'm in the area it's one of the first places I think to go. My only reason for putting 4 stars is that the rice has a little bit of an off taste and texture, but it's good when eaten with the bowl. Great local food, highly recommend!
Sofia Curtis
Been here multiple of times. Food as always been good. However 4 stars really due to portion control. Been there once when the bowl was like half filled.
Richard Leung
Food was 15/10! Fresh quick and most importantly DELICIOUS AF! Can't wait to try more on my next stop!
Kealy M
Coffee was terrible. The counters were very dirty. I don't think they knew what they were doing. Needed someone at least in their 30s to manage the place. Definitely won't return.
MARY ELLEN REID
Food was fresh & Delicious! Crab poke bowl and crab claws 10/10 for sure!!!The service was good too, friendly staff!
julzey111
205 Roland Ave, Surf City, NC 28445, USA
Fancy sushi asian fusion
4.3
(689)
Reviews:
This was our first trip here because we were wanting sushi and others had recommended it to us. Overall I'm glad we stopped in to try it! We got 2 appetizers, crab rangoons and edamame, both were good. 4 of us got a selection of sushi including Rainbow Roll, Spider roll, Big D, and the Sushi Sashimi combo for 1 which includes multiple pieces of sushi. All of it was super fresh and flavorful. I have honestly had better flavor wise(sauce etc), but not by much and I'll definitely go back next time we're here on vacation! They had fresh tasting white ginger and medium hot wasabi. The main thing we didn't like was the Miso soup. It was very salty and had a strange consistency to it unlike most other places.
Josh Bustle
We visit Fancy Sushi weekly and always have such a great experience! The staff as well as sushi chefs are always exceptional. We continually feel welcomed and always have consistent high quality meals. Some of our favorites include the Tuna dumpling, salmon sushi, crab Rangoon, and the sexy lady roll, but there is nothing we haven’t liked!! Go try them!!
Sara Gustafson
The sushi was really good and fresh tasting. Egg rolls were also good although not quite the same as the ones we get at home. This place is busy! We got to Surf City on a Friday and tried to order for takeout dinner. 2 hour wait! So we went later in the week and only waited a few for a seat. Definitely recommend!
Eliza Culbertson
Great sushi & great prices wasn't too sure of going here do to the outside appearance but so glad we gave it a shot
Nalls
The food is phenomenal. The sushi is freshly prepared and fantastic, great service, Big portions so come with an appetite or be prepared to take food home. I would drive 2.5hrs to eat here again.
M
124 N New River Dr, Surf City, NC 28445, USA
Coastal wing & spirits co.
4.4
(479)
Reviews:
Came in on a random weekday before the major summer rush. Our waitress was so kind and friendly. I ordered the steak tacos (not sure if that was the specific name) they sounded delicious with some Carolina gold BBQ sauce and onions. Sigh. The sauce kind of ruined it for me. It was a very heavy taco, the overly sweet sauce with the fried onions that were greasy? Too much. I just ate the meat and pickled onions I requested. Slightly disappointed that there were no other things to dress the tacos, like a green or fresh vegetable to give the taco some texture contrast. The sauce on the wings though? Fantastic. Delicious. The wings themselves? Made well and good. Would I come here again and recommend? Yes.
Kay Cee
We stopped in after arriving here for our vacay. The food that was being served around us looked delicious and we had high hopes. I ordered a burger and had Mac and cheese as a side. The burger was decent, but the bun was so dry. The Mac and cheese was gross and had no flavor. My husband got the wings and said they were ok. We ordered the boneless chicken for our son and they were dry. The service was horrendous. We were constantly looking for our server from placing our order to getting our check, she was never any where to be found. I had an empty drink for 20 minutes and my drink was sitting at the bar and another server finally delivered it to me. The mermaid water was good! The food also took a long time for us to get. Despite all of that, there were so many flies, even though we sat inside. The AC also didn’t appear to be working. It was very hot and by the time we left, we were quite warm. If we would have know how warmly was going to be, I think we would have gone elsewhere.
Katie Pinchac
My husband and I have vacationed at Topsail for many years and just discovered this restaurant. The service there was wonderful, very friendly and special requests were no problem. Had absolutely the best wings, burgers, and fries that we've ever had!
Jessica S
Food is cooked to order which takes a little bit of time before you receive it. I don’t mind at all because you’re food is fresh/hot. Tried a little bit of everything. Loaded tots, hot honey shrimp, pork belly and the wings (Thai chili) were all good. Spicy margarita was also really good.
Stephanie Ackers
The food is AMAZING! Every item we had was fantastic. They have great vegetarian options as well. They host a very large drink menu which is great. From craft beers, to mix drinks, and everything in between. The staff was awesome and the atmosphere was 10/10.
Roseann
108 Triton Ln, Surf City, NC 28445, USA
Shuckin' shack oyster bar
4.5
(1757)
Family-friendly hub for steamed & raw shellfish, wings & beers served in a no-frills setting.
Reviews:
This place is busy and fun. It has a lively atmosphere, happy people, amazing employees, and fantastic food. We came on Halloween weekend. They have it completely decked out in decorations and everyone's wearing costumes. Such a fun party. We ordered the nachos and fish and chips and it was ready in minutes. Amazingly fast service. We met the owners personally as they were there to have a Halloween party. Chatted with us for a bit. The host Evan was so friendly, helpful and kind. He works so hard, helping everyone, making sure everyone's taken care of. Happy to lend a hand. Our waitress, Savannah was sweet and kind. Check this place out. Amazing. 🙌 so many yummy food options we will be back to try more.
JamiSue Sharp
What a gem. We had several recommendations of other seafood spots to try while we were staying in Surf City, but ended up heading Shuckin' Shack because it was closer and was the only spot that had crab legs specifically on the menu. I was hesitant at first because it seemed kind of like a chain restaurant and I like to eat local when possible, but, boy was my mind blown. We loved it so much we ended up going two nights in a row. The first night I had the "surf n turf" which is a half pound of crab legs and 5 chicken wings. The crab legs were some of the best I've ever had. No joke. The wings were *full* wings, meaning drum, flat, and tip so "only getting" 5 of them is the same as getting 10 wings from B-Dubs. The hot buffalo sauce was amazing, and the wings were breaded and crunchy. So delicious. For $23 bucks that combo is unbeatable. Night two I tried the scallop appetizer and another half pound of crabs. Those blackened scallops were excellent. It was pretty small for the price, but huge flavor. My wife had two of their buffalo shrimp appetizers which were amazing. My mother in law got the shrimp and grits which she absolutely raved over. All my kids are well, and the fried cod kids meal was a hit. Service was spectacular both nights. I highly recommend this spot. The food is incredible.
Reid H
Absolutely fantastic food and drinks! Our waitress, Kelly, was great with our group of 6 adults and 3 kids. Be prepared to wait a bit for larger groups (only one larger table to accommodate), but know that it is absolutely worth it! Apps came out quickly (crab balls and char grilled oysters were my favorites) and drinks were delicious (highly recommend the saltmarsh margaritas and dawn patrol oyster shooters). Crab legs cooked to perfection along with everything else we got. Will definitely be back next time we visit Topsail!
Sarah Wolfe
This is the first place my brother wants to go when he visits from Minnesota. He raves about the oysters and large selection of IPA beer there. The staff is always energetic and friendly. Genuine hometown atmosphere. Large portions of food served and the Cod sandwich was delicious.
Michael Donovan
A chain restaurant that doesn't feel like one. Great seafood, cooked well but not over done. Unique flavors of sauces to go with the seafood. The horseradish sauce is not for the faint of heart, it cleared my sinuses. Reasonable price for what you get. Not cheap but good value.
Wil van der Meulen
13460 NC-50 #101, Surf City, NC 28445, USA
Topsail steamer
4.7
(334)
Reviews:
We ordered a The Topsail Clam Bake (Low Tider), it serves 2-3 people. We had leftovers of mostly potatoes, a corn cob & some shrimp & kielbasa. It comes with 2 dozen littleneck clams, 1 lb. peel-and-eat shrimp, 1/2 lb. of kielbasa, corn, red potatoes, onion, homemade seafood seasoning, cocktail sauce, and butter. They also provide a small roll of brown paper for your table (liquid will seep through). $72.00+ tax which comes out to about $26/person if you have 3 people. Pricey (reason for 4 stars) considering you have to cook it, no table service & you have to clean up. But it was an experience we wanted to try. A little disappointed that, for that price, the cocktail sauce isn't homemade. That being said, the seafood was VERY fresh! I picked it up around 2:00...cute shop. No one was in the front of the shop, so I waited about 5 minutes for someone. There's no bell to get an employee's attention & it's loud in the back, so they wouldn't here me. All the orders are in a small fridge by the register. The young man who helped me was very professional & let me know everything I needed to know about how to cook it. The bucket also comes with directions. Hubs used a propane stove outside to do the cooking. The bucket lid has a hole in the top to let out steam. The instructions say to put the lid on while cooking but not on too tight...the point is for the steam to only come out of the hole. Don't push the lid on all the way because you will need to open the pot to add the seafood after 20 minutes. It was all very tasty & easy to do. We added our own garlic toast to the meal. Will we do it again? I don't know...pricey. We've eaten at places that have steam pots with the same ingredients, that is enough for 2 to share, for around $30. BUT I would recommend it for the experience & to splurge at least once while on vacation.
Monique
Had a steamer pot delivered by gold belly for Father’s Day and it was 10000/10. Freshest and easiest seafood dish for any occasion. LOVE the crab. Huge huge fan!
Amanda Hahn
Yeah fresh hot buttery seafood! This is exactly what we want when we come to the beach. Super fresh seafood, and lots of it. For 3 of us, we got 5 crab clusters (meat so sweet), 2 lobster tails (deliciously sweet and tender, I could have eaten 7 more), a bucketful of shrimp, clams, corn, potatoes, sausage, and cornbread. Tons of melted butter. We are full. We are happy. This could be you! 2023 Update: we did it again! Just as awesome. We got lobster tails for everyone and a crazy amount of crab legs. This year we added cornbread and key lime pie as well. It costs a lot, but this is now something we really look forward to every year. It is worth every penny.
Jennifer U
Ordering is so easy for some of the best seafood I’ve ever prepared. Picked up my order, manager was awesome with simple instructions. Got home and prepared one of the best meals ever prepared. The family was blown away. Clams were the topper!!!
John Libby
This was by far one of the best places we went to while on the island. The staff was so friendly and knowledgeable. I'm vegan and the girl helped me make a vegan steamer pot!!!! I was so excited about that. My boy is a true meat eater and he loved all the options for his steamer pot. Give them a try You'll thank me later!!
Karen Faircloth
302 S Topsail Dr, Surf City, NC 28445, USA