What’s the best part about a South Padre Island vacation? Is it exploring the beaches and constructing a world-class sandcastle? Meeting the locals and picking out unique souvenirs at the shop? Relaxing and enjoying the view from our South Padre Island condos? While you’re sure to be doing plenty of all of these activities during your stay, there’s one activity that you can’t have a trip without, eating!
Best Restaurants in South Padre Island
There are all kinds of incredible South Padre Island restaurants on the beach, offering mouthwatering cuisine with a breathtaking view of the water. No matter what kind of cuisine you’re in the mood for or how many people you have in your group, you’re sure to find a local restaurant that satisfies everyone.
Here are a few of our top recommendations!
Wanna Wanna
At Wanna Wanna, one quick visit will make you “wanna wanna” come back for more! The atmosphere here couldn’t be more welcoming, especially for those who are bringing their kids or pets along for the adventure. You can enjoy your meal with the stunning view of the beach and the musical stylings of local artists. Once you’re done, head onto the beach for a volleyball game!
The menu here offers all of your classic beach favorites, including boiled and fried shrimp and fresh ceviche. Not in the mood for seafood? Don’t worry, Wanna Wanna is said to have the best burgers on the Island! You can also enjoy delicious dishes like nachos, corn dogs, oyster cocktails, fried fish baskets, and more. Just don’t forget to pair your meal with a specialty cocktail, like their Turbo Pina Colada!
You’ll find Wanna Wanna located at 5100 Gulf Boulevard, just a short distance from our South Padre Island condo rentals. They’re open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 midnight.
Café on the Beach
If you’re looking for delicious beach food without the muscle in first, head over to Café on the Beach. This destination, of course, offers an incredible view of the water, but that’s not all people come here for! You’ll find an incredibly welcoming staff, tons of scrumptious menu options, and affordable prices that make it easy to feed the entire family.
Some of the most popular menu options here are the baskets, where you can enjoy fried seafood, a teriyaki chicken sandwich, the giant kosher-style all-beef hotdog, blackened shrimp tacos, and more. If you want something a bit heftier, try the grilled red snapper, maple glazed salmon, chipotle chicken, or coconut shrimp! Options like the center cut filet mignon and the cold water lobster tail are ideal when you feel like treating yourself.
Visit Café on the Beach at 3616 Gulf Boulevard, in conjunction with The Palms Resort. They are open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Seaside Bar & Grill
The name says it all here at Seaside Bar & Grill. You’ll find a truly unique dining experience with the beautiful Gulf of Mexico just steps away from your table. They call themselves the “premier beachside dining for SPI,” and there are countless locals and visitors who agree! You can come in for any meal of the day and enjoy a fun atmosphere with awesome live music as well.
While breakfast and lunch are delicious here at Seaside, dinner is the star of the show. Start with some delicious peel-and-eat shrimp or a classic like cheese fries or chips and queso. Then, move on to sumptuous entrees like the Ceviche, Beachside Fajitas, RGV Street Tacos, and more. Popular non-seafood options include the Seaside Burger, chicken and waffles, and chicken sandwich. Finish off with the mouthwatering chocolate molten cake before you leave!
You can find Seaside Bar & Grill at 100 Padre Boulevard. They are open every day from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Ceviche Ceviche
Whether you’ve tried this restaurant’s namesake dish before or not, you’re sure to enjoy the menu here at Ceviche Ceviche. As the name suggests, they specialize in ceviche here, offering some truly unique preparations for you to sample. Plus, you’ll have a casual and fun environment to enjoy your meal, and of course, the beach is just moments away!
Many people opt for The Classic here, which is prepared with avocado, cilantro, red onions, and tomatoes. The Islander is also a popular selection, with delicious ingredients like mango, jicama, cantaloupe, and cucumber. The Fiesta is also a great choice, created with grapes, jicama, red cabbage, red onion, and celery. You can also get a custom-made ceviche dish with either fish, shrimp, a mixture of the two, or poke tuna, along with four toppings. No matter which option you decide on, you can rest assured that your meal has been prepared with the freshest local ingredients.
Ceviche Ceviche welcomes you to visit them at 1004 Padre Boulevard, Suite H1. They are open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Plan Your Visit
Padre Island Rentals offers vacation properties of all sizes, ideal for any group in any season. You’ll always be just steps away from the stunning South Padre Island beach and all of the restaurants in South Padre Island that we mentioned here today. Plus, you’ll have the helping hand of our staff throughout your entire stay, happy to explain your amenities or recommend fun activities nearby. Contact us today to start your SPI adventure!
Dirty Al’s
Finally, our list of the best restaurants in South Padre Island near the beach finishes out with Dirty Al’s. They claim to have the best seafood on the entire island and have built a loyal local following. What was once a small, family-owned bait stand has now transformed into a world-famous restaurant that locals and visitors alike flock to every day.
On the menu, you’ll find yummy starters including several varieties of shrimp, oysters, and crab. You might also enjoy the blackened zucchini or beer batter onion rings. Then, move on to one of their incredible seafood baskets; they’ve always got the freshest shrimp, oysters, and fish that you could hope to find on the island. They also offer a wide selection of seafood plates, taco salads, soft tacos, burgers, and po-boys. If you want to share your meal between two to four people, go for a seafood botana, which can combine shrimp, fish, and oysters however you please.
Dirty Al’s is located at 33396 State Park Road. They are open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Your South Padre Island Rental
These South Padre Island restaurants offer amazing views and even better food, so be sure to check out at least one of these spots while you’re in town! Once you’re stuffed to the brim, you can come back to your South Padre Island rentals to relax with the ocean breeze or take a well-deserved nap. Our rental properties are perfect for romantic trips, fun getaways with your friends, or exciting vacations with the entire family!
