When most of us think about dining in Outer Banks restaurants, we see the entire package: sitting down at a nice table, interacting with other patrons, appreciating the well-trained wait staff. Certainly, that's the predominant experience of eating out here. But, sometimes, especially in summer when the crowds are large, the waits long and the weather just right for dining al fresco, you might consider getting a meal from one of the Outer Banks take-out only restaurants. No, they're not all fast food-types of places. Some of them serve ready to go lunches or popular ethnic foods. Food trucks have gained in popularity in recent years and are currently found in Corolla and Ocracoke. Most of the time, there's a picnic table nearby where you can perch and enjoy your food. And, as you might expect, some of these Outer Banks take-out only places feature pizza, but you'll also find steamer pots, gourmet meals, deli offerings, barbecue and burgers. Take-out Outer Banks restaurants can be the perfect choice if you're trying to negotiate the dining scene with a large group. Most restaurants have a hard time seating a party of 15 at one time, but if you get take-out, the problem is solved. Just find yourself a lovely Outer Banks spot, spread a blanket and enjoy the best scenery dining out can offer you!
Outer Banks Restaurants by Area
Corolla | Duck & Southern Shores | Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head
Roanoke Island & Manteo | Hatteras Island | Ocracoke Island
Outer Banks Restaurants by Category
Outer Banks Take-Out
Ocracoke Civic & Business Association Contributor
1175 Irvin Garrish Hwy, Ocracoke
Fun, eclectic and casual, Howard's Pub serves local fish, oysters, shrimp, juicy chargrilled burgers, salads, sandwiches and more every day from spring until late fall. Enjoy the air-conditioned dining room, the long wooden bar, the expansive screened porch with ceiling fans or the sky deck with an island view. The iconic bar features beers from craft and major breweries on tap and in bottles, wine and signature cocktails. Kids' meals are served on a take-home Frisbee. Howard’s Pub has been a destination for more than 30 years, creating Ocracoke memories for many generations. The wall-to-wall memorabilia and the Pub Shop with its collection of t-shirts, hats and other island treasures make Howard's Pub a legendary spot for food and fun for all ages.
Fun, eclectic and casual, Howard's Pub serves local fish, oysters, shrimp, juicy chargrilled burgers, salads, sandwiches and more every day from spring...read more
Fun, eclectic and casual, Howard's Pub serves local fish, oysters, shrimp, juicy chargrilled burgers, salads,...read more
Outer Banks Take-Out
7623 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, Nags Head
This Outer Banks landmark restaurant at the top of many locals’ lists of favorite places. The service is genuinely friendly, and the portions are more than generous. You’ll enjoy views of Roanoke Sound on both sides of the restaurant, including nightly sunsets. They feature only local, fresh North Carolina seafood that comes in whole and is cleaned in their state-certified fish-cleaning house, located onsite. They also serve local produce, all-natural chicken, vegetarian dishes, pasta and USDA Angus steaks. Their dedication to freshness includes their own herb and vegetable garden as well as their own crab shedders. Their wine room features thousands of bottles of wine and accompanies a roomy bar area where you can order from a bar menu, a tapas menu or the full restaurant menu. Their special occasion buffets – Easter, Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, Father's Day – are hugely popular, and they also offer on- and off-premise catering for any size or type of event. In season, Lone Cedar Cafe serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays), Sunday brunch and lunch at the food truck in the parking lot Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you want a quick and delicious lunch, the Lone Cedar Cafe food truck is your ticket for local seafood sandwiches, fish boats and more (the daily menu is posted on Facebook). Lone Cedar Cafe closes between New Year's and Valentine's Day every year. Call for off-season hours.
This Outer Banks landmark restaurant at the top of many locals’ lists of favorite places. The service is genuinely friendly, and the portions are more...read more
This Outer Banks landmark restaurant at the top of many locals’ lists of favorite places....read more
For a tasty treat, head to Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream. Choose from more than 50 flavors of made-from-scratch ice cream plus sorbet and soft serve. You can get any flavor made into a shake, split, sundae or float, even a brownie sundae – yum! Big Buck’s has an espresso bar and all the espresso-based coffee drinks you need to pick up your day. Handmade Belgian chocolate and fudge are made fresh daily, and they also accept custom orders for wedding favors, baby showers and other events. And don't forget the ice cream cake! They have a flavor for every occasion.
For a tasty treat, head to Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream. Choose from more than 50 flavors of made-from-scratch ice cream plus sorbet and soft serve....read more
For a tasty treat, head to Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream. Choose from more than...read more
Outer Banks Take-Out
3848 N.Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 4, Kitty Hawk
Housed in a former U.S. Lifesaving Station and full of character and rustic charm, the Black Pelican is on the Beach Road, directly across from the ocean. They have a deck bar with great ocean views and, of course, lots of fresh seafood on the menu. Choose from steamed seafood, steaks or pizza from the wood-fired brick oven, a locals' favorite. Each night they offer an eclectic list of chef’s specials, and they have a kids' menu with lots of choices. Save room for one of their home-baked desserts; you’ll see what we mean when you pass the display case on your way in. The Black Pelican serves lunch and dinner every day, plus a late-night menu is served at the bar and in the restaurant. This is a lively place where you can find a fun bar scene. They are open all year.
Housed in a former U.S. Lifesaving Station and full of character and rustic charm, the Black Pelican is on the Beach Road, directly across from the...read more
Housed in a former U.S. Lifesaving Station and full of character and rustic charm, the...read more
Outer Banks Take-Out
1200 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 9, Kill Devil Hills
Get ready to kick back and relax at Bonzer Shack. With their creative take on Southern and island comfort food in a surf hangout atmosphere, there’s always something on the menu that’s sure to tempt you. The menu offers sandwiches, fresh seafood specials, steaks, burgers and the mouthwatering smoked Gouda grit cakes. Local favorites also include delicious apps like the Hippie Dip and wings roasted in-house daily plus their excellent specialty cocktails. From June through September stop by for live outdoor musical entertainment from daily (weather permitting) or enjoy the spacious yard for drinks and yard games like Ping Pong, cornhole and many more. The Shack is open for lunch and dinner year round.
Get ready to kick back and relax at Bonzer Shack. With their creative take on Southern and island comfort food in a surf hangout atmosphere, there’s...read more
Get ready to kick back and relax at Bonzer Shack. With their creative take on...read more
Outer Banks Take-Out
908 U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
If you love authentic pit-cooked eastern North Carolina barbecue, this is your place. On Highway 64 close to the Dare County Government Complex, Carolina Bar-B-Que Company serves house-smoked barbecue sandwiches or plates with slaw, potato salad, house-cut fries and hushpuppies. Owner and chef Mike Weaver also offers smoked chicken, burgers, Nathan's hot dogs, fried shrimp, clam strips, flounder and Brunswick stew. Wash it down with lemonade or tea, and finish it all off with a Deep-Fried Twinkie.
If you love authentic pit-cooked eastern North Carolina barbecue, this is your place. On Highway 64 close to the Dare County Government Complex,...read more
If you love authentic pit-cooked eastern North Carolina barbecue, this is your place. On Highway...read more
If it’s Southern chicken, then it’d better be fried. At least, that’s what they believe at The Cookshak Fried Chicken. Their small menu lets them focus on preparing fried chicken and its fixings right, crafting each meal to feel like you’re sitting down to a big chicken dinner at Grandma’s country farmhouse. The restaurant serves food in family-size servings, and you can order half or whole birds and pair them with sides of fries, mac and cheese or coleslaw available by the pint or quart. Be sure to check out their daily lunch specials, too, for deals on single-serving meals. Cookshak's Duck location is take-out only, and their Nags Head location offers takeout or dine-in options. They also deliver for free.
If it’s Southern chicken, then it’d better be fried. At least, that’s what they believe at The Cookshak Fried Chicken. Their small menu lets them...read more
If it’s Southern chicken, then it’d better be fried. At least, that’s what they believe at The Cookshak Fried Chicken....read more
Outer Banks Take-Out
5591 N. Croatan Highway, The Marketplace, Southern Shores
Cosmo’s offers Italian-style food that’s worth seeking out. The pizza crust is perfect — crisp on the outside and soft on the inside and with just a hint of sweetness. Choose from any of their fabulous pizza concoctions (ask about their unique weekly specialty pizzas) or create your own. Cosmo’s also offers salads, pasta dishes, subs, beer and wine. You can get take out or have it delivered.
Cosmo’s offers Italian-style food that’s worth seeking out. The pizza crust is perfect — crisp on the outside and soft on the inside and with just a...read more
Cosmo’s offers Italian-style food that’s worth seeking out. The pizza crust is perfect — crisp...read more
Outer Banks Take-Out
1900 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 9.75, Kill Devil Hills
Country Deli has been an Outer Banks tradition and locals' favorite for more than 30 years. Guests can dine in, enjoy the pet-friendly outside patio or take their food to go with convenient online ordering. Country Deli prides itself on its over-stuffed sandwiches with more than 50 delicious menu items. Sandwiches are made with Thumann's meats and local produce, and there are also locally made desserts. They have a big selection of old-fashioned glass bottle sodas. Country Deli is open Tuesdays through Saturdays and is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Country Deli has been an Outer Banks tradition and locals' favorite for more than 30 years. Guests can dine in, enjoy the pet-friendly outside patio...read more
Country Deli has been an Outer Banks tradition and locals' favorite for more than 30 years....read more
Outer Banks Take-Out
1112 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 9, Kill Devil Hills
A fixture on the Beach Road in Kill Devil Hills since 1987, Dare Devil’s Pizzeria is an Outer Banks favorite, widely known for its delicious pizzas, stromboli, subs, salads, wings and other amazing appetizers. This is a family-owned and -operated restaurant, and there are many reasons why it’s the longest-running pizzeria on the beach, including sauce and dough that are made fresh daily, the use of only top-quality ingredients and super-friendly management and staff. Dare Devil's has a take-out and counter-service model. Your order at the counter and seat yourself in the dining room. A staff member will bring your order out to you when it is ready. A crew member will gladly take your order over the phone for carry-out or you can walk in, order, grab a cold beverage and watch a surf flick on the big screen while you wait.
A fixture on the Beach Road in Kill Devil Hills since 1987, Dare Devil’s Pizzeria is an Outer Banks favorite, widely known for its delicious pizzas,...read more
A fixture on the Beach Road in Kill Devil Hills since 1987, Dare Devil’s Pizzeria...read more
Outer Banks Take-Out
521 S. U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
Darrell’s is a family-style seafood restaurant that’s a locals' favorite and has been operated by the Daniels family for more than five decades. It dates back to 1960 when Darrell Daniels started the Polar Bear Drive-In. When the second generation came on board in 1972, the family changed the focus to a seafood restaurant and renamed it Darrell's Seafood Restaurant. Now the third generation is working here. Seafood is still the specialty, and locals know that Darrell’s does seafood right. The fried oysters, served with the traditional fixings of coleslaw, French fries and hush puppies, are widely touted as the best anywhere. The blackened tuna over black beans and rice is both healthy and delicious. Land food, children’s fare and light dishes are also available. Darrell's also has a wood-fired grill for barbecue. Helpings are heaping, and the desserts are delicious, if you have room. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served Monday through Saturday.
Darrell’s is a family-style seafood restaurant that’s a locals' favorite and has been operated by the Daniels family for more than five decades. It...read more
Darrell’s is a family-style seafood restaurant that’s a locals' favorite and has been operated by...read more
Outer Banks Take-Out
46843 N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
Diamond Shoals is a family-owned restaurant that has been serving visitors and locals for 30 years. It’s open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner and welcomes large groups. Breakfast is full service and hearty, including omelets, platters, hotcakes and more. At lunch or dinner, be sure to try their award-winning clam chowder and crab bisque. They are well known for having the largest fish selection on Hatteras Island as well as for their large salad bar and full-service sushi bar, which is open Monday through Saturday. Since Diamond Shoals Restaurant carries all ABC permits, they have a vast selection of cocktails and favorite draft beers as well as an established sake bar, which makes them unique on Hatteras Island. Their seafood market is open daily with a large selection of fresh, local seafood. Catering for all your events or family gatherings is available; choose from sushi, fresh seafood or from their vast menu of options.
Diamond Shoals is a family-owned restaurant that has been serving visitors and locals for 30 years. It’s open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and...read more
Diamond Shoals is a family-owned restaurant that has been serving visitors and locals for 30 years. It’s...read more
Outer Banks Take-Out
1159 Austin Street, Corolla Light Town Center, Corolla
This is a great local dine-in or take-out restaurant with a very casual family atmosphere. The menu features seafood including soft-shell and hard-shell crabs (hard shells are sold either live or cooked), Alaskan king and snow crab legs by the pound (when available), scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, oysters and fresh fish, plus slow-cooked barbecue including North Carolina pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked ribs, smoked chicken wings and chicken. Don’t forget to ask about their steamer pots that you can take home and cook on your stove. For larger parties, they will even bring this Low Country boil to your house and cook it on site. They also offer homemade soups, Southern-style sides and plenty of desserts. Fat Crabs is open daily for lunch and dinner from April through October.
This is a great local dine-in or take-out restaurant with a very casual family atmosphere. The menu features seafood including soft-shell and hard-...read more
This is a great local dine-in or take-out restaurant with a very casual family atmosphere....read more
