15 Best Restaurants in Chincoteague, VA

Chincoteague is a small yet charming town off the northern coast of Virginia, boasting a slow-paced lifestyle and many natural wonders.

Some popular activities include beachcombing, hiking, fishing, and watching wild ponies in their natural habitat.

With its coastal location, one would think that the town only offers seafood.

However, visitors can find other dining options, from Asian to Mexican cuisine.

If you plan on visiting, here are the 15 best restaurants in Chincoteague, VA, you shouldn’t miss!

AJ's on the Creek

For an upscale dining experience with gorgeous views, head to AJ’s on the Creek, near Little Oyster Bay.

The restaurant serves artfully prepared brunch and dinner meals and has indoor and outdoor seating areas, perfect for a quiet date night or an intimate celebration.

Brunch dishes at AJ’s on the Creek include french toast, shrimp & grits, biscuits, soft crab, grilled chicken, and other seafood specialties.

Meanwhile, try their filet mignon, fried flounder, crab cakes, and seafood bouillabaisse for dinner.

Don’t forget to ask your server about the catch of the day for a fresh seafood dish.

If you’re visiting with kids, their kids' menu includes chicken parmesan pasta and chicken tenders, pita pizza, and cheeseburger with fries.

Etta's Channel Side Restaurant

Etta's Channel Side Restaurant has been around since 1987 and boasts picturesque views of the Assateague Channel, Assateague Lighthouse, and the famous Chincoteague ponies.

Its strategic location on East Side Drive, combined with delicious seafood, pasta, and wines, makes it a must-try for anyone visiting Chincoteague.

Enjoy appetizers like shrimp cocktails, steamed clams, crab wontons, and crab bruschetta before trying out their entrees, such as jumbo shrimp, sea scallops, crab cakes, and crab imperial.

If you’re not in the mood for seafood, Etta's Channel Side Restaurant offers pasta dishes, grilled chicken breast, pork chop, and NY strip.

End your meal on a sweet note by asking your server for the day’s selection of desserts or having a glass of wine or beer.

The Village Restaurant

The Village Restaurant on Maddox Boulevard is one of Chincoteague's scenic dining spots, which has been around for more than 40 years.

Customers can enjoy fresh seafood while catching views of the native birds and the marsh overlooking Eel Creek.

Aside from seafood, The Village Restaurant also specializes in fine-aged steak and veal, providing many choices for customers.

Savor delicious Chincoteague oysters, crab cakes, jumbo shrimp, crab imperial, lobster tails, and scallops.

The restaurant also offers chicken tenders, shrimp, penne alfredo, and clam strips for kids.

Gluten-free dishes are also available for customers with special dietary requirements.

To complement your meals, choose from the restaurant’s international wine list, with some bottles hailing from Argentina, Italy, France, and South Africa.

Bill's PRIME Seafood & Steaks

Bill's PRIME Seafood & Steaks on Main Street is one of the popular restaurants in Chincoteague, having been a household name since 1960.

Customers can find fresh seafood, hand-cut steak and chops, pasta dishes, an impressive wine list, and must-try desserts.

Start the day with a heavy brunch at Bill's PRIME Seafood & Steaks and try their brunch burger, french toast, or crab benedict, a unique twist to the classic eggs benedict.

For lunch and dinner, don’t miss their prime cuts, seafood entrees, and pasta dishes paired with your choice of wine.

Lastly, save space for dessert and enjoy a slice of bumbleberry pie, carrot cake, coconut cream pie, or flourless chocolate cake.

Saigon Village Restaurant

Taking a break from all the seafood restaurants?

Look no further and try Saigon Village Restaurant.

For over two decades, the family-owned restaurant has been serving authentic and tasty Southern Vietnamese cuisine and other Asian fare.

Best of all, Saigon Village Restaurant accepts walk-ins, so you can easily drop by the restaurant after visiting Waterfront Park or if you’re looking for a place to eat while strolling across Main Street.

Sip on a warm bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup with steak or meatballs, stir-fried noodles, fried rice, Thai basil & lemongrass fried rice, banh mi, and other Asian favorites.

The restaurant also offers vegetarian, gluten-free, and other dietary requests to accommodate all customers.

Don’t forget to try their Vietnamese iced or hot coffee.

Don's Seafood Market & Restaurant

At the heart of downtown Chincoteague is Don's Seafood Market & Restaurant, a casual and welcoming restaurant offering fresh seafood with views of the Chincoteague Channel.

Established in 1973, the establishment takes pride in serving seasonal catch and using sustainable aqua farming techniques, with its oysters cultured and grown to ensure high quality.

Savor a plate of clam strips, scallops, and fried oysters, or try their seafood platter with fish, stuffed shrimp, scallops, oysters, and clams.

Don's Seafood Market & Restaurant also serves vegetarian dishes like the impossible burger, vegetable pasta, spinach artichoke melt, and veggie quesadilla.

Gluten-free and dairy-free options are also available.

You can enjoy live music performances, entertainment, and other fun events on weekends.

Island Creamery

If you’re looking for a mid-day treat or a dessert after a meal, visit Island Creamery, located a few blocks from Main Street.

Its branch in Chincoteague is its flagship store, and it has since opened several branches in Salisbury and Berlin, Maryland.

Unlike most ice cream shops, Island Creamery uses all-natural ingredients and makes their ice cream in small batches, ensuring that customers get fresh servings of these frozen treats.

Some of their best-selling flavors include Bourbon Caramel Crunch, Pony Tracks, Marsh Mud, and Java Jolt, while Cotton Candy Party and Birthday Cake are popular choices for children.

Aside from ice cream, they also serve delicious homemade sorbets using seasonal ingredients such as strawberries in spring, orange juice in summer, and apple cider in autumn.

Pico Taqueria

Craving tacos, quesadillas, and other Mexican food?

Drop by Pico Taqueria to satisfy your cravings.

The family-run outdoor restaurant offers classic and innovative twists to well-loved dishes, giving you a deeper appreciation of Mexican food.

You can enjoy your taco on a homemade corn or flour tortilla or on a rice bowl with cilantro-lime rice and Costa Rican black beans.

At Pico Taqueria, try their Chincoteague Classic, which includes your choice of meat, served with lettuce, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, and crème fraiche; or The Maddox, which has cornmeal fried oysters, daikon radish, house tartar sauce, pickled carrots, and Thai basil.

Complete your meal with drinks and choose from homemade iced lea, lemonade, beer, or their special Pico Margarita.

Beach Road Round-Up

For classic American comfort food, head to Beach Road Round-Up, located along Maddox Boulevard.

Beach Road Round-Up is one of the best places to grab breakfast before heading out to explore the rest of town with their all-day breakfast meals.

From breakfast quesadilla to chili & cornbread and cheesesteak fries, the hefty servings and delicious meals at Beach Road Round-Up are sure to energize your day.

Customers love their pancakes, cheesesteak, french toast, breakfast burrito, and breakfast sandwiches.

Aside from their breakfast meals, they're also famous for their burgers, like their chicken cheesesteak, cheesesteak, crab cake sandwich, and cowboy burger, all with a generous serving of fries.

Ropewalk Restaurant

With its waterfront dining areas, tiki bar, and colorful chairs and tables, Ropewalk Restaurant on Marlin Street is reminiscent of many beachside restaurants.

It also has a small playground for kids, making it a family-friendly restaurant where everyone can have a good time.

As for its food, Ropewalk Restaurant serves various dishes: from pasta bolognese and mac and cheese to seafood staples like crab cakes and steamed shrimp.

Satisfy your sweet tooth and order a slice of raspberry New York-style cheesecake, flourless chocolate torte, or a classic ice cream sundae.

Pair your meals with frozen or handcrafted specialty drinks made with different liquors and fruits.

The restaurant also has live entertainment and other fun events on select evenings.

Steamers Restaurant & Sports Bar

Feast on an all-you-can-eat platter of your favorite seafood dishes in a casual and live setting at Steamers Restaurant & Sports Bar.

The restaurant is located at the heart of Maddox Boulevard, next to famous establishments like Island Creamery, Seahawk Motel 1966, and Sandy Pony Donuts & Açaí Bowls.

The menu at Steamers Restaurant & Sports Bar consists of hand-cut steaks, pork tacos, flatbreads, grilled chicken breast, soup, and more.

For seafood lovers, don’t miss the crab cake medallions, blackened scallops, snow crab, and more of its stemmed pot offerings with corn and red potatoes.

You can also catch up on your favorite sporting events through the large-screen TVs around the establishment while enjoying bar chow, like wings, burgers, and seafood.

Complete your meal with booze and choose between beers on tap, margaritas, martinis, wine, or their famous Orange Crush.

Captain Zack's Seafood

Captain Zack's Seafood in Deep Hole Road may seem like an unassuming joint, but it arguably serves one of the best seafood in all of Chincoteague.

The family-owned and operated restaurant has been in business since 2004 and serves locally sourced and sustainable seafood dishes, making it a local favorite.

Its seafood dishes are all made to order and prepared the way every customer likes them, whether fried, steamed, blackened, or grilled.

Savor delicious steamed or raw oysters, snow crab legs, clams, and their special Treasure Chest, which includes various seafood with corn and hushpuppies.

If seafood isn’t your cup of tea, Captain Zack’s Seafood also has chicken wings, chicken tenders, grilled cheese, burgers, pepperoni pizzas, and other options.

Famous Pizza & Sub Shop

Despite being located on the other side of Maddox Boulevard, Famous Pizza & Sub Shop is still a must-try for anyone visiting Chincoteague.

It’s also near points of interest like the Chincoteague Visitor Center, Maui Jack's Waterpark, and the Museum of Chincoteague Island, making it an ideal stop after visiting some of these places.

True to its name, Famous Pizza & Sub Shop makes the best oven-baked pizza using homemade dough, homemade sauce, and the finest cheese and other toppings.

They also have a selection of Greek dishes, Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks, char-grilled burgers, pasta, and seafood if you’re craving something else.

For dessert, try their original cheesecake, Smith Island cake, and Baklava, a traditional Greek pastry with walnuts and honey.

Lily's Little Mexico

At Piney Island, Lily’s Little Mexico caters to locals and tourists who want authentic Mexican dishes.

Located along the way to Chincoteague’s beaches, this is also the perfect stop for those looking for a meal before or after visiting the beach.

Bestsellers at Lily's Little Mexico include barbacoa tacos, carnitas, and cajun shrimp tacos.

Aside from that, customers can enjoy steak tacos, chorizo tacos, carne asada tacos, and shrimp tacos.

For those with special dietary requirements, Lily’s also offers vegetarian-based menus, like veggie burritos, veggie fajitas, veggie quesadillas, tostadas de quinoa, and sopes de quinoa.

In addition, their kid's menu includes tacos and quesadillas with your choice of meat, served with rice and beans.

Channel Bass Inn Bed & Breakfast - Restaurant

Channel Bass Inn Bed & Breakfast is a charming accommodation with cozy rooms and a picturesque garden.

Meanwhile, its timeless interiors and countryside vibes are reflected in its in-house restaurant and tea room, perfect for breakfast, afternoon tea, or a relaxing dinner.

Guests can enjoy breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner at Channel Bass Inn Bed & Breakfast - Restaurant on Church Street, with different dishes depending on the day.

Some dishes you can try include pumpkin pancakes, lemon yogurt bread, beef short ribs, salad, and their famous scones.

For vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, make sure to contact the restaurant so the staff can prepare your meals in advance.

Final Thoughts

Despite being a laid-back coastal town in Virginia's Accomack County, Chincoteague offers plenty of natural wonders and a diverse culinary scene.

Aside from lazing on the beach or observing the wild ponies in their natural habitat, guests can also learn more about the town through its homegrown restaurants and locally owned joints.

From fresh seafood, Mexican tacos and burritos, and Vietnamese staples, there are plenty of dining options available in Chincoteague.

To complete your itinerary, try these best restaurants in Chincoteague, VA!