Dining
Shells
522 E Avenue G
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-7621
Great pasta and seafood, excellent salads too! Casual. Small space, not great for small children.
fave dish: Pasta in Gorgonzola Sauce, Garlic Cheese Bread, Ceviche.
La Playa
222 Beach St #5312
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-0022
A perfect mix of seafood and Mexican food. Margaritas are the best! Guacamole is an experience. Be sure to fit this into your stay! Casual. Be prepared – there is ALWAYS a wait but worth it! (try 5pm or after 8pm)
fave dish: Crab Enchiladas, Serve at the Table Guacamole, Spinach Enchiladas, Any of the Fajitas, Shrimp Guacamole Cups.
Jay’s Seafood & Spaghetti Works
910 TX-361
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-5666
Views of the nature preserve, All kinds of seafood & land fare, plus a great salad bar with soup & rolls, a nice bar area, plus shop at Stephanie’s Stuff Boutique while you’re there. Casual to beach dressy. Family-friendly.
fave dish: Crab cakes, Shrimp with Lemon Cream Sauce, awesome pizzas, Coconut Shrimp & all with the salad bar!
Coffee Waves
1007 TX-361
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-0825
Way more than coffee! Enjoy this experience morning, afternoon, evening, or try gelato after dinner. Free Wifi! Comfortable, casual. Great gelato, snacks, a little of EVERYTHING.
Crazy Cajun
303 E Beach St
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-5069
Shrimp boil type serving. Excellent shrimp, crawfish. Casual. Family fun.
fave dish: Shrimp Boil.
Virginia’s on the Bay
815 Trout St
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-2303
On the water, beautiful views, loud and fun, great fried shrimp, fish, and platters. Great place to catch the sunset. Tasty cold drinks, full bar. Casual. Family fun.
fave dish: Shrimp Combo Platter (fried, grilled, and coconut), Grilled Shrimp, Wedge Salad.
Lelo’s Island Bar
212 Beach St
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-416-1792
Since opening, we’ve become a neighborhood staple for locals and Port Aransas visitors alike, serving up our signature tiki drinks and specialty burgers in a casual, laid-back setting. Dog-friendly Patio!
fave dish: Jack + Coke Burger and Steak Bites
Tortugas
429 N Alister St
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-2739
Oyster, shrimp & fish specialties offered in a comfortable environment with porch seating.
fave dish: Port A Bennys and Poke Nachos
Stingrays Taphouse and Grill
401 Beach St
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-2287
Super fun, upscale bar food, big-screen TVs everywhere, good bar. Salads to appetizers to full meal platters. Flatbread pizzas are good. Casual. Sports Bar type. Kids can enjoy bean bag toss. Pool tables.
fave dish: Buffalo Chicken Flatbread Pizza, Burger, Cabo Tacos, and Cookie Skillet for dessert.
Roosevelts at the Tarpon Inn
200 E Cotter Ave
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-1540
5 Star, excellent food and service. Reservations suggested. Beach formal.
fave dish: Oysters Rockefeller, Filet Steak, Fish of the Day or ask your server for their recommendation.
Desserted Island
100 E White Ave
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-9300
Great ice cream, pies, brownies, etc. Enjoy an hour or 2 here from young to old. Foosball table, indoor/outdoor seating. Jaws is the movie of choice playing on the TV. Casual. Family fun.
fave dish: Cheesecake, malts, Brownie Sundae.
FINS Grill and Icehouse
420 W Cotter Ave
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-8646
A variety of fish dishes & burgers; any of them are good. Casual. Family fun. Best place for a variety of likes and ages.
fave dish: Crab Cake Sandwich or Port A Burger on Sweet Sourdough Bun, Onion Rings, Grilled Mahi Platter.
Irie’s Island Food
503 N Alister St
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-2310
Every taco you can dream up, from seafood lovers to non-seafood lovers. The place is small, has limited seating but it is ALWAYS busy but quick turnaround for a table. They sell out of some items early, especially in the high season. One of the best places to eat on the Island. Homemade tortillas are to die for! Casual.
fave dish: Treasure Beef with Spicy Peanut Sauce, Crab Cake Taco, Kahuku Chicken.
The Gaff
323 Beach St
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-5970
Popular, fun dive bar known for its sand belt races on Saturdays! But it’s also known for its pizza. Go and enjoy pizza and a cold beverage, or if you have the kids, get a pizza to go. WORTH IT!
ISLAND JOE’s
14829 S Padre Island Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-867-1276
Great local coffee shop with delicious morning eats. Built from shipping
containers with a large outdoor patio this coffee shop offers a unique
experience.
fave dish: Cucumber and dill toast with the iced island girl espresso drink
Laredo taco Co.
15302 S. Padre Island Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-949-8631
Stop in on your way to the beach for a breakfast taco made with fresh
homemade tortillas.
fave dish: Bean, cheese, bacon, potato taco and chorizo, egg, and
cheese taco
Surfside Sandwich Shoppe
15113 S Padre Island Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-949-0505
The best sandwiches in South Texas with fantastic soups, sides, and
salads to go with.
fave dish: Cuban press sandwich, bacon mac & cheese, jalapeno popper soup
Padre Pizzeria
14493 S Padre Island Dr Ste C
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-949-0787
Locally farm sourced for the freshest and best quality ingredients with
dough and sauce made-from-scratch daily. Don’t feel like getting
out?….They deliver!
fave dish: The kitchen sink pizza and the Sicilian pizza
Padre Island Burger Co.
11878 TX-361
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-949-3490
Voted best burgers for 2021 by the locals list of the Bend Magazine.
Indoor and outdoor seating.
fave dish: The hangover burger, salt & pepper wings, green chili and
cheese fries
Hardknocks Sports Grill
15401 S Padre Island Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-589-4387
With multiple tv’s on every wall this is the place to watch the game. The
food here is not your typical bar food. They really hit it out of the park.
fave dish: Jalapeno poppers, Heisman bow tie pasta, game day burger
Scuttlebutts Seafood
14254 S Padre Island Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-949-6769
Best happy hour specials on the island from 3pm-7pm 7 days a week. ½
priced sushi, peel and eat shrimp, oysters in the half shell, snow crab, and other discounted appetizers and drinks.
fave dish: Yum Yum rolls, honey chipotle wings, oysters in the half shell
Boathouse
15241 Leeward Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-589-9601
Just a short walk a few buildings down with water front patio dining. Live entertainment on the weekends, Sunday funday brunch, and they will cook your catch.
fave dish: Fish & chips, fried mac & cheese balls
angry marlin
15605 S Padre Island Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
210-272-9973
Fun outdoor eating experience. Live music on the weekends. Good drinks
and appetizers.
fave dish: Calamari, spinach & artichoke dip, blue corn crusted hot wings
Island time sushi
15605 S Padre Island D
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-949-3046
Beautiful restaurant with superb service. Lots of wine options. Food is
phenomenal.
fave dish: TJ fillet on the salt block, green dragon roll, bananas foster
black sheep Bistro
15201 S Padre Island Dr #120
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
210-418-4819
Cute bistro with indoor and outdoor seating. Great drinks. Amazing food.
fave dish: Lamb dunk, poblano chicken breast, tenderloin tips, little joe,
apple bourbon glazed pork chops
Rock & Rolls SUSHI Lounge
15121 S Padre Island Dr #101
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-949-1110
Asian fusion flavor with a South Texas flare. Great food and good times.
fave dish: Pork gyoza, soft shell crab, wagyu flank tacos
Costa Sur
15113 S Padre Island Dr #101
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-945-8303
Authentic Peruvian cuisine with great drinks and a fun atmosphere.
fave dish: Chips and guac, pollo saltado sandwich, beef tenderloin lomo saltado with a fried egg
dragonfly
14701 S Padre Island Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-949-2224
French-inspired food and drinks. Fun atmosphere.
fave dish: Hummus & pita, crusted NY strip with pistou, chocolate cake with caramel sauce
docs
13309 S Padre Island Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-949-6744
Good food, live music, and gorgeous sunsets on the water. When you are finished dining upstairs go downstairs to the waterline bar and enjoy a few drinks and live music.
fave dish: Fiesta chicken, catch of the day, fried cheesecake
scoopy’s ice cream shoppe
13313 S Padre Island Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-949-7810
Enjoy Sundaes, floats, cones, milkshakes, and other signature desserts
right on the Laguna Madre.
fave dish: Hot fudge sundae, chocolate milkshake
sweet swirl frozen yogurt
14457 S Padre Island Dr
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-949-1144
Frozen yogurt with a buffet of toppings, snow cones, dippin dots, and
cotton candy
fave dish: Vanilla fro-yo with mango boba
A La Mode Gelateria
114254 S Padre Island Dr #10
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
361-589-4130
Gelato, sorbet, and other signature desserts
fave dish: Sweet cream gelato on dessert nachos topped with warm apple pie and gourmet dessert sauce