The best restaurant is always one where you can get your favorite food, made with love and served with a smile. But, of course, there are other parameters we can use to try to find the top eateries in the Wilmington area.
Review sites like Yelp regularly produce lists of restaurant superlatives. USA TODAY compiles its Restaurants of the Year and Bars of the Year annually. And, of course, the Wilmington StarNews has asked readers to vote for their favorites in numerous polls. Here’s a look at some of those bars and restaurants that are considered among the best in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties.
Al’s Burger Shack, 3556 Leland Town Center Drive, Leland: This restaurant, which was born in Chapel Hill, was named the Best Burger in America
by TripAdvisor in 2018 and the best cheeseburger in North Carolina in 2026by Fast Food Club.
Beer Barrio, 34 N. Front St., Wilmington: This chef-driven Mexican restaurant serves the best burrito in the state, according to national roundups by both loveFOOD and Far & Wide. The specialty is its signature pressed burrito.
The Blind Elephant, 21 N. Front St., Wilmington: This downtown speakeasy with an alleyway entrance is a members-only bar with a thoughtfully curated list of craft cocktails. It was aUSA TODAY Bars of the Year in 2025.
Bridge Tender, 1414 Airlie Road, Wilmington: This upscale restaurant near the Wrightsville Beach bridge was named the area’sfavorite waterfront restaurantby Wilmington StarNews readers. It's been a favorite since 1976.
Cape Fear Seafood Company, multiple locations: This seafood brand, which has restaurants from Pender County to Brunswick County and beyond, won a Wilmington StarNews readers’ poll fortheir signature creamy shrimp and grits.
Casey’s Buffet, 5559 Oleander Drive, Wilmington: One of Wilmington’s most popular Southern restaurants has been recognizedmultiple times in USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards as one of the top buffet restaurants nationwide.
The Dive Restaurant and Bar, 6 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach: This hot spot on Pleasure Island was named one of America's top 120 dive bars for foodby Geek Nexus. It also regularly wins local awards for best wings.
The Fat Pelican, 8 Lake Park Blvd. S., Carolina Beach: This bar with a walk-in beer coolerand what may be the largest collection of local signs was named the 25th "Diviest Dive Bar in America" by the website Impulcity.
Fermental, 600 S. 17th St., Wilmington: This popular bottle shop in the Cargo District was named one of thetop 20 beer bars in the world by Craft Beer & Brewing magazine for its eclectic selection of beer and wine and family friendly beer garden.
Fish Bites Seafood Restaurant, 6132 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington: This beloved local restaurant was named North Carolina's Best Seafood Restaurant by Eat This, Not That! in 2021 and was also on Yelp's Top 100 Seafood Spots for 2024.
Fizzy Jane’s, 614 W. West St., Southport: This restaurant, which is a part of the Island Grindz restaurant in Brunswick County, was voted best brunch in a readers’ pollfrom the Wilmington StarNews.
The Fortunate Glass, 29 S. Front St., Wilmington: This intimate downtown bar with an impressive selection of globally sourced wines, that can be paired with creative small plates, was a USA TODAY Bars of the Year pick for 2026.
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Front Street Brewery, 9 N. Front St., Wilmington: This longtime staple of downtown Wilmington, and one of the area’s first breweries, also happens to have an extensive selection of bourbons and whiskeys – and was among The Bourbon Review’s Best Bourbon Bars in the South in 2024.
Frontier Food to Go, 2633 Carolina Beach Road and 1016 College Road, Wilmington: This brand, which is celebrating 60 years in business, has recently grown from its original location in a red trailer to a second one. They were the top vote-getter in a readers’ poll for the best hot dog.
Girls with Dough, 204 Arcadian Row, Wilmington: This pizzeria and pub in Wilmington’s Riverlights community was the top vote-getter in the 2026 Wilmington StarNews readers' poll for best pizza. Look for a crisp crust and both creative and traditional pies.
The Half, 510 1/2 Red Cross St. and 7110 Wrightsville Ave., Wilmington: This local sandwich restaurant was on Yelp's Top 100 Sandwich Shops in the U.S. in 2025, for its interesting menu, unique beer selections, and dietary accommodations.
Island Burgers & Bites, 254 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach: This popular restaurant was named Yelp’s best cheeseburger in North Carolina in 2022 and ranked No. 5 on the review site's top 100 restaurants in the state in 2024.
Jimmy's, 5 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach: The original location of this bar (and home to boozy slushies) reached the Sweet 16 in the Barstool Sports "Best College Bar" national tournament in 2021 and again in 2022. The owners have since opened a Wilmington location.
The Maine Lobstah Shack, 411 Roland Ave., Surf City: This seasonal restaurant, which specializes in lobster rolls, was namedthe No. 1 seafood restaurant in North Carolina by Yelp in July 2023.
manna,123 Princess St., Wilmington: Look for an ever-changing menu from Chef Carson Jewell using local, seasonal ingredients. It was on the list ofUSA TODAY's Restaurants of the Yearin February 2026.
Olivero, 522 S. Third St., Wilmington: This restaurant from James Beard nominated chefs Sunny Gerhart and Lauren Krall Ivey, was among theUSA TODAY Restaurants of the Year in 2025. Look for a Spanish / Italian / Mediterranean menu using local ingredients.
P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grille, multiple locations: Fans love a lot of things about this local burger brand, especially the fries. It's no surprise they were voted the No. 1 favorite French fry for their freshly cut, cooked and seasoned version in a Wilmington StarNews readers' poll.
Poe’s Tavern, 212 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach: This regional chain offers a surprising selection of burgers and was the top vote-getter in the Wilmington StarNews best burger poll in 2024.
Rebellion, 15 S. Front St., Wilmington: Thanks in part to its whiskey selection – and Whiskey Wednesday specials -- this bar and restaurant was named one the Best Bourbon Bars in the South by The Bourbon Review.
Savorez, 402 Chestnut St. Wilmington: A popular local spot for any meal, the Latin-inspired breakfast dishes helped this restaurant land the designation ofa top brunch spot in North Carolina in 2021, according to Yelp.
Seabird, 1 S. Front St., Wilmington: Chef Dean Neff, who owns this community-focused, hyperlocal seafood restaurant with his wife, Lydia Clopton, has landed on this list of nominations for Outstanding Chef, one of the top awards from the James Beard Foundation, more than once. He was also a finalist.
Smokin' Jimmies Express, 2105 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington: In a reader poll from the Wilmington StarNews, this window service spot was the top vote-getter for the area’s best wings in 2025.
Sugo Italian Steakhouse, 301 N. Water St., Wilmington: This restaurant located in the Hotel Ballast in downtown Wilmington was named best steakhouse in a readers’ poll from the Wilmington StarNews. Also, in September 2026, the restaurant’s pastry chef, Charmaine Devine, was named Pastry Chef of the Year at the Chef Showdown from the N.C. Restaurant & Lodging Association.
Topsail Steamer, 530 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach and 302 S. Topsail Drive, Surf City. This business offers take-home seafood steam pots with seafood, meats, veggies and house-made seasonings. It was named among the Top 100 Seafood Spots for 2024 by Yelp.
Waterfront Seafood Shack, 9945 Nance St., Calabash: This open-air restaurant in Brunswick County landed a place Yelp’s Top 100 Seafood Spots in 2024.
Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 30 of the best restaurants and bars in the Wilmington area
