The lovely town of Kure Beach, hidden away in beautiful Pleasure Island, North Carolina, is designed for any vacationer. When you want a good seafood restaurant to enjoy a delicious meal and then share with others, you can rest assured that you’re in the right place to look.
Kure Beach has all this and more, including great beaches, historical piers (even one built-in 1923!), tremendous shopping spots and malls, and much more.
When you’re ready to chow down, check out one of these beloved local eateries.
Jack Mackerel’s Island Grill
This establishment is one of the top Kure Beach restaurants, a favorite of both locals and visitors. When you arrive, you’ll find some of the freshest seafood in the area. Here, some of the choices on the menu include blackened salmon, catfish and grits, shrimp scampi, tuna teriyaki, and more. There’s also an expansive menu of beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. They’re open for business from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Freddie’s Italian Restaurant
Open 4:30-9 p.m. daily (closed Sunday), Freddie’s specialty is the Italian Gumbo. It comes with sausage, shrimp, chicken, and penne pasta. You can also indulge in seafood favorites such as seafood ravioli, clam sauce, shrimp fra diavolo, and lemon pepper salmon. If someone in your group isn’t in the mood for seafood, they can try a chicken or veal option.
Shuckin’ Shack
Open 11-10 daily (or until midnight Friday and Saturday), this place is family-friendly. It specializes in steamed shellfish that’s fresh-caught for maximum flavor. The environment is very laid back, allowing you plenty of time to look over the menu before ordering and enjoy the company of the ones you love most.
Vinny’s Seafood Express
Open from 11-9 daily, and this place makes fantastic shrimp plates. Try a shrimp burger here or full shrimp dinner. They don’t make you put in a reservation; you come in during a busy day, they find a place to seat you comfortably, and they take care of you. Get a quick meal or stay around for a while; the experience is totally up to you.
Michael’s Seafood
Come in 11-9 daily and try the chowder bowls if you wish to taste heaven for the first time. They offer signature beers and cocktails that are also quite extravagant. This place has won “Restaurant of the Year” more than once in Kure Beach. Try curbside pickup, too, if you don’t have time to sit down and eat!
Cape Fear Boil Company
Come on in 11-8 any day. Trip Advisor awarded this place in 2021 as a Traveler’s Choice hot spot. You can grab a takeout steam pot to bring back to your rental and enjoy with your family. Try The Traditional Coastal Shrimp Boil, or go for a unique selection like The Clam Pot, The Crab Boil, or The Bivalve.
Plan Your Stay
Now that you’ve got the Kure Beach seafood search out of the way, it might be time to get serious about the next big thing you need to know: finding a home you can crash in. Like those of Network Real Estate, Vacation rentals in Kure Beach are a prime choice for any person on their travels. They’re cozy, well priced, and ideally located.
