RESTAURANTS WE ATE AT ON SOUTH PADRES ISLAND
Where should you eat when visiting South Padre Island? Here is a list of the top restaurants on South Padre Island and would recommend most of them. However, you may want to read the Google reviews before going. These are not in any particular order.
DIRTY AL’S
2305 Laguna Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Dirty Al’s is the type of place that if you ask your server what’s good here, they’ll say everything. And if you like fried fresh fish and fresh seafood this is the place to go. This was one of the first restaurants we ate at on the island; we had so many people recommend it to us.
CEVICHE CEVICHE
1004 Padre Blvd h1, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Chuck has always wanted to try Ceviche. So many people have suggested that he eat it saying, “It will be the best thing you ever eat.” So after a couple weeks we finally made it to Ceviche Ceviche and let me tell you Chucks expectations were blown out of the water. He loved it. Our daughter Kaysie was with us and she loved hers as well. I liked Chuck’s and Kaysie’s a lot. I would have liked my dish a lot better if it had been a little less cilantro in it. But let me tell you, after eating our food we felt incredible. Everything I put in my body, my body loved and wanted more of.
If you go to Ceviche Ceviche the layout was in a buffet style like a Subway or Chipotle. You simply go to the counter and order what you want. Most people take their food to go, but they have a couple tables right outside their door. There is also a spot just to the north end of the strip mall by the UMIX. It is a patio area that everyone can use.
CAFE KARMA
5200 Padre Blvd Suite 101, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Great ice cream and coffee. Chuck had the Affogato, Kaysie had a Karmaccino and I had the sea salt caramel ice cream, which was delicious. Both Kaysie’s and Chuck’s drinks had ice cream in their coffee. The whole time we were there, both of them kept going off about how this was the best coffee they had ever had.
Along with the great coffee and ice cream, the environment inspires creativity with all of the unique art inside. They have games, books, and occasionally hold jam sessions (which is always a bonus).Overall, you can’t go wrong with Cafe Karma.
YUMMIES BISTRO
700 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Great breakfast! This place had some of the best google reviews on South Padre Island. What caught my eye was their coffee picture. I know how Chuck loves really great coffee, so I thought I would surprise him and take him to this coffee shop.
The place was packed and now I know why! Luckily, they had one open table outside. I had a fruit plate and Chuck got his coffee. He ordered the Spanish Macchiato and said, “It was the best coffee he has ever had!” I asked, “Is it better then the Cafe Karma Ice Cream Coffee that you said was the best coffee he ever had, just last week.” He said, “That one had ice cream in it, so this is his favorite one without ice cream and the Affogato at Cafe Karma was his favorite one with ice cream in it.”
CLAYTON’S BEACH BAR AND EVENT VENUE
6900 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
This is the college party spot if you are on spring break on South Padre Island. What a fun bar! It is nice to have a couple of cocktails and just sit in the sun on their deck. The food is great too! I only wish they had a little more alcohol in their Pina Colada drinks.
PADRERITA GRILL
4001 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Great margaritas! If you like margaritas this is the place to go. My sister swears by the jalapeno margarita.
They do have live music and great food too!
BAR LOUIE
6700 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
This bar is located in the Courtyard by Marriott. Once you go into the lobby head straight down the hall. I feel like it would be helpful for them to have a sign directing people to the bar.
We went in for Tuesday night $5 burgers. The burgers were really good. Chuck and I both agreed that we have had better tasting burgers, but the place was packed and it was definitely worth the $5 we spent on the burger. Don’t get me wrong, they were good! They had some live music which we really enjoyed too! They also have a dance floor.
KOHNAMI
410 Padre Blvd #102, South Padre Island, TX 78597
One thing that Chuck and I love is Sushi. We ate here several times for lunch while on the South Padre Island and highly recommend this restaurant. Keep in mind their dinner menu prices are a lot higher than their lunch menu so we always go for sushi during lunch.
The first time we ate here the food was fantastic! Very fresh sushi! We ordered the Orgasmo Roll, Mt. McKinley Roll, Tiger Roll, and Mongolian Beef & Chicken Fried Rice. The rolls came out and they were twice the size then the ones back home in Minnesota. Needless to say we had so much left over food and got to enjoy it for two more meals. It was incredible.
The chef on that first day had something very special in the way he prepared the food. It was like a beautiful sculpture. I wish I knew what the guy’s name was because we would like to go on the day he is cooking. The next few times we went to the restaurant the food was still delicious.
We fell in love with the Orgasmo Roll so much that we ordered it every time we went there.
WANNA WANNA
5100 Gulf Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
This is a hopping bar on the Gulf side of South Padre Island. We enjoyed our time here after a 5 mile walk on the beach. It was nice to have a break from walking!
GABRIELLA’S
700 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
While we didn’t have the best experience, Gabriella’s has a lot of good reviews on google, but we had several issues with our order and was charged for a bottle of wine we didn’t order. It just took a while to straighten everything out but in the end it all worked out. Our food was sorta bland, but others seems to be really enjoying this restaurant.
BOOMERANG’S
2612 Gulf Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
After a long day of walking on the beach we stopped in here for a quick cocktail and some coconut shrimp. Chuck ordered nachos of course. Man that coconut shrimp is soooo good! A great place to sit under a tiki hut and sip a Pina Colada.
LONGBOARD BAR AND GRILL
205 Palm St, South Padre Island, TX 78597
We had a day of bar hopping on the island and the day started at Longboard Bar and Grill (See Maps of South Padre Bars). There was a band playing, drinks and fun were being had by all. They have a huge stage that when you sit down you can see out into the bay. Great setting!
HARRY’S BAR
2217 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Harry’s Bar for a quick one or two.
COCONUT JACK’S
2301 Laguna Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Coconut Jack’s. This is a fun tiki hut looking place. We stopped in for a cocktail. There wasn’t much going on the night we went but I feel like it had a good vibe and would imagine if you hit a night with some music.
LOUIE’S BACKYARD
2305 Laguna Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
This was definitely one of our favorites to make the list of the top restaurants on South Padre Island. They have like 8 different bars connected to this building. If you go to this bar be sure you take an adventure and walk through all the different bars. Explore every nook and cranny.
We spent quite a bit of time in the sports bar upstairs and found that one of the doors led up a staircase where you can overlook the bay and see Coconut Jacks. Not sure if this was just a door for the employees? It didn’t say it was.
They have the best specials during the week for a really good price, roughly 7 or 8 dollars per meal. Plus they offer a free buffet of chips and salsa, an assortment of veggies, and hush puppies from 4 to 7 pm everyday of the week. This is nice because it draws you in and allows people to snack while drinking and watching your favorite sports team. Another thing, they have all you can eat prime rib and seafood buffet, although we haven’t experienced yet but have only heard good things about it.
LOBO DEL MAR CAFE
204 Palm St, South Padre Island, TX 78597
We loved this place. I had a Pina Colada and sat on their back deck overlooking the bayside on South Padre Island. The setting was perfect. There was live music up in the restaurant that we could hear from where we were sitting. It was a beautiful night and we are glad to add this to the list of top restaurants on South Padre Island.
GRAVITY PARK
By the ferris wheel, across the street from Louie’s Backyard is Gravity Park. It is my understanding that this will be the permanent spot for a grouping of sand castles. Be sure you check them out if you get a chance. We got a chance to meet Sandy Feet and Joaquin Cortez, they were working on the sand castles several days and nights when we stopped by. They are both so talented! If you end up seeing either of them working one day or night say hi from Chuck and Sandi!
Also, be sure to pick up a map of all the sand castles at the one of the two visitors information centers on South Padre Island.
South Padre Island Visitors Center – 610 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Island Metro Public Transit – 321 Padre Blvd South Padre Island, TX 78597
DRIFTWOOD LANDING
2401 B, Laguna Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Cool vibe here at The Driftwood Landing.
LAGUNA BOB’S
2401 Laguna Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
We loved Laguna Bob’s very open, inviting, fun atmosphere, plus they have live music!
TEQUILA SUNSET
200 W Pike St, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Another one of our favorites to make the list of top restaurants on South Padre Island is Tequila Sunset. Great venue! They had live music here which we always love!
TOM & JERRY’S
3212 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
Our second month on South Padre Island we did get a chance to go to Tom and Jerry’s. We both ordered burgers. They were good.
RESTAURANTS ON SOUTH PADRES ISLAND THAT WE DIDN’T GET TO EAT AT
CHILITTO PIKIN
3305 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
LIAM’S STEAKHOUSE AND OYSTER BAR
202 W Tarpon St, South Padre Island, TX 78597
F & B
3109 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
THE MEATBALL CAFE
2412 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
TED’S
5717 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
CAFE ON THE BEACH
3616 Gulf Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
WINDJAMMER’S BEACHFRONT CAFE
500 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
SEA RANCH
33330 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597
PAINTED MARLIN GRILLE
202 W Whiting St, South Padre Island, TX 78597
THE GRAPEVINE CAFE AND COFFEEHOUSE
100 Swordfish St, South Padre Island, TX 78597
PADRE ISLAND BREWING CO.
3400 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
DADDY’ SEAFOOD & CAJUN KITCHEN
CAP’N ROY’S
1313 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
THE LOOKOUT
7000 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, TX 78597
PRO TIP
There are so many restaurants on South Padre Island. We were here for 2 months and didn’t get to them all. I might suggest you make a list before you get here of your top 5 or 10 you for sure want to get to. Google of course is a great reference to be able to read the reviews.
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What are your favorite restaurants on South Padre Island? And if we missed some that you love be sure to comment below. Thanks for your input.
COMMENTS
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