Ultimate Guide to Surfside Beach Restaurants

We don’t get to have babysitters on every trip to Surfside restaurants. But when we do get a date night alone, it is hard to beat the fine dining experience Red Snapper consistently offers.

You will not find tastier seafood fare anywhere in Surfside. I highly recommend the crabmeat stuffed Jalepeños and the Sautéed Filet of Snapper Opelousas.

You will feel comfortable wearing a beach-formal outfit (long pants / beach dress) and the crowd is more quiet and mature.

The service is excellent and you will not be rushed out of your table; however, arrive early or late to avoid a 1hr+ wait time at 7pm for a table during the busy season.

If you like live music, fun people, and enjoying a drink at the end of the day, Sharkies on the Beach is always a good time.

Don’t let Sharkies’ unique outdoor bar fool you – their kitchen dishes out some amazing food. In particular, I recommend the Jalapeno Monterey sandwich and their onion rings are delicious.

You’ll feel fine wearing anything casual – if you are walking over from the beach, throw a shirt and some sandals on and you are good to go!

Download the AMI Music app before you come to play your favorite songs on the jukebox, and bring some singles for the pool tables 🙂

We rarely visit Surfside Beach without a meal at the Seahorse Bar and Grill. If you want to eat at the table with the best view in Surfside, or you need a large table for your big group, this is the right place for dinner.

You can park in the Ocean Village Hotel parking lot or simply walk up from the beach. I recommend the Kickin’ Chicken sandwich and their Sante Fe eggrolls are a treat.

If you are planning to sit out on the deck, dress for high winds and watch out for opportunistic pigeons and seagulls looking to eat your food.

Friendly staff and great food; plan to spend a couple hours for dinner as the kitchen takes their time to perfect the meal.

If you are looking for the best lunch spot in Surfside Beach, walk over to Jetty Shack for an amazing burger!

Eat at one of their picnic tables or take your meal to go and eat across the street at the Splash Pad or Jetty Park.

While you are there ordering the famous Jetty Burger or fried chicken sandwich, be sure to try their fried zucchini; they are the best!

Great spot to grab food for the kids while they are cooling off and getting the sand sprayed off in the splash pad.

No list of Surfside restaurants would be complete without mentioning the best way to start your day in Surfside Beach. Culture Coffee is a mobile coffee shop that serves the best cup of jo from Arilington to the Jetty.

Before heading to their location near Red Snapper, be sure to check their facebook page for hours, as they move around a lot.

They have more than just coffee also! Be sure to try their delicious signature drinks like the Mermaid and lavender lemonade.

Located right next to Surfside Marina, this is the best place to grab a hearty meal after a day out on the ocean.

Eat out on the deck of Dorado’s Dive Club with a view of the intercoastal waterway, and be sure to sample their spicy Boudin Balls and crispy friend calamari.

After dinner, walk down the stairs to The Well, a full bar and live music venue below the deck of the restaurant (on the water).

Great place to spend an evening outdoors – but don’t forget the mosquito repellant!

Where do we go every weekend for the best frozen drinks in Surfside Beach? Surfin’ Rita!

We love Surfin’ Rita because we can drive through and get frozen adult beverages for us, and delicious snow cones for the kids!

This is a great spot to stop on the way in and have a drink on their deck if your rental is not quite ready for check-in yet.

I particularly recommend their frozen margarita and frozen long island iced tea, and for snow cones our kids like their banana and pina colada.

Their service is quick and friendly, but be sure the check their Facebook page for hours before you go, as their availability changes frequently.

Although El Toro is technically in Lake Jackson, it is hands down the best tex-mex / mexican Surfside restaurants.

We love bringing the whole family to this Lake Jackson restaurant, because it is easy to get a table big enough for 20 people, and they are very family-friendly with all of our children and cousins.

We usually have a reason we need to drive into Lake Jackson during a visit to Surfside, and when we do, we usually make a stop at El Toro.

I highly recommend their queso and southwestern eggrolls, but the highlight of their menu is definitely their steak, chicken, and shrimp fajita combo.

Be sure to grab a complimentary soft-serve ice cream cone when you leave!

Of all the Surfside restaurants, one of the most fun for a large crowd / party experience is Beach Front Deck Bar and Grill.

Direct beach access, tons of fun lawn games downstairs, and the largest Adirondack chair on the island make this a great hang for large groups.

Cool off with a drink on the deck after a hot day on the beach; this location is perfect walking distance from most of Surfside Beach.

This Surfside restaurant caters to an adult crowd, and becomes a 21+ only establishment after 10pm.

The drinks are good, but the food is very very expensive and slow to come out; we like hanging out here, but typically prefer to eat elsewhere.

Hungry on the beach? Hop on your golf cart and make a burger run to Sugar Skull Rolling Cafe!

One of the most delicious Surfisde restaurants is a food truck located near the bridge and Sharkies.

I highly recommend trying their breakfast taco plate, or if you like a lot of bacon and bacon, the mac daddy.

Be sure the check their facebook page for hours before going.

Class it up with a view at On the River Restaurant!

This cozy diner serves up fresh seafood in a cozy, warm environment. They also handle large groups very well.

I recommend their poboys, fried oysters, and grilled catfish.

Enjoy a classy night of fine food on the water without breaking the bank 🙂

Just on the other side of the Surfside Bridge, on the intercoastal waterway, is an upbeat live music venue and bar called Pier 30.

Pier 30 is included in the list of Surfside restaurants because they do offer food, but the highlight of Pier 30 is the view from the deck and the live music.

This is a great place to go out late if you want a high-energy environment; however, it is not particularly family-friendly.

Be sure to sample their crawfish queso and grilled shrimp salad.

On the way into town, before you get to the Surfside bridge, there is a little restaurant on the side of the road called La Sirenita.

This seafood restaurant does not have a spectacular reputation with local residents, so to be perfectly honest, we have always driven past La Sirenita, and haven’t stopped to try it.

If you have tried La Sirenita, let us know what you think!