John’s Drive-In is legendary in the Outer Banks. This little beach stand gets a lot of love by offering locals and tourists the best in beach food and milkshakes. 

The dolphin boat is one of the most talked about meals on the sandbar. Grab one to go and enjoy it for a scrumptious lunch on the beach. It might just be the best fish you taste on the Outer Banks. There’s also BBQ, hamburgers and sandwiches at this old-fashioned drive-in. You can smell the food frying as you approach the stand, which means it’s time to indulge in onion rings, hush puppies and fries.

Be sure to wash it all down with one of John’s famous thick milkshakes. The peanut butter chocolate banana milkshake and cherry chocolate shake are among the best. 

John's Drive-in is old school. Food is prepared in a tiny kitchen and served in paper bags for takeout. You can eat the food on picnic benches out front, but there’s likely to be a crowd. John’s is a dive with a lot of pride and people in the Outer Banks always go back for more.

John’s Drive-In is open seasonally and closed on Wednesdays. Hours are limited and vary. It’s well worth a drive out of your way to see if the stand is open. Lines can be long because the stand is so popular. However, you’ll receive friendly service and your food will be prepared on the spot rather quickly.


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Kitty Hawk
252-261-6227
Hours
*Off-season hours may vary*
Call 252-261-6227 for current hours.
  • Monday11:00am-6:00pm
  • Tuesday11:00am-6:00pm
  • Thursday11:00am-6:00pm
  • Friday11:00am-6:00pm
  • Saturday11:00am-6:00pm
  • Sunday11:00am-6:00pm
Categories
Restaurants
Outer Banks Fishing Charters & Fishing Guide

Outer Banks Fishing Charters & Fishing Guide

Long before the summer vacationing families discovered the Outer Banks as a hot tourist destination, fishermen from across the country flocked to coastal North Carolina. With no roads to navigate, and no vacation homes to stay in, anglers would brave the makeshift sandy paths that ran along thebeaches, and would set up makeshift campsites whenever there was protection from the wind and waves. They went through great efforts to visit the Outer Banks for one reason: Exceptional fishing.

Black Pelican

Black Pelican

Black Pelican oceanfront restaurant is one of the Outer Banks’ premier restaurants serving lunch and dinner daily. Black Pelican is where you can enjoy fresh seafood, steaks, vegetarian dishes, sandwiches and some of the barrier island’s best wood-fired pizzas complete with a beautiful ocean view from the dining rooms and outdoor deck. The restaurant is big enough to handle large parties, but the setting is intimate enough for a cozy date.