If you’re looking for the most incredible Oriental, NC restaurants then look no further! This list has the best restaurants in town that you won’t want to miss. Most are even within walking distance from your vacation rental home, so you can enjoy an evening stroll before and after your meal.
The quiet, waterfront town sits on the Neuse River just east of New Bern. The natural beauty of this area draws artists as well as those who love exploring the outdoors.
It also has a number of busy local marinas that bring in lots of boat traffic. One of the best things to do in Oriental is to watch the boats come in on the river. No matter what you come into town for, you’ll definitely enjoy these local spots. These restaurants are all low-key serving delicious food in a laid-back setting.
Here are 8 of our favorite restaurants in Oriental, NC that we’re sure you’ll love.
Barcos Food Company
518 Water St, Oriental, NC
Open for dinner and Sunday Brunch, Barcos Food Company is a local favorite.
The North Carolina coast is known for its fresh, local seafood and Barcos delivers. As a Latin/Asian fusion restaurant you’ll find seafood dishes as well as Korean Chicken, Mixed Grill Curry, and Braised Pork Belly Tacos on the menu.
Sunday Brunch is very popular where you can have different Brunch Tacos, Chicken & Waffles, Avocado Toast, and so much more.
Not only is the food great, but the restaurant has a sleek, clean design with views of the marina depending on where you sit.
There are a few different options for seating. You can choose between indoor seating or outdoor seating on the deck or you can grab a chair in the beer garden for a friendly game of corn throw and catch some tunes from local musicians. You can also easily order online if you prefer takeout and a quiet evening in your home away from home.
Yawl’s Café
468A Harborside Dr, Oriental, NC
Located in Harbor Village at River Dunes, a short 10 minute drive from downtown Oriental, this is a cute little restaurant open for breakfast and lunch. Even though it’s located within the River Dunes community, Yawl’s Café is open to the public.
The interior of the café is incredibly cute and you have the option of outdoor dining as well. They offer vegan and gluten-free options and are very accommodating to dietary restrictions and vegetarian-friendly.
Everyone raves about the delicious food and the amount you get for the price. They also serve beer and wine for those of age. While it’s a bit of a drive to get out there, the food is well worth it and the drive is beautiful!
The Silos Restaurant
1111 Broad St Ext, Oriental, NC
This is a cool spot since it’s literally built out of two silos with a short building connecting them. The interior is made from lots of wood with sheet metal accents and the walls and ceilings are decorated with old records, albums, and guitars. This is definitely a unique Oriental, NC restaurant!
They have a great selection of local beers on tap and in bottles so this is a great spot to hang out and have a drink with friends. Favorites from the menu include their pizza and burgers.
The atmosphere here is what keeps bringing people back as it’s friendly and lively with great service from the staff. They’re open for lunch and dinner.
Behind The Silos, there’s Red Rooster Bar which opens on Friday and Saturday nights when the weather is nice for live music outside.
Toucan Grill & Fresh Bar
101 Wall St, Oriental, NC
Dine right on the water at Toucan Grill! They have a beautiful covered porch that wraps around part of the building where you can see the marina since it’s located at the Oriental Marina & Inn.
If you love seafood, then this is a great option for you. They serve shrimp, flounder, mahi mahi, and tuna but they do have other options for those who prefer something from land instead of the sea.
They serve lunch and dinner. You’ll find events taking place here often and on the weekends the Tiki Bar patio opens for live music making this a popular spot.
Go here for dinner and you’ll be able to catch one of the best sunsets in Oriental.
Brantley’s Village Restaurant
28J5+P6 Oriental, NC
This Oriental, NC restaurant has some history to it. Brantley Sr. and Sylvia Norman started Brantley’s Village Restaurant back in 1999 as Mrs. Sil’s Kitchen.
That wasn’t their first venture into the restaurant business. In 1978 they opened as The Village Restaurant and ran that for 11 years before selling and opening a wholesale seafood business.
These days Brantley Jr. and Mrs. Sylvia still own Brantley’s Village Restaurant where they serve seafood and home cooking for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
No alcohol is served here as they wanted to make their restaurant as family-friendly as possible. They do have an incredible selection of seafood dinners, sandwiches, and what they call Family Favorites. Family Favorites include plates like hamburger steak, fried chicken, shrimp stir fry, and liver & onions.
Everyone loves the friendly service here and great prices. They’re known as one of the best seafood restaurants in town!
Oriental Deli & Subs
807 Broad St #1, Oriental, NC
Oriental Deli & Subs is located in downtown Oriental and is the perfect place for breakfast or lunch.
They serve sandwiches, bagels, and burritos for breakfast and for lunch they have unique sandwiches, wraps, and quesadillas. The best part – breakfast is served until they close!
The quesadillas are a popular choice and this is a hot spot for tourists and locals alike because of the consistently good food.
The prices are incredibly reasonable and this is a great stop if you need to grab takeout for food on the go. They have indoor and outdoor seating if you’d rather dine in though.
Rick’s NC BBQ
802 Broad St, Oriental, NC
When you have all 5-star reviews on Google AND Facebook, that really says something. There’s no shortage of great food here. Pulled pork, ribs, brisket, chicken, you name it.
And the sides are absolutely delicious. Their mac n’ cheese is to die for and the potato wedges, cole slaw, and collard greens are all great choices too.
This place really has it all from outstanding service to reasonable prices to amazing food. If you’re looking for a hearty meal, then look no further than Rick’s.
Like many of these restaurants, it’s located right on Broad Street so it’s very convenient as that’s the main drag through town.
New Village Brewery & Taproom
702 Broad St, Oriental, NC
While this may not necessarily be considered a restaurant, they do have food trucks on the weekends and this is definitely a favorite hang-out in Oriental.
You can check their events page to see which food truck will be there on specific dates. Featured trucks in the past have included The Jerk Truck, Anita’s Taqueria Food Truck, and Meraki Mediterranean Kafe Food Truck.
New Village Brewery is a nano-brewery started by a couple who are both Oriental natives. In their taproom, you’ll find their own beers on tap as well as rotating guest beers from other NC breweries.
It’s located in a historic home that was built in 1910 and there’s even a beer garden in the back. With live music and food trucks on the weekends, this really is a happening place.
That’s the Take on the Best Restaurants in Oriental
Although a small town, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by not only the amount of delicious restaurants to choose from but also the high quality of ingredients and the immense flavor.
If there’s one thing that rings true through all small towns in the south: they know food. And Oriental is certainly not an exception to that rule!