11 North Carolina Seafood Restaurants Locals Secretly Hope You Never Discover
North Carolina’s coast is home to some of the country’s most underrated seafood spots. Tucked away in small towns and along quiet shores, these no-frills shacks and waterfront gems serve up fresh, flavorful dishes with a side of true Southern hospitality.
Locals might be tempted to keep these places under wraps, but we’re letting you in on where to find the freshest catches without the tourist crowds.
1. El’s Waterfront Oyster Bar & Grill (Beaufort)
Tucked away on Taylor’s Creek, this weathered wooden restaurant has been serving the catch of the day since 1991. The oysters arrive straight from local waters to your plate within hours.
Last summer, I watched the sunset from their deck while cracking into perfectly briny oysters, and understood why locals guard this place like treasure.
Their hushpuppies alone are worth the drive from anywhere in the state.
2. Provision Company (Southport)
No frills, no reservations, and absolutely no pretension at this dockside eatery where you order at the counter and wait for your name to be called. Plastic baskets deliver steamed shrimp that were swimming just hours earlier.
The outdoor seating offers unmatched views of fishing boats bringing in tomorrow’s specials. Regulars know to arrive before noon or after 2 pm to avoid the only crowd this hidden spot ever sees.
3. Pier 41 Seafood (Lumberton)
Miles from the coast but swimming in authenticity, this inland treasure brings Calabash-style seafood to Lumberton locals. The building might not win beauty contests, but the massive platters of crispy fried flounder and jumbo shrimp steal the show.
I’ve been coming here since my dad first brought me at age seven. The same family still runs the place, greeting regulars by name. Their hushpuppies remain perfectly golden and honey-sweet after all these years.
4. The Riverview Café (Sneads Ferry)
Fishermen unload their catches at the docks behind this unassuming café, where the day’s specials depend entirely on what came in with the tide. The crab cakes contain nothing but sweet lump meat and just enough binding to hold them together.
The worn-in booths have hosted generations of local families. I once watched an 80-year-old waterman teach his great-grandson how to crack a blue crab at the very same table where he’d learned decades earlier.
5. Beach Shop & Grill (Topsail Beach)
Don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t just some tourist trap gift shop with mediocre food. Hidden in plain sight, this Topsail Beach gem serves seafood that would make any coastal grandmother proud.
The shrimp and grits elevate a Southern classic with a creamy sauce that locals have tried (and failed) to replicate at home.
Their blackened mahi-mahi sandwich might be the island’s best-kept secret, perfectly spiced and topped with homemade remoulade.
6. Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar (Surf City)
Surfers and fishermen rub elbows at this laid-back oyster bar where the TVs always show fishing reports alongside sports. The blackboard menu changes with whatever’s fresh, but the steamed pots never disappoint.
Behind the bar, you’ll find local craft beers that pair perfectly with their signature oyster shooters. The walls are plastered with photos of locals’ fishing triumphs, creating a community album of maritime pride that spans decades.
7. Saltbox Seafood Joint (Durham)
Chef Ricky Moore’s James Beard award wasn’t supposed to happen to a tiny seafood shack with a walk-up window. Yet this Durham institution has redefined North Carolina seafood with simple, perfect preparations of whatever’s swimming seasonally.
The building resembles an actual saltbox, painted bright blue. Their signature “hush-honeys” – hushpuppies drizzled with honey – create lines down the block.
I’ve driven two hours just for their fried spot fish sandwich, which changes species with the seasons.
8. NC Seafood Restaurant at the Farmer’s Market (Raleigh)
Amid produce stalls and flower vendors sits this no-nonsense seafood counter serving Calabash-style classics. The plastic trays and paper plates don’t hint at the quality inside – perfectly fried flounder, shrimp, and scallops that transport you straight to the coast.
The line forms early as state workers and locals know to arrive before noon. Their fish sandwich remains unchanged since 1955: a simple, perfect expression of North Carolina seafood traditions that inland residents crave.
9. Harbor One Seafood & Chicken (High Point)
In a strip mall far from any harbor, this unassuming spot delivers coastal flavors that defy its landlocked location. The owners drive to the coast twice weekly, returning with coolers full of fresh catches that transform into spectacular fried platters.
Their seafood and chicken combo platters satisfy indecisive diners with perfect hushpuppies that locals order by the bagful.
The hand-breaded oysters maintain a delicate crispness that lets their briny sweetness shine through, a technical achievement rarely mastered this far inland.
10. Sunny Side Inn Oyster Bar (Williamston)
Operating since 1929, this historic oyster bar hasn’t changed much in nearly a century. The long wooden counter features built-in metal steamers where fresh oysters open before your eyes.
Three generations of the same family have maintained the tradition of serving nothing but steamed oysters, crackers, and cold beer.
Last December, I watched a 90-year-old regular teaching his 8-year-old great-grandson the proper technique for oyster shucking – the same lesson he received in the 1940s.
11. Gulfstream Restaurant (Carolina Beach)
Sunrise breakfast service brings fishermen and surfers to this beachside institution that’s been feeding Carolina Beach since 1978. While tourists flock to flashier spots, locals crowd the weathered booths for seafood omelets filled with that morning’s catch.
The paneled walls display faded photos of record catches and hurricane survival stories. Their crab cake benedict features hand-picked local blue crab meat with just enough Old Bay to enhance without overwhelming the delicate flavor.