Gulf Shores is an urban city in the southern part of the state of Alabama, situated in Baldwin County along the Gulf of Mexico. It holds several tourist attractions and exciting things to do for weekend leisure, such as beautiful beaches, trails, a pier, a golf course, and a zipline.
The area also has numerous captivating neighborhoods that may interest various individuals, for instance, families with children, young professionals, and retirees.
Naturally, one can only imagine Gulf Shores by considering its restaurants. Gulf Shores boasts a diversity of restaurants that provide a variety of specialty foods.
In this blog, we will explore the top 10 best Gulf Shores restaurants and their top-selling dishes, which will surely captivate your taste buds!
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The Hangout is a beach-themed restaurant famous for its oyster cook-off, concerts, and playful parties in the open air. It boasts some of the best seafood meals in Gulf Shores.
Right on the waterfront, it can provide a backdrop for the day at the beach, foam parties, building a giant sandcastle, sitting around the campfire at night, and so much more for families to have fun during their weekend on the beach.
The Hangout is particularly suitable for families who wish to eat while participating in other activities. As they said, everything in The Hangout is fun!
It is one of the best Gulf Shores restaurants, not just for its mouthwatering dishes on its menu and prime beach location but also for the lively entertainment that makes every visit unforgettable!
Must-Try:
- Ultimate Seafood Boil – snow crab, Gulf shrimp, mussels, sweet corn, red potatoes, and Conecuh sausage are cooked to a low boil and finished with Old Bay garlic butter.
- Braised Short Rib – tender short ribs forked tender are served with cheesy gouda grits, a plate of seasoned vegetables, and a red wine demi glaze.
- Seared Salmon – seared salmon fillet accompanied with jasmine rice, spinach cream sauce, and other vegetables of the season.
Reviews:
“The Shaka Burger was delish! The atmosphere is kid-centric with foam parties at the top of the hour and games on the :30. They do have you pay $20 to park in their lot, however you get a $20 voucher to spend in their gift shop so it evens out. Much easier to park in their lot than the beach lots surrounding the location. A big + for us is they are dog-friendly at the outdoor tables and areas! Would definitely come back!
Kid-friendliness: Great kid-centric atmosphere with gamed and foam parties.”
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LuLu’s is not typical of the Gulf Shores restaurants because each meal is prepared from Lucy Buffett’s kitchen recipes.
Known for quality ingredients focusing on fresh, scratch-made foods, homemade dressings, sauces, and an extensive allergy menu, LuLu’s brings customers the Crazy Sista love. This squeeze keeps the dining experience memorable.
LuLu’s is one of the best restaurants in Gulf Shores and boasts outstanding leadership in supporting the local producers.
Each dish and recipe in their menu is made from scratch with the finest local produce to guarantee the guests experience authentic and genuine Gulf Coast flavor and the essence of fresh, locally sourced products.
Following sustainability, LuLu’s ensures that guests can have a hearty meal that is friendly to the environment.
From soups to seafood, greens to grains, every dish at LuLu’s is sourced with a strong conscience toward the environment, making it a favorite destination for customers looking to dine in an eco–friendly restaurant.
Must-Try:
- Shrimp and Grits – A flavorful blend of shrimp and Andouille sausage in a rich Tasso and tomato cream sauce served atop creamy Gouda grits.
- Tacos – Three soft flour tortillas stuffed with cabbage, fresh pico de gallo, chipotle cream sauce, and melted queso fresco. Served with LuLu’s tortilla chips and our new favorite sassy salsa. Additional charge for this Guac Topper.
- Key West Bowl – A choice of Cuban yellow rice, island black beans, and “Mama’s Turnip Greens”; upgrade your meal with a guac topper for a little extra cost.
Reviews:
“We have been here twice and really enjoy it! The restaurant is located close to the water with great open air seating. They have quite a bit going on with a ropes course, sand play area, arcade room, sand volleyball court, corn hole/game area, and gift shop. The kids love eating and playing in the sand. The food is pretty good too! We hade the pick two with shrimp and grouper and everything tasted great. Service and wait time for food was pretty good too. I would recommend eating here if in the area, especially if you are looking for a place for your kids to eat and play. Prices seemed reasonable for seafood, and the restaurant appeared neat and clean.
Parking: They have a couple parking areas including a lot for overflow. There are several handicap parking spots near the front of the restaurant. There was plenty of parking for lunch but assume it can get busy.
Kid-friendliness: They have a decent amount of activities for kids. It’s nice that they can play in the sand while you eat.”
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Fish River Grill is one of the best places to eat in Gulf Shores, known as a “Funky Junky Redneck Joint” type of restaurant. Praised for Baldwin County’s best burgers and seafood menu, this place offers to try their famous Swamp Soup or one of the cocktails.
Claiming two prestigious awards from Bay’s Telegraph, Fish River Grill is the best-kept secret for local food lovers and tourists hunting for a great dining experience.
When it comes to seafood delicacies, Swamp Soup at Fish River Grill is something that you don’t want to miss. This dish is one of the most famous in the South for all the good reasons. The taste of its tender seafood with fantastic spices and the potent broth, all mixed in one bowl, is simply an outstanding example of authentic comfort food.
Alongside the restaurant’s famous dishes, Swamp Soup introduces Baldwin County’s food culture. It is a must for anyone with an adventurous palate and a sense of fun.
Must-Try:
- Cajun Crawfish Pistol – A French roll is stuffed with crawfish, shrimp, and Cajun’s special spicy seafood sauce and then fried to a golden, crispy brown.
- “Holy Moly” Catfish BLT Po’Boy – Grilled catfish fillet and fried green tomatoes, served with two strips of bacon with a garnish of lettuce and onions, and accompanied by a small portion of ‘Holy Moly Sauce.’ It comes with French fries and a bowl of swamp soup.
- Sweet Thang Beignet – This is a southern-style beignet filled with apples and peaches, deep-fried, and then coated with powdered sugar.
Reviews:
“It is located on the end of a neighborhood strip mall . Nothing fancy , but the fried catfish , whitefish, and shrimp were great . Grilled whitefish was kinda bland .Homemade tartar sauce was tasty . Large menu selection . Staff was helpful and friendly. Hush puppies were a perfect golden brown . You have to try the swamp soup. Full bar and beer selection . Plenty of food , lots of to-go containers.”
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One of the most famous diners in Gulf Shores is the Steamer & Baked Oyster Bar. Their menu includes steamed and baked crab legs, shrimp, and oysters, which customers can wash down with freshly made chilled, frozen drinks.
The seafood menu ranges from steamers, crabs, and shrimp to baked oysters, and each of them is prepared to taste the freshness of the seafood and the zest of the region.
Their dedication to consistently creating quality sauces and seafood dishes means every dish that comes off the grill is as good as fresh, making it easy for a pure seafood lover to enjoy a taste of the Gulf.
This place is a go-to if you are looking for a steamed and grilled seafood restaurant with a comforting ambiance!
Must-Try:
- Redfish Special – The redfish is served on a bed of rice with shrimp and crab sauce. It is served with new potatoes or potato salad, corn, green beans, broccoli, or asparagus.
- Seafood Platters – It is served with new potatoes, corn, sausage, green beans, and various seafood, including the Royal Red, crab legs, steamed oysters, mussels, and shrimp.
- Tacos – It consists of lettuce, tomatoes, cabin sauce, and cheddar cheese. A plate of chips and salsa accompanies this meal.
Reviews:
“Great food. The butter in a dispenser was best idea. The amount of food is great. Service with utensil served on a plate. Very professional.”
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Bahama Bob’s Beach Side Cafe is located by the side of the dunes and brings the flavors of Caribbean and Southern food to the shoreline.
It has a backdrop of the Bahamas and Key West, where you will find all that Bahaman dining is all about, with bold colors, push-button food, and parties on the beach every time you visit!
Overlooking the fantastic and picturesque views of sandy beaches and sea, this venue creates a comfortable and perfect ambiance for a relishing seafood menu, tropical beverages, or other tasty foods.
From relaxing while holding a cocktail to having a delicious dinner, the sea’s atmosphere and the great food make this place ideal for a sea vacation.
Must-Try:
- Paradise Island Fried Pecan Flounder – Savor a piece of pecan coated and deep fried and serve it with a plate full of fried fries to crispness. Includes coleslaw.
- Crab Cay Baked Flounder – Whole filets are made from fresh fish stuffed with crabmeat, baked, and topped with shrimp. They are served with new potatoes and the vegetables of the day.
- The Big Kahuna – The Big Kahuna is a tasty, large, hand-trimmed USDA steak grilling on char-grill at the requested degree of doneness.
Reviews:
“A beautiful spot to eat delicious food!
We came here with our kids and had a wonderful time. Service was great and views were amazing!We ordered gator bites to start and everybody loved them! We also appreciated the menu included kid-friendly options as well as an array of seafood choices!”
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Cobalt Restaurant is known to be among the best restaurants in Gulf Shores because it offers a premier dining experience with a touch of the coast.
In this restaurant, all tables have windows that offer an excellent bay view. Access to the site can be made by water, with places for berthing for small vessels and mid-size yachts.
It has a laid-back ambiance and a full ocean view dining accompanied by live music, making Cobalt even more appealing in its exemplary services.
The menu is diversified and entails appetizers to barbecue specialties, including B.B.Q. Gulf shrimp, crab, and shrimp dip are the chef’s specials: Gulf shrimp and grits, pecan catfish, and Bronze Gulf Grouper, among others.
The restaurant also offers quality desserts and happy hour every day from 3PM to 5PM, with draft beer, house wines, Cobalt Caviar, and Firecracker Shrimp.
Cobalt is sleek and modern yet maintains a casual structure, inhibiting a more prestigious approach to the area’s contemporary and fresh concept of coastal cuisine. Some food offered include ‘Barbecue Gulf Shrimp’ and ‘Pecan Catfish,’ with some twists added.
The restaurant has vowed to provide excellent and unique food to counter the cliché seafood dining experience; every meal is made to offer the authentic culinary feel of coastal life.
Must-Try:
- Cobalt Pizza – Grilled chicken, smoked bacon, fresh spinach and arugula, oven-roasted mushrooms, and sauteed onions combine on a house-made crust with marinara sauce, topped with mozzarella and smoked Gouda cheese.
- Zydeco Chicken – Blackened chicken is combined with spicy tasso ham and mixed with sweet onions and green bell peppers over fresh pappardelle pasta, all smothered in Cajun Alfredo.
Reviews:
“Very nice place. The views are outstanding. The Crab and Shrimp Dip was amazing. The shrimp and grits were good. We had the lunch shrimp and grits not the brunch shrimp and grits.
The drinks were so delicious. I think I will try a burger next time because the one that came to the table next to us was huge and they seemed to enjoy it alot. The staff were fantastic. We will definitely be back.”
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Specialized in seafood and opened in Gulf Shores in 1983, The Original Oyster House has grown in popularity since the second location was opened at the Causeway in 1985.
The restaurant epitomizes traditional American Southern hospitality, stressing the quality of seafood and the upbeat, casual dining environment inherited from the South.
The Original Oyster House is focused on providing its customers with more than their expectations with the help of several committed employees who share the critical values of the company, including integrity, faith, and community support.
Because of its friendly atmosphere and personal involvement with the community, the restaurant has become an iconic establishment in Gulf Coast dining.
Appreciating the unique Southern coastal culinary experience, the Original Oyster House offers the best seafood menu. The restaurant also provides hand-breaded food and homemade pastries, including peanut butter chocolate chip pie.
Since 1981, the Original Oyster House has offered Gulf oysters prepared using different methods, a seafood platter where the customer can select various types of seafood, and southern cuisine that has made the restaurant famous and is still pleasing the customers.
Must-Try:
- Joe and Dave’s Favorite Oysters – One is baked with garlic cocktail sauce, applewood smoked bacon, and Grated parmesan cheese to make this tasty and interesting dish.
- Southern Fried Flounder and Grits – Fried flounder is delicately coated and crisp. It is served with tartar sauce and rice, cheddar cheese grits style.
- Joe and Dave’s Favorite – Fried crab cakes accompanied by rémoulade sauce and juicy grilled shrimp.
Reviews:
“Our waitress was very friendly and also very knowledgeable about the menu. The food was very good. The blackened shrimp with grits was stellar. Shrimp were perfectly cooked. The salad bar was also very nice and it’s pretty cool that they let you use the salad bar as one of your side dishes with your meal. The gumbo is also very good and also the red beans and rice. I found to be quite nice and this is high praise considering I am from South Louisiana! I’ve also had the whole flounder before which is very nice. One of the best places in the area to have a seafood meal in my opinion”
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The Beach House Kitchen & Cocktails is a restaurant that embodies the Gulf Coast’s spirit. Here, being fresh, open, and genuine is the rule, and seafood takes pride of place on every menu.
Humble and casual, with a bar and a cute patio, this restaurant is an excellent choice to feature fresh, delicious ingredients, mainly seafood, delivered directly from the Gulf of Mexico via Bon Secour, AL.
The menu offers many entrees: delightful seafood found in the Gulf, tender burgers, and others, all made to provide only the finest taste and quality.
Meals can be taken in casual dining, outside or inside the house, and deliciously brewed cocktails can accompany the well-prepared meal.
Conveniently positioned in West Beach just a few steps from the white silica sands of Gulf Shores, AL, The Beach House Kitchen & Cocktails allows people to savor the delectable dishes of the Gulf coast without interference from turbulent tides, rough sea winds, or baking sun.
Its bar/patio area is also excellent and complements the restaurant business, providing patrons with a comfortable place to enjoy their meals and beverages. Offering spectacular Gulf seafood and great American dishes prepared to perfection, The Beach House Kitchen & Cocktails makes every dining experience a welcome escape from home.
The interiors of such restaurants or simply indoor setting with balcony dining facilitates the visitors to have a serene feeling corresponding to the beauty of nature!
Must-Try:
- Crawfish Mac and Cheese – Louisiana crawfish tails lightly browned in butter with some Cajun seasonings.
- Gulf Fish and Shrimp Plate – Fried, blackened, or lemon pepper-battered fish served alongside fries, pineapple slaw, and their house-made tartar sauce.
- Gulf Fish Sandwich – Blackened, Lemon pepper or fried Gulf Redfish filet served with house-made tartar sauce, lettuce, tomato, and an Amoroso Philly roll.
Reviews:
“I loved the BBQ sandwich with sweet slaw and the shoestring fries. My hubby got a fish sandwich and he said it was great too! We will definitely be back.”
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Big Fish Restaurant & Bar is an upper-scale casual theme restaurant specializing in fresh seafood, never frozen, cooked daily with an Asian flair.
This place prepares various foods on its menu, including sushi rolls, appetizers, and seafood delicacies, including the Ginger-Glazed Shrimp Skewers, which has garnered several awards. The restaurant also features a bar and a wine list and is one of the most popular venues for people desiring to eat quality meals in the region.
Big Fish Restaurant & Bar covers the idea of the restaurant as a fine dining and casual dining restaurant at the same time, which gives a calm but luxurious environment to its guests, and of course – tremendous and fresh seafood is in the heart of the restaurant.
All dishes are available in Asia-style seafood preparation, and sushi is specially prepared in an open kitchen for the guests’ voyeuristic entertainment. A sophisticated interior design gives it a relaxed quality.
Diners who prefer bar seating can enjoy indoor tables for two or four and an outdoor patio with a cozy fireplace and wood-burning heat.
Must-Try:
- Jumbo Crab Cakes — Available with fried rice and tempura green beans, this dish is garnished with lemongrass aioli and is best eaten with wasabi crème francaise.
- Sesame Seed Seared Ahi Tuna – Red potato and edamame hash are served with green beans in tempura style with wasabi crème Anglaise on the side.
- Filet Mignon – A specially seasoned U.S.D.A. prime-grade aged beef tenderloin hand-cut to 8 oz served with a red potato and domestic wild mushroom hash prepared with blue cheese and truffle oil accompanied by garlic sautéed spinach.
Reviews:
“Exceeded expectations! We are visiting from Houston which is known for many top-notch restaurants. We are spoiled and often disappointed when visiting other places and dining out. This place knocked us out! The fish dishes and sushi were fabulous. The one meatball dish was good, but not great. We were a party of 6 and the bread pudding with a scoop of ice cream that we shared topped off the meal perfectly. My wife told Chris (our server) that we will back before we head back to Houston.”
– J Jones
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Acme Oyster House in Gulf Shores has a buoyant atmosphere and serves traditional Cajun-Creole menu to please the guests.
This legendary corner with more than 100 years of history offers some of the freshest oysters you can taste, whether raw, on the half shell, with garlic butter, or fried. However, besides the famous oysters, Acme has an excellent savory menu with seafood gumbo and red beans and rice, which reflect the famous French Quarter seasons.
While Acme Oyster House in Gulf Shores is known as an excellent restaurant, it is so much more than that because it offers a symbol of the entire Gulf Coast experience.
Other than oysters, Cajun-Creole specialties, including seafood gumbo, jambalaya, red beans, and rice, were true to their Louisiana origin.
The friendly atmosphere and commitment to the fine culinary heritage make Acme Oyster House a real treasure of the Gulf Coast, where the food served truly reflects the region’s culture.
Must-Try:
- Fried Fish Platter – Three tender, white fish fillets fried to a crispy, golden perfection.
- Half Po-boy and Cup of Soup/Gumbo – Ham, Turkey, Roast Beef, Shrimp, Fried Fish, Fried Crawfish Tails, Grilled Smoked Sausage or Hot Sausage.
- 1/4 lb. Veggie Hamburger – Brown rice and rolled oats form a patty with mushrooms and onions, covered with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses and prepared with natural smoke flavor.
Reviews:
“What a great experience from the grilled oysters to the alligator just simply perfect. The waitress named daily was an awesome server very polite and knowledgeable.”
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Wrap Up
That is all for the roundup of the top 10 must-visit restaurants in Gulf Shores. Discover more restaurants and cuisines that will make you a true gourmet in Gulf Shores, a wonderful one for food lovers!
If you would like to know more about Gulf Shores, particularly about the real estate offerings of various communities in the area, such as Battles Wharf or Fort Morgan, you may contact our team by calling 251-716-1421 or sending us a message at hollie@localpropertyinc.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to dine out in Gulf Shores?
Dining out most of the time requires an early evening, around 5 PM to 7 PM, so the areas are not crowded and offer a serene view of the sunset.
Do I need to make reservations?
It is advisable to book for the restaurants during holidays and over the weekend to get a table at the popular restaurants.
Are there vegetarian or vegan options available?
Indeed, vegetarians and vegans will not go hungry because many restaurants in Gulf Shores, like Lulu’s, have special meals for such customers.
