Coastal Cantina is our favorite restaurant to stop at on our way into Duck or Corolla. Every year, we look forward to crab quesadillas before we check into our beach house. The location is very convenient to a variety of shops and a great way to kill some time before a 4PM rental check-in. The chips and salsa, chips and queso, and margaritas are all favorites of our family. The food comes out quickly and is always delicious. The staff is always quick to help fix any issues that arise and they are kind and knowledgeable. The sound side dining is nice and perfect with a breeze. The only negative is that it can get quite hot, which is obviously no fault of the restaurant. Always a great to-go option if the heat is too much to dine in. Also to note is that they have a great selection of beers. This is a family tradition we love coming back to each year and will continue to for years to come! read more

This popular fast casual place sits right on the Soundside. The view is nice and in good days you can watch the sun set. It does get super crowded. The outdoor ordering section has a separate line for food/ drink and one for drinks alone. They made the most creative margaritas(wine based). Flavors are Pina colada, strawberry, mango and I think a couple of others. They do pack a "punch" so drink slow. There is beer in tap. Food is casual snacks like chips and salsa, quesadillas and other snacks. We tried the quesadillas and they are huge and made fresh. Staff is super friendly. They are quite busy but do attend to many hungry and thirsty customers. Kudos to them. read more

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Quick friendly service, plenty of waterfront seating, and just what we needed. Delicious vegetarian and pescatarian tacos choices accompanied by great guacamole and salsa with tortilla chips. Spouse enjoyed the beers on tap and the girls liked their virgin piña coladas (not quiiiite as tasty as Bernie's Brother's). read more

Coastal Cantina - Waterfront seating - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

Save your money for Taco Bell. I got the chicken burrito and the filling tastes like microwaved mix from food lion. The burrito was so dry I thought I was handed a plate of sand. The extra $2.50 side of rice is plain white rice or you can go with the other side of beans and corn which is the same microwaved slop that's in the burrito. I'm sure the floating goop in the water has more flavor than the burrito because there is no juice or sauce on that thing. The only thing worth your money here is the sodas but save it for a place that deserves your business. They should pay people to eat here honestly especially because u have to stand at the window for 5 minutes to get a refill and you have to clear your own table. Yelp asked what I would do to improve this place and all I can think of is to get it shut down. Someone is paying rent to serve this trash to people. read more

Coastal Cantina - Plain white rice for $2.50 - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

SAVE YOURSELF (AND YOUR TASTE BUDS) KEEP DRIVING. We ordered the fish tacos and the carnitas burrito, and I'm genuinely impressed they managed to make Mexican food taste like absolutely nothing. I didn't know seasoning was optional, but apparently it's banned here. The carnitas burrito had all the flavor and moisture of a rolled-up beach towel. The tortilla was so rubbery it could probably survive reentry from space, and the burrito was begging for even a teaspoon of sauce to give it a fighting chance. Meanwhile, the rest of our family waited 45 minutes for their food, which somehow made the disappointment take even longer to arrive. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food with any sort of flavor, keep looking. For something with more spice and personality, I'd honestly recommend Taco Bell and I never thought I'd say those words with a straight face. read more

Just don't. be prepared to eat outside with little to no shade, but at least you get to look out at the water. Speaking of water, I feel bad for the fish that gave its life for the mahi taco. The staff was at least friendly, but there is no service at all. You will be going to the window for all drinks and food. The guac was not homemade, I think the brackish water to my right would taste better than the sweet tea (it's literally bitter water with a touch of sweet), and the tacos had zero juice or flavor. The corn tortillas were so rubbery you could use them as a spare if you get a flat tire as you're rushing out of here. I simply don't understand how you have a WATER FRONT restaurant, and the most pleasant part of the experience is looking to the water, wishing I had jumped in with weights tied to my ankles (However, after eating this I doubt any type of sea creature would eat me if it knew the quality of what I consumed) There was no feeling of contentment after eating, just like I finished a chore. Pray for my digestive system, the fish, and the pigs that will suffer at the hands of this restaurant to make the most SUB PAR meal you've ever tasted. Disappointed is an understatement, keep driving. I wish I walked back to the beach and stuffed my mouth with sand instead, at least it would've had more moisture than whatever concoction I just consumed, might have had more salt too read more

If you cut me right now I would bleed Coastal Cantina queso -- that's how much of it I ate on my recent trip to the Outer Banks. Creamy with the perfect amount of spice and plentiful chunks of tomato, it's impossible not to get and devour any time I'm here. We come here often during our time in the Outer Banks due to convenience, plus you can't beat the view. The bar serves beer, wine and an inventive mix of wine based cocktails, and the food is your typical Mexican fare with a few fun local twists like the crab quesadilla and duck pizzadilla (part pizza, part quesadilla). Service is quick, we never wait long for our food to come out here. The boardwalk seating is the only thing that's tricky -- this place can get packed and finding a table that fits your whole family can be challenging during peak hours. read more

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The burritos are mainly rice. Tortilla not good. Guac not fresh. Would not recommend this place, especially if you're vegetarian.

I ordered the crab pizzadilla and the blackberry lemonade hard cider. It was a delicious combination. The line to order was long on a Thursday night in early August. But it moved quickly and there was about a 10 min. wait for our food after we ordered. The ambiance was the boardwalk on the beach at dusk, so obviously, it was amazing. Don't miss it if you're in town. read more

Okay food, good margaritas & nice ambiance if you can score a picnic table next to the water. Bar service. They definitely gave us the crumbs at the bottom of the bag of chips. A fine spot for a quick lunch in duck read more

Coastal Cantina - Duck Pato Pizzadilla & mahi tacos - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

Walking the nearly mile long board walk along the sound is always rewarded with a beverage and chips with salsa and guacamole at this fine establishment. Always a good selection of beer. A nice selection of Mexican meals mixed with other great choices is available. I'm a regular here. Reward yourself after your walk! read more

The best draft beer selection at the best price with the best views. $20 pitchers of all the good stuff. Enjoyed the queso. Small outside bar on the boardwalk with picnic tables. You walk up to the bar and order there. read more

One of my favorite places to eat in Duck, the vibes here on the boardwalk are off the chart. I usually get the Mahi tacos and they are always excellent, their chips and queso are also delicious. All the staff here are friendly, helpful, and work quickly. One of the best places to get lunch in Duck read more

We chose this place for its great location. While we usually enjoy Mexican food, the food here was not good . We tried the burrito, chicken quesadillas, and fish taco. The only positives were the drinks and the view. read more

During my recent visit to the OBX, my boyfriend treated me to this cute little restaurant on the water. It is tucked away in the Waterfront Shops area in Duck, which homes a variety of storefronts from ice cream to Lily Pulitzer. There's even a little bird sanctuary! We got lucky and arrived just as a table cleared up, so we received table service as opposed to ordering at the bar. They include chips and salsa on the house, and we decided to supplement with an order of guacamole too. The guac was fresh, chunky and well-seasoned. The salsa was also tasty with a little kick to it. I think the chips were a little on the salty side. For my entree I ordered the Mahi Mahi Tacos. I had briefly considered the Duck Tacos but after discussing with our waiter he candidly turned me away from them. I can appreciate a waiter with brutal honesty that knows what their establishment does well! The tacos were fantastic. They held just the right amount of contents and stayed together well because they doubled up on the tortillas, which is necessary when you order corn tortillas. It was well balanced between the slight spiciness of the Mahi Mahi and the crunchiness of the slaw. I also added some guac and Tapatío to punch it up a notch. I will definitely visit again even if only for the views. There was also a crab quesadilla on the menu that caught my eye that I would like to try! read more

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Ordered on line to avoid the lines. Food was great! Crab quesadillas great! Guacamole great! Duck tacos. Great. Beautiful setting. Lots of fun music. read more

Now here is a restaurant that we would return to. Nice Appealing. Fresh food good service enjpyable read more

This business, is, hands down, THE BOMB!! Yeah, I'm going to say it again, THE BOMB! It's such a clutch outdoor establishment. It's basically a take-away spot where your ability to enjoy their glory depends on finding a picnic table within the take-away vicinity. If you can find one, you WIN! If not, and you don't have kids, you will still WIN because you are probably an Adult, and you should be OK eating food and drinking a beer on a bench! They got plenty of those! Look, I've been eying this place for 3 years. But, with 2 little guys, I haven't been able to make it work until this visit. Snagged a picnic table, then went to the window, ordered food, a pitcher of beer, and all was good! My wife and I ordered a Ropa Vieja Burrito and Bowl, respectively, and a Kids Plate and Kid Taco. DON'T, get the Kid Taco, it's super small. Actually, I would avoid all the soft tacos given the size my guy got. Stick to everything in the burrito realm. Price is right. 16 bucks or so for a pitcher of beer. Good food. It's all basically the same: black beans, rice, pick your protein, free chips/salsa. Napkins on the tables with salt/pepper and Tapatio hot sauce. How good is it? Thanks for asking! Really appreciate when you do! :) They do very well in controlling their menu so they can create entrees that are affordable, quick, and good. The business isn't big, so I bet prep is the key to their day. Food is decent. To boot, you are hanging out on the dock over looking the sound side - nice views from the boardwalk. Visit, you will not be upset. If you are upset, order a pitcher of beer, if you are still kinda grumpy after that, order another one - they have a beverage only window. All will be ok! Cheers, fellow Yelpers - this is a must visit if you are in Duck! read more

Great place to grab a beer and some Tacos and watch the Sunset into the sound! They need WAY more seating though. Taco Salad was great and queso to. You order food through window so Good-luck finding available seating. But the sights and sounds you can't beat! read more

Coastal Cantina - Coastal Cantina in Duck NC - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

Fast service, good food, great drinks! A perfect spot to sit and enjoy the sound. A real bang for your buck! read more

Coastal Cantina - Shrimp quesadilla special - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

Location.... The food was meh. But the view and ambiance were well worth it! Don't recommend the tacos.

After searching a little hopelessly for a place that would seat 16 (Yes, 16) folks on a Saturday night, we found this wonderful, incredible, gem of a spot. Come for the food, but stay for the back deck with it's truly breathtaking views. Although not all 16 sat at once, we had 2 picnic table to seat some while the others hung out on the bench, walked about and just took in the nice night. It was perfect! If you have a big group and are stressing about where to go for a casual night, I highly recommend this spot. We had a lot of kids with us and I think they were happy that they didn't have to sit in a chair all night. It all just worked out great! You order your food and drinks at the counter and go grab it when you hear your name. I got the fish tacos and a nice lemonade. The sauce they used wasn't my absolute favorite, but they were still really good. Honestly though, the weather and breeze and sunset was just too perfect that nothing would bum me out, I could have eaten rocks and been happy. Go here! Get some fish tacos and a beer and be happy on the water. read more

My family is local to OBX and this is one of our favorite spots. Its the best at Sunset during the summer, and this is also when it's the most crowded. Arrive early to avoid wait times and give the staff a break!! If you end up having to wait, just grab a drink and enjoy the view or walk around to the shops until a table opens up. My favorite thing to order is the crab pizzadilla, and we always get guac and quest as appetizers. The crab quesadilla is also delicious and I'm a huge fan of the fish tacos. If youre looking for a drink, ask for any of the drafts or a refreshing Pinot Grigio. read more

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Great little waterfront bar/ restaurant with five star bayside views and service. We went with the taco salads on the recommendation of the staff and it was quite good. The house made salsa and guacamole were excellent. Small selection of draft beers. Good spot when enjoying the waterfront boardwalk. read more

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Fast service, good food. Great ambience if you're eating at the restaurant. It's on the boardwalk with outside seating. Portions are huge. Love the crab tacos and chips and salsa. read more

We were actually there on a cool drizzly day but the food was good and the sangria was delicious! The view would have been amazing had we not been fogged in. Each entree is served with its own basket of chips. Salsa was very good! Everything is outside on a boardwalk. You order at a window and they bring it to your table. Prices were reasonable. read more

The location is 5 star. The food is a 2. It's not bad, it's just that nothing has changed here in years. It's become an obvious 3rd child to the owners who leave it on cruise control as they manage their larger restaurants. If this were an independent owner and their sole location, you'd see constant refinement and additions to the menu. Instead. Nothing new. Every year... same thing. It is pretty unmemorable Mexican food. After dozens of visits here I'm left with the impression that since they are filling tables and paying the bills with what they offer, they make no attempt to improve or revise things. The service is always friendly at the bar or tables, the draft beer selection is average and not up to date with the many craft brews now available elsewhere. The waterfront location makes it one of the few places in Duck you can get quick, reasonable priced, waterfront food. The prices are good only because Duck has very few casual food places. Most spots are expensive fine dining options which are not ideal for a quick family meal. You can't go wrong with chips and queso for the kids and the guac for the adults. The quesadillas, tacos and burritos are all pretty boring. The flavors just kind of mush together. The burritos are a good size, though. They have fish but are inflexible and will not make you a fish burrito? I have no idea why not. They should let us choose our own protein and fillings. If you ask for it spicy, you don't get peppers added, they just hand you hot sauce. The crab pizzadilla is the only unique thing to try. Grilled fish tacos are pretty good, but it's not a lot of food for the price. You get two tacos and they won't fill you up. The kid's meal is pretty much one chicken taco for $4. There is nothing to it. It's not much food. Two chicken tacos is $8... again, not a lot considering most tacos this size cost $2 and come with more filling options. They have live music most nights and chips & salsa are always free and refilled upon request. The frozen drinks are way to sweet and of the malt variety, as there is no liquor license. Stick to the beer. I'm impressed that they were able to pull off a restaurant with a lease that requires them to cook off-site, but they could still be doing a lot more with the place now that they have the formula down. It is fresh food in a gorgeous location. It's not a place you would bring someone for great food. It's a good place to enjoy a draft beer, a killer sunset, and not break the bank in the process. read more

Dang!!! Beautiful view, get the crab pizzadilla!!! It was so good!! We needed something to eat after getting into town and on Sunday that is tricky....this definitely is a return spot!! read more

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This place is great for a quick lunch after shopping in duck. We got the pork burritos, mahi tacos and the cantina salad with chicken. Everything was delicious and the service was fast and friendly. Definitely recommend this place! read more

Coastal Cantina - Pork Carnitas - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

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Great place to grab a quick meal with a great view! All 4 people in our group got salads. I really enjoyed my Ticos Taco Salad with the pulled beef, the salad itself was very fresh and the meat was seasoned well, however they don't give you a lot of salad dressing so I had to add some hot sauce onto my salad to add some flavor to it and to not have it be so dry. I thought the chicken on my boyfriends Cantina salad was a little bland, but not too bad overall. Also have to add a shoutout to the frozen sangria, it was a great drink to enjoy on a hot afternoon! read more

Such a great place to eat, fair pricing and beautiful view of the sound. I love coming coming with my dog, a nice tall young man from the staff even got him a bowl of water. I will be back for more beef quesadillas:) read more

Oh how the mighty fall. Two years ago I discovered Coastal Cantina and I was pleasantly surprised. However, this visit was radically different. I was excited to go back as the location is wonderful! I was looking forward to having a frozen margarita, however something has happened to their liquor license. Instead I settled for their Frozen Sangria. What I received was definitely not frozen and I questioned if it was even Sangria. What I received was a watered down slushy similar to those served at community pools. On the bright side the chips and salsa were decent, but the rest of my meal would make me question if that was store bought. The guacamole was frustrating. Bright green and most definitely store bought, I payed $9 for repackaged Wholly Guacamole. Next would come our meal. I ordered the beef tacos and my girlfriend ordered the mahi tacos. One bite into the mahi tacos and my girlfriend announced something tasted "off". Upon closer examination, and a taste, the mahi tasted extremely fishy and certainly not fresh. Turning back to my beef tacos my immediate reaction was middle school cafeteria food. The beef was dry and cheese melted to an extent one would wonder if it was in a microwave. Needless to say we did not finish our meal. After paying for everything we left almost as quick as we came in. I was looking forward to my meal and was sadly met with disappointment. It seems like a restaurant that has given up trying. I hope it will get back on the right course and be a glimmer of what it once was! read more

I like it! Came here for dinner and had the taco salad with mahi mahi. Also tried a bite of the chicken fajitas. The meats here are super tender and tasty! The guacamole was so so, but the chips and salsa were great. The restaurant is also located on the water and the view is perfect. Recommend! read more

This is a drink only review. The view is incredible right on the sound side. He drinks were tasty and affordable- he mango margarita was white wine based so it was sweet and delicious. The frose was great. The staff is friendly. We had a great getaway 30-min and then had to rush to our baby. read more

Got the burrito which was average. The only cutlery available is a flimsy knife and fork that will not cut through the burrito so it was impossible to eat. read more

Awesome views, nice staff, decent food! I got a veggie burrito with fish and the quesadilla! Both of which I was not like oh my gosh this is delicious but it was good. My experience was taunted because for some reason for like the 2-3 days I was there, there was a swarm of crazy flies so they were so annoying. If they weren't here, I would've enjoyed it. The rest of my trip they left and I had a great time! This restaurant is in a cool area with a bunch of other shops so def check out the shops and that cool coffee bookstore spot! read more

We came for a quick bite and as usual had a great time. Seating was tight but we sat at the bar. We got our same staple which is the chips and quest and it did not disappoint. The local lager was delicious and the mango daiquiri was equally good. read more

Coastal Cantina - Chips + Salsa + Queso - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

Ordered the pulled beef tacos horrible , no taste at all, like it's boiled meat, no seasoning.

Food is great, and a great selection of beers. I got the chicken bowl, serving size is perfect. The girls who served us are super pleasant and nice. Great place to get a bite and a beer on the water. read more

Really enjoyed their food - basic menu, not too off the wall, but they do it well. I had the veggie burrito, which was very well made. Great salsa! Very nice location on the water with plenty of outside seating. read more