Foodie Favorites

Famous & Noteworthy Noshes

Discover foodie favorites from the area’s award-winning and noteworthy restaurants. Check out the daily menu specials featuring farm-and-sea-to-table cuisine at PinPoint Restaurant, a local eatery featured on The Cooking Channel’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate” and named one the “South’s Best Restaurants” by Southern Living. Indulge in Latin and Spanish flavors and colorful dishes at Savorez, which Yelp named the best brunch in North Carolina. Devour in award-winning Southern barbecue, fried chicken, catfish and savory sides at Casey's Buffet. Voted "The Best All-You-Can-Eat Buffet in North Carolina" by the readers of Reader's Digest, adventurous diners can try pigs' feet, fat back and more. 

Wilmington is home to famous and noteworthy chefs from around the country, including these James Beard semi-finalists for Best Chef: Southeast. Try seasonal flavors made with fresh seafood and local ingredients at Catch, helmed by Chef Keith Rhodes, who also competed on season nine of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef.” Chef Dean Neff, owner of Seabird, takes pride in using fresh, in-season seafood and ingredients from local, small-scale farms and fishermen. His restaurant has received national acclaim with Reader’s Digest featuring Seabird as “The Best Traditional Restaurant in North Carolina." Enjoy Neapolitan-style woodfired pizza at Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria, owned by Chef Vivan Howard, who also stars on the TV Series documentary "Somewhere South.” Chef Sunny Gerhart brings dishes inspired by Spanish, Italian and New Orleans flavors to downtown's Olivero.

Fresh to Table, From Farm and Sea

Enjoy a meal sourced from sustainable farms, grilled over natural hard-wood charcoal and served in a casually elegant coastal setting at Port Land Grille. From Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Meat “Cocktail” to N.C. Black Grouper, there's something to delight everyone’s taste buds at this local favorite. In Wrightsville Beach, visit EAST Oceanfront Dining, located inside the Blockade Runner Beach Resort, for award-winning coastal fare featuring fresh ingredients in every dish from locally caught seafood to homegrown produce and more. Try the Chilled Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail seasoned with Old Bay or order the fresh catch of the day.

Cuisine From Around the World 

Wilmington is bursting with rich flavors and authentic dishes. Find comfort foods at a German café or an Irish pub. Opt for an evening with classic Italian fare paired with your favorite wine. Whichever flavors you choose, you will find a variety of cuisine in a uniquely coastal setting. Located in Historic Downtown Wilmington, savor delicious sushi and pan-Asian favorites surrounded by Tokyo-inspired décor at YoSake Downtown Sushi Lounge. Indulge in your favorite classic roll or try out the Southern Chicken Sushi Roll featuring tempura fried chicken, coleslaw and pickles in a BBQ soy wrap.

Swing by Indochine, an acclaimed Thai and Vietnamese restaurant in Wilmington. Order the Vietnamese Catfish, a local favorite, while dining outside in one of their Thai Huts. For authentic Irish cuisine, stop by The Harp, located near Wilmington’s South Front District. Try their Beef Braised in Guinness or the Galway Bay Fish n' Chips served with house-cut chips and coleslaw.

Try it All

Can’t decide where to go or what to try? Sample numerous local favorites, famous hotspots and coastal flavors on a gourmet food tour with Taste Carolina. The Downtown Tasting Tour offers a unique tasting experience in Wilmington's Historic District including savory and sweet items from five to six restaurants and bars. Meet local chefs and owners while learning about Wilmington and its thriving culinary scene. Or, discover something new in nearby Carolina Beach with Tasting History Tours. Register for their Signature Tour to get a fresh taste of island cuisine at some of the best restaurants in Carolina Beach.