Usually when I'm in a beach town, I skip the restaurants and head into the hinterlands to find something worthwhile. In Ocracoke, you don't need to do that. I highly recommend Dajio Restaurant. The meal was excellent. I had the blackened ahi on a salad. It was fresh and perfectly cooked. There's a decent but minimal selection of wines by the glass, and I went with a Sauvignon Blanc that paired perfectly. Most of the wines have good ratings by the major wine reviewers. Service was outstanding. The server had that classic beach-town ease (local or seasonal) but really knew the menu and did a great job. At one point, a woman who appeared to be management stopped by the table to check in. When she asked how things were, my answer was simple: "Incredible." The atmosphere is exactly right, relaxed but still polished, with just the right amount of energy without feeling crowded or chaotic. That balance is harder to get right than people think, and they've nailed it. I don't hand out compliments lightly, but this place delivers. Simple, fresh food, executed properly. No gimmicks, no shortcuts. This is absolutely a place you should try if you're in Ocracoke. I'll be back. read more

I found this restaurant on line and the menu looked great! I was really looking forward to going there for a meal. Upon arrival my wife went on to our table while I visited the restroom. I was so disgusted with the filth! " not new filth" OLD FILTH THAT NEVER GETS CLEAN!! I wont go into detail. I joined my wife at our table and ordered a couple of bottled beers. The floor was sticky and dirty, everything on the table was dirty and the whole place smelled like a dirty mop . We didn't order any food or any drinks requiring ice because I don't trust the kitchen or the ice machine is any cleaner than the bathroom. We drank our beer and left. read more

My wife and I are here now for drinks and appetizers, but the host told us that we can't sit inside at one of the empty tables unless we order food. It's starting to sprinkle rain, so we're are paying for our 2 drinks and leaving. Pity, seems like a nice place. read more

This place was the bomb 15 of us ate for around $300 and every single thing was absolutely delicious. The Dajio Banana Bread is A DO NOT MISS!!!!! Sit on the patio and ask for Brandon as your waiter he is phenomenal !! Food came out hot. He got every order right and was Johnny on the spot for everything we needed couldn't ask for anything better. Brandon is the man. read more

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The ahi nachos tuna was very fresh, wontons and scallions crunchy with the touch of sesame flavor. It was amazing. Outdoor seating was nice for the end of March . Soft breeze with sunshine. Our waiter, Tyler was very nice and informative of the menu and specials. The grouper special was just ok for the price, mashed potted are good. Gnocchi sauce was very creamy, really good. The clam chowder tasted more like a potato, bacon soup. Overall, very nice place. I would definitely come back read more

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If we had a different server and a different table, this would have been a four star review. After we got seated we didn't see our server for about 10 minutes. Then he disappeared long enough that another table got sat beside us, ordered their food and GOT THEIR food before he took our order. Then I'm not sure if he let our food sit in the back or not, but our neighbors FINISHED THEIR FOOD before we even got ours. I had planned on getting the fried banana bread after reading all the reviews here but service was just so slow and bad we didn't want to spend another 40 minutes waiting on dessert. We got seated by the kitchen door and I could feel the wind from it every time someone went in and out of it...probably 100's of times in the hour+ we were there. It made me very anxious and nervous as well as exhausted from the constant slamming open and shut inches behind me. I would have asked to be moved but all the tables were taken. The food itself was very good. My compliments to the chefs! I got the crab cakes with green beans and swapped out the coleslaw for creamed corn. The crab cakes were crispy on the edges, had a nice crunch from the celery, and a good amount of crab meat. The creole sauce went nicely with it and the green beans. The creamed corn was very interesting, not something I'd expected. Lots of corn chunks and flavor--very well done. My girlfriend got the special which was a blackened drum with crab and pecan relish. It was flat out amazing. Our server was a ghost, other servers took care of refilling our drinks. We had finished and those servers had bussed our table and waited to order dessert but he never came back in over 20 minutes so when he finally did we just asked for the check which took another 15 minutes to get, then process. We would definitely come out again and give it another try, but no way I'd ever sit near that kitchen door ever again. And if we got the same server I'd probably ask for another. read more

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Absolutely incredible, came highly recommended by a semi local. Off season and an early dinner, we were seated right away. Our waiter, Nathan was so good, excellent service and fun. We started with fried green tomatoes for an appetizer, they were delicious, a bbq topping and pimento cheese, it was very unique in a good way. Two of had the Strio Steak and fried shrimp special. The steaks were perfectly cooked and the shrimp incredibly delicious, with that came green beans and some of the best mashed potatoes. For dessert I had the Fig cake and friends got, key lime pie and coconut cream pie, we all raved about it, leaving with an extremely full stomach. On top of that the cocktails....amazing will definitely be back and highly recommended. read more

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Absolutely loved this place! Lived up to the hype on every article about ocracoke island. We ordered the crab empanadas, which was so full of flavor and stuffing. It was on a bed of green chile sauce. We also got the beet&butternut squash salad. Then for entrees, we got the Dajio signature burger and the fish tacos. Everything was so wonderfully cooked and seasoned. Will 100% come back. read more

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The food was fantastic! I had the deconstructed chicken cordon bleu, and it was so so good! It had a nice crispy, delectably cheesy crust, and the green beans on the side were some of the best I've ever had, and that's saying a lot! The harvest salad beforehand was also very delicious. The staff was very friendly and attentive. I'd eat here again and again! read more

Two years ago we ate 5-6 meals there. Food was excellent. Building was great, so was the service. Better than most restaurants in the mainland, and costs were reasonable. I'll go back. read more

Dajio was recommended by our bed and breakfast; we are staying nearby for 1 evening and looking for a good spot for dinner. This was a great option! We really enjoyed our fried green tomatoes. Truly wonderful and so fresh! After that, my husband and I shared a plate of blackened shrimp. The portion was generous, and we really enjoyed the shrimp and fries equally with a delicious remoulade. Finally, we ended with the fried banana bread dessert which was absolutely fabulous. This was a great recommendation while visiting Ocracoke! read more

Dajio - Fried green tomatoes - Seafood Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

Dinner: Service was fantastic! The food was mediocre. If the lighting was dimmed (LED daylight bulbs are harsh), the ambiance would be excellent. Lunch: Went back the following afternoon. Had the peel and eat shrimp and beers on the deck. Delicious, casual, and good vibe. read more

We "made the drive" from Nags Head to Ocracoke. The first ferry ride was raining and bumpy and a lot of traffic going down.. Hwy 12 had a lot standing water especially on Ocracoke Island. It was raining but we found Dajio. You can sit inside or in an enclosed patio near the bar. Great menu choices and great waiter. We got the fried tomato appetizer and shared a shrimp platter, half fried and half sautéed. It came with fries and Cole slaw. Everything was top notch. I'd highly recommend going there. read more

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Went in with a party of 12 for a late lunch. Wasn't a long wait and they did great for us. Peel and eat shrimp special 3-5 was delicious.

Was great! Probably the best spot on the island. Our server was excellent and everything seemed fresh. The scallops had an off smell but the people with us loved them and no one reported getting sick. It was just such a strong smell it was difficult to have the dish near while we ate. Other than that phenomenal! read more

Great service and delicious food at a fairly reasonable price. We were here at 4:00 pm so we got in on the lunch menu. I had 1 lb of peel steamed shrimp and we couldn't eat them all. My husband ordered Flounder Fish Tacos and we ordered Fried Green Tomatoes Appetizer. It was all really delicious read more

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The soup of the day was a mushroom teriyaki soup. It was so good I wanted to lick the bowl. I liked the scallops as well. The side of greens and mashed potatoes lacked flavor. The pork has a lot of filling and not a lot of meat. We were seated in the outdoor area, so I didn't see much of the inside. The outside has a couple of fans. We had to ask our waiter to point one at us to cool down. read more

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The food was really fresh and delicious; however my blackened Mahi lacked the spice zing. The absolute highlight was the char grilled oysters, which I will go back before leaving the island. Prices are reasonable, but there are only a few parking spaces so consider walking if possible. Service was good, but not exceptional. read more

We are regular visitors to Ocracoke and Dajios is a must-visit stop on our trip. Despite many other tempting entrees, my go-to is the crab Mac and cheese. It is the best I've ever had. A big bowl of delicious flavors, textures colors and smells. There is a good amount of crab and lots of smooth creaminess with surprise ingredients like a bit of corn. Yum. To feel less guilty, I also order a side of coleslaw which has an Asian flavor. It is also delicious. I didn't have photos of my companions entrees. They reported really enjoying their sautéed shrimp and fries and fish sandwich with coleslaw. We also shared the calamari which was perfectly crispy with a terrific dipping sauce. We sat indoors as we live the beautiful windows and set. We could hear the live music from the patio. Perfect island ambience. The servers are efficient and courteous. Give you the space you like when dining. $70 per couple. The price is a bit steep but worth a nice night out. read more

Dajio - Mac and crab with a side of Asian-inspired slaw. Delish. - Seafood Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

Made a quick pit stop here while driving around the island. It was a super hot day and we sat on the patio with no AC! It is a dog friendly location and several dogs sat on the patio as well. The crab cake was okay- I think the heat and the mayonnaise didn't sit well for me. I liked the calamari and the Mac and cheese. If you come here, it's definitely a great place for a quick meal and convenient location. read more

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Sat down at a dirty table outside after waiting over 20 min for a table. told them we wanted inside dining. staff didn't clean the table. had to wipe it down ourselves. staff was very inattentive. waitress got the billing wrong more than once. could have left after dinner had the staff been doing their jobs in a timely manner. waited nearly an hour just to pay our bill. will never eat there again. read more

Amazing food and staff. Options for picky eaters and people who like sea food! I would say this is the best spot in town with great vibes and ambiance read more

Great food and service. The burger and steak salad are both fantastic. We always come back here.

the Fried oysters are to die for! Cooked perfectly. Tender not rubbery at all. Delicate batter. Best fries I've ever eaten. Christian our server is nice as can be. Young man Courteous Wanted to bring me a piece of fried flounder as truck delivered it fresh after I got my oysters Now who does that? Quasi outdoor seating was perfect for us septuagenarian diners at a beach island vacation. DO NOT PASS THIS UP! read more

At first blush, a typical, fun beach/island restaurant with tropical drinks and seafood dishes. What sets this place apart is the amazing quality of everything they offer - from the salads and appetizers to the main dishes and the delicious dessert cakes. The ingredients seem to be all fresh - nothing frozen or made from prefab ingredients. The pain killer was just like the one from Soggy Dollar in the BVI! read more

I ordered the fish special which was Sheepshead. Hubby ordered the fish stew ... but not its actual name (Purloo!) but the sauce with all the fish was so good! My fish had a Parm crust that was so tasty and rich! If you look up what a sheepshead looks like you may be put off my their very human looking teeth but the fish was great! Green beans and mashed potatoes that were so good! Dessert was chocolate pecan pie that I ate all of it! Thank goodness we had to walk for a bit after!! Megan our server was so sweet and kinds. We enjoyed ourselves. Go early or expect to wait! read more

Took a meal away from the kids n camping. Got here for the switch from morning to dinner. Had maple scallops, beet and butternut squash salad. I had blackened shrimp platter and hubby had pork roulade. Scallops were great. Salad was good but had a touch to much dressing. Platter was nothing special, roulade was so good! Menu was marked for gf. They had drinks. Place was nice, staff was super friendly. read more

Dajio - Seafood Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

Greeted by a nice hostess and seated right away. White tablecloths. I probably would have been more comfortable in a polo shirt, but we all had T shirts on, and nobody cared. Kids ordered chips and cheese dip, we had chargrilled oysters. Found a little shell in the three I had. Kids loved the cheese dip. Entrees followed . Chef special redfish with shrimp on top with a sauce and jasmine rice. Delicious! Fried shrimp with fries also very good. Scallops with corn and bacon came in third IMO. Kids Mac and cheese was a white sauce with extra cheese melted over it. 7 year old was not impressed, but the rest of us liked it! Cheese grits were too thick for me. Kind of pricey but we expected that read more

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Our 2nd visit here. Last year we sat in the Main Dining Room, and the experience was more upscale. This year we were outside and it was a little more rustic. The food was good both times, but we liked the Dining Room experience better. Service was very good. They now have a "Shrimp Tasting" between 3-5pm. Overall very good. read more

This is such an excellent place on all counts. The quality and taste is superb, and although they're almost the only dinner restaurant open off-season, they keep up the quality. The menu is extensive and we've yet to have a bad meal here. Service is great. Waiters are attentive and thoughtful and we didn't wait long for anything. The place is cozy and sort of rustic. They often have live music. Bring an extra sweater if you plan on sitting outside off-season or if you get cold easily like me. read more

We are in Ocracoke and went to Dajio's last night. Sat in the bar area and there was live music, was concerned it would be too loud, but our wonderful server Chris assured us it would not be, and it wasn't. I got the steak salad, best one I've ever had in my life, and husband got Mahi Mahi sandwich, equally as good!! read more

Great atmosphere!!! Wonderful servers if you get someone who has been there for a while! Great choices for vegetarians and non vegetarians alike! read more

We came to Dajio at a quieter hour, around 3:00, and waited several minutes to catch the attention of the hostess, who was back in the kitchen. No apology when she realized people were waiting. When she brought us to a table, she simply plopped the menus down and walked away. We then sat for more than 10 minutes just... waiting, with no server in sight. No one took our drink orders, no waters, nothing. We could see through a back window to the kitchen, where the hostess and a cook/server were laughing and joking around. Listen, I understand poor/slow service when things are packed and staff is doing the best they can. But just hanging around is inexcusable when people are waiting, and we left without ordering to head up the street. There are plenty of other options on the island-- just go elsewhere and save yourself the trouble. read more

They were slammed on a Sunday afternoon, but the waiter and bartender were super-cool and accommodating. Food was good - drinks tasty! Nice outdoor ambiance. read more

The crab mac and cheese was incredible, and should certainly be considered when visiting the village. The bar and the restaurant are both nice environments, and both offer great service by excellent staff. The ambiance of the outdoor bar when the live band was there was so fun, although it was rather cold outside, I still enjoyed myself! read more

Update: Returned to Dajio's this past July with a large group. I retract my previous comment about the bartenders. Our wait for dinner in the bar area was a pleasant one. The food was top notch! read more

I would travel back 8 hours just for the Scallop Appetizer one more time. Everything was great, delicious food, incredible drinks (great muddled fruit cocktail), and very attentive service. If I were back right now, I would order 2 maple scallop apps for myself. Impeccable. read more

Dajio - Shrimp and grits for me, flank steak with mashed potatoes and veggie of the day - Seafood Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

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We come to Ocracoke every August and choose Dajio as our last dinner while here. Always excellent service and the meals will never disappoint! Tonight we had the Thai Coconut Curry dish with Drum fish and the salad with grilled flank steak, candied pecans and Gorgonzola cheese topped with delicious fig balsamic dressing. Already looking forward to next August We did return and hubby had an excellent meal of scalloped on a flavorful corn dish. I again had the salad with Flank Steak with the fig balsamic salad dressing! I could eat this dish daily! Excellent Service!! read more

Grilled Flank Steak: (Mia, 11 years old as the reviewer) The steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans were really good and I don't normally love green beans (until I came here). I came to Dajio with my family and service and food was awesome. Everything we ordered turned out delicious. We had grilled cheese, Scallops, grilled flank steak, and the blackened shrimp platter. read more

Dajio - Grilled Flank Steak (Delicious!) - Seafood Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

Heck yeah! We went here on a Monday. Everyone else seems to be closed on Monday so this makes an easy choice. Wifey and I both had the NY strip. It comes with a boiled down balsamic sauce along with crispy onions. Mouth watering fantastic. Mashed potatoes were good although they seem like they had sat under a hot lamp.... The chips and queso were great too. Waiter was very pleasant and the hostess/owner is a hoot. Definitely will go back. Oh yeah, inside is comfortable and breezy. read more