14 Spectacular Restaurants in Surf City NC for the Foodies!

Published by Christina. Last Updated on July 29, 2024.

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In the center of Topsail Island, you’ll find many local businesses and some of the best restaurants in Surf City, North Carolina. From fresh donuts to mouthwatering shrimp tacos and many more flavors in between, the coastal town covers your beach vacation meals from breakfast to dinner.

In fact, we break down Surf City restaurants by “Breakfast” and “Lunch & Dinner” so you’ll have an easier time planning your day. Here’s how we’ve organized this guide:

Surf City NC Restaurant Map (via Google Maps)
List of Restaurants in Surf City
- Breakfast
- Lunch & Dinner
More Topsail Island Travel Guides

You can skip ahead to any section or visually plan your next meal at one of these Surf City NC restaurants.

Surf City NC Restaurant Map

You can also visually plan your next Surf City food adventure with the following maps:

List of Restaurants in Surf City

These Surf City restaurants have been designated as either “Breakfast” or “Lunch & Dinner.” If a restaurant serves more than one meal (or all of the above), we note it in our description.

Breakfast
- The Daily Grind
- Day Break Donuts
- Diver Surfside Cafe
- Surf Break Nutrition
- Sunrise Bagel Co.
Lunch & Dinner
- Coastal Wing and Spirits
- Daddy Mac’s Beach Grille
- Island Delights
- Max’s Pizza
- New York Corner Deli
- Sears Landing
- Shaka Taco
- SurfDog Bites and Brews
- Topsail Steamer

Where to Eat Breakfast in Surf City

These restaurants specialize in the most important meal of the day.

The Daily Grind

Address: 114 N Topsail Dr, Surf City, NC
Facebook Page

One of our favorite ways to start a morning in Surf City is at The Daily Grind! Have a delicious latte with a homemade donut, and you’re ready to hit the beach.

Daily Grind is a Surf City restaurant that also serves delicious ice cream if you want to satisfy that sweet tooth in the afternoon.

At night, they also have live music during the Summer, and it is an excellent location to enjoy a glass of wine and the company of friends.

Day Break Donuts

Address: 303 S Topsail Dr, Surf City, NC
Facebook Page

Homemade donuts dipped and topped to order? Yep! Day Break Donuts are made fresh and are so soft and fluffy.

There are a ton of flavor combinations, including:

Bacon Bomb (maple glaze, cinnamon sugar, and bacon)
Margarita (key lime glaze and sea salt)
Dutch Apple (the crowd favorite)

Grab a dozen for our beach rental, or enjoy them while they are still hot.

Diver Surfside Cafe

Address: 809 Roland Ave, Surf City, NC
Website

Smoothies, freshly pressed juice, and refreshing smoothie bowls. Diver Surfside Cafe is an excellent light choice among these restaurants in Surf City.

Also offering breakfast burritos, avocado toast, and other brunch specials, we are a big fan of Diver Surfside Cafe.

There is plenty of parking and some outside seating. Make sure to check out the views from the second floor too!

Surf Break Nutrition

Address: 214 N Topsail Dr Suite B, Surf City, NC
Facebook Page

Surf Break Nutrition is an excellent spot for the health-conscious. Serving clean energy protein shakes, teas, and bowls, it’s excellent for grabbing a meal on the go before a walk on the beach.

Each drink has 24 grams of protein, 21 minerals and vitamins, and less than 250 calories!

Make sure you say, “Hello!” to Daisy while you’re there!

Sunrise Bagel Co.

Address: 303 S Topsail Dr Unit B
Facebook Page

Located right next door to Daybreak Donuts is Sunrise Bagel Co. If you are a fan of both the sweet and savory, you can hit up these Surf City restaurants for breakfast and please the whole house!

Sunrise Bagel Co. makes everything fresh- the bagels are made in-house daily, your eggs are cooked to order, and the cream cheese flavors are housemade. I’m always a fan of an egg bagel, but if you want something extra indulgent, get the Bacon Blast- a bagel mixed with bacon and cheese!

Lunch & Dinner Restaurants in Surf City NC

Stop by these amazing Surf City restaurants later in the day. Your tastebuds and tummy will thank you!

Coastal Wing and Spirits

Address: 108 Triton Lane, Surf City, NC
Website

Located across the bridge on the mainland is Coastal Wing and Spirits, next to Salty Turtle Beer Company—winner of 2021’s Best NC Brewery!

Coastal’s wings are crispy, perfectly seasoned, and pair well with a crisp light beer. And if you’re in the mood, they have an outstanding Crispy Smoked Pork Belly and very popular Angus Burgers!

And if we have to be honest, also get dozen smoked wings, because they are also insanely delicious! As our favorite pub-style restaurant in Surf City, they have an abundance of sauces for everyone.

Choose anything from an Alabama White Sauce to Carolina Reaper, and you won’t leave hungry!

Daddy Mac’s Beach Grille

Address: 108 N Shore Dr, Surf City, NC
Website

Daddy Mac’s Beach Grille has the best view of any Surf City restaurant. Sitting on the beach near the pier, outside tables are often popular and can be hard to snag on weekends.

Their specialties include fresh seafood du jour and crab cakes, which can be cooked to your preference.

They’re open year-round for lunch and dinner, except for Sunday dinners and all-day Monday. Due to their popularity, there’s often a bit of a wait in peak hours, but we enjoyed a cocktail from their bar while we waited!

Island Delights

Address: 316 N New River Dr, Surf City, NC
Facebook Page
Open Seasonally

Island Delights is a delightful 50s-inspired diner and ice cream shop and one of the best places to eat in Surf City! Chow down on classic burgers and save room for their popular ice cream flavors.

This Surf City restaurant is a must-stop for our family, featuring 22 flavors of ice cream, banana splits, sundaes, and milkshakes.

Island Delights closes for the winter season but opens again in the spring. Check their Facebook Page for updates on operating hours and any changes to the menu.

Read more: Best Restaurants in Wilmington and Carolina Beach

Max’s Pizza

Address: 602 Roland Ave, Surf City, NC
Website

Something about a pizza slice with crashing waves in the background makes memories. Many families love Max’s Pizza for its homemade dough and a special blend of cheeses.

This restaurant in Surf City is also allergen-friendly and offers gluten-free pizzas! More than pizza, Max’s also has awesome pasta options at affordable prices.

New York Corner Deli

Address: 206 N Topsail Dr, Surf City, NC
Website

I can’t rave about New York Corner Deli enough! It is the best place to get a sandwich in Surf City known for its overstuffed handhelds. While lunch is the most popular, they also serve breakfast all day.

Enjoy the Hershey (pictured) alongside a pint of chicken salad or authentic Taylor Pork Roll. The soups are made in-house and serve cannolis alongside delectable Black and White cookies.

Sears Landing

Address: 806 Roland Ave, Surf City, NC
Website

The previous owner of Sears Landing, Howard Batts, came up with the name after hearing his father’s story about the land. According to him, a pirate named Sears arrived on NC’s beaches many years ago and started a trading post on the restaurant’s site.

Today, Sears Landing offers the true sea experience, with its own port for boats to dock. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sears Landing uses only the freshest ingredients for its Southern cuisine-led menu!

However, the pirate legends surrounding the property make them an authentic seaside establishment. To better understand that, here’s a quick history dive.

Shaka Taco

Address: 107 B N Shore Dr, Surf City, NC
Website

You can’t go wrong with Shaka Taco for the best tacos on Topsail! Shaka Taco prides itself on having some of Topsail’s freshest food and ingredients.

Customers can order from a window and enjoy their meal on the attached patio. Its menu consists of delicious tacos, wings, quesadillas, and bowls.

Our favorite is the shrimp tacos; don’t leave without trying one (or three!).

SurfDog Bites and Brews

Address: 204 N New River Dr. A, Surf City, NC
Website

SurfDog Bites and Brews is perfect for enjoying comfort food by the beach. Their menu includes salads, sandwiches, bowls, widely praised hot dogs, and burgers named for different attractions and cities.

Many customers especially enjoy drinking ice-cold beer along the beach.

Topsail Steamer

Address: 302 S Topsail Dr, Surf City, NC
Website

Topsail Steamer puts a twist on classic seafood dining by offering prepared seafood steam pots for you to take home and enjoy.

The process is simple: pick one of their 7 Bay Buckets–just varying mixtures of seafood, meat, and veggies– or make your own Bucket.

You can order online and have it delivered or order in person. Next, take your steamed pot home, follow the easy instructions to prepare the pot, and enjoy!

This creative dining service makes it easy for families to enjoy a fresh meal in a quiet place without the hassle of preparing it themselves.

Ready to Eat at these Surf City Restaurants?

If you’re looking for food in Surf City NC, we think these amazing restaurants will take care of anything you’re craving. Are you familiar with any of these places to eat?

Also, if you have any recommendations or suggestions, we’re open to them all!

Kindly let us know your thoughts in the comments section or by email. Don’t forget to share your Surf City culinary adventures in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group.

Beyond Surf City NC Restaurants (Travel Guides)

We’ve created many more NC travel guides that feature these amazing restaurants in Surf City and more places throughout the area. Here are a few guides to get you started.

14 Spectacular Restaurants in Surf City for the Foodies!