South Padre Island's Top Rated Restaurants
EAT LIKE A LOCAL
South Padre eats the way South Texas lives, with Mexican and Gulf Coast cooking sharing the same table. Fresh-off-the-boat shrimp, mesquite-grilled fish, breakfast tacos before the beach, and a cold drink as the sun drops behind the bay. These are the 23 places we actually send our guests to. Dine in, call ahead for pickup, or bring it back and eat on the balcony with the water in front of you.
Straight Off the Gulf: Seafood
The island's whole reason for being. Boats come in, kitchens fire up, and dinner takes care of itself.
Ceviche Ceviche · ★ 4.7
Bright, citrusy, and the highest rated seafood spot on the island. Worth the wait on a busy night.
Dine-in, Takeout · 1004 Padre Blvd H1 · (956) 722-1555
Nautico Island Grill · ★ 4.6
Coastal grill cooking done right, a short walk from the middle of Padre Blvd.
Dine-in, Takeout · 1313 Padre Blvd · (956) 761-9990
Sea Ranch · ★ 4.4
Out by the jetties, where the view of the water is part of the meal.
Dine-in, Takeout · 33330 State Park Rd 100 · (956) 761-1314
Blackbeard's · ★ 4.3
An island institution. Casual, loud in the best way, and always packed in season.
Dine-in, Takeout · 103 E Saturn Ln · (956) 761-2962
Daddy's Seafood & Cajun Kitchen · ★ 4.0
Gulf seafood with a Louisiana accent. Come hungry.
Dine-in, Curbside Pickup · 1808 Padre Blvd · (956) 761-1975
Sit Down and Stay Awhile: Restaurants
The full-service rooms guests book a table at, from steak and oysters to a proper island dinner.
F&B · ★ 4.7
One of the highest rated kitchens on the island and a favorite for a nicer night out.
Dine-in, Takeout · 3109 Padre Blvd · (956) 772-8114
Josephine's Kitchen · ★ 4.5
Home-style cooking that regulars come back for year after year.
Dine-in, Takeout · 3409 Padre Blvd · (956) 299-4910
Liam's Steak House & Oyster Bar · ★ 4.3
Surf and turf on the bay side. Oysters to start, steak to finish.
Dine-in, Takeout · 202 W Tarpon St · (956) 772-4700
Tom & Jerry's · ★ 4.2
Dependable, unpretentious, and right on Padre Blvd.
Dine-in, Takeout · 3212 Padre Blvd · (956) 761-8999
Louie's Backyard · ★ 4.0
A South Padre name everyone knows. Come for the food, stay for the sunset over the water.
Dine-in, Takeout · 103 E Saturn Ln · (956) 761-6406
Cold Drinks, Bare Feet: Bar & Grill
Where the beach day rolls into the evening without anyone changing clothes.
Longboard Bar & Grill · ★ 4.4
Surf-shack energy just off the beach. Easy food, easier afternoons.
Dine-in, Curbside Pickup · 205 W Palm St · (956) 762-7022
Tequilas · ★ 4.4
Margaritas and a menu built for sharing a table with friends.
Dine-in, Takeout · 202 W Whiting St · (956) 761-2977
Laguna Bob · ★ 4.4
Bay side, laid back, and made for watching the sun go down over the Laguna Madre.
Dine-in, Takeout · 2401 Laguna Blvd · (956) 433-5499
Lobo Del Mar · ★ 4.2
A Palm Street standby for a plate of something good and a cold one.
Dine-in, Takeout · 204 Palm St · (956) 761-2977
Feeding the Whole Condo: Italian / Pizza
The easy answer when there are eight of you and everyone wants something different.
Gabriella's · ★ 4.3
Delivers Italian on Padre Blvd, and one of the few kitchens that will bring dinner straight to your door.
Dine-in, Takeout, Delivery · 700 Padre Blvd · (956) 761-6111
The Meatball Cafe · ★ 4.4
Exactly what the name promises, done well.
Dine-in, Curbside Pickup · 2412 Padre Blvd · (956) 299-4605
Russo's New York Pizzeria · ★ 4.1
New York style pies delivered to the condo. A vacation-week staple.
Dine-in, Curbside Pickup, Delivery · 410 Padre Blvd Ste 101 · (956) 299-4987
The South Texas Side of the Menu: Mexican
Twenty minutes from the border, and you can taste it.
Mahi Nic · ★ 4.8
The highest rated restaurant on this entire list. Out by the state park and worth the drive.
Dine-in, Curbside Pickup · 33384 State Park Rd · (956) 243-0279
Señor Donkey · ★ 4.4
Big flavors, bigger portions, north end of the island.
Dine-in, Pickup · 4215 Padre Blvd · (956) 761-4843
Before the Beach: Breakfast / Cafe
Coffee, tacos, and a solid breakfast to start the day right.
Yummie's Bistro · ★ 4.7
A morning favorite and one of the best rated breakfasts on the island.
Dine-in, Takeout · 700 Padre Blvd · (956) 761-2526
The Grapevine Cafe · ★ 4.5
Tucked off the main drag, well worth finding.
Dine-in, Takeout · 100 Swordfish St · (956) 761-8463
Cafe on the Beach · ★ 4.3
Breakfast with sand in view. Hard to beat that.
Dine-in, Curbside Pickup · 3616 Gulf Blvd · (956) 761-2703
Fuel for the Sand: Health-Conscious
For the mornings after a big dinner, or the walk back from the beach.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe · ★ 4.5
Smoothies, wraps, and no-contact delivery to your condo.
Dine-in, Curbside Pickup, No-Contact Delivery · 410 Padre Blvd · (956) 433-5259