Best Restaurants in Emerald Isle, NC (Kid Friendly!)

Emerald Isle is situated on the Bogue Banks, a barrier island off the coast of North Carolina. Away from the hustle and bustle of the Northern OBX, Emerald Isle is a beautiful respite on the pristine Crystal Coast. With over 12 miles of clean beaches and emerald waters, it’s a literal paradise for east coast travelers.
Our family recently visited Emerald Isle for the first time this summer, and fell in love with the town’s laidback vibes and coastal charm. Be sure to check out all of my “Emerald Isle Vacation Guide” posts, including: The Best Kid Friendly Restaurants in Emerald Isle NC, The 5 BEST Things To Do with Kids in Emerald Isle NC, Beach Day Essentials for Emerald Isle NC and The Best Place to Find Sea Shells in Emerald Isle NC!
Emerald Isle is host to a number of family friendly restaurants. And with chains few and far between, local businesses reign supreme. As such, there are tons of unique and delicious options! These are the restaurants we’ve either visited or that have been highly recommended to us by locals..

Gaffer’s
https://gaffersemeraldisle.com/

With indoor/outdoor seating and live music, Gaffer’s is a great spot to take the family for breakfast, lunch or dinner! We were impressed with the extensive food and drink menu, as well as the options for the kids.
For appetizers, we ordered the Blackened Shrimp Nachos and Hushpuppies. Both dishes were excellent! Note: The shrimp nachos are HUGE; they come on a cookie sheet and could easily feed a party of 8. In my humble opinion, they are a MUST order!
For our entrees, I ordered a fried shrimp dinner and my hubby ordered lobster stuffed mahi mahi. Both meals were generously sized for the price, and the seafood was fresh. The boys ordered chicken tenders and grilled cheese from the kids menu, and were excited that their meals were delivered on Gaffer’s frisbees! a fun souvenir to take home. While everyone was too full for dessert, they had a nice selection of options; their Atlantic Beach Pie is at the top of my list for our next visit.

Surfs Up Grill and Bar
https://www.surfsupemeraldisle.com/

Located at the Bogue Inlet Pier, Surfs Up serves lunch and dinner with a view! This was the most reasonably priced restaurant we visited during our trip, and the food was a hit with our entire group! We ordered hushpuppies and fried pickles for an appetizer, and both were delicious and not overly greasy. For entrees, I ordered another fried shrimp platter (I can never have enough shrimp on summer vaca) with mashed potatoes. Of the 3 restaurants I ordered shrimp at during our trip, I would argue that the shrimp at Surfs Up were the best. My husband ordered an “Aloha Burger”, which he claimed was one of the best burgers he’s ever had, and that’s a big deal. The kids ordered (you guessed it) chicken tenders and grilled cheese with fruit, and both cleared their plates. Surfs Up also has a walk-up bar for beach goers, and were readily mixing up their popular frozen drinks. After dinner we enjoyed a leisurely walk on the Bogue Inlet Pier, taking in views of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.

Rucker Johns
https://ruckerjohnsemeraldisle.com/

Located in Emerald Isle’s outdoor shopping mall, Emerald Plantation, Rucker Johns is a favorite with locals and tourists alike. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, Rucker Johns is a top favorite with kids because of its location on the canal; offering the chance to view/feed birds and other wildlife while waiting. Of note, prices are steeper here than other restaurants we visited, and parties of 10+ will be split.

Flipperz Family Bar and Grill
https://www.flipperzbarandgrill.com/

If you’re looking for casual but coastal inspired dining, look no further than Flipperz Family Bar and Grill. From firecracker shrimp to filet mignon, Flipperz has a little something for everyone in the family! Prices here are very affordable and their seafood baskets are top notch.

Capn’ Willis Seafood Market
https://www.facebook.com/people/Capn-Willis-Seafood-Market/100057539526356/

We ordered steamed shrimp from this market one night when we cooked in at the Airbnb. The workers were extremely friendly and accommodating, and even threw in a free bottle of local made cocktail sauce with our order. The market had a nice assortment of local, fresh seafood, frozen goods, baking needs, sides, desserts and anything else you might need for a seafood feast at home. Prices were very reasonable for a fresh market, and the shrimp were very tasty!

Sol Bowls
https://solbowlsnc.com/

This is hands down our favorite spot in Emerald Isle. Serving fresh acai bowls, smoothies, parfaits and coffee, this little hangout is a must visit. Their smoothie bowls are the main draw; created with a base of acai, coconut, pitaya or blue wave, and topped with fresh fruit and add-ons. We ordered “The Sandbar” a coconut base topped with granola, banana, strawberry, coconut flakes, cacao nibs and nutella drizzle *drool*. Cold and uber satisfying, their smoothie bowls are the perfect refreshing treat after a hot beach day. The owners are also incredibly friendly, and make you feel like family from the moment you walk in the door. Sol Bowls offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Our boys loved the outdoor picnic tables, which included painted tic tac toe boards and painted sea shells for playing. No trip to EI would be complete without a visit to this new and happenin’ spot.

BEST ICECREAM SHOP IN EMERALD ISLE

Village Ice Cream and Candy
https://www.facebook.com/villageicecreamandcandies/

If you’re looking for a little something sweet on the island, head on over to Village Ice Cream and Candy off Coast Guard Rd. We loved their vast assortment of pick-your-own saltwater taffy, and hand dipped Hershey’s ice creams. They also have an attached gift shop with some of the best souvenir prices on the isle!

Hope you enjoyed a peek at our favorite places to eat in Emerald Isle, NC. Be sure to visit my other “Emerald Isle Vacation Guide” posts for more island info, including Things to Do with Kids in Emerald Isle, Emerald Isle Beach Day Essentials, and the best spot to find sea shells in Emerald Isle!

Happy Vacationing!
Wendy