19 Best Port Aransas Restaurants for Foodies in 2024
RESEARCHING THE BEST PORT ARANSAS RESTAURANTS?
We can help! We’ve been traveling together since 2010, including some extended travels in cities and towns throughout Texas. We love sampling local food and really appreciate restaurant guides that provide insight into what holes in the wall are worth the risk and what high-dollar entrees you should pass on.
So that’s exactly what we will do here! Come along as we detail all the best Port Aransas restaurants, breaking things down by specific types of food and overall experience. We love the charming beach town of Port Aransas and all of its yummy seafood.
Port Aransas Restaurants on the Water
1. Fins Grill & Icehouse
📍 420 W. Cotter Avenue
Located next to Deep Sea Headquarters Fishing Marina, Fins Grill & Icehouse is one of the best seafood restaurants in Port Aransas, TX, and it just so happens to have a beautiful view of the Gulf Coast as well!
Home to some of the freshest seafood around, the kitchen will even prepare your own catch! Whether you come in with your own goods or not, this is an excellent place to enjoy good times and have an amazing waterfront dining experience.
Seafood nachos and onion rings reign supreme here, so be sure to check them out when you visit one of the best Port Aransas restaurants with a view!
2. Virginia’s On The Bay
📍 815 Trout Street
Virginia’s On The Bay is an open-air, casual atmosphere bar and grill with an amazing waterfront view of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. We enjoyed an amazing meal here. They serve good food, and the premier waterfront location makes for a great experience.
The restaurant is right on the water. If you come a few hours before sunset, you can watch dolphins swim out in the harbor. It is such a beautiful setting.
This is one of the best restaurants in Port Aransas to visit if you’re hungry for seafood but like having some other options available too. Aside from phenomenal oysters and mahi mahi, you can order classic American fare like Angus burgers and sandwiches.
We also love that as one of the best restaurants in Port Aransas on the water, Virginia’s On The Bay also offers a “you hook, we cook” meal preparation option.
3. Mickey’s Bar & Grill
📍 430 E. Ransom Road
One of the most beloved Port Aransas seafood restaurants, Mickey’s Bar & Grill, provides yet another waterfront option for your dining pleasure. Classic dishes here include flounder, gumbo, and fried shrimp.
It’s also an excellent spot to enjoy a steak if you prefer the turf over the surf!
Best Seafood Restaurants in Port Aransas
4. Black Marlin Bar & Grill
📍258 Snapdragon
Black Marlin Bar & Grill offers a bit more of a fine dining experience compared with the other mentions on our list so far. The atmosphere isn’t stuffy by any means, but you can expect linen tablecloths and china.
One of the most entertaining restaurants in Port Aransas TX, this spot features a large outdoor stage. It’s the perfect set-up for enjoying live music while savoring your meal in the outdoor seating space.
If you can’t make it in for dinner, consider stopping by for the brunch special, as the Shrimp and Grits are a favorite here!
5. Crazy Cajun
📍303 Beach Street
Crazy Cajun Seafood Restaurant is one of the most unique and best seafood restaurants in Port Aransas, Texas. This eatery specializes in boiled crawfish, crab legs, and shrimp.
But, it’s the low-key manner in which the delicacies are served – spread across butcher paper-lined tables, that makes the experience so memorable.
Keep in mind, especially if you have picky eaters in your family, that this is a seafood-heavy establishment with limited options when it comes to other types of food.
6. Castaway’s Seafood & Grill
📍337 North Alister Street
Castaways’s Seafood & Grill is one of our most favorite seafood restaurants near Port Aransas TX. Known for its battered and fried seafood, this cozy and low-key spot features comfortable seating both indoors and on its pet-friendly outdoor patio.
In addition to a varied fresh seafood menu (including cook-your-catch options), families can also find some delicious soups, salads, and burgers here. They even offer some really tasty vegetarian dishes, too!
The impressive full bar features cocktails, draft beer, and wines. The daily happy hour deals attract lots of visitors to the area. It’s a great time; you get to save a few bucks and enjoy a drink in the sunshine.
7. Tortuga’s Saltwater Grill
📍429 North Alister Street
When it comes to Port Aransas restaurants reviews, it’s pretty clear that Tortuga’s Saltwater Grill is an area favorite. With both indoor and outdoor dining options available, the atmosphere is casual but well-maintained.
Specializing in an array of delicious seafood dishes, it’s only on a rare occasion that a customer leaves dissatisfied. And if they do, it’s likely thanks to the higher prices and not the quality of food. You definitely get what you pay for here!
Best Mexican Restaurants in Port Aransas
8. Cancun Grill & Cantina
📍1023 State Hwy. 361, Ste. E
Cancun Grill & Cantina isn’t much to look at, but looks can be deceiving. Located in a strip mall, if you aren’t accustomed to giving hole-in-the-wall spots a shot, you might miss an epic meal at this place!
Cancun Grill & Cantina is known for being one of the best Mexican restaurants in Port Aransas TX, for exceptional Tex-Mex at an affordable price. They also serve one of the best Margaritas in town!
9. San Juan Restaurant
📍410 Cut Off Road
San Juan Restaurant is hailed as one of the best Port Aransas, Texas restaurants to visit when you’re craving authentic Mexican food. Not only is the food one of the area’s top picks, but the carefully curated, great atmosphere adds so much flavor and fun to the experience as well.
The entire menu is designed to impress, but believe us when we tell you you’ll be dreaming about home-cooked meals, tortilla chips, and salsa long after you pay the bill!
10. La Playa Mexican Grille
📍222 Beach Avenue
La Playa Mexican Grille is like the one-stop shop in Port Aransas. Yes, it’s one of the best restaurants in Port Aransas to serve Mexican food, but they also experiment with fish dishes as well.
With a stellar collection of over 70 tequilas, delectable fish tacos, and housemade guacamole to die for, you don’t want to miss a Mexican restaurant experience like La Playa Mexican Grille.
The atmosphere here is casual and unassuming, making it one of the best kid friendly restaurants in Port Aransas, too. Be sure to try the rice plates and island favorites like the crab and shrimp enchiladas!
Best Italian Restaurants in Port Aransas
11. Venetian Hot Plate
📍232 Beach Street
Venetian Hot Plate is the go-to Italian restaurant in Port Aransas. A classic Italian eatery, the menu here is stacked with standards like spaghetti bolognese and tortellini, but it’s the housemade lasagna and impressive wine list that really sets this place apart.
The dining spaces, both both indoor and outdoor, radiate a rustic and warm atmosphere.
Driving home the classic Italian adage that a meal is about more than consuming food. Venetian Hot Plate is an excellent place to dig into a good meal, but it’s also a welcoming space to connect with others and have some fun.
12. Port ‘A’ Pizzeria
📍407 East Avenue G
A vacation isn’t a vacation without discovering the locals’ tried and true favorite pizza joint. In Port Aransas, Port ‘A’ Pizzeria holds that honor. A buffet-style restaurant, but not low-grade, you can expect your whole family to enjoy hot, freshly-made, quality pizza here.
Aside from serving delicious food, the rates here are affordable as well. One of our family favorites on this list, everyone will be able to enjoy limitless pizza, calzones, pasta, salad, fountain drinks, and even a dessert bar. All at a similar rate of a much more restrictive meal at different fast food restaurants in Port Aransas.
Nothing enhances a dinner experience like a little bit of fun. Kids will love sneaking in a game or two at the arcade here, between slices!
13. Seafood & Spaghetti Works
📍910 State Hwy 361
Like so many old-time Italian restaurants, Seafood & Spaghetti Works is one of the most family-friendly restaurants in the area. The spacious seating and comfortable environment make it a great place to consider when looking for a place to eat in Port Aransas as a family.
As the name reveals, there’s a wide variety of menu items to choose from at this spot, making it easier for everyone in the family to find something they can enjoy.
If you’re leaning toward the Italian side, we recommend any alfredo or manicotti dish. The crab cakes, mahi mahi, and stuffed mushrooms will make your taste buds sing.
The salad bar here is a big hit if you want to keep things simple. It’s stocked with only the freshest and crispest veggies. You won’t be disappointed with that choice!
Best Breakfast Restaurants in Port Aransas
14. Coffee Waves
📍1007 State Hwy 361
Coffee Waves is one of the tastiest and most adorable places to enjoy breakfast in Port Aransas. If a coffee shop is your happy place, you will love the vibe here. It’s cozy and artistic, and even features live music from time to time.
Coffee is definitely the headliner at this breakfast spot. They take the beverage very seriously and only serve high-quality products, whether it be a traditional espresso or a frozen coffee drink. Smoothies and other more kid-friendly options are available as well.
Aside from caffeine, the restaurant also serves up some delicious breakfast croissants and some of the best hand-crafted gelato you will ever taste!
15. Island Cafe
📍301 South Alister Street
Island Cafe is a simple, diner-style breakfast spot in Port Aransas.
The decor and atmosphere aren’t anything to write home about. It’s not showy but is a wonderful spot to visit if you’re looking for a homestyle breakfast of phenomenal pancakes or a zesty omelet. The hashbrowns and the service are both top-notch at Island Cafe!
16. Coach’s Island Grill
📍717 Tarpon Street
Coach’s Island Grill is another diner-like place to grab a bite to eat in the morning. This spot does a great job of capturing the island vibe of Port Aransas.
The dining room has turquoise-blue walls and neon signs. Many pieces of sports memorabilia are hung on the walls as well. It makes for an interesting and captivating space to enjoy while waiting for your food.
Breakfast favorites here include a variety of different pancake options, french toast, breakfast tacos, and hashbrowns cooked to perfection. Portions are generous here, so come hungry!
Port Aransas Restaurants Open Late
17. The Gaff
📍323 Beach Avenue
The Gaff is one of the best places to hang out in Port Aransas. It’s a pirate-themed outdoor bar specializing in beer and pizza. You can customize your own pizza while enjoying an ice-cold drink or dancing to some live music.
If you’re looking for fun places to eat in Port Aransas late into the night, The Gaff might be the perfect spot for you!
18. Kody’s Restaurant & Bar
📍2034 State Hwy 361
Want to know a fun fact about Kody’s Restaurant & Bar? It’s one of the few dog-friendly restaurants in Port Aransas! It’s also one of the best Port Aransas, TX restaurants to hang out at after the sun goes down!
So, pull up a seat and enjoy a cocktail or play a round of mini-golf on their outdoor course. Whichever route you take, you’re sure to have a good time at Kody’s!
19. Bron’s Shaved Ice & To Go Bar
📍314 East Avenue G
Bron’s Shaved Ice & To Go Bar is one of the most fun Port Aransas restaurants open late. This beach house-style spot specializes in frosty drinks and has a vibrant atmosphere.
It’s the perfect place to stop by on a warm night. Their classic shaved ice tasty treats can be customized with over 30 different flavors.
If shaved ice isn’t your thing, you can enjoy a beer, margarita, daiquiri, a glass of wine, or a pina colada. They are bound to have the perfect drink for you!
FAQ: Port Aransas Restaurants
Seafood is the main claim to fame for local restaurants. There are many different places to enjoy fresh fish or have your own catch prepared for you to devour!
Seafood & Spaghetti Works and San Juan are some of the most visited places to eat in Port Aransas TX, by locals.
Macdaddy’s Family Kitchen, Irie’s Island Food, Dylan’s Coal Oven Pizzeria, and Lelo’s Island Bar are other popular Mustang Island restaurant choices by tourists and locals alike as well.
Spring is a wonderful time to visit if you are hoping to enjoy the beach without too many crowds, though the weather won’t be quite as hot as it is in the busy summer months.
If you aren’t as concerned about spending time on the beach and don’t mind crisper weather, fall is another fun time to visit.
Conclusion: Port Aransas Restaurants
There are so many different flavors and experiences to consider when looking for the right place to eat in Port Aransas. We hope this guide will help you determine which Port Aransas restaurants you want to visit during your Port Aransas vacation!
We always have a great time when we visit Port Aransas, especially because we love camping on the beach there. (Remember to grab your permit for driving on the beach!) We love the relaxed vibes on the beach and all of the yummy seafood we find along the Gulf Coast.
