15 Best Restaurants in Rockport, TX

On the coast of Texas in Aransas County lies Rockport, a charming city home to several tourist attractions, historical sites, and fun festivals.

Its location on Aransas Bay provides various forms of marine recreation and access to fresh and healthy seafood.

But aside from its old-school mansions, recreational areas, seasonal events, and stunning beachside pavilions, Rockport’s culinary scene is also worth noting.

On your visit to this side of Texas, try some of the best restaurants in Rockport and enjoy a multitude of local and international eats!

Old Fulton Seafood Cafe & Deli

Old Fulton Seafood Cafe & Deli is located in Harbor Oaks Shopping Center, one of the popular restaurants in the area.

The restaurant was originally located in Fulton, where it was established in 2012, but relocated to Rockport in 2017 after Hurricane Harvey hit the state.

Today, it still serves the same quality seafood, steak, deli sandwiches, soup, and homemade sweets.

Enjoy appetizers at Old Fulton Seafood Cafe & Deli, like crab or shrimp nachos, ceviche, calamari, or Maryland-style crab cakes.

Meanwhile, signature entrees include shrimp scampi, homemade lasagna, chicken fettuccine alfredo, and fish Rockefeller—all served with salad.

They also offer a wide array of alcoholic beverages like wine, beer, tequila, cocktails, and vodka to pair with your dishes.

Bellino’s Italian Restaurant

Bellino's Italian Restaurant is an intimate and cozy trattoria founded in 2004 by a chef from Palermo, the capital of Sicily, Italy.

Although it’s relatively far from Rockport’s shopping districts and tourist hotspots, it’s still worth the visit.

The trattoria brings the carefree streets of Sicily to Texas through its handmade pasta dishes featuring freshly-caught seafood and other mouthwatering dishes.

Some must-try dishes at Bellino’s Italian Restaurant include chicken parmigiana, lasagna, and marsala.

Aside from its food, customers also love the restaurant’s reasonable prices and warm ambiance, perfect for a romantic dinner date.

If you’re craving something Italian on your Texan vacation, head to Bellino’s Italian Restaurant.

Sushi Luck Japanese Cuisine

Finding a Japanese restaurant in the middle of Rockport may be challenging, but luckily, Sushi Luck Japanese Cuisine can satisfy all your sushi and tempura cravings.

You can expect wonderfully presented food using the best ingredients, making it a perfect subject for your social media feed.

For starters, try their gyoza, fried oysters, takoyaki, and seaweed or squid salad.

If you want something heavier, go for their tonkatsu, miso teriyaki salmon bento with dumplings, pot stickers, rice, and fruits.

Sushi Luck Japanese Cuisine boasts a variety of sushi rolls and nigiri, and customers can also create their sushi plate or enjoy different kinds of sashimi.

Cap off your Japanese dining experience with a dessert and try their green tea or mango-flavored mochi ice cream or Japanese flan.

495 Chesapeake Eats

495 Chesapeake Eats sits in the cultural arts district of Rockport, located near Rockport Center for the Arts, Rockport Little Theatre, and several art galleries.

The restaurant specializes in wood-fired seafood and steak, giving it a unique but tantalizing flavor.

Most of the dishes and cocktails offered at 495 Chesapeake Eats depend on what ingredients and seafood are available and in season, so you’re guaranteed to have the freshest meals and drinks.

Try the restaurant’s house salad, Maryland crab dip, baked oysters, Texas wagyu steak, wood-fired jumbo shrimp scampi, or their fish of the day.

On the other hand, pair your meals with handcrafted cocktails, red wine, white wine, craft beers, or whiskey from their extensive selection.

Latitude 28° 02" Restaurant and Art Gallery

Latitude 28° 02" Restaurant and Art Gallery combines two things Rockport is famous for: its cuisine and vibrant arts scene.

For over 20 years, the restaurant has specialized in local seafood and has provided its customers with a memorable dining experience.

At Latitude 28° 02" Restaurant and Art Gallery, start with appetizers like shrimp rolls, escargot, or crab cakes, then savor a delicious blackened fish, shrimp linguini, stuffed shrimp, or a broiled catch of the day.

As you enjoy your meal, admire the paintings and artworks surrounding the dining area and full bar, giving the bright dining space a pop of color.

The art gallery also serves as a venue for local and regional artists to showcase their work, keeping Rockport’s art scene thriving.

Paradise Key Dockside Bar & Grill

Unlike most restaurants located in downtown Rockport, Paradise Key Dockside Bar & Grill’s waterfront location makes it a popular stop for locals and tourists.

You can enjoy breathtaking views of the nearby cove from the indoor dining area or at the dockside bar as you feast on their seafood, burgers, small bites, and more.

The specialties at Paradise Key Dockside Bar & Grill are various beef, chicken, and seafood-based dishes and pasta, all cooked to perfection.

Satisfy your sweet tooth and taste their white chocolate bread pudding, Paradise key lime pie, NY cheesecake, or brownie explosion.

If you want something light to go with your drinks, try their Marina Munchies, which include chicken wings, nachos, crab cakes, oysters, shrimp wraps, and calamari.

Our Family Kitchen

With its relaxed interiors, country-style decor, and home-cooked meals, Our Family Kitchen is reminiscent of your childhood favorite comfort food.

They specialize in breakfast and lunch meals, the perfect way to start a day of exploring and fun activities in Rockport.

Start your day with a hefty serving of chicken fried steak and eggs, biscuits & gravy, cheese omelet, or choose your own ingredients to create the perfect omelet.

For lunch, feast on a plate of pork chop, chicken fried steak, mashed potato meatloaf, or smothered steak, served with two side dishes of your choice.

End your meal with dessert and try their banana pudding or a sweet and tangy strawberry pretzel salad.

Customers also love the service, generous servings, and affordable prices at Our Family Kitchen, making it a must-try when you visit this city.

The Boiling Pot

For several years, The Boiling Pot has been serving Cajun-spiced seafood that locals have grown to love.

Located a few minutes from the harbor, the restaurant has been around since 1985, the brainchild of a mother-and-son tandem who ran a fish house.

Prepare to get your hands dirty and choose between a combination of cajun-spiced snow crab, blue crab, shrimp, crawfish, and other seafood, along with a serving of taters and corn.

Then, order a key lime tart to cleanse the palate or have a beer, wine, or Cajun cooler to go with your seafood.

The Boiling Pot also offers a la carte dishes, appetizers, and a kid's menu if you’re traveling with children.

The Groove Steak & Lobster House

Established in 2014, The Groove Steak & Lobster House serves wood-fired pizza, steak, and Rockport seafood in a cozy and intimate space.

They use fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables grown from their garden and avoid using frozen fish and meat so they serve their customers made-to-order dishes.

To start, order a wood-fired brie, cheesesteak egg roll, or grilled Caesar salad, then try any of their wood-fired pizza.

If you’re in the mood for pasta, don’t miss their chicken penne pesto.

For their main dishes, choose from a ribeye steak with shrimp or lobster, New York Strip with shrimp, wood-fired lobster tail, or wood-fired fresh fish.

Complete your meal at The Groove Steak & Lobster House and pair it with a glass of champagne, red wine, white wine, or an ice-cold bottle of beer.

Los Comales

Craving nachos, enchiladas, and all things Mexican? Head to Los Comales, an easygoing eatery located at the heart of Rockport.

It has simple interiors, bright-colored walls,  and wooden furniture, but its dishes are flavorful and worth their prices.

From quesadillas, nachos, fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, and more, Los Comales has you covered.

The restaurant also has traditional Mexican dishes like carne guisada, chile relleno, burrito, and flautas.

If you want seafood with a Mexican twist, try their Tarasco shrimp, steak and shrimp, steamed snapper, and San Lucas fish.

You can also combine different dishes like enchiladas, tostadas, fajitas, and others to enjoy more Mexican favorites.

Apple Dumpling Deli

Sandwiches are one of the most simple yet fulfilling food items. In addition, these are handy if you’re always on the go or out and about exploring.

If you want a quick pick-me-up in the middle of your tour around Rockport, grab a sandwich at Apple Dumpling Deli.

The restaurant has been around since 2001, offering made-to-order sandwiches and extras like soups and salads.

From their classic creamy egg salad sandwich to an old-fashioned chicken salad sandwich, Apple Dumpling Deli has the perfect sandwich for you.

You can choose between freshly baked sourdough, wheat, or pumpernickel bread to go with your sandwich.

Aside from their sandwiches, they also offer grilled eats like roast beef melt, hot pastrami, BLT, and triple grilled cheese.

JJ's Cafe

Start your day the right way with JJ’s Cafe, located near Tule Park and Walmart Supercenter.

Since 2003, the restaurant has been around Rockport’s dining scene and has provided hearty breakfast dishes for locals and tourists visiting the city.

Try a traditional eggs benedict for breakfast, or go for the JJ’s Benedict, which has the restaurant’s famous pepper jack cheese sauce for that extra flavor.

Otherwise, have a plate of corned beef hash, pork chops, shrimp, and grits, or JJ’s Migas, which has two scrambled eggs with crispy tortilla strips, pico, pepper jack cheese sauce, and a tortilla.

At JJ's Cafe, you can also have classic American breakfast meals like buttermilk pancakes and french toast with eggs or hash brown.

Poor Man's Country Club

Hailed as one of the best bars in Texas, Poor Man’s Country Club is one of the best hangout spots in the afternoon during the sunset or in the evening after a busy day out.

Its rustic setting, high ceilings, and wooden touches combined with its bayside location give the establishment a relaxing ambiance.

After spending the day at the nearby Rockport Beach, head to Poor Man’s Country Club for some well-deserved downtime.

Try their soft pretzels, calamari, stuffed jalapeños, or a plate of buffalo wings for your appetizer before feasting on a tasty bacon swiss burger served with seasoned fries.

If you’re craving seafood, have a fried shrimp basket, shrimp taco basket, blackened fish tacos, or a fried shrimp po'boy basket.

China A Super Buffet

Are you looking to try something new? Head to China A Super Buffet, located in Harbor Oaks Shopping Center.

Aside from its location within a mall, it is also near Fulton and Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, making it a popular lunch or dinner stop in the area.

The restaurant offers Chinese, Cantonese, and Szechuan cuisine, a welcome change from most American and Mexican restaurants around.

Enjoy a variety of appetizers, soup, fried rice, lo mein, and sweet and sour dishes at China A Super Buffet.

You can also choose between a variety of pork, chicken, beef, seafood, and vegetable-based dishes served with white rice.

In addition, Chef’s Specialties include coconut shrimp, sesame chicken seafood deluxe, orange chicken, and Mongolian beef.

Mac's Pit Barbecue & Catering

Mac's Pit Barbecue & Catering takes pride in its customer service, aiming to greet first-time customers “as if they were a long-time friend.”

The family-owned and operated restaurant has various lunch and dinner options in Rockport's historic district.

Aside from their chicken, pork, beef, sausage, and turkey plate, customers can combine two to four kinds of meat to try more dishes.

For families, Mac's Pit Barbecue & Catering has family packs good for four or eight members and includes brisket, sausage, side orders, and tea.

Wrap up your lunch or dinner with dessert and try their peach cobbler, apple cobbler, cherry cobbler, or banana pudding.

Final Thoughts

Aside from its historic sites, scenic coastline, and lively arts district, trying out Rockport’s restaurants is one of the best ways to learn about the city.

You can learn a few things about the local food scene and see how their coastal location translates into their food.

From Mexican and American to Chinese and Japanese food, experience different cultures and cuisines combined with Rockport’s signature seafood.

That said, check out the best restaurants in Rockport, TX, and make the most of your stay here!

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