Chincoteague is one of my favorite vacation destinations in Virginia! It’s a little off the beaten path on the eastern shore of Virginia, however, it’s home to the famous wild ponies, and it’s a charming coastal community that is well worth the visit!
Chincoteague is also home to some fabulous restaurants. It’s no surprise that many of them feature excellent seafood dishes inspired by the island’s rich marine history.
You can also find surprisingly eclectic international fare, ranging from Mexican to Caribbean, Vietnamese, and more.
(Top photo courtesy Pony Pop.)
The Best Restaurants Near Chincoteague, VA
Below are some of my top restaurant recommendations in and around Chincoteague.
Bill’s PRIME Seafood & Steaks
Bill’s PRIME Seafood & Steaks is a great dining choice for both casual and special occasions in Chincoteague.
As you can guess from the name, their specialties are surf and turf. This includes Oyster Rockefeller, Lobster Tails, Crab Imperial, Filet Mignon, and Rib-Eye Steak.
And if you’re in the mood for something different, you can also find a few pasta dishes to choose from, including Fettuccine Alfredo and Pasta with Marinara Sauce.
And make sure you leave room for dessert because Bill’s PRIME has some incredible options, including Colossal Cheesecake, Bumble Berry Pie, White Chocolate Coconut Creme Pie, and my personal favorite, Bill’s Sinful Chocolate Cake, with six layers of rich chocolatey goodness!
They also serve brunch on Sundays from 11 am to 2 pm. You can find plenty of savory dishes like the Crab Benedict and Southwestern BLT & Eggs, as well as delectable sweet plates like the Bananas Foster French Toast.
Bill’s also features an immense selection of creative specialty cocktails, like the Spicy Bacon Bloody Mary, the Peach Melba Mimosa, and the Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita.
AJ’s on the Creek
AJ’s on the Creek is a great restaurant choice for scenic creek views and delicious seafood.
The interior design is strongly inspired by nautical themes, with blue cushions, wood beamed ceilings, and sea bird pictures along the walls.
There is a nice outdoor patio as well that is perfect during the warmer months. From there you can view the meandering creek close by and the tall marshlands that are characteristically a part of Chincoteague Island.
Also characteristic of Chincoteague, the menu is heavily influenced by local seafood dishes. You’ll find local Oysters on the Half Shell, Steamed Clams, and Oysters Rockefeller. Other seafood entrees include Grilled Scallops Piccata, Salmon with romesco sauce, and Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, a house specialty.
There are also a surprisingly large number of entrees to choose from if you’re not in the mood for seafood. Pasta lovers have a lot of choices, such as Ravioli Caprese, Chicken Parmesan, and Gnocchi alla Vodka.
Meat dishes include Ribeye Steak and Filet Mignon. So as you can see, there’s a bit of something for everyone!
And make sure to save room for dessert! AJ’s serves up Crème Brûlée Cheesecake, Key Lime Pie, and Lava Cake (perfect for chocolate lovers!)
Don’s Seafood Restaurant
Don’s Seafood Restaurant is another popular seafood spot in Chincoteague. They feature oysters and clams that are sourced right on the island.
(Insider tip: you can take a boat or kayak ride around Chincoteague and actually get up close to all the live clams and oysters found around the island!)
Their seafood menu is extensive, including a raw bar with Oysters and Clams, Steamed Seafood, Clam Chowder, Oyster Stew, Fried Shrimp, Crab Imperial (with peppers and pimentos), and Seafood Alfredo (with shrimp and scallops.) And if you want a bit of everything, check out the Seafood Platter featuring Blue Crabs, Snow Crab Legs, Clams, Oysters, and Shrimp.
Beyond seafood, Don’s also offers burgers, roast beef, grilled chicken, and prime rib, as well as a good selection of vegetarian options like Vegetable Pasta, Pizza, and the Veggie Quesadilla.
The restaurant is open till 9 pm (which is typical for Chincoteague restaurants), but after that, you can head upstairs to Chattie’s lounge, which features live music, dancing, drinks, and more oysters and clams at the raw bar!
Ropewalk Restaurant
One of the best parts about Ropewalk Restaurant is that it stays open much later than most restaurants in Chincoteague!
While most places close around 9 pm, Ropewalk still serves food till 11 pm and later! (The full menu is served till 11 pm, and the bar menu is served after). This makes it a great choice if you’re like me and love to eat dinner on the later side.
They have a lot of different eating spaces too, including a cute, outside tiki bar area, complete with a sandy beach. There is also a floating barge area with a big bar and additional table seating. They have plenty of room inside as well.
Their menu is big and extensive. It focuses more on casual, family-friendly dishes.
When I went, I ordered a good meal of Scallops with orzo, parmesan, crab, corn, and roasted tomatoes.
There is naturally plenty of seafood to order, including Maryland Crab Soup, Rockfish Tacos, and Salmon with a blood orange vinaigrette. But if you’re not in the mood for fish, you’ll find plenty of options, ranging from Mac and Cheese to Filet Mignon.
One thing you definitely want to make room for is what might just be one of the best desserts I’ve ever had: the incredibly decadent, rich, and creamy Mississippi Mud Cake.
The one negative is that, for the time I was there at least, service was very slow. It was a Saturday night in the middle of summer, and the place was quite busy. I think they were short-staffed as well. It’s still definitely worth a visit, especially if you want to eat later.
ChincoTiki Caribbean Bar and Grill
As the name suggests, ChincoTiki Caribbean Bar and Grill is a fun splash of Caribbean flavor on Chincoteague Island!
It’s located right along the water and just down Main Street from another one of my top, fun picks: Ropewalk Restaurant.
They feature a cute outdoor beach area decorated with brightly colored picnic tables, festive string lights, games, and palm trees that will transport you from Virginia to the Virgin Islands!
Playful and colorful cocktails complement the laid back vibe.
The food is reliable bar staples, like Wings, Beach Fries, Chicken Tenders, Burgers, and Sandwiches. It reminds me a lot of the restaurants I visited in beautiful St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands!
ChincoTiki also features live music on weekend nights.
Lily’s Little Mexico
Chincoteague Island isn’t just about seafood. Luckily, there are a handful of other restaurants on the small island that give you options from around the world.
If you’re in the mood for Mexican, then you’ll want to check out Lily’s Little Mexico. They have an outside counter where you can order plus a casual outdoor seating area with picnic tables and lounge chairs.
It’s the place to be if you love tacos (and who doesn’t!) They serve up everything ranging from barbeque tacos, to grilled chicken, grilled steak, and Cajun shrimp tacos.
You’ll also find other favorites like burritos, fajitas, tostadas, and quesadillas. Veggie lovers have some excellent options as well, including veggie fajitas and quesadillas, plus quinoa tostadas and sopes.
Saigon Village Restaurant
You can find a unique taste of excellent Vietnamese cuisine at Saigon Village Restaurant.
The restaurant offers visitors a great alternative to the ubiquitous seafood on the island!
Saigon Village is family-owned and specializes in southern Vietnamese cuisine, including Spring Rolls, Egg Rolls, Banh Mi (a traditional sandwich on toasted French bread with your choice of chicken, egg, beef, pork, or tofu); plus Pho Beef Noodle Soup.
They don’t take reservations, and so you can just arrive and sit down for an authentic, and delicious, Vietnamese meal!
Famous Pizza and Sub Shop
If you’re in the mood for that perfect slice of pizza on your next Chincoteague vacation, head over to the Famous Pizza and Sub Shop!
They have all your favorite pizza flavors, including Cheese, Veggie Lovers, Meat Lovers, and Hawaiian. But they also have some specialty flavors like the Greek-inspired Spanakopita with spinach and cheese. You can even order your pizza with a gluten-free cauliflower crust!
Beyond just pizzas, you can also find a great selection of subs, cheesesteaks, sandwiches, burgers, gyros, wraps, and more.
The restaurant is open for dine-in service, plus pickup or delivery. Delivery is free on Chincoteague Island!
Pony Pop
When in Chincoteague, you naturally have to try a place called Pony Pop!
Pony Pop is an ice cream shop on the island. It’s a perfect place to cool off in the hot summer months.
The cute pop-up has fancy shaved ice, ice cream, ice cream floats, sundaes, and more.
You can go extra decadent with the Oreo Ocean, which has a bit of everything: flavored shave ice, vanilla ice cream, Oreos, whipped cream, strawberries, chocolate drizzle, and it’s topped with an ice cream sandwich!
Another delicious specialty that goes beyond the typical ice cream offerings is their Ice Cream Nachos, which features ice cream combined with special flavored nacho chips! Some of the flavors you can choose from are s’mores nachos and strawberry cheesecake nachos!
Pony Pop is also a great stop for horse-inspired merch! This is good to know, because when I visited Chincoteague, I found it surprisingly hard to find horse merch!
At Pony Pop, you can find adorable pony items like stuffed animals, keychains, tumblers, shirts, and more.
Conclusion
Chincoteague is best known for its fabulous fresh seafood, particularly local clams and oysters, but the small island has much more to offer!
Whether you’re in the mood for clam chowder, fried shrimp, pizza, Vietnamese, or fancy ice cream, you’ll find the perfect meal for your next stop in this charming Virginia community!
Learn more about the best things to do around the eastern shore!
Check out the best boat tours in Chincoteague
Learn about the best things to do in Cape Charles, VA
