Nags Head Restaurants

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. 

Dunes Restaurant has been a breakfast and dinner favorite among Outer Banks locals and visitors for nearly four decades (37 years in 2019 to be exact). Breakfast here is a certifiable Nags Head tradition. Their hearty breakfast buffet and fresh fruit bar, offered daily in season, are a huge draw, yet the a la carte breakfast menu is one of the biggest on the beach, with choices like shrimp and grits, creamed chipped beef, N.C. country ham, a crab and shrimp omelet and a waffle platter. At dinnertime, Dunes is known for its Outer Banks-style seafood – shrimp, scallops, oysters and fish served lightly breaded and golden fried or lightly seasoned and broiled, with all the favorite sides. Other favorites include crab cakes, steaks, burgers, seafood pasta, fish tacos and their famous fried chicken. Just be careful not to fill up on the piping hot hushpuppies with honey butter that are served before your meal (trust us, they’re irresistible!). Family-owned and –operated, Dunes welcomes children and large groups to their casually and comfortably elegant restaurant and R-Bar, serving specialty cocktails, wine and beer. A retail area in the front of the store tempts with children’s books and toys, women’s accessories, jewelry, scarves and much more.

You can't eat and drink any closer to the ocean than this. Outer Banks Pier offers a restaurant and bar with seating on the deck in the sun or moon or under a roof with open-air curtains. They serve fish tacos, steamed shrimp, fresh hamburgers, fries and more. And they also have some breakfast sandwiches for the early birds and anglers. Wine and an extensive craft beer menu are available, including a great selection of draft beers and sake cocktails. They're open every day with a daily happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. and have live entertainment every night during the summer. It's quite the popular spot, and parking is limited so walk, bike, Uber or carpool with your friends if you can. Dress for the weather and elements as this experience is entirely open air.

With locations in Kitty Hawk, Nags Head and Avon, La Fogata is an Outer Banks standby for good, filling, traditional Mexican fare. Locals love it for offering tasty food at a good value. Within minutes of sitting down, you’ll have warm chips and yummy salsa to munch on while you look over the extensive menu. They serve beer and wine and have a full bar (hint: try the margarita!), and they’re open year round for lunch and dinner every day.

For more than 20 years, Mulligan’s has served Southern coastal cuisine with incredible views, thanks to its scenic location between Jockey’s Ridge and Historic Cottage Row. Long known for having some of the best burgers on the beach, their masterful chefs recently have been placing a brighter spotlight on local seafood prepared in an authentic Outer Banks style, all with fresh, local ingredients. Start off with the Crab Pretzel or some Carolina Lump Crab Bisque. Dig into a tasty seafood platter, broiled or fried, some good old-fashioned shrimp and grits or the local catch of the day. They also have a steamed and raw bar serving up local bounty including shrimp, clams and Wanchese sea scallops. You can still order their award-winning burgers, along with other landlubber selections, and kids have their own menu. Their two dining rooms can accommodate a range of groups, and the upstairs space has its own bar. In the warmer months, you may opt to eat outside on their covered tiki bar with an ocean view or in the designated doggy dining area if you bring along any four-legged friends. The bar downstairs is a popular local hangout with a big-screen TV for catching up on sports. They have live music year-round. Mulligan’s also offers catering from Corolla to Hatteras, customized in three different styles: buffet, plated or drop-off. The restaurant is open 365 days a year for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.